The first people to see the Imperial Edict of Self-Reproach were filled with disbelief and excitement at being privy to firsthand information. They spread the news frantically.
Soon after, countless citizens swarmed to the city gates.
“Is it an Imperial Edict of Self-Reproach?”
Those who couldn’t read or couldn’t push to the front shouted.
“Yes, it’s an Imperial Edict of Self-Reproach. His Majesty issued one,” those at the front yelled back.
“Quick, read it out…” those at the back urged impatiently.
“The Emperor hereby issues an edict, deeply expressing regret for past actions, saying: I, with my meager virtues, have inherited the great mandate. I intended to renew the world and restore the old ways of our ancestors. Unexpectedly, I relied on the wrong people, leading to the destruction of Chu Prefecture…” (Note 1)
“…37th year of Yuanjing, May 16th.”
The entire edict, nearly a thousand words long, was read out with proper inflection by an old scholar standing in front of the bulletin board.
Among the common people, some understood, but more were still confused. They only confirmed one thing: Emperor Yuanjing had indeed issued an Imperial Edict of Self-Reproach!
“Is it because of the Chu Prefecture massacre case?”
“His Majesty issued an Imperial Edict of Self-Reproach, which means everything Xu Yin Luo said yesterday was true, right?”
“Those rumors in the streets slandering Xu Yin Luo were all false, right?”
This was what the people were most concerned about. Although they trusted Xu Qi An in their hearts, yesterday many slanderous rumors about him sounded credible.
They urgently needed confirmed information to shatter those rumors.
Moreover, in the eyes of the common people, the court’s status was deeply ingrained. If the court acknowledged this matter, coupled with Xu Yin Luo’s prestige, there would be no more doubts. In the future, no matter what anyone says, they won’t believe it.
The old scholar raised his hand, and the crowd immediately quieted down. He nodded with satisfaction, then shook his head and sighed, saying:
“His Majesty issuing an Imperial Edict of Self-Reproach admits to condoning the King of Beining’s massacre. Xu Yin Luo, everything he said yesterday was true. If it weren’t for Xu Yin Luo drawing his sword in anger, the injustice of the Chu Prefecture massacre would have been difficult to redress, and Minister Zheng would have died with his eyes open.”
Cheers and curses erupted simultaneously, filling the air.
“For Great Feng to have a Xu Yin Luo, it’s truly Heaven’s blessing.”
“It’s a pity Xu Yin Luo is no longer an official now.”
“What does it matter if he’s not an official? He’s still Great Feng’s hero.”
As for the curses…
“Incompetent ruler! This incompetent ruler! Aren’t the people of Chu Prefecture also subjects of Great Feng?”
“Cultivating for twenty years yet still an incompetent ruler, condoning the King of Beining’s massacre, this is a tyrant.”
“Great Feng will perish in his hands one day…”
The cursing quickly died down, suppressed by the surrounding soldiers, but people continued to curse quietly or in their hearts.
The soldiers didn’t intend to do anything to these people committing the crime of great disrespect.
The emperor issuing an Imperial Edict of Self-Reproach was itself an admission of wrongdoing, giving the people a channel to vent and curse.
…
At the Imperial Academy.
The Imperial Academy, once echoing with the sounds of studying and one of the holy lands for scholars across the land, was now filled with indignant rebukes and angry curses.
When scholars curse, they are far more creative than common people.
“The King of Beining deserves to die, but I never thought even His Majesty would… An incompetent ruler! This is a sign of a dying dynasty. How could he be allowed to act so recklessly? Did the Guardian not know about this beforehand?”
“Not a single man among the court officials. We study the works of sages and yet have to associate with these spineless scholars?”
“It took Xu Yin Luo beheading two traitors and turning everything upside down for them to dare stand against His Majesty. Bah! If it were me, I would have knocked my head on the ground right there and then.”
“Although warriors may break rules with their strength, when faced with such unconscionable matters, only warriors can turn the tide.”
“Sigh, when this is recorded in future history books, scholars will lose all face. It’s a pity Xu Yin Luo is not one of our Confucian scholars.”
At this moment, a young student ran in excitedly, saying, “Everyone, everyone, I just heard some good news.”
The students in the courtyard looked over, frowning.
Although the emperor had issued an Imperial Edict of Self-Reproach, admitting to this matter and not letting loyal officials die with grievances, the incident itself was still a dark tragedy, not worth getting excited about.
The young student, facing everyone, said excitedly, “I heard that today, Chancellor Zhao Shou of Yunlu Academy appeared in court and said, in front of all the officials and His Majesty, that Xu Yin Luo is his disciple.”
What?!
Suddenly, the atmosphere in the courtyard exploded. The students showed excited and thrilled expressions, stepping forward eagerly.
