Chapter 122 Protecting her earned him the most precious guilt in the world.
Xie Yunying: "What did you two argue about?"
Xie Qingyu continued reviewing official documents, ignoring her. Xie Yunying knew he wouldn't answer honestly if she asked him directly, so she took a different approach, tempting him with a condition: "Tell me about it, maybe I can put in a good word for you with her?"
“We’re friends, you know. She has a good impression of Xie Yunying.”
The brush tip, which had been moving across the Xuan paper, stopped. Xie Yunying knew that she had persuaded him, but Xie Qingyu only paused for a moment before lowering her eyes again: "No need."
"It's no use saying anything now. She won't forgive me."
Xie Yunying was stunned, and Xie Qingyu lowered her head again after saying those words, no longer looking at her.
No matter how much Xie Yunying tried to persuade him, Xie Qingyu remained lifeless, neither speaking nor expressing his opinion. Xie Yunying was completely at a loss and left with a belly full of doubts.
"What exactly happened? Why would he say that..." Xie Yunying's curiosity had reached its peak. "System, give me a prop. I'll go check on Yue Yining's situation."
System: "Okay, host."
Autumn waters are emerald green, half the city is ablaze with red leaves, a time when golden winds and jade dews meet.
Yue Yining returned to the princess's residence. Perhaps the servants had informed her of her return, because Wei Yihua came looking for her not long after.
The eldest princess was still radiant today, her hair adorned with a golden hairpin and phoenixes on her red sleeves. Upon seeing her, one's eyes would light up with a moist glow.
Wei Yihua sat down opposite her with a smile. "I have good news, bad news, and news that is neither good nor bad. Which one would you like to hear first?"
Yue Yining sighed helplessly: "Why has Her Highness the Eldest Princess also learned to keep people in suspense?"
"So, are you going to listen or not?"
“Of course I’ll listen,” Yue Yining readily agreed. “Then let’s start with the good news.”
Wei Yihua: "The good news is that He Chan wasn't the only one among those bandits to pass the military officer exam; a woman named Jiang Feiyan also passed. I sent someone to the Ministry of Personnel to inquire, and they might be assigned to the gate guards in the future, starting as captains."
Yue Yining smiled: "It is indeed good news. Then I think I probably know what the bad news is."
"Yes, the bad news is that no one else passed the test. But I have already explained to my chief clerk and the military commander that the remaining women who did not pass will be registered as my retainers. I have also spoken to the Ministry of War's Performance Evaluation Department, so there should be no problem."
"Your Highness is very righteous," Yue Yining said. "And what is the third piece of news?"
“I heard it from my mother,” Wei Yihua said. “My father plans to summon my third brother and speak with him alone.”
Yue Yining then showed a hint of surprise, and put down the scroll she was holding. "Your Majesty only said you wanted to see Wei Ye?"
“Yes,” Wei Yihua said. “It’s not surprising. You handled the Qinghuai disaster relief very well this time. Including the Green Ghost case in Suyang last time, we had the upper hand. Father is very satisfied with Third Brother, which is why he summoned him to the palace. He probably wants to talk to him personally and see what his plans and attitude are now.”
"By the way, I arranged for officials to commend you before the Emperor. Father knows that you handled both cases and said he will reward you handsomely." Wei Yihua's eyebrows and eyes were filled with bright smiles. "The edict for your promotion is being drafted and will be issued soon."
"Leaving aside my own affairs for now," Yue Yining had already read Wei Yihua's meaning from her expression. "You want to take this opportunity to let His Majesty know that you also intend to vie for the position of Crown Prince?"
"Yes," Wei Yihua admitted frankly, "It's time for him to know."
"What's wrong? Do you think I'm being too impatient?"
“No, I can certainly understand Your Highness’s feelings.” Yue Yining shook her head slightly. “But I think it would be best to let the Third Prince sound out His Majesty’s opinion first.”
"Don't rush to get the Third Prince to show his willingness to abdicate. Instead, let His Majesty know that you also intend to compete for the throne."
"I understand, you're right, this is a safer approach."
Wei Yihua looked at her and couldn't help but add, "I was afraid you'd misunderstand me. Actually, the reason I was in such a hurry to do this was because I wanted to—"
"Your Highness, rest assured, I understand," Yue Yining said gently. "Your Highness is thinking of the Third Prince's safety."
"Your Highness is kind and does not want the Third Prince to be your shield for long, so you want to get him out of the public eye as soon as possible so that he will no longer be attacked or harmed."
Wei Yihua was stunned. She hadn't expected that her sister would understand all her thoughts, and her heart warmed.
The Third Prince, Wei Ye, has survived several assassination attempts and poisonings in recent days, narrowly escaping each time.
At a banquet not long ago, even though all the food and drinks on the table had been tested for poison, he still fell ill after returning home. He suffered from vomiting and diarrhea and had to stay in bed for three days before recovering. It was so torturous that he felt like a third of his soul had been lost.
