Chapter 77

Li Yunxiao looked up at the sky, where a faint aura of righteousness was spreading, and shook his head in disappointment, saying, "These Grand Tutors of the Imperial Academy have wasted so many years reading the classics of sages. They are not even as good as the scholars. With such a meager amount of righteous energy, I don't even want it."

"Clang!~"

The sound of a sword echoed, and he pulled out the Taiyin Cold Sword without a word and slashed down!

"Hisss~"

Several cries of agony rang out as the necks of five or six people were slashed open, blood gushing out like fountains, and the air was filled with blooming blood flowers. The five or six people, after clutching their necks for a moment, died from excessive blood loss, their pupils dilating as they fell to the ground.

"Zzz!~"

All the Grand Tutors of the Imperial Academy drew in a sharp breath, scattering in horror. They never thought Li Yunxiao would dare to kill so casually outside the Golden Hall. This single sword stroke immediately intimidated everyone, and no one dared to shout slogans anymore.

Li Yunxiao stood with his sword, his face expressionless like a killing god. All the Grand Tutors were filled with grief and some even wept softly.

He glanced at them indifferently and said, "State affairs are not something you scholars can meddle in. Being used as pawns and thinking it's a noble cause is absurd and laughable! The hundreds of scholars from the other day and you today are just pawns, and your actions are of no help to the state. You don't even know how you died. You should stay in the Imperial Academy and focus on teaching and writing."

He looked inside the Golden Hall and sneered, continuing, "Moreover, if Kong Renyi were truly righteous, he wouldn't have let you die for him outside the Golden Hall." After saying this, he followed Li Chunyang into the Golden Hall.

Upon hearing his words, the Grand Tutors of the Imperial Academy became somewhat enlightened, but they still felt deep sorrow at the sight of their fallen comrades.

All the ministers and Qin Zheng had witnessed what happened outside the hall, and they were all shocked, never expecting Li Yunxiao to be so audacious!

Kong Renyi even climbed off his stretcher and cried out, "Heaven!~ Your Majesty, you must do justice for this humble minister and execute these two demons!"

Qin Zheng angrily said, "Li Yunxiao, you have such audacity to kill people outside the Golden Hall right before my eyes! First, you killed the guards, and now the Grand Tutors. You truly have no regard for the law!"

Li Yunxiao walked forward with his head held high, not kneeling, but only clasped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, it is precisely because I respect the law that I killed these people!"

"Nonsense!" Qin Yang jumped out, glaring and said, "Murder must be punished. You dared to commit murder in the palace, showing no respect for the law. You should be executed!"

Li Yunxiao looked at him coldly, a mocking smile on his face, and said, "Does Prince Yang understand the law?"

Qin Yang snorted, thinking to himself that today you are so bold, let's see how you get out of this. He raised his head, putting on a haughty air, and said loudly, "Of course!"

"Since that's the case," Li Yunxiao said loudly, "Is the Minister of Personnel here?"

In the ranks, Ban Wenlin, the Minister of Personnel, frowned, hesitated for a moment, and then stepped forward, saying, "This old man is here. What does Young Master Yun need from me?" As the Minister of Personnel, although not as powerful as Lan Hong and Li Chunyang, he still held a high and influential position. He had not involved himself in the struggles between the two factions, so he did not want to offend anyone, and politely called Li Yunxiao "Young Master Yun."

Li Yunxiao bowed and said, "I have a few questions, and I hope the Minister of Personnel can enlighten me."

Ban Wenlin made a gesture, saying, "Young Master Yun, please speak."

Li Yunxiao glanced coldly at Qin Yang and said loudly, "According to the law, what is the punishment for obstructing the reporting of urgent military intelligence?"

Ban Wenlin was taken aback, then frowned and said, "Urgent military intelligence is a matter of national importance. Obstructing its reporting is punishable by the extermination of nine generations!"

Everyone was stunned, then suddenly enlightened. No wonder this young man shouted about urgent military intelligence from afar. It seems those two guards died in vain.

Qin Yang was also stunned, his face darkening. He never expected Li Yunxiao to exploit this loophole. He said coldly, "Even if those two guards committed a capital offense, what about the Grand Tutors outside the door? You, this cold-blooded rogue, killed them without a word! These Grand Tutors are well-read and usually do not meddle in worldly affairs, dedicating themselves to teaching and nurturing the country's pillars. You killed them without a word! Is this also because of the law?!"

