Chapter 147 Suspicion
He held up the ivory tablet in both hands and said in a steady and powerful voice, "Your Majesty, He Ning, has a memorial to submit!"
"Play it."
Lu Bin's voice came, and it was impossible to tell whether he was happy or angry.
He Ning lowered his head slightly, his posture respectful, but his eyes were raised calmly, looking directly at the imperial steps:
"I have been granted the position of censor by Your Majesty's grace to supervise all officials and clean up the bureaucracy. This is the trust Your Majesty has placed in me.
I shall be willing to sacrifice my life to repay Heaven's grace, but what I am reporting today is not for public affairs, but for personal reasons."
He paused for a moment, and you could hear a pin drop in the hall, as countless eyes were fixed on him.
He took a deep breath, and each word flowed clearly, like pearls falling on a jade plate. "I have long admired Jiang Qingning. Her character is noble and her perseverance is unwavering. I am deeply impressed. I implore Your Majesty to show your great grace and grant me and Jiang Qingning a marriage. With all my sincere heart!"
The suppressed whispers suddenly exploded in the hall like boiling water.
"Why can't it be done in one day? Do you want to ask for two days?"
"Master He still hasn't given up? Then what's so good about Jiang Qingning?"
"Who doesn't know about the dirty deeds going on in the Anping Marquis's mansion?"
"Jiang Qingning's divorce was only a few days old, and she moved into Ning Pavilion with her dowry. She has long been the biggest talk of the capital."
Now this upstart, the powerful Prince of Zhenbei.
He actually openly proposed to a woman he had just divorced several times in the court, in front of all the civil and military officials and the emperor?
This is simply earth-shattering!
In the procession of nobles, several old officials had their brows knitted into knots, with expressions of contempt;
On the civil service side, some also shook their heads slightly, showing disapproval.
And in the center of this sudden clamor, another person was eerily quiet.
Qin Xiu was standing not far behind He Ning, dressed in a crimson court robe, which made his face look even colder, like the deep water of a cold pond.
The joints of his fingers that held the jade sceptre turned white from the force.
He lowered his eyelids, and his thick eyelashes cast a small shadow under his eyes, covering the turbulent waves surging in his eyes.
It was just the invisible chill emanating from his body that almost froze the air.
The officials who were closer to him subconsciously shrank their necks and remained silent.
The corners of Lu Bin's mouth twitched upwards almost imperceptibly, a look of understanding as if he had seen a chess piece fall precisely into the predetermined position and understood everything.
He tilted his head slightly, his eyes seemingly unintentionally sweeping across Qin Xiu's profile, then falling back on He Ning.
That tiny smile quickly expanded and eventually turned into a loud, even somewhat cheerful laugh.
"Hahaha! Great! What a sincere heart!"
Lu Bin's laughter echoed in the hall. "I remember that your father was also a man of character when he was in the Northern Frontier. He Qing's family's actions today are quite like his father's. It's refreshing!"
He had heard about what happened yesterday. After being rejected by him, He Ning was not discouraged at all and directly sent countless gifts to Ning Pavilion.
He clapped his hands, and the gold and jade collided with each other, making a crisp sound, breaking the deathly silence in the hall caused by shock.
"Young men admire Ai, and heroes are often tempted by beautiful women. It's human nature."
He paused for a moment, "Jiang's father and brother are also pillars of the country. Although they are far away in Lingnan, their loyalty and bravery are commendable. For their daughter to be so deeply loved by He Qing, she must have some extraordinary qualities."
He leaned forward slightly, the jade beads on his crown tassels gently colliding with each other, and his eyes were fixed on He Ning with burning intent:
"Since Mr. He has made up his mind and his sincerity is known to the world, how can I not fulfill your wish? This is a good idea. I will grant your request!"
"Your Majesty is wise!"
He Ning immediately bowed, his voice loud and clear, with just the right amount of excitement and gratitude.
"His Majesty!"
An old voice sounded with anxiety and anger. It was an old minister from the noble family. He was obviously very dissatisfied with Jiang Qingning remarrying He Ning and tried to dissuade her.
"Um?"
Lu Bin glanced over indifferently.
The look was calm, yet it carried a tremendous force that instantly choked back the old minister's next words. His face flushed red, and he dared not say another word.
Lu Bin retracted his gaze, still with that gentle smile on his face, and said to He Ning:
"Don't worry, Mr. He. I will immediately order someone to draft an edict. You and Jiang are a match made in heaven. Once an auspicious date is chosen, I will personally officiate your wedding!"
"Your Majesty, I bow to you and thank you for your grace! Long live Your Majesty!"
He Ning lifted his robe and bowed solemnly.
When his forehead touched the cold gold brick, a chill spread along his skin, but there was a burning fire in his heart.
The first step of the plan was accomplished!
This sharp blade, in the name of marriage contract, was finally tempered and formed by the hands of the highest authority in the Golden Palace.
"Stand up."
Lu Bin raised his hand and glanced at the officials below the stairs.
He stayed on Qin Xiu's still motionless but even colder figure for a moment, then moved away.
"If there is nothing else, today..."
"I have a memorial to the emperor!"
He Ning spoke again, his voice still calm, but with an unquestionable sharpness.
"I have just taken charge of the Censorate and I feel deeply that my responsibility is heavy. Your Majesty has ordered me to supervise all officials and clean up the bureaucracy. I dare not slack off in the slightest. Now I have a secret report.
"We directly accuse Wang Huanzhi, the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, of embezzling funds from the transportation of grain to the south of the Yangtze River and the construction of river embezzlement. The amount is shocking. The evidence is here. Your Majesty, please make a judgment!"
He took out a memorial that had been prepared long ago from his sleeve and raised it high with both hands.
Wang Huanzhi, the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, was a capable subordinate of Concubine Qin and an important arm of Qin Xiu in the financial and grain operations in the court.
How could He Ning's action be a memorial?
It was clearly the first poisoned arrow thrown in public at Qin Xiu and the forces behind him, aimed directly at their foundation.
The hall suddenly became silent, and even the sound of breathing could be clearly heard.
Everyone's eyes subconsciously turned to the red-robed figure.
Qin Xiu raised his eyes and looked at He Ning, his eyes were as sharp as a knife and filled with murderous intent.
He didn't say anything, but the invisible pressure caused the temperature in the entire hall to drop suddenly.
He Ning met Qin Xiu's gaze without hesitation, his eyes were frank and even contained a hint of challenge.
He held the memorial high in his arms, steady as a rock.
A glimmer of satisfaction flashed across Lu Bin's eyes.
He looked at the two people facing each other silently on the stairs, as if he was appreciating a well-choreographed show.
He Ning's knife is indeed sharp and obedient.
In that case, why doesn't he give He Ning more grace?
He cleared his throat, and his voice regained its imperial dignity and coldness: "Present it!"
The eunuch in charge of ceremonies trotted over to take He Ning's memorial and respectfully presented it to the emperor.
Lu Bin did not read it immediately, but just held the memorial in his hand, as if weighing its weight and the bloody storm that was about to happen in the court.
His gaze swept across Wang Huanzhi, the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, whose face turned pale as paper in an instant, passed by Qin Xiu, whose eyes were as sharp as an eagle, and finally fell back on He Ning, who had a calm expression.
Finally, he said slowly: "I know about this matter."
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