Chapter 272: Sword Points at the Xiao Family

"You dare question the Late Emperor?" Xiao Sihai sneered.

Yan Wang's expression was indifferent: "Only judge right and wrong!"

"Moreover, the Late Emperor was also deceived, merely to preserve his reputation."

"So that the real criminals would not roam free!"

Yan Wang's words rang with force, his gaze blazing, tolerating no rebuttal.

When those words were spoken, the entire hall was shocked.

Matters of the Mo Family had long become a taboo topic; even if doubts lingered, who would dare raise them?

Yan Wang did not wait for anyone's reaction and began to state his case with clear logic.

His voice was mournful and indignant: "When the Late Emperor reigned, Xiao Sihai, to eliminate dissent and consolidate power, meticulously crafted false charges and forged correspondence evidence between the Mo Family and the Northern Rong."

"It was he who caused the venerable Mo General, who earned great battle honors for Fengqi, to be wronged without vindication, and brought ruin to the entire Mo Family's loyal line."

"Not dying on the battlefield, but being forced to die on the execution ground."

"Such deeds incite the heavens and men alike to fury!"

Xiao Sihai laughed at what he heard: "Yan Wang really does speak without thinking."

"Who doesn't know that back then you colluded with the Mo Family, causing the Late Emperor to lose faith in you and strip you of the Crown Prince title."

"And then you were sent to Fengdu, to the bitterly cold and impoverished land, to keep your head down."

Facing Yan Wang, Xiao Sihai showed no fear at all; instead he mocked: "What's the matter? Is Yan Wang now impatient and looking to act?"

"To disturb Fengqi Kingdom's current stability, I am the first to dissent."

Swords were drawn and tensions rose.

Chu Yunzheng, however, remained silent, merely standing there, looking down on everyone.

He did not take part, acting only as an onlooker, watching the course of the game.

Yan Wang let out a cold laugh.

He said, "Xiao Sihai, no matter how silver‑tongued you are, you cannot escape the evidence."

Yan Wang clapped his hands, and people kept stepping forward.

Some pointed out how Xiao Sihai had once coerced and bribed them into giving false testimony.

Others presented the genuine military reports and correspondence that had been deliberately hidden then, now uncovered.

Physical evidence and witness testimony interlocked tightly, the logic rigorous, exposing Xiao Sihai's old conspiracy in vivid detail.

What shook Wan Tang even more was that among those stepping forward to testify, she saw members of the Wang family!

When the officials who had judged the case back then appeared, the situation reversed instantly.

Most officials, especially those who had once been friendly with the Mo Family or were already resentful of the Xiao Family's arrogance, became agitated, with debates and outcries rising one after another.

Wan Tang remained held in Chu Yunzheng's arms, suppressing the raging storm within her heart, her face unchanged.

She only lifted her tear‑filled eyes, gazing silently at Chu Yunzheng with a look full of sorrow.

Matters among court officials, a harem consort need not speak of.

The Emperor is still here.

She only needs to cling to this man, and that will be enough.

All of Yan Wang's accusations and evidence pointed straight at Xiao Sihai, the goal clear: to uproot the Xiao Family's tangled, deep‑rooted tree.

Everything he presented was enough to doom the Xiao Family for ten thousand calamities.

Chu Yunzheng looked at the imperial uncle kneeling below, then glanced at the weak, tear‑bloodied Wan Tang in his arms.

He then swept his gaze over the angry officials and the Xiao Sihai whose face was ashen, his eyes as deep as the sea.

This time, Yan Wang spoke of everything very cleverly.

All of it was the Xiao Family's fault, unrelated to Chu Yunzheng.

Facing Yan Wang's thunderous accusations and mountain‑like iron evidence, Xiao Sihai's complexion first turned pale.

Then he steadied himself, let out a sharp sneer, and retorted: "Yan Wang, you were rebuked by the Late Emperor for your overly close dealings with the Mo Family, exiled from the capital, and have harbored resentment for a long time. Now you wish to use the case of Xu Yanchuan, this Mo family remnant, to pursue personal revenge and slander the Old Minister, do you?"

