Many ministers couldn't wait and departed for the court early before dawn. While some followed their usual schedule, but everything had one thing in common. They all asked each other and gossiped, trying to find out the reason for the lockdown and citywide search.
Eventually, someone who actually witnessed it from afar let the word spread and soon everyone came to know about the fire in Wuming palace as well as the assassination on the noble consort.
Gao wuyang, the right prime minister of Yang dynasty, the undisputed biggest bigshot in the officialdom had the most people gathered around him, after hearing about the attack, his face turned gloomy as he asked everyone who was around him.
"None of you have contacted that force before, right?"
Everyone's ears instantly perked up as they nodded their heads.
"We didn't, we didn't my lord."
"My lord, you said us to go east, we never went west."
"Only fools will co-operate with such a crazy force, they really think that the emperor and the court is blind and can't spot all their subordinates. Now they have completely stepped on the dignity of the emperor and he won't stop till they are completely uprooted."
Gao wuyang nodded as he spoke to all the ministers in his faction.
"Today's court will definitely be an all out attack on that force, make sure to seize the maximum benefits you can. That force isn't worth more than the Su family or the benefits we might get by attacking them and there will be many other factions waiting to tear them apart. You all know what to do."
Everyone's eyes glimmered as a wide smile appeared on their face. Benefits, whether it be position, favour or other things, it is the thing which moves an offical the most. They licked their lips as they replied flatteringly.
"We understand we understand."
"You can count on us lord Gao."
"Hehe, they are now done for, slurp."
The officials automatically sided away from the slurping guy as Gao wuyang felt nauseous and walked briskly.
Civil officials entered from the left, military from the right and only the rank 3 and above officials entered through the main door, which obviously included the right prime minister.
When they entered the hall of Jinluan palace, both the civil and military officials where chattering non stop in hushed voices while their bosses or big shots simply waited for the court to start. The left prime minister Lu Wuming was closing his eyes, which he opened and nodded at Gao Wuming who nodded as a response.
Soon, everyone came to the court, as all 3 doors closed after everyone had arrived. Today's court had almost all the officials present whose factions where ready to grasp the benefits. There felt a suffocating silence as everyone waited patiently for the emperor to arrive.
Some started clearing their throats while others while others licked their lips, waiting for the court session to start. Some even remembered their sad past and bought tears to their eyes, ready to cry their soul out as soon as the court started.
*Tap* *Tap* *Tap*
The emperor arrived with a majestic gait, wearing the golden dragon embroidered robe with a solemn expression on his face. As soon as he arrived near the throne, both military and civil officials knelt as they shouted in unison.
""Long live! Long long live the emperor!""
He sat on the dragon throne as his gaze passed through everyone who was kneeling. None of them dared to look at him and kept their heads down, waiting for him to speak or his personal eunuch to speak on behalf of him.
After a while, the emperor spoke in a deep voice, "My dear ministers, please get up."
""Thank you your majesty""
Everyone got up and waited for him to speak.
"Before we begin today's court, I would like to tell some things to my dear ministers."
As soon as he spoke the words, everyone got goosebumps all over their body. They all wondered what the emperor of Yang dynasty wanted to tell them, speaking in such a grave tone. Anyway, they all perked up their ears and even the right and left prime ministers eyes glistened.
"The eldest prince will be 15 years old in 2 months and his year of coming of age is still far away. None of the princes have reached the age of coming and I am still 30, young and fit. I hope you all will be considerate and understand what I mean and focus on stabilizing the Yang dynasty in the coming years."
*Hiss*
The officials took a cold breath as they took in the emperor's words.
This was the emperor's bottom line that was crossed and they expected the upheaval to occur, but what they didn't expected was for the emperor to directly tell them all to focus on stabilizing the Yang dynasty. This was the biggest move the Emperor made in the recent months.
Anyone who wasn't muddleheaded pondered his words and nodded inwardly. Even the neutral faction or people who were not in any faction, understood where he was coming from. Since if there is no Yang dynasty, then what will the prince they support succeed? If a civil war happened and leaves the dynasty in ruins, will they rule the ruins?
The eldest prince, who is supported by the traditional aristocratic families has yet to become an adult and every other prince is smaller than him. If they want to support, that is fine. But the battle for the crown prince position cannot happen now or in near future. Since the princes haven't even became adult, where will they bring contributions and merits from? Without merits, how can they be promoted in positions or actually justify their position as crown prince later?
