Echoes of My Heart Throughout the Court

Chapter 299: The Heavenly Unity Game (1) New

Screams, madness, restlessness, frantic glances—

—You go!

—Why don’t you go?!

It wasn’t about personal gain, nor was it because they had committed any crime themselves. It was just that human instinct compels one to keep bloodshed at bay.

If Xu Yanmiao kept talking, blood would truly flow like a river!

How many people would die? A thousand? Ten thousand? Surely not a hundred thousand… ha… hahaha…

Help!!! Your Majesty! Your Highness the Crown Prince! Save us!!!

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However, when someone shouted, “Knock that guy out, quickly!” it would have been rude for Xu Yanmiao not to hear it.

So he froze for a moment: [Knock out who?]

Turning his head, he saw that his colleagues were all looking at the Prime Minister, while someone muttered loudly, “If this gets reported to His Majesty—this will shake the heavens!”

[Oh! So they mean to knock out the Prime Minister!] Xu Yanmiao suddenly understood.

Although he had no idea why they wanted to knock the Prime Minister out, seasoned officials surely had their reasons for doing so! How long had he been in the bureaucracy? Just a few years? Better to stay quiet, hide in a corner, and observe.

Meanwhile, several veteran officials, taking advantage of Xu Yanmiao’s distraction, quietly sipped their tea or wine to calm their nerves.

That was close! Almost got exposed!

Xu Yanmiao suddenly stiffened.

[Wait—]

One veteran official had a mouthful of tea stuck in his mouth, unable to swallow or spit it out, desperately controlling his expression but already panicking inside: Wait for what?!

Could it be that Xu Yanmiao had already noticed something off?!

Even the old emperor instinctively glanced at him, immediately standing up, his mind racing to find a way to stabilize the situation.

Then, he heard Xu Yanmiao say: [Chief Liang told me to sit in the corner from the beginning… Did he already foresee this and was trying to protect me?]

Phew…

Coming back to his senses, the old emperor leaned on the table and realized his hands and feet had gone weak.

He couldn’t help but curse, “That troublesome brat!”

Meanwhile, Xu Yanmiao remained oblivious to the chaos his offhand remark had nearly caused. Instead, he lowered his voice and asked Liang Rui, “Chief Liang, did you already predict this whole scene?”

Before he could say more, Liang Rui swiftly covered his mouth, pressed his head down, and whispered, “Don’t look up! Stay out of this!”

Xu Yanmiao’s eyes lit up: [I knew it!!!]

Then, he heard Liang Rui whispering to him, “I did predict it early on, but I can’t explain why right now. Just stay back and don’t get caught up in this.” ?å?o??Ë?

This moved the young scholar deeply.

[Chief Liang, you’re a good man!]

In a situation like this, there was no running—staying as deep inside as possible was the safest option.

Meanwhile, the retired officials were still in turmoil. After their initial shock, they gradually “regained their senses.”

One of them cast a suspicious glance and asked, “Prime Minister, what do you mean by ‘someone will find out’? When have we ever done anything wrong? Surely you are falsely accusing us!”

At this moment, some were still busy with flattery: “Prime Minister, your foresight and wisdom are unparalleled. I, a foolish and ignorant man, may not know what mistake I have made, but I am willing to turn back from the wrong path. I humbly ask the Prime Minister not to hold my past offenses against me, to guide and lead me so that I may repent and reform as soon as possible. I swear to remember the Prime Minister’s teachings and never dare to harbor any rebellious thoughts again.”

There were also the impatient and impulsive ones who fought back: “Dou Qing! Don’t think I don’t know what kind of cunning, treacherous man you are! You must be trying to frame the loyal and righteous! If you report to His Majesty, then I shall report to His Majesty as well. Let him see your wolfish ambitions!”

The atmosphere was hot and chaotic. Yet, not a single person stepped forward to admit their wrongdoing.

Prime Minister Dou shook his head and sighed, “I gave you all a chance.”

Fifth Huanyu froze, suddenly overwhelmed by a sense of foreboding: “What did you say?”

With a flick of his sleeve, Prime Minister Dou bowed deeply toward a certain direction: “Your servant—”

“Dou Qing greets His Majesty!”

The moment his words fell, the room was swallowed by suffocating silence.

The faces of the retired officials stiffened. It took several breaths before someone slowly turned their head, their neck creaking like a rusted wheel.

In their vision, a figure gradually emerged. The man stood tall, half-shrouded in the dim glow of the lanterns. His expression was unreadable, but the tangible aura of killing intent around him pricked at their skin like needles.

“Your Maj—”

Someone tried to salvage the last shreds of dignity, but the sheer terror that washed over them in that instant made their knees buckle—”Bang!”—they dropped straight to the ground.

The old emperor didn’t even spare them a glance. His face was calm as still water. He stepped into the room, glanced at the knife used for skinning sheep, and remarked: “Nice knife.”

The blade gleamed coldly, still stained with dried sheep’s blood—an utterly chilling sight.

At that moment, someone’s mind involuntarily replayed the earlier scene of skinning the sheep—

Tying up three legs, slicing open from the front legs to the shoulders and neck, then from the hind legs to the tail—peeling away a perfect sheep’s hide… or perhaps… a perfect human skin…

It wasn’t just the retired officials— even the capital officials who knew they hadn’t committed any crimes suddenly found themselves unable to speak.