"Those so‑called witness testimonies—who can say they weren't obtained by your coercion and bribery?"

"And these physical evidences—how can we know they weren't fabricated by you with ulterior motives, aiming to disrupt the court's order and shake the nation's foundation!"

His words painted himself as a loyal minister wronged by the Prince and seeking revenge, attempting to confuse the audience.

The Xiao Family, in the court, had indeed stood unshaken for many years.

Wan Tang trembled at the right moment, and Chu Yunzheng lowered his head.

The scars on Wan Tang's fair face narrated that the Xiao Family sought her life.

It was also the Xiao Family that caused Su Yanci's death.

Chu Yunzheng's expression grew complex, and he suddenly asked, "Tangtang, do you feel wronged in your heart?"

The opportunity arrived!

It is time for this weak woman to speak.

"Heh…" a faint yet mocking sneer rang out.

Wan Tang broke free from Chu Yunzheng's embrace, and, at an unknown moment, struggled to straighten her kneeling posture.

She looked up at the gray, snow‑drifting sky, tears mixed with blood streaking her pale cheek, her voice hoarse as if a cuckoo were bleeding:

"Heaven above, please open your eyes!"

"Ancestors of the Mo Family, your spirits in heaven are watching."

"See how those who framed the loyal and harmed my entire clan twisted words like a silver tongue, turning black to white!"

She whirled around, her blood‑red eyes fixed on Xiao Sihai, her voice clear to every ear:

"Xiao Sihai, when you return in a midnight dream, have you ever heard the weeping of the Mo Family's wronged, unjustly slain souls?"

"You are enjoying the wealth and honor obtained by treading on the Mo Family's corpses, and at midnight you examine your heart—could you possibly fall asleep peacefully?"

"Your conscience... does it not ache?"

Her words, like cold water thrown into boiling oil, instantly ignited the long‑suppressed emotions of many officials present.

It was also a perfect cue for Qi Qi and the others that the time had come to step forward and kick them when they're down.

"Subject, Qi Qi, second Yan Wang."

"I humbly request the Emperor to re‑examine the old Mo Family case and severely punish the traitor Xiao Sihai!" Qi Qi stepped forward first, kneeling heavily to the ground.

"Subject second!"

"Subject also has a memorial! Impeach Xiao Sihai for factionalism, self‑interest, and greed over Mo army wages!"

"Subject will report Xiao Sihai for tolerating his nephews, seizing civilian lands, and trampling lives!"

"Xiao Sihai sold offices and bartered titles; the evidence is here!"

In an instant, a flood of officials surged forward, kneeling en masse, no longer focusing solely on the old Mo Family case.

They also laid bare the Xiao Family's years of factionalism, embezzlement, perversion of law, and oppression of the people.

All revealed.

Each case, piece by piece, was justified and documented, clearly long‑standing grievances awaiting a trigger.

Where Wan Tang's gaze fell, the kneeling people who belonged to her were few.

The majority, however, were officials who had never intersected with Wan Tang.

On the execution ground, the situation turned abruptly.

Just moments ago, Xiao Sihai still controlled the scene, intending to doom Xu Yanchuan.

In the blink of an eye, he himself became the prisoner under the stairs, targeted by thousands, with damning evidence piled against him.

Chu Yunzheng watched the sea of kneeling, enraged ministers below the stage.

He glanced at Wan Tang, then at the ashen, trembling Xiao Sihai, unable to argue.

The Xiao Family... its great momentum is gone.

The current situation had spiraled out of control; Xiao Sihai's guilt was undeniable, and public anger could not be defied.

Chu Yunzheng acted decisively, sweeping his hand and saying in a deep voice, "Today's matter shall be paused for now!"

"All ministers, enter the palace immediately and convene a court council!"

"Zhou Su!"

"Subject present!" Censor Zhou Su stepped forward at once.

