Su Guifei’s beautiful eyes trembled slightly, but under the gaze of the officials, she didn’t reveal her emotions and maintained a reserved smile.
Although she didn’t know when His Majesty started planning this, she could guess that he must have done it for a long time.
“Your Majesty…”
“What is it?” When Emperor Longfeng didn’t smile, the courtiers remembered that he was the final victor in the competition for the crown among multiple princes.
“It was you all who prevented zhen from making someone the Empress in the first place and now you want me to make someone the Empress.” Emperor Longfeng’s gaze turned cold. “Or is it that the matters of zhen’s harem must be dictated by all of you?”
“We dare not!”
“What do you not dare?” Emperor Longfeng fell silent, and the entire hall fell into silence. Many people didn’t want Su Guifei to become the Empress, but in the face of the Emperor’s might, no one dared to speak out.
Some secretly glanced at the Ming brothers from the corner of their eyes, but at this critical moment, the two of them remained motionless, as if in deep meditation, with their heads lowered.
Some looked at the fathers-in-law of the princes, wanting to know their reactions. Unexpectedly, they were as steady as old dogs, even more submissive than the Ming brothers.
Everyone went crazy. If Su Guifei was crowned the Empress, Chen Wang would become the legitimate heir. If His Majesty wanted him to succeed the throne, it would be a perfectly justified matter.
“Tonight is a night of joy for both the monarch and the officials. You all don’t have to be so restrained.” As the atmosphere became more tense, Emperor Longfeng smiled, as if he had returned to being the benevolent Emperor again. “Please take your seats.”
Yun Yanze’s hand hidden in his sleeve trembled slightly as his forehead was covered in cold sweat.
So that’s how it is, that’s how it is.
In recent years, whether they were privately nurturing advisors or interacting with their maternal families, Father Emperor watched them coldly, all for today.
Father Emperor kept them locked up in the Palace. Everyone knew that they were being punished for their mistakes, but they didn’t know what crimes they had committed.
Which of the princes’ maternal relatives didn’t make any moves in secret?
They didn’t know what their Father Emperor had found out, but they didn’t dare to gamble with the whole family’s honor and status. So tonight’s banquet was a gamble between Father Emperor and those maternal relatives.
Father Emperor gambled that they wouldn’t dare to oppose, that they would be afraid, and that they would compromise.
Whether it was the Zheng family, his Mother Consort, or him, they were all the chickens about to be beheaded, while the remaining maternal relatives and princes were the monkeys being played with by Father Emperor.
Showing the monkey the chicken being killed1T/N: This comes from an ancient proverb ‘杀鸡儆猴’ [Shā jī jìng hóu] that translates to ‘killing the chicken to scare the monkey’ (or more literally, ‘kill chicken, scare monkey’). It implies making an example out of someone to warn/threaten others. was the oldest and tackiest method.
But it was also the most effective method.
No one wanted to be the sacrificial chicken, even though being a monkey meant they were going to be laughed at.
“Your Highness?” Sun Caiyao gently held his hand and picked a pastry for him. “Try this pastry.”
“Thank you.” Yun Yanze took the pastry, took a small bite, and placed it on the plate. Until the cold dishes were served, that pastry was not touched again.
“Ming Xianzhu, try these lotus root slices.” The old Xianzhu near Jiuzhu smiled and spoke. “It’s crispy on the outside and fragrant on the inside. Quite delicious.”
“Thank you.” Jiuzhu thanked her and picked up a slice of lotus root.
“Ming Xianzhu, you grew up in Lingzhou. Xiachen has heard that Lingzhou has many mountains and rivers, and is known for its abundant nine-hole lotus roots2T/N: There are different varieties (with different numbers of holes), but nine-hole lotus root [九孔莲藕] is best for stir-fries and salad. It is both crispy and tender. Nine holes can be seen in its cross-section: . When the lotus root is cut or snapped, very long and thin threads connect the parts. I wonder which kind of lotus root, Lingzhou or the capital’s, has longer threads?”
Jiuzhu looked up, searching for the person who spoke, but after looking around, she couldn’t find them.
“Xianzhu, Xiaguan is here.” Seeing Ming Jiuzhu’s eyes searching all around without discovering him, Assistant Minister Yang stood up: “May Xiaguan ask Ming Xianzhu what it means for lotus roots to break but still be connected?”
Ming Jingzhou put down his chopsticks, wiped the corners of his mouth, and looked at the Assistant Minister of Revenue with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes.
As for Chen Wang sitting in the prince’s seat, his countenance had totally darkened.
Everyone’s gazes turned to Ming Jiuzhu. Sun Caiyao thought she would be uneasy, but she wasn’t. She just sat there, her large eyes filled with confusion, as if she didn’t understand why the other person asked such an odd question.
