With Zhang Yuan announcing the arrival of the Emperor, everyone in the hall knelt in unison. Even Xuan Tianming, who had never respected seniority, had a stern and respectful expression.
Feng Yu Heng pulled Xiang Rong to kneel and shouted with all the officials: "Long live the Emperor!"
The kowtowing stopped, and after a long while, Emperor Tianwu finally walked up to the stage in the hall. Facing all the officials, he sat below the dragon throne and gently raised his hand: "Everyone, please rise."
Only then did everyone stand up in a hubbub; however, they continued to keep their heads down. Everyone was guessing, after the chaos and the morning court session that had been rested for a day had finally returned to normal. What sort of decision would Emperor Tianwu make?
Some people secretly looked in the direction of the fourth prince, Xuan Tian Yi, and they saw that that person had a calm expression, but his eyes no longer had the light and anticipation that they had in the past. It was dead grey and completely devoid of life.
There were also people who looked in the direction of Feng Yu Heng and Feng Xiang Rong, thinking to themselves that county princess Ji An coming to court, there must be some benefits to be gained.
Of course, with regards to Feng Yu Heng reaping benefits from Tianwu, the people were not too surprised. After all, Feng Yu Heng's achievements were there for all to see. Any sort of reward was something that should be given. They were just wondering if the Emperor would do as the officials had guessed and use this chance to announce a crown prince.
Everyone had doubts in their hearts. After Tianwu sat down, he did not speak for a long time. He only looked down coldly. When his gaze landed on Xuan Tian Yi, it was filled with sadness and disappointment that could not be hidden.
Xuan Tian Yi was also a little moved. His mouth moved, as though he wanted to say something; however, he was unable to say anything in the end.
The first person to stand up and break this awkward situation was the governor, Xu Jingyuan. As the parent official of the capital, after such a large matter, he came to court once again with two memorials in his hands. One of them was about the pursuit and annihilation of the enemy forces after the turmoil. The other was his confession and resignation of his own accord.
He walked out of the group of officials and stood in the middle of the hall. Taking a couple steps forward, he handed the report in his hand to the eunuch in charge of delivering things. He then lifted his official's robe and knelt in the hall, loudly saying: "The turmoil in the capital has been investigated. In the end, it was determined that the main culprits were the third prince, Xuan Tian Ye, and the fourth prince, Xuan Tian Yi. Also, the commander of the East's infantry, Bu Cong, and the deputy leader of the North, Duan Mu Qing, were also involved. The guilty official, Duan Mu Qing, has already died during the rebellion. This official, under the command of His Ninth Highness, has already captured the two princes. Only Bu Cong is still on the run. The citizens of the capital were slightly disturbed, but the harm was not great. Right now, they have returned to their normal lives. This official has already ordered people to strengthen the patrols inside the city and the defenses outside the city to ensure that there are no worries in the capital. " After saying this, he kowtowed three times to Tianwu then said: "As the governor, this official has been working hard to share your Majesty's burdens and bring benefits to the citizens, but this official's merits and demerits cannot offset each other. In the end, the reason that this turmoil was able to occur was this official's fault. This official does not ask for your Majesty to spare this official's life. This official voluntarily relinquishes my position and asks for forgiveness. I just hope that your Majesty will allow this official to help His Ninth Highness finish investigating this case and provide your Majesty and the citizens with an explanation. When that time comes, even if this official dies, I will be able to rest in peace. "
He spoke seriously and did not have any desire to live. Tianwu knew that Xu Jingyuan was working with his old ninth. This person was upright and clearly distinguished between right and wrong. He abhorred evil, and he was quite direct in his work. It was natural that he would not be willing to kill him like this. But with such a large mess occurring in the capital, as an official, it was impossible for him to not pay a price. Fortunately, this person was not muddle-headed. He took the initiative to propose that the case be investigated first before asking for the death penalty. This also gave him a chance to recover.
