I Only Wanted to Die, So How Did I Become Famous and Successful? - Chapter 14:
Chapter 14: The Beast Among Beasts
“Corruption exists—it cannot be denied. Censor Mu’s words struck the heart of the issue. I shall submit a memorial regarding the disaster relief shortly and ask Your Majesty to review it.” Wen Gongdan then turned, glancing at Mu Qingbai with meaningful eyes, “Additionally, since Censor Mu has made a meritorious suggestion, I request that Your Majesty reward him heavily!”
The court was instantly in an uproar. Many looked at Wen Gongdan with admiration.
“Minister Wen truly has great tolerance, even going so far as to speak in favor of a mere Censor without holding past grievances!”
“If it were me, I’d have skinned that brat alive and stuffed him with straw!”
Mu Qingbai, however, frowned and silently fixed his gaze on Wen Gongdan.
Wen Gongdan, of course, wasn’t that kindhearted.
To rise to the rank of Minister, one had to be sharp. The dirty dealings behind the scenes had already been exposed by this reckless brat.
Continuing to cover up would only be foolish. The current Emperor was no pushover. The damage to the civil officials’ interests was already done, and continuing to confront Mu Qingbai directly was the worst strategy. Upright and incorruptible officials never lasted long.
Yin Yunlan was quite satisfied with Wen Gongdan’s retreat.
“Then…” Yin Yunlan was about to speak when—
“Wait!” Mu Qingbai suddenly cut in.
Yin Yunlan looked at him in confusion, “Mu Qingbai, is there something more?”
“I am a Censor! If a Censor’s accusation is accepted by the Emperor, then it should lead to punishment. What now? Will Your Majesty not enforce the penalty?”
Yin Yunlan froze. His forceful tone—it felt like he was cornering her.
And this pressure… coming from a teenage boy?
“If Your Majesty refuses to punish wrongdoing, then what purpose does the Imperial Censorate serve? If memorials and accusations are ignored, who will dare speak up in the future?”
The Military Generals couldn’t help but cheer, “Well said!”
The Civil Officials, on the other hand, all wore gloomy faces as they stared at Mu Qingbai.
This ungrateful wolf!
Minister Wen had just pleaded a reward on his behalf, and now he repaid him by demanding his punishment?
Outrageous! Heartless!
Unheard of! Unseen before!
Wen Gongdan could only lower his head and say, “Your Majesty, I am guilty. Please grant me punishment.”
Yin Yunlan nodded slightly and was about to speak—
But Mu Qingbai interrupted again, “Failure in disaster relief, poor governance, holding office without performing one’s duty—Wen Gongdan deserves death!”
The entire court was stunned. Even Yin Yunlan looked at Mu Qingbai in disbelief.
He stood there alone, his gaze sharp, his tone cold. He didn’t even seem human.
The vast Grand Hall fell silent.
Wen Gongdan, still kneeling, turned to look at Mu Qingbai.
So ruthless.
Right off the bat, he called for execution!
“Enough, Mu Qingbai. Step back for now…” Yin Yunlan tried to smooth things over.
“I haven’t finished. Your Majesty appointed me as Censor, and now you want to silence me?”
Yin Yunlan choked. With no choice, she said, “Very well. Continue.”
“The Ministry of Rites oversees ritual and education. If the common people rebel, then the Ministry of Rites is at fault. Severe crimes call for dismemberment, lesser ones for exile, forced military service, and confiscation of property!”
“The Ministry of Works handles construction and engineering. If a single storm causes widespread flooding, then this is their fault. Severe crimes deserve death!”
“The Ministry of Appointments promotes local officials. Given the disastrous scale of this event, how can those officials be without blame? If the Ministry of Appointments promoted such useless officials, how can they be guiltless?”
“The Bureau of Astronomy should oversee the calendar, yet it claims to read celestial signs, disrupting governance. Laughable and hateful—deserves beheading!”
“I ask that Your Majesty mete out punishment accordingly!”
Everyone was dumbstruck.
Even Yin Yunlan was no exception.
Holy hell…
He’s gone mad?!
This teenaged Censor, barely past his youth, exuded more killing intent than the seasoned generals who’d seen war.
His first time in court, and he demanded the execution of half the Six Ministries.
Yin Yunlan’s heart raced. If she really followed Mu Qingbai’s recommendation, they’d be digging another few mass graves…
“Is he truly unafraid of death?”
Someone shivered and whispered.
