Chapter 116: Playing the Innocent After Benefiting

The other political factions were also in a state of panic, inwardly cursing the Third Prince for his poor discipline. Because of such a blockhead, they were all suffering the consequences.

The Crown Prince’s faction fared no better. Did that man surnamed Han really have to eat lamb? Did he really have to indulge his chronic chill? While his soldiers were going hungry, he had the audacity to feast on meat. It wasn’t just meat he was eating; he was consuming the Emperor’s remaining favor for the Crown Prince. Because of this man surnamed Chu, the Emperor had already been expressing his displeasure with the Crown Prince, and for the past two days, the Crown Prince’s followers had been forced to keep their heads down and act with extreme caution. They never imagined that a deputy general in the Capital Garrison would be the source of such a disaster.

The old censor who had initially accused Shen Zhao still stubbornly insisted, "Your Majesty, do not listen to General Chu’s one-sided account. The deputy general is still here; why not ask him if what General Chu says is true?" He did not believe that the man surnamed Chu had truly lived as miserably in the Capital Garrison as he claimed. After all, he was the commander-in-chief; he held the highest authority, and who would dare defy his orders? If such deputy generals truly existed and had committed such heinous crimes, how could General Chu have tolerated them?

The elderly Emperor had long since believed Shen Zhao, and the old censor’s request aligned perfectly with his own intentions. He turned his gaze toward Deputy General Liang. "Do you have anything to say?"

Deputy General Liang stiffened, trembling as he stammered, "Your... Your Majesty... I have nothing to say. What General Chu says is true. Please, Your Majesty, spare me this once. I will never dare to do it again."

Hearing this, the Third Prince’s faction nearly fainted. *Spineless coward! Fool!* Why couldn't he have been firmer and denied everything to his death? Not only was he trembling like a coward, but he had also confessed everything. Was he trying to get them all killed?

The old censor was so infuriated he nearly keeled over. What was wrong with this deputy general? Were he and his wife here just to make a fool of him? This was clearly a trap to ruin him. The members of other factions felt a slight sense of relief; at least there was an idiot standing up to bear the brunt of the Emperor’s rage. They hoped the Emperor would forget about everyone else and focus his wrath on this troublemaker.

"I spare you? Who will spare the Northwest Army soldiers you harmed, and the men you killed? Guards! Drag this beast out and execute him with the most severe punishment." The Emperor was not only angry at this murderous deputy but even more enraged by those who had planted their own people within the Capital Garrison. He could tolerate them building their own power bases, but he could never tolerate them acting above the law, ignoring the state, and slaughtering the innocent.

This was not just a failure to respect Chu Mu as the commander-in-chief; it was a total disregard for him as the Emperor. Chu Mu was a general he had personally appointed—he was his own man.

Deputy General Liang was paralyzed with terror. A foul, wet stain spread beneath where he knelt, and he collapsed onto the floor. He didn't want to die. He shouldn't have had to die; General Chu had already said he would spare him and even let him keep his position. Why did that wretched woman and that viper have to report him to the authorities?

"Your Majesty, mercy! Your Majesty, mercy! I confess everything! I know I was wrong, please spare my miserable life!" Deputy General Liang began to kowtow violently before the high-throned Emperor. Each strike against the floor echoed loudly, and blood from his forehead smeared across his face. Even so, he dared not stop. He wanted to live; even if he were stripped of his rank and reduced to a beggar with no clothes or food, he wanted to live.

"Why are you still standing there? Drag him out and carry out the sentence of a thousand cuts immediately!" Guards stepped forward and dragged the wailing deputy away.

The court fell into a deathly silence. The officials did not even dare to breathe loudly, fearing they might provoke the Emperor’s further wrath. Only one person remained calm and composed: Shen Zhao, kneeling on the ground.

The old Emperor looked at the straight-backed Chu Mu. He felt that Chu Mu had been wronged this time. As an Emperor, he understood: Chu Mu had dispersed his power out of necessity for the sake of the entire Capital Garrison. But those with wild ambitions did not understand. They were probably celebrating now, rejoicing that they had truly hollowed out the commander-in-chief by seizing his authority. While they had held power in the shadows before, Chu Mu had now forced it into the light.

"General Chu, you have been wronged this time. I will never tolerate anyone who defies the law. You are the sole commander of the Capital Garrison, and all authority must rest in your hands. I authorize you to reorganize the force. Anyone who disobeys orders or violates military regulations, you have the right to execute them on the spot."

The Emperor had effectively handed the power of life and death over the Capital Garrison to Shen Zhao. The others were filled with regret, especially those who had planted their own people in the ranks. *Dammit, what is happening?* In the past, the Emperor had turned a blind eye to their meddling, but now he was clearly backing the man surnamed Chu to suppress them and reclaim control. Previously, only Chu was suppressed; now, the tables had turned. It was all the Third Prince’s fault for failing to control his men, dragging them all into this disaster.

"I accept the decree." Shen Zhao had not expected such a massive surprise. This brought her much closer to her ultimate goal. "Your Majesty, I have one more request." She had not come to court today just for this; her true request remained unspoken.

The crowd was stunned. This man surnamed Chu had already gained so much; what else could he possibly want?

The Emperor, feeling that Chu Mu had been wronged and seeing him as a pragmatic man who cared for his soldiers, believed his request would not embarrass the throne. "What else do you wish for, General?" The Emperor had now fully categorized Chu Mu as his own, and his tone was considerably softer.

"It is late autumn, and winter is only days away. The soldiers of the Capital Garrison lack winter clothing. I am currently penniless, having spent everything I had yesterday to hire doctors and purchase medicine for the troops. I have no funds left to provide them with winter gear. I humbly ask that Your Majesty grant the soldiers winter uniforms. I thank you on their behalf for your profound grace."

As she spoke, Shen Zhao kowtowed three times firmly. Each strike echoed in the Emperor’s heart. He looked at Chu Mu with growing admiration; he had not chosen the wrong person. This was the responsibility of a true commander. Over the last two days, he had observed that Chu Mu truly carried the soldiers in his heart; every request he made was for their well-being.

The Emperor cast a cold, sharp gaze toward the Ministers of War and Revenue. The two officials were on the verge of tears. *Why us?* It wasn't their fault. Chu had only asked for three meals a day previously, and they had followed regulations by providing the monthly rations. He hadn't asked for winter clothes before, so it was only natural they hadn't sent any.

"Ministers of War and Revenue, step forward." The two men shuffled forward, dreading what was to come.