As Shi Lei and the others turned themselves in under Lu Yang's passive "reformation," one cold case after another was dug up—all deeds carried out by the Fifth Prince to curry favor and win people over.
The Ministry of Justice was thrown into a frenzy, busier even than during the Fourth Prince's rebellion.
While the Fourth Prince's rebellion was no small matter, it was ultimately a single case; the trouble lay mostly in rounding up the conspirators.
This time with the Fifth Prince, however, was entirely different. There were numerous cases spanning a wide scope, implicating many officials across the imperial court.
The Ministry of Justice interrogated Shi Lei and his companions through the night. The good news was that they showed an excellent attitude of contrition, answering every question put to them. Furthermore, as the Fifth Prince's dirty gloves, Shi Lei and the others possessed a vast trove of evidence, sparing the Ministry of Justice a great deal of legwork.
***
First Prince Jiang Qun somewhat regretted disguising himself as his imperial father to sit upon the throne. Endless memorials, bitter medicinal decoctions said to slightly prolong lifespan, dealing with various elder consorts in the imperial harem...
"Fortunately, the Right Chancellor and Left Chancellor aren't in closed-door cultivation and can share some of the burden."
Many of the less crucial memorials were handled by the Left and Right Chancellors, granting the First Prince a brief breathing room.
Though processing these memorials was not difficult, it was utterly tedious. Moreover, in his imperial father's persona, his hands were tied regarding many matters.
"Traveling incognito really is better after all. Who knows what stage Imperial Father has reached by now?"
Jiang Qun opened a memorial sent by the provincial governor of Yuzhou. It reported that traces of Great Yu remnants had been discovered in Yuzhou, suspected to include a Great Yu cultivator at the Tribulation Transcendence stage. The governor had already contacted the imperial troops stationed in Yuzhou to assist in searching for the remnants, but considering the unknown strength of the faction, he requested the court dispatch reinforcements.
"In that case, send the Luoshui Guards to Yuzhou."
Just as Jiang Qun was about to handle the next memorial, Eunuch Li came to report.
"Your Majesty, Minister of Justice Xu Xin requests an audience."
"Send him in."
Xu Xin walked into the grand hall with deliberate, measured strides and kowtowed to Jiang Qun. "Xu Xin pays respects to Your Majesty."
"Minister Xu, rise."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
"What brings you here, Minister Xu?"
Xu Xin produced a small booklet, which Eunuch Li presented to Jiang Qun.
Taking the booklet, Jiang Qun looked somewhat puzzled. "What is this?"
"Your Majesty, these are the crimes committed by the Fifth Prince."
"Who?" Jiang Qun thought he had misheard.
"The crimes of the Fifth Prince, Jiang Tang."
Frightened, Jiang Qun hastily swept through it with his divine sense, his eyelid twitching. The booklet blatantly listed all manner of offenses committed by his fifth brother, providing answers to many unresolved cases long buried in the imperial court's records.
"Time was tight, and this subject was wary of alerting the enemy, so proof has only been verified for a portion of the crimes."
Even that portion was monumental enough. If all of it were proven, the Fifth Prince's end would hardly be better than the Fourth Prince's.
The only difference was that the Fifth Prince's crimes did not warrant the execution of nine generations, sparing Jiang Qun from having to pardon himself again.
...Wait, Fourth Brother's matter had barely settled down, and now Fifth Brother was acting up?
He had only been serving as interim emperor for three days, and two of his brothers had already fallen into his hands!
*Imperial Father, why didn't you deal with a single one while you were emperor? The moment you leave, everything comes tumbling down!*
History was not without princes acting as regents, but never had a prince used his regency to purge his own imperial brothers.
Dealing with one was bad enough, but dealing with two? What would future generations think when reading this chapter of history?
"How were these things uncovered?" Jiang Qun knew Xu Xin was meticulous and reliable, someone who would never fabricate matters to deceive him.
Besides, even if one wished to fabricate, nobody would dare invent something like this.
He was merely curious.
"They were confessed by the Fifth Prince's retainers, Shi Lei and the others."
