Chapter 141 A Beauty Like a Daughter

Having the tools wasn't enough. With his father's permission, Hongzhao selected many elite soldiers from the Eight Banners. They were all of similar height and with regular features. When selecting them, a group of eunuchs from the Imperial Household Department carried stacks of thick books and carefully checked that each person's family had no bad records for at least three generations.

Next, there will be tests in equestrianism and archery. The training program for the following month alone filled several sheets of paper, which was astonishing.

Although no one knew why they were being selected, the fact that the conditions were so strict meant that everyone was giving it their all to compete for the top spot, and their high spirits made Hongzhao very pleased.

While Hongzhao was busy with his work, rarely seen except for the morning court session, the court was also bustling with activity.

"Qian Mingshi's Guxiangting Poetry Collection contains rebellious and offensive poems. I have already dismissed him from his post, confiscated his property, and sent him back to his hometown. Officials in the capital are to write poems to criticize him, and these poems will be compiled, printed, and distributed throughout the country. Have you completed all of this?"

Yinzhen stared at Guarjia Emin below him with a somber expression. These literati, confident in their literary talents, needed such heavy pressure to put an end to their instigation of unrest. Hongzhao listened quietly without saying a word, knowing all too well how severe the literary inquisitions of the Qing Dynasty were.

Guarjia Emin's shrewd eyes revealed calculation—"Your Majesty, this servant has carefully read those poems. The two who wrote the poems sympathizing with Qian Mingshi have been dismissed, investigated, and exiled to Ningguta by Your Majesty. However, there is one thing this servant does not know whether he should say."

"Go ahead and say it." Yinzhen didn't know how many times he would have to ask whether he should say it or not, but in the end he did.

"Lord Zhen Yuandao did not compose a poem condemning Qian Mingshi. He claimed his literary talent was insufficient to produce a poem worthy of his reputation, and thus declined. This servant previously reported to the Emperor that Zhen Yuandao was secretly possessing Qian Mingshi's seditious writings. Now, he refuses to write a poem to condemn him and uphold his stance... This..."

Not only the Emperor, but even Hongzhao wouldn't believe these words. How could Zhen Yuandao, a former censor, be bad at writing poetry? No one could believe it; it was clearly just a perfunctory remark.

But Hongzhao simply couldn't understand his actions. As a subject, and even a criminal, with his daughter also guilty in the palace, how could he dare to deceive the emperor under such circumstances? What could possibly drive him to such a foolish act?

At this moment, Yinzhen harbored deep resentment towards the Zhen family father and daughter. Thinking about it made him frown. His daughter was making things difficult for him in the harem, and his father was also a troublemaker in the court. He rubbed his hands irritably and said, "Tomorrow morning at court, I want to hear his story in person and see how he will defend himself."

Hongzhao secretly raised an eyebrow. In the original drama, even though Zhen Huan, who was truly devoted to him, was pregnant and pleading bitterly, Zhen Yuandao's family was still exiled to Ningguta. Their situation is now much worse. He really wanted to see how his father would handle it.

The matter of literary inquisition can be considered a major issue or a minor one, depending entirely on what the people below say and the emperor's intentions. Ever since the Nian Gengyao incident, Hongzhao could clearly sense that his imperial father seemed to care extra for the meritorious officials who had quelled the rebellion, and was reluctant to let go and give them important positions for fear of nurturing another Nian Gengyao. Coincidentally, Zhen Yuandao was one of them. If it weren't for the exposure of Huanbi's affair, he might have become a favorite of the emperor.

Hongzhao understood that if Zhen Yuandao could be smart and sincerely confess his guilt tomorrow, there was definitely room for reversal. But considering that the other two were exiled to Ningguta without even being questioned, it was clear that he at least had a chance to defend himself.

However, the father and daughter share the same stubborn temperament.

"I believe the case of Qian Mingshi should be brought to a stop at the right time, and should not be pursued excessively. If the matter of punishing someone based on their knowledge of poetry and literature spreads, everyone in the court will feel insecure, and who will dare to speak freely? At that time, flattery will prevail, and the spirit of righteousness will be difficult to uphold!"

Seeing his father's increasingly cold and scrutinizing gaze, Hongzhao couldn't help but grit his teeth.

