The Su family and the Xie family were tied together. Fortunately, the Shen family and the Xie family were incompatible like fire and water. Otherwise, they would really become a huge problem for Emperor Wen Hui. If what the Su and Xie families said was true, after killing the Shen family, there would be no one in Ming Qi who could counterbalance the combined power of the Su and Xie families.
For the first time, Emperor Wen Hui felt like he was in a difficult position. He just wanted to take back a portion of Shen Xin’s military power. With the Shen family around, Su Xie could be kept in check, but now, no one was willing to speak up for Shen Xin. Emperor Wen Hui felt a headache coming on.
He slowly asked, “Kill his entire family?”
Generally speaking, from the tone with which the emperor asked this question, the officials could tell that something was wrong. However, for some reason, Xie Ding pretended not to know and replied, “Yes!”
Emperor Wen Hui closed his eyes. When he looked at Xie Ding again, it was as if he was trying to see Xie Ding’s ambition through his skin.
Su Yu was a little worried, but he didn’t show it on his face.
Finally, a young general stepped forward and said, “Although General Shen is willful this time, he doesn’t deserve to die. He has made great contributions to the dynasty, so he can atone for his mistakes. Your Majesty is benevolent. I hope you can be lenient on him because he has been on the battlefield for many years.”
This young general had a good relationship with Shen Xin. He finally couldn’t stand it anymore and spoke up for Shen Xin.
Emperor Wen Hui had been waiting for someone to say this, but for some reason, no one spoke. As soon as this young general spoke, Emperor Wen Hui’s eyebrows relaxed and he said, “You’re right. Although General Shen is guilty this time, he still made lots of contributions in the past. If I sentence his entire family to death, it will make me look like a heartless person.”
“Your Majesty, you can’t do that!” Su Yu quickly knelt on the ground. “General Shen deceived you this time. No one knows what he’ll do next time!”
Xie Ding hurriedly said, “That’s right, that’s right! Your Majesty, think twice!”
The more the two of them said that, the more Emperor Wen Hui found it suspicious. Without looking at the two of them, he said to the young general, or rather, to every official in the court, “When Old General Shen was alive, he also went through thick and thin with the late emperor. The Shen family has been loyal for generations, and the mighty general, Shen Xin, was also extremely brave in the battlefield. I’m not a tyrant, and the Shen family doesn’t deserve to be sentenced to death.”
“Your Majesty is wise.” The young general quickly knelt down and said.
Emperor Wen Hui waved his hand and said, “I still have to punish Shen Xin though. Pass down the order. Take back Shen Xin’s military power and deduct one year of his salary. Other than his personal guards, all the soldiers will be integrated into the royal army!”
In other words, the troops that Shen Xin had nurtured for so many years were all stolen by the royal family!
Even if Shen Xin got away with it this time, the title of the mighty general would only be an empty shell that posed no threat to the royal family. The emperor kept him alive just to use his reputation to keep the Su and Xie families in check.