Martial Cultivator

The sky turned bright, the sky always brightens in the end.

The day after the banquet was to be a court session.

Which was also today, there would be another court session.

Yet just last night, Divine Capital underwent the largest purge in its history. Could the noble families and officials that really colluded with the foreign lands be rooted out in a single night?

After all, this seemed like an extremely troublesome matter.

But holding the court session as scheduled was a message in itself: last night's purge was not a sudden impulse, it had been carefully prepared.

Many things happened yesterday night: Chen Chao's identity was revealed, the Deposed Emperor returned, and the officials tried to force an abdication. All of this seemed very sudden, especially the last two thing, which no one could have foreseen. Yet, His Majesty's response was astonishingly swift; almost incomprehensible.

“I heard that the Ministry of Penalty arrested two-thirds of its officials last night. Now, the entire ministry is practically empty.”

“That’s right. Half of the officials at the Ministry of Revenue were taken down as well. I heard the Left Guard immediately raided their homes, uncovering hundreds of thousands of skygold coins -all of it intended to be sent to the foreign lands.”

“That's nothing. I heard the Yang Family was the first to be raided last night, and they found many items connected to that Deposed Emperor. For years, the Yang Family kept a low profile, but it turns out they'd been preparing for this day all along.”

“Looking at last night's display, I fear His Majesty had long been aware of these people's wild ambitions, but he kept silently enduring, waiting for this opportunity to let them jump out and capture them all in one sweep.”

“His Majesty has sat on the throne for so many years, outsiders think he is just a martial powerhouse. Who would have thought that His Majesty's cunning is no less than anyone else's?”

“That's fine as well. There are simply too many traitors in the Great Liang Dynasty, it's good to cleanse them...”

The officials entering the Imperial City to attend the court session chatted with each other. Normally, there would be a certain number of court officials attending the session at this time, but today it was reduced by as much as one-third.

Looking at the somewhat empty Imperial City, the officials looked at each other and sighed.

They all attended last night's banquet.

After the banquet ended, that Eunuch Li's words still echoed in their ears.

"I hope to see you all at tomorrow's court session."

These words were unthinkable. Upon recalling them, even those officials who had done nothing felt a chill throughout their bodies.

These words carried an immense weight.

As the bell rang, the officials streamed in one after another to the main assembly hall. In the past, the hall was almost filled with court officials, but today, many seats were left empty.

However, the officials still noticed that the Lord Premier was present in the court.

After the court adjourned last night, many people wondered if the Premier was also on the list for the purge. This morning, when they did not see him in the Imperial City, they assumed he had already been removed. But unexpectedly, the Premier was still standing firm in court.

It appeared that this foremost civil official in the court did not collude with the foreign lands, nor did he have any connection with the Deposed Emperor.

This outcome surprised many.

Because the officials in the hall were still dwelling on last night's events, the atmosphere was exceptionally quiet, and there was none of the usual murmurings.

All the way until Li Heng came forward holding the imperial decree, and began to read its contents aloud.

“Vice Minister of Penalty Zhang Jun, Vice Minister of Revenue Liu Ce, Court of Censors...Court of Judicial Review...”

The imperial decree was surprisingly direct, starting immediately with a list of names - officials who had been found colluding with the Deposed Emperor or the foreign lands last night. Some of these people had entered service after His Majesty took the throne, some had served under the Deposed Emperor, and quite a few were old officials from the time of Emperor Lingzong.

Old and new traitors, either way, they were all traitors.

The list was so long that the officials listened for a full hour and still had not reached the end.

But no one was in a hurry, everyone knew that today's court session would focus solely on this single matter.

Once the names in the decree were read out, the charges were announced, and subsequently, a new group of officials was appointed. After all, the Great Liang Dynasty was a massive empire, requiring people in every area. If a particular office lacked officials, it would inevitably lead to a series of disruptions.

This court session lasted four full hours longer than usual. By the end, many felt sore in their backs and shoulders, but no one dared to voice a single complaint.

The events of last night were something none of them would likely forget for the rest of their lives.

As the court adjourned, some officials exchanged congratulations. Many had been stuck in their original positions for years, and with numerous spots now open after this great purge, they naturally moved up a step.

But for even more of them, the ones who typically were not qualified to attend court sessions, they would stand together in the same great hall at the next session.

The court officials were deeply moved, yet there was nothing they could change.

