Become a king right from the start, beginning with receiving rewards from all the heavens.

While Xia Zhaoyan was sizing up the other party, Lie Tianhou was also sizing up Xia Zhaoyan.

At this moment, Song Wuji had some doubts in his heart. Everyone said that Prince Ren was kind and benevolent from childhood.

But I saw a hint of ambition for power in his eyes.

Did I see it wrong?

He then suppressed his doubts and spoke.

"Now that Your Highness has been granted the title of King, I should pay you a visit."

"However, various trivial matters have delayed us until now, and I hope Your Highness will forgive us!"

Since we're all people of status, it's natural to start with some warm-up remarks.

"I am a carefree prince, and I really don't want anyone to come and visit me."

"Especially people of Marquis status!"

The implication of these words is very clear: I am not involved in the struggle for the throne, nor do I want you people to bother me.

"Alright, come to think of it, we don't really have much in common."

"You've come to visit me so suddenly today. I wonder what brings you here, Marquis Lietian?"

Pretending to be ignorant when he knew the truth, Song Wuji sighed inwardly.

This King Ren doesn't seem to be easy to deal with, but I have no choice but to come today.

"Since Your Highness is being so direct, then I will be frank as well."

"The reason I've come to visit Your Highness today is to hope that Your Highness can show leniency in the matter of Zhang Hailin, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice, just to save face for my Marquis's residence!"

Xia Zhaoyan chuckled softly after hearing this.

"hehe..."

"Are you making this request in the name of the Song family, in your capacity as the Marquis, or perhaps in the name of the Liuzhou Hometown Association?"

After a moment of silence, Lord Lietian spoke calmly.

"Your Highness, I am here as a member of the hometown association."

...

"Alright, then may I ask if the hometown association has any clear official records or official status within the Great Xia Dynasty?"

Xia Zhaoyan gave the other party no chance to react and went straight to the point again.

This put Song Wuji in a difficult position.

Strictly speaking, he was a military officer by birth, as was his family.

So it's true that I'm not very good at expressing myself.

I don't know what those people who asked the Marquis of Lietian's mansion to act as their lobbyists were thinking.

"Heh... what's a hometown association?"

"What right does he have to make demands of me, a prince of the Great Xia Dynasty!"

Marquis Lietian suddenly gave a bitter smile, "Your Highness, before we came today, there was actually no consensus within the clan."

"It was only because of my ancestral home that my ancestor ordered me to make this trip today."

"This is the reason why we have completely severed the ties with our ancestral home. As for whether we can succeed today, that is not within the scope of our Marquis's consideration."

These words made Xia Zhaoyan's eyes narrow slightly, and he became somewhat wary.

"So, after today, your Song family will sever all ties with the hometown association?"

...

"That's right, this was a decision made personally by the Ancestor!" Song Wuji said with certainty.

A wave of emotion rose in Xia Zhaoyan's heart. The hometown association was a top-tier force in the Great Xia Dynasty.

Among the thirty-six prefectures of the Great Xia Dynasty, Liuzhou was not considered a powerful prefecture, but it was still a large prefecture in the middle ranks.

Since the establishment of the Great Xia Dynasty, many powerful figures and important officials have emerged from Liuzhou.

Although most of them have passed away for various reasons, there are still many influential figures among them.

Given the Song family's status in Daxia, their position within the Liuzhou hometown association is likely very high.

Is the Song family really going to sever ties with the hometown association? This would undoubtedly be like cutting off one of their own arms.

"Your Highness, in the end, the world of Great Xia was conquered by our Xun Gui."

"Our Song family also does not want to see hometown associations from various places joining forces to oppose the imperial court and royal family, and encroaching on the interests of the imperial court."

They spoke in a grand and righteous tone, with an air of concern for the world.

In reality, Xia Zhaoyan didn't believe a word of it. As a prince, he knew very well what kind of people from the noble class were like.

"My lord, I will not grant your request to plead for Zhang Hailin today."

"He was involved in numerous cases of embezzlement and bribery, and many people died as a result of his wrongful convictions. There are at least several hundred, if not several thousand, of those cases."

"Furthermore, he provoked me first. Such a person just happened to run into my hands. Do you think I would let him go?"

...

"Understood, Your Highness!" Although he knew that there would be no result today, Xia Zhaoyan refused without hesitation.

This made Song Wuji lose face, because even those powerful princes had to give the Song family a lot of face.

...

The news that the Marquis of Lietian's intervention had failed had spread to all the major powers.

They knew that Prince Ren was determined to make an example of someone, and that he was determined to accomplish something for a prince.

Those from the Liuzhou Association also gave up lobbying and pressuring, because it was no use.

Everyone is waiting for the final verdict from the Heavenly Punishment Division.

On the third day after Marquis Lietian's visit, Mu Wenhan personally brought the final results to Xia Zhaoyan.

"Your Highness, everything has been investigated and the verdict is in!"

"Just get to the point!" Xia Zhaoyan was too lazy to listen to the details of the Zhang family's crimes.

"Your Highness, according to the laws of the Great Xia Dynasty, Zhang Hailin's crimes warrant execution!"

"His eldest son will have his cultivation abolished and be forced into hard labor; his second son will be executed; and his third son will also be executed!"

"Of the remaining clansmen, the men were conscripted into the army, and the women were sent to the brothels!"

...

"So, basically no one in the Zhang family is innocent?"

...

"Yes!"

Xia Zhaoyan nodded; he wasn't surprised by the situation.

After thinking for a moment, he gave the order.

"Change the result for me: all members of the Zhang family above the Acquired Realm level are to be executed!"

"Of the remaining clansmen, the women were sent to the brothels, and the men were conscripted into the army."

Women who were sent to the Jiaofangsi (a government-run entertainment district) almost always ended up committing suicide.

Those who were conscripted into the army generally did not live more than a few years.

Because they would be cannon fodder in a war!

"Send the results of our Heavenly Punishment Division's judgment to the Imperial Palace and the Cabinet."

"The execution will take place at the Meridian Gate in three days!"

This time, Mu Wenhan did not hesitate and immediately accepted the order and left.

Xia Zhaoyan had an expectant look on his face.

"After beheading the Zhang family members this time, we can now offer sacrifices to the heavens!"

When the Heavenly Punishment Division delivered its verdict, the entire court and the public were shocked!

Is this still the benevolent king praised for his kindness and compassion?

Anyone with eyes can see that this verdict is somewhat unreasonable.

Logically speaking, apart from a few members, the rest of the Zhang family should be killed, not killed!

As it turned out, the Heavenly Punishment Division did indeed sentence him according to the most severe punishment.

...

In the eyes of the people of the capital, the Meridian Gate was the place with the most severe yin energy.

Even at midday, it is still somewhat chilly here.

Since the founding of the Great Xia Dynasty, countless heads have been severed at the Meridian Gate.

However, today the area is densely populated with people, stretching as far as the eye can see.

People in the world of high martial arts feel no discomfort whatsoever at watching beheadings.

These kinds of things are actually topics that people discuss in their spare time.

At this moment, the area within a radius of 200 meters around the Meridian Gate was surrounded by troops.

Inside were the guards of the Heavenly Punishment Bureau, as well as some high-ranking officials.

As for Xia Zhaoyan, he was currently in the mansion, keeping a close eye on the Life Cauldron beneath the altar.

He awaited the arrival of life, and once life arrived, he immediately initiated the Heavenly Sacrifice.