Chapter 37

Feng Huan paused for a moment and whispered from the side, “Your Majesty, the members of the Xiao family have been blocked outside the palace gates by the imperial guards. Every one of the female dependents is injured, and outside the gates, many commoners have gathered—kneeling to plead with Your Majesty to restore justice for the Xiao family…”

Emperor Qing’s expression darkened as he glared sharply at Duke Yu.

With a sudden thud, Duke Yu fell to his knees. “Your Majesty, please calm your anger. I fear there has been a misunderstanding. Luo Yu is not a man of rash impulsiveness—perhaps he has indeed uncovered some incriminating evidence…”

“Then why, if there is any evidence, can’t we first request Your Majesty’s command before apprehending the culprits?”

Lord Jian’an spoke sharply and without any courtesy, “Since when has Your Majesty’s garrison become Luo Yu’s private property? Without seeking permission or receiving an imperial decree, he unilaterally mobilized the garrison troops to surround and assault a high-ranking minister’s residence—thus undermining the imperial edicts. Is it that one day, if Luo Yu claims there is treason in the palace, he will lead the garrison in a reckless incursion into the Forbidden City?”

Seeing that Emperor Qing’s gaze had grown even more severe—with his face turning pale—Duke Yu said, “Your Majesty, I, your old servant, truly do not know this matter. Although I have been ordered to interrogate the Xiao family, Luo Yu does not fall under my jurisdiction, so I do not know why he has acted in this way.”

Lord Jian’an sneered, “Then why have I heard that every time you interrogate Xie Yunyan, you always bring along Luo Yu?”

“That was under Your Majesty’s orders…”

“Then is today’s act of smashing coffins and forcefully barging into the Xiao household also done on Your Majesty’s command?”

“I…”

Duke Yu, red-faced with anger, retorted, “Lord Jian’an, do not slander me. I have been inside the palace all day—how could I possibly know what Luo Yu has done?”

“Really?” Lord Jian’an smirked. “Perhaps you have already conspired with someone—planning to have Luo Yu take the fall for everything…”

Before Duke Yu could retort further, a sharp shout rang out: “Enough!”

Emperor Qing’s face tightened even further as he exclaimed, “What are you arguing about? Do you take this grand hall for a marketplace?!”

Lord Jian’an fell silent in a huff, though he still snorted coldly.

After casting an expressionless glance at Duke Yu, Emperor Qing turned to Feng Huan and asked, “How many people are gathered in front of the palace gates?”

“Not less than several hundred— and their numbers are only growing…”

The Xiao family’s defeat—and the allegation that they colluded with the enemy—had always been shrouded in suspicion. Now, with the elderly matriarch of the Xiao family arriving while bearing the remains of Xiao Jin to demand justice, the commotion among the commoners was inevitable. Moreover, even the garrison troops originally dispatched to capture members of the Xiao family have now “mutinied.”

As the members of the Xiao family made their way here, the news had long since spread.

In the capital, many people already doubted the accusations against the Xiao family. Scholars and literati flocked toward the palace gate, and as their numbers swelled, a dense, oppressive crowd pressed against it.

“Commander Yan has already sent troops to station themselves before the palace gate. However, they can only block the people from entering; they dare not disperse them forcibly…”

Bo Ying had not expected the Xiao family to go so far. His eyes flickered momentarily before he spoke, “Your Majesty, it is of little use to determine under whose orders Luo Yu is acting. What matters most is to pacify the hearts of the people and have the members of the Xiao family withdraw.”

Lord Jian’an interjected sharply, “Smashing coffins and desecrating corpses is inhumane. Your Majesty must not allow such a disgrace to fall upon you.”

“The garrison’s actions must be held accountable, or else the people’s trust can never be restored.”

Emperor Qing’s expression changed as he spoke in turn, “Feng Huan, issue an order to arrest Luo Yu along with today’s ringleaders from the garrison. Inform the Xiao family that today’s incident was not carried out on my orders; instruct them to first inter the remains of Xiao Jin, and I will provide them with a full explanation on this matter.”

After Feng Huan nodded, he quickly departed. The hall fell into an utter, suffocating silence, and no one dared speak.

After the span of a tea break, Feng Huan hurriedly returned. The atmosphere had grown even tenser because news from outside the palace gate reported that the members of the Xiao family refused to leave.

“I have already promised to launch a full investigation. What more does she expect?!”

