Chapter 566 - 371: The Number One Treacherous Eunuch in the Realm! Dongchang Overlord! (2)

Chapter 566: Chapter 371: The Number One Treacherous Eunuch in the Realm! Dongchang Overlord! (2)

Things like "The rich wine and dine while meat rots," and "Warriors half dead at the front lines," were not far from directly pointing at the emperor’s nose and calling him a foolish ruler.

The one on the dragon throne expressed that his head was spinning!

Although what you say is true, you can’t express it openly in public.

I’m a grand emperor, supreme among men, do I not have any dignity?

The whole world under the heavens belongs to the king, yet these scholars, relying on their bits of learning, insist on grinding the royal family’s supreme face into the dirt.

Today they can compose poetry to mock and remonstrate, tomorrow they dare to gather crowds to petition. In the long run, where is the authority of the monarch?

If all the scholars under heaven were like these talented ones, wantonly mocking and recklessly discussing state affairs,

denigrating the emperor’s governance strategies as worthless, treating the court’s statutes as if they were nothing.

In this way, how can the court’s decrees reach all corners?

How would ministers conscientiously assist in governance? If the common people see the virtuous disregarding the ruler, they will inevitably grow disdain in their hearts.

In the long run, the foundations of the Great Yu Country will be on the verge of collapse.

Ultimately, in this vast realm and all its multitude of lives, how should the emperor govern and steer them? How to display the majesty of the Son of Heaven, ruling over all?

What is more disheartening is that the one on the dragon throne had long shown magnanimity, it is not that he did not give these so-called talents a chance to turn back.

The imperial guards once quietly delivered secret letters, earnestly advising them to rein in their sharpness.

The agents from Dongchang also repeatedly hinted at poetry gatherings, suggesting they do not touch upon royal taboos.

Yet those who fancy themselves as having noble integrity regarded the emperor’s tolerance as a weakness to be exploited.

Initially subtle allusions gradually turned into blunt critiques, even compiling storybooks at literary gatherings in the open.

Comparing the governance strategies of the one in the imperial palace to childish play, turning court affairs into absurd banter.

When the words "foolish ruler" spread from street children’s hymns, and memorials of impeachment began to question the emperor’s virtues.

Even if the emperor has a heart of iron, how could he not be pained by such provocation?

This escalating offense, let alone for a ruler who governs the land.

No matter who it is, they would have to fend off attacks.

And those officials who fancy themselves "loyal ministers," under the guise of remonstration, openly rebutted the emperor’s new policies in the court.

Denouncing reforms as detrimental to the nation and the people, wholly disregarding the livelihood struggles of the populace and the long-term development of the Great Yu Country.

They form cliques, using ancestral laws as a pretense, implementing actions that obstruct reform.

Even when the emperor personally presides to appease, they remain obstinate, their speech brimming with disdain for the populace.

Known as "Grand Heroes," the martial arts chivalrous warriors are no different, relying on their martial skills and prestige in the martial world, claiming to follow the heavenly path.

They disregard court law, intercepting the military supplies destined for the borders under the guise of "relieving the disaster victims," leading to the border soldiers lacking in food and clothing.

Furthermore, they incite heroes at the Martial Arts Alliance to oppose the court, stirring discontent among the populace towards the government.

They think they uphold justice, but in fact, they have long become the scourge that disrupts the court’s order and destroys peace, forcing the emperor to wield the slaughter blade in his hand.

Yet all this ultimately led to the original body bearing the infamy.

Of course, there is no distinction between good and evil in the world, neither the original body nor that emperor were virtuous men.

This head of the Dongchang indulged in power, turning the court into his own battlefield of hell.

He raised death warriors, controlling the prison, using the torture of skinning and stuffing with grass to intimidate dissidents.

To consolidate power, he did not hesitate to provoke factional struggles, letting the civil and military officials fight against each other, while the common people drifted in the turmoil of war and harsh governance.

The emperor on the throne equally had blood-stained hands.

He was domineering in his decisions, treating ministers as insignificant beings, exterminating even nine generations at the slightest defiance.

The three thousand beauties in the palace courted still did not satisfy him, forcefully conscripting women to fill the imperial harem, causing countless families to be torn apart.

In the court, he took the remonstrations of loyal ministers as something intolerable, using brutal means to silence the voices of the populace.

Rumors have long circulated among the people that the old emperor, seeking immortality, believed the words of alchemists, sacrificing boys and girls in a sacrifice, acts of barbarity that are shocking.

The pair of sovereign and minister, one stirring up the storm in the dark, the other wantonly acting in the open, as if colluding, dragging the Great Yu Country into an inescapable abyss.

