Iron Dynasty Chapter1048

“Who dares to challenge our Fei family so audaciously!”

Fei Yuhe smashed the teacup in his grip onto the table. “Great-uncle, is Pang Yukun leading those folks to target us on purpose?”

“Difficult to tell.” Fei Ji cast a glance at Fei Pei. Recalling something, he remarked, “I’ve heard you and several influential figures are establishing a private academy lately?”

“Brother, that’s correct. You witnessed today’s chaos. Kids from elite clans just can’t mix with those from humble backgrounds. It’s smarter to launch our own academy. We’ll pour hefty sums to hire top teachers, while hiking the fees. Merchants and nobles alike will flock to enroll their children, since it promises solid connections down the line.” Fei Pei boasted proudly.

Fei Yuhe chimed in, “Great-uncle, this benefits the nobility too. The Emperor showers resources on commoners but skimps on us, even suppressing us at every turn. He’s forgotten we nobles propped him up to his throne.”

“Outrageous!” Fei Ji felt shock and fury. He scanned the surroundings, confirmed no one was near, then scolded, “Are you courting death? How can you badmouth the Emperor like that?”

Fei Yuhe grumbled, “Plenty of others gripe about this behind closed doors.”

Fei Ji shut his eyes. He declared, “Fei Yuhe, you’re mistaken. The Emperor’s empire was forged by Pang Yukun’s crew. We’re merely reaping the rewards. That’s why I’ve yielded to Pang Yukun and his allies over the years.”

After a brief silence, he added, “Since you criticize the Emperor, do you know when he truly seized the six prefectures?”

“It started with the slaughter of the elite clans across the six prefectures,” Fei Ji stated gravely. “Thus, the true architects of the Emperor’s victory are the common folk from those lands.”

“Yet without our noble backing later, how could the Emperor have conquered the world so swiftly?” Fei Yuhe countered.

Fei Ji offered a bitter smile and shook his head. He explained, “Back then, barbarians lurked in the north, poised to strike anytime. The Emperor heeded my counsel, pursuing a lenient approach to swiftly unite the north. Otherwise, barely one in a hundred northern noble houses would have endured. Get it?”

Fei Yuhe paled upon hearing this. Years of Qingzhou’s tranquility had erased memories of that bloody, fiery past.

“So what’s your point, Great-uncle?” Fei Yuhe asked, bewildered.

“Pang Yukun and his kind won’t tolerate your private academies. This issue likely serves as their pretext to strike at us, and the Emperor will back them. I fear the Fei family faces disaster this time.”

Fei Ji, with decades in bureaucracy, grasped court intrigues instantly.

Fei Yuhe and Fei Pei paled in shock. Fei Pei demanded, “Brother, what are you saying?”

“Tong’er’s affair smells like a trap to flush out the snake. Your men handling things everywhere was like swallowing the bait. It’s too late now.”

Fei Yuhe’s eyes flickered wildly. Realization dawned, and he spat bitterly, “Great-uncle, are we just sitting ducks? Tong’er’s set to lead the Fei family.”

Helplessness crossed Fei Ji’s features. Over the years, he’d defied the Fei family’s rule against factions, siding with old nobles. His aim: bolster Fei Yuer’s imperial seat and her son’s claim as heir.

Without that, he’d have quit office like Luo Quan, tending flowers and herbs in peace. Yet he’d meant to exploit the nobles, only to get ensnared.

Most heartbreaking: the family headship. With just one daughter, it’d pass to a collateral line.

Even worse, he deemed Fei Pei, Fei Yuhe, and Fei Tong all incompetent. The Fei lineage might crumble under him.

With a wry grin, he urged, “Head back now. Tomorrow’s morning court will unveil the truth.”

Fei Pei and Fei Yuhe fell silent.

Next day, morning court kicked off at eight sharp. Xiao Ming, as always, reached Zhengda Guangming Hall ahead of time.

Yet before eight, imperial guards marched dozens into the hall. Their faces were deathly pale, like grieving orphans.

As officials streamed in, shock rippled through. Some smirked gleefully, others fidgeted nervously.

Pang Yukun and Fei Ji stepped into Zhengda Guangming Hall side by side. The sight drew varied reactions from them.

Court opened with the ritual cries of “Long live.”

Xiao Ming gestured for quiet, then grinned. “Ministers, you’ve spotted these wrongdoers, right? From Education Ministry, News Ministry, schools, security, to press offices—a probe unearthed a nest of them, blowing my mind. You claim the capital’s pure under my rule, but I see filth everywhere.”

Some officials remained puzzled. Zhan Xingchang queried, “Your Majesty, what offenses do they bear?”

Xiao Ming smirked coolly. “Yesterday, a brutal clash hit Qingzhou Senior School. Fei Tong, Fei family heir, brawled with a lowly scholar over a seat, then knifed him.”

Pausing, he added, “This should’ve dominated headlines, yet no paper breathed a word.”

As he spoke, Xiao Ming brandished the fresh morning edition.

Li Ran, prostrate on the floor, wailed, “Your Majesty, it wasn’t negligence on my part. Fearing damage to the court’s image, I held back the story. Please investigate, sire!”

Pang Yukun froze briefly, then grasped Xiao Ming’s ploy. So those preparations the Emperor mentioned were for this.

Snapping to, he retorted, “Hiding scandals safeguards the court? You News Ministry head are a real clown.”

Xiao Ming sneered. “And the hundred thousand gold dragons were for reputation too? You education lot and headmasters buried the incident, shrinking major crimes to minor, minors to zilch—all to cover up. Do you think me an idiot?”

After dressing down Li Ran, Xiao Ming ordered, “Qian Dafu, announce the probe findings.”

Qian Dafu stepped forward with a ledger, reciting Li Ran and cohorts’ graft, bribes, and crimes in detail.

Li Ran’s complexion drained to ashen. He knew his doom was sealed.

“Drag them away and sentence by law!” Xiao Ming eyed them with revulsion and flicked his hand.

Turning to the assembled officials, he said, “Their corruption grieves me deeply, but the root of this outrage cuts deeper. I’ll address it here today.”