~ PEOPLE SHOULD NOT DIE IN VAIN ~

Yu Wang recounted the tragic situation after the Linjiang River bank was broken, and he cursed the officials in the Imperial Court once more with a gun and a stick in his hands. Not only did the Emperor not stop him, but he also sighed along with Yu Wang’s description.

Seeing this, many officials wisely forgot their words of persuasion, knelt down silently at the side, and did not say anything. After being in the Imperial Court for so long, they had some understanding of the Emperor’s thoughts. In the current situation, the Emperor has no intention to close down Yishui City.

After listening to Yu Wang’s description, the Emperor was silent for a moment before saying, “The suffering of the citizens is due to my incompetence, the Emperor. I will immediately issue a decree punish myself and then offer sacrifices personally to the heavens to pray for the blessing of the citizens .”

The officials quickly kneeled on the ground and shouted, “The Emperor is merciful....”

“I know that all of you are thinking for the sake of the commoner. However, your method is indeed a bit extreme. I cannot just watch my people suffer, and I will not easily give up on anyone. There is no need to say more about closing Yishui City. All my ministers should step back and think about how to love the people and guard the foundation of Dali Dynasty. Instead of following others’ example, only know to kneel and admonish all day long. As subjects of my humerus, you are the backbone of the Imperial Court. If your knees are soft and you kneel when you say you kneel, I will choose some tough people to come up.”

“Yes.”

The Imperial Court officials turned pale, and they staggered away. Many of them had fallen ill when they returned. Some of them had been suffering from a minor illness and did not know what was wrong. They were talking muddle-headedly about the people’s grievances and deaths.

After the officials had left, Yu Wang quickly got up from his chair and knelt on the ground. His previously deranged look was now especially solemn. “Imperial Father, this Son has lost his dignity in front of the Imperial Court. Please punish me.”

The Emperor sized him up with a cold expression. After a while, he sighed and said, “Stand up. I know you’re uncomfortable in your heart.”

However, Yu Wang did not get up. He remained kneeling on the ground. This time, Yu Wang did not bawl out his tears. Instead, the grief he felt was even greater than before. “Imperial Father …”

The Emperor gritted his teeth. “What are you doing?”

“This Son pleads for Imperial Father to uphold justice for the people and severely punish Ling Wang and Jin Wang!”

“You … You get up! ”

“Father, this Son is not getting up. Please uphold justice for the people and severely punish the two murderers, Ling Wang and Jin Wang.”

The Emperor closed his eyes. On the table in front of him, the salt tax deficit document Yu Wang had handed with several testimonies. Holding the testimonies of Linjiang Tongzhi with his hand, he said with a trembling voice, “Junyu, I understand what you mean, but I have my own considerations. I cannot let the people of the world know poke the backbone of the Ning family. Even more so, we must not let the descendants of the Ning family leave behind any sin that would harm tens of thousands of citizens in the history books.”

“Imperial Father, will this people’s death be in vain?” Yu Wang raised his head, as his face was filled with grief, anger, and grief, “That was not a single person, but tens of thousands of lives! Imperial Father, you understand this Son’s personality. Today, this Son has spoken from the bottom of his heart and has no intention of using this opportunity to eradicate dissidents. This Son is just sad, sad that the country that Imperial Father’s painstakingly guarding rivers and mountains were completely destroyed and collapsed because of two indefatigable sons!”

The Emperor’s eyes were wide open as he gritted his teeth, and the veins on his forehead were pulsing. After his rapid and urgent breathing, he leaned against the armrest beside the throne in a dejected manner as his figure gradually bent over.

Yu Wang’s heart ached as he hurriedly stepped forward to support the Emperor’s arm. “Imperial Father, this Son knows his wrongs. Imperial Father, please take care of your body.”

The Emperor looked at Yu Wang’s rough hands. There were wounds on his hands, some of which were still oozing with blood. “I am not a good ruler, let alone a good father....”

“Imperial Father, you are. It was Eldest Imperial Brother and Third Imperial Brother who were ignorant. It was them who did the wrong thing.”

The Emperor shook his head. “You may leave. I wish to be alone.”

“… Yes, Imperial Father, please take care of your body. The world still needs your care.”