“Xu Yin Luo is a student of Yunlu Academy?”
“Chancellor Zhao’s disciple, is, is this true?”
Several students, their faces flushed red, grabbed the young man’s sleeves, loudly asking for confirmation.
At this moment, if I say it’s a joke, I’ll probably get beaten up… The young man thought to himself, then nodded and said, “This is being spread in official circles, not just baseless rumors.”
“Hahaha, a series of joyous events today, we must have a big drink. Come, let’s go drinking.”
“No more studying today, let’s indulge ourselves for once.”
For a long time, the fact that Great Feng’s Poetry Champion was a warrior had been a thorn in the side of all scholars. Whenever it was mentioned, they felt both admiration and regret.
They believed that when future generations looked back on this period of history, they would surely mock this generation of scholars. After all, scholars care most about their posthumous reputation.
Now, knowing that Xu Qi An was a student of Yunlu Academy, they couldn’t be happier. Although there was a doctrinal dispute between the Yunlu Academy and the Imperial Academy, history books wouldn’t care about that.
They were all Confucian scholars.
The students of the Imperial Academy called their friends to go out drinking.
The Deputy Director reported this to the Chancellor, angrily saying, “Nearly half of the students in the Imperial Academy have gone out to carouse. Today isn’t even a rest day.”
The white-haired old Chancellor, leaning on a soft couch, said expressionlessly:
“Today’s events in court tell us that righteousness attracts support while immorality finds little aid. The sages do not deceive us.”
The Chancellor meant that one shouldn’t go against the masses, and when faced with great trends, one should appropriately abandon rules and make concessions… The Deputy Director hit a soft nail, frowning in thought.
…
In Huai Qing’s residence.
Huai Qing, dressed in plain white palace attire with her black hair cascading like a waterfall, sat at her desk. Her gaze turned to Lin An in her red dress, a faint smile on her face. “He has never disappointed anyone, has he?”
She sighed again, “After this incident, Father Emperor’s reputation and the prestige of the royal family will hit rock bottom.”
Biaobiao, with her oval face and peach blossom eyes, wore a sweet smile and said righteously, “If you do something wrong, you should admit it. Although I don’t like studying, the tutor taught us that being able to correct one’s mistakes is the greatest good.”
Being simple-minded can be a blessing… Huai Qing inwardly despised her sister but wouldn’t say it out loud.
Not to give Lin An a face, but because she would surely flare up and then pounce over to peck at her face.
Huai Qing found it annoying.
Smart people don’t make trouble for themselves.
Seeing Huai Qing not speaking, Lin An raised her snow-white chin, the intricate ornaments on her head swaying, and said coquettishly:
“Some people cry out about righteousness, saying Father Emperor did wrong, but when it comes time to actually do something, they immediately fall silent.”
As she spoke, she looked at Huai Qing with proud eyes, indicating that she had won this round, finally outmaneuvering Huai Qing for once.
Biaobiao was referring to bringing Li Miao Zhen and Heng Yuan into the imperial city and sheltering them.
Huai Qing smiled.
After Xu Qi An beheaded the two traitors, Lin An had swept away the frustration in her heart, and her whole person had regained her liveliness. Moreover, because she had harbored “rebels” the day before, having this participation, her thoughts had become clear.
Otherwise, she would surely have kept it bottled up inside for a long time. It might not have become a knot in her heart, but this pure and simple heart would have been somewhat overshadowed.
Huai Qing deliberately “gave” this merit to Lin An for this reason.
However, Huai Qing was not a sister who would tolerate Lin An’s provocations without reaction. She smiled approvingly and said, “Yes, you’re much more responsible than that brother of yours, the Crown Prince.”
Lin An’s little face immediately fell.
“I’m going back to my residence,” she said angrily as she stood up.
The sound of her jade pendants tinkling, a pale yellow hue caught Huai Qing’s eye. It was a smooth, lustrous jade pendant.
The cold Princess’s eyes paused slightly, and she frowned, “What’s that on your waist?”
Lin An extended her small white hand, palm cradling the jade pendant, and said with an “oh”:
“This is a jade pendant that the dog slave gave me. The material and craftsmanship are barely passable, but he carved it himself. Look, there are so many flaws. If it were bought, it definitely wouldn’t be like this.”
Having said this, she raised her face proudly, revealing her beautifully curved chin.
Perhaps without even realizing it, there was a hint of sweetness in her words.
Huai Qing’s fair face instantly seemed to have a storm pass over it, but it quickly returned to normal. She said coolly, “Get out, don’t stand here offending my eyes.”
“I was already leaving, hmph!”
