Chapter 193 - A Bloody Massacre!

Baili Qingcang stayed in Princess Zhaohua’s mansion for the whole afternoon and returned to the palace happily. Hearing this, the Empress directly threw the teacup in her hand to the ground.

“Xia Jingyan used to be a seductive woman. She has died for so many years, but His Majesty keeps her in mind constantly. Her daughter is not easy to deal with as well. She can seduce His Majesty at such a young age!”

Fangxue’s heart skipped a beat. She lowered her head and did not dare to speak. She had lived in the imperial palace for many years. It could be said that she had accompanied the Empress all the way here.

When the Empress was still a young lady in the Zhao family, her disposition was extremely proud. After entering the imperial palace, because the Emperor needed the support of the Zhao family, she did not suffer any grievances. She had both tactics and wisdom, but she lacked patience, especially on the issue of Xia Jingyan.

At that time, everyone in the capital knew the name of Miss Xia. No matter who it was, no matter whether their appearance was better than hers or not, no one could surpass the limelight of Xia Jingyan. At that time, countless young ladies from aristocratic families hated her so much that they gnashed their teeth. They wished that she would be killed immediately. The Empress was one of them.

Even after becoming the Empress and living in the imperial palace for nearly twenty years, Zhao Huiying would lose her usual manner every time she mentioned Xia Jingyan. The dead Miss Xia could still torture the living. She was really special.

Zhao Huiying clenched her fists tightly and the nails hurt her palms. “Fangxue, bring the food. Let’s go and see His Majesty.”

Fangxue paused and slightly pursed her lips. “Your Majesty, His Majesty entered the Southern Study Hall after returning. He also gave an oral edict, saying no one should disturb him.”

“Bang!” The Empress slapped the table and her slender fingernails were broken, revealing traces of blood.

The palace maids quickly knelt down. Fangxue grasped Zhao Huiying’s hand and said, “Your Majesty, you must take care of your body!”

“Take care? Ha-ha, what’s the use of me taking care of myself? Xia Jingyan, Shen Ninghua… Humph!”

When Chu Junyi arrived at Shen Ninghua’s room, he saw her leaning against the soft couch and reading. He smiled and said, “Ninghua, I heard that His Majesty came here today.”

Shen Ninghua looked up and said, “You are really well-informed.”

“At this juncture, His Majesty’s every move is particularly eye-catching. It’s not surprising that I knew.”

“Has the news spread in the imperial palace?”

“Yes, you are right.”

Shen Ninghua smiled. “I wonder how many people are smashing porcelain in their rooms at this time.”

Chu Junyi laughed. “It doesn’t matter. There are plenty of porcelains in the imperial palace. The broken porcelains can be replaced.”

“His Majesty has already set up the battlefield. When are you going to take action?”

“This is our first test. The faster and more thorough, the better. We’ll know the outcome in three days.”

“Who will be your first prey?”

“Once you capture the ringleader, it is easy to capture his followers. Naturally, I will start from the highest-ranking of them.”

Shen Ninghua lowered her eyes while turning the jade bracelet on her wrist. She nodded slowly. “Good, then let’s start from the commander of the Imperial Guards. He’s the Crown Prince’s confederate.”

Chu Junyi opened the folding fan in his hand with a swish. Threads of cold light flashed across the jade ribs and contrasted finely with the coldness in his deep eyes. He was like a high killer god who opened his cold and heartless eyes and looked at the vast crowd with a pitiful gaze.

The smell of blood descended on the capital as the night fell. The darkness of the night covered the red color of the blood. Just in one night, the commander of the Imperial Guards was killed. Two squads were wiped out when they tried to resist. Someone had not even had time to send out the drafted messages when Chu Junyi’s men directly broke into the mansion, killed them and seized the messages.

The usually well-informed dignitaries in the imperial palace seemed to become blind and deaf that night. It was as if someone covered their ears and eyes. They only faintly felt something wrong when they went to the court the next day and saw the empty position of the commander.

Chu Junyi was dressed in an official uniform. Faint traces of dark red blood appeared on the lower hem of his clothes. There was no expression on his handsome face. He was isolated in the middle of the hall, but he stood there steadfastly, showing no slightest bit of emotion.

After suspending the court for a few days, the Emperor finally resumed it. The civil and military officials had already been waiting in the main hall.

Baili Qingcang’s expression wasn’t very good, but compared to a few days ago, his expression had eased.

After a while, the hall was still silent. There was actually no one who wanted to take the lead and speak. Baili Qingcang glanced coldly at the officials in the hall and asked, “Does any of you have something to report?”

The officials lowered their heads, not daring to make a sound at this moment.

Seeing that no one answered, Chu Junyi got up and stood in the middle of the hall. “Your Majesty, I have something to report.”

“Speak!”

“I was ordered to investigate the Imperial Guards. I have found out that the Imperial Guards’ commander Li Wen was corrupt and took bribes. He ignored people’s lives. He used his official position to suppress his colleagues and bully the people. When I went to arrest him last night, he refused to admit his guilt and was killed on the spot.”

The expressions of quite a few officials instantly changed. The commander of the Imperial Guards, a dignified first-grade court official, was actually killed on the spot without authorization? Was this Chu Junyi crazy? Did he really think he could be unscrupulous just because he was the future son-in-law of His Majesty and would become a relative of the royal family?

However, Chu Junyi’s next words shocked them even more.

“In addition, there were two small squads of the Imperial Guards members who refused to accept the investigation and attempted to resist. They were also killed on the spot by me. There were also some members who attempted to send out messages and were killed on the spot too. Your Majesty, here is the list of those who had been executed, please take a look.”