Feng Huan replied in a trembling tone, “Old Madam Xiao said that ten days ago, Your Majesty declared an order for a thorough investigation. The entire Xiao family trusted that You Majesty would exonerate General Xiao, but instead, his and his men’s remains have been desecrated and Xie Yunyan has suffered a broken leg and permanent injury.”

“She claimed that if Your Majesty still cared even a bit about the Xiao family—or remembered the many years of their meritorious service—then this case should be reviewed immediately.”

Old Madam Xiao spoke with a determined tone. She declared that she would confront any official in the current court who dared implicate Xiao Jin. She stated that if the Xiao family were truly guilty, she would be the first to sacrifice her life in total family extermination, but if they were innocent, then Emperor Qing must clear their name on the spot so that Xiao Jin and his predecessors remain untainted even in the afterlife.

“Outrageous!!”

Feng Huan’s face turned pale, and he shuddered in fright. The several elderly ministers remained silent, each recognizing that Old Madam Xiao was throwing everything to the wall. She brandished the remains of Xiao Jin and his son, leveraging not only the Xiao family’s long history of service but also the loyalty of the people to coerce Emperor Qing. If the Emperor neglects to investigate—regardless of whether the Xiao family colluded with the enemy—then any subsequent treatment of the family by the court would forever cast a pall of suspicion and doubt over the imperial house.

Everyone would suspect that it was not because the Emperor was fair but because he could not tolerate the Xiao family, feared their influential service, or was manipulated by someone intent on framing them. Even if the Xiao family were indeed guilty, Emperor Qing would be left with a legacy of condemnation.

Lord Jian’an, a close friend of Xiao Jin, immediately knelt and said,
“Your Majesty, what the Xiao family seeks is nothing more than justice. I beg Your Majesty to investigate this matter rigorously, to determine the truth behind the allegations that Xiao Jin colluded with the enemy, and thereby clear the name of the Xiao family.”

Several others also knelt and said, “We second that.”

Duke Yu spoke urgently, “Your Majesty, while the case of the Xiao family must indeed be examined, the manner in which they are coercing is an act of insubordination.”

“If Your Majesty were to accede to the Xiao family’s demands, wouldn’t that set a precedent? In the future, when anyone suffers an injustice, they will follow their example—daring to break into the palace uninvited and inciting the people to threaten Your Majesty. Such a precedent must never be allowed!”

“Ridiculous!” Lord Jian’an, who had long held Duke Yu in contempt, turned away and remarked, “The Xiao family is only demanding the justice that Heaven itself provides. Were it not for the garrison falsely proclaiming a royal edict beforehand—an act that insulted the spirits of the deceased members of the Xiao family—how could they ever be driven, in their grief and anger, to storm the palace?”

“Speaking of which, Duke Yu, you have been ordered to interrogate the Xiao family for nearly half a month now—what have you uncovered?”

“You dare not let Your Majesty personally preside over the Xiao case. Is it because you believe the Xiao family has committed insolence or because they are entirely innocent of treason? You fear that if they ever confront someone, it will ruin the benefit you so eagerly covet.”

Duke Yu’s face darkened sharply as he retorted, “Li Xie, cease your nonsense! Whether or not the Xiao family has committed treason is not my concern!”

“Who knows?” Lord Jian’an let out a cold laugh and said, “After all, who else can be as zealously eager as you to prove that the Xiao family colluded with the enemy?”

“Preposterous!” Duke Yu shot back, glaring furiously.

Lord Jian’an continued, “Since you claim it has nothing to do with you, why do you fear Your Majesty’s public hearing of this case?”

“The men dispatched from Linchuan to make arrests have already arrived in the capital. Since they are accusing Xiao Jin of colluding with the enemy, they ought to produce evidence and force a face-to-face confrontation with the members of the Xiao family.”

“If the Xiao family is guilty, then their breaking into the palace is unquestionably inexcusable.”

“But if the Xiao family is innocent, and these allegations are nothing more than groundless slander designed to deceive the court and persecute them, then their actions today are merely the desperate result of being backed into a corner.”

“Your Majesty is wise and has long benefited from the great merits of the Xiao family—with Xiao Jin especially cherished as a close friend and trusted minister. He would never, because of a few malicious rumors from treacherous knaves, disregard the Xiao family’s decades of loyal and courageous service nor leave the ministers in court disheartened!”

Although Lord Jian’an appeared brusque—and every word he spoke was aimed at Duke Yu—in truth, he was referring to Emperor Qing. As Duke Yu watched Emperor Qing’s expression darken, his heart suddenly shuddered.

It was over.