Chapter 206: Deeply Gratifying

Seven days later, on the day set for the final judgment of Chen Wenjin's faction, Liu Ju chose a public trial.

At this time, the square before Weiyang Palace was solemn and dignified, surrounded by Feathered Forest Guards on all sides, and filled with officials and commoners coming to watch the spectacle.

No one could have imagined that just a few days ago, still radiant and unmatched, having contended with Wei Qing, exiled Huo Guang, and impeached Su Wu, the Chen Wenjin faction would collapse so suddenly.

Watching him build his high tower, watching his tower collapse!

Seeing these people on trial, the commoners naturally erupted in applause; nothing is more satisfying than watching corrupt officials publicly judged.

But the officials saw a different side, truly feeling the current emperor Liu Ju's decisive vigor and resolute lethality.

At the same time, many people only now realized that the emperor had previously merely deliberately tolerated and indulged the Chen Wenjin faction, aiming simply to now catch them all in one net.

Truly, both thunder and rain are the emperor's grace!

Liu Ju wore a dragon robe and personally attended the scene.

He sat solemnly in the chief seat, his stern gaze sweeping over the detained Chen Wenjin and Li Xiangtian below.

Meanwhile, Zhang Tang served as the presiding official, sitting in the secondary seat.

"Bring the guilty ministers!" Upon Zhang Tang's order, Chen Wenjin and Li Xiangtian were forcibly escorted forward by two guards.

At this moment, their hair was disheveled; though a trace of unwillingness still lingered in their eyes, despair and fear could not be concealed.

They had long since lost their former vigor; now they suddenly realized that the emperor's earlier favor toward them had been deliberate!

Zhang Tang cleared his throat, his voice loud and firm as he proclaimed: "Chen Wenjin and Li Xiangtian, you two formed cliques for personal gain, engaged in corrupt practices, framed the loyal, causing chaos at court and suffering among the people—your crimes are enormous and heinous. After consultation between the emperor and the senior ministers, it is decided that Chen Wenjin and Li Xiangtian shall be sentenced to death, to be executed three days from now."

Zhang Tang's voice echoed across the square.

As the verdict fell, the square first fell into dead silence, then the commoners burst into earth‑shaking cheers.

"Heaven has eyes; these wicked people finally get their due!"

"Your Majesty is sage! Lord Zhang is just!"

The voices of the crowd swelled together like a surging wave, sweeping across the entire square.

As for the court officials, their reactions were more complex.

Wei Qing's tightly knit brows finally relaxed.

"Now the court can finally be at peace."

His hands unconsciously clenched and released, calming his inner turmoil.

Zhang Qian let out a long breath, gazing into the distance as if seeing the future bright era of the Han, murmuring: "With the treacherous removed, the Han has hope."

Su Wu's eye sockets reddened slightly as he recalled his days of injustice; now his grievance has been cleared, he sighed with myriad feelings: "Justice may be delayed, but it never fails to appear."

Tian Qianqiu gave a slight nod, his face showing relief and liberation, and said to Xu Wei beside him: "This verdict not only punishes the treacherous, but also reshapes our Han; I can now let go."

Xu Wei nodded repeatedly, responding: "Lord Tian is absolutely right; henceforth the court's atmosphere will surely be completely renewed."

At this moment, upon hearing the verdict, Chen Wenjin's body jerked, a flash of fear crossed his eyes, and he shouted loudly: "Your Majesty, I am innocent! This is all a plot by Huo Guang and others; Your Majesty, see clearly!"

Li Xiangtian, meanwhile, was so frightened he collapsed to the ground, his face ashen as paper, muttering: "It's over, it's over..."

Liu Ju rose, gave a cold snort, glared angrily, and said: "The evidence is solid; how dare you quibble! Take them away!"

The Feathered Forest Guards immediately stepped forward, dragging Chen Wenjin and Li Xiangtian away.

Afterward, Zhang Tang also pronounced judgment on the remaining accomplices: "The rest of the faction shall either be exiled to the frontiers or dismissed from office, never to be reemployed. May you take this as a warning and not offend again!"

