Transmigrating to the Primordial Era as a Peerless Great Witch, Changing Fate in the Primordial Worl

The emperor's words set the tone.

Ao Bai must die, but it needs a "legal" and "thorough" process, rather than being executed hastily.

This is both a political consideration and a strategy to appease and dismantle the remaining forces of Ao Bai.

Although some of the more radical members of the court were slightly disappointed upon hearing this, none of them dared to question the imperial decree.

Kangxi paused for a moment, then continued:

"As for Aobai's family, Aobai himself committed heinous crimes, and his wife and children, although they may not have been accomplices, were still implicated because they benefited from his protection."

He was hereby stripped of all his titles and honors, his family property confiscated, and his entire family, young and old, male and female, exiled to Ningguta or any other harsh and desolate place in the north, to be enslaved by the armored soldiers, never to be allowed to enter the pass again.

"Exiled to the harsh, cold north."

For Ao Bai's pampered family, it was tantamount to a death sentence, or even more cruel and protracted.

This order effectively severed the roots of the Ao Bai clan and cut off any hope of their resurgence.

"Long live the Emperor's sagacity! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"

The emperor has already made a final decision, and has taken into account both "legal principles" and "human feelings"—at least on the surface.

All the humble officials immediately knelt down in unison, shouting praises to the emperor, their voices resounding throughout the palace.

Regardless of what you think in your heart, you must show absolute support for the emperor's decision at this moment.

Next came the highlight of the court assembly: the bestowal of titles and rewards upon meritorious officials.

Emperor Kangxi was clearly prepared. The eunuchs, holding imperial edicts, began to announce the names of those to be rewarded.

First, there were the generals and imperial guards who made great contributions in capturing Ao Bai and subsequently suppressing his remaining troops.

From deputy commander and captain to ordinary guard, ranks were determined by merit.

In addition to receiving generous rewards of gold and silver, silk and precious jewels,

Many people also received real promotions in their honorary titles or official positions, such as Light Cavalry Captain and Cavalry Captain.

They gained both fame and fortune, and everyone was overjoyed.

When it was Wei Xiaobao's turn, the hall fell silent again.

Everyone pricked up their ears. Then, the eunuch announced in a loud voice:

"Wei Xiaobao, the imperial bodyguard, is commendable for his loyalty and bravery, and is exceptionally quick-witted."

In the case of capturing the treacherous minister Ao Bai, he took the lead, came up with many clever ideas, and made great contributions.

He was specially promoted to the position of Chief Imperial Guard, with the rank of third grade, and was granted the privilege of wearing a yellow riding jacket, riding a horse in the Forbidden City, and freely carrying a sword within the Imperial City.

Furthermore, a residence outside the Xihua Gate of the Imperial City, along with a quantity of gold, silver, and silk, are hereby bestowed upon the Emperor.

"Chief Imperial Bodyguard".

Although it was not a traditional official position with real power in the imperial court.

However, this position was no small matter; nominally, it commanded all the imperial guards.

As the head of the emperor's personal guards, he held a superior position and could only be appointed by the emperor's most trusted confidants.

He was granted a yellow riding jacket, allowed to ride a horse within the Forbidden City, and was free to walk within the palace with a sword at his side.

It is also an unparalleled honor and trust.

They also received a mansion near the imperial city.

This means that he has officially settled down in the capital and joined the ranks of the newly rich.

This series of honors was extremely generous.

In an instant, Wei Xiaobao was elevated from an unranked "Little Guizi" and "Little Eunuch" in the eyes of outsiders to a position that countless people envied.

Wei Xiaobao was also startled.

But without showing any emotion, he stepped forward a few paces and respectfully accepted the imperial decree to express his gratitude.

"Your humble servant Wei Xiaobao thanks Your Majesty for your great favor. Long live the Emperor!"

The bestowal of rewards did not end there.

Kangxi glanced at Wei Xiaobao and Suo'etu, who was standing at the front of the civil officials, and spoke again, his voice carrying a subtle, unspoken meaning:

"In addition, Grand Secretary Suo'etu was appointed to oversee the search and confiscation of Ao Bai's residence."

