Pampered Consort's Acting Awards - Chapter 94

After the incident at Mount Li, the spreading of the old cases from the first year of Yanxi throughout the kingdom was done in the blink of an eye. It was now the end of the sixth month.

The summer heat wrapped in storms mirrors the restless hearts in the court.

The astute could see clearly: this old case from the first year of Yanxi undoubtedly marks the emperor’s reach into the influential families, setting a precedent.

There are no secrets in this world. Currently, the Ministry of Justice’s relentless pursuit of accounts and the sparing of rebels only intensify the civil and military court officials’ anxiety.

The late emperor’s lax rule for over thirty years had caused powers that were hard to contain. The new emperor, while consolidating power, had figures like Xu Bowei from the Censorate, Xue Xiangyang from the Ministry of Justice, and Zheng Baishou from the Dali Temple solidly on the side of imperial authority.

Though the influential families vie for interests among themselves, they all understand the concept of mutual dependence. Once the imperial power starts encroaching, they will unite and strategize for a way out.

And now, that way out lies with the people of the realm.

The wrongful cases from four years ago have been rectified, yet those sixty thousand lives are still sacrificed for the court’s sake. Even though Xiao Yu went to great lengths back then to compensate, behind those sixty thousand lives are tens of thousands of innocent people sacrificed for the sake of power struggles. Over the years, their hatred has ravaged the Su family, seeking revenge for their inner turmoil.

Telling them their enemies were wronged leaves them with nowhere to vent their unassuaged feelings, leading to sorrow and confusion flooding their hearts.

The influential families have begun spreading rumors in secret.

One claims the court is feeble, being played like a monkey by the Qi State.

Another asserts that Qi’s military might will inevitably lead them to march into the capital.

The more tumultuous the times, the more suitable for stoking people’s emotions.

As the common folk grow fearful of Qi, the emperor finds it challenging to easily re-examine the case of selling military equipment.

Whenever there’s unrest among the people, the court always announces loudly to the world. The administration during the Yongchang era was corrupt to its core.

The power struggle between the influential families and the imperial authority has just begun when news of the severe illness of Empress Dowager Chu was released.

Although Empress Dowager Chu isn’t the emperor’s birth mother, her nurturing and the Chu family’s support of the new emperor are acknowledged throughout the realm.

The empress dowager’s move is a clear attempt to use filial piety to exert pressure on the emperor.

In the past, if such a situation arose four years ago, when the new ruler had little authority and few loyalists in the court, it would have ended with submission and submission alone.

But now, it won’t be so easily overlooked.

As the third watch of the day struck; the morning court had just dispersed. Civil and military officials were leaving the Taihe Hall in proper order.

Eunuch Sheng hurried into the crowd, raising his voice, “Duke of Zhen, Minister Xue, please stay.”

Su Huai’an and Xue Xiangyang both turned amidst the bustling crowd. They asked, “Gonggong, what’s the matter?”

Eunuch Sheng replied, “His Majesty summons both of you to the Yangxin Hall.”

As soon as the words fell, the surrounding courtiers began exchanging glances, whispering to each other.

“When did Minister Xue and the Duke of Zhen become so close?”

“Can’t you see? They’ve been playing this game of cat and mouse for years just to stage a show for us…”

“That’s strange…”

“What’s so strange?”

“Because back when Su Huai’an vanished from the Ministry of Justice’s prison, Minister Xue’s methods were notoriously ruthless. Have you ever seen him show mercy to anyone?”

Those who were usually on good terms with Xue Xiangyang, such as Vice-minister Li from the Ministry of Justice and Deputy Prefect Yu, gazed at Xue with meaningful looks. Their eyes seemed to say, “Xue has quite the cunning; one face for the public, another behind the scenes. He’s been toying with us, brothers.”

Certain individuals, like the Duke of Chu, regarded Xue Xiangyang with a look akin to a traitor.

At this precise moment, Su Huai’an smiled at Xue Xiangyang. “Lord Xue, after you.”

Xue Xiangyang’s hand clenched tightly within his sleeve. Sometimes, it’s like swallowing a broken tooth; there’s no turning back.

But for the Xue family now, there’s no retreat. Having come this far, Xue Xiangyang simply lifted his head and chuckled, “Haha, my lord, you’re too polite.”

