Chapter 80 (1/1)

And so, by the tion Throne, the courtiers below the dais had already arrayed the down, they shouted their custo life If this had been a usual day, Wanyan Xu would have allowed the assembled courtiers to rise to their feet after that, but fury was boiling in his heart today With a grim look on his face, he said coldly: “Is this considered to be you paying respect to me [1]? What loyalthat for you to come here so early on the second day of the New Year for court, your intentionsto coerce me from where you left off on New Year's Eve”

He said these lines in a voice that was both hard and cold, when the assee heard them, a layer of cold sweat appeared on their foreheads In unison, they said: “Your subjects will never dare We are here because although it is still the New Year [2], we did not receive Your Majesty's decree that we shall be exe the holidays, therefore your subjects did not dare to neglect our duties”

Pretending that he had suddenly came to realise that he had made a mistake, Wanyan Xu nodded and said: “Oh, I see, so the various ministers have not come to compel ood, that’s good Also, on the previous night, my state of ravity of the Empress's illness, therefore I omitted to mention that the ministers need not attend court for the duration of the New Year Doesn't matter, I'll say it now Court will resu ht to the Inner Court and request an audience with me to make your report That’s all, court is dismissed” With these few lines, he sealed the lips of all the ministers After that, he stood up with a serene smile and prepared to leave with a flick of his sleeves

Never in ten-thousand years would the htforward Fro had said That is, the Eed to survive this great calaain How could the cadre of i to happen under their watch? They looked at each other questioningly, finally, the high official He Jian stepped up As the Minister in charge of the Ministry of Justice, he held the portfolio for the proper dispensation of justice throughout the whole real to your Majesty, your subject has a petition”

Wanyan Xu gave a cold “huest flaw in loyal ministers is that they do not kno to read the atenial smile, he said: “Oh? If the honourable minister has a petition, then pray subo and accoain in the long time that I have been away from his side”

He Jian understood clearly that the Emperor had deliberately said these words for his benefit, so that He Jian will get the hint and be able to back off with good grace But how could he retreat froed and with a sole to Your Majesty, Su Yi intended to incite a rebellion, his criht, his fate should have been sealed, but he was spared because Your Majesty took into account histhe Crown Prince and exeh the Emperor's actions had been in violation of the prescribed laws but they could be excused under the circu medical treat his safety, with nary a care for the laws of this Celestial E that has happened has proven beyond the shadow of a doubt that this Su Yi is really good at confounding and char people For the sake of our Jin Liao state and lands, I hope that Your Majesty would be impartial enforce the law strictly Sentence him to death, as set out in the laws of our land” With that said, he knelt and did not get up Koing, he said: “This old ood of our land and people, and reject being confused by that sorcerer again” At this, all the ministers of the court also knelt down

Wanyan Xu gave a cold suessed that you courtiers would surely have this matter in mind when you ca received the edict about being exelect your posts was merely a front In fact, you came here to try to force my hand on this issue Fine, since we have reached the point of no return in our conversation today, I shall also tell you plainly that I have decided that Su Yi will be pardoned for his crimes and he will also be restored to his former status as the Empress Since I have said this, be assured that I will never change my mind”

Slowly, he swept his eyes over each and every courtier in the hall, all of who at hilearee, then everybody can be happy and the ruler and hisin harmony If anyone wants to depose me because of this, do not hesitate to step up If anybody thinks to use the threat of their death as ame to relent, humph humph, well then everyone of you should already know that my heart is as hard as iron Since I could stand by and watch as the Eh bitter hardshi+p for half a year, si an eye, I can watch you die in the ti yourselves what course you shall follow”

The ministers looked at each other incredulously, none of the to believe that this was none other than their eminently wise Son of Heaven For a ti erief Suddenly, they saw that Wanyan Xu had turned back Looking at He Jian, he said: “Honoured Minister He, if you do not intend to resign fro that I wish for you to investigate” Without waiting for He Jian’s reply, he forged ahead and said: “With regards to Empress Su Yi's rebellion, it now seems that the whole episode is riddled with many loopholes If he really wished to restore the Great Qi E unto death, then he should not have confessed his affection forso, would he not besmirch his reputation? He really should not have done that if he had intended to die as a patriot of the Great Qi And if we take it to s for me all this time, then ould he plot a rebellion so readily? Not tohappened so suddenly The first i the facts clearly, I jumped to conclusions Noant you to examine the evidence in this case e about it”

After Wanyan Xu finished his speech, the pack ofhad broken out in cold sweat and the droplets were sliding down steadily When he noticed that nobody was paying him much mind, he stealthily wiped theed in heated discussion Passionately, they had divided into two camps One of theineer an acquittal for Su Yi while the other faction felt that the investigation was justified because there was merit to the Emperor's doubts about the veracity of the evidence

With a cold smile on his face, Wanyan Xu looked on as they continued to debate,no move to stop them Just as he was about to leave, he suddenly heard Wanyan Shuo's voice ring out from beyond the door He said: “Irievances of Mother Empress Your son and subject has found evidence that proves that Mother Eht this wrong for Mother Empress” The effect of his re an artillery shell into a body of water that was already roiling After a burst of startled cries, everyone's eyes were locked onto the person of the Crown Prince Wanyan Shuo as he slowly made his way into the hall