141: After thirty lashes, you can go.

The three-day deadline was enough for everyone in the capital to make their choice.

Aristocratic Families and wealthy merchants almost without exception chose to stay.

They were either afraid of Liu Chongshan's threats or reluctant to part with the prosperity of the capital's Foundation.

Only a few humble officials, poor commoners, and those who truly believed in Lord Chuping's miracles decided to follow the Emperor south.

And Wang Guanli, the Grand Tutor who had once opposed the relocation of the capital in the imperial court, made the most correct decision of his life.

Even though he had been disowned by the Wang Family the night before.

***Two days ago, in the Wang Family ancestral hall.

"Wang Guanli! I think you're crazy?!"

The Wang Clan Chief, who was also Wang Guanli's elder brother, slapped him hard across the face.

"In recent years, you've been careful and cautious in the imperial court, never making a single mistake, which allowed us to maintain the Wang Family's wealth. Now, why are you so determined to go to Qingzhou, to pledge allegiance to that wet-behind-the-ears young Emperor?!"

"You haven't actually developed feelings from being a Grand Tutor, have you?"

Blood seeped from the corner of Wang Guanli's mouth, but he still held his back straight, his voice hoarse.

"Elder Brother, Liu Chongshan is autocratic and arrogant, disregarding human lives. If we continue to rely on him, we will sooner or later incur divine retribution!"

"Nonsense!"

The Clan Chief was furious and kicked him in the knee.

"Chancellor Liu's power spans the entire court; even Your Majesty has to defer to him! Do you, a mere Grand Tutor, really think you can stir up any trouble?"

"You need to sober up. Our Wang Family is just a third-rate Family, and you are just a Grand Tutor without real power in the imperial court. With all due respect, whether you oppose or support the relocation of the capital, it will not affect the overall situation."

"You did so well a few days ago!"

Seeing his brother mention his public opposition to the relocation of the capital in the imperial court a few days ago, Wang Guanli's expression immediately turned grim.

The Family had been kind to him, and he had repaid them with all his might in the first half of his life. Now... he wanted to do his own thing.

He only hoped that Your Majesty would overlook their past disagreements and give him this opportunity.

Thinking of this, Wang Guanli knelt on the ground, but still stubbornly looked up.

"Clan Chief, my students have personally witnessed the miracle in Qingzhou... Lord Chuping's manifestation is absolutely not false!"

"I still say the same thing, I suggest the Wang Family directly follow Your Majesty in the relocation..."

The more Wang Guanli spoke, the more he felt it made sense. The Aristocratic Families were led by the Liu Family, and the capital had basically been completely carved up by the Liu Family's influence.

Qingzhou, on the other hand, was different; it was vast and sparsely populated, and there was no danger yet.

Plenty of opportunities!

He didn't know why the Clan Chief was so stubborn..."Heh, you really dare to say that?"

The Clan Chief sneered, pulling a secret letter from his sleeve, "Chancellor Liu said that if you insist on following Your Majesty, the Wang Family will have no further connection with you!"

He forcefully threw the letter onto Wang Guanli's face and sternly shouted, "Guards! Administer the Family law!"

"After thirty lashes, if you still insist on your views, then you... may leave! From then on, you will have no further connection with the Wang Family."

The Wang Family's ancestral rattan whip, soaked in saltwater, would tear skin and flesh when struck.

Wang Guanli gritted his teeth, not uttering a sound.

When the last lash fell, the Clan Chief left with a final remark, flicking his sleeve.

"From today onwards, Wang Guanli is no longer a member of the Wang Family! Expelled from the Family register, his life and death are irrelevant!"

"Thank you, Elder Brother."

Wang Guanli dragged his scarred body, step by step, towards the door.

With each step, his wounds bled, but he was completely unaware.

He dared not rest and contacted his students in the capital overnight, only then managing to catch up with Li Shun's large entourage leaving the capital.

***At this moment, Li Shun looked at the old minister before him, and the last bit of resentment in his heart completely dissipated.

In the imperial court, Grand Tutor Wang had not given him much assistance, but he understood Grand Tutor Wang's character.

He was concerned for the country and its people, upright and incorruptible.

It was precisely because of this that Li Shun felt a strong sense of betrayal when Grand Tutor Wang opposed the relocation of the capital.

But now, everything was clear.

Li Shun quickly stepped forward and helped the tottering Wang Guanli.

"Grand Tutor, why go to such lengths!"

Wang Guanli's aged face was pale, and the back of his official robe was soaked with blood seeping from the whip marks.

He trembled, trying to bow, but Li Shun firmly held his arms.

"Your Majesty..."

Wang Guanli's voice was hoarse, "This old subject... this old subject is guilty... I have failed Your Majesty's grace."

"Guards!"

Li Shun turned and sternly shouted, "Summon the imperial physician! And bring me my Golden Core!"

As the attendants rushed to summon them, Li Shun personally helped Wang Guanli to a soft couch in the side hall.

When the blood-stained official robe was removed, revealing the crisscrossing whip marks on his back, the young Emperor's pupils suddenly constricted.

"The Wang Family... actually acted so ruthlessly?"

Wang Guanli smiled bitterly and shook his head: "It is this old subject who has failed the Family's nurturing."

Li Shun gently pressed his hand, "Grand Tutor, there's no need to say more. Healing your injuries is the priority."

The imperial physician rushed over and gasped when he saw the injuries.

When the medicated cotton touched his wounds, Wang Guanli trembled all over, but still forced himself to say, "Your Majesty, this old subject... this old subject has one more request."

Li Shun motioned for the imperial physician to pause and leaned in to listen.

"This old subject... wishes to follow Your Majesty to Xu Province."

Tears welled up in Wang Guanli's cloudy eyes, "I do not seek official position, only... atonement."

Li Shun was silent for a moment, then patted Wang Guanli's shoulder.

"Grand Tutor, take good care of yourself. When we reach Xu Province... there will be many more things that will require your assistance, Grand Tutor."

Wang Guanli's lips trembled, wanting to say something more, but Li Shun pressed his shoulder.

The painkiller concocted by the imperial physician gradually took effect, and his taut nerves finally relaxed, as he fell into a deep sleep on the soft couch.

***Three days later, the mighty southward migration procession reached the border of Xu Province.

The originally clear sky was suddenly shrouded in an ink-like black mist, and the air was filled with a putrid stench.

The soldiers at the front of the procession suddenly let out a shrill scream. Li Shun lifted the carriage curtain, only to see the soldiers enveloped in the black mist rapidly decaying, their fingernails growing long, their eyes rolling back, transforming into terrifying Corpse Demons in an instant.

"Protect Your Majesty!"

The commander of the Imperial Guards brandished his long sword, leading his soldiers to surround the Emperor's carriage.

Li Shun subconsciously pressed the Amulet in his arms, which was now emitting a soft golden light.

Wherever the golden light reached, the Corpse Demon let out a piercing roar, as if blocked by an invisible force.