Chapter 425 A Former King Now a Prisoner, A Single Imperial Edict Determines Honor and Disgrace

She was once one of the most noble women in this empire. Her son was the Son of Heaven.

But now, one is under house arrest in the deep palace, like a prisoner. The other has been branded with such a humiliating title and exiled to that miasma-filled, savage land.

Qianzhou, what kind of place is that?

With the mountains high and the emperor far away, and poisonous insects everywhere, will they even be alive if they go there?

Consort Shu raised her head, her once beautiful and charming eyes now bloodshot. She stared fixedly at Xiao Dezi.

"Emperor Liu Sheng... He has such a cruel heart!"

She roared, her voice hoarse and desperate.

Xiao Dezi remained expressionless, merely bowing slightly: "Consort Shu, His Majesty is doing this for the sake of you and the Marquis. To be far away from this place of right and wrong, and to live securely as a wealthy man, is better than losing your head."

"This is the last shred of decency His Majesty is granting you."

After speaking, he did not linger, turned around, and retreated.

Inside the hall, only Consort Shu remained, holding Emperor Zhao Heng, sobbing in despair.

She knew that what Xiao Dezi said was the truth.

That Emperor Liu Sheng did not kill them was already a heaven-sent mercy.

But she was not reconciled.

Her son was supposed to be the master of this world!

Emperor Zhao Heng slowly woke up.

He looked at his mother; in his eyes, the arrogance and resentment of the past were gone, leaving only a dead, grey desolation.

"Mother, are we... truly finished?"

Consort Shu burst into tears and could not say a word.

Finished.

Of course, it was finished.

From the moment Emperor Liu Sheng, clad in armor, stepped into the Qianqing Palace.

They were already finished.

The departure date was set for three days later.

There was no honor guard, no escort, not even a decent carriage.

The palace only provided a half-old blue cloth cart and two elderly servants.

This was the pomp of a former emperor leaving the capital.

Human feelings are warm and cold, and the world is fickle; there is nothing more so than this.

Just as Emperor Zhao Heng thought he was going to leave the city where he had lived for over a decade in such a desolate manner.

Outside the palace, a group of people arrived.

Leading them was none other than the recently dismissed former Minister of Revenue, Minister of Revenue Chen Jing.

Behind him followed dozens of the Chen clan members, who had also been stripped of their official titles and ranks, along with some old subordinates who had received favors from the Chen family.

They had come to see off Emperor Zhao Heng.

"This old subject... has come to save the Emperor too late."

Minister of Revenue Chen Jing, looking at the haggard Emperor Zhao Heng, wept with tears streaming down his face and knelt on the ground.

His heart was filled with remorse and self-reproach.

Back then, it was he who encouraged the young emperor to confront Emperor Liu Sheng. He thought that by relying on the power of the civil official group and the aristocratic families, he could check Emperor Liu Sheng's military power.

But he was terribly wrong.

He overestimated himself and underestimated Emperor Liu Sheng's iron fist and determination.

Now, the grave mistake was made, and it was too late to regret.

Emperor Zhao Heng, looking at Minister of Revenue Chen Jing kneeling on the ground, was filled with mixed feelings.

He knew that for him to end up like this today, Minister of Revenue Chen Jing was "indispensable."

But he could not bring himself to hate him.

Because, at a time when all the civil and military officials in the court were avoiding him.

Only these people still cherished the old feelings and still recognized him as their "former master."

"Minister Chen, please rise quickly."

Emperor Zhao Heng personally helped Minister of Revenue Chen Jing up.

This address of "Minister" made Minister of Revenue Chen Jing cry even harder.

"Your Majesty... no, Marquis. You are going to Qianzhou, a long journey, with high mountains and treacherous waters. We, although we are already sinners, are willing to escort you for a part of the way, to fulfill the final duty of a subject to his lord." Minister of Revenue Chen Jing said, choking with sobs.

Emperor Zhao Heng looked at the sad-faced Chen clan members behind him, and a warm current surged in his heart.

He nodded.

"I trouble you all."

Thus.

A dilapidated blue cloth cart, escorted by dozens of "former officials" on horseback, slowly drove out of the gates of the Imperial Capital.

Above the city wall.

Eunuch Xu An, dressed in a black flying fish robe, stood by the railing, silently watching the team that was gradually moving away.

A Western Depot agent appeared behind him.

"Superintendent, they have left the city."

Eunuch Xu An did not turn back, just gave a faint "Hmm."

"Is everything arranged?"

"Reporting to the Superintendent, the 'cleaners' are already waiting ahead."

"Not a single one can be left alive."

"Understood."

The agent retreated silently.

Eunuch Xu An raised his head and glanced at the bleak setting sun on the horizon.

The wind blew the corner of his clothes.

He knew that when the sun rose again.

In this world, there would no longer be the Marquis of Guageng.

Nor would there be the former official, Minister of Revenue Chen Jing.

All people and things that could become hidden dangers.

Would all be cleaned up thoroughly.

This was the will of the new emperor.

And it was the meaning of his, Eunuch Xu An's, existence.

* * *

The procession moved very slowly.

Thirty miles outside the capital, there was a long pavilion named "Wangjing Pavilion."

This was the last stop for the people of the Imperial Capital to bid farewell to their traveling relatives and friends. After passing this pavilion, one could no longer see the towering city walls.

The procession stopped in front of the pavilion.

Some old friends who were on good terms with Minister of Revenue Chen Jing, and former dynasty elders who could not bear to see their former master leave the capital in such a destitute state, had already been waiting here.

They had prepared simple food and wine.

A sorrowful farewell banquet began in the bleak autumn wind.

Without the distinction between sovereign and subject, everyone sat together.

After three rounds of drinks, the oppressive atmosphere was finally broken.

An elderly minister with gray hair picked up a wine cup and walked tremblingly in front of Emperor Zhao Heng.

"This old subject toasts the Marquis."

"I only hate that we were incompetent and could not protect the Great Qian Dynasty's empire..."

As he spoke, he burst into tears.

For a time, a sense of sorrow spread among the crowd.

Cries, curses, and sighs rose one after another.

Some were cursing Emperor Liu Sheng as a usurper of the state.

Some were sighing about their bad luck and how fate plays with people.

Emperor Zhao Heng held the wine cup, looking at these familiar yet strange faces in front of him.

His heart was filled with mixed emotions.

When he was emperor, these people would chatter in his ears every day about the "ancestral laws" and "court decency," making him feel annoyed.

But now, when he was down and out, the only ones who came to see him off were these people.

He drank the wine in the cup in one gulp.

The spicy liquor slid down his throat, making him cough.

Tears also flowed down.

He did not know if these tears were for himself, or for this bygone Great Qian Dynasty.

Minister of Revenue Chen Jing patted his back.

"Marquis, it is getting late, it is time to go."

Everyone bid farewell with tears.

Emperor Zhao Heng got back into the simple carriage.

Minister of Revenue Chen Jing and the others mounted their horses and guarded the side.

The procession started again.

Passing through the long pavilion, along the official road, heading toward the unknown distance.

The setting sun sank completely below the horizon.

The sky gradually darkened.

On both sides of the official road were dense forests.