Chapter 135
Pei Lingjun lit the candle and leaned closer to take a closer look.
Yesterday was Laba Festival, and Wen Shu made a pot of mutton soup, which she shared with the guards...
Pei Lingjun's eyes darkened, and he felt a pang of sadness. He had never even tasted the mutton soup she made.
Yesterday, Wen Shu asked him if he was still in Jijing and when he could return. She had wanted to write him a letter in person, but was afraid of bothering him...
Pei Lingjun's eyes suddenly softened with a smile. He wouldn't mind her writing to him every day; in fact, he wished she would.
Cui Pei watched their leader's mood swings, sometimes happy, sometimes sad, and thought to himself, even their strong-willed leader is not immune to the common fate. It really is true that the old saying, "Even heroes can't resist the charms of a beautiful woman!"
Pei Lingjun read the letter several times until he could almost recite it from memory, before carefully placing it in the brocade box.
Inside the brocade box beside me, the same letters were already half full.
As always, Cui Pei watched Pei Lingjun put down the letter, then said, "Elder, the Empress Dowager has been ill for several days. Those civil officials who wanted to remonstrate with their lives on the Golden Palace knelt for three days and three nights, every word they uttered was about filial piety... His Majesty has been using illness as an excuse to avoid attending court these past few days..."
The Great Prosperity emphasized filial piety.
The word "filial piety" can be so powerful it can crush a person.
His Majesty is determined to kill Cai Hui, wanting to completely eradicate the Cai clan from the court.
It's understandable that the Empress Dowager would fall ill due to her anxiety over her nephew.
The scholar who died remonstrating before the Golden Palace accused the emperor of being 'unfilial,' leaving the world to judge his lack of filial piety.
No wonder His Majesty is claiming illness and not attending court.
Pei Lingjun's eyes were deep, with layers of calm pressing down on the turbulent waves, as if he could not tolerate the slightest oversight or mistake.
He pinched his brow bone and asked, "Where is His Majesty?"
Cui Pei glanced cautiously at Pei Lingjun's expression and said carefully, "Boss, I think His Majesty has softened his stance. Otherwise, why wouldn't he have suppressed the troublemaking civil officials?"
Originally, the Empress Dowager had planned to abandon Cai Hui, but unexpectedly, during the time Pei Lingjun was away, those disciples who had received favors from the Cai family gathered together and joined forces with officials in the court to protect Cai Hui without any explanation!
With the Empress Dowager's illness, the Dali Temple was under considerable pressure, and the entire court was in turmoil.
Although His Majesty stays indoors, he can still hear the judgments of the people.
For an emperor, nothing is more important than merit and fame.
Killing Cai Hui would place him on the charge of 'filial impiety,' a particularly unfortunate crime recorded in the historian's pen.
Pei Lingjun took a deep breath and stared at the almost still candle flame on the table.
This candle flame may appear unmoved by the winds, but it is actually burning its own life silently.
Time was running out for him. He had to avenge the Marquis's family! He also had to avenge the blood feud of his father and brother!
Cai Hui said he must die!
All the evidence was on the emperor's desk, and Pei Lingjun had no control over the emperor's will, so he went to the palace to meet the emperor early the next morning.
His Majesty's meaning is simple: Cai Hui has already lost power, and it's only a matter of time before he loses control. Killing Cai Hui would leave him with a reputation for being 'unfilial,' but if he spares Cai Hui, he will not only take back the power of the Cai family but also gain a good reputation.
Who wouldn't want to do something that benefits both parties?
Pei Lingjun emerged from the palace gates, and on the cold, silent snow-covered path, the eunuch's voice announcing the imperial decree sounded particularly jarring.
"—Remembering that the former Grand Tutor Cai Hui was a veteran of two reigns, with both merits and demerits, I do not wish to discourage my subjects. Therefore, I hereby order the confiscation of Cai's family property and his exile to his hometown, never to be employed again. All those involved, including the Transport Commissioner Ruan Mingyuan, the Privy Councilor Cai Ze, and the Commander of the Northwest Three Routes An Dashan, are to be executed immediately! The remaining officials involved shall be handed over to the Court of Judicial Review for trial! This is my decree—"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
