Demon Emperor

Chapter 38 Killing the chicken to scare the monkey

In front of the Suzaku Gate.

Li Hongdao, the Grand Secretary who had been standing at the very front, suddenly fell silent, trembling as he bowed his head and began to pay his respects.

Instead, it was Huang Hui who stepped forward to question him.

"What is Your Majesty doing? Are you perhaps preparing to go and pay homage to the late Emperor while wearing armor and wielding a sharp blade?"

Huang Hui was quite presentable, and at this moment, he questioned the emperor in front of everyone about not following the rules of etiquette, displaying a strong and unyielding scholarly spirit.

At least, that's how many ministers see it.

Ruan Hu: "I received a dream from the late Emperor, saying that demons have been causing trouble and disturbing the peace of the late Emperor's mausoleum."

"I have consulted the gods, and they say that a grand exorcism should be held. I plan to personally lead the gods and the army to use the exorcism ritual to kill the lewd gods and evil spirits that dared to disturb the peace of the late emperor."

Huang Hui: "This does not conform to the rules of etiquette..."

Ruan Hu: "Does Minister Huang mean that I should disobey the late emperor's decree and stand by while those evil spirits disturb the late emperor's mausoleum and prevent him from resting in peace, so that I may be made an unfilial person?"

Ruan Hu stared coldly at Huang Hui, his gaze filled with murderous intent.

Huang Hui stammered and was speechless, no longer daring to speak.

Ruan Hu raised his hand, signaling Huang Hui to make way.

"Do you understand the late Emperor better, or do I understand him better?"

Ruan Hu looked at the others and said loudly.

"In this world."

"No one understands the late emperor's meaning better than I do."

Lately, Huang Hui has been using the late emperor to pressure Ruan Hu and using filial piety to bind him.

Now the tables have turned, and Ruan Hu has outmaneuvered him with the same tactic.

Nguyen Ho had the highest authority to interpret the late emperor's decree and the matter of filial piety.

Seeing that Huang Hui was speechless, someone stepped forward from behind Huang Hui, wanting to use the classics of ancient sages to debate with Ruan Hu.

"The sage said..."

If the late emperor's right of interpretation is not on their side, then the right of interpretation of the sages and saints will be used, which is ultimately in their hands.

But as soon as he opened his mouth, Ruan Hu's gaze locked onto him, interrupting him.

"Ok?"

At this moment, Zhou Kaigu from the Detective Agency understood Ruan Hu's expression and immediately stepped forward.

"His Majesty told me before he left that the gods had appeared and said that the ghosts and spirits that were causing trouble and disturbing the late emperor's mausoleum had possessed the court officials and were hiding in the court."

"They will definitely come out to stop His Majesty soon; it seems the evil spirits have already emerged."

"There was Huang Hui, and there was Liu Wenzhao."

"Take them all down!"

Zhou Kaigu's voice was extremely cold, like that of a demon.

His words were like a chilling gust of wind, instantly making the minds of the assembled officials go blank, and some of them even felt their legs go weak.

This week, Kai Gu lived up to his reputation as a promising talent that Ruan Hu had previously recognized; he was so bold as to take down Huang Hui on the spot.

However, Ruan Hu did not intend to take things to that extent.

Ruan Hu: "Huang Qing is just too impatient and doesn't understand my filial piety. He certainly can't be someone possessed by demons."

Since Huang Qing isn't it, then it must be someone else.

A group of soldiers rushed up like tigers and wolves, dragging away the character who had just been talking about the "sage," a character whose name and official rank Ruan Hu didn't even know before.

Then the priests from the Heavenly Maiden Palace stepped forward and, in front of everyone, poured mud and water into Liu Wenzhao's mouth, then whipped him until he cried out.

Huang Hui was dumbfounded, finally understanding what kind of person Ruan Hu was.

Before everyone could even get a taste of his power, Ruan Hu, clad in armor and wielding a sword, stood before the Vermilion Bird Gate and gave them a taste of their power.

Let all the officials know that those who talk a good game are no match for those who wield swords and spears.

"Woo!"

Accompanied by ceremonial music, a procession cleared the way.

A vast army escorted Ruan Hu, with officials following closely behind in silence.
-
This time, we are heading to the northern foothills of the Fenghuang Mountains, where the late emperor's mausoleum is located at the Lotus Temple, an imperial temple built by imperial decree.

However, with so many people and officials, it was impossible to march as before, and they stopped after a short distance.

That night, Ruan Hu and his officials rested at Li Hongdao's villa.

"Father-in-law, this is truly a wonderful place."

The villa is built in a bamboo forest, with bamboo groves on both sides so dense that it seems even a rabbit couldn't squeeze in.

It was still bright outside, but when you looked into the depths of the bamboo forest, it was pitch black.

