Chapter 114: The Emperor’s Wrath

Chapter 114: The Emperor’s Wrath

The Emperor set out of the city with a troop.

Led by the messenger sent by Minister Linghu You, they arrived at a row of thatched cottages at the foot of a mountain twenty miles outside the city, already surrounded by the Longwu Army. Upon the Emperor's arrival, Minister Linghu and the Centurion Qiu Po, commanding a thousand of the Longwu Army, came to greet him.

"Where is he?" The Emperor asked directly, waving off their formalities, never one to care for such rituals outside the palace.

"Inside. Let me lead Your Majesty," Linghu You hurriedly said, guiding the way. "The person is injured. I've had the accompanying military doctor treat the wounds. He's currently unconscious."

Hearing this, the Emperor's heart tightened. Even though he had guessed that Zhu Yan, with his straightforward nature, wouldn't fare well with the traffickers, the word 'injured' was still hard for him to accept. "Have the traffickers been captured?"

"The three here were all caught. According to them, four others are out. General Qiu has already dispatched a team of the Longwu Army to pursue them."

"Ensure they are all captured, don't let a single one escape," the Emperor ordered, quickening his pace. Linghu You, leading the way, was hurried along, and they reached the third thatched cottage on the left. The Emperor didn’t wait for Linghu to speak and pushed the door open himself.

Despite Linghu's warning, the sight of Zhu Yan inside the cottage filled the Emperor with an uncontrollable rage. His beloved, whom he always handled with care, suffering even a minor injury, was unbearable for him. Never had he thought of harming her, except for that time when she threatened him with her life. Yet now, she had been beaten.

Her cheeks were swollen and bore handprints, clearly from being slapped, and her head was wrapped in cloth. She lay unconscious on the clay bed, her delicate eyebrows knitted in pain, wrenching his heart. He quickly moved to her side, trembling as he reached out to touch her face.

His hands shook uncontrollably.

How much pain must she be in? How could Zhu Yan endure such suffering? His heart felt tightly clenched, his eyes reddened, and his head throbbed with discomfort.

How dare they? How could they?

Did they consume the courage of a bear and a leopard, or borrow bravery from the heavens to harm his person?

He would spare none of them.

The Emperor gently touched Zhu Yan's brow, sitting on the bed with an air of suppressed fury, and turned to call Linghu inside, “Bring the military doctor in.”

Linghu You responded affirmatively and quickly entered with the military doctor.

The doctor, a middle-aged man in his thirties named Liu, skilled in treating external injuries, was directly questioned by the Emperor, “How severe is her head injury? When will she wake up?”

“Your Majesty, the noble lady suffered a heavy blow to the back of her head. Without timely treatment and rest, followed by consecutive impacts, she has a concussion and possibly internal bleeding in the brain. She is currently in a traumatic coma, and I cannot guarantee when she will regain consciousness.”

Doctor Liu answered honestly, but feeling the Emperor’s piercing gaze and overwhelming aura, he hastily added, “If she doesn’t wake up by tomorrow morning, I suggest acupuncture to stimulate the brain and address the blood stasis.”

Seeing the Emperor’s reaction, Linghu You quickly intervened, “Your Majesty, he primarily treats wounds from swords and knives.”

The Emperor, after hearing this, dismissed Doctor Liu with a wave.

After Doctor Liu left, Linghu You glanced at Zhu Yan lying on the bed, feeling a pang of pity. When he found her, the extent of her injuries alarmed him, and he didn’t dare report her condition until the Emperor arrived.

“Your Majesty, take Consort Zhu back to the city first. The priority is to treat her injuries. The Protectorate’s office has doctors, and we can also send someone to the capital to summon the Chief Imperial Physician and Doctor Lin for her treatment,” Linghu You suggested, no longer expecting an immediate return to the capital.

The immediate concern was how to quell the Emperor's wrath.

Linghu You added, "I have already arranged for a carriage."

"Good," the Emperor responded grimly, his face clouded with frost.