When Wei Yihua visited him, he waved his hand repeatedly, saying he was fine. But how could Wei Yihua not see the change in him? He had been living in fear for a long time and had been accidentally exposed to poisons. He had been healthy before, but in the past six months, he had been suffering from minor illnesses and injuries. After all that, his energy and spirit had become depleted.
Wei Ye sacrificed a lot for her, and Wei Yihua's sense of indebtedness grew day by day.
Yue Yining knew that Wei Yihua was cold on the outside but warm on the inside. If the Princess had a clear sense of guilt on her face, then she must have been blaming herself in her heart.
Yue Yining said softly, "Now we have Doctor Jiang in the manor. She is very knowledgeable about poisons. If Your Highness just gives the word, she can prepare some antidote powder for the Third Prince to take daily. Perhaps this can prevent the problem before it occurs."
"I understand. It's good that you know. I was just afraid there might be a misunderstanding between us." Wei Yihua affectionately reached out and pulled her sleeve, slowly slipping her hand between her fingers to intertwine with hers.
"You don't have anyone else to see tonight, right? Don't eat alone, come to my palace and dine with us. I'll have them make your favorite dishes."
Yue Yining was worn down by her persistent pestering, and smiled, "I will leave it to Your Highness."
...
Nine palace gates lock away heavenly secrets, while a coiled dragon surveys the mortal world.
Outside the Liangyi Hall, three officials stood solemnly waiting, enveloped in the towering shadow of the hall.
Standing at the forefront was Imperial Censor Huang Lang, a slightly plump man who was stroking a few sparse whiskers on his chin. His eyes were anxiously glancing at the tightly closed, heavy palace doors, and his toes were unconsciously tapping lightly on the gold bricks on the ground, revealing an uncontrollable urgency.
Beside him was Li Xu, an assistant minister of the Ministry of Personnel, whose thin figure was wrapped in a scarlet robe. He had slightly high cheekbones, sharp eyes, and kept licking his somewhat chapped lips. His hands were clasped together, and his knuckles were slightly white.
The last person to arrive had a somewhat sorrowful expression on his face; he was none other than Zhao Ping, a sixth-rank official.
Today, Huang Lang and Li Xu are traveling together, while Zhao Ping was dragged here by force. Huang Lang said, "This matter concerns the country, and Zhao, the Imperial Attendant, is always loyal and upright, so he can be a witness." He then dragged Zhao Ping here without further ado.
Zhao Ping was inwardly groaning.
He was from a poor family, a low-ranking official of the sixth grade, and had nothing but a good reputation. He had no intention of getting involved in the power struggle in the capital. If Huang Lang hadn't repeatedly used his position and power to lure and coerce him, he would never have agreed to come here.
He could only pray that his trip would end soon so he could go home for dinner.
"Squeak".
With a deep thud, the heavy palace doors finally opened a crack.
The eunuch Luo Hong appeared inside the door with his signature expressionless, porcelain-white face. His deep purple robes made him appear like a cold shadow extending from the palace.
"Imperial Censor Huang, Assistant Minister Li, Attendant Zhao." He called out in a slow, deliberate tone, his eyes following each name as he went.
"His Majesty has summoned me. Please follow me."
After Luo Hong finished speaking, he turned around and led the way, without waiting for their response.
The three quickly straightened their clothes, took a deep breath, and followed the deep purple figure into the hall. A solemn atmosphere, a mixture of ambergris and ink, wafted towards them. The hall was brightly lit, yet it felt even more secluded and dim than the outside.
Turning past the gleaming golden screen, the figure of Emperor Wei Tianxuan came into view.
He leaned against a large rosewood couch beside the imperial desk, already in his fifties, his temples streaked with gray. He wore a bright yellow casual robe, without a crown, his left hand casually resting on the edge of the couch, while his right hand toyed with a mutton-fat jade chess piece, his fingertips gently stroking the smooth jade surface, his gaze fixed on the chessboard in front of him, nonchalant.
The chessboard was half closed, and there was no one left in the hall.
He was playing chess with himself.
Memorials piled up like mountains on the emperor's desk, while a glass palace lantern burned quietly to his side and behind him.
Luo Hong walked silently to the imperial bedside and bowed slightly: "Your Majesty, Imperial Censor Huang, Assistant Minister Li, and Attendant Zhao have come to pay their respects."
The emperor slightly raised his eyelids, his brows, which had been furrowed, remained unmoved, exuding an imposing aura without anger.
He slowly swept his gaze over the three people below the steps, his eyes calm and unwavering, yet carrying an invisible weight that sent a chill down Huang Lang and Li Xu's spines.
They instinctively straightened their backs, forcibly suppressing the eagerness and excitement in their eyes, replacing it with loyalty and respect.
Zhao Ping felt that gaze was like a cold needle, pricking his scalp and making him lower his head even further.
"Your Majesty, we pay our respects! Long live the Emperor!" the three knelt in unison.
"Rise," the emperor said in a low, emotionless voice. "What is it you wish to report?"
A brief silence fell over the hall.
