The Duke of Ningguo, once favored, was reduced to a prisoner overnight and publicly beheaded on charges of colluding with the enemy and treason. However, the new emperor, in his benevolence, spared the Duke's family, reducing them to commoners without implicating them in the charges.
At the execution ground, the Duke of Ningguo, his hair disheveled, sat in the prisoner's cart. Unlike other criminals, the crowd did not hurl rotten vegetables or foul eggs at him.
The people knew the Duke of Ningguo's heir, Duke Meng, who had once been the consort to Princess Xingyue.
Princess Xingyue's disappearance, followed by the former emperor's death and the new emperor's hasty ascension, had thrust the Duke of Ningguo's household into the public eye.
Months prior, during a severe drought, it was the Duke of Ningguo who had voluntarily set up porridge stations to distribute food. Upon reflection, it seemed the Duke of Ningguo had done nothing to harm the populace, hence the lack of rotten vegetables and eggs.
Arriving at the execution ground, the Duke of Ningguo was pushed forward. The overseeing official was Shi Zhiyuan, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice, a kinsman of the former Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice, Shi Lang.
Vice Minister Shi Zhiyuan looked at the Duke of Ningguo and sighed, "Duke of Ningguo, do you have any last words? Having served in court for years, I have benefited greatly from your patronage. If you have any final wishes, as long as they do not contravene the imperial will, this humble official will do his best to fulfill them!"
Upon hearing this, the Duke of Ningguo looked at Vice Minister Shi Zhiyuan and slowly said, "Esteemed Minister Shi, this Duke has one matter that remains unclear."
"What matter is it? Please speak, Duke of Ningguo," Shi Zhiyuan inquired.
The Duke of Ningguo turned to face the surrounding crowd and suddenly shouted, "I, Meng Lian, have never wronged the state. I have never colluded with the enemy or committed treason. Yet, when the sovereign commands a minister to die, the minister must obey. While I may die, I absolutely cannot die bearing the brand of colluding with the enemy and treason."
The Duke of Ningguo's words stunned everyone. Vice Minister Shi Zhiyuan immediately stood up, his brow furrowed, "Duke of Ningguo, you..."
"Esteemed Minister Shi, I apologize, but this Duke cannot accept the charge of colluding with the enemy and treason."
Shi Zhiyuan replied, "Duke of Ningguo, what grievances do you have? This Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice will remain here."
The Duke of Ningguo said, "Could Esteemed Minister Shi please have my bonds loosened?"
Shi Zhiyuan gritted his teeth and gave the order, "Loosen the bonds!"
Once unbound, the Duke of Ningguo tore a piece from the hem of his robe. He bit his finger fiercely, drawing blood, and began to write on the cloth.
After a quarter of an hour, he suddenly knelt and raised the blood-written message above his head, "Please examine this, Esteemed Minister."
Shi Zhiyuan took the blood-written message and, after a few glances, his expression changed. He looked up at the Duke of Ningguo and asked coldly, "Duke of Ningguo, are you certain?"
"Certain," the Duke of Ningguo replied, word by word.
Shi Zhiyuan's face turned ashen. "Duke of Ningguo, this matter perhaps requires me to present it to His Majesty."
The Duke of Ningguo nodded, "Please do."
Shi Zhiyuan quickly called for someone, handed over the blood-written message, and gave a few instructions. The man took the message, mounted his horse, and galloped towards the palace.
The Duke of Ningguo then stood up and suddenly shouted, "I did not collude with the enemy or commit treason; it is the current Emperor who slandered me..."
"Duke of Ningguo, do not speak recklessly." Shi Zhiyuan was flabbergasted. He had never imagined the Duke of Ningguo would utter such words in public.
"Heaven be my witness, I, Meng Lian, accuse the current Emperor, Xue Tianyue, of ten crimes.
First, usurpation of the throne.
Second, the harming of Princess Xingyue, leading to her disappearance!
Third, framing loyal ministers and valiant generals!
Fourth..."
The Duke of Ningguo fluently listed ten crimes committed by Xue Tianyue.
"Esteemed Minister Shi, should we intervene?" an subordinate whispered into Shi Zhiyuan's ear.
Shi Zhiyuan looked at the Duke of Ningguo and said, "Don't you feel that the Duke of Ningguo came prepared today?"
The subordinate was taken aback. "Esteemed Minister Shi, what do you mean..."
"It seems the Duke of Ningguo has a powerful figure guiding him. We can only wait and see."
The subordinate nodded, "Esteemed Minister Shi speaks wisely."
With a new emperor comes new officials. No one knew how long Xue Tianyue's reign would last. To remain uninvolved, neither hindering nor advancing, was their principle of governance.
In the imperial court, the blood-written message from the execution ground now lay on Xue Tianyue's desk. His expression was dark and displeased.
The assembled ministers exchanged bewildered glances, unaware of the message's contents. Just then, a sudden gust of wind swept through the hall, carrying a multitude of blood-written pages that flew everywhere, some landing at the ministers' feet.
Upon a mere glance, the ministers felt their blood run cold. This... this was clearly evidence of the current Emperor's crimes.
Xue Tianyue slammed the table furiously, "Who is playing tricks on朕! Come out!"
"It is I!" a voice declared, and a figure slowly entered from outside the hall.
Clad in imperial yellow robes and adorned with jeweled hairpins, she was noble and radiant.
All the ministers were shocked. This was the Empress Dowager, the mistress of the inner palace.
"Mother, you..." Xue Tianyue looked at the Empress Dowager in disbelief. He had never imagined that the one betraying him would be his own mother.
"Xue Tianyue, you harmed the imperial princess, usurped the throne, and framed loyal ministers and valiant generals. These are all acts you personally orchestrated. Do you admit to them or not?"
"Mother, are you unwell? Why are you speaking such nonsense?" Xue Tianyue stepped forward to help the Empress Dowager.
The Empress Dowager pushed Xue Tianyue away and said coldly, "Xue Tianyue, stop pretending. Isn't it tiring?"
Xue Tianyue's expression darkened. He said coldly, "The Empress Dowager is tired. Guards, escort the Empress Dowager back to rest."
Several palace attendants immediately entered from outside and moved to escort the Empress Dowager away. The Empress Dowager pushed them aside and pointed at Xue Tianyue, asking, "Can you swear upon this blood-written message that you have never done these things?"
"Mother, you are too tired!" Xue Tianyue interrupted the Empress Dowager's words and coldly commanded, "Escort the Empress Dowager back!"
"Xue Tianyue, if you refuse to admit it, fine. Then let me ask you, do you have any contact with the Crown Prince of Qi?"
"Mother!" Xue Tianyue raised his voice.
The Empress Dowager continued, "It's fine if you don't admit it. There are other matters..."
"Escort the Empress Dowager back!" Xue Tianyue roared in anger.