Upon hearing the verdict, those accomplices wept bitterly or turned ashen‑faced, and were one by one taken away by the Feathered Forest Guards.

"Your Majesty is sage!"

Officials and commoners alike, seeing this, fell to their knees and shouted loudly.

Upon hearing that the trial had concluded, Liu Ju returned to Weiyang Palace.

He had more important matters to attend to.

Meanwhile, many officials still remained in the square, discussing animatedly.

Wei Qing was also kept there by the excited Su Wu and others.

He smiled and said: "Everyone, today the emperor has severely punished the Chen Wenjin faction—truly a gratifying outcome! The court can finally return to the right path, no longer disturbed by treacherous elements. We must continue to serve the Han, guarding every inch of its territory, so that this prosperous age may endure forever."

Su Wu's eyes reddened; his inner excitement could not be contained.

He slowly walked to the center, bowed deeply toward the seat Liu Ju had just occupied, and spoke sincerely: "The emperor is sage; he has cleared the injustices of us loyal ones and punished the treacherous. Henceforth we shall devote ourselves with greater diligence, offering strategies to the emperor and contributing our utmost to the prosperity of the Han."

"Your Majesty's move is indeed wise and decisive; now the court can be considered pure, and future affairs can be undertaken with much greater peace of mind."

"Yes, with the Chen Wenjin faction toppled, the court has gained new hope; we too must redouble our efforts to contribute to the Han."

Other officials also whispered among themselves, their words full of praise for Liu Ju's decisions.

Moreover, the surrounding commoners shouted loudly: "Heaven has eyes! That Chen Wenjin, who daily fleeced the people, now finally gets his due. Your Majesty is wise; we commoners can now have good days!"

The surrounding commoners echoed in agreement.

The news of the Chen Wenjin faction's trial had long spread throughout Chang'an City and the streets and alleys of the Han, with people gathering in small groups to discuss the changes in court.

On Chang'an's main thoroughfare, dust rose as Chen Wenjin, Li Xiangtian and the other criminals were escorted to the execution grounds.

Upon hearing the news, commoners came from all directions, packing the streets shoulder to shoulder, every eye flashing with anger and anticipation.

As soon as the procession appeared, the crowd instantly erupted.

As the prisoner wagon drew nearer step by step, the commoners' anger was fully ignited, and their hurling of miscellaneous objects grew ever more fierce.

A vegetable‑seller grabbed a round, plump vegetable, gathered his strength, and hurled it at Chen Wenjin like a cannonball.

The vegetable struck Chen Wenjin's shoulder with a thud, instantly splattering, the juice smearing his face.

The man widened his eyes, raised his voice, and shouted: "This blow is to avenge my brother, whom you forced into a dead end!"

Beside him, the woman would not be outdone; she bent down, picked up a jagged stone from the ground, lifted it high with both hands, and threw it with all her might.

The stone grazed Chen Wenjin's forehead, drawing a line of blood that instantly welled up.

The woman planted her hands on her hips and shouted furiously: "You, cursed by heaven, how many innocents have you harmed? Today blood debt shall be repaid!"

Children also weaved through the crowd, clutching clods of earth, and threw them at the prisoner wagon.

The shop owners along the street flung open their doors, some producing rotten fruit from their shops, others lifting basins of dirty water and splashing it at the prisoner cart.

In an instant, fruit peels, rotten leaves, and dirty water intertwined like a violent downpour, drenching Chen Wenjin and the others completely.

The air reeked of rot and anger, filled with the populace's curses and the whoosh of thrown objects.

At this moment, the Feather Forest Guard tasked with escorting had to grip their spears tightly, forming a human wall, struggling to hold back the surging crowd, sweat beading on their foreheads, fearing the situation would spiral out of control.

Meanwhile, Chen Wenjin and the others had already been frightened pale as death, pummeled by the crowd's fervor into painful wails.

Soon, Chen Wenjin and the others were escorted to the execution ground, and without the surrounding crowd's cheers, they were beheaded.