Chapter 2075: Extra Story 57: Please Issue the Decree of Sin Confession

In June of the fourth year of Jiaping, Emperor Jiaping, Zhao Mingjun, never would have imagined that after sitting on the imperial throne for merely four years, he would have to get off this Dragon Throne beneath his backside.

How was that possible? Wasn’t that bastard Jhin Mo supposed to be fighting Prince Wei? How had he suddenly appeared with his troops under the city walls and encircled the Capital?

And he even had the gall to say that Beiyan and Nanyue were originally one family, that one’s own people shouldn’t fight one’s own people, demanding that he issue a Decree of Sin Confession, abdicate in favor of a worthy man, and confine himself to a single residence…

Bah!

He sounded so high-minded, but in truth he just wanted him to hand Nanyue over on a silver platter—what a despicable villain.

Zhao Mingjun looked at the empty great hall, his hand repeatedly stroking the golden armrest of the Dragon Throne. His eyes closed slightly as he thought of the high spirits he’d had when he had first ascended the throne.

Yet after being emperor for only four years, he was finished, and what was more, he would go down in Nanyue’s history as the emperor with the shortest reign. Back then he had fought for the throne with his life, even going so far as to commit patricide; looking at it now, what bitter irony.

He refused to accept this, he was not willing to accept his fate!

Zhao Mingjun swept everything on the imperial desk to the floor, roaring and shouting.

“Your Majesty, Consort Hua has arrived,” Eunuch Li at his side said respectfully.

Zhao Mingjun looked over and saw his Favored Consort walking in dressed in a peach-pink palace gown, a palace maid following behind her, holding a tray in her hands.

“Your Majesty, may you be auspicious,” Consort Hua said, bowing gracefully.

Zhao Mingjun’s face was dark. “What are you doing here?”

“This concubine thought that Your Majesty has not yet eaten, so I stewed some ginseng soup,” Consort Hua said with a bright smile.

Hearing this, Zhao Mingjun’s expression eased a little, but his words remained sharp: “How considerate of you to have such a heart, but I have no mood to drink it.”

“People are made of iron and food is made of steel; no matter how bad one feels, one still has to eat,” Consort Hua acted as if she did not care about his attitude in the least, took it upon herself to straighten the imperial desk, and had the attendants serve the soup.

Zhao Mingjun watched her movements coldly; his icy expression gradually melted, a faint heaviness pressing on his heart.

At a time like this, it was only this fiercely loving and hating Consort Hua who dared to come close to him.

Zhao Mingjun gave a bitter laugh and had just taken two sips when a little eunuch stumbled in, crying out that something was wrong.

“Insolent!” Zhao Mingjun’s heart lurched; he set the soup bowl heavily on the table. “Drag him out and behead him.”

Right now, he could not bear to hear any more bad news. “Something’s wrong”—did that mean Jhin Mo had broken into the palace?

Eunuch Li went over and gave the boy a kick, barking, “If you have something to report, spit it out quickly.”

“P-Prime Minister Fan has brought the court officials toward the palace, kneeling to beg Your Majesty to write…” The little eunuch shivered, swallowed hard, and said, “To write a Decree of Sin Confession.”

Zhao Mingjun’s pupils contracted.

That meant they had already leaned toward Beiyan’s side.

“Bastards!” Zhao Mingjun, enraged, hurled the soup bowl at the little eunuch. “Prime Minister Fan actually dares—dares to rebel!”

“Your Majesty, the Fan Clan’s faction has controlled the government ever since Your Majesty ascended the throne, all for the private benefit of the Fan Clan. The Fan sons act like bullies and tyrants in the markets; their crimes are unforgivable. Now, when Your Majesty is in dire straits, they take the lead in rebellion—such men are fickle, disloyal, and unrighteous. This concubine kneels to beg Your Majesty to confiscate the properties of the Fan Clan, exterminate their nine clans, and use them as a warning to others,” Consort Hua said, kneeling on the floor.

Zhao Mingjun was in a towering rage; hearing this, he waved his hand. “Granted! Summon Commander Ye. Prime Minister Fan and his clan have committed the crime of offending their superior; their crime is increased by one degree. Confiscate their estate and throw them into the Heavenly Prison.”

Commander Ye answered and withdrew.

The corners of Consort Hua’s lips curved slightly. She moved forward on her knees, lifted her head to look at Zhao Mingjun, and said, “Your Majesty, about this Decree of Sin Confession…”

Zhao Mingjun immediately looked at her.

“This concubine dares to be blunt. Your Majesty, so long as the green hills remain, there will be no fear of running out of firewood. Your life is what matters most,” Consort Hua said without the slightest hesitation.

Zhao Mingjun pressed his lips together, his hands clenched into fists, trembling slightly.