Biaobiao felt indignant, thinking Huai Qing had called her back just to say this last sentence, to save face and put her down.
She turned away unhappily, swaying her slender waist, her skirt fluttering as she left the inner hall.
After the red dress had gone, Huai Qing angrily took out a small seal from her bosom and threw it on the ground as if venting her frustration.
After a while, she got up again, lifted her skirt to pick it up, and carefully examined it, finding that a small corner of the seal had chipped off.
Her two beautiful eyebrows immediately furrowed, showing some distress.
…
In a secret room of the Star-Observing Tower.
Xu Qi An took off the scrotum pouch and untied the red string, and two wisps of blue smoke emerged, transforming into the appearances of Que Yong Xiu and Duke Cao in midair.
As the two souls appeared, the room temperature dropped a few degrees.
This scrotum pouch was specially made by Li Miao Zhen. It could summon newly deceased ghosts without needing to draw an array because the pouch itself contained an array.
The Daoist sects were also skilled in crafting magical tools, although compared to sorcerers, it was a side business for them and a specialty for the latter.
Duke Cao and Que Yong Xiu had died recently and were still in a dazed state, answering questions without thought.
Xu Qi An first looked at Duke Cao: “How did you know about the massacre case?”
Duke Cao replied woodenly, “After Que Yong Xiu returned to the capital, he secretly met with His Majesty. Shortly after, I was summoned by His Majesty and informed of this matter.”
“What did he ask you to do?”
“Fully cooperate with him…” This included acting as a “stooge” in court and helping him spread rumors, among other things.
Duke Cao only learned about the massacre case afterward. Hmm, the value of this ghost plummeted.
Xu Qi An turned to look at Que Yong Xiu and said, “Do you know the whole story of the massacre case?”
Que Yong Xiu answered with a blank expression, “I know.”
“Tell me the whole story of the case.”
“…”
Ah, with such low intelligence, one indeed can’t exploit loopholes like this. I have to ask one question at a time… Xu Qi An inwardly despised himself and calmly asked:
“Do you know about the cooperation between the King of Beining, the Earth Sect Leader, and the high-ranking shaman of the Shaman Religion?”
“I know.”
“Emperor Yuanjing knew about this long ago?”
“The massacre was planned by His Majesty and the King of Huai…”
This answer didn’t surprise Xu Qi An, as he had already understood from Lord Wei’s hints that Emperor Yuanjing was likely one of the masterminds behind all this.
“Why massacre instead of starting a war?” Xu Qi An asked.
“The amount of blood essence needed was too massive, it would take too much time, and starting a war would introduce many uncontrollable factors into the plan. It wasn’t prudent,” Que Yong Xiu answered.
“What was Emperor Yuanjing’s true purpose in planning this?” Xu Qi An asked again.
He had always felt that Emperor Yuanjing’s excessive indulgence of the King of Beining, even his eagerness for the King’s advancement, didn’t fit the mentality of an emperor, especially a suspicious one.
Could the two words “martial idiot” really erase the suspicion and wariness of an emperor with such deep scheming?
“The King of Huai said that once he advanced to Second Grade, he could counterbalance the Guardian, giving the royal family a true pillar of the state. There would be no need to be overly wary of the Guardian and Yunlu Academy. This was also His Majesty’s wish.”
This reason isn’t enough, do you believe it?
Que Yong Xiu’s next words made Xu Qi An’s expression change slightly.
“His Majesty wanted to refine a soul pill.”
The soul, soul pill was for Emperor Yuanjing? This isn’t right. Didn’t Daoist Jin Lian say with certainty that the Earth Sect Leader needed the soul pill?
So, one brother wanted a blood pill, and the other wanted a soul pill, so they decided to fleece the common people…
Daoist Jin Lian had said that the uses of a soul pill were to strengthen the primordial spirit, serve as an alchemy material, refine magical treasures, repair incomplete souls, and cultivate artifact spirits… If it was just these, it didn’t seem enough to make Emperor Yuanjing risk the world’s condemnation and sacrifice the people of an entire city.
Of course, the soul pill was just one of the gains; the blood pill could help the King of Beining break through to Grand Perfection.
However, the beneficiary was the King of Beining. In comparison, Emperor Yuanjing’s gains didn’t seem to justify him taking this risk and making this decision.
When a person’s gains are not proportional to the risks they’re taking, things are not as simple as they appear on the surface… Xu Qi An pinched the bridge of his nose.
He didn’t ponder for too long and continued to ask, “Where is the soul pill?”
※※※
Note 1: The first sentence is from Emperor Wu of Han’s Imperial Edict of Self-Reproach, and the following is the beginning of the Chongzhen Emperor’s Imperial Edict of Self-Reproach.