They walked towards the Yangxin Hall alongside Eunuch Sheng. Walking side by side, Xue Xiangyang gritted his teeth, “When does my lord plan to return to my Xue family’s mansion?”

Su Huai’an smiled, “The duke’s mansion was destroyed by Lord Xue in the past, it needs some time for repairs.”

Xue Xiangyang raised his voice a notch, “I was administering justice fairly! You’re just favoring yourself.”

Su Huai’an smiled back, “Yes, yes, Lord Xue has a point…”

Xue Xiangyang’s eyes narrowed slightly, a hint of a bloody taste in his mouth. Duke of Zhen? Isn’t this just some shameless bastard?

Eunuch Sheng positioned himself outside the hall and announced loudly, “Duke of Zhen and Minister Xue ask for an audience!”

Su Huai’an stepped into Yangxin Hall first, followed closely by Xue Xiangyang. Approaching the emperor, Xue Xiangyang lifted his hand in obeisance, “I pay my respects to Your Majesty.”

Xiao Yu laid down his brush and looked up, “Take your seats.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Xiao Yu held the ledger brought from the severe criminal investigation, his gaze dropping onto the map of the region. He spoke directly, “Twelve years ago, if the North engaged in trade with Qi, transporting goods like bows, arrows, lead, iron, medicinal herbs, and armor, using official roads, regardless of which of the three official roads they took, they all had to pass through Xuzhou.”

Xuzhou.

Xue Xiangyang’s expression shifted. Twelve years ago, he was still not the head of the Xue family, but this information was about seventy to eighty percent known to him.

At that time, the strength of Qi was incomparable to its present state. While influential families engaged in private trade with Qi, none had any thoughts of treason or colluding with the enemy. In other words, they were merely diverting silver away from the national treasury into their own pockets.

In long-term profit-making, revealing too much about one’s dealings was the ultimate taboo. For instance, in the case of iron and medicinal herbs, selling the technique of smelting iron meant the other party would eventually mine and smelt their own iron. Similarly, if they handed over their medicinal recipes, the other party could prepare the medicine themselves. Thus, the influential families collectively agreed that only finished weapons and armor would be sold. Medicinal herbs were powdered before sale.

The influential families constructed a military road around Xuzhou to ease transportation. At that time, the governor of Xuzhou was the younger brother of Empress Dowager Chu, now the Cabinet Scholar Chu Luwei.

Looking at Xue Xiangyang, Xiao Yu said, “The case from over a decade ago seemed easy to investigate, but it involved widespread manpower, leaving no traces. Minister Xue, perhaps a discreet visit to Xuzhou is in order.”

Xue Xiangyang understood clearly. Filial piety had always governed the world. The emperor’s kindness and filial piety extended to the empress dowager, making this directive a way for the Xue family to handle this troublesome situation. Xue Xiangyang composed himself and said, “Your humble servant obeys the decree.”

Xue Xiangyang left Yangxin Hall an hour later, and Xiao Yu retained Su Huai’an for a private discussion.

Su Huai’an understood the emperor’s dilemma and asked, “Is Your Majesty planning to reexamine this case on the grounds of illicit trade?”

Xiao Yu spoke solemnly, “The Chu family incites the people while using filial piety to pressure me. With the current unrest among the people and the empress dowager’s certainty that I will relent, they plan to push forward two collateral branches of the Chu family to take the blame. Once this is done, the case will be considered closed. Treason and illicit trade both carry a death sentence. While I must bring down the Chu family, I also need to sever this reaching hand.”

To take action, the main Chu family line and the individuals involved in the past case must be dealt with.

Su Huai’an continued, “If Your Majesty appoints Minister Xue to lead this charge, what will be the fate of the second son of the Xue family?”

Xiao Yu replied, “The Ministry of Justice oversees all criminal affairs in the realm. If he handles it poorly, then the position of Minister of Justice will have to be reassigned.”

Su Huai’an praised, “Your Majesty is wise.”

Smoke lingered in Yangxin Hall. After discussing state matters, Su Huai’an remained still. Seeing his hesitation, Xiao Yu asked, “Is there something else?”

