Royal palace, royal study.
"Give me the jade seal." Xu Que once again asked for the jade seal.
What he was about to do next required the imperial seal to issue an edict, only then would it be justifiable.
Otherwise, with the arrogance of the five families and seven wang, they would probably ignore him.
Xuanyuan Wanrong glanced at him mildly, raising her teacup and taking a sip, "No, I know you want to act against the five families and seven wang, but now is not the time."
Damn it!
Xu Que took a deep breath, looking steadily into Xuanyuan Wanrong's eyes, saying gravely, "I'll say it one last time. If you don't give it to me, I will do things my own way."
"I'll also say it one last time. You need to think long and hard to deal with them. Don't let your anger cloud your rationality!" Xuanyuan Wanrong said gravely, not backing down.
She was well aware of the status of the five families and seven wang in Eastern Tang. If she acted against them now, it would likely cause a huge commotion.
To her, how Eastern Tang would develop in the future was not important.
What was important was now, and before her natural death, as long as she had power, her life would not be in danger!
So she could not let her emotions affect her decisions!
"Good, those who walk different paths cannot make plans together!"
Xu Que nodded, turning to leave.
Xuanyuan Wanrong slowly put down the teacup in her hand, looking in the direction that Xu Que had left in, her gaze somewhat hesitant …
… …
The next day.
The five families and seven wang had already received the news from the palace, and were overjoyed.
"I already said that the Emperor brat can't do anything to us."
"Haha, this move was beautifully played. Getting on the Stele of Merit and getting the silver, we have gained both fame and fortune!"
"Lord Xuanyuan, you had better keep that one million liang from before."
"Hmph hmph, that Emperor brat doesn't even have the jade seal. Even if he wants to do anything, he is powerless!"
The important minister of the court, Xuanyuan Qi, and the people of the five families and seven wang gathered together, toasting each other in high spirits.
In their eyes, that little Emperor was just a good-for-nothing.
There was no need to fear him!
In fact, the Jiang Family, the leader of the Five Families and Seven Clans, announced in the Imperial City that they would be holding a banquet in three days!
Those in the know all criticized the Jiang Family. It was one thing for them to profit from the country's calamity, but now they even made it public. It was simply infuriating, but it was useless.
…
A few days later, news came from the palace.
There was a meteorite that fell into the Imperial City. After being excavated by the Imperial Family, it turned out to be a jade seal.
The current Emperor, Xu Que, claimed that this was an imperial power bestowed by the heavens.
From today onwards, the previous imperial jade seal shall be nullified, and this imperial jade seal that descended from the heavens shall be the imperial jade seal!
When the news spread, it did not cause too much of a commotion among the common people.
However, many people who knew that the jade seal was in the hands of Xuanyuan Wanrong frowned.
The Emperor used this method to replace the old jade seal, how could the Empress just sit and wait for death?
"There's no need to worry. The Empress will definitely deny the so-called heaven-bestowed imperial authority."
"Haha, that's right. The little emperor is still too young. What's the point of playing this kind of trick?"
"Old Master Jiang, will the birthday banquet continue?"
"Of course!"
…
Today, the Jiang manor was especially lively.
Old Master Jiang had already arranged a birthday banquet for seven days. Today was the most important banquet.
They had invited almost all the rich and powerful families of the Eastern Tang, and even the high officials of the Imperial City were not few. These people with status and prestige had all gathered in the Jiang manor.
However, the birthday banquet had just begun when there was a series of rumbling sounds coming from outside the manor. It was clearly the sound of a large number of people rushing over.
"Bang! Bang! Bang! "
The next moment, there was a knock on the door of the Jiang family manor.
"Old Jiang, open the door. We are here to send you off … oh no, to celebrate your birthday!"
A despicable voice rang out.
Everyone present was instantly stunned.
"Your Majesty?"
"Why is the Emperor here?"
While everyone was still in a daze, there was a loud bang as the entire door of the manor fell down.
"Oh, how could this door be so weak, falling down with just one knock!"
