Chapter 47: Eliminating the Traitor Liang Xiao for Our Emperor!

At the same time, north of Pei County, Liang Xiao waited anxiously on the city tower for news. Two guards from the Liang residence hurried back from the northern plains, breathless with urgency.

“Master, we have spotted thousands of bandit soldiers advancing from sixty miles north of the city. They should now be only thirty to forty miles away!”

Liang Xiao and Zhuo Zifang’s faces darkened instantly. As mountain bandits, their speed of advance was alarmingly swift.

“Immediately prepare the troops for battle!”

At Liang Xiao’s command, they rushed to the military camp of Wuzhen to assemble the forces.

Meanwhile, in the imperial palace of the capital, officials of both civil and military ranks stood behind Sima Lingyun, awaiting his orders. Their hearts were stirred with indignation, and many voiced their condemnation of Liang Xiao.

“Your Majesty, Liang Xiao has wantonly slain loyal officials and even coerced his subordinates to ruin the Yuan family! Such audacity and cruelty demand execution, lest the noble clans of the realm remain unsettled! I, Situ Tianliang, General of the Pacifiers, humbly request an imperial edict to execute Liang Xiao at Pei County!”

Among those present was Situ Tianliang, father of Situ Luoyue. Despite his rank as a general, which normally barred him from court meetings, he was granted entry thanks to his son-in-law Sima Lingyun’s influence. He suppressed his inner joy and assumed a righteous demeanor, eager to see Liang Xiao brought to justice.

The Situ family had once sought favor with the loyal Marquis’s household through an arranged marriage, which Liang Xiao later rescinded, causing a scandal and a lasting stain on the Situ name.

With the court session ending today, his cherished daughter Luoyue could finally hold her head high, her renown as the “Peach Blossom General” spreading far and wide, destined to be celebrated alongside Sima Lingyun as a divine couple.

His beloved children awaited at home, longing for news from him and his son-in-law.

Wang Teng fixed his gaze on Situ Tianliang and sneered coldly, “Lord Situ, I hear that during your family's hardship, you took refuge in the Liang residence and lived off Liang Xiao’s generosity. How is it that you now repay such kindness with betrayal and treachery?”

Situ Tianliang responded solemnly, “Eunuch Wang, your words are misguided! We only sought shelter out of old friendship and served the Liang household faithfully. Yet Liang Xiao is a cold and ungrateful man, who has repeatedly abused my children and household servants. Not long ago, he even assaulted your own son and my retainers at your estate. Where is the gratitude in that?”

“Moreover, the feud between my family and Liang Xiao is personal. Even if he had once helped us, does that mean I should abandon my duty to protect the realm and shield him?”

Sima Lingyun’s father, Grand Tutor Sima Yannian, turned toward his son and Situ Tianliang, giving a thumbs-up.

“General Situ is a paragon of integrity, a model for all generals! Indeed, Liang Xiao deserves the severest punishment. I concur wholeheartedly!”

Recalling Yuan Bailong’s years of filial devotion, Sima Yannian’s voice grew fierce, his anger intensifying.

“Your Majesty! Yuan Bailong served dutifully for ten years, loyal to the state and people, yet was wrongfully slain. Liang Xiao even refuses to spare his kin! Such treachery cannot go unpunished, lest the noble clans’ righteous anger remain unquenched!”

“Nonsense!” Wang Teng was about to retort but fell silent at the Emperor’s cough, restraining his resentment and arguing in reason.

“Your Majesty, the tyranny of Yuan Bailong in Pei County is well-documented. He deceived and colluded with corrupt officials for years, evading justice. Liang Xiao, now the county magistrate, merely upholds the law and eliminates rebels for Your Majesty!”

The Sima family and their allies glared at Wang Teng with deep resentment.

“That old eunuch is shamelessly protecting that villain!” Situ Tianliang was inwardly shocked but calculating. This was a prime chance to strike at the eunuch faction and to demonstrate loyalty to the noble clans.

