Chapter 285 The Bewitching Concubine Who Brings Disaster to the Country
Huo Qingcang frowned almost imperceptibly upon hearing Huo Ting's words.
Although he had been away from the capital for a long time, what he saw and heard along the way was that the people were living in peace and the government was efficient and efficient, and he did not see any signs of the government being neglected.
He also had some understanding of his grand-nephew's character; he was not a womanizer who was muddle-headed and incompetent.
"Is the Prince's statement somewhat exaggerated?"
Huo Qingcang spoke gently, yet with a hint of scrutiny: "His Majesty's diligence in governing is a well-known fact throughout the court and the country."
Upon hearing this, Huo Ting coughed even more violently, and his face flushed an unnatural red.
"You are unaware of the truth. The outward peace and tranquility may mask underlying problems. His Majesty may appear diligent in his duties, but his mind has already strayed from the right path!"
He struggled to sit up, his eyes filled with a morbid obsession, and began to recount: "How long has Consort Zhuang been in the palace? Her maternal family was originally just local officials, but now they have been promoted one after another. Is this possible without the Emperor's secret support?"
"Furthermore, with so many concubines in the harem, the Emperor favors only Consort Zhuang, spending every night in Weiyang Palace and treating the other concubines as if they were nothing. This unequal distribution of favors has led to the lack of offspring. To this day, the harem has produced no offspring, which is jeopardizing the foundation of the nation!"
His voice was hoarse, yet every word was clear, exaggerating and distorting the facts, making it difficult for anyone to refute him.
"Not to mention..."
Huo Ting was panting heavily, his eyes filled with malice and malice.
"I have also heard that Consort Zhuang frequently enters and leaves the Imperial Study. Interfering in politics within the inner palace is a major taboo in all dynasties. If this continues, how can the court not fall into chaos?"
As Huo Qingcang listened, his brows furrowed even more deeply.
He instinctively felt that Huo Ting's words were somewhat extreme. The promotion of relatives of the emperor might be due to their talents, and while the emperor's exclusive favor was a fact, it was also a matter of the emperor's private morality. As for entering and leaving the imperial study, he believed that Huo Lin knew how to conduct himself.
However, when Huo Ting connected these events, Huo Lin appeared to be extremely muddle-headed.
Huo Yuan stood beside him, and with each sentence Huo Ting uttered, his face grew darker and his breathing more rapid.
This is outrageous, outrageous, and absolutely shocking!
He could no longer hold back, raised his hand and slammed it on the small table beside him, then abruptly stood up.
"The empress's relatives wielding power and the emperor's favoritism leading to the downfall of the country—aren't these signs of national ruin? How could the emperor be so foolish as to be bewitched by a woman!"
Huo Yuan's eyes turned red with anger. He turned to Huo Qingcang and said excitedly, "Grandfather, you are a member of the royal family, of high rank and deeply respected. You absolutely cannot sit idly by and do nothing about this matter. You must go to the palace to meet the Emperor, explain the pros and cons, and advise him!"
Huo Qingcang looked at his excited grandson, then at Huo Ting on the bed who was coughing as if he was about to die. Although he still had doubts, he was also disturbed by the things Huo Ting had listed.
He sighed and finally nodded: "Well, since we'll all have to go to the palace to meet the emperor anyway, I'll just bring it up and ask him clearly."
An hour later, in the Imperial Study.
Huo Lin was still reviewing memorials, while Jiang Huan sat not far from him, holding a storybook and reading it happily.
The hall was warm and inviting, with a harmonious atmosphere.
Just then, a voice announced from outside the hall: "Your Majesty, Prince Qing and his son, Huo Yuan, request an audience."
Huo Lin was somewhat surprised.
[Your Highness, you've had a long and arduous journey. Why come to see me without resting first? Is there something you need?]
He put down his pen: "Announce."
Wang Degui immediately went out to announce the arrival, and soon Huo Qingcang and Huo Yuan walked in one after the other.
Huo Qingcang's expression was solemn, while Huo Yuan's face was even more frosty.
His gaze swept across the imperial study, naturally taking in Jiang Huan as well.
