472 Those Forgotten Names (2/2)
Without paying attention to others' reaction, Zeng Jing held the decree and continued announcing in a slightly trembling voice, ”Today, the treason case of Lin Guangyuan, the former Xuanwei General, is officially revoked due to the lack of evidence...”
Through the Grand Secretary's slightly trembling voice, those names on the decree were announced one by one. They floated in the wind and snow, and then struck against the vermilion wall.
”Xuanwei General Lin Guangyuan...”
”Mrs. Lin Guangyuan...”
”Deputy General Sha Gang...”
”Captain Cheng Xinzheng...”
”Secretary Lin Hai...”
”Officer Hu Hua...”
Listening to these names, which had long disappeared in history, and the imperial orders, which recovered and improved their ranks, the people before the palace fell into absolute silence.
The decree of His Majesty didn't mention rejudging the case. However, the Prince had to resign his rank, and all generals and soldiers involved were rehabilitated. Was...the result any different from reversing the verdict?
People finally understood what the palace meant.
His Majesty once wanted to reverse the treason verdict for the Xuanwei General. However, he failed because of the imperial situation, the West-Hill Divine Palace and the lack of evidence.
Today, the Academy acquiesced Ning Que's challenge to Xia Hou, which brought a tricky problem to the imperial court. However, His Majesty still couldn't reverse the verdict when there wasn't evidence. Thus, he chose such a way.
It wasn't a reversal of the verdict, but, it actually equaled to reversing.
At least, it could give an explanation to those who unjustly suffered and today's Ning Que.
When the announcement began, Xia Hou stood up from his chair. The decree didn't mention him, but his brows gradually frowned and then slowly sat down.
Those names were still floating in the wind and snow.
Xia Hou knew those names and even met those people.
Over a decade ago, he once witnessed their deaths. He saw those mountains of heads with closed eyes, open eyes, despairing eyes and angry eyes.
Those names were mentioned again after more than ten years, and then went into his ears in front of the palace. He became more and more silent, with his expression more and more livid. Besides, he held the chair armrests tighter and tighter.
He felt neither guilty nor dejected.
He was just enraged.
The armchairs were crumbled into powder, and then, through his fingers, fell on the snowfield with anger.
No one paid attention to the current emotions of General Xia Hou.
Because the decree of His Majesty didn't mention him.
From a legal perspective, Xia Hou wasn't a General anymore.
What he needed to do was to accept it peacefully and then leave Chang'an in earnest.
Everyone's eyes fell on Ning Que.
They knew who the decree of His Majesty was for.
If the palace wanted to stop the life-and-death battle, they could only hope Ning Que would withdraw the challenge invitation.
His Majesty reversed the case for Lin Guangyuan and rewarded his generations today. All that he did was just for one aim.
Looking at Ning Que under the black umbrella, the people before the palace thought this matter had come to an end.
From the moment when he heard the three words 'Lin Guang Yuan', Ning Que lowered his head and attentively looked at the thick snow under his feet. He intently listened to those names which appeared one by one.
He had never heard those names, so he listened very carefully today. However, his facial expressions were very complex, relieved, disappointed and self-mocking.
Eventually, the names on the imperial edict were all announced.
The Grand Secretary Zeng Jing and the Nation Master Li Qingshan walked toward him, and then solemnly passed the imperial edict to him.
Ning Que took it and kept silent.
With a serious expression, Li Qingshan said, ”His Majesty said he can grant you amnesty as long as you admit to previous murder cases, because you indeed have a forgivable reason. Besides, if you think the resignation of the Prince isn't enough to appease your anger, His Majesty and Her Majesty will, on behalf of General Xia Hou, apologize to you and compensate for it.”
The Nation Master said in a very low voice and the sound was covered by the wind and snow. Except Ning Que and him, no one else could hear of it, but others also knew what he was talking about with Ning Que.
However, Ning Que made an unexpected decision, when all people thought that things would end here and were gradually starting to feel relieved.
After putting the imperial edict on the chair behind him, Ning Que raised his palms and laughed as he looked at Li Qingshan, Zeng Jing and people in front of the palace.
Ning Que started to applaud.
His movement was very gentle at the beginning, but then it became stronger and stronger. The strength was so powerful that it sounded as if it was flapping against a wall. The wound on his palms split again, with blood gruesomely flowing.
”Clap! Clap!”
”Clap! Clap! Clap!”
”Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap!”
With the sound of clapping becoming louder and louder, the blood kept coming out his palms. It fell on his body, then to his legs, and lastly to the snow in the ground.
Looking at this scene, the people before the palace sensed a feeling of cold and terror again. They gradually felt chilly along with the wind and snow.
”His Majesty is very clement and the law of Tang Empire does work a little. I'm relieved and satisfied as those names on the imperial edict can be heard in Chang'an again.”
Ning Que said with emotion, ”But eventually, it's a pity that some names have been forgotten. I feel very sorry.”
Zeng Jing nervously asked, ”Who's been omitted? I'll tell His Majesty immediately.”
Ning Que smilingly said, ”Many names in the General's Mansion have been omitted, such as grooms, cooks, maidservants and...my parents.”
Zeng Jing said with puzzlement, ”The general and his wife are conferred first...”
Looking at the snow by his feet and the blood spot on the snow, Ning Que said after long silence, ”The general and his wife aren't my parents.”
The wind and snow suddenly stopped as the words were uttered.
-