Suddenly, Su Huai’an lifted his robe and knelt. “I have one more thing, Your Majesty.”

Xiao Yu’s brows furrowed slightly, his eyes narrowing. “Speak your mind.”

Su Huai’an spoke slowly, each word deliberate, “I have admired Princess Changning for a long time and humbly request Your Majesty’s permission for marriage.”

The atmosphere tensed. As soon as the request was made, an awkward silence seemed to fill the air.

Not marrying the princess but still having two children with her—had it been anyone else in the realm, Xiao Yu would not have pardoned them. But he dared to make an exception for Su Huai’an. After all, back then, he’d schemed to get Su Huai’an’s sister.

Prince Jin, Xiao Yu, had forcibly married the Su family and pressured the Duke of Zhen’s household to take a side… in this political landscape, there was no one unaware or who didn’t understand.

Xiao Yu still remembered the coldness in Su Huai’an’s expression when he sent Ah Ling back to her maternal home. “I bid farewell to Your Highness,” Su Huai’an had said through clenched teeth.

Now, with the tides turned, Xiao Yu finally understood how it felt for his younger sister to be ensnared, and, as her elder brother, to feel “powerless.”

He looked at Su Huai’an and asked, “Have you discussed this with Changning?” Some emperors would pursue and blame, but since Su Huai’an was his loyal subject, he merely skirted around it. 

After contemplating for a while, Su Huai’an decided to be forthright, “Four years ago, I did indeed behave improperly, but I never disrespected Princess Changning. I was drugged at that time…”

Xiao Yu interrupted, “I do not hold you responsible for your feelings for Changning.”

Su Huai’an continued, “Every word I’ve spoken is true, without falsehood.”

True?

Xiao Yu’s brow furrowed slightly, and he spoke coldly, “Who drugged you?”

Su Huai’an replied, “Princess Changning.” And that was the end of it.

Xiao Yu’s throat moved slightly, and he coughed repeatedly.

The words he heard circled in his mind. Finally, he dipped the pen in ink and decided to grant the marriage.

Outside Yangxin Hall, all the attendants had been dismissed except Eunuch Sheng, who gazed up at the sunlight and sighed, “Whoever said the Dragon has nine sons with distinct personalities clearly hasn’t seen His Majesty and Princess Changning. They’re like two peas in a pod.”

***

The slanting rays of the evening sun poured in, casting a mosaic of diamond shapes through the windows of the Jingren Palace.

Xiao Yu entered the room and found Qin Ling sitting on the consort’s couch, gazing into the distance with a vacant expression. He called out to her several times, but she seemed as if she hadn’t heard a thing.

Approaching her, Xiao Yu gently tapped her shoulder, finally bringing her back to the present. “What are you looking at?” Xiao Yu sat down, observing her.

Qin Ling glanced at him, a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth, as she softly said, “The water lilies in the pond have bloomed, Your Majesty, take a look.”

He didn’t look at the water lilies; instead, his eyes remained fixed on her. “Why do you look thinner again?”

“Where did you see that?” she protested.

Xiao Yu reached for a bronze mirror on the table and held it in front of her. “Take a look for yourself.”

Qin Ling hurriedly explained, “I’ve just had a poor appetite lately, Your Majesty…”

Ever since Princess Changning informed Xiao Yu that the empress had looked frail on her sixth month of pregnancy, Xiao Yu became particularly attentive to Qin Ling’s weight.

While society deemed thinness as beauty, he believed good health was more important than anything else.

That night, Xiao Yu observed Qin Ling eating a bowl of hot noodle soup and then instructed the Shangshan Bureau to find a few skilled chefs to join the palace.

Despite the luxurious clothing and delicious meals, along with the medicinal diet, it was difficult to improve one’s health. Day by day, Qin Ling seemed to grow thinner.

Her prominent bones and an alarmingly slender waist concerned him greatly.

This was not right.

Setting aside the documents in his hands, Xiao Yu called Eunuch Sheng closer and issued a few instructions.

Eunuch Sheng immediately understood and discreetly summoned two palace attendants from the Jingren Palace.

As much as the emperor cherished Qin Ling, as long as she remained in the palace, the personnel in the Jingren Palace had to be those loyal to it.