Chapter 1066: Chapter 301: To think of those ants... it should be without regrets! (Added for Alliance Hierarch zj1998!)

The question posed by the Emperor of Da Qi was indeed grave.

He directly characterized Cui Zhu’s assassination attempt as the initiation of an uprising aimed at usurping the throne!

Should matters unfold with such a nature, it would likely result in countless heads rolling and widespread lamentation.

From the Political Affairs Hall down, everyone who had handled the list for the Yellow River Gathering, to the rising ranks of Cui Zhu in the army, those he had contacted, those he had befriended...

What a vast net this was, involving such a multitude...

Who could not feel terror?

The wrath of the Son of Heaven, a million corpses lying prostrate, blood flowing thousands of miles.

Who would dare to provoke this?

At this moment, ordinary people had no right to speak.

And those who had the right, such as the Crown Prince, several Palace Masters, and even the State Minister Jiang Rumo... unfortunately, could not speak.

For... if compared to the old affairs of Qin Huaidi, it was precisely these individuals who had the opportunity to become the "Ying Zhang" of Qi!

The case of disposing the Crown Prince was extensive, many of those who had survived that catastrophe were still present.

The prestigious Zhong Xuan Family, the old Marquis of Zhong Xuan who had long since hung up his armor, now back in battle, bathed in blood on the battlefield, lost two sons, and with Zhongxuan Chuliang’s leading role in breaking the summer, they barely survived that ordeal.

The once exceptional Zhongxuan Futu, his son was now in the spectator stands.

With such a stark warning from the past, who could be without fear?

"Your Majesty! Your servant has a report!" Jiang Wang, also kneeling on the ground, suddenly spoke.

The current Emperor Qi was a sovereign of great prowess, when he trusted someone, he could grant them immense honor, and when he despised someone... he could be ruthlessly cold.

Jiang Wang certainly knew the risks of speaking at this moment, as someone who had just been praised by the Emperor for his loyalty, he could have remained silent.

The matter of conspiring to usurp the throne was certainly not something that a humble man from the small town of Qingyang could engage in.

He was undoubtedly safe.

But as the closest friend of Zhongxuan Sheng, he was deeply impressed by the catastrophe thirty years ago.

He believed that Zhongxuan Sheng had enough wisdom to face any problem in the world, except for things that had already happened and could never be changed. Zhongxuan Sheng’s vulnerability and pain were only revealed in front of him and Shisi.

In the ruins of the Withering and Flourishing Temple, Zhongxuan Sheng, always thick-skinned, said—"I feel very lonely."

The death of Zhongxuan Futu, the harm it caused to Zhongxuan Sheng, would last a lifetime, never to be erased.

And the Zhong Xuan Family, compared to those who were completely exterminated as part of the "Crown Prince Faction," had come out of it relatively well.

"Speak freely, Jiang Qing," the voice of the Emperor of Da Qi bore no hint of emotion: "Would I be the sort to suppress voices?"

Before the entirety of The Imperial Ancestral Temple, the kneeling civil and military officials, royal relatives, and nobles hardly dared raise their heads, but all pricked up their ears.

Zhongxuan Sheng knelt on the ground, his cultivation notwithstanding, he suddenly broke into sweat, finding the situation unbearably intense!

Shisi knelt silently beside him, sensing the peril of this moment through Zhongxuan Sheng’s reaction.

Yan Fu resisted his impulse to look around. The more critical the moment, the less one should connect too many dots. An assassination had just occurred, and it was when the Emperor was most vigilant against "factionalism." But how could he speak up now without leveraging the Yan family’s influence in the Political Affairs Hall?

The Lord of Hua Ying Palace held his breath, thinking about how he should intervene if the situation turned dire. Would the Imperial Father show some leniency towards Jiang Qingyang for his sake?

"Your Majesty," Jiang Wang raised his head, not daring to look directly at the Emperor’s face, instead fixating on the carvings on the scarlet steps.

"Though I am young and frail, neither well-versed in history nor knowledgeable in literature, my only merit lies in having traveled ten thousand miles, seen landscapes of various nations, and encountered myriad characters—I have gained a small insight—

People are divided into good and evil, yet they are hard to distinguish. Blended into one, loyalty and treachery coexist. Those with nothing are bound to result in desperate changes; those who grasp power and gain momentum, undoubtedly hold lofty aspirations. Those who manage to gather some support, in the quiet depth of the night, inevitably harbor thoughts that should not exist.