His brows furrowed into a tight knot, and his anger intensified.
Thinking of what Huo Ting had said earlier, Huo Yuan instantly guessed Jiang Huan's identity.
It seems Huo Ting was right; the Emperor dotes on Consort Zhuang so much that he's truly lost his mind!
"Your subject Huo Qingcang greets Your Majesty."
"Your subject Huo Yuan greets Your Majesty."
The two bowed, one in a heavy voice and the other in a cold one.
"No need for formalities, please sit." Huo Lin raised his hand, his gaze lingering for a moment on Huo Yuan's tense face, somewhat puzzled.
[Who is Huo Yuan giving that attitude to?]
[He's already in this state since arriving in Beijing; where did he go and eat some gunpowder again?]
Huo Qingcang did not sit down, but cupped his hands and said, "I originally wanted to take Yuan'er to tour Shengjing before coming to pay my respects, but recently there seem to be too many rumors circulating, which makes me uneasy. So I have come to ask the Emperor for some clarification."
[Therefore, it seems this is not a request for verification, but an inquiry.]
[I'm rather curious, where did they go to say bad things about me again, and what were they saying?]
Huo Lin raised an eyebrow: "Please speak freely."
Huo Qingcang coughed to clear his throat, and was about to speak when Huo Yuan interrupted him.
He was seething with anger and had nowhere to vent it; he couldn't hold back any longer.
"Your Majesty, on my journey to the capital, I have heard that Your Majesty favors Consort Zhuang and neglects the other concubines, resulting in a shortage of imperial heirs and jeopardizing the foundation of the nation. This is not the behavior of a wise ruler!"
“As the sages said, ‘Of the three unfilial acts, the greatest is to have no offspring.’ Your Majesty’s fate is tied to the fate of the nation; how can this be allowed!”
His words were spoken with an air of "So what if you order my death? I'll still speak passionately even if you order my death."
Jiang Huan raised her head and blinked.
Huh? Where did this hothead come from, firing the first shot?
Huo Yuan completely ignored the expressions on everyone's faces and continued to speak eloquently, his voice growing louder and louder.
"I have also heard that Consort Zhuang's relatives have been promoted repeatedly through nepotism. This is a sign of interference in politics by the imperial relatives. How can Your Majesty not be aware of this? If this continues, won't the court be filled with sycophants? How will loyal and virtuous officials stand?"
He spoke one sentence after another, his words sharp and forceful, each accusation heavy and weighty.
Huo Qingcang couldn't stop him even if he wanted to. He still trusted his grand-nephew in his heart. He only wanted to test and persuade him to listen to the whole story. Who knew that Huo Yuan would rebuke him and cut off all his escape routes.
Huo Lin's face had turned completely cold, and his gaze was icy.
[It is only natural for me to like or favor whomever I desire; what is wrong with that?]
As for her maternal family, I do have other plans, but if they don't have real skills, I will never give them an important position.
[That brat Huo Yuan, he loved to argue with me since we were kids. It's one thing for him to smear me, but he can't tolerate smearing her!]
Jiang Huan almost laughed in anger when she heard these accusations.
Good heavens, this isn't a visit to seek verification, it's a public denunciation meeting for her!
She can accept being the sole favorite, but she won't take the blame for the interference of her maternal relatives in politics!
Has this prince gone mad from reading too much? He believes everything he hears.
Fortunately, Huo Lin was aware of the situation.
Even so, she couldn't allow herself to be falsely accused.
Jiang Huan sat up straight, about to retort, when she heard Huo Lin speak.
"Huo Yuan," Huo Lin's voice wasn't loud, but it instantly drowned out Huo Yuan's, "Are you instructing me on how to do things, or are you criticizing me!"
Huo Yuan was momentarily stunned by the oppressive aura, but the anger in his heart and his so-called sense of justice sustained him.
He stiffened his neck, his momentum weakening slightly, but he still insisted: "Your Majesty, I dare not! But as a subject, seeing signs of chaos in the court, I am deeply worried and have no choice but to speak frankly and remonstrate, begging Your Majesty to punish this wicked concubine who has brought ruin to the country!"
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