Chapter 11: Unfathomable

“Execute Hua Yuntian!”
“Execute Hua Yuntian!”
The resounding cries of the ministers filled the grand, imposing throne hall.
Hua Yuntian, a general by trade, was no match for the verbal prowess of these seasoned courtiers. All he could do was strike with brute force, hoping to break the deadlock with sheer strength. Just as his clenched fist was about to fall, Qin Xiao’s thunderous command rang out.
“Silence! Whoever dares make noise again, I shall have their head!”
At these words, the hall fell utterly silent; no one dared utter another sound.
Hua Yuntian, still simmering with anger, spat heavily, flinging Gu Liuyun to the ground with a forceful shove. Then, his eyes turned to Qin Xiao, his intent clear: he was begging the Emperor for mercy.
Qin Xiao, of course, would not heed slander. He shot him a meaningful glance, then turned to Gu Liuyun, the Chief Justice of the Court of Judicial Review.
“Gu Liuyun, evidence! How did Noble Consort Hua interfere in government affairs? How did she disrupt the court? Speak clearly, or your head will serve as an example to uphold the law of Great Qian!”
Gu Liuyun looked up at the Emperor, his heart pounding with terror; fear gripped him. Sweat poured down like rain, and he dared not speak further. All he could do was cast a pleading look at Tang Sicheng, the Minister of Revenue.
Tang Sicheng, unruffled, stepped forward with calm composure and spoke in a clear voice, “Your Majesty, Lord Gu is only fulfilling his duty, serving his office.”
“Your Majesty’s intimidation may well chill the hearts of those who earnestly serve the realm!”
Qin Xiao laughed inwardly. Was there anyone else in the world who could remonstrate in such a manner? To come forth and demand the punishment of Noble Consort Hua—was this remonstration or coercion?
“Minister of Revenue, how would you feel if I began by accusing your wife?”
“And besides, am I truly seeking Gu Liuyun’s head? What I want is the truth.”
Qin Xiao’s words rang out with undeniable authority, leaving no room for doubt.
“If that is so, let Lord Gu lay out the truth for us,” said Prime Minister Li Changshu, stepping forward to lend Tang Sicheng support, thus giving him a way out.
Qin Xiao looked coldly at Gu Liuyun, the meaning obvious: he was to speak.
Gu Liuyun’s legs trembled; he spoke cautiously, “Noble Consort Hua drafted imperial edicts on Your Majesty’s behalf. Surely, you have not forgotten this?”
Qin Xiao laughed again. To draft an edict—is that what they call subverting the government?
Gu Liuyun pressed on, “Your Majesty, even in remote villages, it is known that one should avoid favoritism when appointing the worthy, let alone in matters of state. Noble Consort Hua and Hua Yuntian are siblings by blood. For her to issue an edict appointing her own brother is improper!”

