Chapter 122: Dawn

The Weiyang Palace of the Great Han.

Wei Xiang, the high-ranking official who had once been ordered by Liu Ju to govern the former Xiongnu lands, was now leading the exiled Xu Wei step by step into the depths of the imperial palace.

Xu Wei's heart was filled with mixed emotions, both fearful and anxious yet unusually excited.

His steps were somewhat unsteady, his hands slightly trembling, his eyes full of nervousness and anticipation.

For such a long time, he had been exiled to the frontier, enduring endless torment, his heart accumulating countless grievances and resentment.

Now, finally having the chance to see the Son of Heaven and pour out his grievances, he had persevered and saw the glimmer of hope.

But at the same time, he worried that the Son of Heaven would not believe his words, that his efforts would come to nothing.

This conflicting feeling made his heart involuntarily race, and fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.

The two arrived before the palace, tidied their clothing, and under the guidance of the guards entered the great hall.

Liu Ju sat upright on the dragon throne, wearing splendid dragon robes, his head crowned with ceremonial beads, his eyes revealing an air of dignity and wisdom.

Wei Xiang and Xu Wei hurriedly knelt and paid their respects, saying in unison, 'Your subjects greet Your Majesty!'

Liu Ju nodded slightly, his gaze falling on Wei Xiang, and said, 'Beloved Minister Wei, you have worked hard governing the former Xiongnu lands; rise and tell me in detail about the situation there.'

Wei Xiang rose, his demeanor respectful and solemn, and began to give a detailed report of his work achievements in Xiongnu.

'Your Majesty, since I was ordered to go to the former Xiongnu lands, I have wholeheartedly followed your will and striven to govern the area. Now, the former Xiongnu lands have undergone a tremendous transformation.'

'The local livestock industry has developed rapidly, now producing tens of thousands of horses per year, with countless cattle and sheep, becoming an important pasture for our Great Han. These livestock not only provide ample warhorses for our army, but also greatly enrich our domestic material reserves.'

Upon hearing this, Liu Ju continually nodded, his eyes showing satisfaction, a faint smile appearing on his face as he said, 'Very well, Beloved Minister Wei, you have done well.'

Wei Xiang continued, 'Furthermore, I have established a school there to promote the culture and etiquette of our Great Han. At first, the local populace resisted these novelties, viewing them as an infringement on their traditional way of life. But I patiently persuaded them, personally teaching and explaining the profound and extensive heritage of Han culture. Gradually, they came to appreciate its charm.'

'Now, the school sees constant traffic, with children eagerly learning Han characters and reciting the classics. Han culture has taken root and sprouted in the former Xiongnu lands, gaining widespread popularity among the locals. Their sense of identification with our Great Han grows day by day, which is of immeasurable significance to the stability and development of our frontier.'

Upon hearing this, Liu Ju could not help but be delighted, praising, 'Beloved Minister Wei, your achievements in governing the former Xiongnu lands are indispensable! I have indeed not misjudged you.'

However, Wei Xiang's expression suddenly turned grave; he glanced at Xu Wei beside him and said, 'Your Majesty, on my return journey I also encountered a major matter concerning the Great Han's Southern Great Development.'

Upon hearing this, Liu Ju's eyes flickered with doubt, his previously relaxed brows slightly furrowed, signaling Wei Xiang to continue.

Thus, Wei Xiang told Liu Ju in full detail about Xu Wei's false accusation, beginning with Sang Qian's jealousy and framing, through Xu Wei's baseless charges and brutal torture, to his subsequent exile to the frontier and all the hardships he endured.

Each detail made Liu Ju's brows knit tighter, his eyes gradually kindling with anger.

'Are you Xu Wei?' Liu Ju asked doubtfully, looking at the disheveled Xu Wei.

Xu Wei fell to his knees with a thud, lamenting, 'Please, Your Majesty, grant justice to us commoners!'

Liu Ju sighed, 'Your father and wife have already been slain; please bear your grief.'

Upon hearing that his father and wife were dead, Xu Wei's body instantly stiffened.

His eyes filled with disbelief and pain, his lips trembling slightly, his whole body seeming to have been drained of strength, he collapsed to the ground.

His mind went blank, only the images and voices of his father and wife continually appearing.

For years he had struggled in the frontier, merely hoping to one day return to his family, but now learning they had passed away, this blow was more than he could bear.

His sobs were filled with anguish and despair; the years of longing and concern turned at this moment into endless sorrow.

He wept while kowtowing to Liu Ju, his forehead striking the ground heavily with a dull thud, pleading, 'Your Majesty, please uphold justice for me! My whole family died unjustly, I too was falsely accused and suffered terribly. Please investigate and clear my name!'

His voice trembled with sobs, full of despair and helplessness.

Liu Ju, hearing Xu Wei's lament, could no longer contain his anger.

His face flushed crimson like a ripe tomato, his eyes wide open as if about to spew fire; he slammed the dragon throne hard, the carvings on it seeming to tremble slightly from the force.

He shouted, 'Utterly lawless! Sang Hongyang, as a high-ranking official of the court, I had placed great hopes in him, granting him much power and trust, yet he indulged his son in committing such heinous acts, disregarding court laws and trampling on the people's rights. I regarded him as a right-hand minister, yet he has betrayed my trust in this way!'

'Jin Ridi is the same; I had thought him loyal and diligent in serving the court, never expecting him to collude with Sang Hongyang! Their actions have made my heart grow cold to the extreme! Seize them immediately and bring them to justice; I will make them pay for what they have done!'

His voice echoed in the great hall, filled with anger and majesty, each word seeming to carry the weight of a thousand jin.

Just then, Wei Xiang rushed forward to intervene, his expression anxious yet solemn, saying, 'Your Majesty, please quell your anger! This matter is of great importance and requires careful deliberation. Now, imperial authority does not extend to the counties; local powers are intertwined and complex. Sang Hongyang and Jin Ridi have cultivated influence in the court for years, with many followers and countless ties to the local gentry.'

'If we rashly arrest them, it will surely cause an uproar. Their followers might take the opportunity to rebel, sabotaging the progress of the Southern Great Development, stalling the project and rendering all prior efforts futile.'

'Furthermore, their allies occupy many important posts in the court; removing them all at once could leave the administration short of talent, impairing normal governance and leaving no one to serve. This would be a severe blow to the stability and development of our Great Han. Your Majesty, for the sake of the bigger picture, please reconsider.'

Liu Ju, hearing Wei Xiang's words, fell into contemplation.

He slowly sat back on the dragon throne, gripping the armrests tightly, the veins on the backs of his hands bulging from the strain.

He was not worrying about what Wei Xiang had said, but recalling his past conversations with Sang Hongyang and Jin Ridi, who had solemnly promised to contribute to the prosperity of our Great Han, yet now had done such things, leaving him feeling utterly disappointed.

Xu Wei knelt on the ground, hearing Wei Xiang's words, his heart filled with despair.

He had thought the Son of Heaven would immediately uphold justice for him, punishing Sang Hongyang according to law, but instead this turn of events occurred.

His eyes filled with pleading, he lifted his gaze to Liu Ju, his voice trembling as he said, 'Your Majesty, can my grievances not be redressed? Did my family die in vain? Please have pity on me and grant me justice!'

His tears flowed incessantly, dripping onto the ground.