Relieved, Linghu You stepped out to ensure the carriage was brought to the front.

However, he soon realized he had relaxed prematurely. After the Emperor carried Zhu Yuan onto the carriage, he summoned Centurion Qiu Po and issued his first decree: to burn down these cottages and slaughter everyone within a ten-mile radius, including those who passed by today.

"Your Majesty, this cannot be," Linghu You immediately knelt in protest.

As the Grand Chancellor, a figure of high standing, he did not kneel lightly.

Seeing the Grand Chancellor kneel, Qiu Po quickly followed suit, not daring to execute the command immediately.

Linghu You knew he could argue with many reasons: 'The people are paramount, the monarch secondary; the nation thrives on its people’s well-being; indiscriminate killing is akin to the tyranny of cruel kings and would be noted in history.'

But he also knew that such grand principles would not sway the Emperor.

"What? You wish to become a remonstrating official, pleading on behalf of these people?" the Emperor asked with narrowed eyes, a cold light flashing.

"I dare not," Linghu You was acutely aware of the peril he faced.

Unlike the Imperial Secretary Xie Wu or Minister Hu Guang, long-serving officials appointed by the previous Emperor, Linghu You owed his position entirely to the current Emperor's favor. A wrong answer could mean his downfall. "Your Majesty, considering your affection for Consort Zhu and her inherently kind nature, she would not want harm to come to those who saved her."

"I found out about Consort Zhu's location from a report. When I arrived, the three traffickers here were already bound. According to them, a group of people broke in, injured the traffickers, and one of the female traffickers tended to Consort Zhu's wounds before placing her on the bed."

"I believe the person who reported this, who saved Consort Zhu, must be among the local residents or passersby, performing this good deed."

The Emperor, cold as ice, asked, "Are you certain of this?"

"I stake my life on it," Linghu You declared.

He bowed deeply, touching his forehead to the ground, then raised his head, "The most important matters now are: firstly, Consort Zhu’s treatment and recovery; secondly, identifying and bringing to justice those who plotted against her; and thirdly, considering Consort Zhu’s reputation and not implicating the innocent."

Innocent?

The Emperor believed that everyone deserved to die, "Let me tell you, I don't think the people around here are innocent. This has been a long-term stronghold for traffickers, with business coming to their doorstep. I refuse to believe that the locals were completely unaware. Implement the law of collective punishment: everyone in the nearest five villages shall be executed on the spot."

"This matter is not open to further discussion," the Emperor said sternly, his gaze chillingly fixed on Linghu You.

Linghu You trembled, not daring to plead any further.

When the Emperor is enraged, millions lay dead, blood flows like rivers.

This was just the beginning.

Subsequently, a third of the people in the prefectural city got implicated.

The Governor of Shengzhou, Yuan Yi, was exterminated along with his clan; Madam Lin was executed by waist-chopping and left in the market; the Lin and Guo families were annihilated; everyone associated with Zhu Yan was killed; the guards at the southern city gate were all executed; after interrogation, the seven traffickers were paraded through the streets and subjected to death by dismemberment, along with their families.

Simultaneously, the Emperor ordered Cheng Duan, the Imperial Secretary, to draft an imperial decree. From that day forward, local officials' performance assessments included the capture of traffickers and the fight against human trafficking, becoming a crucial criterion for maintaining public order. Any official failing in this aspect during the Ministry of Personnel's triennial assessments would not be promoted for five years.

This decree was issued with utmost urgency.

The prefectural city was engulfed in a storm of blood and terror, with everyone feeling threatened.

Everyone hoped for the turmoil to end soon.

No one could predict what else the Emperor might do. The most anxious were the two chancellors, Linghu You, the Imperial Secretary, and Shang Quan, the Deputy Imperial Secretary. Shang Quan, who usually cared for nothing but money and ledgers, was exceptionally attentive outside the Emperor's residence today.

"Did you already know that Master Xu was Empress Zhu Yuan?" Shang Quan asked Linghu You.

