Chapter 107 Death Remonstrance

Chapter 107: Remonstrance Unto Death

At this, the crowd fell silent, and many commoners had already stopped to watch.

They whispered among themselves, murmuring about these beasts in human clothing.

Some even called their friends and sent servants to fetch preserved fruits and pastries.

As the saying goes, you can ditch work, skip meals, but you can't miss a good show.

Cheng Ge, clad in plain cloth, stood among the officials, his gaze sweeping the surroundings without a trace of timidity.

"Hmph... Where does this beardless brat come from, trying to sow discord between monarch and ministers with baseless accusations? Are you trying to shake the very foundations of the state!"

A stern rebuke suddenly rang out, and the officials parted to make way.

Liu Xianyue strode forward, wearing a second-rank court robe, a jade belt, a black gauze hat, and an embroidered golden pheasant on his chest.

His eyes were fierce, his face showing no sign of fear as he stared straight at Cheng Ge.

Seeing this, the crowd felt they had found a leader to rally behind and began to shout in support.

"This kid's intentions are truly worthy of death! He must have been instigated by rebels!"

"Absurd! Baseless accusations out of thin air! I bet he's an enemy spy and must be reported to the Ministry of Justice!"

"Lord Zhou is right! He must be severely punished!"

If it had been anyone else, they would have been intimidated by such pressure.

But Cheng Ge's great-grandfather was a founding hero of the dynasty, and his commanding presence far outweighed Liu Xianyue's.

Now, with righteousness burning in his chest, he was not afraid of such blustering monsters and demons.

Cheng Ge met his gaze without flinching, a mocking smile curling at the corner of his mouth.

"Whether these accusations are baseless or not, we both know the truth, plain and simple!

Liu Xianyue... when you sleep soundly at night, do you dare to open your eyes and see!

The hundred thousand wronged souls in Yuanzhou weep blood, longing to devour your flesh and drink your blood!"

At these words, the crowd erupted in uproar.

Some commoners, not understanding, whispered, "What happened in Yuanzhou?"

"Oh, the Yuanzhou River burst its banks some time ago, and I heard many people died."

"I know that, but I heard only about ten thousand died. Where did a hundred thousand vengeful souls come from?

Besides, hasn't the Emperor already allocated disaster relief funds? How does this involve Lord Liu?"

"To be honest, I have a fellow villager who fled from Yuanzhou. He said he never saw any relief funds. Those who survived had to gnaw on tree bark and leaves.

And the dead were everywhere, far more than ten thousand—probably around this number!" He gestured an astonishing number with his hands.

"Even so, Lord Liu serves in the Ministry of Personnel. How could he meddle with the disaster relief funds for Yuanzhou?"

"Ah, you don't know. The current prefect of Yuanzhou, Tang Yushou, is a protégé of Lord Liu.

And the left and right provincial governors of Chengping Province, which oversees it, are his classmates. Officials protect each other—it's a complicated web of interests."

The murmurs among the commoners grew louder, and Liu Xianyue's face darkened.

His expression darkened as he roared, "How dare you, you insolent scoundrel, spew such slander!"

"Ha... Slander? Lord Liu, as the saying goes, a clear conscience isn't afraid of slander. If you truly have no shame before heaven, the people, and His Majesty, why are you so quick to defend yourself?"

Liu Xianyue stood tall, folded his hands, and bowed in the direction of the Son of Heaven, his expression righteous and solemn.

"I am a close minister of the Son of Heaven, the second-ranked scholar in the imperial exam personally selected by the Late Emperor in the twenty-sixth year of Zhaoxi. I have served the Great Zhou for over thirty years.

Though I have no eternal merits, I have been diligent and devoted to the nation and its people!

I have nothing to be ashamed of before heaven, the people, or His Majesty!

My heart is clear as the sun—if there is a single false word, may heaven and earth strike me down and gods and spirits abandon me!"

He turned to look at Cheng Ge, his eyes full of warning as he stepped closer.

"My heart is as clear as a mirror—how dare you villains lightly slander it!

The Great Zhou Law states: falsely accusing a third-rank or higher official without cause—the principal offender is decapitated and publicly displayed, accessories are strangled immediately, and the family is executed for three generations!

Lord Wu, why are you still standing there? Hurry and inform the Ministry of Justice to arrest this criminal!"

Upon hearing this, Wu Yuanji immediately reacted, turning to order Cheng Ge's arrest.

Cheng Ge's expression tightened. He thought, "Liu Xianyue is truly cunning.

First, he makes a grand speech to preempt me, then slaps the label of traitor on me, all to neatly take me into custody.

The Ministry of Justice is filled with Liu Xianyue's confidants, and even Wu Yuanji is on the list of people I'm impeaching.

If I am thrown into the Ministry of Justice prison, not only will I fail to avenge my father and punish the corrupt, but I won't even be able to keep my life."

Looks like today it's do or die—him or me!

Cheng Ge's eyes turned cold. He slowly turned, knelt on the ground facing the sky, and respectfully raised the petition above his head.

"I, your subject, appeal to the heavens. Heaven above, listen to my words.

The floods rage, the great dragon hides, the people suffer, the world is desolate, and the starving fill the fields.

Our lord loves the people and saves all, but corrupt officials block the way, their hearts filthy—ashamed above of the imperial grace, below of the common people!

My father and other righteous men tried to expose their crimes but were harmed instead, crippled in both legs. I wish to seek justice for my father and the people, but I am oppressed by these villains.

Now I, Cheng Muyu, am willing to sacrifice myself: first, to avenge my father; second, to rid the emperor of corrupt ministers; third, for the countless innocent dead.

I pour out my blood to be heard in heaven, begging Heaven to send down divine punishment, as testimony to my intent!

If my words are false, I willingly accept death by a thousand cuts!" Cheng Ge's voice was deep, resonating like a bell through the long street.

After speaking, he slowly rose, gazed at the crowd behind him, and stood before the vermilion palace gate.

Gripping the petition tightly, his eyes gleamed with unyielding pride and defiance.

A fierce wind tore down the long street, making his robe flap noisily, and his long hair was caught in the wind.

But then he turned his body and, like a gust of wind, he charged straight at the stone statue at the palace gate.

In an instant, blood gushed out, splattering directly onto the pleading paper.

In a moment, the black ink on the white paper turned crimson, as if the blood of the people themselves wept here.

Suddenly, a buzzing rang in his ears, its echoes lingering endlessly.

Upon witnessing this, everyone was horrified and turned pale! A clamor suddenly arose!

"The warning bell rings on its own! A death remonstrance! The people's death remonstrance!! There must be grievances!"

Those officials were all scared out of their wits. Wu Jiyuan originally wanted to send someone to drag Cheng Ge away.

But he was firmly blocked by Wu Zhongzi and other officials from the Censorate: "Who dares! This is the people's plea for justice!

Liu Xianyue, if you dare to use private torture, today we will spill blood at the Meridian Gate and take your head!"

Seeing him so desperate, no one dared move rashly for a moment.

Wu Zhongzi hurriedly turned around to check on Cheng Ge's condition.

Seeing his face covered in blood, his complexion pale, and his breath faint as a thread, his admiration instantly peaked.

"Master Cheng, do you have any last words? Today, even if I exhaust all my strength, I will get justice for you."

Cheng Ge: "..."