NFBE Chapter 187 Dealing with Corrupt Officials at Night
Chapter 187 Dealing with Corrupt Officials at Night
“Why say such threatening things, Ah Ning? You already know that I have never cared about my reputation. What you said doesn’t seem to have any threat to me.”
"However—since I have pressed my fingerprint, I will not renege on my promise. After Ah Chen has dealt with the affairs of the previous dynasty, I will have someone draft a new one. For now, I will keep this one for the time being."
Shen Sangwan quickly packed up her things, not giving Wen Yuening a chance to take them back.
"His Highness just said he was hungry, so Yue Ning will go and have someone prepare a meal."
She had originally intended to take it back, but after hearing Shen Sangwan's subsequent words, she gave up the idea and even felt a faint sense of anticipation.
Fuyu Pavilion
Xu Zhi and his men forced Wen Yunhe and all those who had previously wavered in Xuyang Palace to kneel on the ground.
Mo Ran brought back the bodies of Shen Yujing and Mo Xuan from outside the palace to report back.
A vast, dark mass completely filled the Fuyu Pavilion.
Why has Your Majesty detained this old minister?
Even at this point, Wen Yunhe remained fearless, acting as if he had been wronged.
"No rush, let's wait a bit longer. It's only just nightfall, and it will take Liang Huaiting some time to lead his men into the capital."
Wen Yunhe was extremely cautious in his dealings with Cheng Que. He didn't believe that Shen Yuchen could find any dirt on him. Apart from that, everything else he did was watertight. Even if someone found out something, it would be through someone else and wouldn't have anything to do with him, Wen Yunhe.
So he remained calm and composed.
"My esteemed lords, you are always criticizing this and that, but how come you are so cowardly when you see the rebels? The rebels haven't even entered yet, and you're already kneeling on the ground in fear. Are you going to surrender or beg for mercy? You are all men, yet you are not even as good as my elder sister. I am truly impressed."
Regarding Wen Yunhe's alleged treason and collusion with the enemy, before the witnesses and evidence have been sent to the palace, Shen Yuchen decided to deal with the opportunist first.
"Your Majesty, please forgive me. Your Majesty, please forgive me."
The once boisterous and cheerful officials now kneel on the ground, begging for mercy.
"There are also some military officers who have been serving in the capital for too long and have lost their fighting spirit on the battlefield, or have long lost the courage that a warrior should have. When they see the rebels, they run away like civil officials who are powerless to even kill a chicken. If word gets out, it will be a disgrace to my Southern Jing. They are not even half as courageous as my elder sister, the current Princess."
"Your Majesty, we all know that you cherish the eldest princess, but there's really no need to bring it up every single time."
"Your Majesty, everyone knows that the Princess is your elder sister, and everyone knows that she is very outstanding, so there is no need to keep mentioning her."
Most of the court officials kneeling on the ground had their heads down, not daring to refute verbally, but inwardly they were practically rolling their eyes in disapproval.
If Wen Yuening were here, she would probably be amused by the inner thoughts of these ministers.
"Your Majesty, calm down."
"One must forgive, the other must calm down. I cannot calm down. Guards, throw all these corrupt officials into the death row and execute them next spring."
"Your Majesty, spare my life! Your Majesty, spare my life!"
In the already small courtyard, the cries of pleas for mercy rose and fell, sounding particularly loud in the silent night.
"Xu Zhi, gag them all and drag them away immediately. If they disturb the peace of the Princess of the Main Hall, execute them on the spot."
It's only October now, and next spring means I can live for a few more months. If someone in my family takes care of things and secretly manipulates things, I still have a chance to survive. But if I shout loudly now, disturbing the princess and angering His Majesty, I'm afraid my head will roll on the spot.
The ministers, who had clearly made their plans, wisely kept quiet.
However, their wishful thinking this time is likely to fall through.
If they want someone to bail them out, they'll only be able to get a good reincarnation in their next life.
Xu Zhi, leading the Imperial Guards, gradually dragged out most of the men. Seeing that fewer and fewer remained, a loyal courtier risked his life to speak out, "Your Majesty, Dongrui has just begun its war, and the borders are in turmoil. If we were to purge and bloodshed the court now, it might leave the court depleted and invite—"
"Lord Zhang, you've cultivated so many excellent students, are you telling me now that there are no capable people in the court and no way to make progress in various regions?"
Zhang Shiqi had been suppressed by Wen Yunhe for more than ten years and had been in the position of Shaoqing. Thinking that he would probably never have a chance to rise in the future, he was willing to create a small space for the younger generation and do his best to help others. Unknowingly, he also gained many disciples.
Shen Yuchen had noticed him before ascending the throne and secretly helped him. Now that the court has undergone a major reshuffle, it is in need of talented people. In addition, the imperial examination next year will recruit a new batch of talents to govern the country.
"That's not what I meant."
"Your Majesty, General Liang is waiting outside with Cheng Que of the Northern Witches."
At this moment, Fu'an came in to report, breaking the situation inside.
"Xuan."
Liang Huaiting was wearing armor, followed by five or six people, both men and women.
The moment Wen Yunhe saw Cheng Que, he also saw Qing Tang standing to the side, and his expression instantly turned ugly.
"I pay my respects to Your Majesty."
"General Liang has been traveling back and forth, which must be tiring. I shouldn't have troubled you to come to the palace so late, but I was thinking of getting rid of the parasites in the court as soon as possible so that I could get a good night's sleep."
Liang Huaiting bowed his head and knelt on the ground, "It is all my duty. Your Majesty's words are too much for me."
Shen Yuchen stood up from his chair and personally helped the other man up, saying, "General Liang, please rise quickly. We are ruler and subject, so let's not talk like this."
"Your Majesty's order was to bring the person back. However, when I arrived, Cheng Que had already sent the items away. Therefore, it is likely that a fierce battle will take place between Nan Jing and Bei Wu."
Liang Huaiting did not stand up when Shen Yuchen came to help him up. Instead, he bent down even lower, almost touching the ground. "Your Majesty, I have failed in my duties. Please punish me."
When Shen Yuchen heard the news, his temples throbbed slightly.
The reason he dared to deal so harshly with the court officials was because he was confident that the Duke of Song could defend Yuanzhou and repel the troops of Dongrui, while the Northern Witch would not know the situation in the Southern Jing court and would not cause internal or external troubles.
But now Liang Huaiting told him that Cheng Que had spread the news, and might even have sent back to Bei Wu the city defense map that Wen Yunhe had given him.
If war breaks out with two countries at the same time, the national treasury will be empty. How can the court support its soldiers to go on campaigns?
"Wen Yunhe, is the destruction of Nanjing the outcome you wanted to see?"
Shen Yuchen couldn't help but kick Wen Yunhe, who was being forced to kneel on the ground, hard.
How can someone nearing fifty withstand the strength of a young, vigorous person?
Moreover, he was being held down tightly, with all the force concentrated on his chest, causing him to vomit a mouthful of blood.
"This old minister is innocent!"