The Prince Wants to Assassinate Me Every Day-Chapter 1036 - 627: The Decision Regarding Gu Xingchuan (Part 2)

Xiao Jinxing’s indecision plunged the grand hall into a stalemate once again.

Wu Wenji respectfully said, "Your Majesty, I have heard that Gu Xingchuan’s rebellion was initiated because of the Empress."

As soon as the words were spoken.

A clear chill swept across Xiao Jinxing’s eyes.

Song Yanqing’s face also showed some change.

"I do not question the Empress, Your Majesty. I am fully aware of the deep affection between you and the Empress, and know how, during the wartime at the border with Beimu Country, the Empress once jumped off the city wall for the dawn of Daxuan’s people, nearly losing her life. Her national righteousness earns my utmost respect. I merely wish to say that Gu Xingchuan entered the court as an official because of a good personal relationship with the Empress, and his rebellion also started for the Empress. Since Gu Xingchuan was solely devoted to the Empress, he was never truly loyal to Your Majesty, so Your Majesty need not harbor any reluctance." Wu Wenji said loudly.

"Your Majesty, what Wu Taibao said is reasonable," the Minister of Justice timely echoed, "Gu Xingchuan was never truly loyal to Your Majesty, so Your Majesty should not be lenient with him."

"Your Majesty," the Minister of Public Works also stepped forward, "Gu Xingchuan’s rebellion was due to the Empress, so Your Majesty should not spare him. If Your Majesty shelters Gu Xingchuan, it would harm the Empress’s reputation. Only by beheading Gu Xingchuan and making an example, can potential problems be eliminated without implicating the Empress. Please consider carefully, Your Majesty."

The Minister of Rites, Ye Zhengde, spoke, "The Empress is wholeheartedly devoted to Your Majesty and the nation. The rebellion of Gu Xingchuan was solely his own doing and unrelated to the Empress. Please do not implicate the innocent, Your Majesty."

Naturally, wanting to protect his daughter.

"Although the Empress did not participate, since the matter started because of her, she bears an inescapable responsibility if traced back." Wu Wenji stated bluntly.

"Wu Taibao..." Ye Zhengde’s face darkened.

"Your Majesty." The Minister of Justice wouldn’t allow Ye Zhengde to speak, advising the Emperor, "Your Majesty’s unwillingness to exterminate the Gu family of nine is out of consideration for the feelings of the Empress and Gu Xingchuan, not because Your Majesty is loath to part with Gu Xingchuan. Your Majesty’s profound affection for the Empress, considering her feelings, is understandable to us ministers. However, as the sovereign of a nation, Your Majesty must not let personal sentiments compromise justice. Moreover, Your Majesty has never entered the harem for years, apart from the Crown Prince and Princess Youyou, born to the Empress, and the adopted Princess Anqi, you have no other heirs, which hasn’t helped the Daxuan Kingdom’s lineage. Now, because You shelter a criminal due to the Empress, You contradict the demeanor of an emperor! Please, Your Majesty, do not err anew!"

"The Minister speaks truthfully. Your Majesty’s abstaining from the harem out of regard for the Empress’s deep affection is something we ministers comprehend, and the Crown Prince’s exceptional talent makes him a suitable successor for a wise ruler, ensuring Daxuan’s continuity. However, Your Majesty’s current indulgence of a criminal because of the Empress is beyond comprehension. The Empress, originally a favored daughter of the heavens with a sense of state affairs, would not surrender to men easily. Your Majesty’s indulgence invites criticism of being a decadent ruler, and the Empress will be seen as a seductress causing calamity. For the royal family’s honor, exterminating the Gu family of nine is imperative!"

"Please, Your Majesty, annihilate the Gu family of nine!" echoed the chorus of ministers in the hall.

Xiao Jinxing’s face turned an evident shade of iron-gray.

At this moment, he could not hide his anger.

"The reason I am unwilling to punish Gu Xingchuan," Xiao Jinxing spoke each word sternly and coldly, "is because Gu Xingchuan served beside me since I was a prince, assisting me tirelessly, and it has nothing to do with the Empress! I do not wish to hear any more rumors about Gu Xingchuan and the Empress. Those who speak recklessly will face my severe punishment without mercy!"

The ministers, seeing the Emperor’s anger, dared not speak lightly.

However, the ministers had already decided in their hearts on executing Gu Xingchuan, unafraid of imperial wrath.

"Your Majesty," Song Yanqing advised under such circumstances.

"Speak!" commanded Xiao Jinxing, his displeasure clear.

"During Gu Xingchuan’s rebellion, I was involved throughout. To capture Gu Xingchuan and secure Your Majesty’s power, maintaining national peace, the Empress risked her life to persuade Gu Xingchuan to surrender his sword. The empress’s righteousness should not be defamed by anyone! Please, Your Majesty, do not tolerate any slander against the Empress!" Song Yanqing urged.

First protect the Empress.

Xiao Jinxing’s eyes narrowed. "Agreed," he replied coldly.

"Furthermore, while many ministers request Your Majesty to exterminate the Gu clan of nine, I believe Gu Xingchuan’s rebellion is indeed a grave sin deserving death, but wiping out the nine clans is unnecessary. The Gu family has been merchants for generations. Without Your Majesty’s personal invitation for Gu Xingchuan to serve, he would be merely a merchant, uninvolved in court affairs. Merchants, historically, lack the ability to rebel, hence I think executing Gu Xingchuan and confiscating the family’s wealth is sufficient, stopping short of obliteration. An emperor who annihilates a clan in every matter is no different from a tyrant. Furthermore, Gu Xingchuan ultimately caused no major disaster, inflicted no injuries or deaths, and his mistakes should bear solely on him, not on nine clans. Please see clearly, Your Majesty!"

Xiao Jinxing’s face remained sullen.

Song Yanqing’s words still did not gain his approval.

The other ministers looked at each other, not daring to speak rashly.

In such a stalemate.

Wu Wenji knew prolonging this would only anger the Emperor, so he conceded, saying, "I believe Minister Song’s words make sense! Gu Xingchuan’s rebellion is unquestionably a grave sin warranting execution to serve as a warning. Yet, as Minister Song said, Gu Xingchuan eventually caused no military casualties, hence using nine clans to bear the guilt is unnecessary. Please order Gu Xingchuan’s execution and the confiscation of the Gu family, Your Majesty!"

Ye Zhengde quickly concurred, "Your Majesty’s leniency towards Gu Xingchuan stems from your magnanimity and compassion, honed by Gu Xingchuan’s long service beside you. We ministers are grateful Your Majesty remains warm-hearted despite your high status, a fortune for the Daxuan Kingdom and its people. However, regarding Gu Xingchuan’s rebellion, I also think leniency is unwise. The law of the country and family must be upheld, and Gu Xingchuan should accept the legal punishment for his crime. Please, Your Majesty, order Gu Xingchuan’s execution!"

Naturally, wanting to avoid implicating his daughter.

Only by executing Gu Xingchuan can his daughter’s reputation truly be preserved.

Xiao Jinxing’s eyes were cold.

He gazed at Song Yanqing.

Feeling the gaze, Song Yanqing could only sigh.

The plan discussed was that if Gu Xingchuan’s life could not be spared, the damage should be minimized, avoiding harm to the nine clans.

So they played their roles in court, making the situation tense, though fearing they’d truly anger the Emperor, leaving compromise as the only option.

Song Yanqing merely thought.

Even at this stage, the Empress might not truly understand the Emperor.