Just as Cao Feng was beginning to relax, the Emperor abruptly changed his tone.
“Although your superior, middling, and inferior strategies are commendable, they are not enough to offset the capital crime of assaulting a prince and offending the royal clan…”
Cao Feng’s expression froze.
What the hell?
Was there no justice left in this world?
He was still going to be punished?
Was the Emperor really this petty?
It was not as if he had dug up the royal ancestral graves. Was it necessary to push him to death?
Damn it.
In his heart, Cao Feng had already cursed the Emperor’s ancestors several times over.
His life was in danger.
His mind raced frantically.
How could he make the Emperor spare him?
It seemed he would have to take a risky move and survive this crisis first.
“Your Majesty! I know that striking a prince is a capital offense. I deserve death a thousand times over! Even if Your Majesty orders me dragged out and executed immediately, I will harbor no resentment! The burning of the Esteemed Scholars Pavilion and the assault on the prince were entirely my own doing. They have nothing to do with the Cao family. I beg Your Majesty to see clearly!”
Cao Feng spoke sincerely and admitted guilt honestly.
The Emperor’s expression softened slightly.
At least this young man had some sense of responsibility and filial loyalty.
But Cao Feng’s admission made the Sixth Prince and his faction want to laugh aloud.
So what if you are the Young Marquis?
So what if you can compose poetry?
You offended royal authority. You will still die.
Marquis Cao Zhen’s eyes reddened when he saw his son take all the blame upon himself.
He was about to step forward to shield his son when Cao Feng spoke again.
“Your Majesty! My Cao family has served as generals for generations, loyal to the Great Qian Empire! More than thirty of our clan members have fallen on the battlefield! My Cao family is a household of martyrs!”
The hall grew solemn at once.
Even officials who disliked the Cao family had to admit that the title of loyal martyrs was well deserved.
Their hostility toward Cao Feng lessened considerably.
The Emperor nodded slightly, his expression easing.
Cao Feng may have been reckless and may have struck a prince.
But without the Cao family, the Empire would not enjoy such stability today.
The Cao family had merit.
Seeing that the Emperor had not yet spoken, Cao Feng suddenly raised his voice.
“As a descendant of the Cao family, I know my crimes are grave. If I am executed, I will be too ashamed to face my ancestors!”
“I know that Your Majesty has always been benevolent. I beg you to grant me the chance to die gloriously on the battlefield!”
“I am willing, like my forefathers, to carry a three-foot sword and charge into battle, shedding my last drop of blood for the Great Qian Empire! If Your Majesty permits this! I shall die without regret!”
Cao Feng appeared resolute in his plea for death. The officials regarded him with newfound respect.
A fierce father truly has no weak son.
The Cao family was indeed made of real men. This story is hosted at g.com.
“Your Majesty!”
Cao Zhen clasped his fists.
“Brothers fight tigers together. Father and son go to war side by side! Please grant my son the chance to prove his loyalty! I am willing to march with him to Liaozhou and shed our last drop of blood for the Great Qian Empire!”
Their refusal to die disgracefully and their desire to die gloriously on the battlefield moved even the Emperor.
The Second Prince, filled with admiration, stepped forward immediately.
“Father Emperor! Please consider the Cao family’s generations of loyal service and grant Cao Feng the opportunity to redeem himself through merit!”
The Second Prince was already close to the Cao family.
When he spoke, many officials of his faction followed.
“Your Majesty, although Cao Feng has been reckless, his loyalty to the Great Qian Empire shines like the sun and moon!”
“We implore Your Majesty to grant him the chance to atone through service!”
“I second the proposal!”
“I second the proposal!”
…
As more ministers spoke up for the Cao family, the Sixth Prince was startled.
He had not expected Cao Feng’s willingness to die to inspire such support.
But did going to war mean escape from death?
Naive.
On the battlefield, blades and arrows had no eyes.
One could die without even leaving a corpse behind.
The Cao family was loyal, and Cao Feng was willing to die gloriously rather than be executed.
If he insisted now on immediate execution, he would earn a reputation for cruelty.
After brief thought, the Sixth Prince stepped forward.
“Father Emperor! Cao Feng assaulted me. His crime is unforgivable! According to law, he should be executed publicly to uphold royal dignity! But the Cao family is loyal and meritorious! Since Cao Feng wishes to die gloriously in battle and shed his blood for the Empire, I also ask Father Emperor to grant his request and allow him the chance to die in war!”
He glanced at Cao Feng and sneered inwardly.
You wish to die in battle?
Then I shall grant you that wish.
If you try to evade service or flee, your crime will only grow worse.
The Sixth Prince signaled subtly.
Officials of his faction also stepped forward to request that Cao Feng be granted the opportunity to die on the battlefield.
Cao Feng swept his gaze over the Sixth Prince’s faint smile and understood immediately.
Their sudden support was no kindness.
They wanted him dead in war.
Heh.
If he could leave the royal Capital, the sky would be vast and the sea boundless.
It would not be so easy to eliminate him.
If pushed too far, he could always flee into the mountains, or even rebel.
At worst, he could hide in the wilderness, marry a few beauties, and live peacefully.
The Emperor looked at the many princes and ministers pleading for mercy and sighed.
Cao Feng stared in disbelief.
You old fox.
If you intended to spare me, why not say so earlier?
You nearly scared me to death.
And now I have begged to go to war.
If I could live safely, who would willingly risk their life on the battlefield?
“You have voluntarily requested to serve and fight for the Empire. This pleases me greatly.”
“You were once reckless, but since you show sincere intent to serve, I shall grant your wish.”
Cao Feng silently cursed.
Hypocrite.
If you were going to spare me, you should have said so earlier.
Now you approve my going to war. This is clearly retaliation.
Public vengeance disguised as justice.
Was striking the Sixth Prince truly worth this?
Petty and narrow-minded.
“I hereby pardon your capital crime of assaulting a prince and offending royal authority.”
Many sighed in relief.
No matter how dissatisfied Cao Feng felt, the weight on his chest finally eased.
He had narrowly escaped death.
The royal family was indeed not to be trifled with.
“By royal decree!”
“Appoint Cao Feng, heir of the Marquis of Zhenbei’s Residence, as a ninth-rank Renyong Captain in the Liaozhou army, to atone through merit!”
“Thank you, Your Majesty, for sparing my life. I will serve with utmost loyalty…”
Cao Feng kowtowed excitedly.
Damn it.
He was alive.
It had not been easy.
The Emperor interrupted him.
“Cao Feng. You were once reckless. I forgive your past misdeeds. This is your chance to redeem yourself. Do not disappoint me. I expect you to fight bravely and earn merit, so as not to shame the Cao ancestors. To prevent you from growing complacent…”
“You may return to the royal Capital only after you accumulate enough merit to be promoted to General Yunhui. If you fail to reach the rank of General Yunhui, then you shall guard the Frontier for the rest of your life and never set foot in the royal Capital again.”
Cao Feng felt deeply displeased.
This was blatant retaliation.
General Yunhui was a senior third-rank military post.
He might not reach that rank even in old age.
This royal decision was vicious.
Yet the civil and military officials saw nothing improper.
Cao Feng had committed a crime deserving ten thousand deaths.
The Emperor had shown extraordinary mercy by sparing him.
Not only had he granted him the chance to redeem himself in battle, but also offered the possibility of returning if he rose to General Yunhui.
Such benevolence.