Chapter 55 The Emperor looked at Wei Qin, but it wasn't him...

Wei Qin, draped in a robe of radiant light, arrived at his father-in-law's study, clasped his hands, and bowed deeply. "Father, did you call your son-in-law?"

The study in the second courtyard, filled with the fragrance of ink, is framed by bamboo. Stepping inside is like entering a pastoral landscape of mountains, rivers, flowers, and birds, with floating mists and warm greenery flowing down, and flowers blooming delicately.

Jiang Song smiled and said, "Please sit down."

Wei Qin sat down in the Xiangfei bamboo chair, quietly waiting for the next part to be told.

The Xiangfei bamboo furniture, amidst the fragrance of ink, still exudes a faint bamboo scent, lingering around the middle-aged man. On the left side of the shelf behind him hangs a painting of a bamboo basket.

Amidst the verdant bamboo grove, a woman in pink and white dress walks at night with a lantern. Her figure is slender and graceful, with black hair reaching her waist. Just by looking at her back, one can tell that she is a gentle and charming young lady.

Wei Qin had heard Jiang Yinyue mention that the eldest son of the Jiang family had fallen in love with the daughter of the Yu family at first sight with just a glimpse of her back and had pursued her relentlessly.

Many people say that Jiang Song was swayed by beauty, but he was devoted to only one person, without coercion or force, exchanging sincerity for sincerity. In the eyes of another group of people, this is not swayed by beauty, but rather another interpretation of attraction.

Wei Qin is quite fond of first impressions.

The lights of thousands of homes were all different. Although the Jiang residence was a bit deserted, Jiang Song, who was rich in spirit, did not feel lonely. Love is not about quantity, but about loving his wife alone in his heart. And the continuation of love is watching his son and daughter grow up slowly.

All he could do was protect his children.

"Does my dear son-in-law remember Miss Tao Qi?"

"Tao Qian's daughter?"

"Um."

Wei Qin did not deny that they had met once.

Before the list of successful candidates was announced, Tao Qian was the first high-ranking official to take a liking to Wei Qin, even before Jiang Song. Tao Qian was also the first person to want to take Wei Qin as his son-in-law.

Jiang Song frankly stated, "Miss Tao Qi was used by Tao Qian as a tool to consolidate his power. Once a tool loses its value, it will be discarded. Her husband's family, fearing repercussions from her father, divorced her and kicked her out of the mansion this afternoon. With nowhere else to turn, Miss Tao Qi acted impulsively..."

Jiang Song looked directly at his son-in-law and said, "I'm telling everyone that I once discussed marriage with my son-in-law."

The rumors were spreading like wildfire, but no one dared to come to the Jiang residence to say anything.

The study fell silent, the water clock ticking away, the sound of water amplified infinitely in my ears.

While it's true that a person with a clear conscience has nothing to fear, when faced with overwhelming criticism, even an innocent person can become the target of public scorn.

Tao Qi's actions were nothing more than revenge. Tao Qian's downfall was directly related to Wei Qin, and indirectly destroyed Tao Qi's wealth and stability.

Tao Qian recommended Wei Qin to become the Salt Transport Commissioner, but now Wei Qin has ruined his reputation and imprisoned him. In Seventh Sister's eyes, this is repaying kindness with enmity.

As the Minister of Justice, Jiang Song had solved countless cases. How could he not see through it? A single meeting turned into a marriage proposal, which was clearly slander. The Seventh Miss was deliberately trying to deepen Wei Qin's reputation for being ungrateful and ruin his name.

"This seventh young lady has indeed inherited Tao Qian's vindictive nature. What does my son-in-law intend to do to silence the gossip?"

Many people enjoy watching a good show, especially those who are jealous of Wei Qin. The grudges and entanglements involving emotions are sure to become fodder for gossip among those with ulterior motives.

After a brief silence, Wei Qin said, "I am not very capable, but if possible, I would like to serve as the judge who executes Tao Qian."

The Seventh Sister ruined his reputation, so he beheaded her father.

