Read Novel Full Chapter 1098 - 131: Stripped of Title
Chapter 1098: Chapter 131: Stripped of Title
The matter of Duke Zhen, Duke Anyang, and Marquis Xuanping raising private armies and forging weapons in Annan has been verified. Considering they did not transport the private armies and weapons back to Great Zhou, the Emperor did not punish them with treason. However, while they can escape the death penalty, they cannot avoid living punishment.
All those involved in raising private armies and forging weapons in Annan were demoted to commoners. Since Duke Zhen and Marquis Xuanping took the blame upon themselves, claiming Prince Jing and Prince Dai were unaware, Prince Dai and Prince Jing were not implicated.
Several powerful families turned into commoners overnight, causing a tremendous uproar in the capital. The remaining aristocratic families and nobles were terrified by the Emperor’s cold and ruthless actions, fearing they might be next.
Fortunately, after the downfall of these families, the court returned to peace, and the Emperor did not stir things up further, allowing other aristocratic families to feel relieved. They were truly afraid the Emperor might take this opportunity to eliminate all the aristocratic families in the capital.
The Duke Anyang Mansion had long anticipated this outcome and accepted the punishment calmly. Though they lost the Duke title, the Wang Family remains well. As long as the Wang Family exists, there will be opportunities for a comeback.
The Duke Zhen Country Mansion people could not accept losing their Duke title. To the Xie Family, without their help back then, the Zhao family would never have conquered the realm of Great Zhou. They believed half of Zhao’s empire was owed to the Xie family.
Now that the Emperor has deprived the Xie family of their Duke title, it seems like betraying a benefactor, forgetting favors and obligations.
The Xie family was at the top of the aristocratic circle during the previous dynasty, holding significant power and influence. Even at their lowest point, the Xie family held a Marquis title. But now, they have lost all titles and become commoners, an unprecedented occurrence that they found difficult to accept.
The Emperor first killed the former Duke father and son, and now reclaimed the Xie family’s Duke title. Is the Emperor going to exterminate the entire Xie family next?
In recent days, Xie Shi was very troubled as clan members came to him to complain and express their grievances, even saying the Emperor was ungrateful. These words filled him with fear.
With no other choice, he went to confide in Prince Jing.
"Uncle, do you, like those people, believe that without the Xie family’s help, the Zhao family couldn’t have conquered the realm?" Prince Jing toyed with the teacup in his hand, his expression somewhat indifferent. "Do you also think half of Great Zhou’s realm belongs to the Xie family?"
Xie Shi quickly shook his head and waved his hands, saying: "I don’t dare to think that way; I have never thought that way." In both warfare and court matters, Xie Shi wasn’t particularly clever. But he had one virtue, which was never being arrogant. He never believed the Xie family should share the realm with the Zhao family.
Prince Jing glanced deeply at this timid and somewhat foolish uncle, then curled his lips into a light laugh: "Unexpectedly, uncle is the clearest person in the Xie family."
Being praised by Prince Jing, Xie Shi smiled sheepishly: "I may not be as smart as father and brother, and sister, but I can still see some things clearly. Just because father and the others think Zhao’s realm should belong half to the Xie family, that’s why they angered the Emperor, leading to them..." At this point, Xie Shi stopped speaking and sighed heavily.
His words took Prince Jing by surprise; he hadn’t expected that his uncle, often deemed dull by his mother, could see things so clearly.
Xie Shi noticed Prince Jing’s astonished expression and smiled slightly: "You didn’t expect me to see things so clearly, did you?"
Prince Jing nodded lightly: "I didn’t expect it."
"Perhaps because I’m foolish, I can see clearly." He had known since childhood he wasn’t as smart as his brothers, and his father never valued him, allowing him to see things his father and others couldn’t. "Back then, it was us, the Xie family, eagerly cooperating with the Zhao family, not the Zhao family begging to cooperate with us. The Zhao family could conquer the realm even without the Xie family’s help." At that time, lacking grain, weapons, or soldiers provided by the Xie family did not affect the Zhao family. After all, too many people wanted to curry favor with the Zhao family and cooperate with them; without the Xie family, there was still the Wang Family, and also the Xun Family.
"Uncle, only you in the Xie family are clear-minded!" Even his mother believed that without the Xie family’s help, his grandfather and father couldn’t conquer the realm.