Chapter 208

The opposing side not only had more men, but each was filled with a murderous aura.

Compared to these black-armored soldiers, the Imperial Guard who used to wear gleaming golden bronze armor and look imposing were like a flock of harmless little sheep.

"Black armor…… this……" the Imperial Guard stammered in fear, "Could this possibly be the Xuanjia Armor Armor Armor Armor Army that His Majesty brought back from Xi Tun Guan?!"

"I heard that from Huangsha Pass they fought all the way to Yu Guo's Capital Royal City, finally breaking the palace and destroying Yu Guo, with only over ten thousand Xuanjia Armor Armor Armor Armor Army……"

"Yes, and they even destroyed the entire Shaoyue Kingdom with just three thousand Xuanjia Armor Armor Armor Armor Army!"

"It seems His Majesty brought back several thousand of them this time to the Royal City."

"Hiss……"

The Imperial Guard grew more fearful the more they spoke.

Moreover, their Supreme Commander had just died right before them, clearly slain by a single arrow from the Xuanjia Armor Armor Armor Armor Army!

Seeing each Xuanjia Armor Armor Armor Armor Army soldier coldly raise their long blades at them, they without hesitation dropped their weapons.

Only a fool would go head-to-head with this bunch of fierce warriors!

Seeing that these several hundred Imperial Guard were sensible, the Xuanjia Armor Armor Armor Armor Army sheathed their long blades and told them to get lost.

After this batch of Xuanjia Armor Armor Armor Armor Army arrived at the palace gates, a young commander leading them stood at the threshold and saluted His Majesty from afar, "Your Majesty, I have led one thousand Xuanjia Armor Armor Armor Armor Army to guard outside the main hall, and the remaining four thousand Xuanjia Armor Armor Armor Armor Army have also entered the palace, awaiting your orders at any moment!"

Xiao Qidi's face broke into a smile.

"Good, with you guarding the palace I can rest easy; from now on, these four thousand of you will be the palace guards, and you will also command the fifty thousand Imperial Guard of the Royal City."

"You will take the post of Supreme Commander, and your several deputy generals will each be appointed as Deputy Supreme Commander—how does that sound?"

Hearing this sudden appointment, the young commander's face filled with astonishment.

He hurriedly said that he and his fellow deputy generals feared they might not be equal to the task.

Xiao Qidi burst out laughing, stepped down from the throne, quickly approached him, and waved to the several deputy generals behind him, "Come in as well."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Several deputy generals stepped over the threshold.

Xiao Qidi looked at these young men, a few years older than himself, and sincerely remarked, "Just a few months ago, when we were trapped in that mountain cave, the scene is still vivid in my mind; if it hadn't been for you fighting alongside me, I doubt I could have held out until the miracle arrived."

Several of them instantly had red rims around their eyes, also recalling the time they followed His Majesty to resist the bandits and defend Lin Xian Village.

The commander wiped his eyes and said, "Back then Lin Xian Village suffered a drought and was harassed by bandits; the people cried to heaven and earth in vain, but Your Majesty's arrival gave us all hope."

Xiao Qidi patted his shoulder, "You were originally just a self-organized guard team from Lin Xian Village to protect the villagers, but each of you possessed loyalty, righteousness, courage, and strategy; so after I and Ning Jingli founded the Xuanjia Armor Armor Armor Armor Army, I also brought you in to be tempered, and I have watched your performance—if even you cannot handle the important post of defending Daxuan's capital, then I truly could not find anyone more suitable."

The few exchanged glances, and the commander, speaking as their representative, said to Xiao Qidi:

"Your Majesty, with the world still not unified, we wish to continue taking the battlefield and contribute our strength to the great unification!"

Xiao Qidi smiled and said, "Going to the battlefield and guarding the nation are both for this purpose; indeed, sometimes stabilizing the capital is even more important, for if internal turmoil unsettles the realm, how could Daxuan muster its strength to face a common foe? How could it achieve unification of all under heaven?"

Several of them instantly grasped Xiao Qidi's deeper meaning.

They then declined no further, accepted his appointment, and all knelt together to give thanks.

Before their knees could touch the ground, Xiao Qidi hastily interjected, "I've told you before—in Lin Xian City, besides bowing to heaven, earth, ancestors, and parents, no one needs to perform the kowtow anymore; I intend to promote this nationwide, and it is not only my wish but also Ning Jingli's."

"Your Majesty, but this is the main hall of the Capital Royal City's palace."

"What's the harm? You are all from Lin Xian City, having just broken the habit—would you really revert to it just because you changed location?"

Xiao Qidi leaned in, lowered his voice, "Just consider yourselves setting an example in the Royal City; besides, if Ning Jingli sees you still performing that kowtow ritual toward me later, she'll scold me."

The corners of their mouths twitched slightly; they quickly lowered their heads to suppress laughter, "Yes, Your Majesty, we understand."