"Otherwise, I wouldn't believe it. You must have had your suspicions," Linghu You said with a shrug, never underestimating any intelligent person.

The two waited outside the courtyard, pacing back and forth restlessly.

Looking up, they saw Xu Jie, recently entrusted with a critical mission by the Emperor, striding towards them, full of vigor. Lately, Xu Jie had been relentless, like a mad dog, capturing, interrogating, sentencing, and executing people at a pace that left the judiciary far behind. His severe and harsh methods sent shivers down everyone's spine.

Xu Jie approached and greeted the two chancellors with a bow. "Good health to you, Deputy Shang and Secretary Linghu."

Shang Quan, with a stern face, warned, "Be careful, Xu Jie. A blade swung too hastily might wound oneself."

"Thank you for the reminder. I have urgent matters to report to His Majesty and won't delay your conversation. Shall I announce your presence to him?" Xu Jie offered.

"No need," Linghu You quickly refused with a smile. "Go ahead, don't delay the Emperor's matters," he said, stepping aside to let Xu Jie pass.

Watching Xu Jie's swaggering departure, Shang Quan cursed under his breath, "A petty man in power."

The Emperor had recently favored Xu Jie, granting him immediate audience without announcement. Since Empress Zhu Yuan's return, the Emperor had refused to see the chancellors, which infuriated Shang Quan.

"I heard Empress Zhu Yuan has awakened. The situation started because of her. We need to find a way to persuade her to advise the Emperor to stop this massacre. With Xu Jie, the vile lunatic, stirring the pot, this will lead to disaster," Shang Quan said, turning to Linghu You. "What about the Protector-General Su? What does he say? Ask him to find a way to see Empress Zhu Yuan."

Linghu You shook his head in desperation. "Do you think we haven't tried? But now, no one but the Emperor can get close to Empress Zhu Yuan."

"What about her personal maids?"

"His Majesty lacks trust. These past few days, he has personally taken care of Empress Zhu Yuan. Besides, Yang Xin guards the door."

Hearing this, Shang Quan could only curse inwardly, calling it a monstrous act.

Linghu You glanced at the displeased Shang Quan and said, "If you can't stand it, better go back to managing your accounts. I'll think of something with Protector-General Su." Shang Quan had significant responsibilities, needing to supply five million stones of grain yearly to the Anbei Protectorate for the next two years, along with one hundred thousand war horses, fifty thousand sets of armor, helmets, and other materials.

Meanwhile, Xu Jie, after entering, although granted special permission by the Emperor for immediate audience these days, didn't go straight in. Instead, he asked Yang Xin, the palace eunuch, to announce his presence.

The Emperor saw him promptly and asked, "What is it?"

"Zhu Erniang says she wants to see Empress Zhu Yuan before she confesses."

The Emperor frowned and asked with certainty, "You didn't use torture?"

"No, she is the sister of Empress Zhu Yuan..."

"You said it yourself, she's the sister of the Empress, not the Empress," the Emperor interrupted Xu Jie sharply, "Do what needs to be done. You shouldn't need me to teach you how to conduct an interrogation."

"Understood, Your Majesty. I will handle it immediately." Xu Jie was sweating profusely. He was well aware of the Emperor's deep favor towards Empress Zhu Yuan, which is why he had been cautious in dealing with her sister.

The Emperor added, "And Empress Zhu Yuan will not see her."

The Emperor had never expected to encounter Zhu Erniang here. Initially, he had arranged for her husband to be appointed a low-ranking official in the northern territories or Lingnan, never to be promoted, and had not interfered since. Unexpectedly, due to a twist of fate, she ended up here, leading him to harshly reprimand the Minister of Appointments, demoting him to a commoner in frustration.

As Xu Jie was about to leave, a gentle voice, clear and melodious, said, "Wait, let me see her."

The Emperor turned and saw Zhu Yan coming out, quickly turning back to her, "Ah Yan, why are you out of bed? Go and rest properly."

Author's note: