Killer Queen: Tyrant, prepare to die!

April 3rd, Chen hour.

The main hall of the Dali Temple was solemn and imposing.

Beneath the high-hanging plaque that reads "A Clear Mirror Hangs High,"

After the three court cases placed side by side,

Seated regally were the three highest judicial officials of the empire: the Minister of Justice, the Minister of the Ministry of Justice, and the Left Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate.

Their faces were solemn, their eyes deep, knowing that the case being tried today would shake the court and the public and be recorded in history.

On both sides of the hall, civil officials to the east and military officials to the west, were packed with high-ranking officials and representatives of the imperial family who were granted special permission to attend the hearing.

Everyone held their breath, their gazes fixed on the center of the hall with complex emotions.

There, a specially placed wooden chair was set up.

The man on the chair, dressed in prison clothes with disheveled white hair, was none other than former Prime Minister Liu Chengzong.

He was allowed to sit during the trial, which was the last bit of dignity the emperor had given him.

His eyes were half-closed, and his face was ashen.

Her once bright and sparkling eyes were now lifeless.

It resembled a clay sculpture that had lost its soul.

The aftereffects of the stroke caused one side of his face to twitch slightly, and his left hand to tremble unconsciously.

Liu Chengming was not imprisoned with his father, but was instead held alone in the deepest part of the prison, awaiting further interrogation.

But everyone knows that today's trial is for Liu Chengzong, but the conviction is for the entire Liu family.

"Court is now in session!"

The gavel struck, its sound shaking the roof tiles.

The joint trial by the three judicial authorities has officially begun.

First, the Left Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, as the chief judge of the prosecution, stood up and read out the impeachment memorial.

He read aloud, in a loud voice, the ten charges listed by Shen Anbang one by one.

Each time a passage was read, a suppressed commotion would erupt in the audience.

It was time for the cross-examination.

The first one to enter the hall was the one who was already terrified out of his wits.

Chang Fu, an old eunuch who is forced to keep his spirits up because His Majesty promised to spare his life.

He was hunched over, supported by two constables.

Trembling, she recounted how, back then, under the coercion and enticement of Liu Ruyan's trusted palace maid...

The pre-prepared figurine, covered in silver needles, and the forged "secret letter"

"Discovered" in a hidden corner of Kunning Palace.

He even produced the gift that Liu Ruyan's palace maid had given him in private years ago.

The pair of gold bracelets given as "reward" were also engraved with the mark of being made in the Liu family's inner workshop.

"Ryu Seung-jong!"

The Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate questioned him sternly.

"What is your explanation for this?"

"Framed the Empress, fabricated witchcraft—was that orchestrated by your Liu family?!"

Liu Chengzong didn't even lift his eyelids, squeezing out a hoarse, broken voice from his throat:

"What does it have to do with me if the women in the harem fight over love and frame the empress?"

"I...know absolutely nothing."

"You know absolutely nothing?"

The Minister of Justice sneered and slammed his gavel.

"Bring in ID card number two!"

The person who came forward was a minor official from the Ministry of War who was so frightened that he turned himself in and begged for leniency.

He confessed that in recent years, the Ministry of War, under the instruction of Liu Chengzong, had...

How to coordinate the production of two sets of military pay ledgers?

How to transfer falsely reported or withheld funds out through specific channels.

He also provided a private notebook that recorded the times and locations of several secret meetings.

Next came an old clerk from the Ministry of Revenue, who was overcome with tears.

He confessed to following the instructions of Liu Chengzong's disciples regarding salt tax accounts.

They falsified accounts, overstated losses, and embezzled huge sums of tax revenue.

It also detailed the final destination of several particularly large sums of money.

—The Liu family's estates, banks, and shops in Jiangnan.

Then there's the "Dark Fragrance" assassin leader, who was captured by Xuan Ying and finally pried open after days of torture.

He testified in court how Liu Chengming had given him direct orders.

They assassinated the imperial envoy in charge of auditing and revealed several secret contact points of the "Dark Fragrance" organization in the capital and Jiangnan.