Xu Que, wearing a dragon robe, appeared in front of everyone, leading thousands of troops.
This time, the expressions of everyone present changed.
"Why has the Emperor brought troops here?"
"Is he crazy? Today is Old Master Jiang's birthday banquet!"
…
Old Master Jiang's eyes narrowed slightly, but he still sat in his chair. He said lightly, "I didn't know that Your Majesty would come to my Jiang manor. If you are here to celebrate this old man's birthday, this old man will appreciate it."
As he said this, his gaze swept to the side.
The people of the Jiang family immediately understood. With a wave of their hands, a group of private troops immediately came out from the shadows of the manor and set up an ambush.
Although these private troops did not appear in front of everyone, the dense footsteps directly betrayed them.
Xu Que grinned. "Old Master Jiang is very arrogant. You still sit and talk when you see me. Not only that, you even dare to use private troops to ambush me?"
Old Master Jiang's expression was as usual. In his view, Xu Que was no more than a dethroned emperor without any power.
As a member of the Five Families and Seven Kingdoms, it was easy for him to change a dynasty with a wave of his hand. A mere dethroned emperor was not qualified to make him revere him.
"Your Majesty is too serious. Today is this old man's birthday. Since Your Majesty has come, this old man happens to have some meager wine at home. I wonder if Your Majesty would like it?" Old Master Jiang said in a tone that was neither servile nor overbearing.
The surrounding rich and noble families all looked at Xu Que with a faint smile and did not conceal their discussion.
"This little emperor dares to directly clash with the Jiang family?"
"What a joke. What can he do to us? He was just lucky to become emperor. "
"If we join forces, we can overthrow a mere royal family and establish a new one."
All kinds of rebellious words were directly transmitted to Xu Que's ears.
He smiled lightly. "Old Master Jiang is truly hospitable. Since you have said so, this Emperor will come in!"
As he said this, he suddenly raised his hand and shouted, "Pass on this Emperor's orders. The Jiang family is suspected of harboring a criminal and is suspected of treason. Search the Jiang family now!"
"Yes!"
Following Xu Que's order, a large number of soldiers and horses rushed into the Jiang family's residence. They even climbed over the walls from all directions and instantly subdued the private soldiers of the Jiang family.
Humph, a group of scum. This time, I, the Act-Tough Saint, have asked Ding Yong to bring the Imperial Guards. How dare you be so arrogant?
"Your Majesty, are you going to destroy the Jiang family?" Old Master Jiang's face darkened as he questioned coldly.
"Why do you say that, Old Master Jiang? I just received news from a spy and came to confirm it. If the Jiang family is innocent, why would I kill innocent people?" Xu Que replied with a smile.
"Your Majesty, the criminal has been arrested!"
Soon, Ding Yong brought people to report!
A middle-aged official was escorted out. It was Xuanyuan Qifa, who had met secretly with the Jiang family.
"Your Majesty, what crime have I committed?" Xuanyuan Qifa was sweating profusely and asked in panic.
Xu Que raised his hand and threw an account book at Xuanyuan Qifa's face.
"You embezzled 7,000,000 taels of silver as a donation for disaster relief. We have found out that you embezzled 7,000,000 taels of silver at home. Today, you are hiding in the Jiang family to escape punishment. Today, I have personally led troops to arrest you. You will be executed on the spot!"
7,000,000 taels of silver?
And he hid it at home?
Do you think I'm a f * cking fool?
Xuanyuan Qifa's eyes widened. "You, you've wronged me. How could I hide 7,000,000 taels of silver at home …"
"I don't care where you hid it. So, you admit to embezzlement? Drag him out and execute him. "Xu Que didn't wait for him to finish speaking and waved his hand toward the outside of the house.
"No, wait, I want to see the Empress …"
Xuanyuan Qifa's expression changed dramatically. He suddenly realized that the Emperor was serious and immediately shouted.
However, in the face of the Imperial Guards, no matter how he struggled or resisted, it was useless. He was quickly dragged out of the Jiang Mansion!
