The Path of the Martial Arts BOSS
Chapter 555 - 51: Exile

Chapter 555: Chapter 51: Exile

"Defeated..." Liu Maoxing knelt on the ground powerlessly, his face filled with despair.

The Imperial Guards swarmed in, arresting everyone documented as a rebel and brought them before the Emperor to decide their fate.

The Heavenly Giant Statue retracted its brilliance, and inside, Emperor Feng Jiu also regained his usual demeanor, floating out from the statue.

Qingyu also leapt down from the top of the statue, his ethereal figure resembling a banished immortal, yet the arriving officials were all utterly wary of this Director of the Imperial Observatory.

You should know, this Heavenly Giant Statue was built in the likeness of the first Emperor of Northern Zhou, and here was Daoist Qingyu, stepping directly on the head of the first Emperor—what was he trying to imply?

What’s even more outrageous was that their Emperor, Feng Jiu, seemed to turn a blind eye to this matter, showing no intention of blaming Qingyu.

This suggested a deep significance that couldn’t help but be contemplated.

It seems that His Majesty trusts and respects this man immensely.

"Your Majesty." Guan Chang, the head of the Imperial Guards, ordered people to press Liu Maoxing, Lan Feihong, and others to kneel before Feng Jiu.

"The traitors have all been captured, please issue your judgement," Guan Chang said with a clenched fist.

"Liu Qing, did you enjoy cursing just now?" Feng Jiu asked with a mocking smile, looking at Liu Maoxing who was sprawled on the ground.

"Despicable Emperor, may you die a terrible death!"

Liu Maoxing decided to go all out; after all, following his defeat, death was the only result. He still wanted to maintain his dignity, which might just leave a significant mark in future history books.

"Really desperate for fame, aren’t you?" Qingyu shook his head and chuckled.

"Why bother, Liu Qing? You should know, there are things far worse than death," the majestic Emperor said in full view of the public, making Feng Jiu perhaps the first to utter such words.

"Feng Jiu, what are you planning to do?!" Decades of life experience told Liu Maoxing that the thing Feng Jiu referred to as worse than death was not simply gruesome torture.

"Nothing much, just providing Liu Qing a fitting end."

Feng Jiu nonchalantly shook his head and said to Guan Chang, "Guan Qing, send Liu Qing and his family to Feiyun Pass in Yun Province. That will be the best place for Liu Qing."

Feiyun Pass?

Guan Chang shuddered inwardly.

He was aware of the insider details and understood what kind of place Feiyun Pass was. Previously, Feiyun Pass was merely a strategic point against the Golden Wolf Han Court from the grasslands, but since Feng Jiu’s ascent, it had become a hellish place that consumed people.

Guan Chang didn’t truly know what happened in Feiyun Pass, he only knew that in recent months, all death row inmates and prisoners of war were all sent there—and then, no more news would come out.

With a chilling heart, Guan Chang could only bow and respond, "His Majesty is merciful, sparing Liu Maoxing’s family from the death penalty and exiling them to Feiyun Pass. This servant, Guan Chang, is deeply impressed."

"His Majesty is merciful, this humble official is impressed," the seasoned officials behind him also cleverly echoed in unison.

’This young brother has a bright future ahead, being the head of the Imperial Guards is somewhat beneath him,’ Qingyu thought as he watched Guan Chang praise Feng Jiu’s decision as merciful, also feeling a bit amazed at these officials’ political acumen.

Even a mere wielding-commander of the Imperial Guards could speak so well, one could only wonder how those true old foxes of the officialdom would respond.

"Merciful? Perhaps," Feng Jiu lightly chuckled, "After all, wasn’t Liu Qing devoted to serving the court all his life?"

He said this while glancing at Lan Feihong, who had already wet himself in fear.

This individual truly embarrassed the Imperial Censor, but to be a Censor at such a young age. Furthermore, if you are so timid, why then would you rebel?

"Execute the remaining at a chosen time. Annihilate three clans," Feng Jiwu waved his hand and declared.

"The Emperor’s benevolence," they all hailed in unison.

Benevolent, you say? It should be considered benevolent. After all, annihilation of nine clans for rebels wouldn’t be excessive, so three clans is actually lenient.

However, the difference in treatment for Liu Maoxing and Lan Feihong drew sympathetic glances from everyone.

Who is the object of sympathy? Surely not Lan Feihong.

Although people like Lan Feihong were beheaded, Liu Maoxing was exiled to Feiyun Pass. But as everyone knows, Feiyun Pass is no place of kindness.

Anyone with eyes and ears could tell whom the Emperor despised more between Liu Maoxing and Lan Feihong.

Everyone could see this, and naturally, so could Liu Maoxing. Thus, the former Physician of Guanglu Temple, in fear of the unknown Feiyun Pass, couldn’t help but stand up and curse aloud, "You tyrant, ugh ugh ugh..."

Guan Chang cut off Liu Maoxing’s tongue and ordered him to be taken away.

With this, the treatment of the rebellious officials was concluded. However, there was still one more person to deal with.

The Empress Dowager.

Feng Jiwu felt it was time to meet this nominal mother.

"Gentlemen, you may leave. You must be tired from today, all of you go back and rest well," Feng Jiwu said gently.

He seemed truly like a benevolent Emperor, but having seen the fate of Liu Maoxing and others, the Hundred Officials dared not think him a gentle person.

"Your servants take their leave!" everyone respectfully said.

··························

Outside Fengming Pavilion.

The tension slowly dissipated, and Cold Eunuch, with kind eyes, bowed in the direction of the elder princess before turning to leave.

Inside Fengming Pavilion, Princess Feng Mingxiao was half-seated on a lounge chair, whispering to herself, "The Heavenly Giant Statue was unexpectedly connected to the Nine Dragon Sky Array in such a way; Taoist Qingyu is no simple man."

She hadn’t forgotten that back at the Nirvana Ceremony at Fenglai Mountain, it was Feng Jiwu who had suddenly seized control of the Nine Dragon Sky Array from Feng Tianming, causing Feng Tianming to lose his ace.

With Feng Jiwu’s past experiences, he should not have possibly accessed such an intricate Array like the Nine Dragon Sky Array, let alone seize control of it. Feng Jiwu couldn’t even enter the core of the Great Formation.

After all, even the highly favored Feng Qiwu had no entitlement to merge with the Dragon Vein Qi and enter the underground palace beneath the Imperial City.

Thus, Princess Ming Xiao, having pondered over and over, realized the only one who could have aided Feng Jiwu to such an extent to usurp control of the Nine Dragon Sky Array was the Qingyu Taoist who had suddenly appeared a few days before Feng Jiwu ascended the throne.

"From now on, we need to keep a closer watch on this Taoist."

This Taoist posed too great a threat. Being able to understand the Nine Dragon Sky Array to such an extent, he was the only outsider who could influence the formation.

If he harbored malicious intents and planned to usurp the Emperor like before, it would be much easier than when Feng Tianming was still in power.

After all, Feng Jiwu now trusted him immensely, and the previous attack by the Heavenly Giant Statue was entirely under his control. If he devised any schemes, Feng Jiwu would have no way to resist, nor could he.

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