Yin Yunlan slammed her hand on the Dragon Desk and shouted, “Convey Our decree: Vice Ministers and above of the Ministries of Appointments, Rites, and Works will have one year’s salary withheld. The Chief Astronomer of the Bureau of Astronomy is to be thrown into the Imperial Prison—awaiting execution! Let this serve as a warning!”
The officials immediately knelt, “We accept the punishment! Long live Your Majesty!”
Yin Yunlan turned to Mu Qingbai and said, “Mu Qingbai has spoken with merit. Promote him to First Rank. Reward—”
“Wait!”
The entire court shuddered.
Yin Yunlan subtly shook her head at Mu Qingbai, hinting that he should stop here.
She intended to protect him, but this guy better not be too stubborn.
Even loyal ministers shouldn’t act like this!
“I still have one more accusation to submit.”
“And who else do you plan to impeach?” Yin Yunlan asked playfully, “If you keep this up, Mu Qingbai, I’ll have no one left to use.”
“I had only intended to file this one memorial. But I wished to avoid trouble, yet trouble has come to me.”
The Civil Officials almost cursed aloud.
That damn Chief Astronomer—why did you provoke this madman?
“Very well. Proceed.”
“I impeach the Grand Marshal of National Defense for overstepping her authority and disregarding the law! Her crimes are unforgivable!”
The air went cold.
No one breathed.
Just from Mu Qingbai’s posture, they could tell he was absurdly bold.
But they still underestimated him.
Crack!
The weasel-hair brush in Yin Yunlan’s hand snapped in two.
The Military Generals’ faces turned ashen.
They hadn’t expected their turn while watching the show!
The Grand Marshal of National Defense was the undisputed leader of the Military Generals!
Unbelievable. Too outrageous!
The Civil Officials wore even more bizarre expressions.
They couldn’t figure out which side Mu Qingbai was on.
He offended half of the Six Ministries—clearly not aligned with the Civil Officials.
But then he turned around and impeached the Grand Marshal—so he wasn’t on the Military Generals’ side either?
Could he be a lone minister?
But everyone knew the Grand Marshal was the Great Yin Empire’s War Goddess—the Empress’s own sister.
She was the Empress’s reverse scale!
How was this any different from questioning the Empress herself?
Yin Yunlan’s face darkened. She gritted her teeth, “You dare say her crimes are unforgivable—do you know why you’re even standing here today?”
“I do. Precisely because I stand here, I say her crimes are unforgivable.”
“Absurd! I ask you—do you not know it was the Grand Marshal who saved your life?”
Hiss—
The entire court gasped.
They’d been wrong.
Utterly, laughably wrong.
This wasn’t just rebellion…
This guy wasn’t even human!
A beast. A beast among beasts!
He even impeached his savior!
“I was a condemned man. If even a man already sentenced to death could be saved, doesn’t that mean the Grand Marshal’s power exceeds the Emperor’s?”
“What punishment would you suggest?”
Even a fool could hear the icy fury in the Empress’s tone.
“Strip her of all titles! Reduce her to a commoner!”
Unexpected yet somehow expected—everyone heard Mu Qingbai’s words clearly.
All eyes turned to the high platform.
They awaited the Empress’s response.
Moments passed.
“Mu Qingbai… are you truly unafraid of death?” Yin Yunlan’s voice was soft, yet full of imperial might.
“This child is insubordinate and mad. He’s no longer fit to be called human. If we don’t kill him, the public’s anger won’t subside!”
“I ask Your Majesty to execute him!”
Military Generals and Civil Officials, for once, united as one.
The vast Grand Hall, all kneeling as one.
“We second the motion!”
Smack!
Yin Yunlan slammed the desk and pointed angrily at Mu Qingbai.
“Guards! Seize this—”
Her words halted.
Sunlight streamed through the hall’s open doors.
Mu Qingbai stood alone in the light, his figure faintly haloed in gold.
The Imperial Guards stood on either side, blades frosted with cold.
Yin Yunlan blinked in a daze. For a moment, she thought she saw an almost manic gleam of fervent excitement in Mu Qingbai’s eyes.
Like a sage…
She didn’t know why, but suddenly, her mind recalled something Mu Qingbai once muttered in the Imperial Prison, moments before execution.
[The frontier is hard to cross. Who pities those lost along the way? Meeting by chance in drifting waters—we are all strangers in a foreign land.]
What a lonely figure.
Just how disillusioned must one be with the world… to embrace death so fearlessly?
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
NoiceReader
Thanks for the chapter! Dang. Aura farming.