Just looking at the whip, some people's legs went weak and they glanced to the side from time to time for help, but everyone sitting in this room had the surname Gu, and even those who were not surnamed Gu were no less cold-blooded than the Gu family.
They look at their noses with their eyes and their hearts with their noses, pretending not to see them.
But no matter how much hatred they had in their hearts, they did not dare to really give the person up. They had to grit their teeth and admit it. If he died alone, he would be the only one to die, but if he gave the person up, his entire family would die.
Prince, prince, son of the emperor, no matter how big the matter is, it is a family matter, and family matters cannot be fatal.
"Execution."
Thirty-two people were all on the torture bench and lined up neatly in the torture hall, right under the eyes of those nobles. Some were even at their feet. Every whip brought out blood and flesh, and blood and flesh splattered everywhere. From time to time, fresh blood and flesh fell on them. Some people could not help but scream, while others were pale but held on.
The fourth prince couldn't help but get angry, but the imperial concubine held him tightly and didn't allow him to move. On the other side, Rong Fei failed to hold the eldest prince. He stood up suddenly, feeling both fearful and angry, "Seven Constellations, don't go too far!"
Gu Yanxi glanced at him lightly, and even through the mask the eldest prince could sense his indifference. Then he turned back and continued to watch the execution below.
"Thirty-four."
The eldest prince was so angry that he shook off Concubine Rong's pull and ran forward. Without Gu Yanxi's order, he was pressed to the ground before he even stepped onto the stairs. This time, except for the sound of whipping, the victim forgot to even scream.
Everyone who was sitting stood up, with a look of disbelief on their faces.
Surprisingly... Surprisingly...
The eldest prince couldn't believe that he would be treated like this. Since he was born, when has anyone ever touched him? Now, in front of so many people, in front of the third and fourth princes, he was pinned to the ground? !
The eldest prince's eyes were bloodshot with hatred, and he struggled with all his strength, but he forgot that this was not his eldest prince's residence, and those who were suppressing him were not those who wanted to curry favor with him. This was the Qisusi Yamen, and the people here only obeyed two people, and no one would buy his account until he sat in that position.
In the face of absolute force, all his struggles were in vain, and he was unable to move an inch until the flogging was over.
The weapon that the Three Officials usually use is a long whip, and they have mastered the use of the whip to perfection. When it comes to taking someone's life, three whips are enough, but they can also whip someone fifty times and only beat him half to death.
Thirty-two people covered in blood were dragged away. Gu Yanxi stood up and pressed his hand on the memorial that was placed separately, but did not open it. He came out from behind the long table and stood on the steps with his hands behind his back. A distorted voice came from behind the mask.
"The eldest prince, Gu Chengde, has no father and no monarch. He colluded with the Heavenly Master to murder the emperor. He is now demoted to a commoner and imprisoned in the eldest prince's mansion. Without an imperial decree, he is not allowed to leave forever."
"Rong Fei Yu, who has no way of educating her children and is not a decent person, is stripped of her position as a concubine and banished to the cold palace. Without an imperial decree, she is not allowed to leave the palace forever."
The eldest prince raised his head desperately, "How dare you! I am a prince, the eldest prince. What qualifications do you have to judge me? You say that I colluded with the Heavenly Master to murder my father. Where is the evidence? On what basis..."
“Pah.”
A pile of thick files fell in front of him. Gu Yanxi walked down two steps and looked down at him. "Do you think you have done it perfectly? In my opinion, you are just a sieve with leaks everywhere. Gu Chengde, you only have this much ability. That's why the emperor has used the third prince to train you for so many years, but you are still not qualified to be the crown prince."
"You're talking nonsense. If it weren't for the third brother challenging me, I wouldn't have..."
"Why resort to such despicable means? You can't even defeat the Third Prince, and you still want to rule the world? You might as well just give the world to him!" Gu Yanxi sneered and stopped talking nonsense with him, "Fu Gang."
Fu Gang, who was waiting outside the door, took a deep breath, stepped over the threshold and knelt on one knee, "Fu Gang, listen to my order."
"The Yu family will be confiscated and all the people in the three clans will be thrown into the Heavenly Prison to await the Emperor's decision."
"yes."
"No!" Rong Fei, who was sitting on the chair, suddenly realized that nothing could happen to the Yu family. As long as her natal family was still there, there would always be a day for them to turn things around. There was no imperial edict, but maybe there would be a general amnesty someday? As long as her natal family was still there, her son might...
Rong Fei stood up by the armrest of the chair and said word by word: "This matter has nothing to do with the Yu family. De'er was also deceived by me. I did everything. I plead guilty."
As she spoke, Rong Fei pulled out the hairpin on her head and stabbed it at her throat. Amid screams, the hairpin fell to the ground with a thud, and a piece of silver also fell to the ground.
"You have no say in whether I am guilty or not." Gu Yanxi walked over, picked up the piece of silver and put it in her palm. "Even if you really die here today, Gu Chengde will still be imprisoned, and the Yu family will still be confiscated. Come on, ask the queen to go to where she should go."
"Wait, I..."
"The emperor will not see you. You don't have any chance to beg for mercy. Please."
Rong Fei finally couldn't help showing her eyes full of resentment, "You will get retribution, do you think you can enjoy glory forever just because you are in such a good position now? Just wait, whoever sits on that position will not tolerate you, I curse you to have a bad end!"
Gu Yanxi raised his hand to stop others from coming forward. If he continued to act as he did before, perhaps he would not have a good ending and might be suspected by the new monarch. But that would not happen now and would not happen in the future.
He would look a hundred steps ahead before he takes one step, and would always walk ahead of others. He would keep a safe distance, put Azhi in it, protect everything she cared about, and give her the security she wanted. By that time, he should also be protected by Azhi.
Gu Yanxi thought about it and smiled behind the mask.
Once his mood improved, he was even less willing to argue with Concubine Rong. With a wave of his hand, Concubine Rong was immediately covered with her mouth and dragged out.
Gu Chengde was released as early as when Concubine Rong wanted to take the blame, but he didn't say a word whether Concubine Rong took the blame or was dragged away. Gu Yanxi looked down on him even more and had him taken away directly. Such a coward, if he really made him the crown prince, the Daqing Dynasty would be finished.
Glancing at the other princes who were fidgeting, Gu Yanxi felt that leaving Xiaoliu with Azhi was the best idea. As Xiaoliu grew older, he would do whatever it takes to protect himself or to develop ambitions. It would be better for him to follow Azhi and see the outside world, learn how real family members get along with each other, and let him get some popularity.
People in the royal family do not need to learn to be ruthless, it is something they are born with. However, it is not a blessing for the Daqing Dynasty to have an emperor who is too ruthless. With the foundation laid by Concubine Zhen over the years and the harmonious influence of the Hua family and Azhi's guidance, perhaps there will be some unexpected surprises.