Chapter 657: The Sound of Drums and an Unjust Case (2)
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
The civil and military officials knelt on the ground. Some were afraid that Shangguan Pu would expose them, while others were here to help the people they supported eliminate their opponent.
However, no matter what their goal was, they reached an unprecedented agreement to execute Shangguan Pu.
It was said that even a vicious tiger would not eat its cubs. The emperor pretended to be forced by everyone at the right time. He opened his mouth and was about to say, “I approve.”
A drumbeat suddenly sounded outside the Hall of Supreme Harmony. The sound was short and soft. Just as everyone thought that they had heard wrongly, the drumbeat sounded again.
“Dong, dong, dong…” The muffled drumbeats sounded continuously, resounding throughout the palace.
This was…
The ministers had a guess in their hearts. They looked at each other and looked at the emperor on the dragon throne.
When the drums sounded for the first time, the emperor’s gaze subconsciously landed on Song Jingchen, who was standing behind him.
“Your Majesty.” The internal director stumbled into the hall. He knelt down in fear and said in a trembling voice, “Someone knocked on the drum.”
Their guess was confirmed. The ministers were in an uproar.
When the late emperor was around, the drums were specially set up to sound grievances at the entrance of the palace. From the emperor’s relatives to the commoners in the market, anyone who had suffered a serious grievance could beat the drums and cry out their grievances.
Unlike the drum at the entrance of the Imperial Capital, once this drum was sounded, the emperor had to personally judge it publicly.
In order to prevent anyone from deliberately disturbing the royal court, anyone who beat the drums would first be flogged 30 times.
It had to be known that 30 strokes of the cane was no joke. If one’s body was weaker, they would lose their lives in the first round. How could they seek justice?
It was also because of this harsh condition that the Drum of Ascension was sounded for the first time since it was established.
No emperor would want to see a major injustice happen during their rule.
The emperor’s face was as black as ink as he stared at Song Jingchen for a long time, but the latter didn’t seem to notice. He just stood there quietly and didn’t even look up.
The emperor was suspicious. Could he have guessed wrongly?
“Dong, dong, dong…” The drumbeat continued. If the emperor did not speak, the officials naturally did not dare to breathe loudly.
After a long time, the emperor asked in a low voice, “Who’s the drummer? What grievances do you have?”
The invigilator stammered, “It’s an old woman. She said that she’s here to plead for justice on behalf of the disinherited crown prince and Old Master Song. She said that Your Majesty wronged loyal ministers and generals, and the disinherited crown prince and Old Master Song are both innocent.”
“How dare she.” The emperor’s expression turned cold. He had already forgotten how he looked when he needed Song Jingchen to do something. He reprimanded, “The evidence of what happened back then is conclusive. What injustice is there to complain about? Are the imperial guards outside just decorations? Hurry up and chase them away.”
He was the one who personally decided the case, and he was also the one who wrote the imperial edict. If it was really confirmed that he was wronged, wouldn’t it mean that he was in the wrong?
The internal supervisor looked troubled. “That old woman said that the dragon robe was made by her back then. Moreover, the palace gate is already surrounded by commoners.”
The emperor’s pupils constricted. He gritted his teeth and said, “Chase them all away. If they disobey…”
“Your Majesty.” The intermediate minister of the imperial censorate, Elder Zhao, suddenly stepped forward. “If we ignore the drum, it will definitely make the commoners suspicious and dissatisfied. Your Majesty, please think twice.”
Wasn’t the drum set up to deal with serious grievances? If it depended on the emperor’s mood, then what was the point of its existence?
“Your Majesty, please reconsider.” A few old ministers walked out and knelt down.
If one took a closer look, they would discover that these old ministers were more or less related to Dean Lu of Autumn Deer Academy.
Dong, dong, dong…
The drum beats seemed to hit people’s hearts, adding to the feeling that a storm was coming.
The emperor looked at Song Jingchen with a dark expression, his eyes filled with anger and killing intent.
Song Jingchen stopped pretending not to see it and walked straight to the kneeling minister.
“Your Majesty, please clear the Song family’s name.”
At this moment, a report sounded from outside the Hall of Supreme Harmony.
“The Empress Dowager has arrived.”
The emperor was shocked and stood up. The empress dowager walked in from outside the hall.
“Mother, you’re…” It had to be known that the harem could not interfere in politics. Even when the emperor first ascended the throne, the empress dowager had never come to the imperial court. Later on, she even moved to the imperial mausoleum to live permanently.
“I heard that someone had knocked on the drum and complained about the injustice. I was worried that the emperor would be too busy with court affairs and ignore it, so I came to remind him.”
The courtiers looked at each other.. If even the harem could hear the drums, how could those in the imperial court not hear them?