Only after the many officials present had come to their senses did they realize that Xiao Qidi, in the midst of chatting and laughing, had already undone Prince Rongrui's greatest reliance in the Royal City.

From then on, the Imperial Guard was no longer merely an elite force that knew only how to protect royalty and nobility.

"Have the Imperial Guard retreat, and by the way, close the great doors." Xiao Qidi said lightly.

"Yes, Your Majesty." The newly appointed young Supreme Commander of the Imperial Guard received the order.

The few Imperial Guard who had originally been protecting Prince Rongrui could only obediently leave.

"Don't…… don't go……" Prince Rongrui reached out his hand, despairingly watching them walk out of the hall, and then the doors slowly closed.

Xiao Qidi returned to the throne, leaned sideways, propped his cheek with one hand, closed his eyes, and said, "I am somewhat weary; I will take a nap, officials, please do as you wish."

The doors were already shut, the sovereign closed his eyes.

No need to spell it out; everyone knows what this means.

"Official Wen, what are you still waiting for?" Li Yao reminded lightly.

Led by Official Wen, a dozen or so officials came to their senses, surged forward again with burning anger toward Prince Rongrui.

This time, no one could protect him anymore.

"Save…… save me……!" Prince Rongrui turned and fled.

A dozen or so officials pursued him fiercely from behind.

The remaining officials silently retreated to the corners of the hall, making space for them.

"I am of the Xiao clan royalty! I am Prince Rongrui! You…… you cannot kill me!" Prince Rongrui scrambled wildly around the pillars in the hall, shouting incessantly.

But these words now carried no deterrent power whatsoever.

Instead, they became a laughingstock.

"Your Majesty…… Your Majesty! Spare me!" Prince Rongrui again cried out to Xiao Qidi for mercy, "I…… I am your paternal uncle!"

Xiao Qidi showed no reaction.

Prince Rongrui still unwilling, he shouted again, "I know I was wrong; I…… I confess! Your Majesty can strip me and even all members of the royal clan of our titles and reduce us to commoners! I beg Your Majesty to spare my life!"

Xiao Qidi remained utterly still, as if truly asleep.

Prince Rongrui ran until he was out of breath, and Official Wen's dozen or so officials were also exhausted to the point of gasping; for a while they could not apprehend him.

Duan Wu could bear it no longer; he furtively took a few copper coins from his pocket, found the right moment, and flung them at the back of Prince Rongrui's knee.

The copper coins struck true.

Lord Rong Rui fell to the ground with a thud, his forehead striking the steps beneath the throne.

"His Majesty… His Majesty, save me!" Lord Rong Rui tried to scramble up the steps.

A dozen or so ministers finally caught up, and together they seized his leg.

Lord Rong Rui managed to climb a few steps before being dragged back down, his head repeatedly banged on the steps, leaving his face drenched in blood and his mind reeling.

Then fists and feet rained down on him like a storm.

Led by Minister Wen, a dozen ministers raged, venting their fury upon him.

The sounds of punching and kicking mingled with Lord Rong Rui's screams, filling the Great Hall.

The mournful wail was bone‑chilling.

Many ministers could not bear to watch, turning to face the wall and covering their ears, pretending they saw nothing and heard nothing.

After a long while, Lord Rong Rui's screams finally ceased.

The dozen ministers' beating slowed, and one by one they collapsed onto the floor, gasping heavily.

In the end only Minister Wen remained; though trembling with exhaustion and unable to stand steady, he still crouched on Lord Rong Rui's corpse, clawing with his nails and gnawing with his teeth.

Lord Rong Rui was unrecognizable; his once‑splendid robe soaked in fresh blood, no part of his flesh remained intact, his limbs twisted like braids, some even exposing bone.

Although the attackers were all elderly civil officials, driven by extreme rage they battered Lord Rong Rui into an unrecognizable shape.

"Minister Wen… enough," Li Yao stepped forward and pulled Minister Wen away.

Yet Minister Wen still clutched Lord Rong Rui's face in his teeth.

Li Yao had to yank him forcefully.

Minister Wen's eyes were blood‑shot; he ripped a large chunk of flesh from Lord Rong Rui's face before finally stopping.

The floor of the Great Hall lay in ruins, the air thick with the scent of blood.

Lord Rong Rui had not yet died; his body twitched faintly, and a hoarse whimper escaped his throat, vaguely pleading that he did not wish to die and begging for a doctor.

"Ugh!" Minister Wen spat the chewed flesh back onto him, panting, "You… how can you still have the nerve to beg for life! Even if I cut you to pieces, let you die a thousand times, you still aren't enough to atone for my son… nor the one hundred thousand Luoxia County folk who could have avoided freezing to death!"

The other dozen ministers were also smeared in blood, collapsed on the floor, numb as they stared at the dying Lord Rong Rui.

