She Holds the World After Being Reborn
Chapter 446 - 445 Sending Them Off Alone, An Explanation for Everyone

Chapter 446: Chapter 445 Sending Them Off Alone, An Explanation for Everyone

"How could the Crown Prince commit such a lapse in propriety? It must be Yan Wanqing who has misled him. So what if she is pregnant? If she gives birth to a little Princess, what use would she be!" the aged minister said with a huff and a fierce stare.

Xie Qun raised an eyebrow at these remarks and glanced at the old minister, but he kept silent.

The former Minister of Public Works, who had retired during the previous emperor’s reign, was not someone a young man like him could afford to offend.

"My Lords, please be cautious with your words. It is still premature to speak about a little Princess or Prince. Today, everyone was waiting outside for His Highness, yet he left us behind and rushed straight to the Imperial City. This has indeed hurt the feelings of us, his subjects, especially those present who have watched His Highness grow up. Although we dare not claim to be his elders, we are of an age that isn’t easily come by. At this moment, the Imperial Court is in need of good service. We, not yet too old to work, have taken up our duties with life at stake, for the sake of Dawei’s realm and people. His Highness’s usual frolics might be overlooked, but this time, he must give us an explanation to satisfactorily answer us, otherwise it truly disheartens us..."

"In the end, we old folk are of little influence and our words carry little weight. If Grand Tutor Qin would have stood at the city gates today, would the Crown Prince dare not to dismount?" the Minister of Public Works spoke up loudly once more, his face red and ears steaming, clearly infuriated by the Crown Prince’s actions today.

At this point, Xie Qun could bear it no longer.

"May I have a word, my Lords?"

These ministers, who had held high positions and wielded great power during the former emperor’s reign, didn’t really know Xie Qun, even though he served two dynasties, because in the end, he was too young.

They were all unfamiliar with him.

Especially since Xiao Pingfeng had not ascended to the throne yet, and the promise of promotion and pay raise for Xie Qun had not been fulfilled.

A few of the old ministers glanced at him, then continued speaking among themselves.

"It’s pitiful that while we stand high in the temple halls we worry for the people, and yet remote as we are from the rivers and lakes, we still worry for our sovereign. Within just a few short years, the Capital City no longer has a place for us. Now any Tom, Dick, or Harry dares to interrupt our conversation."

Xie Qun: "..." He considered himself nosy for even trying; he should just keep quiet.

After all, he wasn’t the one who would have to face the Crown Prince’s wrath later.

Xie Qun rolled his eyes to himself.

If your brains were as old as your ages, always growing, you wouldn’t brazenly discuss this matter loudly within the halls of the Imperial City, on the Crown Prince’s turf. Decades of political experience fed to the dogs. By now, I reckon these words have probably reached the Crown Prince’s ears.

But maybe these old fellows simply don’t care whether the Crown Prince gets angry or not; perhaps they just think they look impressive by offering their frank advice.

"The Crown Prince arrives—" A shrill voice echoed from the hall, as Xiao Pingfeng strode into the Golden Throne Hall clad in a black robe.

Suddenly, there was silence above the great hall.

Xiao Pingfeng walked to the throne, sat down, and looked down at everyone in the hall.

Some of these people had been summoned back by him, some had come of their own volition to petition, and many others had been recommended by his teachers.

After spending some time with them, the Crown Prince had come to a realization.

It wasn’t only their age that was big; these old fellows were also big in temper.

At the slightest provocation, they were ready to throw themselves against the pillars of his hall, hang themselves from the beams of his Imperial Study, or even implore him to send them off with a cup of poison.

Each had their own show of stubbornness, ready to use death to coerce him if he didn’t appease them.

But today, he was decidedly unaccommodating.

He wanted to see if he, the Crown Prince, still had the power to rule.

"Given your advanced ages, my Lords, there is no need for formalities," he said, raising his hand to dispense with their bowing.

He wanted to get to the point without delay.

Little did he know that some of the old ministers took this as the Crown Prince admitting his mistake and actively seeking their forgiveness.

The Minister of Public Works stepped forward from the line, his voice crisp as he bowed deeply to the high seat, "Your Highness, this old servant has something to say, but I am unsure if it is my place to speak."

Xiao Pingfeng gazed at him calmly: "When my father was Emperor, you had been an official for over thirty years. This is the Golden Throne Hall, and if you do not know what can or cannot be spoken here, my father, having heard of this, would likely seek you out for a casual family chat this evening."

Minister of Public Works: "..."

Xiao Pingfeng was extremely cold-hearted, "Next."

"Your Highness!" the Minister of Public Works yelled out.

Xiao Pingfeng’s gaze turned icy, and the little eunuch beside him was already shivering with fear.

"Does the Minister of Public Works have anything else to say?"

"Today, many ministers were waiting outside the city to receive you and honor you, yet your procession left without a backward glance. If the people under your command are ignorant, this old official begs Your Highness to order the execution of these speculators of royal intention, to set an example for others!"

These words caused such silence in the great hall that one could have heard a pin drop.

Xie Qun wished he could shrink his head and neck into his clothes and dig a hole in the great hall to hide.

These old guys, growing so old and daring to say anything!

Don’t they fear that the Crown Prince will simply chop them up with one stroke?

"Most of the ministers are of advanced age. The autumn tiger is venomous, but it still does not compare to the chill in our hearts today. If Your Highness cannot explain things to everyone, it will make us feel uneasy. When the former Emperor was in power, he chilled the hearts of his subjects. Your Highness, remember not to follow in his footsteps!"

Even more audacious remarks followed.

Now, Xie Qun just wanted to knock himself out; he couldn’t bear to hear what was coming next.

Looking at the Crown Prince in the high seat, whose face was usually as cold as frost, there was now a smile blooming like the March springtime.

But that smile seemed to carry a hint of a bloodthirsty flavor.

Xie Qun shrank further back and lower still.

He mustn’t see; he mustn’t listen.

"To execute everyone from today’s convoy, is that the explanation you want?" the Crown Prince lightly tapped a dragon head with his slender fingers, "It’s not impossible. After all, you have contributed much to the Imperial Court; such an explanation is something I can still afford to give."

Upon hearing this, the Minister of Public Works thought his words had taken effect, that the Crown Prince had softened.

They had thought he would be difficult to handle, but perhaps he had suffered during his secret visit outside, and had finally understood the good intentions of their group of old ministers.

He was about to speak.

When he heard the Crown Prince speak again.

"Let the decree be issued then. The Minister of Public Works does not like those people, now let them all be granted death." The Crown Prince’s eyes intently stared at the portly middle-aged man, "So, does this satisfy you now?"

This time the Minister of Public Works realized, the Crown Prince was not softening at all, he was clearly going for a head-to-head confrontation!

If this imperial edict were to be spread, his lifelong reputation would be ruined.

In the future, people would point fingers at his spine.

"Your Highness, you mustn’t!" he screamed, his neck turning red.

"Why mustn’t I?" the Crown Prince raised an eyebrow, "Isn’t this the explanation you’ve all been clamoring for? Now that I’ve complied with your wishes, you think ’mustn’t’? Or do you wish for me to take action personally?!"

He clapped his hands, and the little eunuch immediately stepped forward, "Bring them all to the great hall, tell them I wish to personally send them off, to give the ministers an explanation!"

"Your Highness—!" This time all the old officials knelt on the ground.

"Such indiscriminate killing, how are you any different from King Zhou?!"

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