Four Harmonies and Good Fortune

Chapter 480 Beheading

Liu Huizeng's unwavering suicide shocked many people.

Yang Sanli's eyes seemed to be bulging out of their sockets as he screamed and struggled, his face contorted in pain.

He saw Liu Huizeng's blood spurt out, staining his green official robes red. The next moment, Liu Huizeng lay motionless on the ground.

"what……"

The screams were beyond human comprehension. The constables who were holding down Yang Sanli, whether out of fear or pity, actually let go. But the next moment, Yang Sanli, who had just gotten up, collapsed again. The intense emotional shock caused him to faint on the spot.

In a short while, it attracted a crowd of onlookers.

However, perhaps because of Liu Huizeng's impassioned words, or perhaps out of admiration for his loyalty, the people did not utter a sound, but simply watched silently.

"By order of the Emperor, all officials who obstruct the petition to the Procuratorate shall be imprisoned in the Ministry of Justice prison to await trial, and those who resist shall be killed without exception."

a voice sounded.

It was only at this moment that those present realized that a squad of imperial guards had arrived sometime earlier.

The person in the lead was none other than the Prince of Huai.

The Imperial Guards only obeyed the Emperor's orders; as soon as they saw them arrive, the Emperor knew that the matter was known to him.

The two officials from the Court of Judicial Review, who had previously breathed a sigh of relief when their joint memorial was torn up, turned deathly pale upon seeing the Imperial Guards. Especially when they saw the guards surrounding them, only two words echoed in their minds: "It's over."

Today's plan was to keep it a secret from the Secretariat and the Emperor, and to quickly arrest Liu Huizeng. The Court of Judicial Review fabricated a charge against Liu Huizeng, making him die in the line of duty.

Those officials who followed Liu Huizeng were able to defeat him one by one after witnessing his tragic death.

Even if the Secretariat impeached them, they were prepared to lose their positions, but at least they kept Minister Xia.

Unexpectedly, the Emperor sent his imperial guards.

Now they can only hope that Liu Huizeng is completely dead. Anyway, the joint petition is gone, and the documentary evidence and witnesses are missing. At most, he can be convicted of dereliction of duty.

When the Prince of Huai arrived, the constables who had gathered around dispersed. The Prince of Huai went up to look at Liu Huizeng and touched him. Liu Huizeng's head was wet and covered in blood.

The reason why Liu Huizeng was injured on the back of the head was because when the Prince of Huai arrived, he happened to hear Liu Huizeng say: "Today I will write a blood oath with my life."

The Prince of Huai immediately guessed that Liu Huizeng was going to remonstrate with his life, but he was still some distance away from Liu Huizeng and could not stop him now, so he threw out a piece of silver, hoping to knock Liu Huizeng unconscious.

The force of the impact was considerable, even injuring Liu Huizeng. Now, the Prince of Huai only hopes that Liu Huizeng is still alive.

He carefully examined Liu Huizeng's neck. Blood was flowing from the wound, but the wound wasn't on the neck; it was slightly lower, piercing below the collarbone.

Liu Huizeng still had a pulse in his neck and could be felt breathing through his nose.

It is evident that just as Liu Hui was about to commit suicide, he was knocked unconscious by the silver he threw, and his hand also tilted downwards, thus saving his life.

Prince Huai breathed a sigh of relief, gently turned Liu Huizeng over, and ordered the imperial guards, "Quickly bring the imperial physician over to treat Lord Liu."

These words brought joy to some and sorrow to others.

The officials who came to Dengwen Prosecutor's Office with Liu Huizeng all had happy expressions on their faces; they absolutely did not want to see Liu Huizeng lose his life.

However, the two Dali Temple officials felt their legs go weak. They looked at each other and saw fear in each other's eyes.

Liu Huizeng survived, but their time was up.

Xue Yi, who had torn up the petition, stood there in a panic, knowing he had made the wrong choice. As the officials from the Court of Judicial Review were about to be taken away, he made one last attempt: "I want to see the Emperor's edict." Although it was the Prince of Huai who came, he still clung to a sliver of hope.

The Prince of Huai took out the imperial edict and opened it in front of the officials of the Court of Judicial Review.

The Dali Temple officials fell silent, but Xue Yi, standing beside them, looked at the Prince of Huai: "It was the people from the Jiyi Division who forced me. If I don't tear up the petition, they will target my family."

The Prince of Huai said calmly, "You're not the only one being blackmailed."

After saying this, the Prince of Huai swept his gaze over the officials of the Dengwen Inspection Court: "All official documents of the Dengwen Drum Court and the Dengwen Inspection Court shall be sealed and stored. All officials of the two courts shall be confined to their residences to await trial."

After the Prince of Huai finished speaking, the eunuch rushed over. Seeing the chaotic scene, the eunuch couldn't help but sigh. No wonder the Emperor was angry.

Neither the Dali Temple nor the Dengwen Procuratorate had any capable officials.

The eunuch whispered to Prince Huai, "Shouldn't we go to the Xia family next?"

The Prince of Huai nodded and said, "I have already ordered the Imperial Guards to surround the area. Now, Eunuch, come with me to arrest them!"

……

Chui Gong Hall.

Civil and military officials stood on both sides, none of them daring to utter a sound.

The Emperor sat upright in the center of the dragon throne, his deep gaze sweeping over the key ministers of the Great Liang.

"I didn't sleep a wink last night. Recalling the past when I was on the throne and I was managing state affairs with you ministers, the memories that should have been exceptionally clear have suddenly become blurry."

"Even I can't figure it out. Is the unity between the ruler and his subjects real or fake? Has it ever truly existed in our dynasty?"

Civil and military officials immediately pleaded guilty, especially Wang Bingchen, who was standing at the front, who was about to take the blame upon himself. As the prime minister, he was primarily responsible for such a major incident in the court.

The Emperor stopped Wang Bingchen, saying, "Today I will indulge myself and not let the prime minister speak; I will speak."

“When Wang Yan handed me the blank secret memorial, I almost punished him,” the Emperor said, his brow furrowed. “Because I felt that he was deliberately exaggerating, and that my court was not so blocked from expressing opinions.”

"Therefore, I did not immediately grant Wang Yan authority, but instead allowed him to investigate the case step by step. I believed that as long as an official wanted to submit a memorial, he would definitely find a way to get it to me."

“This morning, I was waiting… waiting for the drums of the Dengwen Jianyuan to sound.”

"Just like when I ascended the throne, waiting for the ceremonial music to begin..."

"Because they will all tell me... that I am the current emperor, the ruler of Daliang."

"Unfortunately... I didn't live to see it."

The Emperor suddenly rose from his throne: "A secret service called the 'Secret Service' is searching everywhere for evidence of officials' crimes, resorting to framing and slander to control them."

"If things continue like this, what if one day I fail to satisfy them? Will they immediately replace me?"

"Don't think I'm exaggerating," the Emperor said coldly. "Even those around me are their people. Among the Imperial Guards protecting Bianjing, there are also people working for them."

Wang Bingchen finally couldn't help but step forward and say, "Your Majesty, please punish this humble subject for his oversight."

The Emperor flicked his sleeves: "I am going to punish, but not Minister Wang, but those who lurk in the shadows and erode the fortunes of my Great Liang Dynasty."

"This time, I will cut off their heads, many heads."