""This minister understands and obeys!""
The first to reply in unison were the two prime ministers followed by the rest of the officials. It was the first time whole court has shouted to obey him, which made Yang Jian gloat inside. He felt a bit ashamed that this political victory came from the assassination of his consort and children, but that didn't prevent him from feeling smug inside.
"If you something to say, then say! If not, the court is dismissed!"
As soon as eunuch Ge shouted on the nod of the emperor, the drama unfolded even more violently than before because the emperor had already made his move and all that was left was to seize the benefits.
"Your majesty! 'minor side character 1' and 'minor side character 2' have decieved your majesty and embezzled the relief money! Please give justice to the poor people who have died due to their embezzlement!"
"Your majesty! 'minor side character 3' provided faulty weapons to our soldiers at the borders, causing them to be unable to defend the borders properly and dying unjustly. Please give justice to appease the poor souls who have died due to his crime otherwise heavens and earth won't be able to tolerate it!"
"This servant has proof that 'minor side character 4' has committed this crime!"
Everyone started shouting madly, crying and bawling their eyes out, kneeling and begging and pointing out the crimes of the scapegoat faction, many even shouted in hoarse voices and the court was filled with the list of crimes that even those assassin's faction's grandfathers wouldn't have had done.
But who would point that? The entire court was acting and setting the stage for the emperor to act and deal the fatal blow. After which the benefits would be carried out.
The emperor decided, or had to speak when a nutjob official actually cried and spoke, "Your majesty! This villian 'minor side character' put a green hat on this servant! This servant demands justice! This servant demands justice!"
""Pff""
Many people who were crying and complaining actually broke out of their character, some even stuttered and forgot what more they were about to complain. But almost everyone looked at him with unbelieving eyes.
'This bastard actually cucked himself to complain!'
'How bold! How bold!'
'Hmph! Shameless bastard!'
'This is the spirit of us officials! If you don't have enough crimes to make, include yourself as a victim!'
*Ahem*
The emperor also felt embarrassed by his words and coughed, as the noisy court quieted down. He took a deep breath as he went into his acting mode.
"My dear ministers! I feel ashamed as an emperor that these villains who are destroying and eating our dynasty from the inside are walking free. Now that you all have spoken your grievances, this emperor will make sure to punish them and stabilize the heaven and earth!"
""Your majesty is kind! Your majesty is kind!""
"Relay my order! Catch the troublemakers one by one and confiscate their houses and property, if the treason is found, execution effective immediately! The males of 3 generations will be sent to the mine as slaves and the females will be sent to the prostitution department!"
""Your majesty's grace is as great as the heaven and earth!""
While the officials were flattering him, the left prime minister came out of his position and bowed.
"Your majesty, this minister would like to impeach someone of assassination of concubine Hu and an attempted assassination!"
*Hissss!!!*
""!!!!!!!!!""
Left prime minister Lu, who was usually so quiet actually dropped such a bomb in the court that the court lost it's noise and voice for a moment. The only thing left were people sucking cold breath and breaking out in cold sweat.
This news was actually too big. Someone who assassinated concubine Hu and an attempted assassination? Who could it be if not the mastermind behind that force. And left prime minister Lu actually knew who he was?
Everyone collectively turned to look at the emperor's reaction, and sure enough, his brows furrowed as his face turned dark.
"My dear minister Lu, you said you know who killed concubine Hu? And who ordered the assassination on the noble consort yesterday? Do you know the weight of your words?"
Lu Wuming knelt down as he spoke.
"Your majesty, what is minister says is completely correct. I also have collected evidences to prove my words! If I am wrong, I am willing to lay down my life for this mistake."
Yang Jian understood that when Lu Wuming said these words, he was speaking the complete truth. Because Lu Wuming was a careful person, so careful that he didn't belonged to any faction despite being at such a high position. He did had many connections as everyone has it, what's more he is the left prime minister, but he always took careful steps.
"Then tell me prime minister Lu, who is culprit of the murder of concubine Hu and yesterday's attack? I will make sure to kill them by thousand cut!"
"Your majesty, it is the deputy minister of works, Hu chenge!"