“My apologies, Lord.” Jiuzhu smiled apologetically at the Assistant Minister. “I grew up in a Daoist temple and have never grown lotus roots. If you are really interested in these matters, please allow me to write a letter and ask my elders for an answer before I respond to your question.”
“Your Majesty, in this official’s opinion, no matter which region the lotus root comes from, when it is cut open, it is still connected by threads of fibre. However, that does not mean they are implicate one another.” Assistant Minister Yang did not care about Jiuzhu’s answer. He cupped his hands and looked at Emperor Longfeng, who was sitting on the highest seat: “The relationship between His Highness Qi Junwang and Zheng family is also like this. Since his birth, he has been the Zheng family’s grandson, which is not something he could have chosen. Zheng family brought everything upon themselves. His Highness is innocent. Requesting Your Majesty to differentiate between them.”
Jiuzhu understood that the other party didn’t care about her answer at all. They were just using her to plead for Qi Junwang.
The people in the capital have dirty hearts.
“It’s not that it cannot be broken.” Jiuzhu earnestly explained this issue to the other party: “As long as one moves them far enough, the threads will always break. If they don’t break, it means you haven’t moved them far enough.”
Assistant Minister Yang turned to look at her. He didn’t expect that Ming family’s daughter to speak up at this moment.
A smart person would choose to remain silent at this time.
“You must not have been in the kitchen before, Lord.” Jiuzhu patiently explained when she saw him looking over, “But it’s okay, you’ll understand later.”
Assistant Minister Yang frowned: “Thank you for enlightening Xiaguan, Xianzhu.”
Now you can shut your mouth.
“You’re welcome.” Jiuzhu smiled, “If you still don’t understand, you can try separating it yourself.”
Assistant Minister Yang ignored Jiuzhu and walked to the center of the hall, saying loudly to Emperor Longfeng: “Your Majesty, please reinstate the fourth prince in his position. Don’t let the bond between you and your son be broken because of outsiders.”
Originally, he wanted to use the topic of the lotus root to tug at the Emperor’s emotions, but this beautiful wish was shattered due to Ming Jiuzhu’s interruption. Everything had now become out of place.
He had thought that this little girl from a remote province would not be valued by the Ming family, and that she would be timid and easily fooled. He didn’t expect her to completely disrupt his rhythm.
If he had known this, he wouldn’t have chosen her to initiate the conversation.
“It is New Year’s Eve. I originally planned to leave the account for later, but unfortunately, someone couldn’t wait.” Ming Jingzhou smiled slightly, touched the item in his arms, and waited for Assistant Minister Yang to continue speaking.
Ming Jinghai lowered his head and took a sip of wine without saying a word. He had known since childhood that his third younger brother had the habit of hiding daggers behind his smile. He had probably long anticipated what was going to happen tonight.
As the Assistant Minister of Revenue had an impulsive character and greatly admired Qi Junwang, it wouldn’t be strange if he listened to some rumors and pleaded for him at the annual banquet.
But for Qi Junwang, this was not a plea, but rather pushing him into a fire pit.
“Assistant Minister Yang, today is not only a reunion banquet for everyone but also a family banquet. Matters concerning the imperial court can be discussed there later.” Emperor Longfeng raised his hand to stop him from continuing, “It seems that Assistant Minister Yang has had too much to drink and needs to step out to sober up.”
“Your Majesty, Weichen is not drunk.” Assistant Minister Yang pushed away the eunuch who came to help him up: “Your Majesty said this is a family banquet. Qi Junwang is your child. So why can’t we discuss matters concerning him now?”
Su Guifei glanced at Yun Yanze, whose face had turned green. If it weren’t for the man beside her, she would have burst out laughing. Perhaps he did not expect Assistant Minister Yang’s straightforwardness to become a double-edged sword that was capable of hurting himself too.
“His Highness Qi Junwang is wise and modest, considerate of his subordinates, and shows filial piety towards Your Majesty. How can Your Majesty bear to abandon his filial piety for other princes?” Assistant Minister Yang said loudly: “Weichen is not the only one who feels sorry for Qi Junwang’s miserable situation. Other officials feel so too.”
The officials sitting around Assistant Minister Yang all shrunk their necks. They didn’t know who the ‘other officials’ he referred to were, but it definitely had nothing to do with them.
As for the representation of the ‘other princes’, Chen Wang smiled and drank a cup of wine, quietly waiting for the performance to continue.
“Father Emperor.” Yun Yanze knew that he could not let Assistant Minister Yang go on any further. Under the gaze of everyone, he had to stand up and express his stance.
“Your Majesty.” Ming Jingzhou stood up when he saw Yun Yanze getting up. “Weichen thinks Assistant Minister Yang’s words are reasonable. Qi Junwang is Your Majesty’s son. There is nothing that cannot be discussed at a family banquet.”
He Tingyu looked at Ming Jingzhou in surprise. It shouldn’t be like this ah. Assistant Minister Yang is straightforward and reckless, but why is Ming Jingzhou also acting so rashly today?
