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To Kill and to Not Kill (Part 2)

The emperor finally breathed a sigh of relief.

He had never won against Teacher Zhang in a debate ever since he was a child.

Su Xiao and his daughter managed to give him a chance to catch his breath.

Seeing an opportunity, the emperor exclaimed, "How are you?! How dare you act insolent in the Golden Hall?! Guards, arrest him!"

The warriors from both sides of the Golden Hall immediately restrained Su Xiao and dragged him to the side. A few vassals also immediately assisted the old Assistant Minister to his feet.

Assistant Minister Zhang was now over sixty, but he was still very sturdy. He was hurting just moments ago when Su Xiao collided with him, but he was feeling much better now.

The emperor didn't recognise Su Xiao. He merely considered him the princess's friend and reprimanded, "Hong'er, how can you be so insolent? This is not a place for fun and games. How come you brought you friend with you?"

Princess Hongzhuang quickly explained, "Father, I am not playing. This is Sir Su Xiao, a Baihu from Liu Shan Men. He was also ordered to enter the palace today. I happened to meet him on the street and came with him since we were headed the same way."

Now the emperor remembered who Su Xiao was. He had called Su Xiao here today to compliment and reward him, not to reprimand or punish him.

"Su Xiao, do you know who you just collided with?"

Su Xiao panicked a little after being restrained, "Umm, umm… An old grandpa?"

The emperor almost laughed.

"Yes, this grandpa here. However, this grandpa has done lots of things for the nation. He works hard from the moment he rises to the time he sleeps. All for the sake of ensuring that there is another good official in the Imperial Court. To allow the people to have another upright official to rely upon. This grandpa has many excellent students. I am among his students. However, because he is upright and has been poor all his life, he has not had the money to buy a decent litter. I have wanted to reward him many times, but he has sternly turned me down each time. He is the Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, Sir Zhang Chunfeng… He is a high-ranking official."

Su Xiao only understood what the emperor was saying in the last sentence.

"I apologise! I apologise! I did not bump into you on purpose! Please do not blame me!"

"Not at all, not at all. You did not bump into me on purpose." Assistant Minister Zhang waved his hand as he spoke to Su Xiao. He then said to the emperor, "You have exaggerated your praise for me, Your Majesty. I am too old to carry so many heavy burdens."

As soon as he finished, he made his gaze firm once again, "However, I can fall, but I cannot fail in my duty as a minister! The Orange Prince must be killed as a deterrent! Otherwise, I would not be able to face the previous emperor. If I cannot do so, I shall voluntarily quit, to express my frustration and regret!"

What the emperor had feared most still happened. He had imagined this situation countless times, previously, but he still had no solution. This elder had many students, so if he were to lead a petition, it would most likely result in hundreds of officials refusing to attend conferences. However, he was also aware that Assistant Minister Zhang's temperament was the same as that of a standard scholar; stubborn to the bitter end, with no room for manoeuvring.

The situation became a stalemate.

The emperor couldn't find any words in his defence.

Assistant Minister Zhang then swept his robe aside and knelt down, "Please give the order to execute Li Chengzhi!"

"…"

Su Xiao was standing between the emperor and Assistant Minister Zhang. He noticed the tense atmosphere between them. He couldn't help himself from interjecting, "Gramps, do you want His Majesty to give the order to kill His Highness?"

Assistant Minister Zhang straightened his wrinkly neck, "That's right!"

"Mm… But that would make His Majesty very pitiable."

Following Su Xiao's statement, Assistant Minister Zhang looked up to where the emperor was.

The emperor's eyes were both red and his body was quivering uncontrollably.

If the emperor was a tyrant, then this situation would never have occurred. He could have found fault with his vassals and pinned them with crimes to save his unfilial son. He could even demote and promote vassals, to switch those he liked and listened to him in, instead. However, that would ruin the nations operations and his rule.

The emperor was aware of the consequences of doing that. He couldn't abandon all of the efforts of his ancestors for his son, and he couldn't forsake the people.

The officials of the Imperial Court had continued to bicker with each other over the Orange Prince's judgement ever since. The emperor was already exhausted by it.

If he was a