“Furthermore, for a consort to write imperial edicts is itself a disruption of government.”
“And then, these edicts from Noble Consort Hua were sent out directly, bypassing the State Council. What if, in the future, any woman from the harem could issue edicts at will? Would that not throw the realm into chaos?”
“Thus, Noble Consort Hua has subverted the court and deserves death!”
With these words, his strength spent, he collapsed weakly to the floor.
Hua Yuntian panicked. It was true—the edict had indeed been sent directly from Hua Chi Palace, without passing through the State Council.
Qin Xiao, his face calm, spoke, “What are you suggesting? Does Lord Gu imagine that anyone could simply write imperial edicts? Without my command, who in this realm would dare? Lord Gu, would you dare?”
Gu Liuyun’s back was drenched in sweat, but having come this far, he could only force himself to continue, “Your Majesty speaks rightly. Yet the edict was written by Noble Consort Hua and issued straight from Hua Chi Palace. I believe this is irregular; I beg Your Majesty to dismiss her from her position.”
Qin Xiao leaned over the desk, his voice low and stern, “Lord Gu, if I do not comply, are you suggesting I myself should be deposed?”
The hall froze; this was beyond remedy.
“Your Majesty, forgive us!”
No one knew who spoke first, but soon, all the ministers echoed the plea in unison.
Qin Xiao snorted coldly, his gaze sweeping over them. “Every action of Noble Consort Hua was on my command. If anyone has complaints, come to me directly—I will answer you!”
“Furthermore, those who knelt all morning today shall henceforth attend court on their knees!”
Hua Yuntian finally breathed a sigh of relief, gratitude shining in his eyes as he looked at Qin Xiao.
Tang Sicheng, Li Changshu, and the others kept their expressions unreadable; their feelings were impossible to put into words.
The Emperor had revealed unprecedented partiality; Noble Consort Hua reigned supreme in the harem, Hua Yuntian was now Grand Marshal, and the Hua family was a wealthy southern power.
With people, power, and troops at their command, they had become a colossus second only to the Tang family.
In the heavy silence, Qin Xiao glanced at Bu Qingyi, who immediately stepped forward.
“Your Majesty, regarding the Shanhai Pass matter, I have raised a portion of the funds.”
“Well done! Minister Bu’s efficiency is commendable. Present it.”
Qin Xiao took one look and felt a wave of exhaustion—despite all efforts, it amounted to a mere eight hundred thousand taels, not even as much as a single contribution from his beloved consort.
This was the strength of the entire nation! After a deep sense of powerlessness, Qin Xiao felt a chill of dread—was the state so riddled with corruption?
“Hmph, look well—all of you! This is the might of Great Qian.” Qin Xiao tossed the ledger aside with a cold snort.
Then, clapping his hands, he summoned Hai Dabao to bring out Noble Consort Hua’s wooden chest.
“Open your eyes! Here is a single chest, the very one you all accused of disrupting the court, filled by Noble Consort Hua for the refugees at Shanhai Pass!”

“Heh—a whole court of men, and not one with the sense of a woman!”
“I think you’d be better off going home to raise pigs. None of you can shoulder my burdens or champion the people, but you display the petty scheming of housewives to the fullest!”
“To speak of my civil and military officials outside these walls is a shame to me!”
Qin Xiao slapped the desk, one rebuke after another, each word striking at the officials’ very core.
Looking at the trembling ministers, and then at the chest of dowry worth a million, his anger surged even higher.
He swept a cold gaze over Gu Liuyun and those who had called for the punishment of Noble Consort Hua and Hua Yuntian.
With a sharp wave, he bellowed, “Men! Drag these troublemakers out and beat them to death. Confiscate their estates; their families are to labor in the mines for thirty years before being freed!”
Gu Liuyun panicked, unable to kneel any longer. To be clubbed to death, and to have his family sent to the mines for thirty years—was that not akin to exterminating their entire clan?
Now, there was only one man who could save him: Tang Sicheng.
All eyes turned to him in dread, the steady march of palace guards echoing like steel spikes into every heart.
At last, Tang Sicheng’s calm facade broke; gone was his former composure, replaced by a grim expression.
He cared little for these men’s lives; if a dog dies, another can be trained.
What troubled him was that he could not fathom the Emperor’s mind. He had thought that a little pressure over a mere consort would force the Emperor’s hand.
Who would have thought the reaction would be so extreme?
Far beyond anything he had anticipated.
He now felt trapped, unable to advance or retreat. He could save these men, but the price would not be small.
If he did not, how could he ever raise loyal followers again?
After weighing the options, Tang Sicheng stepped forward at last.
“Your Majesty, have mercy. Whatever your ministers do, it is always for Your Majesty’s sake.”
“They only feared that Your Majesty might be deceived by traitors, never intending any offense. I beg Your Majesty to show leniency.”
“If Your Majesty truly insists on this, then this old minister will have no choice but to resign and go home to raise pigs!”
At these words, the officials all echoed his stance.