Chapter 831: 828: The Scourge of the Family

Chapter 831: Chapter 828: The Scourge of the Family

“Uncle Ninth! What should we do now?” Murong Ping wiped away his tears and choked out, “Those old aristocratic families from the Wei Kingdom are still waiting outside!”

Inside the grand hall, it was deathly silent, only the uneven breaths of those present could be heard.

After a long while, Xiao Rongyan finally rasped, “Uncle Feng, have someone properly settle my royal brother’s body, and send him back to Yan Kingdom at dawn tomorrow.”

“Yes!” Feng Yao kowtowed.

“A Ping, dry your tears and come with me to see those old aristocratic families!” Xiao Rongyan slowly laid Murong Yu’s body flat from his arms.

“But Uncle Ninth, you have…,” Murong Ping saw the blood of Murong Yu on Xiao Rongyan’s sleeves and chest, “blood all over you…”

“Send someone to fetch me a set of identical clothes,” Xiao Rongyan’s voice was extremely cold and desolate, “Be quick!”

Painful as it was, he had to muster his spirit and pretend nothing had happened to deal with those old aristocratic families from the Wei Kingdom right after his brother’s departure.

Xiao Rongyan lowered his gaze to his pale, peaceful brother, recalling his mother’s visage when she passed, the pain tearing at his heart. He tightly closed his eyes.

From today on, he would never… have an elder brother again.

·

The old aristocratic families of the Wei Kingdom stood in front of the grand hall, discussing and speculating. They wondered why, upon entering the hall, the Yan Emperor immediately had the guards close the doors without summoning them for an audience.

Before long, the doors opened again, and the Ninth Prince of Yan, Xiao Rongyan, who had arrived with Murong Yu, emerged, followed by the Second Prince, Murong Ping.

The old aristocratic families of the Wei Kingdom craned their necks but saw no sign of the Yan Emperor inside the hall.

Xiao Rongyan stood with his hands behind his back, the silver mask on his face gleaming in the morning light. In a cold voice, he said, “My royal brother knows that you have gathered here today under the pretense of paying homage, but in truth, you are here to negotiate terms and resist the new governance! My royal brother does not wish to waste time with you, so he has asked me to convey his words. Remember well, Chang City is now a part of Yan Kingdom. All lands of Yan Kingdom must follow the new governance. Those who do not comply will be dealt with according to Yan law!”

As soon as Xiao Rongyan finished speaking, an elder from the aristocratic families stood up in defiance, “Our Wei Kingdom has always followed the old governance, and we were once dominant as well! Now that Yan Kingdom has just taken over Chang City, you should pacify us old aristocratic families to stabilize the regime! You should even combine the best of both nations’ governance to truly unite Wei and Yan into one inseparable entity! Why impose Yan Kingdom’s tyrannical governance, scorned by the noble families of other nations, directly on Wei Kingdom?!”

“I forgot to mention, at this moment… the Great General of Yan Kingdom, Xie Xun, has already captured Weishu City. The Wei Kingdom… is no more!” Xiao Rongyan’s rich voice carried a hint of mockery, deliberately intimidating these old aristocratic families, not taking them seriously. “The Wei Kingdom followed the old governance, which is why it was destroyed by Yan Kingdom! Now, the land you stand on is Yan Kingdom’s land. On Yan Kingdom’s land, you must follow Yan Kingdom’s law! If you are unwilling, you are welcome to die for your country! Let those who dare… be given an honorable burial! Guards, bring this man a sword!”

At Xiao Rongyan’s command, a Yan soldier drew his sword and handed it to the infuriated member of the Wei Kingdom aristocracy.

“Anyone else who wishes to die for Wei Kingdom, feel free…” Xiao Rongyan smoothed his sleeves, his gaze growing colder, “You are all captives of Yan Kingdom, yet you dare to negotiate with the Yan Emperor, thinking too highly of yourselves.”

Having said that, he fixed his gaze on the previously vocal elder of the Wei Kingdom aristocracy, “This lord… won’t you leave now? Or do you not dare to die? Do you not dare to die for your country?”

Among the aristocracy, a few who recognized the difference between the Monarch of Yan Kingdom and the former Monarch of Wei hurriedly stepped forward to bow, “Ninth Prince, pardon us! We have relied on our aristocratic status to survive in this world. The new governance of Yan Kingdom… is harmful and useless to us old aristocratic families. We are naturally displeased! We hoped the Yan Emperor would adjust the new governance a bit, so our descendants could continue to live.”

“The old aristocratic families were of Wei Kingdom, not of Yan Kingdom. Even the old aristocratic families of Yan Kingdom… would not dare to defy the imperial decree and national laws!” Xiao Rongyan sneered, “Yan Kingdom places the people first, and no one can be an exception. This is my final word… Either you die for Wei Kingdom by your own hand, or you follow Yan law and become good citizens of Yan Kingdom.”

“Xiao Rongyan! Though we have surrendered to Yan Kingdom, our families have deep foundations. If we die here today, do you think… Yan Kingdom can peacefully occupy these Wei Kingdom cities?” Another elder from the aristocracy raised his voice.

Xiao Rongyan nodded, drew the sword from Murong Ping’s waist, and walked towards the elder.

The elder retreated two steps, but before he could speak, the sword flashed in the golden sunlight, and blood sprayed.

The old aristocratic families recoiled in shock, but were stopped in their tracks by the Yan soldiers drawing their swords behind them.

Xiao Rongyan casually tossed the sword back to Murong Ping. Murong Ping, stunned, watched as his Uncle Ninth drew a handkerchief from his sleeve, nonchalantly wiped the blood from his hands, and dropped the handkerchief beside the elder’s corpse. “Each and every one of you here, who else wishes to die?”

The old aristocratic families of Wei Kingdom held their breaths, not daring to make a sound.

“You reminded me, your families have deep foundations indeed. Therefore…” Xiao Rongyan spoke coldly, “Order the troops surrounding the estates of these old aristocratic families to confiscate their properties immediately. Any elite warriors raised are to be killed without mercy. If their families resist, do not spare their lives. Announce to the people of Chang City that they need not fear. After we confiscate the estates of the old aristocratic families, we will distribute farming tools to the people, granting each household quality farmland according to their size so they may live in peace and work happily. This way… let’s see if any common people will oppose Yan.”

Suppress the aristocracy, benefit the people.

The common people far outnumber the aristocrats, after all.

And do the common people not hold grievances against the oppressive aristocrats?

Using thunderous methods to deal with the aristocrats would indeed kill the chicken to scare the monkey, and then bestow favors upon the people, bringing them benefits. Only with both power and benevolence could the chaos in the Wei Kingdom be quelled and the people willingly become citizens of Yan, not daring to oppose Yan.

“Yes!” Murong Ping saluted, the wind at his feet, leaving with great momentum.

“Spare us, Ninth Prince!” The old aristocratic families hastily knelt down to beg for mercy.

“Spare us, Ninth Prince!”

The cries of the old aristocratic families of the Wei Kingdom echoed throughout the Imperial Palace.

Xiao Rongyan’s icy gaze swept over these noble families of Wei, looking at the once familiar faces who were high and mighty, his voice grew even colder, “Pawns of a fallen nation, dogs without homes, you should be cautious and humble. Who dares to arrogantly negotiate terms? How audacious?!”

Having spoken, he said indifferently, “Imprison them all! If anyone is not obedient, their entire family shall accompany them to the Netherworld!”