Are you saying that I'm suppressing free speech?

This question was enough to hold Guarjia Emin firmly in his grasp. He suddenly stepped forward, cupped his hands, and loudly pronounced several serious crimes against Zhen Yuandao.

“Those who harbor ulterior motives, refuse to repent, cling to imperial favor, recklessly defy their superiors, and sympathize with traitors—if they are not severely punished, there will be no order or discipline in the court!”

He truly deserves to be called a censor; he seized the perfect moment, and every word he uttered struck a nerve with the emperor. Even Hongzhao couldn't help but want to learn a thing or two from him.

Yinzhen surveyed the people below with a dark look in his eyes. He thought he had been merciful enough, and even had thought about how to give Zhen Yuandao a way out if he confessed today. But he was really too disappointing. "The guilty subject Zhen Yuandao is hereby dismissed from his post and imprisoned. After the trial of this case is completed, his whole family will be exiled to Ningguta and enslaved by the armored men."

Thunder and rain are both acts of imperial grace, even with such severe punishment. Yet Zhen Yuandao still had to feign gratitude with a trembling voice, his face contorted in pain, saying, "Your subject thanks Your Majesty for your great kindness."

...

Guarjia Emin impeached Zhen Yuandao in the previous dynasty, and his daughter followed suit in the harem.

"Before entering the palace, the master repeatedly instructed that the young lady must make a name for herself and bring honor to the family." Jingtai helped Consort Qi sit down, and she was naturally excited to hear the news outside.

Consort Qi tilted her head smugly—"It's only natural for her to rise above others. Before she entered the palace, I heard that Consort Wan was favored, but who knew that she would become a low-ranking concubine after entering? Now that she has been demoted and has no one to serve her, she is out of touch with the world. We must help her with such a big matter."

Perhaps because he had been with Consort Qi for a long time, Jingtai's smile was always the same smug one—"Lord Emin will surely praise Your Highness's competence!"

...

Outside the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Hongzhao was unusually stopped outside by Su Peisheng, who had a troubled and distressed expression.

He peeked out, puzzled. The person who could make Su Peisheng look so worried must not be any minister. If it were a minister, he wouldn't have been stopped outside. But he hadn't heard that his father had chosen anyone.

"Yes... Consort Zhen is inside." Su Peisheng bowed, his face contorted in a grimace, yet a hint of relief could be seen in his expression.

"Your Highness, as you know, these past few days have coincided with the anniversary of Empress Chun Yuan's death, and His Majesty has already been in a bad mood. This... this Zhen family is really walking into the line of fire one by one."

Hongzhao nodded knowingly. It seemed the plot was about to move forward. "It's alright, I'll wait outside."

Just then, a series of sounds came from inside the hall, like cups, plates, and bowls falling to the ground in a fit of rage, as if someone had slid everything off the table in a fit of anger.

"Oh, what's going on?" Su Peisheng's expression tightened and he quickly took two steps closer to the door. Hongzhao followed closely behind. Being closer, they could hear more clearly. Just as Su Peisheng was about to ask, they heard a shrill female voice from inside.

"It was all a misplaced trust—"

Su Peisheng swallowed back the words that were stuck in his throat. He and Hongzhao met eyes, both seeing disbelief in each other's eyes. After a shout filled with resentment and utter disappointment, the hall remained deathly silent for a long time. Those outside couldn't hear what was being said inside. After an unknown amount of time, the door slowly opened, and Zhen Huan, her face still streaked with tears, walked out, her expression dazed, leaning against the doorframe. Her right palm was covered in blood. If one looked closely, one could even see some shards of broken porcelain.

Hongzhao watched her slowly, unsteadily take each step, and shook his head inwardly.

Stepping into the hall, I saw the Emperor sitting on the couch with his back to the door. Even from his back, I could tell he had been quite angry. Below him, Eunuch Su was squatting on the ground, carefully picking up the blood-stained shards of porcelain and the scattered manuscripts.

Hongzhao had good eyesight, and he used the act of bowing to look down.

“I entrust this to my beloved wife Wanwan… Even if I had Wanwan, who resembles you, it would temporarily relieve my bitter thoughts, but it would also be like Wushan, which is not the same as the clouds.”