Chapter 84 Crushing All Dissent
Although there are already three heirs of the future emperor, it is a royal custom to take more concubines and have more children, and it is also a way to consolidate the power of all parties. Is it good for the country if the crown prince is so pure and abstinent?
Some censors who prided themselves on being upright and adhering to ancient etiquette also felt that this matter "violated ancestral rules" and "was not in accordance with propriety," and they discussed it privately. Some even prepared to submit memorials to the emperor to remonstrate.
However, all the undercurrents and dissent were suppressed by an invisible and powerful aura the moment Crown Prince Xiao Jingzhan stood in the court, and no one dared to be the first to challenge him.
The reason is simple: the Crown Prince has just quelled the northern border troubles with overwhelming force, returning with great military achievements and unparalleled military prestige, and his reputation is at its peak.
Moreover, his handling of the Crown Prince's affairs was based on sound reasoning and decisive methods, leaving no obvious faults for anyone to find:
Consort Zhang's "accidental fall into the water" disturbed the imperial entourage, demonstrating a lack of virtue. She was punished with seclusion, and her father was held accountable—a consequence of her own actions. The Crown Princess's selfless rescue, showcasing her benevolence, makes Consort Zhang appear even more wretched in comparison.
The remaining childless concubines were dismissed, allowed to return home or live out their days in comfort, and were not treated harshly; on the contrary, they were given generous treatment, which was beyond reproach in terms of "benevolence." The Crown Prince explicitly stated that he "did not wish to waste people's youth."
The Crown Prince already has three healthy and intelligent heirs, and since the Crown Prince and Crown Princess are young, no one can interfere with the matter of having offspring.
But what truly silenced everyone was the absolute control the Crown Prince subsequently displayed in court, in a seemingly calm yet incredibly sharp manner.
The agenda for this day's court assembly was to summarize the implementation of the new laws governing the southern canal transport system.
A censor-in-chief, who came from a family of upright officials and was known for his outspokenness, suddenly changed the subject after presenting his report on the Grand Canal transport. He cupped his hands and said, “Your Majesty, His Highness the Crown Prince has pacified the northern frontier, a great achievement for the nation, which we admire. However, I have heard that there has been a change in the inner palace of the Eastern Palace. His Highness is benevolent and considerate of the people’s plight, so I should not have commented.”
"However... the continuation of the royal family is crucial to the stability of the nation. Is the Eastern Palace... somewhat deserted now? If this continues, it may not be a blessing for the country. Moreover, the *Zhou Li* states that the emperor and his consorts each have their own regulations..."
His wording was relatively tactful, but the meaning was clear: Clearing out your backyard is against the rules and not conducive to having children and consolidating your rule.
The hall fell silent instantly. Many officials kept their eyes downcast, but inwardly they were worried for their colleague, while also secretly observing the expressions of the emperor on the throne and the crown prince in front of them.
The emperor remained expressionless, offering no comment, but instead turned his gaze to the crown prince sitting below him.
Xiao Jingzhan's expression remained unchanged, and there was even a very faint, ambiguous smile on his lips.
He slowly stepped forward, the gold-threaded dragon on his black robe gleaming coldly in the palace light.
"Imperial Censor Wang." He spoke, his voice not loud, but clearly reaching everyone's ears, "How is the investigation going regarding your earlier statement about the obstacles encountered in the implementation of the new canal transport law in Jiangzhou, the officials' feigned compliance while secretly disobeying, and the embezzlement of newly added 'assistance funds'?"
The Imperial Censor Wang was taken aback, not expecting the Crown Prince to suddenly steer the conversation back to the Grand Canal and directly address a detail he had only briefly mentioned in his previous report. He was caught off guard: "This... Your Highness, we are investigating, and we have made some progress..."
"A clue?" Xiao Jingzhan interrupted him, took out a thin book from his sleeve, and handed it to the eunuch beside him. "Present this to Father Emperor. This is the secret report I received three days ago from the Jiangzhou Provincial Surveillance Commissioner, along with testimonies from relevant officials involved, local powerful figures implicated behind the scenes, and copies of account books. The amount of embezzlement, the methods of collusion, and even... correspondence with certain people in the court are all recorded. There is both witness testimony and physical evidence."
The eunuch presented the booklet to the emperor. After flipping through a few pages, the emperor's face darkened.
