My Three Kingdoms is not right

After reading the imperial edict, Liu Xun slowly rolled up the silk scroll:

"Execute!"

Tiger Warrior stepped forward, his hand swiftly bringing down his blade.

In the blink of an eye, heads rolled off, and three headless corpses lay across the middle of the long street.

The people cheered loudly, while the officials all looked surprised.

They learned that the princess had led troops to surround the Court of Justice, and assumed this was an action against Man Chong, or even Cao Cao. However, they did not expect that he would first execute Dong Cheng and others.

The wind blew by, carrying with it a heavy, pungent smell of blood.

Liu Xun didn't look at the three corpses, but instead raised his hand.

Four elite guards stepped forward and carried a thick stack of files from the Tingwei prison, piling them outside the Tingwei Temple gate; the stack was half a person high.

"Dong Cheng and his accomplices were malicious. Even after being captured, they continued to fabricate confessions, attempting to sow discord between the emperor and his ministers and undermine the stability of the court."

Liu Xun pointed to these files and said:

"These files are evidence of Dong Chengpan's crimes of falsely accusing court officials and framing loyal ministers."

"Fetch a torch!"

Sun Shangxiang, holding a torch, walked to the pile of files and lit it.

The bamboo slips first turned black at the edges and curled up, then burst into flames with a "boom," the flames shooting up more than a meter high, and the scrolls quickly turned to ashes amidst crackling sounds.

Black smoke rose and dispersed in the autumn sky.

Amidst everyone's shocked gazes, Liu Xun loudly announced:

"Imperial Edict: Dong Cheng's rebellious party has been convicted. All others are pardoned and shall not be impeached further. This is in accordance with the law!"

A suppressed gasp rose from the crowd:

"Your Highness burned all the case files?"

"The case is finally closed!"

"What happened to those who were arrested?"

……

Amidst the murmurs, jailers were seen helping the implicated and detained officials out of the Court of Justice.

"Thank goodness! Thank goodness!"

An elderly minister with white hair pushed his way to the front, trembling as he bowed to Liu Xun: "Your Highness is truly virtuous! On behalf of my daughter, this old minister thanks Your Highness for saving her life!"

Behind her, several more officials prostrated themselves in gratitude, some even bursting into tears.

Among the more than one hundred people arrested by Man Chong in the past three days, there were many disciples, old friends, relatives and acquaintances. Everyone had been living in fear for so long, and now they finally felt relieved of the huge weight that had been pressing on their hearts.

Just then, a rider on horseback arrived with news:

"Your Highness, Cao Ren's army has entered the city!"

The once bustling area in front of the Court of Justice gate fell silent instantly.

Many people looked fearful.

However, Liu Xun simply nodded calmly: "Withdraw the troops and guard the palace gates!"

-----------------

The weather in Xuchang today is excellent. The autumn sky is clear and cloudless.

However, the hearts of the people in Xudu City had already been swept up in a huge storm.

The news that Liu Xun had publicly executed Dong Cheng, burned the documents, and released prisoners had just spread throughout the city. Immediately afterward, the sound of Cao Ren's army entering the city echoed like muffled thunder through the long streets.

The palace gates were tightly shut, and the fully armed imperial guards climbed the city walls, arrows pointed outwards, and torches burned all night.

The entire city of Xudu seemed to be gripped by an invisible hand.

The people stayed indoors, the streets and alleys were deserted, and only the footsteps of patrolling soldiers echoed on the bluestone slabs, making one's scalp tingle. Occasionally, half an eye would peek out from the cracks in the wooden doors of shops, glance around, and then quickly retreat. The night watchman dared not strike the gong, the dogs dared not bark, and even the wind seemed to deliberately lower its voice.

Civil and military officials were filled with anxiety.

The nominal ruler and the actual ruler of the court have already drawn their swords against each other, and it remains to be seen who will prevail. But once the swords clash, it will likely result in a scene of rivers of blood.

That night, the lights in the emperor's palace and the Minister of Works' residence stayed on all night.

And countless others in the city toss and turn, unable to sleep.

Everyone understands that the current situation is like a bowstring stretched to its limit; any further exertion will cause it to snap. And no one can afford the consequences of that snap.

As dawn broke, some people inquired and ran around, some stockpiled millet and wheat, and some simply left the city to avoid disaster... The entire Xudu was filled with a morbid busyness.

As evening approached, Xun Yu hurriedly knocked on the gate of the Yang residence.

……

Yang Biao's study was small, but the setting sun slanted in, casting a warm glow on the desk. Several scrolls of bamboo slips lay open, the top scroll containing a passage from the Spring and Autumn Annals, the ink still wet, indicating that it had just been copied.

Before entering, Xun Yu straightened his clothes and bowed with such perfect posture that there was not a single flaw.

"Master Yang, I apologize for the intrusion and disturbance."

Yang Biao put down his pen and looked up at her. Although Xun Yu still had that gentle and composed demeanor, the bloodshot eyes were unmistakable.

"Wenruo should be busy right now, how come you have time to come here?"

Xun Yu cupped his hands and said, "The situation in Xuchang is critical, as Lord Yang is surely well aware of. I have come today to ask for your assistance in resolving this crisis."

"Wenruo has come to the wrong person." Yang Biao smiled faintly: "I only care about the sacrificial rites of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices now. I no longer concern myself with the affairs of the court."

After his previous imprisonment, Yang Biao saw many things clearly.

Upon returning to the imperial court, he resigned from his position as Grand Commandant, citing illness contracted while in prison.

Now serving as Grand Master of Ceremonies, he is only responsible for abstract matters and hardly ever gets involved in court politics.

"I've thought about this for a long time, and this matter can only be handled by Lord Yang." Xun Yu's tone carried an unyielding determination.

Without waiting for Yang Biao to refuse again, she continued speaking:

"Currently, Minister Cao and Her Highness the Princess are at loggerheads, locked in a stalemate where neither side can back down or show weakness. If this stalemate continues, whoever loses their temper and makes the first move will create an unmanageable situation for both sides and for the court."

"I think someone has to step forward and propose a compromise to persuade both sides and de-escalate the situation."

"So, you want me to mediate?" Yang Biao gathered the bamboo slips scattered on the table and casually set them aside. "Tell me, what's your proposal?"

Seeing that she did not refuse, Xun Yu quickly explained:

"In fact, Cao Sikong originally did not want to send troops. However, because Her Highness the Princess used the Imperial Guards to surround the Court of Justice, in order to maintain her authority and prevent Xuchang from falling out of control, she had no choice but to send troops into the city."

"I will persuade her. If His Highness gives her a way out, she should be able to withdraw the army from the city and restore order to Xuchang."

"As for the Emperor and His Highness..." Xun Yu paused for a moment, "His Highness yesterday publicly arrested Man Chong, executed Dong Cheng, burned the dossiers, and released prisoners. Perhaps he has vented his anger enough."

"His Highness has always respected Lord Yang, and Dezu is the most trusted person by his side. If Lord Yang speaks up, he will always listen to some of it. As long as His Highness is willing to release the people and lift the ban, and both sides take a step back, Xuchang can be at peace again."

After Xun Yu finished speaking, he leaned forward slightly, waiting for Yang Biao's reply.

The wind outside the window rustled through the locust tree in the courtyard. Yang Biao shifted his gaze from Xun Yu's face to the gray sky visible through the window, remaining silent for a long time.

"Wenruo," she finally spoke, "I understand your hard work and dedication to the court."

"But have you considered this? Even if, as you say, both sides back down, it only postpones today's predicament by a few days."

"What will you do next time?"