Chapter 553: Guilty (3)
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
These words were also dignified, and no one could find fault with them.
Xiao Shoufu pursed his lips tightly, and his heart sank slightly.
Imperial Duke Wei had been pestering Kang Wang endlessly just now because of this step. They had already been trapped by the Emperor and Imperial Duke Wei working together.
At this point, if they insisted on objecting to the Emperor’s re-investigation of Gu Ce’s case, it would be equivalent to indirectly verifying that Kang Wang was guilty.
Kang Wang was going to ascend the throne in the future. He couldn’t fall into a situation where the sound of an ax could be heard.
At this point, there was no other choice.
Xiao Shoufu quickly weighed the pros and cons and said with difficulty, “Your Majesty is wise…”
The corners of Chu You’s mouth curled up into a ruthless smile, and his eyes became even colder. He glanced coldly at Xiao Shoufu, and his entire person seemed to be enveloped in a thick haze.
In the past, he didn’t know that his brother was so eloquent. It was clearly the Emperor who insisted on overturning the case for Gu Ce, but he spoke as if he was wholeheartedly for his brother.
The Emperor slowly glanced at everyone and took their silence as tacit agreement. He said calmly, “Since none of you have any objections, let’s do this.”
At this point, the decision was made.
“Father is wise.” Chu Yi was the first to bow to the Emperor. His posture was still elegant, and his eyes were as bright as the silver moon in the night sky.
Imperial Duke Wei cupped his fists right on the heels of that and said loudly, “Your Majesty is wise. Long live Your Majesty!”
The other nobles and generals also shouted, “Long live Your Majesty.” Their shouts were uniform and loud, as if they carried the power of lightning.
In just the time it took for an incense stick to burn, their mentalities had already changed drastically. Their hearts were filled with excitement. Some people’s eyes turned red, some people’s eyes flashed with tears, and some people grind their teeth.
They replayed what Yu Cunzheng had said in their minds.
No one could understand the despair and tragedy of being alone and helpless better than they, who had walked out of the battlefield. It was like knives that stabbed deeply into their hearts, making them feel bloody and painful.
It was natural for generals to fight for their country, and sacrificing their lives for their country was also an honor, but they couldn’t bear the stigma of treason!
A solemn and tragic atmosphere enveloped the entire palace.
This night was destined to not be peaceful. In the early morning, official documents were posted at all the city gates, indicating that the Emperor had issued a decree to investigate Gu Ce’s case from nine years ago.
This was also the Emperor’s stance. This case would be investigated openly and in front of the world. There would be no deception.
As a result, the people entering and exiting the city gates early in the morning saw this official document. The area around the bulletin board was crowded with layers of people, bustling and lively.
Among the onlookers, some were literate, and some were illiterate.
Those who weren’t illiterate grabbed others to help read the official document.
The battle between the Great Jin Dynasty and the State of Yue nine years ago was the pain of all people.
In that year, a total of 80,000 soldiers and civilians died in the battle, and behind them, many families were torn apart, losing their husbands and sons, struggling to make a living.
Even if the late Emperor didn’t explicitly state that Gu Ce betrayed the country, the entire nation, from the elderly to the children, knew that it was Gu Ce’s act of surrendering and opening the city gates that led to the brutal massacre by the invading army and ultimately resulted in the defeat of the Great Jin Dynasty in that battle.
Everyone cursed Gu Ce as a traitor, despicable and shameless, lacking any sense of honor. They blamed him for bringing calamity to the country and causing untold suffering to the people. They believed his crimes were so heinous that they transcended mortal bounds and that even a thousand deaths wouldn’t suffice to atone for them.
This heavy sin was all borne by Gu Ce alone.
But what if…
What if Gu Ce was innocent?
The commoners were very agitated. Some were aggrieved for Gu Ce, some said they would wait and see, and some firmly believed that Gu Ce was guilty. Everyone started to discuss intensely, and it was noisy like a pot of boiling water.
Outside the crowd, an eight or nine-year-old boy grabbed the corner of a middle-aged man in a gray robe and screamed, “Dad, I want to eat that rice cake. Buy me that rice cake!”
The middle-aged man frowned and scolded angrily, “Li Hao, didn’t you say you were coming down to watch the commotion?”
“I want to eat rice cake anyway!” Li Hao looked up and said stubbornly.
An old female voice came from a green-roofed carriage beside her. “Zhaodi, take your brother to buy rice cakes.”
Another young female voice quickly responded. Soon, a delicate-looking young woman in green in her twenties got out of the carriage. Li Zhaodi grabbed Li Hao’s hand and said ingratiatingly, “Hao’er, Sister will take you to buy it..”