Chapter 1776: Another Chancellor Dismissed

Emperor Liu studied Song Qi, his gaze carrying an oppressive weight—clearly, what Song Qi was about to say would not please him.

Song Qi maintained his solemn expression, clasping his hands and saying, "Your Majesty, forgive me for speaking bluntly, but for the Palace City Office to act without evidence, breaking through doors and seizing households, locking up officials and arresting men—this truly corrupts the court's laws and order, and also damages Your Majesty's wise reputation!"

Having spoken, Song Qi returned to calm, slightly lowering his head, quietly waiting, as if awaiting judgment.

The expressions of those present varied—Liu Yang's brows were tightly knit; Wang Zhu looked composed and unconcerned; Zhao Kuangyi appeared somewhat shocked, but deep in his eyes was an irrepressible excitement, though he had no idea what madness had seized Song Qi to dare offend the Emperor over such a matter.

But with such a remonstrance delivered, Zhao Kuangyi immediately recognized an opportunity—a chance to remove a stumbling block from his official career. And moreover, he need do nothing himself; he only had to stay alert and quietly watch the show unfold...

As for Emperor Liu, his reaction was not particularly intense—no blazing rage, only a slightly surprised glance at Song Qi, before he said leisurely, "Is Minister Song's righteous and outspoken words accusing me of letting the Palace City Office run unchecked? But for those who have no lord, no father, no law, no fear, no sense, no shame—what need is there to speak of discipline and state law?"

"Your Majesty, if a man breaks the law, there are proper authorities to judge and handle it. What does the Palace City Office have to do with it? In the judicial structure of the Great Han, there is no place for the Palace City Office."

"Moreover, if we abandon discipline and state law, then what use are the laws Your Majesty has established? Would the rule of law and reliance on law that Your Majesty has always emphasized become empty words? Would those who died under the blade of the law in the past have died unjustly..."

Hearing Song Qi speak such words, Emperor Liu's face finally showed a visible change. His eyes widened slightly as he sized up Song Qi, as if trying to confirm whether the man had been drinking.

After a pause, Emperor Liu finally said, "I never expected Minister Song to utter such words! I always thought you were a practical talent, earnest and hardworking—when did you become a remonstrance official?" Emperor Liu's tone carried mockery:

"On the surface you raise the issue of the Palace City Office's enforcement powers, but your spear is actually pointed directly at me!"

Emperor Liu's expression suddenly turned severe. Even with Song Qi's composure, he could not help but feel a chill of fear. His body tensed as Song Qi said in a low voice, "Your servant would not dare!"

"Would not dare?" Emperor Liu's words were full of aggression: "I recall that back then, Fan Zhi and Wang Qiwu both remonstrated fiercely with me over the Wude Office. Their words were earnest, their hearts grieved, as if my use of the Wude Office were the root of chaos in the realm, as if using the Wude Office meant the Great Han was doomed to fall! At the time, I considered their public-spirited intentions and did not hold it against them—that was the end of it!"

At this point, Emperor Liu paused noticeably, then stared coldly at Song Qi, speaking almost word by word: "Now you come again with the matter of the Palace City Office seizing people to remonstrate. Are you trying to emulate Fan and Wang, selling outspokenness to win loyalty? Or has someone from your Song family also been arrested, and you can no longer sit still? It has only been one night, the court has not yet settled matters, and Minister Song is already so impatient?"

Among those arrested by the Palace City Office last night was Song Qi's grandnephew.

The piercing intent in Emperor Liu's words was utterly unrestrained. Never mind Song Qi—even Liu Yang and the other two were dumbfounded. Emperor Liu had berated and cursed his ministers before, even resorted to violence, but to show such ruthlessness toward a chancellor wielding great power—this was the first time.

Whatever Song Qi's true motives, in coming to remonstrate over the Palace City Office's mass arrests last night, on the surface he had at least put on the posture of loyal service to the state. And Emperor Liu, by comparing him to Fan Zhi and Wang Qiwu, affirmed the public-spiritedness of the former two while questioning Song Qi's intentions as ill-disguised and privately motivated.

It had to be said, for a minister of Song Qi's stature, this was a tremendous humiliation. Whether the powerful ministers of the Great Han were privately consistent in word and deed, just and selfless, or concealing filth—none of that mattered; at least on the surface they had to be perfect, loyal, and upright.

And once that was shattered, he would have no face to remain in his high position, and might even face criminal charges. Moreover, when the doubt came from Emperor Liu's own mouth, the situation was all the more grave.

