eurekapd Chapter 448 Is there anyone still willing to plead for him?
Chapter 448 Is there anyone still willing to plead for him?
When Han Zhong arrived at the entrance of the Golden Palace, he stopped in his tracks.
The morning light poured in through the palace gates, illuminating the entire hall in a golden glow.
Twelve golden pillars with coiled dragons stand majestically, their five-clawed dragons appearing lifelike in the morning light, as if they were about to burst forth from the pillars at any moment.
The floor, paved with gold bricks, was so shiny it reflected the red candles inside the hall, each as thick as a child's arm.
He had entered this door countless times, as the General of Zhennan, as His Majesty's subject, and as a general of the Great Qin.
He received his appointment here, received his orders here, and reported the victory in the western frontier to His Majesty here.
He thought those days would last forever, that he would stand in this great hall until his hair turned white, until he retired and returned to his hometown.
He never imagined that he would one day walk into this great hall like this.
Wearing shackles and being escorted by golden-armored guards, he looked like a prisoner.
Han Zhong's eyes welled up again, and tears silently slid down his cheeks, down his resolute, weathered face.
He didn't wipe it; he just stood there, looking at the familiar palace gate, the familiar dragon pillars, and the familiar golden bricks, his heart filled with an indescribable sorrow.
"Walk."
The golden-armored guard's voice came from behind, cold and devoid of any emotion.
Han Zhong took a deep breath and stepped across the threshold.
His feet were on the gold bricks, and his shackles dragged on the ground, making a clanging metallic scraping sound.
The sound echoed in the empty hall, like a mournful song that no one listened to.
He walked step by step toward the center of the hall.
The two sides of the main hall were already filled with civil and military officials.
Those in purple robes, scarlet robes, and blue robes stood in orderly rows on both sides according to their rank.
They had their heads down and their eyes lowered, like lifeless statues.
But when they heard the clanking of the shackles, they couldn't help but turn their heads slightly and look out of the corner of their eyes.
Go see the General Zhennan, who once stood shoulder to shoulder with them but is now a prisoner.
There was regret, sympathy, indifference, schadenfreude, and a mix of emotions in those eyes.
Like countless needles pricking Han Zhong, he felt as if he were sitting on pins and needles, as if he were walking on thin ice, and ashamed beyond measure.
Han Zhong felt a burning sensation on his face, as if he had been slapped or stripped naked and thrown into the street. Every gaze felt like a knife, stabbing his heart away.
He lowered his head even further, not daring to look at anyone, nor at the high dragon throne.
Han Zhong slowly walked to the center of the hall and stopped.
then,
His knees buckled, and with a thud, he knelt heavily on the cold gold bricks.
Han Zhong braced himself on the ground with both hands, his forehead touching the gold bricks, his long hair slipping from his shoulders and spreading out on the ground.
"Your Majesty, I, your guilty subject Han Zhong, pay my respects."
The hall fell silent for a moment.
The expressions on the faces of the civil and military officials were extremely complex. Some frowned, some sighed, some were expressionless, and some lowered their eyes to hide the schadenfreude in their eyes.
They are currently unaware that Han Zhong is to be executed; they only believe that His Majesty is holding him accountable for the failed campaign against the Moon Goddess Cult.
After all, 50,000 elite troops went on an expedition and suffered a crushing defeat, with heavy losses. The charge is neither too serious nor too minor; it all depends on His Majesty's decision.
Qin Mu leaned back on the dragon throne, one hand supporting his chin. The pearl-adorned tassels obscured his face, revealing only his hard jawline and slightly upturned lips.
His gaze fell on Han Zhong, who was kneeling in the center of the hall, his deep eyes revealing no emotion.
There was only a calm, cold light, like a thousand-year-old icy pool.
"Han Zhong, do you know your crime?"
Han Zhong's body trembled violently.
His forehead touched the gold brick, and his long hair obscured his face, making his expression impossible to see.
His voice was hoarse, with a tremor that went deep into his bones.
"This guilty subject...is aware of his crime."
He did not ask what the crime was, did not defend himself, and did not beg for mercy.
Because this was the only thing he could do, the last thing he could do for his family.
Qin Mu nodded, his pearl-adorned tassels swaying gently, and said softly:
"Since you know your crime, then execute him in three days."
The moment the words fell, the hall fell into a deathly silence.
The civil and military officials suddenly raised their heads, their eyes wide open and their mouths slightly agape.
They thought they had misheard, that His Majesty was joking.
But His Majesty's voice was too steady, so steady it didn't sound like a joke.
After a few seconds of stunned silence.
An elderly official in a scarlet robe rushed out of the queue, his steps hurried and fast.
He knelt beside Han Zhong, his forehead touching the ground, his voice trembling.
"Your Majesty! Although General Han was defeated, his crime does not warrant death! Please reconsider!"
Another old minister in purple robes stepped forward, knelt down, and touched the ground with his forehead.