Xiao Jingzhan's gaze swept across the assembled officials, each with their own distinct expression, before finally settling on Censor Wang, whose face had drastically changed. His tone remained calm, yet carried an oppressive air of impending doom: "Censor Wang, as an oversight official, you are aware that the new canal transport regulations are a matter of national importance. The abuses in Jiangzhou are so blatant, yet your report is vague, merely offering 'under investigation.' Is it ignorance, or... something you're hesitant to address? Or perhaps you believe that matters within the Eastern Palace are more pressing than the corruption in the canal transport and its potential to undermine the foundation of the state?"
"Your Majesty... Your Majesty dares not!" Cold sweat poured down Wang Yushi's face, and he knelt down with a thud.
The Crown Prince's words not only pointed out his dereliction of duty, but also implied that he might be implicated, or even downplayed the seriousness of the matter and confused the public!
"As for what you call the 'Rites of Zhou' and ancestral rules," Xiao Jingzhan stopped looking at him and turned to the assembled officials, his voice suddenly turning sharp, carrying the resounding force of war, "In the past, when Emperor Taizu conquered the world on horseback, his harem consisted of only one empress and two concubines. During the reign of Emperor Taizong, the northern border was not yet secured, and there were internal and external troubles, so the harem was also kept simple. Why is it that now that the world is at peace, you are using 'ancestral rules' as an excuse to engage in extravagant and redundant bureaucracy and disrupt the inner court?"
He paused, his phoenix eyes sharp as knives, and slowly swept over the crowd: "The foundation of the nation lies in a clean and honest government, a well-ordered bureaucracy, a stable border, and a prosperous people! It does not depend on the size of the harem! The Eastern Palace already has three imperial heirs, all of whom are healthy and intelligent. This is a great blessing from Heaven and the protection of our ancestors!"
"You all neglect the affairs of the nation, fail to consider the hardships of the soldiers on the frontier, and are oblivious to the suffering of the local people. Instead, you spend your days staring at my backyard, wondering how many people are by my side!"
His voice wasn't particularly loud, but the authority and righteous spirit conveyed in every word struck everyone's heart like a heavy hammer.
The last sentence, in particular, was filled with undisguised sarcasm and anger, causing many officials who had been harboring doubts to blush and lower their heads.
“Moreover,” Xiao Jingzhan’s tone softened slightly, but became even colder, “the matter of the Eastern Palace is my family’s affair. The Crown Princess Su is virtuous, kind, filial, and benevolent. She has given birth to children for the royal family and has made contributions to the country. This time, she risked her own safety to save lives. Her virtue and conduct are worthy of being a model for women all over the world.”
"With a wife like this and children like this, my heart is comforted, and I feel that the Eastern Palace is complete. Why should I worry about loneliness? And why should I need others to comment?"
He directly highlighted the Crown Princess's merits in saving lives and raising children, elevating her to the level of a model for the entire nation. Anyone who questions the small number of people in the Eastern Palace is questioning the Crown Princess's virtue and achievements. Who can say that the Eastern Palace is not perfect?
"You who eat the king's food should share his worries." Xiao Jingzhan glanced one last time at the kneeling, trembling Imperial Censor Wang, his tone regaining its usual coldness.
“If we put our minds to our duties and to the common people, what would prevent the prosperity of our Great Sheng? As for those things that are not our concern, those things that we should not touch…” His gaze swept over several uneasy officials as if they were looking away. “It would be better to withdraw them as soon as possible. You may leave.”
"Your subject... Your subject obeys the decree..." As if granted a pardon, Imperial Censor Wang scrambled back into the ranks, daring not to utter another word.
Before a potential storm could even officially erupt, the Crown Prince used the even more shrewd "Grand Canal Corruption Case" as a pretext, combining righteousness, reason, power, and intimidation to easily defuse it.
He not only silenced the crowd but also used this opportunity to reprimand a group of people, reiterating the principle of "national affairs taking precedence."
This incident made it clear to everyone in the court and among the public that the Crown Prince's exclusive favor and protection of his Crown Princess was an absolute bottom line that could not be crossed. The Crown Prince had sufficient ability, achievements, and skill to crush any dissent or challenge to this.
The fact that only the Crown Princess remains in the Eastern Palace is already a fait accompli and will become the norm in the future.
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