Chapter 279 First-Rank Imperial Lady

Prince Xin was stunned for a moment, and for some reason, he suddenly had a feeling that he had stepped into a trap.

No, that's impossible.

He neglects state affairs and distances himself from everything, acting as a carefree prince who enjoys traveling and indulging in romance. Who could possibly set a trap for him?

Furthermore, the Emperor said that another person had vouched for Yao Qingling—

His mind raced, and the first person that came to mind was Zhan Xingzhuo. But Zhan Xingzhuo had just declared that he would make Yao Qingling suffer.

Could it be...?

Another person came to mind.

As Prince Xin pondered this, Emperor Jingyan asked with a smile, "Sixth Brother, aren't you curious who pleaded for Yao Qingling?"

Prince Xin bowed deeply and said, "Your Majesty, I cannot guess. Please enlighten me."

Emperor Jingyan sat casually, smiling slightly as he looked at him, but said, "I'd like to know, Sixth Brother, have you had dealings with Yao Qingling? Are you on very good terms?"

He frowned slightly and said, "But I've heard that Yao Qingling is Zhan Xingzhuo's wife and my aunt's daughter-in-law. It's just that their divorce was very messy and their relationship is very bad. I've also heard that when Yao Qingling was getting the divorce, she asked the Empress Dowager for an imperial decree to get the Duke's mansion to release her."

He paused again, took a sip of water, and his brow was still slightly furrowed.

"Speaking of which, the reason for Yao Qingling's divorce was because of Zhou Taifu's daughter, Xingzhuo's relationship with Zhou Zhining..."

He didn't continue, but let out a soft sigh.

It seems that although he valued talent and respected Zhan Xingzhuo, he did not like his close relationship with Zhou Zhining.

Prince Xin understood what he was hearing.

Given the emperor's spies and informants, he should know that Zhou Zhining has become Jin Mantang's steward, helping him manage finances. Could it be that he's using Zhan Xingzhuo to put pressure on him?

Prince Xin quietly clenched his fingers, smiled faintly, and said, "Your Majesty, Zhou Zhining is a servant girl. No matter how she tries to change her face, it won't change her status. Xingzhuo took her in out of consideration for past favors, which wasn't a big mistake. Yao Qingling had some ideas to protect the child, which wasn't wrong either."

"Hmph, you certainly know how to talk." Emperor Jingyan glanced at him. "Are you trying to plead for your cousin?"

Prince Xin smiled and said, "Xingzhuo is proud and arrogant. Yao Qingling offended him several times, making him lose face. He couldn't bring himself to plead for Yao Qingling. When I drank with him, he was sullen. I know that he is actually very worried about the child."

"Your Majesty, I am but a carefree wanderer, while my cousin Xingzhuo is a pillar of the state. Now that Your Majesty is in need of help, how can I let these trivial matters distract my cousin from his duties? So I thought I would ask for a favor, which can also be considered as sharing Your Majesty's burden."

Emperor Jingyan chuckled: "Ha, you're quite the opportunist. I never see you do anything all day. You think you're helping me by saying a few words about Xingzhuo's family affairs? That's far too casual of you. I've decided that you..." He paused, "...will be like a woman in the inner quarters."

Prince Xin casually tucked his hands into his sleeves, looking relaxed and at ease.

He said with a grin, "I've always loved gossip and enjoying the trivial matters of other people's homes."

Emperor Jingyan seemed to have no way to deal with his younger brother. He said, "If you want to release Yao Qingling, what reasons do you have to convince me and the ministers in the court?"

He seemed to realize something, and his expression turned slightly grim: "Five years ago, Grand Tutor Zhou formed cliques and amassed wealth, causing the Yellow River to breach its banks. I exiled the Zhou family, and even after so long, the court officials and the people are still dissatisfied, feeling that I have been too lenient with them."

"Five years later, the same problem is before me. That Marquis of Zhongyong was just a minor supervisor, yet he dared to collude with local officials to buy and sell auspicious omens at will. He is dead, but his relatives cannot escape punishment. How can Yao Qingling escape his guilt?"

Prince Xin observed the emperor's expression, his eyes flickered slightly, he bowed again, and then said, "Your subject thinks that Yao Qingling's father had made great military achievements, but as an orphan, she was bullied many times in the Marquis's mansion."

