Corruption

Autumn of Year 126

War of the Sun and the Moon

Imperial Sun Palace

The Imperial Guard Commander was furious and smashed the wooden desk before him.

A Novice Rank 5 Gu Master such as himself couldn't act against a small Rank 3 Gu Master, even after that Gu Master murdered 20 of his men?

The Imperial Guard Commander took several breaths to soothe himself. It didn't matter even if that brat was the son of the Red Duke - before the Imperial Sun, even the Red Duke himself could be executed.

The Punishment Decree would be sent out soon, and whilst the Imperial Guard Commander was unsure whether the Imperial Sun would execute that Zi Yan, it wouldn't be an issue for him to be imprisoned, right?

"Sire, the Punishment Decree has been sent out to all Rank 4 and above Officials." An Imperial Guard entered and passed a small scroll to his superior with both hands.

The Imperial Guard Commander broke open the wax and read it.

*Crunch*

The Imperial Guard Commander smashed the remains of the desk and swore, but this time there was an air of helplessness.

Name: Shan Zi Yan

Crime: Murder of Viscount Shi, Viscountess Shi, Heir of Viscount Shi, 400 Servants, 220 Guards and 22 Imperial Guards

Information: Shan Zi Yan is the Heir of the Red Duke, and is one of the Top Ten Geniuses on the Rising Dragon Board. At 13, Shan Zi Yan is a Novice Rank 3 Gu Master favored by East General Chuan and South General Ren. Shan Zi Yan wanted to marry the Heir of Baron Wu, Wu Qin, but she had been promised to the Heir of Viscount Shi, Shi Tian, by a Contract Gu. Shan Zi Yan went to Viscount Shi's Manor to discuss terms, but couldn't come to an agreement. Shan Zi Yan, in a moment of recklessness, murdered Viscount Shi, alongside the Viscountess and the Heir, who were in the same room. The Official of Punishment agrees that it was an accident, and sentences Shan Zi Yan to a hundred strokes.

Nonsense, even the not-so-smart Imperial Guard Commander could see several holes. If it had been a moment of recklessness, how could Viscount Shi - one Minor Realm higher - be murdered in an instant without a drawn-out battle? If it was a drawn-out battle, why didn't Shan Zi Yan calm down after that "moment of recklessness"?

How about the Servants, Guards, and Imperial Guards - inclusive of an Imperial Guard Captain and Vice-Captain, both of which were more powerful than Shan Zi Yan? Also, wasn't the Official of Punishment a subordinate of the Red Duke? The Imperial Guard Commander wondered if the Decree had even been seen by the Imperial Sun.

Alas, a Rank 5 Official such as himself wasn't important to the Imperial Sun. Did his 20 Imperial Guards die for nothing? The Imperial Guard Commander sighed in despair.