FBC – Chapter 230 The Imperial Decree is Issued

The emperor froze.

To maintain balance among the factions, punishing Zhao Luoxuan was necessary.

If a princess were punished, even the Jiang family would have no grounds to protest, and this would conveniently resolve their grip over military power.

But he never imagined that his most beloved youngest princess would personally request to be stripped of her royal status and willingly be reduced to a mere commoner.

Just last night, the emperor had unexpectedly seen the supposedly dead Mu Junyan.

After the initial shock, he became convinced: for the sake of protecting imperial authority and purging traitorous worms who colluded with the enemy and sold the empire’s minerals, Mu Junyan had staged his own death while still alive, and even handed over his military tally to demonstrate his loyalty.

The emperor’s trust in him deepened further, and the two had secretly discussed matters for a long time.

Currently, Prince Ping’an wielded overwhelming power, and the Grand Empress Dowager’s ambitions were unbridled.

Most dangerous of all, the Jiang clan controlled the bulk of Bianjing’s city guards and imperial guards, while the heir’s wife—the Yuan clan—commanded the Yuan family army, a force strong enough to rival the Mu family’s troops.

The Yuan army had been stationed in the northern frontier for over a decade, facing the Mu family army from the south, creating the balance that allowed the emperor to sit securely on his throne.

But if the Jiang and Yuan clans were ever to collude, conspiring inside and out, the consequences would be catastrophic.

Therefore, stripping the Jiang family of their military authority was imperative.

As for the Yuan clan—so long as they stayed obediently guarding the northern frontier, he would not move against them.

The emperor looked at his suddenly matured daughter, and a fatherly tenderness welled in his heart.

“Xuanxuan, rise and speak.”

Zhao Yuwen quickly stepped forward to help his sister.

But Zhao Luoxuan stubbornly refused to get up. “Father Emperor, this daughter sincerely requests the abolition of her title as princess, and sincerely wishes to become General Qi’s widow-in-waiting.”

That radiant general of the Mu army, Qi Jun, was her husband!

She wanted to escort his coffin home, serve his parents as their daughter-in-law, care for them until their final days, and bring comfort to Qi Jun’s spirit in the afterlife.

“Father Emperor is a wise ruler and naturally knows that while the people can bear the state aloft like water bearing a boat, they can also overturn it. Border generals can guard the frontier, but if pushed too far, they can also rebel. I, your daughter, am of no use. I only hope to marry into the Qi family of Ju Prefecture, to safeguard the southern frontier forever on Father’s behalf, while praying daily for the unjustly slain and fallen heroes.”

These words deeply moved the emperor.

He wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes. “Xuanxuan…”

“Please, Your Majesty, grant permission.”

Zhao Luoxuan bowed deeply, knocking her head against the floor.

The gathered courtiers could not help but sigh in sympathy.

Duke Jing, filled with grief and anger, swept his robes aside and fell to his knees. “Your Majesty, this old minister earnestly implores that the traitorous Jiang family be severely punished! Jiang Duo’s crimes are monstrous, and death does not absolve him. The Jiang heir illegally mobilized the imperial guards and sought to kill a prince and princess—he too must be punished! All Jiang family members serving in the Ministry of War, and all those controlling Bianjing’s troops, must be strictly investigated to restore peace to the capital!”

“Your Majesty, I second this.”

“I second this.”

“I second this.”

One after another, ministers stepped forward.

Prince Ping’an and the Jiang heir’s faces darkened like iron. Looking toward the Yuan clan and their allies, they saw them all shrinking back, necks drawn in, afraid to make a sound.

Especially the Yuan officials in court—they feared becoming collateral victims, entangled with the princes and princesses, giving the emperor leverage to strip the Yuan clan of its military power.

Prince Ping’an and the Jiang heir hurriedly fell to their knees.

“Your Majesty, my son truly did not know this unfilial one would dare defy imperial orders. He deceived the prince and princess into believing hundreds of bandits were attacking the palace, and they jointly besieged our manor. My son only feared for this old minister’s safety, so he rashly brought his troops to protect me.”

Duke Jing let out a mocking laugh. “What do you mean ‘his troops’? The Jiang heir is commander of five thousand Palace Guard troops, but the Palace Guard is His Majesty’s personal force. How can they be called his soldiers? If this isn’t illegal mobilization, what is? What if one day he mistakenly thinks His Majesty harbors ill intent toward you, Prince—will he then march his troops to surround the imperial palace itself?”

The Jiang heir’s face turned deathly pale.

Prince Ping’an trembled with rage. “You—you—you insolent old fool!”

For once, Duke Jing had the upper hand. He straightened proudly. “Your Majesty, your safety is what matters most.”

The emperor sighed. Just as he was about to speak, the deep thudding of drums rang out.

The Left Duty Minister pricked up his ears, startled. “The Drum of Appeal! It’s the Drum of Appeal at Xuande Gate.”

Xuande Gate, closest to the Audience Hall, was where the Drum of Appeal was placed. Striking it meant one could directly bring grievances before the emperor.

“Who dares to strike the Drum of Appeal?”

“It hasn’t been struck in over a decade!”

The emperor frowned.

