Chapter 662: Shangguan Pu’s Death (1)
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Lord Rui’s faction was the one who didn’t want the Song family to reconcile with Lord An Le. Apart from the emperor, who didn’t want to admit his mistake, the officials in Lord Rui’s faction were the ones who didn’t want the Song family to be exonerated.
Before Shangguan Put s accident, they had been suppressed by the other party’s momentum. It wasn’t easy for Shangguan Pu to get kicked out of the list of candidates, and the only other obstacle left was Shangguan Yu.
Lord Rui was about to win, but Lord An Le’s rebellion was about to be cleared. Just thinking about it made them feel aggrieved.
However, so what if they were unhappy about it? Look at the commoners kneeling outside and then at the emperor’s dark expression. Anyone with a brain could understand that even the emperor could not stop this matter.
However, they could still try to stop Lord An Le from returning to the capital. After all, the emperor probably wouldn’t be willing to let him return.
The ministers held their breaths and waited for a long time before the emperor said in a low voice, “Pass down my decree. The case of Lord An Le’s rebellion two years ago was a framing. All the officials involved back then are innocent.”
He closed his eyes and continued, “Lord Jing is an unfilial son, a bad brother, and a disloyal and heartless subject. For all these crimes, he will be sentenced to death by poisoned wine immediately.
“Anyone involved in Lord Jing’s rebellion will be executed three days later. The women will be exiled to the frontier, and all officials below the third rank and their families will be exiled.
The emperor vented all his anger on Shangguan Pu.
However, as soon as he finished speaking, there was silence.
Song Jingchen didn’t speak. The commoners kneeling outside didn’t even look up, as if they were waiting for him to continue.
The emperor suddenly clenched his fists and gritted his teeth. “Old Duke Song was a hero who contributed to building the empire of Great Xia. I was deceived by a traitor and let him die unjustly. I feel guilty and deserve to be punished.” “Old Duke Song is specially given the right to a burial in the imperial shrine.”
The last sentence was almost forced out of his mouth.
Song Jingchen leaned over again. “Thank you, Your Majesty.”
The commoners also shouted in unison, “Your Majesty is wise! Long live our emperor!”
These deafening words of “Your Majesty is wise” were exchanged for him practically slapping his own face!
The emperor used almost all his strength to restrain himself.
However, in the end, he only said the word “stand up” before leaving.
The emperor regretted it the most now. Back then, for the sake of a good reputation, he didn’t cause trouble for the Song family, causing Song Jingchen to turn around and bite him.
However, on second thought, if not for Song Jingchen, he would have been killed by that unfilial son.
At the end of the day, it was still that unfilial son’s fault. It was wrong to be rebellious, but it was also a huge mistake to leave behind loose ends.
The emperor suddenly stopped in his tracks.
Qi Shou, who was following behind him, barely stopped himself from bumping into him.
Qi Shout s heart almost jumped out of his throat. If he had bumped into the emperor just now, his head would have been separated from his neck.
“Your Majesty?” he called carefully.
The emperor instructed coldly, “Send that unfilial son off now.”
Qi Shou quickly agreed. He waved for the eunuchs behind him to serve him before bringing the two young eunuchs to the prison of the residence.
The emperor didn’t want Lord Jing to live any longer, so he didn’t dare to delay.
Unexpectedly, as soon as he reached the entrance of the prison, he saw Song Jingchen waiting there with a pale face.
“Earl Zhongyi… No, he should be called Duke now.” Old Master Song was already qualified to be buried in the imperial shrine, and the Song family’s noble title would recover sooner or later. At that time, wouldn’t Song Jingchen be the youngest Duke in Great Xia?
Qi Shou was speechless. He bowed respectfully and asked, “What can I do for you, Duke?”
Instead of going home to apply medicine after suffering 30 strokes, he came to such a godforsaken place, He couldn’t be here to admire the scenery, right? Song Jingchen nodded. ‘Lord Jing caused the Song family so much misfortune. Can I send him off personally? This way, I can personally avenge my grandfather and father.”
“Well…” Qi Shou looked at the two eunuchs behind him with a troubled expression,
“Eunuch Qi, Your Majesty only wants that person’s life. It doesn’t matter who gives it to him.” One of them spoke up, trying to suck up to him.
Of course, he wanted Song Jingchen to appreciate the gesture.
The other person was not to be outdone. “That’s right, Eunuch Qt. Please make an exception.”
“Alright then.”
Qi Shou reached out with a helpless expression. I‘My lord, please go ahead..”