Chapter 285 - 168: Is Divine Retribution Real?
The lights in the Imperial Palace of the Capital City were lit all night long.
A thunderous explosion rocked the Capital City, followed by fires breaking out everywhere. In response to such an eerily alarming incident, Emperor Jing’s Hidden Guards were dispatched immediately.
More than an hour later, the Hidden Guards returned with the information they had gathered.
Twelve Hidden Guards dressed in black kneeled inside the Imperial Study Room, with the leading Commander of the Hidden Guards clasping his hands and reporting, "Your Majesty, we have investigated the situation."
Emperor Jing stood with his hands behind his back: "Speak."
"Reporting to Your Majesty, the thunderous sound occurred at the Champion Marquis’s residence. When we arrived, the main hall of the residence’s rear courtyard had been flattened, leaving behind nothing but ruins."
The Commander’s voice quivered slightly: "Apart from Princess Changle who had visited the Empress tonight and had yet to return, all the other masters of the residence... were all killed, and the bodies... the bodies are incomplete."
"What?" Emperor Jing’s pupils constricted, and he suddenly stood up from his chair, clutching his robe involuntarily: "Are there any survivors?"
"Reporting to Your Majesty, the servants of the residence suffered few casualties. Those who survived claimed they heard a loud bang, and then the entire hall just... just collapsed."
The Hidden Guard paused, "More bizarrely, all the other places that caught fire in the city were properties of the Champion Marquis’s family, without exception."
"How can this be?" Emperor Jing’s expression was uncertain: "Is there any news among the citizens?"
The kneeling Hidden Guards exchanged a glance, and the Commander spoke softly: "Some say it’s deliberate revenge, while others claim... the Champion Marquis’s family committed too many wrongdoings and suffered heavenly punishment."
"Preposterous!" Emperor Jing slammed the table, scattering the memorials across the floor, "The Champion Marquis is the Empress’s brother, who dares to act in such blatant disregard for propriety?"
The Hidden Guards bowed low, not daring to raise their heads.
Emperor Jing took a deep breath to suppress the anger within his chest.
He waved his hand to signal the Hidden Guards to withdraw, then paced alone in the Imperial Study Room. The candlelight stretched his shadow long, casting shaky, uneasy movements on the walls.
"Heavenly punishment? Is there truly heavenly punishment?"
Emperor Jing’s heart skipped a beat. His Hidden Guards were widespread within the capital, and he had some understanding of what the Champion Marquis’s family might secretly be up to.
However, the Empress’s family and the group of replaced ministers under him had been key supporters from the Crown Prince era, aiding his ascension to the throne and playing a crucial role.
Thus, in the few years since his enthronement, there were certain things he was aware of but chose to turn a blind eye to, letting them slide if possible.
Not to mention anything else, just the incident of the Champion Marquis colluding with the Minister of War Cao Ge to embezzle military provisions might already incite public anger.
Ah! He had been too indulgent with them. If there’s talk of heavenly punishment, he bore responsibility for knowing.
It seemed he needed to find time to offer sacrifices to the heavens, atoning for both those scoundrels under him and himself.
As Emperor Jing paced back and forth, he suddenly stopped, a glint of fear flashing through his eyes.
"But if it was deliberate revenge? To orchestrate such a tragedy in the crucial location of the Capital City, while simultaneously igniting multiple properties... this is certainly not the act of ordinary forces." Emperor Jing muttered to himself.
Emperor Jing walked to the window, looking at the distant flames that had yet to extinguish, a chill rising in his heart.
Champion Marquis the Su Family was not only one of the Four Great Families but also related to the Empress’s family. Which royal relatives would have the audacity and capability to execute such a malicious act?
Moreover, to gather all the masters of the residence in one place and then commit the crime, just how did those people accomplish this?
At this thought, Emperor Jing felt the entire Imperial Palace became unsafe.
"Summon!" Emperor Jing suddenly turned around, "Convey my command, immediately strengthen palace defenses, all forbidden troops must be on duty, without my decree, no one is allowed to leave their posts!"
At that moment, hurried footsteps echoed from outside the hall, and Chief Eunuch Li Zhongxin ran in.
"Your Majesty, Mr. Liu from the Capital Prefecture, Mr. Sun from the Ministry of Justice ask for an audience, Mr. Wei has accompanied them."
Emperor Jing furrowed his brow: "Let them in."
The three officials rushed in, kneeling to pay respects.
Mr. Liu from the Capital Prefecture still had beads of sweat on his forehead: "Your Majesty, regarding the Champion Marquis’s residence..."
"I am already aware." Emperor Jing interrupted, "What have you discovered?"
Sun Wenlin from the Ministry of Justice stepped forward: "Reporting to Your Majesty, according to the residence’s steward, all the masters gathered in the hall today to discuss... discuss Princess Changle’s marriage proposal."
Emperor Jing’s gaze sharpened: "Marriage proposal? Why wasn’t I informed Changle is getting married?"
Sun Wenlin looked troubled: "It’s said... today at the Commandery Princess’s birthday banquet, a portly nephew from Mr. Wei’s family took a fancy to Princess Changle, and the Commandery Princess agreed, so the residence was discussing this matter."
Mr. Wei, standing by the side, instantly knelt down.