“This servant will go see immediately.” The Left Duty Minister quickly ran out.

Within moments, he returned, rushing.

“Your Majesty, it is Lady Wang—the divorced wife of Marquis Wenchang—who struck the drum.”

The emperor scowled. “What nonsense is this?”

Why was she creating a scene at this time?

“Your Majesty, by law, striking the Drum of Appeal requires first a punishment of thirty strokes. The Drum Office asks for your ruling—should she be beaten or not?”

The emperor, in a foul mood, snapped: “Beat her!”

But Senior Censor Yan immediately stepped forward. “Your Majesty, since she has a grievance, perhaps we might hear it first before beating her.”

The emperor waved impatiently. “What is it?”

The Left Duty Minister glanced at Prince Ping’an and his son. “Lady Wang accuses the Jiang heir of scheming maliciously, sending a woman to sow discord within the Marquis of Wenchang’s household. She claims the Jiang heir used this connection to secretly injure Marquis Wenchang, framing Madam Mu. He then sent assassins to attack Duke Yong’s mansion, attempting to abduct Madam Mu amidst the chaos. Lady Wang further accuses Marquis Wenchang of setting a fire that killed her parents and younger brother, trying to force her to suicide, while still plotting to harm Madam Mu and the unborn child of Duke Yong.”

The civil and military officials looked at one another in astonishment.

What kind of scandal was this?

The emperor’s temple throbbed violently.

“Slander!” the Jiang heir shouted, leaping up in fury.

Duke Jing, delighted, chimed in: “Then the Kaifeng Prefecture must investigate this matter. But since she struck the Drum of Appeal, the punishment of thirty strokes is ancestral law—it must be carried out.”

The emperor waved his hand.

The Left Duty Minister went to deliver the order.

The emperor looked weary. “This matter is grave. The Secretariat shall deliberate and give me a decision.”

Duke Jing bowed. “Prince Ping’an, as chief minister, must recuse himself from this matter.”

Supported by his eunuchs, the emperor rose. “Very well, all relevant parties must avoid involvement. For now, Duke Jing, you shall preside over this.”

“This humble servant obeys.”

Duke Jing lowered his head, inwardly brimming with joy.

The emperor cast a glance at Zhao Luoxuan, sighing silently. “Princess Shuhe… your matter shall await further ruling.”

“Yes.”

Zhao Luoxuan bowed low, performing the grand of a commoner.

When the empress heard the news, she sent for Zhao Luoxuan, but the girl went straight to Duke Yong’s mansion instead.

Zhao Yuwen and Zhao Yuxuan met the empress. She wept bitterly, scolding the two elder brothers for failing to protect their younger sister.

The brothers hung their heads in silence, stunned by their sister’s determination.

…

When Gu Hua learned that Wang Liyi had struck the Drum of Appeal, she was already carried back unconscious from her beating.

Looking at her mother’s bloodied, mangled lower body, Gu Hua felt sorrow stir within her.

After Gu Yuan was revived, Wang Liyi held a secret discussion with him for more than an hour. Then she emerged with his written testimony in hand.

At the time, Gu Hua still didn’t understand her plan.

Now she realized Wang Liyi had done it for her.

With the scandal blown wide open, the Marquis of Wenchang’s household would be utterly ruined, leaving the Jiang clan no more leverage to threaten or blackmail mother and daughter.

What Wang Liyi didn’t know was that her striking of the Drum of Appeal had only worsened the Jiang heir’s crimes, making the emperor despise him even more.

Three days passed.

Zhao Luoxuan, clad in mourning white, silently kept vigil by Qi Jun’s coffin, burning paper offerings sheet by sheet.

Gu Hua sat with her, quietly awaiting the emperor’s final verdict.

Then Dong Hua came running excitedly. “Madam, Princess, it’s here—it’s here, the imperial decree has arrived!”

Zhao Luoxuan and Gu Hua’s eyes lit up. They stood together and walked out hand in hand.

The emperor had sent the Left Duty Minister himself to deliver the edict.

He was solemn and respectful, holding the decree in both hands. “Princess Shuhe, please accept the decree.”

Zhao Luoxuan knelt. “This humble woman accepts the decree.”

The minister, watching the once noble princess now call herself a humble woman, felt a swirl of emotions. Even the hardest of hearts would soften at such a sight.

He read aloud the lengthy imperial decree, the dense official jargon making heads spin.

Qi Jun was posthumously granted the title of Second-Rank Cavalry General, with his parents to receive his stipend for life.

Zhao Luoxuan was stripped of her First-Rank Princess Shuhe title and demoted to County Princess. She was granted a ten-thousand-mu tea plantation west of Ju Prefecture, fifty thousand taels of silver, and a new residence to be built by the Ministry of Works for her and Qi Jun’s parents to live in comfort.

She was permitted to escort Qi Jun’s coffin back to Ju Prefecture with full honors of a County Princess.

Zhao Luoxuan raised her head. “And how are the criminals to be punished?”

The minister hunched over with a forced smile. “Princess, perhaps first give thanks and rise? Kneeling like this must be painful.”

Zhao Luoxuan stubbornly shook her head. “Please, my lord, tell me—how are the criminals to be punished?”