Since Du Guanliu could tell that today’s events were orchestrated by His Majesty, there were naturally other sharp-eyed officials who could figure it out as well.
Though they knew the Du family had brought disaster upon themselves and deserved death, seeing the colossus that had always loomed before them suddenly collapse inevitably left some officials sighing inwardly. Even more unsettling was the inexplicable dread that crept into their hearts.
His Majesty’s depth of calculation and brilliance of method were truly impossible to guard against. If they offended His Majesty one day, would they become the next Du family…?
Some members of the Du faction noticed that the atmosphere was off and still wanted to make one last desperate struggle. Burning with hatred, one of them glared at Yun Yaoyao and shouted, “Even if the Du family was guilty, Lord Du was still a senior minister who served two reigns and made countless contributions to Yan Chi! Now, simply because you feared the Du family would block your path, you’ve cast us aside once we were no longer useful. How utterly chilling!”
“First you eliminated Lou Jianshan, then killed Yun Liang, then Tushan Ze, and now you’re wiping out the entire Du family! You kill senior ministers and butcher your own kin—you’re cold-blooded and heartless! Who will be the next minister to die?”
“Fellow colleagues, if any of you once stood in His Majesty’s way or offended His Majesty, you’d better be care—”
“To hell with your father and mother!” Gao Chongguang launched himself forward and kicked the man so hard that his head twisted sideways. Pointing at his nose, he cursed, “His Majesty is killing you because you deserve to die! Otherwise, why would His Majesty kill only you and not me? And you still dare to stir up trouble? Only someone with a diseased brain would believe you!”
Several officials with diseased brains: “…”
Er… They felt a little offended.
Yun Yaoyao swept her gaze over the group and immediately saw that some officials truly had begun to worry.
There had been far too much strife in court recently. It was time to calm everyone down properly.
Otherwise, once people’s hearts grew unsettled, all sorts of trouble could easily arise.
Thus, Yun Yaoyao instantly transformed into a generous dispenser of wealth. With a grand wave of both hands, she declared, “Evil shall be curbed, and virtue shall be rewarded. I kill only the parasites of the imperial court. As for those officials who faithfully perform their duties and remain true to their responsibilities, I shall recognize and reward them! The end of the year is approaching, and all of you have worked hard. You deserve a reward!”
“Lord Zhou, when this year’s salaries are distributed, add another item to every official’s pay—a year-end bonus. This year’s bonus shall be half a year’s salary! In addition, based on each official’s performance over the year, add a performance bonus as well. You may arrange the specifics yourself. This year, be sure that every official has a comfortable sum in his purse and can enjoy a prosperous New Year!”
After all, there was still a Du family to confiscate later. Take from the officials and use it for the officials~
The officials’ uneasy hearts immediately settled. The smiles on their faces were impossible to suppress—utterly impossible.
What could be more important than receiving their salaries? Obviously, learning that they would be receiving at least another half-year’s salary!
How was His Majesty calculating and scheming? This was clearly painstaking care and love for her ministers as though they were her own children!
“Thank you, Your Majesty!”
“His Majesty is wise! Loving the people as a parent and embracing the whole realm—serving under His Majesty is our good fortune!”
The Du faction: “…”
Those damn fence-sitters! They were enjoying the money confiscated from the Du family, yet they even dared to act grateful. They deserved to die!
The imperial guards were just about to take the members of the Du faction away. At the front, Du Guanliu’s gaze grew dark and unreadable as his fingertip slowly rubbed the thumb ring on his hand.
The next moment, something unexpected happened.
A dense rain of arrows tore through the air from every direction. The imperial guards and Dragon Shadow Guards immediately raised their shields and drew their swords to block the arrows.
At the same time, someone below the city wall began scattering copper coins and silver notes. The commoners swarmed forward to snatch them, and the crowd instantly descended into chaos.
Du Guanliu seized the opportunity to strike. With a twist of his thumb ring, he pulled out a sharp, silvery wire hidden within and lunged toward Yun Yaoyao.
Yun Yaoyao had been standing with her side turned toward him and had not been on guard. There was no time for her to react. The wire was about to tighten around her neck.
Who would have thought that a sharp sword would suddenly flash toward them? With a streak of silver light, it severed one of Du Guanliu’s arms.
“Ahhh!” Du Guanliu let out a shriek more horrific than a boar being castrated. He turned his head and met a pair of icy, limpid eyes. “It’s you!”
A large group of unfamiliar soldiers had already surged up from beneath Xuan’de Gate and the hidden stairways in the city wall, clashing with the imperial guards.
The members of the Du faction hurriedly hauled Du Guanliu up and surrounded him, protecting him as they fled, intending to join up with the newly arrived troops.
The scene descended into complete chaos. Soldiers fought one another, the Du faction fled, while the neutral officials and royalists scattered in panic. Some crawled beneath tables, others hid from the arrows. Preserving their own lives was all that mattered.
