Chapter 44 If Xiao Haitang is willing, you can take my surname.
Emperor An was watching covetously, and Xiao Yan had ulterior motives.
Lu Chongyuan was so angry that he almost couldn't breathe, but he didn't dare to respond to the curse of the country's destruction. In the end, the unfortunate Censor He still received the punishment that seemed light but was actually extremely vicious.
Seeing Lu Chongyuan's face livid with anger but he remained silent, Emperor An felt his previous fatigue swept away. He felt refreshed and said magnanimously, "Drag him away and execute him after he wakes up."
"Your Majesty is kind and gracious."
Xiao Yan received a look of praise from Emperor An. He Zongran was dragged away below, and he lowered his eyes to look at Song Hong in the hall.
Song Hong's face paled instantly, and before Xiao Yan could say anything, he sank to his knees. "I am guilty. I shouldn't have sent my mother to Jiyun Lane just because she was too old. I couldn't bear to see her upset over the quarrels among the younger generation in the mansion. I was also too impatient and accidentally injured Tang Ning. I also disturbed Your Majesty by bringing family affairs to the court."
"I am guilty, Your Majesty, and I beg you to punish me."
Xiao Yan looked at Song Hong and sneered. This man admitted his guilt quickly, but unfortunately he also tried to evade responsibility completely. He turned his head and said to Emperor An:
"Your Majesty, the Song family's affairs have little to do with Minister Song. He wasn't the one who broke into Jiyun Lane, and he wasn't the one who nearly killed Miss Song. Minister Song was only guilty of negligence at best."
"But that Old Madam Song and Recorder Song, one of them is using the imperial edict to bully others, while the other is misjudging people and plotting to murder his own sister. If such people are allowed to sit in the court and enjoy the emperor's grace, wouldn't it make people question the integrity of your majesty?"
Emperor An's eyes were cold. He was already dissatisfied with the Song family. Not only did he dislike their marriage with the Lu family, but this morning the Lu family colluded with people in the Censorate to attack Xiao Yan, and even forced him, the emperor, to do so. It was all because of the Song family's shameful deeds that were not allowed to be made public.
"Since he is relying on his seniority, his imperial edict should be revoked."
"His Majesty!"
Song Hong's eyes were filled with shock.
Emperor An said coldly, "Your father, Duke Song, has long passed away. The imperial edict granted to his family was an exceptional reward, but your mother was ungrateful. She caused a disturbance in Jiyun Lane, causing a commotion throughout the court and the capital. Today, I am stripping her of her title of Madam. Considering her age, I will retain her as a young lady and ask her to reflect on her mistakes at home. If she commits the same offense again, I will not forgive her."
"As for the son of the Song family, he's already cruel and ruthless at such a young age. He has no ability to judge people, and it's hard for him to maintain a peaceful inner circle. He should be resigned from his job as a clerk and sent back to the Imperial Academy to cultivate his character and learn how to be a good person before returning to officialdom. As for Song Hong's failure to properly manage his family, he will be fined three months' salary as a warning to others."
Song Hong knelt there with a pale face and black vision in front of his eyes, almost fainting.
Xiao Yan: "Minister Song, why don't you thank me?"
Song Hong was crying blood in his throat, but when he met Emperor An's cold gaze, he could only kowtow to the ground with a chill all over his body.
"Your Majesty, I, Song Hong, thank you for your grace."
An early morning court session ended, which was originally a game between two parties. In the end, Xiao Yan was not harmed at all. On the contrary, Lu Chongyuan not only lost a confidant of the Censorate, but also suffered a crushing defeat in the game with the emperor. The Song family was even worse off, as they lost the old lady's imperial edict and Song Jinxiu, who had a promising future.
When they came out of the main hall, Song Hong looked at Xiao Yan, who had come out suddenly, with a pale face: "Superintendent Xiao, what a cruel method."
"You're too kind."
Xiao Yan's eyes were clear and light: "If you weren't targeting this little girl, I wouldn't be able to use these methods."
Song Hong's throat tasted fishy and sweet with anger. "Master Xiao, you did protect her, but have you forgotten that Song Tangning is also surnamed Song? Even if you really protected her, she's still a member of the Song family..."
"So what? If she wants, she can change her surname to Xiao."
"you!"