That dark, inaccessible place gave one the feeling of being in another realm, isolated from the world. The construction of this villa must have cost a fortune, but it did not appear luxurious at all. Instead, it was full of poetic charm and the profound heritage of the aristocratic clans originating from the Central Plains.

Li Hongdao said, "Speaking of which, this was the foundation bestowed upon our Li family by the late Emperor. Now, I am fortunate to have Your Majesty's imperial carriage visit me. I am deeply honored."

Ruan Hu: "I am very pleased that the Imperial Father-in-law was not with Huang Hui today. Indeed, family is different!"

Li Hongdao instantly broke out in a cold sweat: "It was all Huang Hui's doing; I knew nothing about it."

Ruan Hu said nothing more and followed Li Hongdao into the villa.

The main gate of the villa is built on a high slope, and the way to enter it involves crossing a wooden bridge and a stream below, as well as a winding stone path.

It is precisely because of this winding and bumpy road that the tranquility and mystery of the courtyard are highlighted, making people even more eager to see the exquisite interior.

Ruan Hu said casually, "Let's go in and take a look."

A smile spread across Li Hongdao's face: "Your Majesty, please."

He led the way, and upon entering the courtyard, he saw a group of beautiful women.

The one in the lead looks somewhat like Consort Li.

Ruan Hu glanced at Li Hongdao but didn't say anything more.

This fellow not only put Consort Li into the harem, but he also wanted to put other people in there.

Meanwhile, in the residences near the villa where officials were resting.

Huang Hui's faction gathered together at this time. They were initially terrified by what had happened that morning, and dared not utter a word on the road like a flock of quails.

Now that they've gathered here, they've become indignant once again.

Because everyone around them was one of their own, they could say things without restraint when they were angry.

How could Your Majesty treat us like this?

"Poor Liu Wenzhao, he was humiliated like this in public. I wonder if he will be able to come back alive."

"It's an insult to elegance, it's an insult to elegance!"

"Your Majesty said that Liu Wenzhao is possessed by a demon. Is it true?"

"If you want to condemn someone, you can always find a pretext. Even if there are ghosts and gods at work, why target His Majesty? As the saying goes, when a country is about to perish, evil spirits run rampant..."

"Be careful what you say, be careful what you say..."

"Li Hongdao remained silent in the face of His Majesty's absurd behavior. If there are treacherous officials in the court, he must be the leader."

The crowd grew louder and louder, each person either filled with righteous indignation, or their faces were full of anger, or they were lamenting repeatedly.

Their resentment towards the emperor grew stronger and stronger.

At this moment, some people in the crowd began to analyze some recent events that had occurred both inside and outside the imperial court.

The man sitting there was a man around forty years old, dressed in a crimson robe, with the kind of beautiful beard that people at the time admired.

"Your Majesty's behavior lately is completely different from usual, which is truly strange." "Although Your Majesty's words and actions are somewhat absurd, what you have done recently has the air of a great ruler."

"Could it be that everything before was an act?"

"To emulate King Zhuang of Chu, who remained silent for three years before suddenly astonishing the world with his cry?"

Upon hearing this, a young man standing next to him immediately began to recount the recent rumors.

"I've heard that after His Majesty fell into the water, he was enlightened by the spirit of Gao Yao. Is that true?"

Now, everyone looked at each other in bewilderment.

The things that have happened to Ruan Hu recently are so strange, and his changes are so drastic that it's hard not to believe in these things.

As the meeting, which was originally intended to criticize the emperor's absurd and chaotic behavior and unite everyone around Huang Hui, gradually went astray.

At this moment, one of the people next to Huang Hui stood up.

This was a round, chubby man with a white face and no beard. His eyes were so wide that they seemed to bulge out of their sockets, just like his round, bulging body.

"What gods and ghosts? As the saying goes, 'The Master did not speak of strange phenomena, physical prowess, disorder, or spirits.' You are all important officials in the court, how can you speak such nonsense?"

"First, Your Majesty believed that Ruan Heng was raising some kind of ghost witch from the underworld, and now you've brought up some kind of celestial maiden, and you even believed that the shaman of the celestial maiden's palace used the excuse of being possessed by evil spirits to humiliate the court officials."

"How can this compare to King Zhuang of Chu?"

"How tragic, how lamentable! Although we have a sincere heart, His Majesty turns a blind eye to it."

"When will our Great Sheng be able to...?"

As the man spoke, he became moved and shed tears.

At this moment, others either joined in the tears or sighed with resentment and anger.

They would either feign concern and step forward to persuade the emperor, saying that he had simply gone astray and that as long as they advised him, they would surely be able to guide him back to the right path.

Unbeknownst to everyone, a figure was crouching in the corner outside the house, recording their every word and action.

(End of this chapter)