"Shi Lei came clean so easily?" Jiang Qun frowned.
"According to Shi Lei and his men, they were persuaded by Lu Yang to surrender themselves to the Ministry of Justice."
Jiang Qun could not help holding his forehead. Fourth Brother's treason had been reported by Lu Yang, and now Fifth Brother's affairs were tied to him as well. *Lu Yang, are you determined to send all my brothers to prison just to pave my way to the throne?!*
"Did Lu Yang persuade them to surrender all on his own?"
"That is unknown. However, Shi Lei and the others stated that when Lu Yang persuaded them, a cultivator named Xia Tian was also present."
Jiang Qun was speechless.
*Isn't Xia Tian damn well Imperial Father's pseudonym?!*
*I knew this matter wasn't so simple. It really was Imperial Father's doing!*
***
In Luotian Forest, the Immortal Fairy was holding a meeting, seated in a circle with Ao Ling, Jiang Lianyi, Jin Caiwei, and Emperor Xia.
"It's rare for everyone to gather together like this. Today's meeting has only one objective: I plan to establish a brand-new dynasty! I've already thought of the name—it shall be called the Soybean Dynasty."
At those words, the spines of Ao Ling and the other three stiffened slightly, each taken aback by the Immortal Fairy's proclamation.
Some were shocked by the idea of establishing a new dynasty, while others were stunned by its name.
"The sages said that the throne of the realm's sovereign belongs to the virtuous. Someone naturally endowed with virtue like me should rightfully be emperor!"
Ao Ling and Jiang Lianyi clapped enthusiastically, their eyes burning with fervor as they gazed at the Immortal Fairy. *Has Elder Sister Immortal finally found the ambition to contend for the world?*
A smile spread across the Immortal Fairy's face. She pressed her hands down, signaling for Xiao Ling and Lianyi that such applause was not necessary, before continuing:
"Looking across the long river of history, every dynastic transition has been filled with blood and fire, plunging the common folk into misery and bringing suffering to all under heaven. This goes against my wishes."
The speech notes had all been drafted by Lu Yang inside the spiritual space. The Immortal Fairy was reading from them while ad-libbing freely.
"I believe that founding a brand-new dynasty doesn't necessarily require war; it can be accomplished through peaceful means.
"For instance, I once reached a cooperation with the Fourth Prince, reported him for rebellion, and sought to collapse the Jiang family from within through the execution of nine generations!
"However, I didn't expect the Jiang family's ancestor to have tricks up his sleeve, having established an imperial pardon system in advance to thwart my plan. He truly proved a troublesome adversary!
"No matter, though. What venture ever goes smoothly? The process of starting an enterprise is always arduous, but I believe that as long as we unite as one, there's no difficulty we cannot overcome!"
Standing atop a table, the Immortal Fairy raised her arms and cried out, "Everyone, are you willing to join me in establishing a new dynasty?!"
"I am!"
There was no need to ask Ao Ling and Jiang Lianyi twice; whatever the Immortal Fairy did, they supported unconditionally.
"Good! Then I appoint the two of you as Great Generals."
Having cheered, the Immortal Fairy gave a little heave-ho and hopped down from the table, turning her eyes to Jin Caiwei. "Little Tiger, what about you?"
Jin Caiwei had no particular interest in founding a new dynasty, but seeing both Ao Ling and Jiang Lianyi show support, refusing would put her at a disadvantage—something she simply could not tolerate.
"I'm willing, too!"
"You're also appointed as a Great General."
The four females turned their gazes in unison toward Emperor Xia, their eyes practically speaking: *And what about you?*
Stared down by them, Emperor Xia felt his scalp tingle. *All of you agreed. If I refuse, wouldn't I look out of place?*
Emperor Xia had no choice but to slowly raise his hand. "I agree as well."
"Then I appoint you as Chancellor."
Watching this scene from the shadows, the Tribulation Transcendence cultivator secretly guarding Emperor Xia could only marvel in wonder. In all his thousands of years of life, he had never witnessed anything like this.
Chapter 936