Pampered Consort's Acting Awards - Chapter 100

The autumn wind rustled as the emperor hosted a farewell banquet for the two Mongolian royals in the palace.

Amidst the feast, golden cups brimmed with exquisite drinks and joyous dances adorned the scene, creating an ambiance of tranquility.

However, the civil and military officials who tasted the wine in their cups and gazed upon the graceful dancer from the Yunshan felt as though the splendid halls and beams before them were gradually transforming into boundless plains of sand.

This alliance with Mongolia signifies the impending outbreak of war in the borderlands.

***

The purple chrysanthemums are just blooming while the red hibiscus withers away. The hourglass indicates time passing, resembling water flowing in the sky. Clearly, the Mid-Autumn Festival is approaching.

In the capital, various shops have already displayed an assortment of mooncakes. Following Jida’s departure from the capital, the Ministry of War immediately began rearranging troops and preparing provisions and funds.

Amidst the discussions about the impending war echoed throughout the taverns, tea houses, and divination stalls in the capital, Xue Xiangyang returned to the capital from Xuzhou.

Minister Xue hurriedly rode back to the capital, dusty and fatigued, sporting a stubble along his jawline. He was currently waiting outside Yangxin Hall for an audience.

Eunuch Sheng opened the door and whispered, “Greetings, Lord Xue.” Hearing the faint voice from inside, Xue Xiangyang furrowed his brow and asked, “May I inquire if there are others inside?”

Eunuch Sheng smiled and replied, “Lord Su and Commander Lu are inside. Lord Xue, please enter.”

Xue Xiangyang glanced doubtfully at Eunuch Sheng and moved his lips as if to explain, but ultimately sighed.

He proceeded into the inner hall, confidently approaching the throne and presenting a document. “Your Majesty, I report that both physical and testimonial evidence have been submitted to the Ministry of Justice. Here are the statements and charges.”

Xiao Yu picked up the document and nodded.

First charge: Chu Luwei privately carved seals and forged customs documents.

Second charge: Chu Luwei engaged in unauthorized trade with the Qi State.

Third charge: Chu Luwei formed alliances for personal gain during his tenure as the governor of Xuzhou, bribing local officials Wu Xiang and County Magistrate Zou Jiang for personal interests.

Fourth charge: Chu Luwei embezzled and took bribes, accumulating an annual illegal income of up to seven million taels of silver.

Local governor Zou Jiang of Xuzhou voluntarily disclosed information to mitigate his crimes, providing a clear picture of the situation. All witnesses’ testimonies were consistent and credible.

Xiao Yu swiftly flipped through the memorial, scanning the text at a glance.

Apart from Chu Luwei, there were also charges against Jia Zhongtian, Xue Xiangrui, and others from the Xue family…

This was a task personally handled by the Minister of Justice. The charges were concise, meticulously detailed, leaving no room for ambiguity. While they didn’t reach the severity warranting the death of three generations, they certainly couldn’t escape capital punishment.

This greatly matched the emperor’s intentions.

Xiao Yu closed the document and spoke softly, “Lord Su, Lord Xue.”

“At your service.”

Xiao Yu dipped his brush in ink and hastily drafted an imperial decree, saying, “At tomorrow’s hour, apprehend all officials involved in smuggling, confiscate their assets, and immediately incarcerate them in the Ministry of Justice. Any resistance will be met with immediate execution.”

Su Huai’an and Xue Xiangyang both bowed, saying, “We shall obey.”

Exiting the palace together, Su Huai’an and Xue Xiangyang remained silent until they reached the palace gate. Xue Xiangyang took a deep breath and turned to Su Huai’an, saying, “Lord Su.”

Su Huai’an halted, responding, “Lord Xue, speak freely.”

With seriousness, Xue Xiangyang said, “We have less than three hours until the designated hour. I have a favor to ask today.”

Furrowing his brow slightly, Su Huai’an replied softly. “We’ve been colleagues for many years, no need for such formality.”

Xue Xiangyang clenched his fist and said, “Without hiding anything from Lord Su, my younger sister is pregnant. When you go to the Xue residence later, I hope the officials will show some leniency.”

Su Huai’an assured, “Lord Xue, rest assured. Tonight, the officials will only guard the entrance.”

Xue Xiangyang expressed his gratitude, “Thank you.” He abruptly turned away, taking in a deep breath.

At the designated hour that night, Xue Xiangyang, armed with the imperial decree, led hundreds of Ministry of Justice officers and raided several residences—Jia’s, Mu’s, Chu’s—as well as subjecting Second Young Master Xue, who had been held in prison awaiting trial, consecutive interrogations.

This smuggling case could be deemed one of the major corruption cases during the Yanxi era.

The most shocking revelation was the involvement of the second son of the Chu family.

The news of Chu Luwei’s imprisonment immediately set off a commotion across the court and the populace.

In the Cining Palace,

“Your Ladyship, something major has happened!” Eunuch Zhang rushed into the inner chambers, breathless.

