There is a god in the sky

Chapter 392 Impeachment

Officials compiled a list of people killed by the Imperial City Guard in just one month, and the sheer number was shocking.

These people seem to have no connection, but if Tong Xiuqing were still alive, she would find that her roots had been completely severed.

"When the Emperor first ascended the throne, he implemented benevolent policies, bestowing favors upon the people and promoting ministers."

Yet some people, taking advantage of even the smallest merit, indiscriminately kill innocent people behind the Emperor's back, bringing disaster to the country and its people. If such a scourge is not eliminated, our Great Xi will be in grave danger!

Li Ge took the initiative to step forward and apologize.

He knew very well that he had to kill whomever the emperor wanted him to kill, but if he dared to kill even one more person, the emperor would not tolerate it.

"It was this servant who overstepped his bounds. This servant acted on his own initiative and killed those who were disloyal to the Emperor."

"How dare you! Who gave you that right?"

The emperor was furious and slammed the thick stack of memorials off his throne.

The memorial struck Li Ge on the forehead, and blood gushed out instantly.

Blood streamed down his cheeks, but he didn't complain or even show any sign of pain.

He said with a sincere expression, "Your Majesty has just ascended the throne, and the government is not yet stable. Those ministers with ulterior motives are criticizing you behind your back, and even joining forces to try to obstruct the implementation of policies."

"Those I have killed were not without fault. I am willing to be Your Majesty's weapon, to cleanse the court and restore order to the government!"

The emperor was moved.

But more than anything, there is worry.

He understood the ministers' attitude towards executing Li Ge.

Such a person is useful, but if the knife is too sharp, it's easy to accidentally hurt oneself.

The Minister of Rites angrily retorted, "Since ancient times, there has never been a peaceful and prosperous era when eunuchs have held power. The eunuch faction wields too much power, killing people at will, yet they do so under the guise of loyalty to the emperor, which is utterly despicable!"

"We beg Your Majesty to punish him severely!"

The chorus of agreement grew louder and louder, as if it would shake the palace to its core.

The emperor hesitated.

Only by killing Li Ge can the resentment be quelled.

I feel reluctant to kill him.

In a secluded corner, several leaders of the Imperial Guard were assassinated, and their replacements were all unfamiliar faces.

The Imperial Guards gradually surrounded the Golden Palace.

The imperial guards standing outside the palace asked in confusion, "Why are so many people here all of a sudden? What happened?"

Someone lowered their voice and replied, "Just in case something serious happens inside."

"Have you also heard about the fact that Steward Li was impeached by the lords?"

"Yes, if His Majesty intends to execute Steward Li, we..."

Everyone looked at each other.

Someone laughed and said, "The head of the Imperial Guard only oversees the small territory of the Imperial City Guard. Our Imperial Guard is under the command of Commander Huo, and who would dare to disobey the imperial edict?"

As soon as he finished speaking, he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his neck. A thin wire had wrapped around his neck and cut a clean wound.

Before he could cry out, a hand covered his mouth and nose from behind.

In the blink of an eye, he stopped breathing.

Seeing this, some people who were indifferent to the situation and others who wanted to draw their knives to fight back were all quickly disarmed.

Shen Lan blended in with a group of imperial guards and was not very conspicuous.

But everyone knew that Lieutenant Li was promoted by the head of the department and was absolutely loyal to him.

She had barely moved when someone asked, "Are you trying to save Steward Li? Are you crazy? This is the palace! That's an imperial decree! You're going to defy the imperial decree for a mere eunuch?"

The subdued Imperial Guards were utterly bewildered.

"He's just a traitor who rose to power through treason; he doesn't really qualify as disobeying the emperor's orders."

Shen Lan also advised them, "Don't be foolish. A wise person knows when to yield. Right now, staying alive is the most important thing, right?"

She ordered her men to tie up all the Imperial Guards who held differing stances and throw them into a side hall, replacing their positions.

From outside the door, Shen Lan could only see Li Ge's upright kneeling figure.

She didn't know what Li Ge and the others planned for today, but she could guess that it was related to the Second Prince.

She spotted the disguised second prince among the officials.

The fact that he was able to sneak into the palace means that today's events will determine success or failure, and that the high and mighty dragon throne may be occupied by someone else again.

This is an open conspiracy targeting Li Ge.

The ministers united and directed their attacks at the Imperial City Guard.

Since its establishment, the Imperial City Guard has provided no benefit whatsoever to the emperor except for facilitating the eavesdropping of his officials.

If they don't take this opportunity to abolish the Imperial City Guard's secret police, their lives will never be in their own hands.

The emperor took in everyone's performance.

He called out Xiao Ji, "What do you think, Minister Xiao? Does Li Ge deserve to die?"

The patriarch of the Xiao family took leave, and it was Xiao Ji who gained more favor from the new emperor.

No one thought Xiao Ji would favor a eunuch, as that would not benefit him.

He replied in a grand and dignified manner: "In my opinion, whether a person is good or bad cannot be judged solely by whether he has killed anyone; one must also consider what kind of person he killed."

I am not familiar with the affairs of the court, but I have heard about the things he has done.

Having been in the palace for over ten years since leaving office, and once serving as the Grand Steward of Kunning Palace, why did he not kill indiscriminately before, but has now become a villain?

I believe that Li Zhangshi made a mistake, but it was not entirely his fault.

It was the Imperial City Guard, the very office that was in charge of this.

If the Imperial City Guard was only responsible for the safety of the palace and His Majesty, there would be no problem. But now it has become an assassin organization that kills court officials.

Who isn't afraid? Who dares to say they are perfect?

"He's in charge of the Imperial City Guard's secret police, and he killed for the Emperor. If he's wrong, isn't the Emperor also wrong?"

The emperor coughed forcefully.

But Xiao Ji continued to say loudly, "I believe that all the ministers want is 'safety,' and no one wants to be killed for no reason."

It's one thing for the Emperor to distrust his court officials and need secret guards to eavesdrop, but the person in charge of these guards must not be anyone else but the Emperor himself.

The emperor, upon hearing this, found it to have some merit.

Everyone has their own selfish desires, and if they slip out of control, the consequences could be disastrous.

"In that case, I will withdraw the secret guards and take over their management myself from now on."

Although the ministers were not entirely satisfied with retaining the secret guards, at least there had been progress.

"As for Li Ge, you have failed to live up to my trust."

Xiao Ji stated frankly: "I propose that Li be stripped of all his authority and imprisoned in the West Tower to reflect on his mistakes."

The West Tower was the place in the palace where eunuchs and palace maids were punished.

That place was every eunuch's nightmare.

Such punishment is no different from killing him.

The ministers nodded in agreement, finding no objection to this approach.

After all, the emperor's feelings must be taken into account. Li Ge had rendered meritorious service in joining the emperor's cause and was also the emperor's trusted and beloved general. Killing him would indeed displease the emperor.

"Since everyone says so, let's do as Minister Xiao says. Someone, come here..."

Shen Lan was the first to rush in.

She saw Li Ge's face covered in blood, and his swaying body, and reached out to support his shoulder.

The emperor waved his hand without saying a word.

Shen Lan was only taller than he actually was, so it was difficult for him to lift Li Ge.

She and another guard dragged the man up from either side, then carried him out under their arms.

Xiao Ji withdrew his gaze from "Li Ye" and left a row of nail marks on his palm.

so close!

If the emperor were to execute Li Ge on the spot, Shen Lan would probably rush in to save him.