What of it? They brought it upon themselves, didn't they? No one would pity them, and if anyone did, they'd deserve to be told "serves you right."
"Then let's start with the Tu Manor today," Yu Jingchen said as if discussing something inconsequential.
Within the manor were mostly maids and servants. For many, they were indeed innocent.
With Yu Jingchen's command, someone went to deliver the edict. Today, they were to die; there was no other choice. Their misfortune was simply their lot.
"After the Tu Manor, no bodies are to be collected for three days. Keep the gates open, so everyone can see clearly and remember," Yu Jingchen added.
Nanzhi Yun, nestled in Yu Jingchen's arms, found his words chilling. Ten or so households; how many people would that be? Nanzhi Yun felt fear but remained silent. Yu Jingchen gently patted her, as if to comfort her.
Then, he looked at the imperial consorts who had just been brought forward. Nine generations of their families… the nine generations of these dozen or so ministers amounted to nearly three hundred people, from the elderly eighty or ninety years old, to infants still in swaddling clothes.
Nanzhi Yun saw them too. She didn't know how Yu Jingchen would deal with them, but… those infants and the elderly should…
"Take them all to the execution grounds. The men will be torn apart by chariots, the women beaten to death, and then… no bodies are to be collected. Release wild dogs into the execution grounds to feast," Yu Jingchen showed no intention of sparing anyone.
This command truly terrified Nanzhi Yun, and even the Empress Dowager looked over.
"Your Majesty…" Nanzhi Yun felt this might be too severe… Among these family members were some former old officials… In any case, if this were to happen, it might leave a bad reputation.
"Yun'er must know that the phrase 'cut the weeds and root out the evil.' If some are left alive, they could become future threats. Today, I have decreed the deaths of their closest blood relatives, and tomorrow they will have a reason to trouble me. Therefore… they must die. There is no room for leniency. I will not allow the possibility of such a disaster occurring. Do you understand?" Yu Jingchen tried to explain to Nanzhi Yun.
"But the elderly and the infants…" Nanzhi Yun could not ignore them.
"How do you know the elderly won't cause trouble later? How do you know the young ones won't seek revenge when they grow up?" Yu Jingchen's tone was devoid of emotion.
Nanzhi Yun was stunned by his words. But… she looked at the elderly who could barely kneel and the infants in their mothers' arms who understood nothing…
"Consort… Noble Consort Shu, please save my child. I am willing to die, but my child is only three months old… Noble Consort Shu… he has only just come into this world, and only learned to lift his head two days ago… I beg you, save him," a woman, seeing Nanzhi Yun, seemed to have found a savior.
Only three months old… Nanzhi Yun's heart softened. She admitted that she was touched by those words. Three months… perhaps only just able to see things clearly.
"Noble Consort Shu… my child is also only seven months old. He was premature, and he usually doesn't have the strength to cry for long. He has finally started to learn to speak. He is innocent, Noble Consort Shu. Please spare him, won't you? I beg you, I will kowtow to you!" another woman pleaded.
Nanzhi Yun dared not look at them, but…
"Your Majesty…" Nanzhi Yun shook her head, "They are merely children not yet a year old."