All acquired assets, including property, land, shops, antiques, and treasures, must be meticulously registered and recorded.

There must be no omissions or concealments.

Wei Xiaobao, the chief of the Imperial Guards, went there with Suo'etu.

He was responsible for supervising the confiscation process and personally bringing back the final accounts of the seized items to report to me.

"Order Suo'etu to search and confiscate Ao Bai's mansion. All the proceeds must be recorded. Wei Xiaobao, the chief of the Imperial Guards, shall accompany you and bring back the accounts of the confiscation."

This order instantly set many people's minds in motion.

Confiscating property, especially the property of corrupt and powerful officials like Ao Bai.

It has always been recognized as a "lucrative job," with unimaginable levels of lucrative pay.

It was not surprising that the emperor entrusted this important task to Songgotu.

After all, Songgotu was a trusted and important minister.

But to send Wei Xiaobao, who had just been promoted and had no experience in confiscating property, "along" was...

The fact that they were explicitly told to "bring the accounts back" is quite intriguing.

The officials were filled with envy, and their gazes toward Wei Xiaobao became even more complicated.

This kid not only got promoted and rewarded, but he also got involved in confiscating Ao Bai's property. How much benefit did he gain from that?

Despite their envy, no one dared to voice any opinions publicly.

The emperor has already spoken, and Wei Xiaobao is currently enjoying great favor with the emperor; no one would dare to offend him at this time.

Suddenly, a thought struck Songgotu.

He was a seasoned official and a meticulous strategist.

In an instant, he grasped the multiple meanings behind the emperor's order.

On the surface, it was to have him take charge and assist Wei Xiaobao.

However, the phrases "Wei Xiaobao went along" and "bring the accounts back," especially the latter, are almost tantamount to explicitly indicating that the Emperor is sending Wei Xiaobao.

It was not merely "assistance," but rather "surveillance."

It might even imply that this raid was actually based on Wei Xiaobao's ideas, with me, Suo'etu, merely acting as his deputy.

To be responsible for the specific implementation and to assume a title.

The emperor wanted to utilize Songgotu's maturity, composure, and familiarity with procedures.

They also needed to use Wei Xiaobao, a newly rich man with no real power and who only obeyed the emperor, to ensure the confiscation of property was "clean."

The final accounts are "true".

"The Emperor sent Wei Xiaobao to monitor us, so I'm afraid Wei Xiaobao is the main person in charge, and I'm just his deputy."

Upon understanding this, Suo'etu felt a chill run down his spine, and a cold sweat broke out on his back.

It seems that the Emperor is extremely vigilant about the enormous interests involved in the Ao Bai case and will not allow any new corrupt officials to emerge.

If I were to try anything more in this matter, the consequences would be unpredictable.

However, even with constant warnings in his mind, as long as he didn't go too far, Suo'etu still couldn't help but feel "excited" when faced with this easy opportunity to legally and legitimately gain benefits.

He immediately stepped forward, knelt down with utmost deference, and loudly expressed his gratitude:

"Your humble servant, Suo'etu, respectfully obeys Your Majesty's decree."

I will certainly perform my duties diligently and work closely with Steward Wei to thoroughly investigate and confiscate Ao Bai's assets, ensuring clear accounting, and I will never fail the Emperor's trust.

Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!

Seeing that all the major matters, such as the handling of Ao Bai, the rewarding of meritorious officials, and the selection of officials to confiscate family property, had been settled, a hint of satisfaction appeared on Kangxi's face before he announced the end of the court session.

"Dismiss the court."

The high-pitched, drawn-out voice of the eunuchs rang out, and the officials bowed again before filing out of the Golden Palace in order of rank.

Outside the palace, the sun shone brightly. On the white marble plaza, officials gathered in twos and threes, discussing the day's court proceedings in hushed tones, their eyes occasionally glancing in a certain direction.

Suo'etu strode down the steps and his gaze swept across the room, spotting Wei Xiaobao standing alone to the side, seemingly curiously observing the palace scenery.

He immediately put on an extremely enthusiastic, even somewhat friendly, smile and went to greet her.