After a while, the sound of blades being unsheathed came from outside the house. Xuanyuan Qifa's wailing immediately disappeared without a trace.
Everyone felt a chill in their hearts.
Xuanyuan Qifa was a capable partner of the Five Families and Seven Princes in the Imperial Court. More importantly, he was a relative of the Empress Xuanyuan. How could he be executed just like that?
Could it be that the Emperor really wanted to shed all pretense of cordiality with these prestigious families today?
"Your Majesty!" Old Master Jiang's face was as dark as ink. He said angrily, "It's improper to execute an official without investigation. It's unreasonable to execute an official based on an oral order without an imperial edict. Do you really want to be a fatuous ruler?"
"Haha, fatuous ruler? I haven't been a fatuous ruler for many years. "Xu Que narrowed his eyes slightly and bowed." Today, I'm going to be a tyrant! "
"You …" Old Master Jiang was so angry that his face turned red and he found it hard to breathe.
"Your Majesty!"
At this moment, an Imperial Guard rushed out of the house with a jade seal and a dragon robe in his hand.
"Your Majesty, I found this in the house!"
A dragon robe and a jade seal?
Holy shit!
Everyone's expression changed. Hiding such a thing was a serious crime that could lead to the death of nine generations!
No matter how muddle-headed Old Master Jiang was, he wouldn't put such things in his house!
There was only one possibility … this thing was just brought by the Imperial Guards!
Xu Que took the dragon robe with the jade seal and said with a hideous smile, "I didn't expect the Jiang Family to be so ambitious and dare to commit treason!"
"By my order, the Jiang Family has committed treason. The evidence of treason is conclusive. Nine generations of the Jiang Family will be executed on the spot!"
"You, how dare you slander me?" Old Master Jiang roared angrily, "You don't have the jade seal, but the Five Families and the Seven Distinguished Families have iron coupons with us in the previous dynasty. Without the jade seal and the imperial edict, we can't punish the innocent!"
"Oh, the jade seal, I have it."
Xu Que smiled and took out a beautiful Nine Dragons Imperial Jade Seal from his robes. He took the Imperial Decree that had been written by the servant beside him and pressed it down hard. "Dying under the Imperial Decree of the Heaven's Gift Imperial Jade Seal is a worthy death."
Everyone's heart sank. Thinking of the news about the Heaven's Gift Seal, they suddenly understood everything.
"No, no, this jade seal …" Old Master Jiang shook his head and shouted, but he was quickly pulled away by the Imperial Guards.
Everyone's heart sank and they kept quiet out of fear.
This fatuous ruler … He had already made preparations to attack the Jiang Family!
Soon.
With Xu Que's order, the Imperial Guards raised their sabers, and countless heads fell to the ground. The Jiang Family's blood flowed like a river!
Old Master Jiang was left until the end. After watching the whole process, he trembled and was terrified.
How dare this emperor?
Without the Jiang Family, the scholars who entered the court as officials would lose a path to heaven. Wasn't he afraid of causing chaos?
"Tsk, tsk, tsk!"
At this time, Xu Que picked up his saber and came to Old Master Jiang. He put the saber on his neck and said with a smile, "Don't you want to know why I dare to do this? Aren't I afraid of chaos?"
Old Master Jiang suddenly raised his head, and his eyes were filled with hatred. "Your Majesty, how dare you …"
"Because I am super brave."
Xu Que's face was cold. He waved his saber and a head fell to the ground.
"Even in death, I won't let you know. Are you angry?"
He put away his saber and looked at the nobles around him who were as silent as cicadas in winter. He said in a clear voice, "From today onwards, the recommendation system will be abolished and the imperial examination will be established. All scholars in the world can enter the court based on their talent and knowledge. There is no need to be recommended by the nobles!"
After saying this, he left on his horse.
The remaining people looked at each other and the same thought appeared in their minds.
The Eastern Tang Kingdom … was going to change!
…
(End of this chapter)
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