The emperor held up his majestic and solemn old face, and looked at him with a sharp gaze, thinking to himself: Jiang Dinglian is indeed a man with great eloquence. He dares to brag so exaggeratedly!
He seemed to be implying that his daughter, who was living in the countryside, was actually better than a high-level monk, which made people suspicious.
The Emperor couldn't help but question, "Marquis Yongding, I heard that your eldest daughter has a crush on my Fourth Prince. Are you planning to use this to get me to personally arrange a marriage between her and Jin Ning? You absolutely cannot deceive the Emperor!"
Jiang Dinglian was already talking until his mouth was dry and he was drinking madly from the teacup. He couldn't help but spit out a mouthful of tea when he heard this.
The emperor frowned, took a step back in disdain, and solemnly reminded: "This is my imperial study, Lord Jiang, please pay attention to your manners!"
"Your Majesty, who are you listening to? How dare you slander my precious daughter like this? My daughter is gentle and virtuous, and she strictly abides by the rules of a woman's home. She has never had any improper thoughts."
Jiang Dinglian pressed his hands on the table excitedly, his face flushed. His excitement seemed to be about to explode at any moment, making the emperor feel that if he said another word, he might rebel.
"Oh? Really? If so, it's not impossible to consider granting a marriage. It's a good story for sisters to share the same husband." The emperor remembered that Yang Guifei had recently chosen a wife for Xinyi Zigu. He seemed a little conflicted about Jiang Songyi, but he also seemed to be willing to consider it.
Jiang Dinglian's expression was unusually solemn, his words filled with deep remorse. "I owe this daughter too much, especially regarding her marriage. I do not ask for her to wear gold and silver jewelry, enjoy wealth and splendor, but only hope that she can live a peaceful and happy life with her loving partner. As for a son-in-law, I have no special requirements. My only insistence is this: marrying a daughter of a noble family like me, you must not have three wives and four concubines! Fourth Prince, I'm afraid I cannot agree to this promise."
Upon hearing this, the Emperor sneered contemptuously: "Do you think your daughter is a royal daughter, of noble status?"
The implication is that even the prince consort often takes concubines.
However, the emperor was not surprised when he recalled that Jiang Dinglian's sister Jiang Shu had been given a similar strict order when she married the Duke of Huguo. After all, if even his own sister could do this, what more could this lost and found daughter whom he cherished as the apple of his eye?
At this moment, Eunuch Ying Shuo led Ji Cheng into the imperial study. The emperor finally straightened his posture, recovering from his previous casualness. He motioned Ji Cheng to excuse himself from the formalities and said gently, "Ji Cheng, now tell us in detail about the incident involving the ghost child that occurred in the Duke of Huguo's mansion."
"The ghost fetus threat stems from the quarrels and abuse of sorcery among the concubines in the rear courtyard of the Duke of Huguo's mansion. Concubine Liao Qianqian attempted to harm the fetus in Mistress Xia Zhiyu's womb, but the ghost fetus instead attacked her, resulting in the fetus's birth. The ghost fetus then wreaked havoc, killing countless people. Fortunately, the Imperial Guards quickly diverted it, preventing further casualties. I was seriously injured and nearly died at the hands of the ghost fetus. At this critical moment, the clear sound of a zither, like the gurgling sound of a spring, miraculously stopped the ghost fetus's rampage. At that moment, Miss Jiang, Jiang Songyi, descended from the sky like a divine soldier. She declared that the zither player was one of her master teachers, and that she was confident she could subdue the ghost fetus without the master's personal intervention."
Although Marquis Yongding and Abbot Yuantong hurried to the scene, their pace was unsteady, delaying their arrival. After a spell, the ghost fetus was nowhere to be found. It turned out that at this crucial moment, Miss Jiang had successfully subdued it. Afterward, Abbot Yuantong offered to take the ghost fetus away for salvation.
Ji Cheng's expression was calm as he narrated the whole story as if he was reciting a classic, without a trace of personal emotion.
However, the emperor had heard something in his words; he and Jiang Dinglian had echoed each other, both praising Jiang Songyi as a god. If the emperor hadn't known Ji Cheng's character well, understanding that he was strict and self-disciplined, didn't flatter others easily, and never participated in factional struggles, he would have almost suspected that the two had colluded.
The Emperor was still amazed. "So, this ghost fetus crisis is entirely due to Miss Jiang, and has nothing to do with Abbot Yuantong?"
He had been in Jindu for many years and had met countless famous ladies from aristocratic families. Some of them were even well versed in political affairs, but he had never seen a woman so proficient in slaying demons and eliminating evil.
Jiang Dinglian sneered repeatedly, "What else? That bald donkey has done nothing, yet he dares to accuse my daughter. Humph, Your Majesty, please judge for yourself. Does that evil fetus deserve to be executed on the spot?"
The Emperor, though a self-proclaimed benevolent ruler, was by no means a weak or indecisive ruler. He responded decisively, "The ghost fetus is indeed a crime that cannot be forgiven."
However, the Emperor felt that Jiang Dinglian's prejudice against Abbot Yuantong was too severe, so he gently comforted him, "However, Abbot Yuantong is a Buddhist and compassionate person. He might even offer a prayer for the souls of an ant that was stepped on. Please be understanding."
Jiang Dinglian nodded slightly, but did not respond directly. Instead, he stared down at the imperial edict, the ink of which had dried, and said with reservation, "Since the important task of exorcising evil spirits has been undertaken by others, Your Majesty must be extremely cautious and not misjudge the ability of this person."
Even Ji Cheng bowed respectfully and said, "Miss Jiang is truly my adopted parent, and I am willing to speak up for her. This time, thanks to Miss Jiang and her mentor's timely assistance, otherwise, by the time Abbot Yuantong arrived, I'm afraid the world would have been in ruins. I implore His Majesty to see through this and give appropriate rewards, so as not to dishearten this meritorious official."
Jiang Dinglian has always looked down on organizations like the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Western Factory, regarding them as villains lurking in the dark and specializing in informing on others.
However, at this moment, he found that Ji Cheng was particularly pleasing to the eye.
Now that this has been said, it is clear that Abbot Yuantong has not made any outstanding contributions, so the emperor naturally does not need to reward him.
He couldn't help but glance at Ji Cheng curiously, thinking to himself: This usually taciturn swordsman is so talkative today.
"Then this imperial decree shall be annulled."
The emperor crumpled the imperial edict into a ball and casually threw it into the golden lion beast incense burner next to him. The bright yellow silk was instantly engulfed by the flames and turned into a wisp of flying ash.
"Then what about my daughter? That monk was named the imperial teacher for saving people. How can the emperor favor one over the other?" Jiang Dinglian shamelessly demanded that his daughter be rewarded as well.
He has never been a person who is willing to suffer losses, and at this moment he cannot tolerate his daughter being treated unfairly.
Upon hearing this, the Emperor's face lit up with a joyful smile. "Oh? Do you wish me to reinstate the title and allow your daughter to serve as Imperial Preceptor?"
Jiang Dinglian rarely showed a thoughtful expression, and then nodded solemnly: "This proposal is not impossible."
Although the position of national teacher is just an honorary title, he is still a member of the officialdom after all!
This is completely different from the female officials in the harem who are only there to serve the monarch. The imperial tutor can participate in court meetings and listen to important state affairs!
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