The Emperor finally broke the deep silence that once again shrouded the Imperial work studio. Everyone was lost in their own thoughts, thinking on the questions that Wang Fèn Yǒng asked.
"Imperial Grandfather," the Emperor said. "Although during that time you were very angry with the four families and really thought they were rebelling. We had agreed not to go after the youth and children and agreed to allow their youth and children to escape..."
Shaking his head sadly, the Elder cut the Emperor off, "In the correspondences, we retrieved from the house of the former Prime Minister. Elder Chen wrote of how he sent his secret hidden Death Army after the youth and children and eliminated them one by one."
"What!" the Grand Prince and the first Lady of Wang Royal Manor yelled in shock. Lady Wǔ Gāng Huā's eyes turned red, and tears began to fall from her eyes. Wang Fèn Yǒng, who was in the process of taking a sip of tea, froze in shock. His neck snapped up, and Wang Fèn Yǒng stared at his Imperial Great grandfather in shock before asking, "Did he manage to kill them all?"
"I don't know," looking at Wang Fèn Yǒng the Elder sighed heavily and said, "He claimed he did, but I have doubts. The four families had trees with very deep hidden roots. Their roots even extended into the martial world. Even I wasn't sure if we were able to completely wipe them out at the time, so I didn't try. Another reason was that the Grand Prince, the Emperor, and Lady Wǔ Gāng Huā believed the four martial families to be innocent. Even in their grief, they kept pleading with the dowager queen and me. So we decided to allow the youths and children of the four families to escape. I believe the former Prime Minister was able to get some of the youth and children. I doubt if he was able to get them all."
Wang Fèn Yǒng looked at his Great Grandfather and Uncle and asked, "If, if it is discovered that some of the descendants are still alive and they have returned to the Tolling Lands. What decisions will Great Grandfather and Imperial Uncle decide to make regarding this matter?"
The First Lady of Wang Royal Manor, who was wiping the tears from her eyes, looked over to the Emperor and Elder Wang with an intense attentive look in her eyes waiting to hear their answer.
The Emperor said, "I will be clearing the names of the four martial families. Although there was much confusion during that time and everyone was calling for the death of the four martial families. I never believed them to be guilty to begin with. Neither did the Grand Prince and the First Lady of Wang Royal Manor. Even though we were grieving heavily, we didn't want the real perpetrators to escape. So we pleaded their case. However, we couldn't convince the Dowager Queen, who was the Queen at the time. Nor could we convince Imperial Grandfather, and neither could we find proof of their innocence. All the evidence found indicated their guilt." The Emperor said in a cold hard, grim voice with a dark look on his face.
"Afterwards, when everyone calmed down and began to listen and question things. That's when people began to realized that certain things just didn't add up. Sadly it was already much too late. Imperial Grandfather and I had many conversations regarding this matter when I would visit him." The Emperor said.
"Oh?" The Grand Prince asked with a raised eyebrow. "When did you visit Imperial grandfather?"
"Grandfather and I have lunch all the time when I go out in disguise to do inspections and visit the markets to gauge the mood of the commoners," The Emperor explained.
"Ah," The Grand Prince said. "I understand."
"Anyway, I continued to do many secret investigations into the matter of the rebellion and the four martial families over the past eight years. However, no matter how I searched, I could never find solid concrete proof to prove their innocence. During my investigations, although again, I couldn't find proof. Slowing, I started to suspect Elder Chen."The Emperor said.
"Once we caught the Prime Minister whom I would never have suspected. I began to see the wagging tail of Elder Chen. It was Elder Chen who put the Prime Minister in power. I knew then that this would be a perfect opportunity to catch Elder Chen by the tail. I had all documents retrieved from the manor of the Prime Minister in hope that we could find something that would help us grab the tail of Elder Chen. That is also why I put Imperial grandfather in charge." The Emperor explained.
"Now to answer your question," the Emperor said to Wang Fèn Yǒng. "If any of the descendants of the four families are alive. Upon verifying their identity. I will restore their land, wealth, and titles. All that the four families owned was confiscated. However, I set everything aside. I've never allowed their land and wealth to be touched in the hope that one day. I would be able to restore the land and wealth to the descendants with the bloodlines of the four families. I really pray that the children of the four families managed to survive." The Emperor answered Wang Fèn Yǒng's questioned.
Elder Wang looked at the Emperor and said, "I know you are aware that the Chen Family also has deep roots. Many owe favors to the Chen families. I am sure you also understand just how slippery, sly, and cunning Elder Chen is, are you prepared to make all the charges against him stick?"
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"Yes, I am." The Emperor said firmly.
"Are you prepared to handle the situation if Officials and Minister who owe favors to Elder Chen began to plead his case, attempt to open up negotiations, or make a deal?" The Elder asked the Emperor.
"There will be no negotiation, plea bargains, or deals. I will gladly allow the Officials and Ministers who attempt to do so to join Elder Chen in the Imperial Prison if they wish to do so." The Emperor said with a voice of deep hatred and malice. "I finally got my hands on the man who was instrumental in the death of my Imperial father and assisted in weakening the Tolling Lands with the destruction of the four families. If I have to personally cut his head off with my own sword, then I will. There is no way I will allow him to escape my hands again."