"I command you to take full charge, cooperate with the Three Ministries, and thoroughly investigate the evidence of Yan Wang's petition and the various ministers' impeachment of Xiao Sihai."

"Make sure the truth comes to light without error!"

"Subject, received the edict!" Zhou Su's voice rang loudly, bearing unquestionable righteousness.

After handling all of this, Chu Yunzheng finally lowered his head to look at the frail Wan Tang in his arms.

His tone softened, yet retained undeniable firmness: "Tangtang, you are weak; I will help you back to the palace to rest."

Wan Tang lifted her tear‑blurred eyes, gazing at Chu Yunzheng, her eyes filled with post‑calamity gratitude and reliance.

She choked out, "Subject, I thank the Emperor, restore justice to the Mo Family, restore justice to me…"

Her gaze passed over Chu Yunzheng's shoulder toward Xu Yanchuan, who, having been untied, was now protected by Yan Wang's men nearby.

Their eyes met again; this time, no Fēng xuě separated them, no life‑or‑death pressure remained.

On Wan Tang's pale face, a faint, extremely weak yet warm and relieved smile slowly blossomed.

Xu Yanchuan stood where he was, his previously rigid, cold defenses seemingly melting in an instant.

He grinned, revealing a smile like the first melt of ice and snow, and gave Wan Tang a firm nod.

A thousand words lingered, all unspoken.

In this battle, they won.

Chu Yunzheng observed the silent exchange between the siblings, feeling a slight unease, yet the overall situation was already settled.

Moreover, their emotions were reasonable.

He no longer probed further, simply gently clasping Wan Tang's shoulder and softly saying, "Let's go back to the palace."

Fēng xuě gradually subsided.

Wan Tang nestled beside Chu Yunzheng, her steps still a little unsteady.

She seemed to stare at the towering palace walls in the distance, unconsciously murmuring, "The Xiao Family has been rampant for ages; if Lord Su could see this scene, how wonderful…"

Her voice was soft, more like a whispered mutter born of exhausted spirit, not a deliberate counsel.

Yet the words landed precisely in Chu Yunzheng's ears.

He did not halt his steps, but the hand around her shoulder tightened ever so slightly, almost imperceptibly.

Indeed!

How arrogant the Xiao Family is.

It was only a slight clash with the Empress Dowager, yet they dared to cut off his left and right arms.

Chu Yunzheng's gaze swept over the ashen Xiao Sihai being led away by guards in the distance,

and recalled the furious officials and mountain‑high evidence at the execution ground moments ago, a sharp cold glint flashing in his eyes.

He did not immediately answer Wan Tang, but drew her closer to himself.

The Xiao Family had entrenched itself in the court for years, its roots deep and its followers many; previously, no one could move against them.

Now, with the Mo Family case reopened and Yan Wang leading, many officials seconding the impeachment of numerous crimes…

perhaps this is the best chance to uproot the Xiao Family completely and eradicate this major internal threat!

He turned his head, looking at Wan Tang's pale profile, his tone calm yet imbued with a reassuring strength:

"Fēng xuě has grown stronger; go back to the palace first."

"Palace of Eternal Joy."

"Li Ping'er had been waiting anxiously, pacing back and forth and constantly looking around."

"When she saw Wan Tang being personally escorted back by the emperor, she immediately rushed forward, tears instantly welling up, her voice trembling with sobs:"

"Sister, you finally made it back."

"You scared me to death."

"Quick, quick, go inside and warm yourself!" she said as she tried to help Wan Tang into the hall.

"Wan Tang gently pushed her hand away, and on her pale face there was no trace of any post‑calamity relaxation."

"She lifted her eyes, her gaze passing over the hall doors of Palace of Eternal Joy, staring straight toward the direction of Kunning Palace, her voice calm yet unquestionable:"

"I'm not going in."

"She paused briefly, then said each word clearly:"

"Go to Kunning Palace."

"She spoke in a voice only she could hear: 'Now that the Xiao Family has been stirred, we cannot give them any more breathing room.'"

"We must add another slash."