OBS Chapter 158 Rebellion! The Emperor Flees!
Chapter 158 Rebellion! The Emperor Flees!
In the capital, Qin Huiqi's face was so gloomy that it seemed as if water could drip out. The failure of the operation in Yangzhou made him extremely angry.
However, at this moment, his main concern was no longer the affairs of Yangzhou.
In the court, the emperor sat on the dragon throne with a tired look on his face. He glanced at Qin Huiqi and other ministers casually and asked with some annoyance: "Do you have anything to report?"
Luo Qi, the Imperial Censor who had been waiting for the emperor to speak, stepped forward impatiently and said loudly, "Your Majesty, I have something to report!"
The emperor waved his hand impatiently and urged, "Go ahead."
Luo Qizheng said with a serious face: "Recently, I received a secret report that Mu Jinyan, the governor of Yangzhou who had just taken office, arbitrarily changed the official system and tax system, and even appointed a group of subordinates without recommendation. Such behavior is no different from treason. If it is not investigated and severely punished in time, it will endanger the safety of the country and shake the foundation of the country!"
The emperor looked at Luo Qizheng coldly and asked in a gloomy tone, "Luo Zhongcheng, in your opinion, how should we punish him severely?"
"He should be dismissed and investigated immediately!" Luo Qizheng shouted, "If he really has the intention of treason, according to the law, his entire family should be exterminated!"
"Hmph!" The emperor's face was gloomy, revealing a hint of displeasure. He asked in a low voice, "What should be done with Duke Mu Lie of Weiguo and General Mu Jinyu, her father and brother?"
Luo Qizheng still looked serious, and replied righteously: "Your Majesty, according to the laws of Daxia, Mu Lie and Mu Jinyu should be temporarily dismissed from their posts. After the matter of Mu Jinyan is thoroughly investigated, a decision can be made!"
"Bastard!" The emperor was furious when he heard this and stood up angrily. Roche was frightened and fell to his knees with a thud.
The emperor reprimanded her sternly, "You people are always eloquent in the court. Now the Mu family has been fighting in the southeast for several months and finally put down the rebellion in Yangzhou. You actually want me to charge her with treason?"
"Your Majesty, calm down!" Although Luo Qizheng knelt before the Highness, he still refused to give up and continued to argue, "But Mu Jinyan's behavior is indeed suspicious, and this matter must be investigated!"
"Enough!" The emperor waved his hands impatiently. "Mu Jinyan has already secretly reported these things. It's just a cheap measure taken during a special period."
Luo Qi was just hearing this, not knowing whether the emperor's words were true or not. He was thinking secretly in his heart. He secretly glanced at Qin Huiqi.
Qin Huiqi nodded towards Luo Qizheng with a mysterious look on his face.
Luo Qizheng continued, "Your Majesty, Mu Jinyan has many descendants of criminals who should have been killed long ago, including Lanling King's son Gao Ruotong. Has she also reported this to Your Majesty?"
"What did you say?!" Gao Huanyang stood up immediately when he heard Luo Qizhen's words. If he had not been concerned about the emperor's identity, he would have run to Luo Qizhen to question him.
Qin Huiqi and others were very satisfied with the emperor's reaction, and an imperceptible sinister smile appeared on their faces.
Luo Qizheng continued to report, "Your Majesty, according to the secret report of the censor who went to investigate secretly, among the officials of Mu Jinyan Prefecture and the prefects below, there are at least Gao Ruotong, the son of the former Prince of Lanling, Gongsun Xin, the son of Gongsun Yan, the former governor of Youzhou, Sun Zhongfengxing, the former deputy director of the Ministry of Justice, Huo Yanruo, the daughter of Huo Fei, the former general of the five organs, Guan Yunxiao, the grandson of Guan Longjiang, the Grand Herald who was executed not long ago, and..."
He named several names in one breath, and each one shocked Gao Huanyang. These people were the descendants of ministers who were executed or exiled for various crimes. According to previous intelligence, they should have died long ago. How could they appear next to Mu Jinyan?
Didn't Mu Jinyan know the true identities of these people? Or did he deliberately conceal them? The answer seemed simple.
"Enough! Enough!" the emperor shouted loudly. His blood was boiling and he felt dizzy. He staggered and fell on the dragon throne.
His eyes were red, and the elixirs Xia Qin had donated had been used up, exactly three months had passed. With his vision blurred, he saw Qin Huiqi and his ministers walking towards him, but he could no longer hear their voices.