No one had expected Du Guanliu to have troops lying in ambush near Xuan’de Gate in advance, keeping this final trump card hidden.
Even Yun Yaoyao herself had not anticipated it.
Even a sinking ship still had three nails left, let alone the deep-rooted Du family. The troops they had raised were no pushovers.
After a terrifying and bloody battle, less than half of the Du faction managed to escape. Most died on the spot, while Du Guanliu and the other core members made it out through Xuan’de Gate.
Yun Yaoyao and Tu Shanjin stood atop the city wall, gazing into the distance at the fleeing figures gradually disappearing from view.
“They won’t get far. Even if they escape the capital, they’ll be hunted without pause. The deed is done, and the Du faction can no longer stir up any waves.” As he spoke, Tu Shanjin handed over the bloodstained sword in his hand.
A Dragon Shadow Guard hurriedly took the sword. He glanced at that breathtakingly beautiful face, then immediately looked away.
Good heavens! Just now, Concubine Sha had flicked the sword from his waist with a single swift motion, then with another swift motion severed Old Thief Du’s arm. Her movements had been clean and decisive, yet the hand returning the sword was so fair and delicate.
Truly… an unmatched warrior consort!
Yun Yaoyao nodded. “Fortunately, you were there just now. That old bastard wanted to ambush me and take me hostage. Now that the final scourge in the court has finally been eliminated, we can enjoy some peace and quiet from here on.”
The chaos had been quelled. It was time for Yun Yaoyao to step forward and reward everyone according to their merits.
“In this campaign to destroy the Du faction, the Gao father and son have rendered outstanding service!”
Gao Dexiang and Gao Chongguang hurriedly knelt on the ground together, awaiting the imperial favor.
Yun Yaoyao cleared her throat and said solemnly, “Vice Minister Gao Dexiang fed himself to the tiger, lying in wait beside Du Guanliu for years and gathering evidence of his crimes, thereby eliminating a great threat. He has demonstrated both talent and virtue, as well as extraordinary courage and resolve. Since the position of Minister of Personnel is vacant, Vice Minister Gao shall be promoted to fill it!”
The moment those words fell, Gao Dexiang’s breathing trembled with excitement.
Minister…
His Majesty was actually promoting him to Minister!
He had indeed rendered great service in the destruction of the Du faction. He had provided the records of their crimes, and he had been the one to discover and report that the Du residence was hiding Tushan Ze’s bloodline. It was merely that the information had ultimately been presented through Consort Ling…
But this was the position of Minister!
No one in the Gao family’s generations had ever become a minister!
If he truly became a minister, then in the future, they could even begin rewriting the Gao family genealogy with his name!
Gao Dexiang suppressed his excitement and knocked his forehead against the ground. “Thank you, Your Majesty! This humble subject swears to follow Your Majesty to the death!”
Gao Chongguang, however, was stunned.
The good news: The Gao family truly had produced a minister.
The bad news: The minister wasn’t him. It was the father he had recruited!
Gao Chongguang clutched his chest in anguish and looked at his father as though he were a heartless woman who had betrayed him.
“Father, I’ve given you my whole heart, yet you’ve been playing tricks behind my back! His Majesty clearly said that I had the talent to become a minister. I brought you over here, and you stole the position right out from under me. You… sob, sob!”
From now on, the first incense offered by the descendants of the Gao family could no longer be offered in his name!
Gao Dexiang hurriedly shook off his hand, both annoyed and amused. In a low voice, he scolded, “You wretch, shut your mouth! So many eyes are watching us!”
“Lord Gao,” Yun Yaoyao called.
Gao Chongguang wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes, his entire body radiating a faint, resentful air. “There are two Lords Gao here. Which one are you calling, Your Majesty?”
Yun Yaoyao said, “There are indeed two of you, but at this moment, I find this Lord Gao more admirable.”
What she admired was his unwavering confidence, despite clearly having no brainstem and never once suffering from pointless inner conflict.
“Your Majesty!” Gao Chongguang choked out.
Yun Yaoyao once again opened her mouth that could speak one way to people and another way to ghosts. “Lord Gao, anyone capable of serving as a minister of the court must bear a heavy burden. But I do not wish to see you run ragged every day. I much prefer the youthful abandon you possess… and so on and so forth.”
With only a few brief words—and without granting him a promotion, merely presenting him with a few rare treasures—Gao Chongguang was successfully placated.
“Your Majesty, I knew you valued me!”
It was not that Yun Yaoyao was stingy. It was simply that Gao Chongguang was truly unfit for any great responsibility. She would do better to preserve the overall quality of her court officials.
Yun Yaoyao then turned to Du Luoling and said solemnly, “Consort Gui Du Luoling, who went into hiding in the Du residence, bravely exposed the truth and put righteousness before family, displaying both wisdom and courage. I bestow upon you a death-exemption plaque and one wish. In the future, you may come to Me and ask for whatever your heart desires.”
