King of Creation Chapter 1696 - 1681: Bitter Regrets

Within the residence of Vice Minister Cui of the Ministry of Justice, located in the inner city of Luoyi, the official, usually exuding a pleasant demeanor, was now consumed by palpable gloom. A maid, having brought tea that was merely lukewarm, was swiftly ordered to be removed and subjected to a beating.

An aura of intense pressure pervaded the entire estate; even his children and over a dozen concubines maintained a hushed silence, afraid to raise their voices.

"What recent distress weighs upon you, my lord? Would you consider confiding in me?" inquired Consort Huang, the primary wife of Cui Hong, amid his day-long anxieties, her concern evident.

"Alas, even if I were to explain this matter, you would not grasp its complexities, so there is no necessity for your worry," Cui Hong dismissed with a wave of his hand.

However, his main wife was not dissuaded. She countered, "My lord, you are the bedrock of our household. Your unhappiness casts a pall over the entire mansion. Even the matriarch in the rear courtyard frets daily, her appetite and sleep disturbed."

"Let the rest of us bear it, but our mother is advanced in years. I implore you, my lord, to visit her, to lift her spirits. Should she fall ill from this anguish..."

Upon hearing this, Vice Minister Cui Hong abruptly lifted his head, his voice laced with anger, "Mother is also affected? Who has been spreading rumors? I shall have their tongues torn out."

"Ah!" Consort Huang sighed once more. "My lord, given the prevailing atmosphere within the household, do the servants' whispers truly matter? Mother merely observes the expressions of her grandchildren each day. Over the past fortnight, how could she remain unaware?"

"This..."

"Ah, I have caused mother undue worry. But it should be imminent. The transfer order will likely arrive within these two days. Once I depart from Luoyi..."

Before Vice Minister Cui Hong could articulate the end of his sentence, a sudden uproar erupted from the distant front courtyard, accompanied by angry shouts, causing Cui Hong to knit his brows.

"Changfu, ascertain who is creating such a disturbance at the gate..."

Yet, before Vice Minister Cui Hong could complete his instruction, the clamor intensified, drawing nearer, intermingled with the terrified screams of some household retainers.

Figures moved into the mansion like streaks of lightning.

"Quickly, secure all exits, front and rear! Allow no one to escape!"

"Not a single individual of the Cui Clan's lineage is to be spared. Anyone found missing will face interrogation!"

"Arrest the traitorous official Cui Hong! Any who obstruct this path shall be slain without mercy..."

The barrage of furious commands instantly leached the color from the faces of Secretary Cui and his primary wife, Consort Huang.

"My lord, this... what is this..." Upon witnessing the Deputy Minister of the Dali Court spearheading the arrest, she promptly lost consciousness.

"I am the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice! Who dares... who dares..."

Smack!

A sharp slap struck Vice Minister Cui Hong's cheek, and simultaneously, a voice from an attendant announced the Imperial Decree:

"Investigate Vice Minister of Justice Cui Hong for abuse of power for personal gain and accepting bribes, particularly concerning the trial of the Eastern Territory Anyu Fiefdom rebellion seventeen years ago, which led to the wrongful deaths of 1,451 members of Earl Anyu's family – a heinous crime. He is hereby dismissed for investigation, and his entire family is to be apprehended..."

Even before the attendant concluded the reading of the decree, Vice Minister Cui Hong crumpled to the ground.

He was acutely aware of the events surrounding that case he had presided over seventeen years prior. It was not a matter of rebellion, but rather a political entanglement.

Among the high-ranking officials in the Ministry of Justice, who had not handled one or two such cases?

Ever since he was the first to cross Ye Zhen in court, a nagging worry had persisted – the fear that Emperor Ren Venerate would eventually hold him accountable.

Furthermore, Princess Ji Yuan had been diligently arranging his transfer; the orders were already in motion. Once he assumed a post within Prince Lik's fiefdom, even the most scandalous affair would likely be overlooked.

Regrettably, instead of the transfer order, he received the Imperial Decree for his arrest.

While Cui Hong remained in a state of bewildered shock, a mournful cry suddenly pierced the air from the rear courtyard. He then observed his frail, elderly mother being unceremoniously carried away by a contingent of burly bailiffs, as if she were mere refuse!

Secretary Cui, stunned, pleaded with the Deputy Minister of the Dali Court leading the procession, "Lord Fan Shaoqing, justice should not extend to the family. We have served as colleagues in the imperial court, and my mother is extremely elderly. I beg you to show some leniency."

The leading official, Fan Shaoqing, glanced towards the attendant reading the decree by his side. The attendant, rolling his eyes, remarked, "Lord Fan, were this another individual or a different circumstance, I would certainly grant you this favor and exercise discretion."