"Good, very good," The Elder said. "I have already arrested all nine generations of the Chen family that resided in the imperial city. I seized the genealogy books of both the Chen family and Minster Lan, the Minster of Personal's family. The Imperial Census was summoned well before dawn this morning. Using the genealogy records of the Chen family that was seized and the Imperial Census records. They have already tracked down all the Chen family members that lived outside of the Imperial City. Qiú Fàn and Shā Qì warriors warrior were already dispatched. They have already brought in many of the Chen Family members that live close to the Imperial City. Those that live far away, I told the warriors to don't bother bringing them back. I gave the order for them to be buried where they are found." Elder Wang reported to the Emperor.
"The Imperial census already finished with the genealogy books. I ordered for the genealogy books to be turned over to the Emperor." Elder Wang gave the Emperor a sly look.
The Emperor's gaze sharpened. He gave his Imperial Grandfather a sharp, deep piercing look and then smiled, "Then I would have to thank grandfather for this gift. It would make everything much easier."
"Fèn Yǒng," the Emperor suddenly called to Wang Fèn Yǒng. "Your young friend bought Elder Chen's old residence."
"I understand, Your Majesty. I will go inspect his residence before the day ends." Wang Fèn Yǒng responded to the Emperor.
Elder Wang saw the slightly sour look on the Emperor's face that the Emperor failed to conceal. Elder Wang chuckled lightly and said, "You're really going to pick a fight with a thirteen years old boy?" Elder Wang was present when the Emperor called Eunuch Rong upon arrival to find out how Liu Tián Qǔ received the royal decree.
Elder Wang saw the confused inquiring looks of the Grand Prince, the First Lady of Wang Royal Manor, and Wang Fèn Yǒng. So he took it upon himself to enlighten everyone about the Royal Decree the Emperor sent and the message Liu Tián Qǔ sent back. The First Lady of Wang Royal Manor hid her amusement behind the pretense of sipping tea. Wang Fèn Yǒng threw the Emperor cold censuring looks silently reproaching him.
The Grand Prince outright released loud guffaws of laughter and said, "Your Majesty, are you really going to be this petty?"
With a face red from embarrassment and anger, the emperor blustered, "He's the one that keeps challenging me!" Causing the Elder's light chuckle to turn into deep laughter and the Grand Prince to laugh even harder.
"Well, you're the one who sent him a slap first." The Grand Prince said through his laughter.
The emperor felt really embarrassed about being caught bullying a young boy and tried to justify his actions. "I'm the emperor. I wanted to give him at least a portion of what Veiled Mountain was worth. Three million is just a fraction of what it is worth. He just started a residence, won't he need money?"
"Imperial Uncle, your poorly disguised reward was more of an insult than a reward." Wang Fèn Yǒng'S cold voice rang out in censure in the Emperor's work studio.
"Liu Tián Qǔ specifically asked for only three hundred thousand gold and no more. That amount was also symbolic in the negotiation. You broke the conditions of the negotiation that was agreed upon and did a very poor job of it. Liu Tián Qǔ is a very prideful person who is not greedy about money, power, or position. However, because you sent it with a decree, he was unable to send it back. How do you expect him to respond? Furthermore, considering the gifts he's given Jǐng Jiè and me, I doubt if he is short of money." Wang Fèn Yǒng defended his friend.
"Oh?" Elder Wang said. "Young Liu gave good gifts to you and your younger brother already?"
"Yes, I actually would like to discuss the gift he gave me at a later time. After we resolve the problems at hand. There is something about the gift that troubles me. I seen it before but I don't know where. However, we will discuss this later." Wang Fèn Yǒng said as he continued to give the Emperor a cold censuring stare.
"Alright, forget it then. You don't need to go inspect his residence." The Emperor said with a sour face.
"That is a separate matter Imperial Uncle. I actually think it is wise to inspect Liu Tián Qǔ residence. It would bode ill for Liu Tián Qǔ if the Chen Family left something behind that shouldn't be left behind. However, if I guess right, Liu Tián Qǔ himself will be coming to me shortly for me to tour his residence with him. When that time comes, I will be sure to do a good job Imperial Uncle." Wang Fèn Yǒng replied in his normal cold voice.
Elder Wang sneakily hid a chuckle and teased the Emperor by saying, "Fèn Yǒng, Young Liu did say he has nothing to hide so he will probably diligently show everything there is to see." This caused the Emperor's face to once again flame red in embarrassment.
The Grand Prince broke into laughter and said, "Imperial younger brother, I had already warned you he had a sharp cunning tongue with the wits to match. I think its better if you don't play the 'Whose sword is bigger game' with him. He is younger, and already he won the first round." the Grand Prince teased.
"Uhm Uhm," Elder Wang shook his head in disagreement. "I would say it's a tie."
Just as Elder Wang and the Grand Prince were about to jokingly start debating on who won the first round, Wang Fèn Yǒng said, "Imperial Father, if we want to check the Chen family manor secretly, the time to do it is now under the cover of the celebrating citizens. Any later, and we may not be able to hide our movements."
The Emperor looked a Wang Fèn Yǒng with a grateful look in his eyes. He quickly took that opportunity to dismiss everyone, excuse himself, and flee his Imperial work studio under the laughter and amusement of his Imperial Family.
Shortly after, everyone dispersed to carry out whatever duties remained to be carried out.