Tianwu nodded and said: "Permitted." There was no superfluous words. Just like today's morning court, the things that needed to be said and done were all things that Tianwu had already thought about. This included Xu Jingyuan's actions. In truth, this was also within his expectations. Seeing Xu Jingyuan give his thanks then retreat to the group of officials, he gently coughed a couple times to clear his throat. Finally, he spoke once more and made a final statement on the matter that everyone had been guessing. He said: "The Xiang Palace will be returned to the national treasury. The servants and their wives will be sent to the border as slaves and will never be allowed to return to the capital. Prince Xiang, Xuan Tianye, will be stripped of his title and demoted to a commoner. In three days, he will be executed! "
Once the word 'executed' was said, the fourth prince, Xuan Tianyi, who had been forcing himself to remain calm, could no longer hold it in. His legs trembled, and he dropped to his knees in the hall. The shackles on his hands and legs fell to the ground, creating a clear sound.
The officials all inhaled sharply. Seizing the palace and usurping the throne, even if he was a prince, he would not be able to avoid death. Everyone looked at the kneeling Xuan Tianyi with sympathetic gazes. They all understood that the fourth prince's end would not be much better.
Sure enough, they heard Tianwu say with an expressionless face: "The Ping Palace will be returned to the national treasury. The servants and their wives will be sent to the border as slaves and will never be allowed to return to the capital. Prince Ping, Xuan Tianyi, will be stripped of his title and demoted to a commoner. In three days … "
"Father Emperor!" Xuan Tianyi suddenly shouted and wanted to crawl forward from the ground; however, he was restrained by the Imperial Guards who suddenly rushed forward. The same sentence, the same words, he was afraid that if his Father Emperor continued, the next two words would be execution. He still did not want to die. He was only in his twenties and had yet to marry an official princess. He also did not lead a private army to attack the imperial palace's gates like Xuan Tianye. Why should he have the same ending as Old Third? He was really afraid. Even if he was being restrained by the Imperial Guards, he still desperately raised his head and shouted at Emperor Tianwu: "Father Emperor, This Son knows that he was wrong. It was all Third Brother who urged me to do this! Father Emperor! "
The more he shouted, the more despair he felt. The more he shouted, the colder the expression in Emperor Tianwu's eyes became. Finally, Xuan Tianyi stopped shouting, and his stiff body relaxed. The Imperial Guards saw that he was no longer struggling, so they let go and left the hall. Xuan Tianyi crawled up from the ground and kneeled once more. He did not say anything else and just kept his head lowered while kneeling, waiting for the final sentence.
He thought that he was done for; however, after Emperor Tianwu spoke once more, he heard him say: "Prince Ping, Xuan Tianyi, will be stripped of his title and demoted to a commoner. In three days, he will be imprisoned for life."
This decision caused everyone to feel very surprised. Even Feng Yu Heng became puzzled. She turned her gaze toward Xuan Tianming and Xuan Tianye; however, she saw that the two were calm and did not show any signs of surprise. She knew that they definitely knew about the final decision that Tianwu would make. It was just that the two sons were treated differently. Was there some other reason for this?
She was thinking about this and did not pay too much attention to the other matters in court. She could faintly hear Xuan Tianyi thanking Tianwu for his grace, then he was taken away. Emperor Tianwu then said that Concubine Duan would be banished to the Cold Palace, so she did not listen to the rest. Only when Xiangrong tugged at her sleeve forcefully did she regain her senses. Looking at Xiangrong in confusion, she saw Xiangrong desperately trying to signal her with her eyes. At this time, she heard Emperor Tianwu suddenly shout from the top of the hall: "Feng Yu Heng!"
She almost reflexively said: "Present!" Her voice was loud and clear, just like when she was called out by her commanding officer in the army in her previous life.
This shout stunned everyone. The officials were all dazed. No one understood what this Ji 'an County Magistrate was starring in.