No sooner had he finished speaking than a constable presented the items seized from those contact points.

Weapons, poisons, and some communication instructions that were not destroyed in time, all bearing the Liu family's secret mark.

One case after another, one piece of evidence and witness testimony, were brought to court.

Some salt merchants from Jiangnan wept bitterly.

He confessed how he colluded with Liu Chengming to monopolize the salt route and bribe officials;

Some local magistrates, their faces ashen, admitted how disaster relief funds were embezzled at every level.

Ultimately, most of the "tribute" was given to Liu Xiang's disciples;

Even a merchant from Xiling, under heavy guard, entered the hall.

The accusation states that Liu Chengming repeatedly used secret channels,

Purchased prohibited drugs, including "Zhu Yan Mo," and special minerals from Xiling.

They also presented some transaction receipts and signed documents from Liu Chengming's subordinates who received the goods.

The appearance of each witness, the presentation of each piece of evidence,

They are all like a heavy boulder.

This pressure continued to mount on Ryu Seung-jong's already shaky defense of "knowing nothing."

His face grew increasingly ashen, and his breathing became increasingly labored.

The trembling on one side of his body became increasingly noticeable.

But he kept his eyes tightly shut, his lips pressed into a pale line.

It was as if as long as he didn't see or hear it, none of this concerned him.

The officials who were observing the proceedings went from initial shock to eventual numbness.

Now, the gaze directed at Liu Chengzong was filled with indescribable, complex emotions—

Disdain, fear, pity, and a chilling sense of shared sorrow.

This is the prime minister they once revered, fawned over, and even pledged allegiance to?

Strip away the cloak of power, and you'll find it all so despicable!

Finally, the most important piece of evidence was brought out.

It was Qian Youcai, the former accountant of "Anxiang".

He carried the oilcloth bundle and, escorted by two top-notch palace guards, walked into the courtroom.

Even facing the presiding judge from the three judicial departments and a hall full of high-ranking officials, he was still so afraid that his legs went weak.

But perhaps it's a case of "what's the use of trying?"

Perhaps it was Xiao Jue's and the Emperor's assurances that gave him courage.

He took a deep breath, placed the package on the ground in front of the desk, and untied it.

The stack of neatly arranged, uniquely styled original secret letters was exposed to everyone.

Qian Youcai picked up the top few letters and began to read the key contents aloud.

"On the seventh day of the third month of the sixth year of Jinghe, Liu Chengming sent a letter to Du Wenyuan, the Salt Commissioner of Lianghuai:"

The salt ship sank but there's no harm done; we can proceed as planned, and the profits will be split 50/50...

"On the 20th day of the twelfth month of the seventh year of Jinghe, Zhou Meng, the deputy general of Fuyuan Army, wrote to Liu Chengzong: "

Many thanks to the Prime Minister for his promotion. As instructed, 30% of this winter's salary has been withheld and transferred to Manager Wang's account at Litong Money Shop...

In the fifth month of the eighth year of the Jinghe era, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel sent a letter to Liu Chengming:

Zhao Yuanlang's promotion has been arranged. Of the 30,000 taels needed for bribes, 10,000 taels should be given to the Prime Minister as a token of respect..."

As you read through each letter, the time, place, people, specific details, and distribution of benefits become crystal clear!

Many letters also bear the handwritten signature or personal seal of Liu Chengming or related officials at the end!

This is the real, irrefutable evidence! Undeniable, irrefutable evidence that leaves no room for argument!

When Qian Youcai read about the correspondence between Liu Chengming and the leader of the Xiling tribe...

When discussing the purchase of "Zhu Yanmo" and the assassination of dissidents,

Finally, someone in the audience couldn't help but let out a low growl of shock and anger!

Colluding with foreign powers to murder court officials is a heinous crime of treason!

"Ryu Seung-jong!"

The Minister of the Court of Judicial Review suddenly stood up, his beard and hair bristling, and roared angrily.