In the hall, Cao Jin and Cao Haosheng were still confronting each other across a purple sandalwood table, their shadows stretched long on the floor.

"Cao Jin, stop avoiding responsibility!"

Cao Haosheng slapped the table, causing the teacups to clatter, "You personally took on this task, now that it’s botched, of course, you should go beg forgiveness from godfather!"

Cao Jin snorted with laughter, his right hand stroking the hilt of the Brocade Spring Saber at his waist: "Easier said than done."

"If it weren’t for those treacherous dogs in the Jinyi Guard switching allegiance at the last minute, how would I..."

At this point in his speech, Cao Jin suddenly fell silent, as if merely mentioning failure was a taboo.

The two simultaneously looked towards the hall entrance.

Beyond the layers of courtyards, behind the black lacquered doors of Dongchang, who knows what terrifying torture devices are hidden?

Last time, a vice commander was ineffective in his duties, invited to "tea," and returned missing three fingers, yet still had to kneel and express gratitude.

"Enough."

Cao Jin suddenly deflated, pulling a copper coin from his pocket, "The usual rule, heads you go, tails I go."

The copper coin flipped rapidly in the air, tracing a silvery arc.

The two stared intently at the fate-deciding coin, even beads of sweat appeared on their foreheads.

In this Dongchang, sometimes living is more unbearable than dying — especially when the foster father’s well-maintained hands slowly fiddle with the torture devices.

The coin fell to the ground, spinning for a long time before it finally emitted a crisp "ding."

Tap—

A soft sound suddenly echoed on the stone steps outside the hall, like a drop of ink falling into still water.

Cao Jin hadn’t yet picked up the copper coin when he saw a shadow slither with the sunlight over the threshold, like a venomous snake.

"Foster father!"

The two hulking figures immediately sprang up, the hilts of their Brocade Spring Sabers clanking against the desk.

Just moments ago, the two were at sword’s edge, now frozen like cats caught by the neck, not daring to breathe.

Cao Haosheng even instinctively shrunk his neck — this man who instills terror in the imperial prison now cowers like a cicada in cold weather, not daring to look up.

In the slanted sunlight, the silhouette gradually became clearer.

The hem of the ink-colored dragon robe remained motionless, flying fish patterns embroidered in gold intermittently appeared in the light and shadow.

The person’s steps were light as if floating, yet each step seemed to tread on the nerves of those present.

Cao Jin’s Adam’s apple bobbed, his sweat had soaked through his inner clothes.

He suddenly recalled the file head from last month who was made into a human swine — just for shaking his leg while replying.

"You two....."

A gentle voice with a hint of laughter sounded, though it made the hall’s temperature plummet, "What game are you playing?"

On the desk, that fate-deciding copper coin finally stopped spinning, conveniently resting in the gap, revealing neither heads nor tails.

Lu Xuan leisurely examined his foster sons before him.

"Where is the person the inspector desires?"

A casual remark left Cao Jin and his companion thunderstruck. A muffled "bang" echoed.

The two instantly knelt, cracking the golden tiles on the floor with their force.

Cao Haosheng’s forehead had already bled, with blood trickling down his nose, splattering shocking blood flowers on the blue stone tiles.

"Foster father, please look deeply!"

Cao Jin’s voice trembled, "Your sons had originally trapped the person in a dead end, but who knew..."

He gulped forcefully, "Who knew that Black Tortoise Governor Yuan Qian suddenly arrived and shattered my Brocade Spring Saber with a single palm!"

Lu Xuan subtly arched an eyebrow, his gaze glancing at Cao Jin’s waist, indeed, only half a broken blade remained.

"Foster father!"

Cao Haosheng suddenly erupted, his bloodied fist pounding the ground, overturning a teacup, "There’s an inside traitor in Dongchang!"

His bloodshot eyes were practically bulging, veins on his neck bulged like worms.

Lu Xuan showed an intrigued smile, looking at this normally most composed foster son, now like a mad dog with its tail stepped on.

"Oh?" Lu Xuan leisurely smoothened the creases of his sleeve, "A spy?"

Cao Jin started violently trembling, as if recalling something terrifying.

The calmer their foster father appears, the more terrifying the impending storm.

Last year, Jiu was ineffective in his duties, hung in the torture chamber for three days and nights, eventually even his eyes were drilled by ants.

"I swear on my life!"

With a scorned knife wound exposed on his chest, Cao Haosheng said, "We acted without bringing our attendants, yet Yuan Qian seemed to have premonition and awaited at the alley!"

Lu Xuan assessed Cao Haosheng, pondering internally.

It seems among the thirteen foster sons, many have begun harboring thoughts of betrayal.

Ten days ago, the emperor decreed, insisting the Inspector captures a stunning woman to be brought to the palace.