But amidst the overwhelming silence, a voice rang out loud and clear:

[What’s going on, what’s going on?! Why did it suddenly get so quiet?]

[Damn it, Chief Liang is holding my head down! I can’t see a thing! Even system text descriptions aren’t as thrilling as seeing it live!]

[And those retired officials—why aren’t they saying anything now? Could it be that they really got caught? But weren’t they acting all tough just a moment ago?!]

The old emperor cast a glance at the corner, where a certain someone was being forced to keep their head down. Though they hadn’t moved an inch, without even hearing their thoughts, he could tell just how restless they were.

He found it both infuriating and amusing.

This brat’s courage isn’t much bigger than a cat’s, and he still dares to watch the scene unfold?

He couldn’t even handle watching a sheep being slaughtered, yet now he wants to see people getting killed?

What was that line from his own thoughts? Oh—”Weak skills, big addiction!”

Tch.

Prime Minister Dou stood up. The old emperor walked forward and casually sat down in the main seat, still holding the skinning knife in his hand.

His expression remained calm, but the smoldering fury in his gaze reflected sharply against the blood-stained blade.

He scanned the room full of audacious men, then suddenly let out a cold chuckle in his rage: “Just now, didn’t someone say they wanted to report to me? That the Prime Minister harbors wolfish ambitions?

“Well, I am here now. Who wishes to report?”

The once noisy retired officials now dared not utter a single word, their heads lowered, their legs trembling.

The one shaking the most was former Magistrate Zhang. A future shrouded in darkness lay before him, and he nearly let out a scream like a rubber chicken—

He had used gold to make a horse’s bridle and silver to decorate its head—right in front of His Majesty?!

He had boasted about the rare plants in his garden—right in front of His Majesty?!

His Majesty had even shown interest in his garden?!

And he had been impatient and disrespectful toward His Majesty?!

Former Magistrate Zhang could almost hear his own brain rattling in panic.

How many heads did he think he had, to dare speak to the emperor like that?!

And yet, of all people, the old emperor pointed straight at him: “Zhang You, is it?”

—Being addressed by the emperor by full name wasn’t exactly an insult.

But it was terrifying.

“Tell me, what grievance do you have?”

Now, every eye in the room was fixed on Former Magistrate Zhang.

He took a big step forward and, with deep sincerity, declared: “Your Majesty, I have no grievances.”

—The saying goes, “Within the land, all are the emperor’s subjects.” Even those without official rank could refer to themselves as “?” (your servant) before the emperor.

Zhang then continued, though it was unclear whether he was feigning ignorance or trying to plead his case: “However, I do not understand why the Prime Minister is pressing us so harshly. Your Majesty, please judge with wisdom! I have certainly never engaged in corruption or debauchery!”

The old emperor questioned several others, and their responses were more or less the same.

“If that’s the case,” he said, slowly turning the jade thumb ring on his finger, “then we’ll go through this one by one.”

One by one… what?

Someone stammered, “Your Majesty means…?”

The old emperor replied, “I have been far too lenient with you all. Since it has come to this, then both the capital officials and the retired officials will stay here in the Prime Minister’s residence. The Jinyiwei will investigate each of you, one by one. When the investigations are complete, you will be released.”

“But what about official duties—”

“No problem. Urgent matters will be sent from the capital by courier.”

“Food and lodging—”

“Provisions and water will be delivered by designated personnel. Bedding will be laid directly on the floor—this place is spacious enough to accommodate two or three hundred people. As for relieving yourselves, the Jinyiwei will provide chamber pots. They will be passed in and out as needed. Any other questions? Ask now.”

No one dared to speak.

Even Xu Yanmiao’s inner thoughts had fallen silent for a long time.

The moon hid behind thick clouds, its faint, cold light filtering through, casting an eerie glow on the papered windows.

“The Prime Minister’s eightieth birthday banquet had eight tables. We’ll start from the last one.”

The old emperor extended his hand, and Prime Minister Dou handed over a list.

Lowering his head, the emperor read in a calm voice: “Su Ziguang, third-place jinshi of the fourteenth year of Tian Tong. Retired in the twenty-ninth year due to health issues. Formerly served as Left Yu De of the Imperial Academy.”

Su Ziguang stepped forward heavily and bowed. “Your servant is here.”

The old emperor nodded. “Sit. Wait for the Jinyiwei.”

Su Ziguang was stunned.

Wait for the Jinyiwei to investigate…? That would take at least several months! Dou Qing had invited a total of thirty-two officials, both active and retired. Even if all five hundred Jinyiwei officers were mobilized, it would take at least three months.

Your Majesty, you’re serious about this?!

The two candles on the table flickered with yellow flames. The old emperor said coldly, “I know what you’re all thinking. You assume that investigating everyone will be an exhausting and lengthy process, that it would take months to complete. But it doesn’t matter—three months, five months—I have time to spare!

“Today, I want the world to know: when retired officials return to their hometowns, it is not so they can throw their weight around and act like tyrants!”

Of course, if Xu Yanmiao was willing to speak up about your crimes, then maybe you could be released sooner—

Oh, or maybe your head would roll sooner.

But if he refused, then you’d all be sleeping on hard floors for the next three to five months.

T/N: oohhh, I just love how author has integrated serious content within the comedy and when you taste zing, you only want to taste more.