Chapter 268: Atone for Crimes With Meritorious Deeds
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
Inside the Imperial Palace in the Chu State.
The battle report at the border was once again delivered to the Emperor of the Chu State.
When the Chu State’s Emperor heard that his army had been defeated again, the veins on his forehead twitched violently.
“The battle has been going on for more than half a month. We’ve fought many battles, big and small, but we haven’t won even once! What on earth is going on?”
In the face of Emperor Kangze’s furious chastisement, none of the officials dared to utter a word. Anyone who spoke at this moment would simply be offering himself up as cannon fodder.
“How many soldiers are standing guard there now?”
“Your Majesty, there are 100,000 soldiers.”
Emperor Kangze placed his hands behind his back and paced two steps in front of the dragon throne before saying, “What about the Nan State?”
“Your Majesty, the number of garrison troops at the Nan State’s side is about the same as ours. We haven’t seen the Nan State send any reinforcements.”
“The other party didn’t even send reinforcements, yet you guys can’t even win a single battle? How did the army defeat the Nan State’s army repeatedly in the past?”
After Emperor Kangze bellowed out these words, the officials were even less inclined to say anything. Everyone present knew that the Chu State’s successive victories were all due to Prince Qi Xiao Jin’s efforts.
However, now… No one knew if Prince Qi had died in the northern wilderness.
No doubt Emperor Kangze had thought of this as well, but he did not believe that he could not find a second ferocious general like Xiao Jin in the entire Chu State.
“Lian Shen, go and transfer 20,000 soldiers from the West Camp to provide reinforcement. You will set off tomorrow. All of you must defeat the Nan State!”
In the main hall, an imposing general stepped forward to receive the decree. “Your humble official will not disappoint Your Majesty.”
After the court session ended, all the courtiers left the palace.
Xiao Jue walked up to Lian Shen from behind. “General Lian.”
Lian Shen stopped in his tracks and looked at Xiao Jue. “Your Highness.”
Xiao Jue looked at Lian Shen with a grim expression. “General Lian, you must return victorious this time.”
Lian Shen’s face was tense as he replied solemnly, “Don’t worry, Your Highness. I will definitely do my best.”
Lian Shen was previously a deputy general on Xiao Jin’s side. After returning to the capital to receive his reward, he stayed in the capital to take up his post. He had been on Xiao Jue’s side since a long time ago.
Xiao Jue had already planned out everything in advance. As long as Lian Shen won, Xiao Jue would take the opportunity to submit a petition asking to take over the 100,000 troops at the border. Then, he would have more critical support to seize the throne!
Xiao Jue was extremely confident. The Chu State had an additional 20,000 soldiers. It wasn’t a problem for them to win with numbers.
However, what he, and even Emperor Kangze, did not know was that the Nan State had already broken through a border city of the Chu State and taken down one of the Chu State’s cities.
This military report caused Emperor Kangze to flip the dragon desk over in rage straightaway.
“So this is how good my generals are!”
They had 120,000 men against 100,000 men, yet a city was still taken down. It was difficult for Emperor Kangze not to be angry!
At this moment, a voice suddenly rang out in the silent hall.
“Previously, the Nan State sent reinforcements until they had 200,000 troops, but Xiao Jin only had less than 150,000 troops. Didn’t he still take down two cities of the Nan State? Sigh…”
In that instant, the hall became so quiet that one could hear a pin drop.
All the courtiers lowered their heads and pretended to be dead.
The young official who spoke did not seem to realize that he had said something wrong. His long and narrow foxy eyes were filled with bewilderment and doubt. “Your Majesty, did I… say something wrong?”
Bang!
Emperor Kangze threw an inkstone at him. With a flick of his sleeve, he turned around and left the hall.
“Court adjourned…”
The moment Emperor Kangze left, all the officials let out a big breath. The Emperor was simply… too scary!
“Lord Zhu, you are still too young.”
An elderly minister with a kindly face walked up to Zhu Lin and shook his head. “Don’t spout nonsense in the future. The Emperor didn’t punish you today, but next time, you might not be so lucky.”