Empress Dowager Chu, who was speaking with Chu Ying, furrowing her brows as she turned around. “Have you just arrived at the palace? What’s the hurry? Calm down and speak slowly.”

Eunuch Zhang panted, “At the designated hour today, Minister Xue led troops and confiscated the mansion of Minister Chu personally.”

Empress Dowager Chu narrowed her eyes, remaining composed. “You mean Xue Xiangyang?”

“Yes, Minister Xue and Vice-minister Su from the Ministry of Justice conducted the operation together.” Eunuch Zhang handed over a confidential report to Empress Dowager Chu. “Please take a look, Your Ladyship.”

Empress Dowager Chu unfolded the confidential report, taking a shallow breath. “They went with the imperial decree?”

Sweat trickled down Eunuch Zhang’s forehead as he trembled. “Without His Majesty’s decree, who would dare to act against the Chu Mansion…”

Chu family, Chu family. A dark shadow passed through Empress Dowager Chu’s mind, her eyes closed, and she collapsed.

Seeing her faint, Eunuch Zhang turned immediately. “Quick, fetch a physician! Why are you standing around? Hurry!”

“Yes, yes, I’ll go right away!”

Amidst the autumn breeze and swaying tree shadows, Xiao Yu discussed matters with senior officials. Suddenly, Eunuch Sheng hurriedly approached and bowed, “Your Majesty, there’s a report from the Cining Palace. Her Ladyship just fainted.”

As the words fell, the courtiers fell silent. 

Xiao Yu turned slowly, “Has the physician been summoned?”

Eunuch Sheng replied, “The imperial physicians have already rushed over.”

“You esteemed elders, return for now. Her Ladyship’s condition is critical; I must go.”

The senior officials all nodded in unison, “May Your Majesty be in good health, and may Her Ladyship recover.”

The empress dowager fainted as the emperor was about to take action against the Chu family. Whether it was genuine or not, everyone had their own thoughts.

Xiao Yu picked up a few documents from the table and swiftly headed towards the Cining Palace.

The emperor’s footsteps echoed as he approached. The guards, palace maids, and physicians in the Cining Palace quickly dispersed.

Xiao Yu approached the empress dowager and softly inquired, “Is Your Ladyship feeling well?”

The empress dowager’s eyes reddened as their eyes met. She half-lifted herself, staring motionlessly at him, speaking directly, “The emperor himself moved against his own maternal family. Aren’t you afraid of the world pointing fingers at you?”

Xiao Yu gestured for everyone to step back, saying, “These are documents from the Ministry of Justice, Your Ladyship, please have a look.”

Empress Chu took the documents, scanned them, and exclaimed angrily, “Four charges, good, very good. Do you even regard me as your mother in your eyes?”

“Chu Luwei colluded with others in the court, abusing power for personal gain. I turned a blind eye to many things, but with concrete evidence today, even if I wanted to spare your face, I can’t overlook the law in front of the courtiers,” Xiao Yu explained. “From the local level to the central government, he engaged in smuggling for a full six years. Do you know how much money Chu Luwei received from his embezzlement? I just calculated with the cabinet, and the tax revenue from the first year of the Yanxi era matches the amount of silver in Chu Luwei’s mansion!”

The empress dowager’s pupils quivered, revealing a trace of fear never seen before. Collusion and abuse of power—these four words, once used to support his ascent, now became the charges for execution.

The empress dowager altered her tone, her voice escalating from low to high, “The Chu family has assisted Your Majesty for many years, and yet, without regard for our ties, you insist on using this decade-old case to threaten the Chu family?”

“Decade-old case…” Xiao Yu turned, slamming accounting books in front of the empress dowager. He enunciated every word, “These are the ledgers of smuggling trades. Date by date, every transaction meticulously recorded. If you want me to consider familial bonds, then who will uphold the law of the court?”

The empress dowager swayed as if she couldn’t bear the weight. The late emperor feared the Chu family, leaving her childless despite his favor. She’d ensured Xiao Yu grew under her care, aiding his ascension to the throne, all for preserving the Chu family’s prestige for generations.

And now, what was this?

Her gaze turned piercingly sorrowful, “He is my own blood brother. He has helped you many times. Are you truly so heartless, determined to take his life?”

Xiao Yu retorted sharply, “My leniency toward the Chu family has its limits! If I were to be relentless in this investigation, there are more than just four charges against the Chu family! These ledgers, at best, depict smuggling; at worst, it’s treason. If not this, then this matter shall be decided by you, Your Ladyship. Should you want me to sever Chu Luwei’s head or strip the Chu family of its honors?!”

Each word uttered by Xiao Yu felt like a blade, piercing the empress dowager’s heart.

Clutching her chest, she breathed tremblingly, “I raised you as my own, even if there’s no debt of childbirth, there’s a debt of nurture. How could you… how could you be so heartless…”

Xiao Yu closed his eyes briefly before responding, “I dare not forget your nurturing care, nor the guidance you provided. Rest assured, I shall honor and care for you for a hundred years.” But that was all.

With that, he turned and walked away.