Yu Wang left the great hall and hurriedly instructed the attendants at the side, “Go to the Grand Princess Mansion. Invite Grand Princess Yi De to accompany Imperial Father.”

“Yes, Your Royal Highness.”

After Yu Wang had retreated, the Emperor cast his gaze outside the hall. At this time, the sun was just outside, and the light shone on the steps of white marble inlaid with gold, and the light was extraordinarily dazzling.

He just sat there and watched until the sun set in the west and the sky outside sank into darkness.

Xu Li stepped forward several times to comfort him but did not get the slightest response from the Emperor. When he was worried, Grand Princess Yi De walked into the great hall.

“Grand Princess …”

“Go down.” Grand Princess Yi De held a wine pot in one hand and two wine glasses in the other. After Xu Li and other Palace officials retreated, she walked to the steps beneath the throne and sat down. She turned her head to look at the Emperor. “Does the Emperor want to taste my new sweet scented osmanthus wine?”

The Emperor blinked his sore eyes and slowly moved his stiff body. He came down to sit beside the Grand Princess Yi De, picked up the wine cup on the stairs, poured himself a cup, and then drank it all in one gulp.

Grand Princess Yi De held a cup of wine and slowly sipped. Seeing the Emperor’s appearance, she couldn’t help but laugh, “The Emperor has truly wasted a pot of good wine. Yao’er specially brewed this for me. Once you finish it, it will be gone.”

“When Yao’er comes back and asks her to brew another batch, I also like this taste very much.”

“Then we will have to ask if Yue Wang agrees. That child, Yue Wang, is extremely protective of the people he likes.”

“Yes, I received some news.” Grand Princess Yi De did not hide it. “Junling and Junjin have gone too far this time.”

The Emperor poured another cup of wine and drank it up, his eyes glinting with profound light. “According to my previous personality, I will definitely imprison the two of them to death once I found out about the news. But I am old now, so I feel powerless to do anything … Elder Imperial Sister, when I saw the case files that Junyu sent over, I even subconsciously helped them find an excuse at that time, hoping to prove that they didn’t do it....”

“Parents are always softhearted. Thus, the Emperor’s way of thinking is also understandable.”

“Elder Imperial Sister, are you saying that I … What should I do?”

The Grand Princess Yi De turned her head to look at the Emperor, a faint smile on her lips. “Didn’t the Emperor already have a decision in his heart?”

“I… Elder Imperial Sister, I cannot disappoint the people from the Imperial Court, but I will not let the two of them off so easily.”

The Grand Princess Yi De nodded.“Since the Emperor has already decided, just do it according to your ideas.”

“But I’m worried this will indulge them and let others think I’m deliberately protecting and covering up.” The Emperor sighed as he became increasingly disappointed with Ling Wang and Jin Wang. “Elder Imperial Sister, this is the first time I feel so flustered.”

Junyu’s tears and sorrow, and anger were not false. Through the description in his mouth, the Emperor could imagine the tragic situation in Yishui City. Fortunately, Yunyao had the prescription for suppressing the plague, allowing those infected to survive. If not for her formula, I am afraid Yishui City afraid not only Yishui City but those nearby cities would suffer. How should the Emperor explain this to the citizens at that time?”

“It is the fortune of all citizens for the Emperor to have such a feeling.” Grand Princess Yi De looked at the uneasy expression on the Emperor’s face and felt very emotional. She hadn’t seen the wrong person. The Emperor had been in control for many years. However, he hadn’t lost his awe of the imperial power and the people in his heart. Because of this, the Dali Dynasty could flourish and prosper.

“Imperial Elder Sister, don’t comfort me.” The Emperor bitterly smiled as he continued drinking one cup after another until there was not a single drop left in the pot of wine. Only then did he stop his actions.

Grand Princess Yi De took back her wine pot and cup, then placed them back in her hands. “I am in a good mood. After drinking so much, it will hurt your health. You have finished drinking, so you can do whatever you need. With so many things in the Imperial Court, the Emperor won’t have room to be lazy.”

The person in front of him was the Emperor of the Dali Dynasty. Even if he was weak at times, she did not need to comfort him deliberately. He knew what he had to do, what his path was.

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