However, this particular affair had received direct instructions from the Ancestor himself.

Elaborating on this, the palace attendant’s demeanor shifted to one of severity. “To partake in the Emperor’s sustenance, to prosper under the Emperor’s grace, to receive the Emperor’s wages, and yet to act in opposition to the Emperor’s will.

Such a face, Lord Fan dares to present, but I would not dare!”

Upon hearing this severe statement, the foremost Fan Shaoqing immediately regained his composure, refraining from displaying even a hint of sympathy, and could only muster a bitter, internal sigh. He thought to himself, “You, a mere Vice Minister, are involving yourself in the power plays between the Heavenly Temple, Prince Lik, the Ancestor God Temple, and the Emperor—should I deem you brave or utterly foolish?”

At this juncture, Secretary Cui wore an expression of absolute desolation.

Nevertheless, the most heart-wrenching ordeal was yet to unfold.

The bailiffs from the Dali Court unceremoniously bundled Secretary Cui’s entire family into prison carts, parading them through the most crowded thoroughfares of the Inner City as their transgressions were proclaimed. A barrage of rotten vegetables and eggs rained down upon them throughout the procession until they were finally confined within the Outer City prison.

The phrase “Regret Not” reverberated endlessly within Secretary Cui’s mind, yet it served no purpose.

“Proceed to inform each Border Army’s Military Control Office to come collect their assigned individuals tomorrow. A disposition decree for this Cui Shaolang will be issued on that day. Even if the entire clan is not annihilated, his female relatives must all be dispatched to various Military Control Offices. Inform the Military Control Offices that the human stock within Cui Shaolang’s family is quite satisfactory, totaling 341 female relatives. Of these, 90% are considered good-looking, and 30% are youthful. Therefore, those who act swiftly will gain the advantage. Do not say I did not issue a warning…”

Recently incarcerated, Secretary Cui collapsed onto the ground, fresh blood already trickling from the corners of his mouth. Military Control Offices… The Military Control Offices spread throughout the Great Zhou Dynasty were effectively the camp followers for the larger Border Armies, frequently populated by the female relatives of disgraced officials or captured prisoners…

In the subsequent moment, Secretary Cui violently struck his head against the ground repeatedly until blood flowed freely, wailing, “Your Majesty, I confess my grave errors. I am guilty of a crime deserving of death, but I implore Your Majesty to spare my family…”

“Secretary Cui, if you had foreseen such a consequence, why did you act as you did initially?”

“Furthermore, in the pursuit of evidence for your crimes, the Heavenly Patrol Department and certain enigmatic individuals engaged in combat, resulting in the loss of thirteen lives. Even they would not readily agree to leniency!”

Leaving behind a voice dripping with irony, the inner attendant slammed the door shut and departed.

Only Secretary Cui remained, sprawled there as if his life had been extinguished…

….

Merely two hours later, the news of Vice Minister of Justice Cui Hong’s arrest and the apprehension of his entire lineage for abuses of power and causing wrongful deaths surged through Luoyi, inciting immense upheaval among the Great Zhou Dynasty’s ministers and causing each to take heed.

The inner attendant’s pronouncements, criticizing those who basked in the Emperor’s favor yet plotted against him, also circulated, striking like a sudden gale against those who had wished for or already aligned themselves with the Heavenly Temple, catching them entirely by surprise.

It is said that Princess Ji Yuan, upon hearing the news, smashed a ceremonial cup on the spot and proceeded to mete out severe punishments to several incompetent stewards within her Prince Mansion.

The finalization of transfer orders concerning Cui Hong’s case within the Prince Mansion was only two days away. However, whereas similar matters typically concluded within a few days, this particular instance had been protracted for nearly twenty days. Who would dare to assert that this was not the deliberate influence and delay orchestrated by His Venerate Emperor Ji Long, in conjunction with numerous ministers?

This incident, while ostensibly focused on the investigation of Cui Shaolang, cast a long shadow, affecting all the assembled ministers. Who could confidently attest that their own conduct was entirely beyond reproach?

Upon learning of this calamitous event, Ye Zhen could only offer a weary shake of his head.

This Cui Shaolang, in his reckless entanglement with the power struggles of the major factions, had inadvertently brought ruin upon his entire family. How profoundly unwise could he have been? Yet, ponder this: was Ye Zhen not also treading a similar path? However, in stark contrast to this Cui Shaolang, Ye Zhen possessed no familial bonds to serve as anchors holding him back!

“Sir, Hall Master Mu Xu from the Mu Hall requests an audience,” the guard's voice announced respectfully within the Silent Chamber of the Posthouse.