Zhu Lin looked enlightened. “Thank you for your reminder, Lord Wang. I will be more careful next time, but… what exactly did I say wrong?”
Lord Wang choked.
“Lord Zhu, His Majesty asks you to proceed to the Imperial study.”
Lord Wang gave Zhu Lin a look that implied, “You’re on your own.” He then shook his head and walked away at an extremely fast pace.
Zhu Lin felt overwhelmed by the unexpected favor. What kind of place was the Emperor’s Imperial study? That was the apotheosis of the Chu State’s Imperial Court. It was not a place that a minor official of the Ministry of Justice like him could go.
Zhu Lin entered the Imperial study in an excited mood.
Emperor Kangze stood with his back to the door and didn’t say anything for a long time.
Only when Zhu Lin’s legs were numb from standing did Emperor Kangze turn back to look at him. “You were the one who single-handedly handled the case of Prince Qi’s act of treason?”
Zhu Lin’s delicate pale face was very solemn. “Your Majesty, strictly speaking, this case is handled by the Minister of Justice. I’m just in charge of some miscellaneous matters.”
“Where is the official responsible for sending him to the northern wilderness? Ask him to come and see me.”
“Your Majesty, that official went back to his hometown after completing that errand.”
“Did you guys successfully send Xiao Jin to the northern wilderness?”
“Yes, we did.”
Emperor Kangze frowned again. “Where’s the petition submitted by people wanting to overturn Xiao Jin’s case? Dig it out for me.”
Zhu Lin was taken aback. “Your Majesty, you want to overturn the criminal Xiao Jin’s case? Isn’t that case supported by irrefutable evidence? There were both eyewitnesses and material evidence. It won’t be easy to reverse the verdict in this case.”
The Grand Steward of the Imperial Palace took out a dusty petition from somewhere and handed it to Emperor Kangze. “Your Majesty, the petition is here.”
Emperor Kangze threw the petition in front of Zhu Lin. “Investigate the people who jointly submitted the petition. If there are no problems, release them. Tell them to go back to where they came from. Before they go back, tell them to go to the main hall to express their gratitude.”
Zhu Lin picked up the petition. “Yes, Your Majesty.”
“You may leave.”
“Your humble official shall take his leave now.”
Zhu Lin was very efficient in carrying out his duties. In just three days, he had investigated all the generals who had jointly submitted the petition. After he had ascertained that they had not committed any other crimes other than petitioning the Emperor to review Xiao Jin’s case, he released them from prison three days later.
On the day those generals were released, they knelt outside the Hall of Court Affairs, saying that they wanted to thank the Emperor.
Emperor Kangze was benevolent and allowed them to enter the hall.
To everyone’s surprise, after these generals expressed their gratitude, they brought up Xiao Jin’s case again in front of all the civil and military officials, shouting that Xiao Jin was wronged.
Everyone was waiting for Emperor Kangze to fly into a rage, but he didn’t say anything for a long time.
“Back then, who was the one who passed the verdict for this case?” Emperor Kangze asked vaguely.
The Minister of Justice trembled as he stepped forward. “Your Majesty, 1 was the one who closed the case of Xiao Jin’s act of treason.”
Emperor Kangze frowned. “Why are there still so many people crying out that Xiao Jin is innocent even after you closed the case? Are you sure you’ve investigated the entire case thoroughly? Do you dare to use your head to guarantee that Xiao Jin wasn’t wronged?”
The Minister of Justice almost burst into tears. He nearly shouted that this case was decided by the Emperor himself!
The minister felt wronged, but he didn’t dare to say it.
“Your Majesty, your humble official will definitely re-examine all the witnesses and material evidence… to confirm the verdict again.”
“Since there are suspicious points in his case, Xiao Jin’s crime needs to be further examined. Send a letter to Lian Shen immediately. I want him to send people to the northern wilderness to search for Xiao Jin’s whereabouts. Tell him that 1 will give him a chance to atone for his crimes with meritorious deeds. If he can repel the Nan State and recover the cities our Chu State has lost, I will allow him to return to the capital and reinstate his original position..”
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