What else do you have to say?!

These original secret letters are here, with handwriting and seals intact, each and every one pointing directly to you, Liu family father and son!

Embezzling military funds, misappropriating salt taxes, and selling official positions.

He framed loyal officials, murdered the empress and princes, and colluded with江湖 (jianghu, the martial arts world) figures to assassinate court officials.

They even colluded with foreign powers, plotting treacherous schemes!

Which one isn't a capital offense?! Which one isn't a scourge to the country and its people?!

The three judicial departments presided over the trial, along with a full hall of officials.

All eyes, like sharp arrows, were fixed on the seemingly frozen old man in the center of the hall.

The evidence was overwhelming, layer upon layer, ranging from the secrets of the imperial harem to the corruption of the imperial court.

From economic plunder to military hollowing out, from domestic infighting to collusion with foreign powers...

It covers almost every imaginable crime committed by powerful officials!

Moreover, each link in the chain is interconnected, forming an irrefutable chain of evidence!

Finally, Liu Chengzong slowly opened his eyes.

Those once deep, sharp, and calculating eyes...

At this moment, all that remains is turbidity, emptiness, and boundless deathly silence.

He slowly, extremely slowly, moved his eyes.

He glanced at the mountain of testimonies, account books, and secret letters piled up on the desk.

His gaze swept over the faces below, some familiar, some unfamiliar, now etched with contempt and judgment.

His lips moved a few times, as if he wanted to say something.

But it only made some meaningless "hoho" sounds.

He recalled his glorious days of dominating the imperial palace.

He recalled the power and influence of his former students and officials, who were spread throughout the court and the country.

I recalled the Liu family's extravagant prosperity, like oil being poured on a raging fire...

How could all of this have collapsed into this state in just a few days?

Shen Qingci...Shen Anbang...Yehuang...Your Majesty...

His vision began to blur, and his ears started to ring.

The angry rebukes of the presiding judge from the three judicial departments, the whispers of the officials in the audience...

Even the sound of his own heavy, labored breathing.

They all mixed together, becoming a distorted and noisy mess.

It felt as if an invisible hand was gripping my chest tightly.

It tightened more and more, almost crushing his heart.

A metallic, sweet taste kept rising in my throat, and my vision blurred intermittently.

"Liu Chengzong! Do you plead guilty to these charges?!"

The Minister of Justice's stern shout, like a final thunderclap, struck his chaotic consciousness.

Plead guilty?

Accept this overwhelming evidence? Accept this irreversible doom?

"puff--!"

Liu Chengzong's eyes widened suddenly, and his body leaned forward violently.

A mouthful of thick, dark red blood erupted forth like a volcano that had been suppressed for a long time!

Blood mist filled the air, splattering onto the front of his tattered prison uniform and also landing on the cold ground in front of him.

He opened his mouth, as if he wanted to make a sound.

But all that could be heard in his throat was the gurgling sound of blood bubbles.

Then, he and the specially designed wooden chair fell backward with a thud!

"Bang!"

Its heavy body crashed to the ground with a dull thud.

His eyes were wide open, staring intently at the high dome of the courtroom.

His body twitched slightly a few times, then fell silent.

Only the blood scattered all over the ground.

And his wide-open eyes, filled with resentment and despair.

It tells the story of the final fate of this once powerful prime minister.

"Ryu Seung-jong has fainted!"

"Quickly! Summon the imperial physician!"

The courtroom erupted into chaos.

The three presiding judges looked at each other, their expressions grave.

Meanwhile, the people in the audience had different expressions.

The surviving members of Liu's faction were ashen-faced, as if they had lost their parents.

Those who remained neutral and clear-headed breathed a long sigh of relief, their eyes revealing a mixture of satisfaction and wistfulness.

The evidence is overwhelming and irrefutable.

One of the main culprits is already in court.

Overwhelmed by this mountain of irrefutable evidence, he vomited blood and fainted, his life hanging in the balance.

The downfall of the Liu family was already destined at this moment.