Yun Yaoyao knew that Du Luoling already possessed all the power and wealth she could need. It would be better to grant her a wish, allowing her to ask for something later, once she knew what she truly wanted.
Du Luoling said, “Thank you, Your Majesty!”
Finally, Yun Yaoyao turned to Tu Shanjin and spoke solemnly.
“Consort Miao achieved victory in helping the people survive the bitter winter. To spare the people from the Du family’s next calamity, she willingly allowed herself to be ensnared by rumors and cursed by the masses, patiently waiting for the right moment before exposing the Du family! Consort Miao is clever and quick-witted… refined and dignified. The position of Empress should belong to Consort Miao!”
As soon as these words fell, no one present raised an objection. They all shouted, “Long live Her Majesty the Empress!” while wearing looks of shame.
Were they supposed to pretend that all the insults and accusations their beloved consort had suffered had never happened?
Of course not.
Yun Yaoyao swept a cold glance over the assembled officials and began to berate them.
“Before the truth came out, you were pigs. Afterward, you all became Zhuge Liangs! Every one of you has eaten more meals than I have, yet all those extra years only made you older, not wiser!”
“When malicious people spread rumors that Consort Miao was a calamity-bringing demoness, you believed them without question! You completely disregarded all the contributions Consort Miao had made! How much money did papermaking and printing bring into Yan Chi’s coffers? How great an influence did the museum create? The libraries and literacy centers taught the common people to read, spread civilization, and enlightened the masses. Not to mention all the advanced technologies and techniques she provided the Ministry of Works not long ago!”
“If I had actually listened to your nonsense and executed Consort Miao—the great auspicious blessing of Yan Chi—what crime would you have committed? Even being reincarnated as beasts in your next life would not atone for it!”
“You! You’re simply a bunch of **#.*@*!”
The officials were cursed until they were thoroughly humiliated. They stood where they were, their eyes suddenly much clearer, their necks bent at ninety-degree angles as they drowned in shame.
Yun Yaoyao’s scolding even carried all the way to the foot of Xuande Gate. Although the people were not the ones being cursed, hearing those words still made them feel as though thorns were pricking their backs. They were so embarrassed that they wished they could find a crack in the ground to hide in.
Consort Miao was a goddess who had descended to the mortal world, bringing so many blessings to Yan Chi, yet they had actually believed the rumors. They truly deserved to die!
Not only did they recall it in the middle of the night, they could not even walk down the street without giving themselves a vicious slap.
Some officials and commoners were so overwhelmed by shame that they could no longer restrain themselves. They rushed out, intending to smash their heads against a wall to atone for their sins.
The moment Yun Yaoyao saw this, she realized she had gone too far and hurriedly stopped them.
“That is enough. Since this is your first offense, I shall let it pass. But if you do it again, do not blame Me. Even the Heavenly Dao will be unable to resist bringing down heavenly punishment upon you!”
After this incident, Yun Yaoyao no longer had to worry about rumors damaging Consort Miao’s reputation.
Next came the tightly orchestrated purge.
The remaining members of Lord Du’s faction within the court were dealt with, and new faces were appointed to the vacant positions. Taking advantage of the opportunity, Yun Yaoyao also promoted several female officials, nurturing them until they could stand on their own and take charge.
Many members of the neutral faction could no longer suppress their desire to switch sides. One after another, they scrambled to pledge their loyalty, declare their positions, and cling to her powerful support.
For a time, the court became politically upright, while the people lived and worked in peace and contentment—a beautiful picture of prosperity.
Meanwhile, the number of fleeing members of Lord Du’s faction grew smaller and smaller. The group was in a wretched state, having suffered devastating losses.
Lord Duanliu sat inside the carriage. The more violently it jolted and the more miserable his condition became, the clearer his mind grew. He was reviewing the reasons for his failure.
When his thoughts reached a certain point, a sharp glint suddenly flashed through his eyes.
On the city wall, he had tried to seize the Empress as a hostage, only for Consort Miao to sever one of his arms.
Tu Shanjin possessed formidable martial arts skills, and the Dragon Shadow Guards had been trained by him. How could he have reacted so slowly when Lord Duanliu made his move?
Instead, Consort Miao had displayed astonishing martial prowess…
Lord Duanliu followed this point of suspicion, thinking and recalling everything again and again. His thoughts eventually returned to the day Consort Miao had “assassinated” the Emperor, and the doubt in his eyes grew increasingly intense.
Could it be…
No matter how impossible something seemed, if it could explain every inconsistency, then it was possible!
Lord Duanliu lifted the carriage curtain, a ruthless glint bursting from his eyes.
“Write a letter to Ruan Xiangsong: There is still a chance. Raise an army and rebel!”
