Echoes of My Heart Throughout the Court

Elsewhere.

“What did you just say?!”

In the nearest yamen, the Jinyiwei officer’s face turned dark. He ground out his words between clenched teeth, “Is this what they call protecting someone?!”

What kind of reckless disregard for their own lives—and their family’s nine generations—was this?

The woman accompanying them froze, her mind racing. A suspicion bubbled to the surface: Could this man’s identity… be extraordinary?

Her guess was quickly confirmed.

The two Jinyiwei officers stationed at the yamen didn’t hesitate. They hauled in a local magistrate and a death-row prisoner, then shot the prisoner point-blank. Blood sprayed as the man’s head exploded like a melon, leaving the magistrate trembling uncontrollably, his legs giving out beneath him. Another official outright wet himself.

After issuing a stream of threats, the Jinyiwei divided their tasks. One raced off on horseback to fetch the imperial sword and swiftly mobilize reinforcements. The other set off to report directly to the princess.

“You said what?!”

“I have the authority token and an imperial decree! Mobilize the troops immediately! You, you, and you—notify the Minister of Punishments, the Chief Clerk of Punishments, and the Military Affairs Bureau Secretary!”

After assigning the tasks, the princess wasted no time and personally set off to rally the soldiers.

When the Minister of Punishments received the news, his expression shifted from pale to stormy. “Xu Lang, you’ve truly brought me to ruin!”

Then, with a snarl of rage, he cursed, “Ignorant fools! What River God?! If it were real, floods would never happen, and droughts wouldn’t exist! Superstition, utter nonsense!”

Thinking of that Xinghua Prefect, he gnashed his teeth in anger, wishing he could devour him alive.

“Exterminate his entire clan! I must petition His Majesty to wipe out his nine generations!”

When Lian Hang heard the news, he uncharacteristically broke out in a sweat on this freezing winter day. Without hesitation, he asked for directions and sprinted toward Tingzhou Prefecture.@@novelbin@@

Liang Rui was the last to hear of the incident. After listening, his vision went black as he reached out to steady himself against the wall. It took him a long moment before he finally said, “Emergency dispatch! Report this matter back to the capital immediately!”

Year 34 of Tian Tong Era, New Year’s Day.

The disaster in Fujian was nearing its end, and the emperor and his officials in the capital were enjoying a peaceful New Year.

That year, snow fell like fluttering blossoms, and during the grand court assembly, the Emperor of Da Xia smiled and said, “A timely snow promises a prosperous year. My dear ministers, today’s snowfall, as it dances in the air like flying petals, is a divine blessing upon us.”

“At this festive time, I express my heartfelt gratitude to all of you for your tireless efforts and loyal dedication to the country. Without your collective commitment, the peace and prosperity we enjoy today would have been impossible. Thanks to your contributions, Da Xia thrives in stability, prosperity, and harmony. This brings great comfort to my heart…”

Before he could finish his speech, a messenger burst into the hall, bearing an urgent report delivered over 600 miles. The man hadn’t bathed for days, and the stench was overwhelming, but none of the censors dared rebuke him. They watched anxiously as he presented the emergency report.

“Could it be that the disaster in Fujian has worsened?”

“Or perhaps another calamity has occurred elsewhere?“

The emperor himself had similar thoughts. But the moment his eyes landed on the short, shocking message, his entire body trembled violently. He rose abruptly from the dragon throne, roaring, “What are you all good for? Where are the Jinyiwei? Are the Jinyiwei I sent there only good for eating and doing nothing?!”

The officials were baffled and confused.

Then the emperor bellowed, “How could Xu Yanmiao be captured by villagers and offered as a sacrifice to the river god?!”

Officials: “?!”

In an instant, sweat drenched their robes.

“Thud—”

One official fainted on the spot, his forehead smashing into the floor. Yet, as if he couldn’t feel the pain, he stubbornly rose, swaying on his feet, and declared: “Exterminate their entire clan! Your Majesty! Their nine generations must be eradicated!”

To everyone’s surprise, many officials in the capital echoed the sentiment.

Meanwhile, the local officials in attendance nervously swallowed hard.

“Who… exactly is Xu Yanmiao? What kind of person is he, to provoke such fury when something happens to him?”