Chapter 134 Going with the Flow
As soon as the word "deceiving the emperor" came out, Concubine Yao panicked and stood up quickly.
"Your Majesty, I dare not do that. I have absolutely no intention of deceiving you."
Xiao Fuguang suddenly spoke.
"This princess has been studying astrology all day, thinking only of how to relieve the emperor's worries in the future. I don't know much about the people and things in this imperial city. Now that His Royal Highness the Fifth Prince and the Imperial Concubine have different opinions, this princess has become curious about Master Yao."
"Your Majesty, Young Master Yao was born in the Yaoguo Mansion. I don't think it's up to the Imperial Concubine to say what his character is like, nor is it up to His Royal Highness the Fifth Prince to say. So, why don't you all here tell us what you know about Young Master Yao?"
As soon as these words were spoken, the hall fell silent again. After all, that was the Yao family, not someone that ordinary people could afford to offend.
The Fifth Prince couldn't help but frown. What exactly did she want to do today? With so many people in the court trying to curry favor with Prince Rong and Imperial Concubine Yao, it was natural that they would speak in Imperial Concubine Yao's favor.
Emperor Xuanyuan looked around the hall and was silent for a moment.
"In that case, please all speak out, and let it add to the excitement of the banquet."
At this time, Lin Qingyi stood up and bowed.
"Your Majesty, I would like to say a few words first."
Lin Qingyi's voice was clear and firm, breaking the brief silence in the hall.
He was one of the few upright officials in the court, known for his eloquence and impartiality. Naturally, his speech attracted everyone's attention.
"Young Master Yao's talent is well-known and his literary talent is elegant. He is indeed a rare young talent in the capital."
"However, Master Yao's lifestyle is indeed inappropriate. In particular, the rumors about his frequent visits to brothels are well known to everyone. I even happened to see Master Yao in a brothel."
After Lin Qingyi finished speaking, everyone had different expressions, but no one spoke anymore.
Xiao Fuguang looked at everyone.
This is all about fear of getting into trouble.
"Have all the ladies, ladies, or gentlemen had any contact with the Yao family?"
"Why is everyone silent? The Emperor just told everyone to speak."
"Everyone must tell the truth. After all, it is very easy to investigate a person's actions in the Imperial City. If what you say is false, it would be deceiving the emperor!"
After saying this, Xiao Fuguang met Mrs. Zhou's gaze, raised his eyebrows and smiled.
Mrs. Zhou pulled Zhou Mingcheng beside her and spoke in a low voice.
"You are dumb at this time, why don't you say anything."
Zhou Mingcheng stood up and saluted.
"Zhou Mingcheng of the Zhou family pays homage to the Emperor."
"Mingcheng once drank wine with Master Yao in the same brothel. Master Yao said that the ladies from the imperial city were too rigid and didn't know how to have fun. He thought the girls from the brothels were more interesting."
When Zhou Mingcheng said this, Concubine Yao was filled with anger.
"Shut up. The Duke of Dingguo's Mansion is not something you can slander at will."
Xiao Fuguang held the teacup and looked at Concubine Yao with a smile.
"Since the Imperial Concubine is so certain it's slander, why are you so panicked?"
The Regent looked at Zhou Mingcheng.
"The second son of the Zhou family, right?"
"Since you know some of the truth, then speak boldly. The emperor can only hear the truth."
The Regent had spoken, and Zhou Mingcheng raised his chest.
"Your Majesty, I am not slandering you. This Young Master Yao is a frequent visitor to all the major brothels. Your Majesty, if you can just send someone to ask, you will find out that he has played with all the top courtesans in several of them."
The Censor's wife also sighed.
"I didn't expect that the young master of the Yao family is actually such a dandy boy. No wonder he has never achieved any fame or honor."
Concubine Yao clenched the handkerchief in her hand and looked at the smile on Xiao Fuguang's face. This bitch did it on purpose, so she spoke immediately.
"Princess Regent, even if you're not happy with the Yao family's marriage, you can't ruin their reputation. Everyone knows the relationship between Lord Lin and your Xiao family. Young Master Zhou Er is from the Fifth Prince's maternal family, right? If you dislike the Yao family, just say so. Why throw mud at them?"
Xiao Fuguang gently put down the teacup, a faint smile appearing on the corner of his mouth.
"So, Your Majesty, what you're saying is that I've joined forces with the Fifth Prince and Lord Lin to smear the Yao family, right?"
Such a straightforward question stunned Concubine Yao.
There was a hint of anger on Prince Rong's face.
