In the Xuanzheng Hall of the Yuhua Palace.
Jun Wuyuan sat high on the imperial throne. Two rows of ministers knelt in the middle of the hall. At the front was the father of Concubine Wang, who had been demoted to commoner status.
Wang Yanli, the eldest son of Grand Tutor Wang Yuyao and the younger brother of Queen Mother Wang, held the position of the Minister of the Department of State Affairs.
"Your Majesty, please forgive me. My unfilial daughter has been arrogant and domineering, but she would never have the malicious intention to harm the imperial heir. I hope Your Majesty can see the truth clearly..."
Wang Yanli had climbed to the position of the Minister of the Department of State Affairs relying on his father and elder sister. He had always been superior and domineering outside.
Even though he knew what kind of person his daughter was, he didn't take today's matter seriously.
In Wang Yanli's eyes, the Wang family had killed several emperors before.
Now it was just an accidental push that caused that lowly maid to have a miscarriage. What was the big deal?
Although Wang Yanli was intimidated by Jun Wuyuan's fierce gaze and stopped his words, he still didn't care in his heart.
He even forgot all the warnings from his father, Wang Yuyao, before he left.
"Does the Minister of the Department of State Affairs mean that I'm a fatuous and incompetent emperor who wrongs your daughter and doesn't deserve to have you, a grand minister, kneel here?"
These light words were like the freezing frost in the cold winter, stabbing straight into his face.
Xue Zhiyuan, the father of Concubine Xue, who was related to the Wang family by marriage and currently served as the vice - minister of the Ministry of Revenue, was extremely anxious. He wished he could go up and slap Wang Yanli awake.
If he wanted to seek death, he shouldn't drag them down!
What was the situation before, and what was it like now?
It was a pity that Grand Tutor Wang had stayed in Chang'an City to supervise the state affairs. Besides handling government affairs and daily matters, he had not forgotten to tell Wang Yanli to behave himself before setting off for the Yuhua Palace.
Xue Zhiyuan regretted it so much.
Wang Yanli was so self - destructive. He wasn't Wang Yanli's father. Why should he bear the emperor's wrath?
Moreover, the father and daughter of the Wang family were really disgusting.
His daughter hadn't sent a letter home for almost a month. His wife had heard some news from somewhere and cried every day.
How could Xue Zhiyuan not feel heartache?
So, Xue Zhiyuan, who usually cleaned up Wang Yanli's messes in political affairs, seemed to be intimidated by the emperor's majesty. His legs trembled and he lowered his head even more.
As for Wang Yanli, he was a good - for - nothing without any ambition. Relying on his father and family background, he was really arrogant, but he wasn't really fearless.
Before, he didn't believe that Jun Wuyuan would dare to do anything to him. But now, under that cold and terrifying gaze, cold sweat gradually broke out on his back.
"Your Majesty, please calm your anger. I would never have such a treasonous thought. Please see the truth clearly..."
Xue Zhiyuan: "..."
Idiot!
See the truth clearly? What a stupid head!
Who was Jun Wuyuan?
He was the high - flying emperor of the Great Yan Dynasty. Who did Wang Yanli think he was? At this moment, instead of pleading guilty, he still wanted the emperor to see the truth clearly. Xue Zhiyuan was really...
"Very well."
Jun Wuyuan seemed to be really angry with this idiot. His eyes were extremely cold.
"Guards, drag Lord Wang out and give him twenty strokes of the rod right below the palace steps. Let Lord Wang sober up his mind.
Out of respect for the Queen Mother and the Grand Tutor, the matter of exterminating the nine - generation family for the crime of harming the imperial heir will be discussed after the rod punishment!"
Hiss.
Everyone in the hall quietly gasped. The emperor's wrath had obviously just begun.
Wang Yanli's legs went weak. He was so scared that his back turned cold. He couldn't even utter a plea for mercy and was dragged out like a dead dog by the guards.
