A young boy barely twelve was sitting under the plum blossom tree which was in their courtyard awaiting his father. In his hands there was a sheet of paper detailing the feats of General Zhuge Liang as told by his father the previous night.
The boy thus spent the whole day writing and researching about the great general and was filled with growing reverence, yet that could not outshine his longing for his father.
His father, the minister of justice, was upright and righteous. He could not allow any type of mistreatment to happen to anyone and has done his utmost to prevent such. True to his identity he was currently standing before the emperor donned in his official red robes with the classic traditional hat. His hands were out stretched and holding an ivory hu with a grip that showed his unwavering resolve.
"Minister Lu, memorials demanding your impeachment are piled up so high on my desk that the oak beneath it can hardly bear the strain. Pray tell why you find yourself in such a perilous position," demanded the emperor who was seated on his throne clad in his gold garments and the traditional hat.
His gaze looking down on all the ministers and censorate who were standing in rows with their hand out stretched in front of the face holding a hu. They were all in their official robes and the colours represented their position. But all of that was just background scenery, the real scene was happening in the middle of the court where minister Lu was standing alone Like a deep-rooted oak in a field of tall grass unyielding to all the dark and uncanny behaviour of the court.
"Your majesty, decades have I stood beside you, unwavering in spirit and meticulously diligent in my work. Never have I indulged in frivolous activities.
Your majesty, if a plant contacts a disease you cut the part that caught it so as to preserve the pure part and just like that this very court needs a thorough cleansing for it is dying beyond it's core," exclaimed minister Lu while looking directly at the eyes of the emperor and not his hu unyielding to anyone court decorum.
Everyone sucked in their breath, not a single sound could be heard from anyone. How could they talk, they just heard someone sign their own death. The emperor narrowed his eyes and abandoned his hunched back position to sit upright and later stand up so that he can tower over the pesky human who just questioned his rule.
"Minister Lu, am I to believe that every one of my ministers, censorate and eunuchs who are hand picked by me, great under heaven-..." " Your majesty, except a few of us the rest were not hand picked by you."
The silence was now choking. The temperature evidently dropped by a few degrees. The emperor, his towering ego toppled, was now enraged. Adding salt to the wound Minister Lu added, "I look upon this court and see hollow puppets, with not an ounce of lucidity but dancing to the tune of the one who holds the strings."
He's now standing straight and lowered his hand and calmly gazes around the court looking at the ministers who have long lowered their heads and are in a constant bowing position.
He turns back to the Emperor, "and you, Great Emperor, looking every bit the majestic decorative paper weight. You have long surrendered to the puppeteer and are now only a figure head with no real power. I would rather resign than waste my breath in this sea of gilded incompetence."
The Emperor was now red with fury, "resign? What makes you think you can resign after disrespecting the Great Emperor? That is treason!" He's starts to smile maniacally. Cold sweat start dripping down Minister Lu's back as he comprehends what those words might mean.
"For the crime of treason, I the Great Emperor –chosen by heaven's own will– declare the Minister Lu be stripped of his official duties and executed alongside his entire kin. None shall live to see dawn. Heed my words as they are the words of heaven itself."
Minister Lu was taken aback. Preposterous, absurd, the whole situation was laughable and nonsensical. Time started to slow down. He could hear his heart beating and his knees shaking. Did he hear it right? Maybe he was hallucinating.
"Your Majesty, what did you just say?" "Gaurds, carry this pest away." Ignoring the baffled ex-minister he summons the imperial guards into the court and they come rushing in clad in their golden armour together with helmets and a sword on their left hip.
Lu Zheng is bamboozled and stuck to the ground like a tree with deep roots. He turns around and sees the guards rushing to him slowly but surely. Where has it all gone wrong? Was it when he started investigating the noble families or when he met with the all powerful mastermind who orchestrated this whole scenario.
Who's proposal and promise of a life with no worries and full of riches that he so "politely" refused. The table they were sitting on was in no way damaged when it was flipped over and his guest was im mo way angered and left with a bruised ego swearing to finish him off as they looked at the reatreating figure of Lu Zheng while sitted shrouded in black robes hiding their figure and a mask to hide their face. True to their promise they have succeeded and oh was it theatrical.
Lu Zheng didn't even fight back as he was being dragged by the imperial guards, he looked upon the ceiling and in a few seconds it changed and now saw the sky. It was bright with not a single cloud anywhere. Beautiful, he thought. 'Seems like this is where it ends, I had a good run.'
The guards were not polite nor gentle with their actions. Two of the held a firm grip on Lu Zheng's arm and shoulder and dragged him on the floor as the others surrounded him on all sides to prevent him from escaping but how could he, they were all martial arts experts and he was just a scholar.
They shackled his hands and threw him into a wagon, " the Emperor was merciful enough to let you meet one last time with your family before you all perished," exclaimed nameless rough looking soldier was a scare on his cheek.
Lu Zheng paid him no attention but was quite happy with meeting his family and started formulating a plan as the wagon moved towards his manor.