Once the officials dispersed, someone slowly came from outside the Imperial City.

A young man dressed in black waited outside the palace gates for a long time before he finally received word that he could enter.

Chen Chao looked at Li Heng standing by the gate, thought for a moment, then removed his saber Cloud Mud from his waist, and handed it to a nearby guard.

Li Heng glanced at Chen Chao, smiled slightly, but said nothing.

Soon, Chen Chao followed Li Heng to the White Dew Garden, and then left by himself.

The Great Liang Emperor was still standing quietly under the pavilion, waiting for him.

When Chen Chao arrived, the Great Liang Emperor turned to look at him, his face showing no sign of reproach and not a hint of anger in his eyes.

Chen Chao said earnestly, “I'm sorry.”

When he had left the Second Prince's manor last night, he had also said sorry. That apology had been for the Empress and the Princess who had already passed.

They had both treated Chen Chao as their junior, caring for him deeply, yet he had still killed their son and brother.

Hence, he was sorry.

But they could no longer hear him. The Great Liang Emperor before him was his uncle, who had also treated him well, so he had come to say sorry to him too.

Although Chen Chao had already understood the Great Liang Emperor's intentions last night, he still had a choice, he could have chosen not to kill.

But he killed anyway.

Hence, he was sorry.

The Great Liang Emperor looked at him. “If you had been killed by Second, We would have no one left to say sorry to.”

Chen Chao was silent.

"He must pay the price for the trouble he caused. We didn't help you, nor did We punish him. Whatever the outcome, it's up to the two of you to resolve it yourselves. While We are his father, We are also your uncle. Not helping either of you is all that We could do."

The Great Liang Emperor shook his head. "This is a difficult matter to handle from both ends, and it's Our first time dealing with something like this. Inevitably, We didn't handle it well, so if there's blame, blame it on Us."

Chen Chao asked, "Your Majesty, how do you intend to inform the people?"

The Second Prince was dead, and the reason for his death would have to be made known to the world.

"We will declare to all that he conspired with the foreign lands, and that We sentenced him to death."

The Great Liang Emperor looked at Chen Chao and said calmly, "To use this as a warning to the world."

Chen Chao frowned, asking in puzzlement, "Your Majesty, aren't you concerned about how history will judge you?"

That his own son had conspired with the foreign lands and was then sentenced to death. Although the reason was justified, there were few emperors in history who had killed their own sons.

"How much better could Our reputation be?"

The Great Liang Emperor shook his head. "One more remark won't make a difference."

"While We are alive, We will finish what needs to be done. What comes after death doesn't concern Us."

The Great Liang Emperor stepped out of the pavilion, patted Chen Chao on the shoulder, and smiled, “Last night, We truly didn't expect you to kill him with a single strike. Presumably, it wasn't just Us, no one could have anticipated it.”

Chen Chao replied, “Since we were very young, he wanted to kill me. I was born a concubine's son, so I could never truly compete with him. I never understood why he was like that.”

“History books are full of similar stories. It's nothing unusual.”

The Great Liang Emperor said, “But you remember things from that young an age?”

Chen Chao thought for a moment and said, “I didn't originally remember. Later, I went somewhere and saw a coffin...”

Before Chen Chao could finish, the Great Liang Emperor shook his head, indicating that he did not need to continue. “Everyone should have their own secrets. There's no need to share everything.”

“I came across a piece of paper. I was hoping Uncle could take a look at it for me.”

For some reason, Chen Chao brought up the matter.

The Great Liang Emperor looked at him.

Chen Chao took out the sheet of paper.

The Great Liang Emperor said, “It seems this piece of paper is very important to you.”

"Many times, I would have already died without it."

Chen Chao said seriously.

The Great Liang Emperor said, "It's as important as your saber, so never let it leave your side."

As he spoke, the Great Liang Emperor beckoned, and Li Heng brought Cloud Mud over.

The Great Liang Emperor took it, personally fastening it at Chen Chao's waist, then said with satisfaction, "We said before, wherever you go under the heavens, you can always carry your saber. It will always be this way."

Chen Chao held that piece of paper, looking down at the saber at his waist, and was silent for a long time.

The Great Liang Emperor looked at him with some affection.

"We want you to take up the post of Lord Warden Commander. Starting now."

Just as Chen Chao was lost in thought, the Great Liang Emperor's words interrupted his thoughts.

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