The kneeling crowd stretched from the hall to beyond its doors, their official robes ranging from purple and scarlet to green and blue, their resounding cries of “Long live His Majesty” echoing through the entirety of Zichen Hall.
The grandeur of the scene caused Emperor An, who had just reached the dragon throne, to pause momentarily. As he looked out at the seemingly endless sea of bowed heads, a fleeting look of bewilderment crossed his face.
Consorts Yu and Xian, following behind him, also widened their eyes in shock.
Why were there so many people?!
“Your Majesty?” Attendant Feng whispered a reminder.
Emperor An snapped back to reality. “Why are there so many people?”
Attendant Feng lowered his head. “Your Majesty previously instructed that this palace banquet should be grand and livelier than in previous years. Supervisor Xiao thus arranged for more people to enter the palace.”
“…”
Emperor An’s expression was hard to describe.
He had indeed wanted this banquet to be lively, to quell outside rumors and baseless speculations about the imperial family, but he hadn’t intended for *this* many people to be invited.
Even during grand court assemblies in previous years, the crowd was never this dense. Had Xiao Yan brought every active official in the capital into the palace?!
Feeling the Emperor’s gaze, Xiao Yan looked up with a puzzled expression, as if asking what His Majesty’s orders were.
Emperor An felt even more exasperated. For the first time, he thought that having someone too attentive to his wishes wasn’t necessarily a good thing.
But the guests were already here, and it was the Mid-Autumn Festival. No matter how unsettled he felt, he couldn’t drive them out. He could only reassure himself that Xiao Yan was acting on his orders, albeit misunderstanding his intentions.
Taking a deep breath, he withdrew his gaze and sat on the dragon throne.
Once Consort Yu and the others took their seats to his left and right, Emperor An spoke in a raised voice:
“All rise.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
Tang Ning stood with the crowd and returned to her seat. Then, she heard Emperor An speak from the dais:
“Today is the Mid-Autumn Festival, a time of reunion, and with the Empress Dowager long afflicted by illness, I have invited you all to this banquet. It is both to share this night of unity and reward your tireless efforts, as well as to pray for the Empress Dowager’s recovery through today’s joyous occasion.”
“With this grand banquet tonight, we offer our prayers to the bright moon, wishing for the Empress Dowager’s health and the prosperity of Great Wei.”
Everyone at the banquet responded in unison:
“May the Empress Dowager be in good health, and may Great Wei prosper!”
Emperor An’s face looked thinner, but his spirits were high.
Hearing the chorus of agreement from the assembled officials below, the feeling of wielding supreme power, commanding the submission of all, and holding the fate of others in his hands was intoxicating.
He suddenly recalled what Xiao Yan had said before the banquet and continued:
“I know there have been endless discussions outside recently, especially regarding the deposed Empress Lu and the traitor Lu Chongyuan, which have stirred unrest in the court and among the people.”
“The Lu family’s treasonous actions and deception of the throne warranted the execution of their entire clan. However, with the Empress Dowager’s frail health, I am reluctant to create more bloodshed. Moreover, considering the Lu family’s contributions during the founding of the dynasty under the Great Ancestor and their years of service to the court, I will hold only the chief culprits accountable for the Lu family’s crimes.”
After speaking, Emperor An glanced to the side.
Xiao Yan stepped forward, holding a pre-written imperial edict.
“His Majesty decrees: Lu Chongyuan committed treason, an unforgivable crime. However, as he confessed and took his own life in prison, showing remorse before his death, only his direct lineage, up to three generations, shall be executed, and the Lu family’s assets shall be confiscated for the state treasury.”
“As for the Lu family’s collateral branches and distant relatives, they shall be exiled to the borderlands and conscripted into labor. Women of the direct line who married out are permitted to take their own lives, along with the exiled Lu clan members. Their descendants, after three generations, shall be absolved of their crimes.”
“Thus it is decreed.”
The edict sent the hall into an uproar, with even the noble families showing surprise.
Emperor An was not known for mercy, and the imperial family never spared those guilty of treason.
The Lu family’s crimes were no small matter: the Empress had toyed with imperial dignity and muddled the imperial bloodline, while the Lu family deceived the throne and acted arrogantly in court.
Everyone expected Emperor An to eradicate the Lu family entirely, but no one anticipated he would show leniency.
Though exile and conscription were harsh fates, compared to clan extermination, the Lu family’s bloodline could still survive. Moreover, Emperor An promised that “after three generations, their crimes would not be held against them.”
This was so merciful it hardly seemed like the Emperor they knew.
Feng Qiuli spoke loudly, “His Majesty is merciful.”
Others followed suit:
“His Majesty is merciful.”
“With the Lu family’s treason, His Majesty’s willingness to show leniency reflects a broad and saintly heart.”
“If the Lu traitors knew of His Majesty’s actions, they would surely regret their rebellion.”
“His Majesty’s treatment of the Lu family shows deep sentiment.”
The hall was filled with praise, each compliment more flattering than the last.
Emperor An felt immensely pleased, growing even more satisfied with Xiao Yan. Pardoning a few insignificant people had earned him such overwhelming acclaim—Xiao Yan’s suggestion was truly brilliant.
“I considered my bond as lord and vassal with Lu Chongyuan and wished to pray for the Empress Dowager’s recovery, so I made an exception to show leniency to the Lu family. But if anyone dares to follow their example, I will not be so forgiving!”
After issuing a warning, Emperor An softened his expression:
“Today’s banquet is to celebrate the festival with you all, so let us not dwell on such unpleasant matters.”
He raised his wine cup to the crowd below:
“Let the music play, the banquet begin, and all of you drink to your heart’s content.”
Everyone below raised their cups in respect. “Thank you, Your Majesty!”
The banquet music resumed, and palace dancers entered from outside, performing gracefully in the center of the hall.
Perhaps Emperor An’s warm demeanor and constant smiles, or the lively music and dance, eased the tension in the room, and the guests began to relax.
Amid clinking cups and toasts, smiles appeared on everyone’s faces. Some officials in the front rose to offer toasts, and Emperor An accepted them all.
Duke Zeng sat at his seat, his face taut, gazing at his father, the Emperor, laughing heartily above. A glimmer of ambition and resentment flashed in his eyes.
After tonight, that throne would be his. In the future, he too would be revered by all, with everyone bowing before him.
Duke Zeng gripped his wine cup tightly, glancing at Xiao Yan standing alone to the side.
Just a little longer, until tonight’s opportunity.
He couldn’t disrupt the plan…
…
Tang Ning sat at her table, watching the dancers in the center of the hall. Her gaze subtly drifted to the dais, lingering briefly on Emperor An and his entourage before settling on Xiao Yan, wondering how her brother planned to act tonight.
As she pondered, her eyes inadvertently passed over Cui Lin’s position. She suddenly noticed a hint of eagerness on his shadowed, sickly face.
Tang Ning paused, her brow furrowing slightly.
Something was off about Cui Lin.
She turned to look behind her, intending to signal Tian Qing and the others among the musicians to alert her brother. But before she could speak, a commotion erupted from the steps outside the hall.
It sounded like something had burst into the banquet, accompanied by the sound of wine cups crashing to the ground and intermittent exclamations of shock.
Moments later, a disheveled figure rushed in.===============
You can read ahead to chapterr 470 (100+ extra chapters) here
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