Wei Qin, who had escaped death twice from Tao Qian's clutches, felt no remorse whatsoever. If anyone should feel remorse, it should be Tao Qian who felt remorse towards those innocent yamen runners.

Seeing the unmoved young man, Jiang Song was slightly taken aback. This young man was decisive and ruthless enough.

When the memorial requesting an audience was delivered to the emperor, the usually harsh Emperor Shunren no longer hesitated to praise it.

“One must be decisive to avoid being swayed by rumors. I grant permission for Wei Qin to serve as judge and behead Tao Qian.”

The old ministers who left the imperial study whispered among themselves, all discussing Wei Qin.

This second-place scholar from a humble background was no longer an unknown nobody whom the powerful and wealthy dared to look down upon, but a rising star in the imperial court whom most people were wary of or even kept at a distance.

The next morning at court, Wei Qin, walking among the officials, merely glanced sideways at the top scholar who had passed the imperial examination. Before they could even exchange pleasantries, the top scholar jokingly raised his hands to show weakness.

"I did not follow the rumors of the past few days, and I certainly did not gossip about Brother Wei."

The third-ranked scholar, who was walking behind, stepped forward with a smile, "Brother Sun, are you admitting it without being asked?"

The top scholar hurriedly said, "Don't joke around."

We can't afford to mess with them.

Normally, whenever an imperial censor impeached someone, Emperor Shunren would directly give his opinion on whether to punish them. But today was different. Emperor Shunren repeatedly asked Wei Qin for his opinion with a smile, causing the powerful ministers to turn around frequently.

After the event, the officials whispered among themselves, speculating whether the emperor intended to increase the Jiang family's power or simply admire Wei Qin.

"Even a son-in-law who isn't appreciated by the crown prince has finally made it through."

"Yes, that's why they say life is full of unexpected turns."

"But you have to have real skills. Wei Qin was the second-place scholar in the imperial examination, so he should have been given important responsibilities."

After a long standoff with Emperor Shunren over the imperial concubine selection, His Highness the Crown Prince returned to the Eastern Palace, took off his magnificent python robe, and put on a pure white dress.

He sat with his knees bent on the chaise lounge, spread his hands, pressed his forehead, and caught a glimpse of Fu Zhongcai, who seemed to want to say something but hesitated.

"explain."

Fu Zhongcai stammered awkwardly, "Reporting to... Your Highness..."

"explain!"

"While His Highness was attending court, the Empress sent people to forcibly take Gong Fei away from the East Palace and towards the palace gate."

**

In a secluded corner of the Grand Secretary's mansion's backyard, Gong Fei, covered in blood, was hanging from a chair.

One of the guards was still whipping the old man, shouting, "Tell me, who ordered you to slander Her Majesty the Empress?"

"This old minister was only praising Empress Yide, and did not slander Her Majesty the Empress!"

"Stubborn to the end!"

The sound of whipping echoed in a corner where no one paid any attention.

Empress Dong sat on the swing in the courtyard, listening to Gong Fei's increasingly weak screams. She stopped the guards and said, "Gong Fei, Empress Yide gave you so many benefits when she was alive. I will repay you double. You should sing my praises."

His repeated cold laughter sent chills down the spines of the servants.

Gong Fei gritted his teeth, "Empress Yide has never given me any favors; it was from the bottom of my heart..."

"beat."

"stop!"

As the guard raised his hand, a group of people strode into the courtyard with imposing presence.

Wei Xichen, who was walking at the front, glanced over, and all the servants around the Empress knelt down to pay their respects.

Even the palace maids who were pushing the swing for Empress Dong dared not make a move, kneeling on the ground with their heads bowed.

Empress Dong sat motionless on the swing, but the waves in her eyes were no less than a raging storm. "What do you mean, my son?"

Wei Xichen stepped over Gong Fei, who was hanging upside down, and took over from the palace maid to swing Empress Dong on the swing. "Mother, there is no need to quarrel with retired old ministers. Just leave it to your son."

"Should I, as your mother, ensure my son is well-fed and well-treated?"