“She is the daughter of a loyal and valiant man, unlike that Marquis of Loyalty and Bravery. I have also heard that when she opened her shop, all the employees were displaced people. The Prefect of the Capital Prefecture praised her many times and even presented her with a plaque. My brother often travels among the people and has heard that most of their opinions about Yao Qingling are positive.”

"Therefore, I think that the Yao family's case is different from the Zhou family's. Yao Qingling is following the path of General Mingwei, while the criminal Yao Ying is a disgrace to the Yao family and should be severely punished."

Emperor Jingyan nodded slightly: "If even you say so, it seems I should meet Yao Qingling."

Prince Xin bowed respectfully and said, "Your Majesty is wise."

Emperor Jingyan waved his hand, leaving Prince Xin to have lunch in the palace. Prince Xin did not leave the palace until late afternoon.

On the way back to the Prince's Palace in Ma's carriage, Prince Xin carefully recalled everything he had said to the Emperor and the Emperor's expressions, going through them all in his mind.

The emperor said that there was another person pleading for Yao Qingling, and judging from the emperor's attitude, he was more inclined to believe that person.

He already had a reason to release Yao Qingling, but he asked him what that reason was. What did that mean?

Prince Xin was a disciple of Grand Tutor Zhou, and Zhou Zhining had become the manager of his shop. In the Emperor's view, Grand Tutor Zhou's remaining supporters were not entirely eliminated, and he didn't entirely trust Zhan Xingzhuo. Furthermore, the Emperor's pardon of Yao Qingling required the support of steadfast ministers to address the doubts of his court officials…

Prince Xin thought about it and understood.

When attending court, the emperor needs someone to make the first suggestion, and this person needs to have a certain prestige.

On the surface, Prince Xin didn't interfere in affairs, but he was, after all, a member of the imperial clan, and his prestige came from his bloodline.

Furthermore, he is a disciple of Grand Tutor Zhou. If he expresses his opinion on the Yao family matter, it would prove that the emperor is not biased, but rather acting in accordance with the facts…

Prince Xin's lips curled slightly, his fingers tapping the table absently, a cold glint in his eyes.

This elder brother of the emperor is very cunning.

...

A few days later, Emperor Jingyan finally announced his decision to punish Marquis Zhongyong during a court session.

Given that the Marquis of Zhongyong and his wife were dead, the court decided to strip the Marquis of Zhongyong of his title, forbid his body from being buried with honors, and instead leave it in the mountains to be eaten by wild animals. He was also forbidden from receiving any sacrificial offerings. All his children and relatives were sentenced to exile and were never allowed to return to the capital.

Yao Qingling possessed the integrity of General Mingwei, upholding justice even at the cost of her own family. She was rewarded for her meritorious act of reporting on the wrongdoing. Her son inherited the title of Marquis of Loyalty and Bravery, and Yao Qingling was granted the title of First-Rank Imperial Lady. She was released from prison immediately and entered the palace on the Lantern Festival to share a family banquet with the royal family.

Upon hearing this, Prince Xin was startled once again.

Yao Qingling put aside his own family for the greater good, and his report was meritorious?

He originally thought that he was the one who first suggested releasing Yao Qingling, but he didn't expect that the emperor had many other tricks up his sleeve.

They were paving the way for Yao Qingling, and he was the first brick he laid for her!

Prince Xin was filled with mixed feelings. When the court officials exclaimed that the emperor was wise, he came to his senses and followed suit.

Subsequently, the emperor rewarded his meritorious officials again, promoting Lin Shiyuan to the position of Vice Minister of War, granting him a mansion, a hundred acres of fertile land, and a thousand taels of silver.

He became the fastest-promoted official in the entire Li Dynasty.

In just one year, he rose from a disgraced official to the commander of the Five Cities Military Command, then to a physician, and finally to the vice minister of the Ministry of War.

The entire government and the public were shaken.

When the court session ended, Prince Xin's feelings were even more complicated.

He walked with Zhan Xingzhuo, and neither of them said a word.

Lin Shiyuan stood at the front, accepting the congratulations from the court officials, just as Zhan Xingzhuo had done before.

Zhan Xingzhuo felt even more unhappy. When he passed by him, he acted as if he didn't see him and walked straight past.