Chapter 214 Bloodbath in the Imperial Court
Reading Settings
Chapter 214 Bloodbath in the Imperial Court
After seeing off the little woman who went to the Cold Palace to "take revenge," Pei Yunjing turned around and returned to the high platform of the Hall of Supreme Harmony.
He sat down again on the large chair covered with tiger skin, his long legs crossed, one hand supporting his chin, his expression so languid that it seemed as if everything that had just happened was merely a farce.
This time, however, he wasn't holding a wine glass. Instead, he was holding a list that had already been prepared, stained with the scent of ink and a murderous aura.
His Highness's courtiers remained kneeling amidst the mess on the ground.
The air, a mixture of animal stench and the stench of fear and sweat, was suffocating.
"Han Zheng".
Pei Yunjing spoke calmly.
"Your subordinate is here."
Han Zheng, clad in black armor and exuding a menacing aura, strode forward, his hand on the hilt of his sword, and stood below the steps.
Pei Yunjing unfolded the list in his hand, his fingertips gently tracing over the familiar names on it.
These names include the Empress Dowager's close associates, the arrogant man who spoke disrespectfully to Tang Li at the banquet, and... the cunning and treacherous ones who have been like termites clinging to the Empress Dowager's wing, sucking the blood of the Great Sheng Kingdom over the years.
"Those whose names are called, drag them out."
Pei Yunjing's voice wasn't loud, and it was as calm as if he were taking attendance, yet it sent a chill down everyone's spine:
“Just outside the hall, behead him.”
No trial is needed, no confessions are needed, and they don't even need a chance to defend themselves.
"Minister of Personnel, Zhao Wuji."
Pei Yunjing read out the first name.
Grand Secretary Zhao, kneeling in the front row, trembled violently. He suddenly raised his head, his face filled with disbelief: "Your Highness?! This old minister... this old minister is a veteran of two dynasties!"
Two fierce-looking black-armored guards didn't give him a chance to talk nonsense. They stepped forward, grabbed his arms on either side, and dragged him out of the hall like a dead dog.
"No! I am a Grand Secretary! I am a confidant of the Empress Dowager! You cannot kill me!"
"ah--!!!"
The screams stopped abruptly as soon as they reached the palace gate.
Immediately following was a dull thud as something heavy fell to the ground.
That was the sound of a head rolling off.
The ministers inside the hall were so frightened that they went limp, and some even began to lose control of their bladders.
"Li Canghai, Vice Minister of War."
Pei Yunjing continued reading, his tone completely unchanged.
That was Li Shuang's father.
Lord Li, who had previously tried to use his daughter to advance his position and even threatened Tang Li, was now ashen-faced and too weak to even beg for mercy. He was dragged away.
"Crack".
Another head.
“Sun Tong, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites.”
"The Imperial Censor-in-Chief, Qian Wei..."
One name after another was uttered from Pei Yunjing's thin lips, and with each name he uttered, a life ended outside the palace.
The white marble plaza outside the Hall of Supreme Harmony was quickly stained red with blood.
The piles of firewood that were originally used to "burn the witch to death" have now become torches illuminating the execution ground, making the rolling heads look particularly grotesque.
"Stop! Stop!"
Finally, one of the self-proclaimed upright officials could no longer bear it. He stood up shakily, pointed at Pei Yunjing on the high platform, and roared in grief and indignation:
"Regent! What are you doing?!"
"You executed a high-ranking official of the court without a joint trial by the three judicial departments or an imperial edict! This is dictatorship! This is tyranny!"
"Aren't you afraid that by indiscriminately killing innocent people, you will be condemned by history and leave a lasting stain on your reputation?!"
His question echoed in the hall, carrying a tragic and heroic spirit of "I will go even if there are thousands of people against me."
Pei Yunjing stopped reading the list.
He slowly raised his eyelids, looked at the indignant old minister, his eyes showing no remorse, only unfathomable mockery.
"tyranny?"
Pei Yunjing chuckled and casually tossed the list in his hand onto the table.
He stood up and walked down the platform step by step until he stood in front of the old minister.
The oppressive feeling brought back from the mountains of corpses and seas of blood forced the old minister to retreat repeatedly.
"You dare talk to me about tyranny?"
Pei Yunjing pointed to the dark night sky outside the palace, and to the distant northern border:
"When 200,000 iron cavalry from the Northern Rong pressed in, when Yanmen Pass was about to fall, when the people of this city were about to become slaves of foreign tribes..."
"What are you so-called loyal subjects doing?"
He stared intently into the old minister's eyes, his voice chilling:
"You live a life of debauchery in the capital, scheming against each other in the court, and fawning over the Empress Dowager!"
"If I hadn't been fighting enemies in the north, if I hadn't used these hands to cut off Tuoba Xiao's head..."
Pei Yunjing suddenly drew his "Zhanwang" sword from his waist and cleaved the old minister's desk in two with a single stroke:
"You bunch of good-for-nothings, you've long since become ghosts under the swords of the Northern Rong people, and mud under their horses' hooves!"
"You enjoy the peace that I risked my life for, and you enjoy my protection..."
Pei Yunjing's eyes suddenly turned fierce, like an enraged dragon:
"Yet you still plot against my woman behind her back, trying to kill her..."
"Then don't blame me for unleashing a bloodbath!"
He didn't want to be a saint, nor did he care about the iron grip of history. He only knew that whoever harmed someone he cared about would die.
"Drag it down."
Pei Yunjing turned away, no longer looking at the pale-faced, speechless old minister:
"Cut it down."
"yes!"