Dugu Jingyao is reborn as Li Chu's beloved

Chapter 449: The New Emperor Ascends the Throne, the End of the Yang Family

For the next three days, the atmosphere within the palace was unusually tense. The emperor, for three consecutive days, claimed he was ill and unable to personally manage state affairs, handing the heavy responsibility to the crown prince and ordering him to preside over court meetings in his stead.

Every morning, as the sun rose, the Crown Prince and Li Chu would go to the Emperor's bedroom to pay their respects. However, they were always turned away.

Gao Lishi always stood at the door, smiling broadly and urging the two to come back another day. Although the prince was slightly dissatisfied, he knew that Gao Lishi was a favorite of the emperor and could not argue with him, so he had to return home in disappointment.

Who could have predicted that on the morning of the fourth day, shocking news would explode through the court like thunder—it turned out that the previous night, the emperor had quietly led a team of trusted guards and hurried non-stop to the western suburbs palace! This sudden change of events left the entire court dumbfounded and astonished.

The Crown Prince and Li Chu were relatively calm about this news. After all, they had already more or less realized the deeper meaning behind the Emperor's move.

However, even with some mental preparation, this incident still caused great shock to the court officials. Everyone realized that the emperor's departure meant that he had decided to abdicate and let a virtuous person take over as the emperor, and that this decision was probably irreversible.

Because of this, at the morning court session that day, the ministers were filled with discussion. Finally, one minister stepped forward and addressed the Crown Prince, saying, "Your Highness, the Great Tang is vast and boundless, with a large population. It is truly a great nation that draws tribute from all nations. However, the nation cannot remain without a ruler for even a single day. Now that the Emperor has resolved to abdicate the throne to you, and your appointment as the Retired Emperor is a foregone conclusion, I urge Your Highness to comply with the will of Heaven and the people and ascend the throne on an auspicious day as soon as possible, so as to ensure the eternal stability of the Great Tang and the peace and prosperity of the people." As soon as these words were spoken, the court echoed them.

Li Chu also felt that this was what everyone wanted, so he bowed and said, "Father, what the others have said is true. Since the Emperor has decided to abdicate, please ascend the throne as soon as possible to stabilize the court."

The Crown Prince said with a forced look, "Since that's the case, then I have no choice but to take over," "In that case, the Ministry of Rites should prepare as quickly as possible, preferably before the New Year, so that we can have a good New Year."

The Minister of Rites stepped forward and said, "Yes, Your Highness."

The crown prince nodded, then winked at Li Fuguo beside him. Li Fuguo understood and said, "My lords, if you have anything to say, please report it. If not, please withdraw!"

Seeing that the ministers below did not say anything else, Li Fuguo said again: "Dismiss the court!"

The prince left first, and then the court officials left one after another.

Time flies. About ten days later, the Ministry of Rites had already made preparations. On the 754th day of the twelfth lunar month in the th year of Tianbao, Crown Prince Li Heng held his enthronement ceremony in Zhengyang Hall.

Li Fuguo announced the decree, "By the Will of Heaven, the Emperor declares, I, with my humble virtue, have inherited the sacred artifacts, and I fear with trepidation that I cannot bear the burden. Thanks to the spirits of my ancestors and the efforts of my ministers and the people, I am able to rule the world. I will diligently govern the country and implement benevolent policies to ensure the safety of the people and the security of the state. From this day forward, I will change the reign title to Zhide, grant amnesty to the nation, and start anew with the people. I will reduce taxes, provide disaster relief to alleviate the people's suffering. I will select virtuous and capable officials, rectify the administration, and clean up the political system. I will develop water conservancy projects and encourage agriculture and sericulture to improve people's livelihoods. I wish to work with all my subjects to govern the country and share in peace."

When the imperial edict was announced, the people cheered and shouted "Long live the new emperor!" The new emperor ascended the throne, granted amnesty, reduced taxes, provided relief to disaster victims, appointed talented people, rectified the administration, built water conservancy projects, and encouraged agriculture and sericulture. These series of benevolent policies gave the people hope.

However, since there was a general amnesty, naturally those members of the Yang family who had not yet been convicted were also included. They felt that they had seized the opportunity and would have the chance to strategize again, or even if they could not return to the court, they could still be spared from death.

But who knew that they were thinking too much. It was indeed a general amnesty, but their crimes were not sentenced to death at that time. On the day the prince ascended the throne, he issued an order, asking Li Chu to work with Li Mi, the Dali Temple, and the Ministry of Justice to re-investigate the crimes of Yang Guozhong and others.

Their evidence was already available and did not require further investigation, so when the Yang family was preparing to pack up and leave that night, they were surrounded by the imperial guards again on their way out of Chang'an.

When Yang Guozhong was surrounded, he emerged from his carriage with a solemn oath, shouting, "What are you doing? Even though I am no longer an official, Your Majesty is wise and has issued a general amnesty. My crimes have been pardoned. Why don't you let me and my family go?"

Unexpectedly, the soldiers did not reply to him, but made way for him. Yang Guozhong thought they were reassuring him, so he prepared to return to the carriage and said, "You are sensible."

Unexpectedly, a familiar voice was heard: "Your Majesty Yang Guozhong, where are you going?" A young man came on horseback, it was none other than Li Chu.

Seeing Li Chu, Yang Guozhong remained calm. He bowed perfunctorily and asked, "What do you mean, Your Highness?"

Li Chu didn't want to waste time talking to this kind of person, so he just took out a bright yellow imperial edict. No matter how arrogant Yang Guozhong was, he didn't dare to say anything. He and his family all knelt down to receive the edict.

Li Chu said, "The Emperor, by the Will of Heaven, hereby decrees a thorough investigation of the Yang family. They have privately sold tribute, engaged in corruption for personal gain, formed cliques for personal gain, and provoked murder. Their crimes are unforgivable. All members of the Yang family are stripped of their positions and status, their property confiscated, and their entire clan executed. This is my decree!"

Yang Guozhong was already disheartened after hearing this. He said, "Your Majesty, you cannot treat me like this. I was once a loyal minister of the Tang Dynasty!"

Li Chu threw the imperial edict in front of Yang Guozhong and said, "Perhaps you were once a loyal minister, but you are no longer the loyal minister you once were. You have become a treacherous minister. Didn't you foresee what would happen today?"

Yang Guozhong was speechless, and then Li Chu, without even looking at him, ordered: "Take them all back to the Ministry of Justice and detain them to await execution!"

The soldiers responded in unison, ignoring Yang Guozhong and his family's screams and pleas for mercy. They simply put shackles on them and dragged everyone from the Yang Mansion away like dead dogs.

After sending everyone to the death row of the Ministry of Justice, Li Chu finally felt relieved. He went to the palace to report and then returned to Prince Guangping's Mansion.