"One must either investigate thoroughly or govern partially; neither is feasible. We shall now implement a strategy of simultaneous governance and reform, peeling away these corrupt elements layer by layer. You may first clean up the lower ranks, and then deal with the main instigators of this case. Submit a list of the remaining individuals to me, and I will slowly purge them and replace them with capable and elite personnel."
Feng Xie spoke with a wild, unrestrained demeanor, his expression cold and murderous. His fine eyebrows were arched, his lips curved into a slight smile, and his entire face radiated a dazzling brilliance. A piercing wisdom flickered in his pupils. He was not inaction, merely awaiting the opportune moment.
These scoundrels were already restless, and now he would eliminate them one by one.
Jin Shaoyuan and Feng Lie exchanged a glance, their gazes fixed on the Emperor above. The Emperor was about to make a move. If those individuals still harbored any侥幸 (jiǎo xìng -侥幸) hopes, they could only await confiscation of their property and extermination of their clans.
"This subject obeys the imperial decree."
Feng Lie clasped his hands in salute and accepted the command. It seemed he would have something to do. He rubbed his hands together, having been idle recently, and it was just the right time to find some trouble to vent his frustrations.
Feng Xie looked down at Jin Shaoyuan and instructed him to attend to the matters of Jingzhou. "The Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, listen to the decree."
"This subject receives the decree." Jin Shaoyuan bowed and accepted the command, sighing with relief inwardly. The Emperor's handling of the matter was most popular with the people. He believed the disaster victims would return home immediately, as no one wished to live as beggars.
"You may all return." Feng Xie waved his hand. Jin Shaoyuan and Feng Lie took their leave and departed.
Xiao Wanzi, seeing that the young lady and Lord Jin had left, came in from outside. Under the glow of the palace lanterns, the Emperor was already asleep, leaning against the imperial couch. A serene expression graced his handsome face, his long eyelashes concealing eyes as bright as stars.
His vibrant lips were parted, his silver hairpin glinting dazzlingly. His black hair cascaded down his shoulders, exuding an ethereal elegance. Leaning back so quietly, he resembled an immortal banished from paradise.
Xiao Wanzi felt a pang of heartache. The Emperor had not closed his eyes for two days and two nights, sleepless due to the matters of Jingzhou. Fortunately, the issue was resolved, and he had immediately succumbed to exhaustion and fallen asleep.
Xiao Wanzi tiptoed over, draped a felt blanket over the Emperor, and left the imperial study.
The moon climbed to its zenith, and the dark night descended.
The Prime Minister's mansion looked as if it had just weathered a fierce battle, everyone utterly exhausted. The vast hall was now profoundly silent, save for heavy breaths.
Accompanied by soft sobs, the servants dared not make a sound, merely casting furtive glances at their master. Even the master dared not speak further, watching his lady with a cautious expression.
"It's alright, isn't everything resolved?"
"This is all your fault for causing trouble. Why did you have to let Liu'er enter the palace? Look, Liu'er is not well in the palace, and when Ting'er returned, his backside was beaten black and blue. Are you satisfied now?"
The usually gentle Madam Liu now resembled a tigress extending her claws, fiercely bickering with Prime Minister Liu to protect her children. Her red-rimmed eyes indicated she had been crying for a long time.
"It is this husband's fault. Did this husband not apologize to you?" Prime Minister Liu spoke with a helpless sigh, unsure how many times he had apologized.
Yet, every time his lady heard that their children were not faring well, she would create endless trouble for him.
In truth, he regretted allowing Liu'er to enter the palace, but it was already a done deal. They couldn't possibly quarrel all day, could they? Things had been improving, but as soon as Ting'er returned and heard about his sister, he had rushed to the palace like a madman to confront the Emperor. They had always known Ting'er doted on Liu'er, but they never imagined he would dare to fight the Emperor for her. Who was the Emperor? Had it not been for Liu'er resolving the urgent crisis in Jingzhou, he would likely be in prison now.
