"The Crown Prince has arrived!"
A resonant voice echoed through Taihe Hall, cutting through the heavy silence like a blade. The announcement hung in the air, thick with incense smoke that curled from ornate bronze censers, filling the vast chamber with a sacred, oppressive fragrance.
The Crown Prince entered with graceful poise, stepping ahead of the imperial officials. He bowed deeply to his father, the Emperor, his movements precise and refined.
"Your Majesty," his voice rang out clearly in the hushed hall. The earlier threat against the Left Chancellor had silenced everyone; no one dared interrupt the General or break the fragile tension.
"You are here, my son," the Emperor said, a proud smile lighting his face for the first time that morning.
"I apologize for my tardiness, Your Majesty. I was ensuring everything at Dong Palace was prepared to welcome my bride," the Crown Prince replied, his voice alive with genuine excitement and pride. Left Chancellor Ming beamed from ear to ear, delighted to see his daughter's future husband so visibly pleased.
"It is well," the Emperor chuckled softly. "Your presence is timely. We are in the midst of a grave matter. Take your place so we may continue."
"Of course, Your Majesty." The Crown Prince bowed once more and assumed his position among the civil officials, as protocol demanded.
Tianlei could barely suppress a gag at the scene unfolding before him. He was his father's son too, yet never once had he felt they shared the same blood. His brother's title as Crown Prince made him feel superior — above him in every way — and he seized every opportunity to make Tianlei's life miserable. Yet Tianlei never retaliated; his brother's spiritual powers were useless against him anyway. The only leverage he had was the fear he inspired, not the love and acceptance his brother enjoyed from their father and all of Great Qan.
"You may now present your witnesses, General Weiyun," the Emperor commanded, his tone returning to solemn gravity.
"Bring them forward!" the General ordered.
Soon, three officials, escorted by Weiyun army officers, entered the hall with measured steps. They were the Prefects of Fanyue, Nan, and Luan. Their presence stunned Minister Zhang, whose face paled visibly — he had never imagined they would reach the capital alive.
"Greetings, Your Majesty," they bowed in unison, their voices steady despite the weight of the moment.
"Your Majesty," General Weiyun continued, his voice carrying clear authority, "these are the Prefects of Fanyue, Nan, and Luan. They come to testify against Minister Zhang for his gross misconduct with imperial revenue. Prefect Wang, please begin."
"Your Majesty, I am Prefect Wang of Fanyue," the first spoke. "Three years past, war with Xilin devastated our lands near the border, now expanded with new territories. Though we endured great loss, not a month has passed without our full taxes paid. We barely feed our people, yet we fulfill our duties. Still, what we receive is less than ten percent of our payments. Our petitions to the Ministry of Revenue went unanswered; Minister Zhang has abandoned us."
He hesitated, casting a furtive glance at General Weiyun before continuing.
"We had no choice when General Weiyun visited our lands six months ago and ordered the halt of our tax payments, so we could save the money to revive our economy. I confess we were reluctant to comply. Following his command felt like submitting to an improper whim. Yet, faced with no other choice and for the sake of our people's survival, we obeyed. We humbly plead for Your Majesty's forgiveness — for our vulnerability and for being forced to act against the usual order." He lowered his head in a deep kowtow.
General Weiyun's eyes narrowed, a flicker of disgust crossing his face at the Prefect's words.
"You are fools," the General spat under his breath, barely controlling his contempt. "You cannot see that I sought only to help you — stupidly clinging to pride as your people suffer."
Prefect Wang cowered. He had offended the General with his words, but he'd rather enrage him than confess gratitude before the imperial court.
However, the General had no more breath to waste on him, so he simply ordered Prefect Xu of Nan to step forward.
"Your Majesty, I am Prefect Xu of Nan. Last year's flood devastated our lands, yet we never faltered in tax payments. We struggle to keep our economy alive, reliant on imperial revenue. But Minister Zhang shortchanges us repeatedly. Our revenue is scant and erratic."
He swallowed hard, then admitted, "We, too, were hesitant to halt taxes on General Weiyun's orders. Yet, for our people's survival, we complied. We were very afraid of what he might have done to us if we didn't. We beg Your Majesty's forgiveness for our weakness and for the disruption caused." He joined Prefect Wang in a kowtow.
General Weiyun's lip curled in disdain as he listened, his disgust barely masked.
"Stupid," he muttered. "You fail to grasp the mercy I showed."