Hearing those murderous words, the officials felt a chill down their spines. They looked at Chu Junyi as if he was a dead person. This man was truly crazy. Who were the members of the Imperial Guards? They were directly subordinate guards of His Majesty and were chosen from among thousands of people. Many of them were the legitimate sons of various high-ranking officials. This Chu Junyi spoke of the killing so casually as if he didn’t know how many aristocratic families were now anxious to strip him of his skin and bones!

However, Chu Junyi did not mind the gazes behind him. He knew they were anxious to kill him and rejoice over his death. He stood calmly in the main hall, leaving an adamant and unshakable figure to the other officials.

Baili Qingcang looked at the names on the memorial, and his eyes were dim. “How many guards are left in the Imperial Guards?”

“Your Majesty, the Imperial Guards have a total of 563 members. Last night, 120 of them were killed and 187 detained. Now there are 256 people left.”

“256…” Baili Qingcang muttered this number. The muscles at the corner of his eyes were constantly shaking. Finally, his eyes were covered with a layer of red color. The Imperial Guards were the main force protecting the imperial palace. But half of them had problems. How come he rested assured without anxiety in the past?

Baili Qingcang gritted his teeth tightly and swept his gaze over the princes standing in the front row. He sneered in his heart. Perhaps he should thank his sons for showing mercy to him so that he could remain safe and sound.

“Did the detained guards plead guilty?”

“Your Majesty, the detainees are temporarily imprisoned. I interrogated them overnight and no one confessed.”

“Interrogate them properly. You should rather kill them by mistake than letting them off.”

Chu Junyi’s eyes lit up. It seemed that he had made the right bet. “Yes, I will faithfully carry out your decree.”

The Crown Prince’s expression was tense, and the faces of the Third and Fourth Princes were filled with anger.

The Third Prince was the first person who lost his composure. He shouted, “Father Emperor, even if the Imperial Guards were guilty, they should be detained and judged by you. How could they be directly executed on the spot without investigation?”

Now that the Third Prince spoke first, other officials followed suit.

“Yes, Your Majesty, the Third Prince is right. This way of doing things is simply lawless.”

“The commander of the Imperial Guards is a first-grade official in the court. Even if he is unforgivable, he should be handed over to the Supreme Court for interrogation before Your Majesty makes the verdict.”

“He dared to execute someone directly without authorization after taking the position of Left Imperial Censor for just a couple of days. He acted so recklessly. Will he break into our mansions and do the same to us one day?”

“Your Majesty, please investigate the Left Imperial Censor and punish him severely.”

Chu Junyi stood there quietly and listened to the accusations of the officials. A cold smile appeared on his lips. These ministers only thought about fighting for power and gains. Had they forgotten the presence of His Majesty above them? This was not what he wanted to do, but what His Majesty had ordered him to do. Could it be that none of them remember to raise their heads and look at His Majesty’s expression?

The more the officials spoke, the more righteous and indignant they became. The rage in Baili Qingcang’s heart started to arise. In the end, he could not bear it any longer and slapped the table. “Shut up!”

Immediately, the hall became deathly silent.

Baili Qingcang looked coldly at the officials in the hall, and his expression was as cold as winter. “It is me who gave the order to investigate the Imperial Guards. Are you unconvinced? It’s me who gave Chu Junyi the right to execute them on the spot without authorization. Are you unconvinced? Then what shall I do to make you convinced?”

“We don’t dare, Your Majesty.”

“You don’t dare? You all dare to ignore my decree. What else do you not dare to do?” Baili Qingcang looked at everyone present with cold killing intent in his eyes. “I have always been kind to you. But don’t think that I have to endure you infinitely! Vice-minister of the Ministry of Rite, did you say just now that you couldn’t stand the atmosphere in the court and wanted to resign? Alright, I’ll approve your request. Someone, remove his headwear and drive him out of the imperial palace!”

“Your Majesty, I did this for the sake of the Imperial Court! I did this wholeheartedly for the sake of the Imperial Court!” The Vice-minister of the Ministry of Rite got panicked and hurriedly knelt down to express his loyalty. He looked at the surrounding allies for help. Unfortunately, no one dared to speak for him at this time.

“Take him away!”

Baili Qingcang’s tough measures suppressed the questioning of everyone in the court. The Crown Prince and others left with ashen faces.

Chu Junyi left the imperial palace and went straight to Shen Ninghua’s mansion.

Shen Ninghua was trimming the plants in the pot. Seeing Chu Junyi enter with a smile on his face, her eyes immediately relaxed. “Looks like the results of today’s battle were not bad.”

“Yes, not bad.” Chu Junyi picked up the kettle aside and poured water into the pot when Ninghua wasn’t paying attention.

Shen Ninghua frowned and slapped his hand. “Don’t make trouble. The Zhao and Lin families actually haven’t intervened yet.”

“His Majesty’s investigation into the Imperial Guards is just the beginning. They will remain steady and won’t move so early. It is the best. I’ll take advantage of this time to make good preparations!”

“This time, the Crown Prince and others did offend Father Emperor. Otherwise, he would not allow you to launch such a massacre directly.”

“You are right, after this lesson, they will not be so impulsive anymore.” Chu Junyi sneered. “Ninghua, I didn’t see the Second and Fifth Princes in the morning. What is your plan?”

Shen Ninghua’s expression turned cold. Her hand paused and she cut off a flower bud by accident.

“Take it slowly. Baili Jinchuan has made things difficult for me many times. This time, he even used such a shameless trick. I will never let him off. As for Baili Jinze, there is no hurry. Take it easy, let’s torture him step by step.”