Chapter 464
"Nan Chaoyun!"
Ji Hong was furious, staring at Nan Chaoyun as if he could devour him alive.
If even the officials of the imperial court could not respect life, nor act according to the law, then what could the people of the world believe in? What could they rely on?
"This, how could this be!"
Nan Chaoyun murmured to himself. He seemed to have no idea that twenty-three living souls had died in his mansion. His usual composure and wisdom had turned into panic and shock. If they hadn't known what kind of person Nan Chaoyun was, Ji Jinmo and Ji Hong would have truly believed he was unaware.
Ji Jinmo felt a sense of pity. This blow today had missed its mark. Nan Chaoyun, that old scoundrel, was truly cautious. There was no useful evidence left in his mansion. This time, it was a bit like scaring the snake and making it hide deeper.
"This minister is guilty, this minister is guilty!"
As the officials deliberated and the Emperor raged, Nan Chaoyun suddenly knelt, his knees striking the ground with such force that it seemed as if he meant to shatter the floor.
"These years, I have never focused my mind on my household, to the extent that I failed to discover that my wife had committed such heinous crimes. My fault lies in my lack of oversight, my fault lies in my trusting my wife, but Your Majesty, I, I truly never imagined that the wife I have shared my life with would be such a vicious person, Your Majesty!"
Nan Chaoyun spoke with tears streaming down his face.
Liu Wanjun frowned slightly, scoffing at Nan Chaoyun's words. He hadn't realized before that Nan Chaoyun was such a treacherous and cunning individual. The integrity and uprightness he usually displayed were all feigned. It would have been better if he had admitted to indulging his wife excessively and disregarding the law, rather than offering such eloquent and evasive justifications.
Was this truly an act of seeking forgiveness, or rather, an implication that his dedication to the nation and its people throughout the years had caused him to neglect his family, thus leading to the current situation? If so, then Liu Shi's actions were the Emperor's fault, and the people's fault?
"Prime Minister, you are truly silver-tongued!"
Ji Jinmo sneered repeatedly, his deep phoenix eyes filled with mockery. However, he did not focus his gaze on Nan Chaoyun. Instead, he turned to Ji Hong, his sharp voice carrying a hint of icy chill, and yet, his tone was both cold and severe, with a trace of playful amusement at the end: "Your Majesty, for such a treacherous villain who disregards human life, do you still intend to protect him?"
Ji Hong took a deep breath. His gaze on Nan Chaoyun was stern and chilling. Although he did not unleash his full fury, the violent aura emanating from him instantly spread to every corner of the hall, striking fear into the hearts of the officials. Even the esteemed Grand Secretaries like Liu Wanjun, who had been granted seats, gripped the arms of their chairs and slowly stood up.
"Prime Minister Nan Chaoyun, for abetting your wife Liu Shi in her wicked deeds and disregarding the law, from this day forward, you are stripped of your position as Prime Minister and demoted to Grand Censor. You are also fined one year's salary and placed under house arrest for six months!"
Ji Hong's punishment for Nan Chaoyun was not light. He was demoted directly from the first rank to the third rank, a drop of five levels. Nan Chaoyun, who once commanded all officials as Prime Minister, became a Grand Censor with an empty title. Although the Grand Censor was the highest supervisory official in the court, there was already a Regent who could oversee all officials, so over the past decade, the position of Grand Censor had gradually become a leisurely sinecure.
Yesterday, His Majesty had just issued an decree to select a propitious date to marry Nan Yuan'er, and today, he had ordered the execution of her mother and demoted her father. But in the end, all the Emperor's actions were actually to protect the Nan residence, to protect Nan Yuan'er.
All the blame was placed squarely on Liu Shi and Nan Chaoyun.
They had not forgotten that after the Prince had mutilated Liu Shi, he had declared it was the daughter's debt to be repaid by the mother!
How many of the twenty-three corpses unearthed from the Nan residence had been killed by Nan Yuan'er's hand? It was likely not a small number.
"This minister thanks Your Majesty for your great grace!"
Nan Chaoyun kowtowed and expressed his gratitude.
Ji Hong waved his hand sharply, then abruptly stood up. The wide sleeves of his dragon robe made a rustling sound, as if they were carrying a fierce wind. He did not give Ji Jinmo a chance to speak further: "Enough, disperse!" With that, he turned and walked towards the rear hall.
"This minister sees Your Majesty off!"
All the officials knelt and shouted in unison.
After Ji Hong left, the civil officials did not dare to linger, quickly making their way out.
Ji Jinmo's gaze followed them like a shadow, sharp as a knife, fierce as a sword, filled with hostility and intensity. Everyone felt as if they were being pricked by needles and cursed Nan Chaoyun countless times in their hearts. If it weren't for him, why would they have united to impeach Ji Jinmo today? In the end, not only did they fail to save Liu Shi, but they also got into so much trouble.
Wang Langji helped Liu Wanjun into the carriage. Just as he was about to bid farewell, Liu Wanjun called him back.
Sitting opposite Liu Wanjun, Wang Langji couldn't help but feel a bit nervous. He kept pondering why Lord Liu had called him over. As the carriage slowly drove towards the Liu residence, Liu Wanjun looked at Wang Langji without speaking. In the silence, a few drops of cold sweat broke out on Wang Langji's forehead.
He swallowed and finally couldn't help but ask, "Elder Lord Liu, did you call this humble official here to give me instructions?"
Liu Wanjun looked at Wang Langji, his expression calm, his gaze distant, without any appraisal or scrutiny. In fact, his gaze towards him carried the kindness and gentleness of an elder looking at a junior. Wang Langji was slightly taken aback. Although his family had a connection with the Liu residence, the difference in status was like that between heaven and earth. Although Lord Liu was a person of noble character and never cared about status or position, their family, starting with his own reputation, was not good. By the time it reached his son, it was even worse. That little scoundrel was proficient in drinking, eating, whoring, and gambling. To think of marrying his granddaughter to such a wretch, Elder Lord Liu must have felt immense pain. Otherwise, why had he not allowed Qiancheng to visit his residence for so long?
Wang Langji racked his brains but couldn't figure out why Elder Lord Liu would be so amiable towards him!
"I heard that Qiancheng bravely stepped forward during the chaos yesterday and protected the Princess of Dali?" Liu Wanjun's voice was deep and resonant. Recalling this matter, he sighed with emotion. Who would have thought that at the critical moment, it was that dissolute young master Wang Qiancheng who stabilized the situation?
If the Princess of Dali had died in the civilian unrest yesterday, then the war between Dali and Linyuan would have been irretrievable!
So, it was about this matter!
Wang Langji had thought that Lord Liu had called him for some important matter. However, he actually didn't know the specifics of the matter. After that boy sent Liu Lan and the others back to the Liu residence yesterday, he had disappeared to go indulge himself somewhere else. Before going to court, he hadn't even seen the person. However, in front of Elder Lord Liu, he still had to cover for his son to some extent, so he replied, "My son did not mention this matter after returning home. This humble official heard of it and inquired. He said he was merely fulfilling his duty as a Linyuan person!"
"Good, very good!"
Liu Wanjun heard that besides Wang Qiancheng, his good-for-nothing grandson had also stood in front of the Princess of Dali at that time, blocking the agitated crowd along with Wang Qiancheng. He had originally given up on Willow City, but he did not expect him to have such courage. Although he was not as intelligent and decisive as Wang Qiancheng, in this matter, he had not disgraced the Liu family's integrity.