Song Hong flew into a rage, but Lu Chongyuan held him back, "Xiao Yan, why are you being so aggressive? The court is a place where we meet each other every day, and you're meddling in other people's affairs. You're taking it too far. The mischief of a few children is so worthy of being brought to court. I really thought too highly of you."
Xiao Yan smiled carelessly, "This Governor has never thought highly of you. Lord Lu is still as hypocritical as ever. Instead of engaging in verbal battles with this Governor, you should think about He Zongran taking the ordination in front of the palace. How long can he hold on to that face?"
The sun was shining brightly, and the bright light was on his shoulders. He looked at He Yushi, who had just woken up and whose face was full of ferocious disgust.
"Hey, Lord He is awake. That's perfect. Let's use the court caning while Lord Lu is still here."
A group of palace servants came forward, dragged He Zongran to the bottom of the stairs, pressed him down on the platform, and took the court stick.
He Zongran fell to the ground with a pain in his internal organs and hissed, "Xiao Yan, you eunuch, you bullied me like this today, you will definitely not die a good death, you..."
ah--
With a scream, the stick landed on his mouth, and Censor He's mouth was full of blood.
"Don't break Lord He's mouth. He has to recite the Five Classics tomorrow. Just spank him. Lift him up and kneel. It won't interfere with the punishment."
Xiao Yan's pupils were calm, and what he said made the court officials behind Lu's eyes bloodshot. The palace servants who were carrying out the execution did not hurt Censor He's face again, but just hit him in the lower body with the court stick.
Those sticks were three inches thick and wide, and each one hit the flesh. Under the dull sound, one could even hear the sound of broken bones.
No matter how loudly He Zongran was shouting before, he was in so much pain now. After being hit for only three or five times, he had forgotten his previous courage and lay on the ground, wishing he could vomit out his heart, liver, spleen, lungs and blood.
He kept screaming and wailing, and his cries frightened the court officials in front of the palace gate so much that their faces turned pale.
When Xiao Yan looked towards the front of the hall, both Song Hong and the others avoided his gaze.
"Lord He is loyal and courageous, and I admire him. Lord Lu, remember to carry him out of the palace and find your amazing court physician to see him. Otherwise, if he is not seen in the palace tomorrow morning, it will be a serious crime of disobeying the emperor's order. I do not want to bring people to raid Lord He's residence."
"These days, it's hard to find people with strong bones and stupid brains."
The slow and clear voice ignited a fire in the room. Xiao Yan turned around and left with his robe fluttering.
Only Lu Chongyuan and others were left standing in front of the hall, their faces turning pale and blue with anger, and their old teeth were broken.
After Xiao Yan left, he heard those people cursing him as a "castrated dog" and a "flatterer". They were swearing at him and wanted to direct all the bad words at Xiao Yan, but he kept his voice down even when cursing, for fear that others would hear a word.
Cao Dejiang showed disgust on his face, and the officials from poor families following behind him also looked down on him.
They had all seen with their own eyes how these people in the court had impeached Xiao Yan before, and they also saw clearly how they pushed He Zongran out after he showed up, making everyone avoid him.
Although Cao Dejiang and others also felt that Xiao Yan's behavior was arrogant, the people of the Lu Party were truly not worthy of being on the stage. Just looking at them made people want to spit.
"Lord Cao, Xiao Yan was so unforgiving today, yet Your Majesty still indulged him. It seems Your Majesty's patience with the aristocratic families has reached its limit." Marquis Wenxin lowered his voice.
Cao Dejiang's expression darkened slightly: "What Xiao Yan did might not be a bad thing."
These upright families have been repeatedly suppressed by the aristocratic families in recent years, and it is difficult for scholars from poor families to make a name for themselves. If they can really get rid of the aristocratic families, it will be a good thing for the court and the world.
Marquis Wenxin said, "What about the Song family..."
"The Song family is trying to curry favor with the powerful and the wealthy, and they don't have the integrity of the Duke of Song. Xiao Yan is a vindictive person. I always feel that there is something fishy about this Song family."
After Cao Dejiang finished speaking in a low voice, he turned to look at Marquis Wenxin and said, "I remember that your wife is on good terms with Princess Cheng. Why not have her go to the Cheng Palace to visit her?"
Marquis Wenxin was stunned for a moment, then nodded: "I'll go back and ask."
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