Chapter 552: Rectification in the Kingdom
Rectification in the Kingdom . . .
The two officials, who had been hauled away, were now returned, their faces etched with astonishnt as the king's words washed over them. It was a rarity for the king to retract a decree he had issued, and this unprecedented act filled them with gratitude they could hardly believe.
The king's profound voice resonated, "You two, return and ensure the well-being of those won. You were right. This ti, I must confront my own guilt. When the case is thoroughly unraveled, I will publicly acknowledge my wrongdoing, exempt all taxes for five years, and provide restitution to the afflicted families. I shall do the utmost within my power."
Tears welled up in the eyes of the officials, and they collectively knelt, chanting, "Long live the king!"
While nothing could truly heal the grief of those who had lost their loved ones, the king's acknowledgnt of fault served as a significant step towards closure. In the face of such heinous cris, it was the best course of action.
"Minister Wang, please continue," the king urged.
Minister Wang, his voice trembling, revealed the vast sums that the Voluptuous Flower Building had amassed from the exploitation of these won: a staggering sixty-three billion silver. As he spoke, the officials were left stupefied, realizing the imnse wealth reaped from such nefarious deeds.
"We must enact a law, inscribe this event into our annals, and etch it into the collective mory of every citizen in the Kingdom of Chen," declared the king. His resounding voice reverberated through the chamber. "This is the kingdom's greatest disgrace since its founding, a deep and abiding sha. The one responsible is none other than my own son. I, as his father, share in the bla."
In response, there was a heavy silence.
"A monunt of sha shall be erected within the royal house," the king decreed. "I ordain that henceforth, every king, prince, and princess in the Kingdom of Chen shall study and rember this monunt. It shall be recited aloud every month. Those who dare to commit such an abomination shall be punished without rcy. Second Prince's actions were unscrupulous and unforgivable. I decree that he is no longer a mber of the royal family or a prince. From this mont on, he is a pariah in the annals of the Kingdom of Chen. His body shall be cast into the wilderness. He is no better than a beast."
But before the king could complete his decree, he gasped and expelled a gush of crimson.
—Puff!—
The imdiate surroundings were tainted red with his blood.
"Your majesty!" the officials cried out in alarm.
"I am well," the king reassured them, though his voice was ragged. He raised his gaze, revealing the turmoil in his eyes. "I am rely overco by anger at that son of mine. Releasing this blood has lightened my heart."
"Ever since I ascended the throne, I've wished for nothing but peace and happiness for my kingdom and its people. I longed for our land to be one of joy and prosperity. Little did I know that my own son had committed such loathso deeds. I cannot fathom how many lives he has despoiled and how many places he has ruined. He must answer for his actions in the eyes of both n and the heavens. His transgressions are beyond absolution. I am both a king and a father, and I bear responsibility for this. I am also unforgivable. I decree that my fault is unforgivable."
The assembled officials maintained a solemn silence, their hearts heavy with a shared burden.
The king continued, "In the future, all who wear the crown of our lineage must never forget the lesson I offer today. Our kingdom is important, but the well-being of its people surpasses all. The throne is of the least concern. All the generations to co, in our royal line, must rember the suffering we endure today. This pain must be etched in our collective mory."
"Anyone who forgets this or disregards it shall find themselves abandoned by the heavens."
He then issued two historic decrees. The first involved his admission of wrongdoing and the steps he would take to make ands, a course of action the officials found just and comndable. However, the second decree was a thunderclap of surprise. The king was effectively condoning the assassins' actions and allowing them to act with impunity as long as they targeted those involved in the Voluptuous Flower Building case. Such a directive had no precedent in the kingdom's history.
Inside the kingdom, a mysterious force was on a killing spree. Over a hundred thousand lives had already been claid, and the death toll continued to rise. In an astonishing twist, the king had issued a decree that effectively sanctioned these murderers. In the eyes of the law, they were no longer considered guilty of their actions.
Such a decree left many in shock and disbelief.
[What on earth was happening?]
No one dared to voice their opposition. Doing so would pit them against the populace, and worse, it might arouse suspicions that they were sohow connected to Second Prince and his illicit affairs. As a result, most chose to remain silent, uncertain of how to respond to this unprecedented situation.
The officials in the Ministry of Rites found themselves in a quandary. They were the ones responsible for transcribing the king's words onto paper. However, his statents had been brutally candid, and committing them to writing verbatim would sully the royal court's reputation in the eyes of the world. It was imperative to rephrase the king's words in a manner that conveyed his true intent without compromising the dignity of the royal court.
"The entire kingdom must unite in eradicating the malevolent influence of the Voluptuous Flower Building. We must ensure a fair trial and unrelenting pursuit of the truth. I shall not permit any flagrant criminal to escape justice!"
As the king continued, he reached a critical point, and the officials could sense a change in his tone.
"From this day forward, in the Kingdom of Chen, all establishnts of ill repute..."
A hushed unease filled the chamber as officials exchanged furtive glances.
[Surely he isn't contemplating the closure of all such establishnts throughout the kingdom? Is it because of his son's heinous deeds?]
This line of thought stirred deep apprehensions.
Brothels, while far from the epito of elegance, played a significant role in society. They provided an outlet for leisure and recreation and were linked to the fortunes of many influential individuals. The closure of all brothels threatened to plunge the kingdom into chaos, potentially inciting rebellion among the disgruntled nobility and affluent citizens.
What's more, the sudden shutdown of brothels would cast countless won adrift with nowhere to turn. They would face the grim prospect of starvation, as few viable alternatives existed for them. Wars had already skewed the gender ratio in many kingdoms, leaving fewer n for each woman, and won were often in physically vulnerable positions.
"As for the brothels within the kingdom... we shall launch a comprehensive investigation. Anyone found forcing won into prostitution or engaging in human trafficking..."
The king, it appeared, had also contemplated this matter thoroughly. He hesitated for a mont and continued in a low voice, "Shall be subject to dismbernt and clan extermination."
The firmness of the king's words reflected the gravity of the situation.
"Furthermore, there shall be no room for Discipline Supervisors within the Kingdom of Chen moving forward. Any Discipline Supervisor discovered shall face imdiate execution by dismbernt. Minister Li, you and your Ministry of Penalty are tasked with enforcing this decree. Should you fail to eliminate any of these individuals, the lives of your family shall pay the price."
The king's proclamation carried an aura of unyielding determination and an unambiguous ssage: he was resolute in his pursuit of justice, no matter the cost.
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