Suddenly, Minister Zhang erupted in anger. "Lies! Lies! You are all fools and liars!"
"Until the testifiers finish, you will remain silent, Minister Zhang. Understood?" General Weiyun's glare was ice-cold, silencing the minister instantly.
The third Prefect stepped forward, his voice steady despite the oppressive atmosphere.
"Your Majesty, I am Prefect Bai of Luan. Like Fanyue, our people suffered greatly from the war with Xilin. Despite hardship, we have never wavered in our tax duties. Our people labor ceaselessly to meet them. Yet, our revenue is delayed and insufficient to sustain our economy."
He bowed deeply. "I sought audience with Minister Zhang many times but was refused. Following General Weiyun's command to halt taxes was difficult. Still, for the sake of survival, we complied. We humbly ask Your Majesty's forgiveness for this weakness and for the hardship endured."
General Weiyun's eyes flashed with frustration, but he did not bother to speak again. He should be used to this by now and had no idea why he bothered speaking out in the first place.
The Prefects then presented detailed records of tax payments over three years and the meager revenues returned. The eunuch delivered the documents to the Emperor with bowed head.
The Emperor studied the records carefully, comparing them to those submitted by Minister Zhang. His face darkened with disappointment as he slammed his fist upon the table, the sound echoing like thunder through the hall.
"Minister Zhang," his voice thundered, "how do you plead?"
"Your Majesty, I am not guilty!" Zhang cried, dropping to his knees in kowtow. "General Weiyun seeks to ruin me. He has conspired with these Prefects to slander my name! Please investigate thoroughly!"
"You only make this harder for yourself," General Weiyun said coldly. "Very well."
"Your Majesty," the General continued, "I have one final accusation against Minister Zhang."
Murmurs rippled through the court. All wondered what new charge could surface, and how Zhang might evade it.
"What is it, General?" the Emperor asked, intrigued.
"Attempted murder of Prefects Wang, Xu, and Bai."
A heavy silence fell, thick with shock.
"Bring him in!"
Without hesitation, General Weiyun summoned his second-in-command, who dragged in a battered, bound man. His face was bruised and bloodied, eyes gouged, barely clinging to life — a victim of brutal torture.
"Who commanded the attack on the Prefects' convoy en route to the capital?" the General demanded, his voice cold and absolute.
The man hesitated, then whimpered.
"Speak now!" The General kicked him harshly, eliciting a groan of agony.
"Minister Zhang!" the man sobbed. "Minister Zhang is the culprit. We are but thugs trying to earn a living by doing nobles' dirty work. Have mercy, General Weiyun!"
"Take him away," the General ordered, and the man was dragged out as broken as he had come.
"This," General Weiyun said, holding aloft a letter in Minister Zhang's handwriting, "is the last message he sent by pigeon to the thugs who attacked the Prefects' convoy. It commands no one be left alive — not even the Weiyun officers escorting them."
An eunuch took the letter to the Emperor with bowed head.
"If my men were less capable, the Prefects would be dead, and the crimes concealed," General Weiyun declared, fury burning in his eyes. "Minister Zhang, how do you plead now?!"
Before the Emperor could repeat the question, Minister Zhang crumpled to the floor, kowtowing repeatedly.
"Your Majesty! Temper justice with mercy! I am guilty!" he confessed, knowing his fate was sealed. General Weiyun had proved his guilt beyond doubt.
The court waited breathlessly for the Emperor's judgment, hoping for leniency. Though guilty, Minister Zhang's accuser — the rejected prince and ruthless General Weiyun — was widely disliked. Despite his service, he lacked acceptance from the court and the heavens alike, possessing no divine channels like other male members of the imperial House Murong. He was spurned, wielding power only through fear. No one wished for his victory, not even the Emperor. Yet justice had to prevail.
"Minister Zhang of the Ministry of Revenue, you stand convicted of these heinous crimes: embezzlement of imperial funds; corruption in revenue distribution harming the people; attempted murder of Prefects Wang, Xu, and Bai; and deception of the Emperor with false evidence.
"As punishment, you are stripped of rank and title, your family's property confiscated, and you shall endure life imprisonment without pardon. Your family is to be exiled to the frontier.
"By Imperial Decree."
"Your Majesty is wise!" The court bowed in unison.
Though Tianlei believed death the only fitting punishment, the verdict was final.
Imperial guards entered at once and seized Minister Zhang, ending the court session…