Chapter 209 Just because I'm in a good mood today

The emperor was taken aback by Zhao Fuquan's report. After a moment of contemplation, he said, "Let him in."

"yes."

Zhao Fuquan went out and led Ning Yunchuan into the imperial study. Ning Yunchuan knelt down and kowtowed, saying, "Your subject pays respects to Your Majesty."

The emperor glanced at him. "So it's your turn to be on duty today!"

"Yes," Ning Yunchuan presented the memorial with both hands. "Xie Ning'an knelt before the palace gate, holding a memorial and saying she wanted to see His Majesty. I was afraid of delaying important matters, so I immediately brought the memorial here."

Zhao Fuquan took the memorial and handed it to the emperor. The emperor did not open the memorial, but looked at Ning Yunchuan with deep eyes. He couldn't guess why Ning Yunchuan would cooperate so much and send over Xie Ning'an's memorial.

"Get up and go about your business," the emperor said after a while.

"yes."

Ning Yunchuan rose and left. The emperor lowered his head to read Xie Ning'an's memorial, then tapped his fingers lightly on the table in deep thought. From the memorial, he roughly understood Xie Ning'an's purpose in wanting to see him.

He was aware of the progress of Jiang Yu's investigation. It wouldn't be long before the case of illegally minting official silver was solved. Although they wouldn't be able to take down the Xie family in one fell swoop, they would at least make sure the Xie family had no chance to recover.

But Xie Ning'an's admission of guilt at this moment made the emperor feel like he had punched cotton. However, there was no doubt that the Xie family's voluntary confession would save a lot of trouble.

"Let them in," the emperor said.

In any case, as long as the goal is achieved, that's fine.

Zhao Fuquan went out and arranged for a young eunuch to go to the palace gate. The young eunuch ran all the way to the palace gate and saw Xie Ning'an kneeling on the ground, saying, "Young Master Xie, His Majesty summons you to see him."

Xie Ning'an stood up, but because he had been kneeling for a while, his knees were numb, and he almost fell. Ning Yunchuan saw this and reached out to support him.

"Thank you," Xie Ning'an said.

He hadn't expected that, at this crucial moment, it would be the faction that had always been at odds with them that would help him. He gave a wry smile and followed the little eunuch toward the imperial study.

Upon entering the imperial study, he immediately knelt down, saying, "This sinful subject, Xie Ning'an, pays his respects to Your Majesty."

The emperor sat behind his desk and remained silent for a long while before finally asking, "What crime have you committed?"

Xie Ning'an: "The Xie family privately minted official silver and conspired with the King of Lingnan to plot a rebellion. I deserve to die a thousand deaths."

The Imperial Study was deathly silent. Xie Ning'an knelt on the ground, face down. He didn't know what expression the emperor had on his face, nor what the emperor would do next. All he could do now was remain calm and try to gain more for himself and his family in the upcoming negotiations.

"Unauthorized minting of official silver and plotting rebellion are capital offenses punishable by confiscation of property and extermination of the entire clan." The emperor's voice was oppressive. "Is your Xie family prepared?"

"Your Majesty, I know that what I have done is a crime deserving of death, but everything was done by my grandfather and me. I beg Your Majesty to spare the Xie family." Xie Ning'an kowtowed with both hands on the ground.

"Hmph!" The emperor snorted heavily, then said loudly, "Summon Ji Weifeng, the commander of the Imperial Guards."

Zhao Fuquan immediately went out to deliver the order. Inside the imperial study, the emperor looked at Xie Ning'an kneeling on the ground and asked, "Why wasn't it your grandfather who came to confess his guilt?"

Xie Ning'an pursed her lips and remained silent for a moment before saying, "Grandfather... is stubbornly clinging to his delusions."

"Heh..." The emperor laughed. "What a stubborn fool he is. Does he think that even if I investigate the case thoroughly, I can't do anything to him?"

Xie Ning'an didn't speak, but kowtowed again with both hands on the ground. He kowtowed very deeply, and the emperor could see the bruises on his forehead, so he couldn't help but sigh in his heart.

"Then why have you come to confess your crimes to me?" the emperor asked again.

Xie Ning'an: "Your Majesty, I hope you will show mercy and spare the lives of the Xie family."

The emperor looked at him in silence. At this moment, Ji Weifeng, the commander of the Imperial Guard, entered. The emperor ordered him, "Surround the Xie family and bring Xie Yun to me."

"yes."

Ji Weifeng walked away quickly, and the emperor looked at Xie Ning'an and asked, "If I were to spare the life of either you or Xie Yun, whose life would you want me to save?"

Xie Ning'an's hands were clenched tightly together, his whole body tense, showing how conflicted he was about this issue. After a while, he said, "Your Majesty, I wish to spare my life."

Upon hearing this, the emperor's face showed interest. "I didn't expect you to be such a coward who fears death."

Xie Ning'an fell silent again, and after a while he said, "If my grandfather can change his mind and live a quiet and law-abiding life from now on, without any further ambitions, I am willing to die."

That's truly what he thought. If Xie Yun no longer harbored any rebellious intentions and instead settled down to recuperate, he would rather die himself. But he knew that Xie Yun wouldn't change his mind.

The emperor looked at him intently again, "You may rise now."

"Your Majesty, I thank you for your grace." Xie Ning'an stood up, and the emperor said to Zhao Fuquan, "Summon the Duke of Chu and the Prince of An."

......

As Jiang Yu was listening to Li Zhong's report, someone outside announced, "Your Excellency, someone from the palace has arrived."

Jiang Yu asked Li Zhong to go out and invite people, thinking to herself that it was fortunate that the Xie family had produced Xie Ning'an, otherwise the family would have been finished.

"Duke of Chu, His Majesty summons you to the palace immediately," the young eunuch announced as he entered.

Jiang Yu stood up. "Let's go."

The young eunuch went to see her again and saw that she was dressed in her official robes neatly. He wondered if the Duke of Chu knew that the Emperor wanted to see her.

Upon arriving at the palace gate, they encountered Prince An, who was riding a horse. The two dismounted, one from his horse and the other from his sedan chair, and then entered the palace together.

"Xie Ning'an has made a brilliant move," said Prince An.

Jiang Yu hummed in agreement. Prince An turned to look at her and said, "It is his ability that he was able to reach the palace and meet the emperor."

Jiang Yu turned to look at him, and their eyes met. Jiang Yu said, "This humble official helped out a bit."

"Oh? Well... the Duke of Chu is truly magnanimous," said Prince An with a half-smile.

Jiang Yu withdrew her gaze and said as she walked forward, "There's nothing to be magnanimous about; I'm just in a good mood today."

Prince An stood there, frowning as he watched Jiang Yu's retreating figure. He had dealt with Jiang Yu more than once or twice, and considered himself to know her fairly well, but now it seemed he still didn't know her well enough.

He quickened his pace to catch up with Jiang Yu, and the two entered the imperial study together. The emperor, seeing them, said, "He's in your hands now. Make sure you understand the details."

This "he" naturally refers to Xie Ning'an.

"yes."

"yes."

The two men accepted the order and walked together to Xie Ning'an. Xie Ning'an bowed to them, and Jiang Yu sat down to the side, instructing Zhao Fuquan to summon a young eunuch who could write to take notes. Then, he began questioning Xie Ning'an:

"Besides the tax silver from Jiangzhou, Linwu, and Lingnan that you privately minted, what about the silver from other places? Did you privately mint any there?"

The question hit the nail on the head, causing both Prince An and the Emperor to glance at her. Xie Ning'an replied, "I don't know."

He was unaware of many of the things Xie Yun did.