Seeing Ming Jingzhou stand up, everyone put down their chopsticks. They had a vague feeling that things were far from good.
“Before entering the Palace, Weichen found out some things related to the Zheng family and Zheng Meiren. Weichen chose to remain silent because he didn’t want Qi Junwang to see the miserable appearance of his loved ones on New Year’s Eve.” Ming Jingzhou took out a thick stack of documents from his bosom, which contained various loan receipts, testimonies for land acquisition, and even evidence of Zheng Meiren bribing officials from the imperial horse farm.
“In the fifth year of Longfeng, Zheng Meiren let the fourth prince serve her in the Palace under the pretext of being seriously ill but secretly sent assassins to Lingzhou to assassinate Su Guifei and His Highness Chen Wang. Fortunately, Su Guifei graciously saved a girl who fell into the water which disrupted their plans for the day.”
“In the sixth year of Longfeng, the Zheng family allowed their relatives to occupy numerous mu3Mu [亩] – It is a unit of area equal to one-fifteenth of a hectare. of land, causing tens of farmers to lose their farmland and homes.”
“In the eighth year of Longfeng, the Zheng family accepted a bribe of five thousand taels of silver and helped someone obtain the position of a seventh-grade county magistrate.”
“In the tenth year of Longfeng, Zheng Meiren flogged a palace maid to death with a stick and covered it by using the excuse of her being seriously ill. It’s a pity that her family is still waiting for her return.”
“In the spring of the eleventh year of Longfeng, two eunuchs from Zheng Meiren’s palace suddenly died. The cause for which is still unknown.”
“In the…”
As each piece of evidence was presented by Ming Jingzhou, the entire hall sank into a greater silence. So much so that not even a breath could be heard.
In front of so many imperial relatives, court officials and mingfu, all crimes committed by Qi Junwang’s birth mother and her natal family were laid out clearly, almost severing all hope for his ascension to the throne.
Unless all the other princes died, there would be no chance for the throne to be bestowed upon Qi Junwang, regardless of whether these matters had much to do with him or not.
“My Lord.” Zhou Rui swallowed nervously and asked Li En with his neck shrunk: “What’s… what’s happening with Brother Ming…?”
To expose Qi Junwang so thoroughly in front of so many people, was no different from what one wishes to do to their mortal enemy.
He had never seen Ming Jingzhou express any complaints about Qi Junwang before. Why was he attacking him so fiercely today?
Ming Jingzhou continued to list the crimes of Zheng Meiren and her natal family, not even missing the fact that the Zheng family owed two hundred taels of silver to a certain clothing shop.
“Your Majesty, these are all the relevant evidence that Weichen has found.” After listing all the crimes, Ming Jingzhou performed a grand bow: “Imploring Your Majesty to punish these wicked officials severely as a warning to others, and give justice to those common people who were implicated.”
Everyone watched as the thick stack of evidence was placed in the hands of the Emperor. Some wondered, Ming Jingzhou was the Assistant Minister of Rites, not the Assistant Minister of Justice or an official of the Dali Temple, right?
As if finding it insufficient, Ming Jingzhou looked up at the deathly pale Yun Yanze and added: “Your Highness, what this official’s daughter said was quite fitting; there are no unbreakable lotus roots in the world, only cooks who are not attentive enough. Xiachen hopes that Your Highness will not blame him for revealing these matters today. Xiachen did not intend to target Your Highness, but rather to seek justice for the implicated.”
“Your Highness is benevolent and empathetic; you care for the people deeply. Xiachen believes you can understand his heartfelt fervor.” He turned to look at the bewildered Assistant Minister Yang and sighed: “If it weren’t for Assistant Minister Yang, Weichen would not have spoken up today.”
Ruthless, it was too ruthless.4T/N: Insert ‘disaster girl.jpg’ lmao.
To hit someone in the face and have them admit that it didn’t hurt at all.
Qi Junwang glanced at Ming Jingzhou and said with difficulty: “Lord Ming is not wrong. It was my maternal family’s fault.”
“It’s not just the Zheng family’s fault.” Ming Jingzhou added with a smile: “Your Highness’ birth mother, Zheng Meiren, is also at fault.”
“Father Emperor.” Qi Junwang knelt in front of Emperor Longfeng, his mind in a daze. He no longer wanted to know what gaze the others were looking at him with. His forehead was pressed to the ground; he couldn’t even utter a plea for mercy.
Ming Jingzhou daring to speak out in front of so many people meant that he had conclusive evidence.
When he turned his head, he saw Ming Jiuzhu, who was seated first among the Xianzhus, picking up a lotus root slice and putting it into her mouth.
It seemed that everything that was happening in the main hall was not as important as the slice of lotus root in front of her.
Sensing his gaze, she looked up and their eyes met.
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