"It's just a matter of sometimes going hungry and sometimes eating well."

"Being soft-hearted will only lead to being killed by your opponent. Don't you understand this, my son?"

“Your Majesty, I have read all of his short biographies these days, and they certainly do not slander the Empress Dowager.”

It wasn't even mentioned at all.

Empress Dong stopped abruptly and said coldly, "My son, do you not know my heartache? Empress Yide was killed by me! How long will this rumor continue to spread?! The better Empress Yide's reputation is, the more people will secretly slander me!"

Wei Xichen took a step back, his hands hanging at his sides. "The innocent will clear themselves."

"Chen'er!"

Empress Dong suddenly stood up, furious, but was stopped by someone sent by the wife of the Grand Secretary who was observing the situation from a short distance away.

The old servants of the Grand Secretary's office helped Empress Dong up, offering words of advice and flattery.

"Your Majesty, please calm down and come inside for some pear soup to soothe your dryness."

Empress Dong glared back tearfully, then turned and left.

The palace servants of Kunning Palace followed closely behind.

The Prime Minister's wife walked up to her grandson, offered a few words of comfort, and then left with her entourage.

Wei Xichen ordered his men to untie Gong Fei, then walked up to the old man in the bright autumn sun. "Was it worth it?"

The old man retorted, "Why doesn't Your Highness kill this old minister and end it all?"

"Since you did not slander the Empress Dowager, why should I kill you?" Wei Xichen changed his tone, "As long as you reveal who kidnapped you, you can leave, and I will not stop you from continuing to praise Empress Yide."

"Your Highness may decide what to do!"

The old man closed his eyes, showing no fear in the face of danger and taking a detached view of life and death.

After a while, the old man was wearing a snow-white outer garment.

The following morning at court, an imperial censor impeached the crown prince for imprisoning a retired official.

After hearing the censor's words and the accusations made by Xie Xun, the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, against the Empress for abusing the old historian, Emperor Shunren once again turned his attention to Wei Qin.

"What does Minister Wei think?"

Wei Qin stepped forward, holding his tablet. "If Gong Fei deliberately slandered the Empress, he should be severely punished as a warning to others. If he did not make any slanderous remarks, the Crown Prince should release him immediately. But regardless of whether he was at fault, he should be handed over to the Ministry of Justice or the Court of Judicial Review for interrogation. I believe it is inappropriate to imprison him in the Crown Prince's Palace without authorization."

The Minister of Personnel glanced at the Crown Prince and defended him, saying, "Gong Fei was kidnapped, yet he turns around and defends and conceals the identity of his kidnappers..."

Xie Xun interrupted the Minister of Personnel, "Then it should be handed over to the Court of Judicial Review or the Ministry of Justice for interrogation. Furthermore, if Gong Fei did not slander the Empress, he was unjustly placed under house arrest. If he was unjustly placed under house arrest and then abducted, it should be called a rescue. As for who did it, they can all be called outlaws!"

The Minister of Personnel pointed at him from afar, "Sophistry!"

With a dignified expression, Xie Xun retorted coldly, "You can't compare to the Minister's unreasonable arguments!"

"Alright!" Emperor Shunren said impatiently, "Release them."

Upon hearing this, not only the Minister of Personnel and other confidants of the Crown Prince, but even Wei Xichen himself looked astonished. However, in an instant, Wei Xichen's expression relaxed, and he understood.

Regarding the matter of Empress Yide, the Emperor wanted to gain a good reputation.

To defend Gong Fei is to defend one's first wife.

The Third Prince, Wei Yangwan, suddenly stepped forward and said, "In my humble opinion, Her Majesty the Empress should be punished for privately torturing Gong Fei."

Emperor Shunren glanced at it, his cold gaze frightening the young man away.

"Since someone has brought this up, I should handle it fairly. Let the Crown Prince be punished in place of his mother. The Empress shall order Gong Fei to be whipped a few times, and the Crown Prince shall repay that punishment with a few lashes. Guards, administer the whipping."

The guards remained motionless until the emperor shouted, at which point they hurriedly rushed into the hall and dragged Wei Xichen out.

