Unfortunately, it was already far too late!
In the main hall, before long, imperial guards clad in armor stepped forward, firmly restraining the person. Before Wu Yang Marquis could even open his mouth to plead his case, his mouth was already firmly gagged.
From above, the emperor's voice, cold and stern yet laced with boundless wrath, soon echoed down from the lofty dragon throne:
"Guards! The entire Wu Yang Marquis's Household has committed treason and defied their superiors. They are hereby ordered to be imprisoned imdiately and handed over to the Dali Court for rigorous investigation!"
Though her mind was already deranged, one must admit that after years as the mistress of the Marquis's Household, Zhao Yuanjing still possessed so wit. Her guess about the entire household's fate at this mont was absolutely spot-on.
In fact, the mont she personally uttered those words of offense against the True Person, regardless of whether there was concrete evidence for those "cris," the Wu Yang Marquis's Household would inevitably, without exception, beco the sacrificial pawn to appease the emperor's wrath—no, to appease the anger of that True Person Qinghui.
Just like now, in the study, with a re wave of his hand, the current emperor lightly and casually wrote an edict sentencing the entire family to execution by beheading, with the female relatives to be exiled.
Just like in her previous life, that family had also been like this, had also so lightly and casually decided the fate of the original host's entire family.
Well, of course. For those who could be crushed with a re flick of the wrist, insignificant little people akin to ants, why would these precious, noble individuals need to care?
"Alas, the chief culprit has been brought to justice. I only hope the True Person can quickly calm her anger and not forget the vast multitude of common people in this world!"
Before the writing desk, Emperor Xuanwu couldn't help but hold his forehead and let out a long sigh.
At this mont, the emperor before him had clearly completely forgotten that just a few days prior, it was he himself who had given verbal hints to that Wu Yang Marquis, who was anxiously seeking a way out everywhere.
In an attempt to probe this person's temperant and bottom line.
Or perhaps, to see if now, or in the future, she could be driven by the concept of "virtue," if she might show a mont of soft-heartedness...
Who would have thought...
Reason told him that True Person Qinghui's departure this ti was so clean and decisive;
she must have discovered sothing. Yet, in his heart, he couldn't help but make excuses for himself:
I rely spoke a few casual words that day, I didn't even state it explicitly. No matter how vast her divine powers, how could she possibly know?
Perhaps she was just disgusted by these filthy, wretched people, in a bad mood, or perhaps she simply wanted to go out and travel?
It probably won't be long before she gets tired of playing and returns again!
Looking at the tea caddy, which clearly now held less than half a jar of spirit tea, Emperor Xuanwu's heart grew increasingly anxious. Not only did he turn a blind eye to the pleading gazes of the senior ministers one after another,
he also personally issued an order: all prefectures and counties, wherever they encountered True Person Qinghui, must receive her with the utmost courtesy and report it to the capital as soon as possible. Anyone found violating this order would have their scholarly honors stripped.
Imdiately after, he bestowed successive rewards upon the Xuanzhen Temple faction, as well as upon Siya and the others still in the capital.
At this mont, there was no doubt the current emperor truly regretted allowing his controlling nature to run wild and commit such a mistake.
If earlier he still harbored thoughts of controlling this lofty master, then after directly witnessing these thods, especially after the feat of sword flight through the skies...
More importantly, after all these years, this True Person's skills were advancing daily. Just how many hidden cards did she hold that he was unaware of?
Alas, is this what an enlightened one is like? I can only hope the True Person sees my sincerity and returns soon for the sake of the common people of this world.
In the study, the current emperor couldn't help but heave another long sigh.
What a pity. This little hope was destined to remain unrealized for quite so ti.
The facts proved it: Morality? Benevolence? These have always only been able to constrain those who willingly submit to their constraints. Clearly, An Ning was not among their ranks!
Lying comfortably on the soft, large bed in the small courtyard, An Ning personally watched as the entire Wu Yang Marquis's Household was imprisoned. The household's young master even fell gravely ill and died on the very first day of imprisonnt. At the mont of his death, not only was his face dark and sallow, his entire body had long since wasted away to skin and bones.
Amidst the crowd's curses, the Marchioness, without a mont's hesitation, imdiately dashed herself against a wall, following her beloved son in death. Including Wu Yang Marquis, the rest of the group also could not escape their ill fate...
The position of young master of the Marquis's Household, fought over and scrambled for by a crowd, causing endless calamity, ultimately ended up as nothing but emptiness.
Even so, having personally witnessed the fates of these people and closing the surveillance, not a single ripple of emotion stirred in An Ning's heart.
Looking at this Marchioness's entire life, was it pitiable?
If they are pitiable, then who is there to pity the original body, brimming with talent, who was devoured completely, used up to the last drop of flesh and blood, and even imprisoned until death?
Besides, in her previous life, was this Marquis truly completely unaware?
An Ning thought to herself, that's probably not the case!
Bandits descending the mountain, a massacre wiping out a family—could it be executed flawlessly, without a single crack, by a young master who possessed almost no extra influence beyond his reputation? Could a Marchioness, whose maternal family had long since fallen into ruin, handle the matter cleanly, leaving not a single trace of evidence, all while committing the cri of deceiving the emperor? Was the head of the Marquis's Household completely unaware of any of this?
An Ning couldn't help but sneer. How could that be possible?
Regardless of whether, in her previous life, this Marquis learned the truth and was forced onto the ship, or sothing else, An Ning felt not a shred of sympathy.
Failing to manage internal affairs properly, doting on concubines and neglecting the wife, inviting such calamity—who else could he bla?
She paid no mind to the current emperor, who was still muttering away!
After briefly watching for a mont, An Ning quickly closed her eyes again.
Early the next morning, having changed into an ordinary green long skirt, the two of them soon set off. Along the way, with her little disciple's ticulous and thoughtful service, plus the ample supply of various items within the spatial storage,
even while traveling, the master and disciple pair lived quite comfortably.
It's just... Looking at the variety of food, utensils, and other items within the jade ring, Sima Rui couldn't help but twitch the corner of his mouth. He couldn't resist speaking up:
"Um, Master, you... you planned this well in advance, didn't you? Even before this descent from the mountain?"
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