"Your Majesty! General Han has fought for the court for many years, and his merits are great. Even if he has made mistakes, he should be punished leniently! We beg Your Majesty to show mercy!"
The third, the fourth, the fifth.
One after another, ministers stepped out of the queue, knelt in a row, their dark foreheads touching the gold bricks, and shouted, "Your Majesty, please reconsider!" "Your Majesty, please have mercy!" "General Han's crime does not warrant death!"
The sounds rose and fell, surging like a tide, wave after wave, each wave faster than the last.
Prime Minister Li Si stood at the head of the civil officials' line, his brows slightly furrowed, a faint knot forming between them.
He didn't kneel, didn't plead, and didn't even speak. He just stood there quietly, his gaze falling on Qin Mu's face and then on Han Zhong kneeling on the ground, his eyes full of thought.
He knows His Majesty all too well.
His Majesty has been away from the capital for such a long time. Based on his experience, His Majesty always goes away for such a long time to do something important.
The annexation of Liyang and the marriage to the Empress—weren't these earth-shattering events?
What did His Majesty do this time?
he does not know.
But he knew that His Majesty would not kill Han Zhong just because of a single defeat.
Han Zhong's crimes are certainly not as simple as they appear on the surface.
He dared not speak rashly; before clarifying the situation, silence was the safest option.
Qin Mu leaned back on the dragon throne, looking at the ministers kneeling on the ground, and the smile on his lips deepened.
He didn't speak, interrupt, or stop them; he just listened quietly to the pleas for mercy and the reasons given to exonerate Han Zhong.
After everyone had finished speaking, after the pleas for mercy had gradually subsided, and after the hall had returned to silence, Qin Mu finally spoke.
"Han Zhong, with so many people pleading for you, you deserve to die."
Han Zhong's body trembled slightly.
He understood what His Majesty meant by those words.
His Majesty did not reveal his collusion with Xu Longxiang, his treason, or his plot to assassinate court officials and deceive the emperor.
Any one of those charges would be enough to make him infamous for eternity, bring shame to the Han family for generations, and make his descendants unable to hold their heads high in public.
But His Majesty did not say so.
His Majesty only said that he was "defeated in battle," only said that he was "guilty," and only said that he should be "executed."
His Majesty preserved his last dignity in front of the world, preserved the last face of the Han family, and ensured that he would not be nailed to the pillar of shame after his death, nor be cursed as a "traitor" by future generations pointing at his tombstone.
That's why His Majesty said he "died a worthy death."
He died a worthy death, a worthwhile death, a death he deserved, a death for which there is nothing more to say.
Han Zhong touched the gold brick with his forehead, his voice hoarse and calm, so calm that even he himself was somewhat surprised.
"Yes, Your Majesty is right. This humble subject... deserves to die."
His voice wasn't loud, but it reached the ears of everyone present clearly.
The ministers who pleaded for him were all stunned.
They stared wide-eyed at Han Zhong, at his face mostly obscured by his long hair, at the way his forehead touched the gold brick, their hearts filled with shock and bewilderment.
He was admitting it, admitting he deserved to die, he was determined to die, he didn't defend himself, he didn't exonerate himself.
How can they possibly plead for him now?
He himself has admitted it, so what else can they say?
Qin Mu's gaze swept over the ministers who were standing there, kneeling in a stunned silence, and a slight smile appeared on his lips.
"Is anyone going to plead for him?"
The hall fell silent for a moment.
Everyone was rapidly calculating in their minds.
They began to hesitate. It wasn't that they didn't want to plead for Han Zhong, but Han Zhong himself was determined to die, so what was the point of their pleading?
Moreover, recall the conversation just now.
"Do you know your sin?"
"This guilty subject acknowledges his guilt."
"Since you know your crime, then execute him in three days."
The whole process was as fast as a rehearsed play, with no interrogation, no confrontation, and no chance for them to interrupt.
There must be something hidden behind this, something bigger that they don't know about.
They dared not plead any further.
No one speaks.
No one moved.
They even suppressed their breathing to a minimum.
Qin Mu smiled, leaned back in his chair, and tapped his fingers twice on the armrest.
He lowered his head, his gaze falling on Han Zhong, who was kneeling in the center of the hall.
"Since that's the case, then it's settled. He will be executed at the Meridian Gate in three days."
Han Zhong touched the ground with his forehead, his voice hoarse but calm.
"Your Majesty, I thank you for your great kindness."
He was thanking His Majesty for sparing his entire family from execution, and for preserving his last shred of dignity in the eyes of the world.
This kindness is as heavy as Mount Tai, yet as light as a feather.
Inside the hall, there was a deathly silence.
Qin Mu leaned back on the dragon throne, his gaze sweeping over the lowered heads in the hall, those complex, astonished, puzzled, and thoughtful faces.
He didn't say anything more, but simply raised his hand and waved it lightly.
"Dismiss the court."