Their fury had been spent, but endless remorse and pain followed.

"Gentlemen," Li Yao began slowly, "His Majesty originally intended, after executing Lord Rong Rui, to reveal the truth of the disaster‑relief grain case from ten years ago, so you could have been more at ease, without needing another shock to learn the truth."

"But I did not expect your stubbornness in defending the royal family to be so strong; His Majesty repeatedly tried to awaken you, yet you would not yield. Reluctantly, His Majesty had no choice but to resort to this scheme…"

Hearing this, the ministers' faces showed remorse; at that moment they suddenly realized His Majesty's well‑intended purpose.

"His Majesty… I, your humble servant… deserve ten thousand deaths, ten thousand deaths!" they wept, kowtowing heavily to Xiao Qidi.

Xiao Qidi slowly opened his eyes, "Stand up and speak."

They wiped their tears and rose.

"His Majesty…" Minister Wen said with tear‑filled eyes, "These nobles led by Lord Rong Rui are a great calamity to the world; I humbly implore His Majesty to punish them severely!"

"We beg His Majesty, punish without mercy!" the other dozen ministers also voiced.

Xiao Qidi saw that the ministers, who had previously been staunch supporters of the royal family, had completely changed their stance, and asked the others, "What are your thoughts?"

At this point, no minister would defend Lord Rong Rui; they all shouted in unison, "Please, His Majesty, punish without mercy!"

Xiao Qidi murmured, "Rarely do a few hundred pillars of the court reach consensus; it's not easy. I suppose you now realize how seriously the nobles threaten Daxuan. What do you think should be done next?"

The ministers fell into contemplation.

Xiao Qidi casually tossed two South Sea Pearls down.

The South Pearls rolled into the blood‑stained floor, their brilliant glow interwoven with the vivid red, dazzlingly harsh.

The ministers stared at the two gems, feeling as if a cold blade pressed against their backs, bone‑deep chill.

Natural disasters can be met with nationwide unity; what of human calamities?

Those one hundred thousand living lives had escaped the natural disaster, only to be sacrificed by a royal noble like Lady Ronghua.

Simply because she coveted those two pearls, such a world‑shaking tragedy was born.

Heaven knows how many more calamities this group, basking in supreme privileges and noble status, can inflict upon the nation.

"His Majesty…" a minister gritted his teeth, "I think this case should be announced to the world, severely punish all implicated nobles, and enact laws to restrain the royal noble class."

Xiao Qidi said, "What a restraint; do you think it can truly bind them?"

The ministers already understood Xiao Qidi's intention to root out these groups.

But they still harbored many concerns.

A minister spoke up: "His Majesty, the royal family and nobles of Daxuan are numerous; although the most prestigious are in the Royal City, some are spread across Daxuan, such as Lord Rong Rui's son, who still commands 200,000 Daxuan troops in the Eastern Territory…"

"I understand your fear that harsh action against the nobles might plunge Daxuan into chaos," Xiao Qidi's eyes narrowed, a cold glint flashing, "Therefore, you must devise a foolproof plan."

The ministers wore solemn expressions, their minds racing with thoughts.

Thus His Majesty's intention was clear: no options beyond eradicating the entire group.

"I have a plan," a minister stepped forward, "but it requires leveraging Lord Rong Rui's death to execute."

In the pool of blood, Lord Rong Rui mustered his last strength to utter a weak voice, "I… I am not… not dead yet…"

Xiao Qidi asked, "Tell me your scheme."

The minister glanced at Minister Wen and said, "First, publicly claim that a dispute involving several officials led by Minister Wen resulted in Lord Rong Rui being beaten to death. His Majesty, deeply grieved, will punish the culprits and give Lord Rong Rui a grand funeral. As the head of the Xiao royal family, all royal and noble members will gather in the Royal City for the funeral, at which point they can all be seized, and then the world will be informed of the nobles' crimes for collective punishment!"

Xiao Qidi also glanced at the dozen ministers, a hint of difficulty on his face, "Doesn't this put Minister Wen and the others into a perilous situation?"

"His Majesty!" Minister Wen declared resolutely, "My son's vengeance has been avenged; I have no lingering ties, unafraid of life or death! My short‑sightedness almost led me, through rotten stubbornness, to blindly venerate Lord Rong Rui and ignore Daxuan's safety! My sins are grave; I beg His Majesty to grant me a chance to atone through merit!"

The other few ministers likewise expressed a desire to atone through merit.

"Very well, since you persist, I agree," Xiao Qidi's mouth twitched slightly, "Then we shall follow the plan, first sending you to the prison to endure some punishment."

"Xiao… Xiao Qidi…" Lord Rong Rui strained to extend his bloodied hand, forcing his eyes open, cursing in fury, "You… you betray your ancestors and murder your kin… future generations will call you a tyrant! I… I wonder how you will have the face to meet our Xiao ancestors after you die!"