Chapter 103

At the fifth quarter of the hour of the Tiger, the sky was still dark, and the officials began to arrive at the court one after another.

The palace gates were triple-layered, and officials were expected to dismount before the first gate.

The Grand Secretary, Jiang Yuanqing, though advanced in age, was specially permitted by the Emperor Tongxu to enter the palace in a carriage. However, Jiang Yuanqing was meticulous and adhered strictly to protocol, never accepting preferential treatment. Every day, he walked to the Xuanhui Hall along with the other officials.

Jiang Lianzhi personally helped Jiang Yuanqing out of the carriage.

Jiang Yuanqing looked up and saw a crowd kneeling in front of the palace gates.

These scholars had been kneeling since yesterday’s court session. Some who couldn’t hold on had already been helped away, leaving scattered gaps in the middle.

Jiang Yuanqing had advised them at the end of yesterday’s session, but they did not listen.

Shaking his head, Jiang Yuanqing freed himself from Jiang Lianzhi’s supporting hand and walked towards the palace gates with a straight back.

“Grand Secretary!”

Suddenly, a voice called out from the crowd.

Jiang Yuanqing turned his head and raised his hand to stop Jiang Lianzhi, who was about to speak. His gaze, steady and authoritative, swept over the crowd.

One person in the crowd struggled to stand, his legs numb from kneeling too long, and staggered forward. Three zhang (approximately ten meters) away from Jiang Yuanqing, he lifted his robe and knelt down again.

“Grand Secretary,” the student said, his back straight and head held high, “The Great Zhou has stood for hundreds of years, producing countless heroic generals who shed their blood at the borders and built the Great Zhou’s impregnable defenses with their bones and blood.”

“For months since the defeat at Yanliang Pass, the souls of a hundred thousand heroes cannot rest in peace. We students, under their protection, cannot sleep as long as treacherous ministers remain unpunished.”

“We kneel here today, asking the Emperor to deliver justice for the hundred thousand heroic souls.”

Jiang Yuanqing said in a deep voice, “His Majesty will thoroughly investigate this case. Your presence here is pressuring the Emperor.”

The student raised his head, “If it’s a thorough investigation, why is there no movement even after the treacherous ministers have been imprisoned for over a month?”

Jiang Yuanqing fell silent. He had brought this up during cabinet meetings, but the Emperor had not responded. The Emperor’s thoughts were unpredictable, and even the old ministers who had followed him for years could not fathom his intentions.

The student continued angrily, “Let the world open its eyes and see the Great Zhou’s crumbling state.”

“Watch your words!” Jiang Yuanqing scolded.

“With treacherous ministers in power, if they are not severely punished, where is the law of the land?”

Behind him, the students echoed indignantly, “Where is the law of the land?”

Jiang Yuanqing sternly rebuked, “Do you know the crime of attempting to influence the Emperor’s decisions?”

“The students are aware!”

Jiang Yuanqing frowned, noticing the student slowly rising to his feet. He suddenly sensed something was amiss.

“Wu fought to the death, and General Shen led the charge. We students are willing to sacrifice our flesh and blood to awaken the sleeping masses!”

Jiang Yuanqing’s eyes widened in anger. “Stop him!”

……

As the sky gradually brightened, a person hurriedly arrived outside Qingpu Residence.

“Has His Highness awakened?” the newcomer asked immediately.

The guard who accompanied him replied, “His Highness slept late last night, I don’t know if he has woken up yet.”

As they walked into the courtyard, Xifeng, who was under the eaves, exchanged a glance with the newcomer and turned to gently knock on the door.

“Your Highness, there is news from the palace.”

Inside, Xie Tingzhou’s lazy voice responded, “Come in.”

Xie Tingzhou had just woken up and had not yet risen. He sat on the edge of the bed, wrapped in an outer robe.

The secret guards had different roles; some were responsible for protection, while others gathered intelligence. The newcomer was a secret guard responsible for intelligence.

The secret guard knelt on one knee. “Those students did not disperse all night. This morning, during the court session, one student called out to Grand Secretary Jiang Yuanqing at the palace gates. After a passionate speech, he dashed his head against the gate and died.”

Xie Tingzhou’s hand, which had been massaging his brow, suddenly stopped. “And then?”

The secret guard continued, “When entering the second gate, another student from the Imperial College did the same.”

Xie Tingzhou took a deep breath and was silent for a long time.

The secret guard added, “His Majesty was so angered that he collapsed and summoned the imperial physician. He canceled today’s morning court and ordered a court trial tomorrow morning.”

A court trial means bringing the case to the Hall of Fengtian for a public hearing before the Emperor and all officials, signifying Tongxu Emperor’s concession to the thousands of scholars.

Voices could be heard in the courtyard, and Xie Tingzhou frowned slightly, saying, “Let her in.”

Shen Yu stepped through the door just as Xie Tingzhou had risen and was wrapping his robe as he emerged from behind the screen.

“Tomorrow’s morning court will have a court trial.”

Shen Yu’s eyes widened. “The Emperor compromised just like that? What happened?”

Xie Tingzhou looked at her. “Two students died in protest, their blood spilled at the Chengtian Gate.”

Shen Yu was momentarily stunned, her eyelashes slowly lowering.

Xie Tingzhou watched her face and gestured for Xifeng and the secret guard to withdraw.

Xie Tingzhou said softly, “You don’t need to blame yourself for this. The foundations of the Great Zhou have been rotten for hundreds of years, with corrupt officials rampant and thousands of refugees everywhere. Do you think the students don’t understand this? The Yanliang Pass incident is just a catalyst. Those students did not die protesting merely for Yanliang Pass but for loyalty and righteousness.”

Shen Yu turned her head to look at Xie Tingzhou, actually calmer than she had imagined.

“Has the case been delayed because it cannot be clarified, or because the results cannot be made public?”

Xie Tingzhou’s eyes flickered as he looked back at her, and they both understood each other without speaking.

Shen Yu walked over and looked up at him. “Since Emperor Tongxu has ordered a court trial tomorrow, it means the case has been resolved. But why delay until now? What kind of result is so burdensome that he has held out against public opinion for so long?”

“We’ll know the result tomorrow,” Xie Tingzhou reassured her. “Speculating now is pointless.”

Shen Yu nodded, her thoughts calming somewhat, but she still remembered the two students who died in protest.

“I want to provide some compensation to the families of those two students.”

“I’ve said before, their protest was their choice. You don’t need to feel guilty,” Xie Tingzhou said.

Shen Yu shook her head. “I don’t feel guilty. Everyone has their own ambitions. I merely reported what I saw at the border without any embellishment. They chose to serve the country with their kind hearts, and I respect that. Therefore, I am willing to help take care of their families.”

Xie Tingzhou slowly nodded and walked to the window, looking at the lush greenery in the courtyard.

A gust of wind rustled through the forest, carrying a sense of impending doom.

“Just wait and see,” Xie Tingzhou said solemnly. “Today’s protest deaths are only the beginning. The veil covering the Great Zhou’s shame is about to be torn off.”