These are the entangled threads of humanity, impossible to sever.

Therefore, it is said that a gentleman judges by actions, not intentions, for there are no perfect men in the world.

Yet our great Da Qi commands the Six Harmonies and has an army of millions,

Self-examining within our own boundaries, our imperial authority is unrivaled; looking across to the Eastern Region, touching us leads to ruin! Surveying the world, only four or five families could compete.

I believe, those who harbor such intentions are not to be feared! It is those who possess the capability that deserve attention!"

He placed both hands on the ground, touching his forehead to the backs of his hands, "In supplication, I beg the Sage Monarch for clarity!"

"Ah, ’Those who harbor thoughts should not be feared; those with the power require caution!’" the Emperor of Da Qi looked down at the kneeling young man in the square, "So, whom do you think possesses this power?"

Jiang Wang respectfully said, "Your Majesty laid the foundations of Da Qi’s dominance; Da Qi is the supreme power in the Eastern Region. I believe, that today, within the Qi Boundary, no one possesses such power.

Therefore, even though Cui Zhu has committed the great crime of attempting to assassinate the monarch, I believe that he does not compare to old Qin.

Consider Cui Zhu, merely a man of the Inner Mansion, whose strength doesn’t even match that of this humble servant! With a suicidal stab, he couldn’t even get close to the Son of Heaven. Yet, my great Da Qi is vast, and many surpass your humble servant in strength.

How can ants, even in their desperate struggle against authority, be a threat to a towering tree?

Can the feeble hatred of ants shake the foundation of great Da Qi? However..."

The Son of Heaven asked, "However?"

Jiang Wang took a deep breath and said, "If Your Majesty allows the anger of the Son of Heaven to be provoked by ants, then those ants... would have no regrets!"

The words spoken to Jiang Wang by Cui Zhu before his death, although actively suppressed by Jiang Wang, certainly didn’t escape the Emperor’s notice.

Now, by speaking such words, Jiang Wang suggests that the Emperor’s rage might precisely be what the assassin wished to see.

He believed that today’s event was not the starting stroke of a coup. Within the Qi Boundary, no one possesses the qualification to change the dynasty. Hence, the masterminds behind this incident could only come from abroad.

This stab by Cui Zhu, of course, had motives beyond the apparent. But if the Emperor of Da Qi were to indiscriminately enforce severe punishment, it would certainly please the unseen planners behind it.

Jiang Wang spoke tactfully, but even in his tact, there was an element of offense.

After all, the current Emperor of Da Qi is a formidable ruler, and he, Jiang Wang, was merely a man from the small town of Green Sheep.

The Son of Heaven remained non-committal and said in a mild tone, "Jiang Qingyang, you indeed have great courage."

"Where there is a wise ruler, there are brave subjects who dare to speak. It is in a Sage Monarch’s reign, that one can hear the voices of the entire heart," Jiang wan replied. "The courage I have was given by Your Majesty."

The Emperor of Da Qi was silent for a moment.

Consequently, silence also fell in front of the Imperial Ancestral Temple for a moment.

"Where is the Capital Commandant?" the Son of Heaven asked.

The Capital Commandant, commonly known as Beiyar Commander.

Zheng Shi, who was not initially present at the ceremony, now emerged from somewhere and knelt on the Scarlet Steps, "I am here."

The Son of Heaven instructed, "This matter is entrusted to you for a thorough investigation. I grant you the authority to summon the watchmen. Whoever is involved, show no mercy!"

He paused, then added, "And do not implicate the innocent."

To prevent abuse of power, the position of Beiyar Commander couldn’t exceed that of External Building Environment. This also made it challenging for the Beiyar Commander to mobilize those above the External Building in rank.

The watchmen are a force loyal only to the Da Qi royal family, terrifying in strength.

Assigning this task to the Beiyar Commander, instead of the Ministry of Rites Han Ling, relieved the court officials, nobles, and relatives present.

The addition stated by the Emperor reassured everyone further.

Zhongxuan Sheng’s forehead ceased to sweat.

Brilliant, absolutely brilliant!

If the occasion were different, he would have lifted Jiang Wang and cheered.

Perhaps Jiang Wang spoke out of empathy. Yet, he struck at the core issue and moved the Emperor.

What of Zhongxuan Fenghua?

You certainly impressed all of Linzi today.

But Jiang Qingyang, you earned the gratitude of half of Linzi!

...

...

ps:

1, "I have one gain...", here ’I’ connotes something done covertly.