"Ah, you died so unjustly!" Kong Renyi also burst into tears.

Li Yunxiao glanced coldly at the two and sneered, "Not to mention their slander against my grandfather and me. Minister of Personnel, what is the punishment for slandering a high-ranking official?"

Ban Wenlin's frown deepened, looking at Li Yunxiao meaningfully, and said, "If the slander is true, the punishment is beheading."

Qin Yang was taken aback; he never expected such a clause to exist. These high-ranking officials usually slandered each other as a matter of course, but he never considered the status of the Grand Tutors, who were merely low-ranking officials.

Kong Renyi, with red eyes, shouted, "If a commoner slanders, they should be executed. But these Grand Tutors have official positions, and what they said was true. How can it be slander!"

Li Yunxiao narrowed his eyes, staring at him, and said coldly, "Is it true? Master Kong, be careful, I might also accuse you of slander! The king summoned me for an audience, but these Grand Tutors obstructed it. Master Kong, what is the punishment for obstructing a royal decree?"

"Th-this," Kong Renyi was stunned. Obstructing the Li family's audience was their predetermined plan, but they never expected the king to summon them, nor did they expect Li Yunxiao to act so ruthlessly. Now it seems these Grand Tutors died in vain.

Ban Wenlin shook his head slightly and said, "Obstructing a royal decree is punishable by the extermination of nine generations."

Li Yunxiao immediately shouted, "Very well! If I am not mistaken, one of those Grand Tutors is Master Kong's nephew, so the nine generations would naturally include Master Kong. As the leader of Confucianism, Master Kong's every word and action is a model for the world. He should know that the law is as firm as a mountain and cannot be compromised!"

Kong Renyi became flustered, stammering, "You, you, you..." Suddenly, he had an idea and hurriedly knelt before Qin Zheng, crying out, "Your Majesty, please do justice for me!"

Many ministers who wanted to speak up were deterred by not wanting to offend the Li family and by Li Yunxiao's mention of "the law cannot be compromised." They were left speechless.

This matter could be big or small, depending on the other party's attitude. Li Yunxiao was now determined to make it a big issue.

Li Chunyang, standing behind him, was dumbfounded, never expecting his headache to be resolved in such a manner. Is this really his grandson?

The Li family had always been a family of military generals, lacking in verbal skills and unable to match these corrupt scholars. But today, not only did he barge in and kill people, but he also took the initiative, pinning Kong Renyi down in both law and righteousness.

Even the entire court was stunned. If Kong Renyi's crimes were confirmed, would they have to execute the descendant of a sage? But if not, Li Yunxiao would not let it go.

The king was also beginning to feel a headache.

Qin Zheng's face was full of worry, his gaze somewhat dull, clearly in worse shape than when Li Yunxiao last saw him. He was old, indulged in wine and women, and deeply poisoned, and would not last long.

After some thought, he slowly said, "Master Kong is a descendant of a sage and also my tutor. This matter was done by his nephew, not by him. I will pardon him in consideration of his great contributions. As for his nephew, he will be executed, as a response to Yunxiao."

"Long live the emperor, thank you for sparing my life!" Kong Renyi was overjoyed, kneeling and kowtowing repeatedly.

Upon hearing that he would live, he ignored his nephew's fate and continued to flatter, making some ministers who initially thought he was innocent begin to dislike him.

Qin Zheng's decision took both sides into account, pardoning Kong Renyi and giving Li Yunxiao a response, which was a very wise decision. However, Li Yunxiao was not satisfied and shouted, "Your Majesty, you cannot! Because Master Kong is a model for the world, the law must be upheld! Moreover, even a prince is punished like a commoner. Is Master Kong more noble than a prince?"

"Li Yunxiao, you, you, you..." Kong Renyi, seeing that the other party was determined to push him to the brink, roared in anger, "The emperor has the final decision, how can you interfere! You clearly do not respect the emperor!"

Li Yunxiao looked at him as if he were a fool and sneered, "Of course, I do not respect the emperor!"

"Wow!~"

His words caused a wave of shock and horror. Even Li Chunyang was wide-eyed, not knowing what his grandson was up to. Qin Yue felt a headache, wondering how such a favorable situation could suddenly turn into such a rebellious statement.

Qin Zheng was also stunned, then burst into anger, about to react, but saw Li Yunxiao pointing to his heart, with a respectful look on his face.

Li Yunxiao said emotionally, "The emperor should