Jun Wuyuan's cold and majestic peach - blossom eyes swept across the remaining important ministers who were still kneeling. His tone rose slightly.
"All ministers, please rise. Follow me to take a look."
"We thank Your Majesty."
The group followed Jun Wuyuan out of the hall and saw that Wang Yanli had been pressed onto a long bench. Two people held his shoulders and two held his legs.
Jun Wuyuan nodded slightly. The guards on the left and right picked up the rods and mercilessly struck down.
The heavy cracking sound immediately accompanied by heart - rending screams echoed through the sky, intimidating everyone outside the Xuanzheng Hall.
Each strike hit everyone's heart, like a kind of declaration. Several ministers looked at the tall, majestic, and cold emperor with respect in their hearts.
The young emperor had finally grown into a majestic eagle, soaring in the sky, not allowing anyone to look down on him.
"Ah—"
At nearly forty years old, Wang Yanli's body, which had long been emptied by wine and women and had been living in luxury, couldn't withstand a few strokes of the rod.
After just one stroke, he was howling like a ghost, which made people roll their eyes.
He was supposed to be a proper man. Even if he was really in pain, he shouldn't have cried out so disgracefully.
A real man doesn't shed tears easily.
The Langya Wang family had produced many famous scholars. Even Grand Tutor Wang and Queen Mother Wang were well - known figures.
How could they have produced such a useless person?
Jun Wuyuan automatically filtered out Wang Yanli's pitiful cries and pleas for mercy. After looking at him for a moment with pleasure, he turned to look at Minister Cui of the Department of State Affairs.
"Grand Tutor Cui, I wonder what you think should be the punishment for harming the imperial heir?"
Grand Tutor Cui was a man of integrity. His gray - haired face was elegant and leisurely. Hearing this, he bowed slowly and replied.
"Your Majesty, according to the laws of the Great Yan Dynasty, for those who harm the imperial heir, in the lighter case, the whole family will be exterminated and their property confiscated; in the heavier case, the nine - generation family will be completely wiped out. These are all clearly stipulated by the law."
"Then, in the Grand Tutor's opinion, does the family of Minister Wang deserve the punishment for Concubine Wang's crime of harming the imperial heir? Is Grand Tutor Wang innocent? Or should the entire Langya Wang family not be spared?"
The emperor's voice was clear and deep, like a heavy hammer hitting the hearts of every minister behind him.
Grand Tutor Cui was the first to be impacted by this wave.
Every time Jun Wuyuan didn't say a word, his eyelids would twitch.
Harming the imperial heir was naturally a great crime. They, as the imperial loyalists, would not speak for the Wang family.
However, if they really followed the law of exterminating the nine - generation family, wouldn't the Queen Mother and the princes be implicated? Then there would be a lot of people to be killed.
They couldn't even count the emperor himself, could they?
"Your Majesty, I think Concubine Wang does have the crime of harming the imperial heir. As for how to punish her, it needs to be carefully discussed. We must not act rashly, or we may startle the snake and end up with a lose - lose situation."
Jun Wuyuan stared at Grand Tutor Cui for a few moments, rubbing the jade ring on his finger, and said:
"What the Grand Tutor said is reasonable. I was too angry. In my rage, I almost lost my senses. I'm really grateful to the Grand Tutor for the reminder."
Grand Tutor Cui bowed respectfully: "Your Majesty, you're overpraising me. I'm really unworthy. I admire Your Majesty for your decisive actions."
Jun Wuyuan's eyes were smiling. He looked extremely gentle as he motioned for Grand Tutor Cui to rise.
"Stop!"
A grand entourage arrived. The sickly voice of Queen Mother Wang was not weak at all. It was firm and resounding.
"What is it that has made the emperor take such drastic measures?"
Jun Wuyuan raised his eyebrows slightly: "The Queen Mother is sick, but she still makes such a grand appearance?"
Rascal!
Queen Mother Wang's phoenix eyes turned cold.