Before the palace gates, the sound of whips rang out, striking the hearts of many officials.

After the court session ended, Jiang Song and the Minister of Personnel, among others, raced to be the first to rush into the Eastern Palace to visit the injured Crown Prince.

"Minister Jiang, please make way for your elder brother!"

Jiang Song, tall and long-legged, distanced himself from the panting Minister of Personnel, waved his hand behind him, and as he approached the East Palace Gate, he vigorously wiped his face, his expression turning grave.

Arriving at the bedside of the imperial concubine, Jiang Song took the medicine bowl handed to him by Fu Zhongcai and personally fed it to Wei Xichen, whose thin lips had bled. "Your Highness has suffered."

Wei Xichen leaned back on the couch, seeing through it but saying nothing.

Jiang Song scooped up a spoonful of medicine and said gently, "Your Highness, please don't burn yourself."

We should still give them this much face. Wei Xichen drank the medicine and said, "You are very kind, Minister."

After the emperor and his ministers had a private chat, the Minister of Personnel went into the sleeping quarters, and Jiang Song walked out of the East Palace, where he ran into Wei Yangwan, who was smiling and approaching him.

"Has the Third Prince come to visit the Crown Prince?"

"We've come to meet with Minister Jiang."

"Don't say that, it's easy for people to misunderstand."

Wei Yangwan followed behind Jiang Song, a maple leaf dangling from his mouth. "To be honest, an important position has become vacant under my command. Minister Jiang, are you interested?"

Jiang Song walked with his hands behind his back along the corridor leading to the Imperial Study. "With the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review here, I won't join the crowd; it's too congested."

"Isn't the Eastern Palace crowded?"

"The Crown Prince is the legitimate heir," Jiang Song smiled without saying a word, silently refusing. After walking more than ten steps, he slowly turned around, "Your Highness, unaffected by Tao Qian, is much clearer."

What does that mean? Wei Yangwan stood there, completely bewildered, then laughed and shook one leg – let's just assume it was a compliment.

Jiang Song was stopped at the door by guards when he went to the Imperial Study.

"Your Excellency, please return."

"Are any of your ministers accompanying you today?"

"Scholar Wei".

Having taken a calming pill, Emperor Shunren listened to Wei Qin's clear and mellow voice as he read memorials aloud, his fingertips tapping the imperial desk in time with the last syllable of his voice.

With such a son, what more could parents ask for?

It's a pity they weren't his own children.

Inside the East Palace's sleeping quarters, Wei Xichen interrupted the Minister of Personnel's introduction of his daughter, saying, "Minister, you should go back first."

"Your Highness, the Grand Secretary and Her Majesty the Empress both favor my daughter..."

"Let's go back."

After the bedroom fell silent, Wei Xichen took out his pipe, lit it, took a puff, and coughed lightly from the fumes.

He sank into the chaise lounge, took another breath, and slowly exhaled.

Her moist eyes were shrouded in smoke.

A wisp of smoke drifted obliquely from the corner of his eye.

During Gong Fei's imprisonment, whenever the old man was seen trying to relieve his sorrows, he was always holding a pipe.

Inside the hall, there were no large, multi-branched lamps burning; only a single candlestick illuminated a small space. The young crown prince, bathed in dim light, trembled, whether from choking or laughing, it was unclear.

His half-brother seized the opportunity to add insult to injury, his father whipped him to protect his reputation, and his mother and maternal grandfather forced him to marry and take concubines in order to consolidate their power. The loyalty of Jiang Song and the Minister of Personnel to him was merely a choice made after weighing the pros and cons, and they often pretended to be loyal to him.

When he is gentle, he is advised to be ruthless; when he is ruthless, he is advised to be restrained; when he is restrained, he is reminded to be gentle... Over and over again, he is the puppet on a string.

The only light that illuminated him without regard to cost was Jiang Yinyue.

Only the moon shines over the river.

Nian Nian, my lonely lingering thoughts...

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Author's note: 50 small red envelopes [sprinkling flowers]