Inside Chuigong Hall, it was utterly silent, as if everyone's breathing had stopped. Song Qi had not expected Emperor Liu to speak such words either. He was stunned for a long moment before he finally dared to raise his head and look at Emperor Liu.

However, Emperor Liu showed no guilt or hesitation whatsoever. His gaze was as cold as two black holes containing immense terror, without a ripple. Seeing this, Song Qi smiled bitterly. His aged frame could no longer support its pride, visibly shrinking, as he slowly knelt and said with melancholy, "If Your Majesty holds such an opinion of this old servant, this old servant has nothing more to say."

"Ha!" Hearing this, Emperor Liu said without mercy, "Minister Song's words carry some sorrow, and I can detect a hint of grievance. What, am I a tyrant without the Way, a benighted ruler who cannot bear loyal words that offend the ear?"

Facing the aggressive Emperor Liu, Song Qi made no further reply, only knocking his head forcefully against the floor in response. For Song Qi, who was nearly seventy, this was no easy feat—but it was still less dangerous than the attitude Emperor Liu was displaying at this moment.

Seeing Song Qi so oppressed by Emperor Liu, Liu Yang could barely contain himself. He had always admired Song Qi's talent and character, though he too did not understand why the man would choose this moment, on this matter, to provoke Emperor Liu.

Watching Emperor Liu on the verge of "passing judgment" on Song Qi, Liu Yang ultimately could not stand by idly, and so took the initiative to speak: "Your Majesty, Chancellor Song's character and ability are recognized throughout the court and beyond—otherwise Your Majesty would not have entrusted him with affairs of state. I believe that everything Chancellor Song has said was said with public spirit and forthrightness, with absolutely no private motive. If there is any offense, I trust that with Your Majesty's magnanimity, it may be forgiven."

Once Liu Yang spoke, the nearly frozen atmosphere finally loosened a few degrees. A calm gaze fell upon Liu Yang, and the gloom in Emperor Liu's eyes lessened somewhat.

Facing Emperor Liu's stare, it was impossible for Liu Yang not to feel some nervousness, but he did not show fear—he simply faced it openly.

After a long while, Emperor Liu looked again at Song Qi, who was kneeling on the ground. In the space of a moment, the man seemed to have aged into decrepitude, as if he had lost all his vitality. His brows still furrowed, Emperor Liu said flatly, "The floor of Chuigong Hall is quite cold. Minister Song need not kneel any longer. You are advanced in years, and this is not good for your health. Go home and rest!"

Hearing this, Song Qi's body tensed, then he clasped his hands and bowed: "Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Having spoken, he rose slowly, step by halting step, gradually withdrawing from Chuigong Hall until he disappeared from everyone's sight. That aged, stooped silhouette lingered in everyone's minds, as if carrying infinite desolation.

With Song Qi gone, the atmosphere in the hall turned somewhat strange. Liu Yang, Zhao Kuangyi, and Wang Zhu had all not fully processed what had just happened.

Recalling Song Qi's figure, Liu Yang felt a pang of pity and clasped his hands: "Your Majesty!"

But Emperor Liu raised a hand to cut him off, saying in a low voice, "What Song Qi said was likely out of public spirit. My words just now were somewhat heavy."

Before Liu Yang could even breathe a sigh of relief at this, he heard: "However, Song Qi can no longer be used. He is nearly seventy—it is time for him to step down."

And just like that, with a few words, the Great Han had dismissed another chancellor. Though not as formally the Chief Chancellor as Zhao Pu had been, Song Qi had in the past year effectively borne the responsibility of presiding over the Hall of State Affairs.

Meanwhile, in the hall, Zhao Kuangyi—who had been somewhat gleeful—now felt his scalp tingle and a chill run down his spine, seeing how easily Emperor Liu had dismissed Song Qi.

He had hoped Song Qi would meet misfortune, but he had never imagined Emperor Liu could dismiss a chancellor as easily as drinking water. If Song Qi could be treated so, what chance did he, Zhao Kuangyi, have?

The more he thought about it, the more terrifying it became. Delving a little deeper, all trace of schadenfreude vanished from Zhao Kuangyi's heart. He kept mentally building himself up: Don't emulate Song Qi, don't emulate Song Qi, don't emulate Song Qi.

Amid the shock and fear, a flicker of heat rose in his heart nonetheless. With Song Qi dismissed as chancellor, someone would need to replace him. Could it be...?