Chapter 115: The Old Emperor's Fury

What exactly did this Chu fellow do to the poor deputy general to cause such fury that the deputy weakens and can barely stand at the mere sight of him?

"Chu, you are far too arrogant! And here we are in the Golden Throne Hall, before His Majesty. How dare you intimidate this poor deputy general with just your gaze? Open your eyes and see what torment you have inflicted upon him!"

The senior censor unleashed a tirade at Shen Zhao once more.

Deputy General Liang was so anxious that sweat beaded on his forehead. "Sir, please, no more," he pleaded.

Shen Zhao replied calmly, "Sir, please calm down and do not be angered. Everything must be based on evidence, especially for a senior official like yourself, who must speak with rigor and truth."

The senior censor snorted coldly. "I do not need lessons from a scoundrel like you. This deputy general is living proof of your misdeeds."

That very morning, before the court session even began, someone had been wailing and demanding justice at his mansion’s gate.

A woman cried her heart out, lamenting the power and influence of the man in question—so great that even the Vice Minister of Justice dared not confront him.

As a mere woman with no means to seek redress, she had come to beg him to accuse this villain.

He listened carefully as she detailed the atrocity, horrified that such evil could exist in the world.

The man had not only killed her son but also threatened her husband, forbidding him from seeking vengeance.

Moreover, he had cruelly cut off her husband’s ear as a warning.

Such heinous acts were beyond contempt; to think such a villain thrived in the very presence of the emperor.

When she named the culprit, his rage flared uncontrollably.

This General Chu—known in court as a man of few words who stood firm against tyranny—was in reality a morally bankrupt monster who treated human life as mere dust.

How could he allow this?

No matter what, today he must see that this hypocritical scoundrel receives the punishment he deserves.

It was his sacred duty.

"Your Majesty, I beseech you to punish General Chu severely and restore justice to the people."

The old emperor looked toward the unflustered Chu Mu. Could it truly be as the senior censor claimed?

Why was Chu so calm, not even the slightest hint of worry?

"Chu Qing, do you have anything to say?"

The senior censor grew agitated. What was the emperor thinking, asking the accused if he had anything to say when the evidence was all before him?

He understood the emperor’s hesitation, but this villain was clearly unfit for command.

"Your Majesty, not only do I have this deputy general as witness, but also other deputies and soldiers of the capital army. I implore you to punish General Chu and restore justice to the fallen soldiers of the capital."

Shen Zhao sighed deeply, his figure desolate and expression mournful. "Yes, sir, you are right. Justice must be served for those who died unjustly."

He knelt upright in the center of the hall, sorrowfully gazing at the emperor, his eyes bloodshot.

The emperor’s heart skipped a beat—was he about to weep?

But Shen Zhao did not shed tears; instead, he stubbornly held them in, truly grieving for the fallen soldiers of the Northwest Army.

"I had no intention of making this matter so public. I was willing to bear some injustice, but they would not relent."

He lifted his head defiantly. "Last evening, a mutiny broke out in the camp, with countless casualties. This riot was, in fact, caused by me. If I claim innocence, even I would not believe it."

At these words, several ministers allied with the Third Prince rose to their feet.

They were just waiting for Chu to confess.

"Your Majesty, General Chu has admitted his guilt. I ask you to grant justice to Deputy General Liang and punish General Chu. He is unworthy to command the capital army."

"Indeed, I am unworthy," Chu admitted. "That is why yesterday I distributed the authority of the capital army among the deputies, letting each oversee their own soldiers. After all, I am dispensable in their eyes."

The assembly was stunned. Was Chu some kind of fool?

Who willingly divides power? Who doesn’t cherish authority?

The emperor’s expression grew grave, his voice carrying solemn authority. "Why did you disperse your power? Do you know I personally appointed you commander of the capital army? Who dares to disregard you?"

Again, the court was taken aback. Was this the right tone?

Shouldn’t the emperor be questioning Chu’s guilt, instead of protecting him?

Indeed, the emperor appeared to shield Chu without hesitation.

Shen Zhao’s expression deepened in sorrow, his voice catching slightly. "Your Majesty, this is a long story. Yesterday, I secured 150 acres of land for the four thousand homeless soldiers of the Northwest Army—a cause for celebration. But I never imagined it would spark such disaster."

The court murmured in doubt. How could this possibly bring trouble? This was a great boon for the capital army.

At this, Deputy General Liang’s face turned deathly pale, his whole body trembling uncontrollably.

The emperor furrowed his brow slightly. "Who is causing you trouble?"

Shen Zhao blamed himself. "It was my lack of strict governance that caused the deputies to disobey me. The 150 acres were meant for the Northwest Army’s settlement, but the other deputies refused and even took it upon themselves to kill those soldiers who, lacking food and clothing, had fallen ill sleeping on the ground."

"How outrageous! Who dares slaughter comrades-in-arms? From whom did they get such audacity?" The emperor was furious.

The courtiers hurriedly knelt and pleaded, "Your Majesty, please calm your anger and preserve your health."

But the emperor cared little for his own health now. This was an internal crisis—a camp under his very nose was in chaos.

He did not blame Chu Mu for poor management, knowing well that the capital army was fragmented with each faction acting independently.

In the past, he had turned a blind eye, but never imagined they would become so brazen as to kill their own men.

"Tell me everything truthfully. What happened yesterday? Speak without omission."

"Yes, Your Majesty," Shen Zhao began, recounting the entire incident with vivid detail, leaving nothing out—from the army’s divided rations to the embezzlement of grain, and the deputies’ cruel treatment of the soldiers.

The emperor’s anger grew with every word, until his imperial presence made many ministers tremble.

Deputy General Liang, often used as a pawn, was near fainting.

When General Chu mentioned that he and his son had led the killing of the Northwest Army soldiers, the emperor’s glare seemed to wish him a thousand tortures.

It was all because of that damned woman, determined to destroy him.

The ministers loyal to the Third Prince were especially fearful. Why had no one informed them of the true events?

Was this not setting the emperor against the Third Prince?

The wretched Deputy General Liang, relying on his eldest daughter’s position as the Third Prince’s favored concubine, had dared to wield power tyrannically within the capital army.

This time, he had seriously endangered the Third Prince.

Confined at home recuperating, the Third Prince nestled in the arms of his beautiful concubine, savoring peeled grapes and imagining his men overthrowing the despised General Chu.

Turning to his beauty, he whispered, "This time, you shall have great merit. If it succeeds, the title of secondary consort will be yours."