Finally, Guanglu Xun Cheng Lin and Wei Gao carefully helped the emperor back to Weiyang Palace to rest, and Qin Huiqi and others returned satisfied.
"Haha, Lord Qin, today's event is a complete success!" The Imperial Censor Luo Qi was beaming with joy, smiling from ear to ear. He had done a great deed today. "When your Majesty punishes the Mu family, we can reap the benefits."
However, Qin Huiqi shook his head unexpectedly and said meaningfully: "Many years ago, your majesty once told me a truth: time waits for no man, and the longer the night, the more dreams there are. Today is the best time to start an uprising."
Weiwei Zhao Buyai understood Qin Huiqi's intention instantly, and a trace of determination flashed in his eyes. He cupped his hands and said, "Mr. Qin is wise! In this case, we should act immediately. We can announce to the public that His Majesty died because of the relapse of his old illness caused by the Mu family's treasonous behavior. At that time, we can directly raise troops to quell the rebellion in Yangzhou in the name of suppressing the rebellion. In this way, the world can be settled!"
Even in the capital, the autumn nights are already somewhat chilly.
For some reason, the streets of the capital were exceptionally quiet today. Not only were the patrolling soldiers from the garrison battalion nowhere to be seen, but even the night watchmen who usually kept shouting were missing.
At this moment in the palace, Emperor Gao Huan was lying on the dragon bed with a lingering look of elegance, and the events of the past few years flashed through his mind like a kaleidoscope.
Sitting next to him were the Empress Jia Lanfeng and the eldest prince Gao Yin. Having been bedridden for several months, Gao Yin's complexion was not much better than that of his father.
"Lan Feng, have I made a lot of mistakes over the years?"
Jia Lanfeng looked at the emperor, then at his son, and said sadly, "Your Majesty, you should rest well and think about this after your body recovers."
The emperor gently closed his eyes, his lips trembling as he said, "You don't understand. Actually, whenever I close my eyes these years, I dream of those executed ministers questioning me, as well as my brothers, especially Lanling King Gao Changgong."
Jia Lanfeng looked at the weak emperor, speechless. The eldest prince Gao Yin just knelt in front of the bed without saying a word.
"Yin'er, get up and sit next to me." The emperor looked guiltily at Gao Yin, the child he had when he didn't have any ambitions.
Over the years, I seem to have forgotten why I ascended the throne in the first place.
Just as Gao Yin stood up tremblingly, the palace door was kicked open with a "bang".
The person who broke in was the current emperor's father-in-law, Minister of Rites Jia Yi.
He rushed in with dozens of guards and shouted in panic, "Your Majesty, it's bad! Qin Huiqi has rebelled and is leading the patrol battalion and the imperial guards to attack the palace. I'm afraid Cheng Lin can't resist them. Let's get out of here quickly!"
The emperor's originally hesitant look turned into fear. He seemed not to believe Jia Yi's words: "Duke Qin rebelled? Where is the Wei master?"
"That's right, they have already entered the Meridian Gate! Eunuch Wei sent someone to inform Cheng Lin and the old ministers," Jia Yi directed the guards to help the extremely weak emperor up, "General Cheng Lin told us to escape from the Donghua Gate, that's the only safe way!"
The emperor still doubted Jia Yi's words. After all, both Jia Taichang and the queen were very dissatisfied that he did not make Gao Yin the crown prince.
But the faint sound of weapons in the distance dispelled his doubts, and even though he was seriously ill, his movements became agile.
Gao Yin asked in a daze: "Grandpa, where are we going to escape to?"
"Youzhou! It's the only safe place. The carriage is waiting outside!"
When he heard about Youzhou, the emperor hesitated. That place was the Jia family's territory, and the Youzhou governor Tian Yong was the queen's cousin. He was afraid that he would be controlled by others if he arrived there.
However, the sound of fighting getting closer and closer left him with no choice. He knew Qin Huiqi's methods very well. If he stayed here, he would die. Now he could only follow Jia Yi and escape from Weiyang Palace.
The other concubines, eunuchs, and palace maids in the harem had no idea what was going on. When they heard the sound of fighting, they fled in all directions like headless flies.
In Guanju Palace, Mu Jinqi was holding Gao Shaokang, who was just three months old, and was extremely anxious, while Anian beside her was calmly packing her things.
"Empress Mu," Wei Gao arrived with several men in black at this moment, "Hurry up! The Qin Party has rebelled! Follow me and leave from Donghua Gate!"