"What use is an apology? Liu'er is still in the palace, and Ting'er was still beaten. Can a criminal be absolved simply by apologizing?" Madam Liu's tears began to fall again upon hearing Prime Minister Liu's words.
Prime Minister Liu was rendered speechless. Looking at his tearful wife, his heart was filled with guilt.
Since Liu Liu entered the palace, streaks of white had appeared at the temples of the once beautiful Madam. This was all his fault. He himself had gained many wrinkles around his eyes. The elder couple had aged several years in an instant.
"But it has already come to this. Do you want this husband to atone with his life?" Prime Minister Liu spoke with desolation. Madam Liu fell silent.
She knew her husband was also distressed. Every night, when the house was quiet, he would get out of bed and sigh at the moon. What more could she say?
However, thinking of Ting'er's bruised backside still pained her heart. A child was a piece of flesh that had fallen from a mother's body. She simply could not pretend to be unaffected.
As the couple sat in gloom in the hall, the estate steward rushed in.
"Master, Madam, the Imperial Consort has returned."
Prime Minister Liu and Madam Liu were startled. The Imperial Consort? Had Liu'er returned? Liu Wenjie gestured for his wife to quickly wipe away her tears. Their daughter was already unhappy in the palace; shedding more tears would only add to her burden, wouldn't it?
Madam Liu swiftly wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes. Even so, Liu Liu, who walked in from the door, keenly noticed her mother wiping away tears.
Furthermore, the hall was filled with a somber atmosphere. She intuitively assumed something had happened to her brother and rushed to Madam Liu's side.
"Mother, why are you crying? Has something happened to Brother?"
Madam Liu looked up and saw her daughter's somewhat gaunt face. Her heart ached even more, but she forced herself to suppress the sadness, pulling out a smile and shaking her head.
"Liu'er is back, and Ting'er is fine."
"If he's fine, why is Mother crying so sadly?" Liu Liu questioned disbelievingly. She knew from her mother's eyes that the matter was very serious. Her mother had not shed a single tear even on the night their father took a concubine. Yet now she was crying so heartbreakingly, her eyes were red. Something must have happened to her brother?
"It really is nothing. Liu'er, please don't worry." Prime Minister Liu quickly interjected. Liu Liu looked up at her father. She had not seen him since the Hundred Officials' Platform.
She was surprised to see how thin her father had become. She had heard he had taken sick leave recently and had not attended court. Could it be that her father was also ill? she asked, her eyes full of doubt.
"Is Father ill? Why have you become so thin? This daughter truly deserves to die, only finding out today that Father took sick leave."
"Your father is not ill," Madam Liu replied curtly.
Liu Liu then sensed a rift developing between her parents, who had always treated each other with respect.
Judging by her mother's expression, the intelligent Liu Liu suddenly understood. Her mother must be worried about her and, combined with her brother's situation, was complaining about her father.
Her father was already not feeling well, and with her mother's complaints, it was inevitable that he would become so thin. Liu Liu quickly took her mother's hand, then her father's.
"Father, Mother, please don't worry about Liu'er. I am fine. If you become estranged from each other, I will be the one who is truly sad. Only those Liu'er cares about make Liu'er feel sad. As for those who are unimportant, Liu'er feels no sorrow. So, Mother, please do not be angry with Father, alright?"
Madam Liu looked at Liu Liu. Her daughter's small face was pleading, her fair hands tightly holding hers and begging. Looking at the Emperor's expression, he had indeed not been well recently, aging considerably. After so many years of respectful coexistence, how could she bear it? Now, she had also caused her daughter such worry. She could only nod.
"Liu'er, rest assured, your father and mother are fine. Mother will not be angry anymore."
Upon hearing her mother's words, Liu Liu released her father's hand and threw herself into her beautiful mother's embrace. Her mother's scent was so pleasant. Ever since she was twelve, she had loved the scent emanating from her mother.
No matter how much grievance she suffered outside or how much hardship she endured, as long as she buried herself in her mother's embrace, all her troubles would vanish.