Resolute, Situ Tianliang proclaimed loudly, “The Majesty’s divine authority will not tolerate falsehood! Eight magistrates have died in Pei County, as all know. Yuan Bailong, serving as deputy magistrate for ten years, bore the burden alone to save the county. Such a virtuous official was cruelly slain by Liang Xiao! Where is justice?”

Wang Teng glared furiously at Situ Tianliang, teeth gritting in fury.

The entire court, even with some of Wang’s men present, fell silent, unwilling to wade into this controversy, for none were close to Liang Xiao.

At this moment, Wang realized the urgent need to cultivate greater power; otherwise, after the current Martial Emperor’s passing, his political enemies would surely target him.

Liang Xiao was the perfect choice.

“But Your Majesty, the official documents you received show that Yuan Bailong publicly humiliated Magistrate Liang, even threatening his life. Such insubordination was rightly punished by Liang Xiao with execution and the destruction of his family. Is this not fitting justice?”

Sima Yannian turned to Situ Tianliang and gave a knowing glance. Understanding the cue, Situ Tianliang countered again.

“Words without proof! Yuan Bailong was once a respected scholar of Jiangnan, known for his kindness and humility. All nobles who met him praised his character. How could he shame or threaten a young official? Eunuch Wang should reflect on why his nominee fell out with Pei County’s loyal officials, culminating in such fatal discord.”

Wang Teng snapped sharply, “The documents from Liang Xiao are detailed and the witnesses countless, including Pei County’s soldiers and civilians. Do not twist the facts! General Situ, we advise you to reconsider why you persist in your grudge against Liang Xiao!”

Sima Lingyun frowned deeply and finally could no longer hold back, stepping forward.

“Your Majesty, can the noble clans’ integrity truly be compared to this impetuous youth, once stripped of his rank?”

“Sima Lingyun, we know of your ties to Liang Xiao—” Wang Teng began to interject, but the Emperor’s impatience cut him off.

“Enough! Minister Wang!”

Wang Teng’s heart sank as he met the Emperor’s gaze.

The Martial Emperor looked down upon the court with a smile.

“Noble conduct? Grand Tutor, General Situ Tianliang’s words—do they coincide with your views?”

Led by Sima Yannian, dozens of court officials nodded in unison.

“The General speaks with unwavering righteousness. I ask Your Majesty to judge accordingly!”

Situ Tianliang, jubilant, knelt in pledge.

“I am willing to purge the rebel Liang Xiao for Your Majesty!”

The throne room echoed with the Martial Emperor’s deep laughter, sending chills through the assembled officials.

“Purge the rebel?” The Emperor fixed his gaze on the officials led by Sima Yannian, smiling knowingly. “I ask but one question: Yuan Bailong, the deputy magistrate of Pei County, reported a population of only seventy thousand to the court. Yet after Liang Xiao assumed office and conducted a census, the population was found to exceed one hundred forty thousand.”

The words struck the court like thunder.

“How is that possible?”

“Only one county, yet fourteen hundred thousand people?”

The Martial Emperor took the official documents handed by Wang Teng, his face darkening with fury.

“The court’s envoy to Pei County has confirmed this. Liang Xiao even publicly inspected the county records. The population exceeding one hundred forty thousand is irrefutable! The census register, recording the true numbers, was personally prepared by Yuan Bailong and seized by Liang Xiao!”

“Tell me, where have the taxes and levies for the other seventy thousand people gone? Situ Tianliang, explain this to me!”

The court erupted instantly.

“Fourteen hundred thousand? And this was secretly recorded by Yuan Bailong himself?”

“So Eunuch Wang truly has keen insight! What was Yuan Bailong aiming at?”

Wang Teng’s faction voiced their righteous indignation, clamoring for punishment.

Sima Lingyun and his allies stared at the Emperor’s documents, their faces fluctuating between pale and flushed.

Why such a gross exaggeration of population?

This was utterly unexpected.

They realized the Martial Emperor’s earlier silence was deliberate—observing which officials most fervently supported Yuan Bailong.

Undoubtedly, the most zealous were Situ Tianliang, followed by Sima Yannian and Sima Lingyun...