Xuan Tianming could not help but facepalm. This damn girl, what exactly was she thinking?
It was Xuan Tianhua who took the initiative to speak. Using his usual calm and steady voice, he said to her: "Father Emperor is calling for you, why are you not going forward!"
With this reminder, Feng Yu Heng immediately reacted. Silently scolding herself for being foolish, she quickly went forward and knelt in the middle of the hall.
Tianwu's lips twitched. He really had an urge to pry open the head of the girl kneeling below him! What exactly was she thinking? Walking into court while distracted, this was an unheard of story!
He glanced at Xuan Tianming and saw that he was also looking at him. He quickly sent a message with his gaze: Your wife really is a weirdo.
Xuan Tianming did not mind at all, using the same gaze to retort: Only someone like this can be called my wife.
Tianwu pouted and muttered softly: "It really is fish looking for fish and prawns looking for prawns."
Zhang Guo heard this from the side and quickly reminded him: "You're in court!"
Tianwu rolled his eyes and did not continue to complain. Instead, he opened his golden mouth and announced the decision he had made yesterday evening — — "County Princess Ji An cares about the people of the world. During the flood in Dashun, she disregarded her own safety and went out of the city to save the victims and resolve the epidemic. When Duanmu Qing rebelled, she immediately rushed out of the city to pursue him and finally intercepted that traitorous official. In addition, County Princess Ji An produced steel for Dashun. The first steel weapon has already been successfully produced and has been personally tested by General Ping Nan. She has rendered meritorious service to Dashun and also owes a debt of gratitude. From today onwards, she will be conferred the title of lower first rank Princess Ji An. The county princess' manor will now be renamed as the princess' manor. The original county princess of Ji An County will be granted land and rewarded with gold, slaves, cattle, sheep, and other livestock. "
Feng Yu Heng's eyes widened as she stared at Emperor Tianwu. She almost thought that she had misheard. She was the daughter of an official. Even if she and Xuan Tianming were in love and had done many things for Dashun, being conferred the title of county princess was already good enough. Princess had always been conferred the title of princess!
Seeing her in a daze, Tianwu felt a bit awkward. He lightly coughed and asked: "Is there something you're not satisfied with?"
Feng Yu Heng quickly shook her head: "Daughter-in-law doesn't dare."
Tianwu stomped his foot: "Then you should thank her!" He then glared at Zhang Yuan and said in a low voice: "What, you didn't tell her in advance? Look at how shocked she is. "
Zhang Yuan wiped away a handful of sweat that didn't even exist and said: "This servant wanted to give county princess … oh, no, give the princess a surprise."
Tianwu gave a muffled groan. Surprise? Looking at that girl, there was only shock and no joy! He just didn't understand. Being conferred the title of princess, how great of an honor was that! Why didn't this girl look happy?
Zhang Yuan mentioned in a timely manner: "Ninth Princess Consort and Princess Wu Yang are good sisters."
Tianwu understood and quickly said: "We are not just rewarding you today. When you left the city for the disaster, my imperial family's Princess Wu Yang also went out. Even if she has a precious body, she still stayed outside the city to cook porridge for the victims of the disaster. We remember all of this. Today, with your conferment first, what follows is the decree We will give to Princess Wu Yang. "
Feng Yu Heng turned her head and saw Xuan Tian Ge walk over to her side from outside the hall. Kneeling with her, she then heard Tianwu say: "Princess Wu Yang, Xuan Tian Ge, will be promoted to standard first rank Princess Wu Yang. The empty residence to the right of Wen Xuan Palace will be conferred as the princess' manor. Also, Ren Xi Feng, Fung Tian Yu and Bai Fu Rong have contributed greatly during this disaster. Therefore, the Ren family, Feng family and Bai family will be conferred the title of county princess. The three girls will receive a salary from the court as county princesses. "After saying this, he finally waved his hand:" You, give your thanks! "
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