"Isn't it?"
"Princess Regent, if the Xiao family dislikes the Yao family, just say so directly. Why bother to argue about right and wrong..."
Xiao Fuguang suddenly smiled and spoke meaningfully.
"It seems that Prince Rong has a very good relationship with Master Yao, otherwise he wouldn't be so protective."
"But the Emperor is still sitting up there. Regardless of whether you are friends with this princess or not, you wouldn't dare to bully him, right?"
Why does this incident give people the feeling that there is a big conspiracy behind it? Some people have begun to protect themselves.
"Your Majesty, I am not familiar with the Yao family, so I cannot judge Mr. Yao casually."
"Your Majesty, I am not familiar with Young Master Yao, and I don't know his character. However, marriage is a serious matter, and I think it is best to let the two families get to know each other privately before making a decision."
"Your Majesty, this humble servant and the Yao family..."
As more and more people distanced themselves from the Yao family, Concubine Yao and Prince Rong's expressions grew increasingly grim.
Seeing this, Xiao Fuguang looked at Xuanyuan Jing.
Xuanyuan Jing spoke to Emperor Xuanyuan.
"Royal brother, this is a New Year's Eve banquet. I didn't expect the Yao family to cause such a commotion until now. Since Concubine Yao and Prince Rong have both guaranteed that Young Master Yao is of good character, why not have the Emperor's secret guards investigate? However, once you find out, anyone here who knows about this and doesn't report it will be committing deception against the Emperor."
As soon as the Regent said this, everyone present looked grim. This was indeed a very simple matter, and the Emperor would be able to find out the truth once he investigated. However, if he told the truth, he would offend Concubine Yao. If he didn't tell the truth, the Regent and the Regent's wife would obviously not let it go.
Soon someone spoke up.
"Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you, my second son. He is a disappointing fellow and once went to a gambling den with Master Yao."
"Your Majesty, my son and Master Yao once competed for a beautiful woman in a brothel. Master Yao used his status to gain the beauty."
"emperor…………"
Seeing that the ministers who were speaking were all on the Queen's side, Xiao Fuguang picked up his teacup, toasted Xuanyuan Jing, and slowly drank his tea while listening.
As for this person, when he is doing well, there will be people who praise him, but when he is doing badly, there will naturally be people who will take advantage of him.
Emperor Xuanyuan scanned the room sharply, already making some calculations in his mind. He spoke slowly, his voice steady and powerful.
"That's enough. No need to say more."
Thinking about how he was almost granted marriage just now, he looked at Concubine Yao.
"Noble Concubine Yao, you don't seem to know your nephew very well."
Concubine Yao felt a little flustered.
He quickly stood up and knelt down towards Emperor Xuanyuan.
"Your Majesty, I was negligent. I beg your forgiveness."
Then he looked at Yao Ruishu with a sharp gaze.
"Yao Ruishu, you are such a loser, how could you possibly go to those places?"
"How could someone who was so well-behaved when she accompanied your mother to pay her respects to me on weekdays do something only a playboy would do?"
"You really disappoint me."
Duke Yao also reacted and slapped Yao Ruishu in the face.
"Rebellious son, are you really going out to fool around?"
"Didn't you say you wanted to study hard and take the imperial examination?"
Yao Ruishu was stunned by the beating, but he quickly reacted and kowtowed to Emperor Xuanyuan.
"Your Majesty, I did seek pleasure in the past because I had no beautiful woman to accompany me, but that was because I was not married. We all have our youth and have had fun. Now that I have someone I love, I will naturally not seek pleasure anymore."
This is an attempt to get someone who is not aware of the situation. Xiao Fuguang looked at the few people singing in unison, as if he was watching a play.
"So Master Yao is admitting that he frequents brothels and gambling dens?"
Yao Ruishu bowed and said.
"Princess, that's all in the past. Now I've fallen in love with the Third Miss at first sight, and in the future I will definitely..."
Xiao Fuguang did not listen to him continue speaking, but spoke to the emperor.
"Your Majesty, the Imperial Concubine said she and my mother were close friends. I believe she had good intentions, but her good intentions led to bad consequences, and she nearly pushed my sister into the fire."
"The royal family's granting of marriage to a minister is a gift from heaven, a sign of their regard for the minister. Since ancient times, before granting a marriage, they would examine the character and family background of both parties, hoping to create a happy marriage, rather than a pair of resentful couples. Your Highness's actions today seem to indicate that she has been so busy managing the harem lately that she has even forgotten what her nephew is like."
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