Huang Lang and Li Xu exchanged a quick glance, both seeing the caution in each other's eyes. They silently reached an agreement, simultaneously nudging Zhao Ping, who was in the middle, with their elbows.
Zhao Ping's body stiffened.
Seriously? He's the one who said it?
Seeing that both men were urging him with their eyes, Zhao Ping knew they wanted him to speak first. His Adam's apple bobbed laboredly, and his voice was dry and hesitant: "Your Majesty...we...we have come to pay our respects today because...because of the matter of Her Highness the Princess...we are deeply worried..."
His voice grew softer and softer as he spoke, almost drowning out the silence of the empty hall.
The emperor stopped stroking the chess pieces, his gaze finally focusing on Zhao Ping, his calm eyes now carrying a hint of scrutiny.
Seeing this, Huang Lang cursed Zhao Ping inwardly as a good-for-nothing. He immediately stepped forward, his voice rising sharply and his tone becoming impassioned and urgent: "What Zhao Sheren said is absolutely right! Your subject Huang Lang, along with Li Yuanwai and Zhao Sheren, have recently discovered a matter of great importance, concerning the national dignity and the safety of the state. We dare not fail to report it!"
Li Xu followed closely behind and said, "Some time ago, the court granted amnesty to the bandits of Qinghuai. This act of amnesty was a benevolent policy issued by His Majesty out of benevolence and was a grace of His Majesty. However, we have discovered that Her Highness the Eldest Princess has openly violated the regulations established by His Majesty!"
The emperor's gaze remained calm, and he subtly raised the index finger of his left hand, which was resting on the edge of the couch, to signal them to continue.
This subtle gesture greatly encouraged Huang Lang and Li Xu.
Huang Lang spoke even faster, his spittle almost flying out: "According to the old rules of the court, recruiting bandits, especially women, requires the Ministry of War to conduct a strict examination of their martial arts and character. Only those who pass can be recruited as soldiers, yamen runners, or into the army. However, Her Highness the Princess has taken in more than a hundred female bandits who failed the Ministry of War's examination and should have been dismissed or reassigned."
He emphasized a few words, deliberately highlighting the number "hundreds".
Li Xu immediately added, "Your Majesty is wise; this is no ordinary matter! Her Highness the Princess has incorporated all these people into her Princess's Guard under the guise of 'protection,' equipping them with uniform armor and standard weapons, and training them day and night, making them virtually a private army that only obeys Her Highness the Princess's orders! This is tantamount to raising a private army and stockpiling armored soldiers, violating ancestral rules, and her intentions are sinister!"
"We have come here today to report that all the matters we have presented are supported by witnesses and physical evidence. We are not making baseless accusations against the Princess. We beseech Your Majesty to make a wise judgment!"
"Your Majesty, we are all of utmost sincerity, wishing only for the eternal stability of Your Majesty's empire. Your Highness, the Princess, is of noble birth and should be even more mindful of your duties, setting an example for the world! To amass troops beyond the bounds of propriety is truly rebellious and unruly. Everything we have said today is true, and we humbly beg Your Majesty to investigate thoroughly!"
While the other two were giving their impassioned and passionate speeches, Zhao Ping didn't even dare to raise his head.
Throughout the entire audience, the emperor's expression remained almost unchanged. He continued to lean back on the couch, toying with the chess pieces, his gaze calmly fixed on Huang Lang and Li Xu, watching their expressive performance and listening to their sharp accusations.
After the two finished speaking and kowtowed heavily, only their heavy breathing and Zhao Ping's almost suffocating silence remained in the hall.
The emperor, who had remained silent until now, momentarily relaxed his tightly furrowed brows.
"Who discovered this first?"
The emperor's gaze fell upon Zhao Ping from afar. "You?"
Zhao Ping was stunned, overwhelmed by the emperor's imposing presence, and speechless for a moment. Huang Lang reacted the fastest, speaking before Zhao Ping and Li Xu could, his voice trembling with excitement: "Your Majesty! This matter... this matter initially came about when I overheard some rumors in the marketplace!"
Li Xu immediately realized what was happening and quickly chimed in to claim credit: "Indeed, Your Majesty, Censor Huang and I felt that this matter was of utmost importance. So we worked tirelessly, investigating day and night, verifying information from multiple sources, and venturing deep into the lion's den to uncover the whole story. All the evidence was personally verified by the two of us!"
"That's right. Zhao Sheren was just following our orders to help organize and copy some documents, and he didn't get involved in anything else."
Huang Lang and Li Xu's faces carried an air of "loyalty and courage" that seemed to say "who else but me?", as well as an eagerness to clear Zhao Ping of any wrongdoing and to claim credit for themselves.
They rushed to take credit, offering each other "deference" while desperately trying to claim the credit, and simultaneously pushing Zhao Ping out of the game. They didn't notice that the emperor's fingers, which were holding the chess pieces, had turned slightly white.
The eunuch Luo Hong stood to one side, his figure slender, his brows lowered and eyes downcast, like a lifeless ivory carving. Yet at this moment, his hands, clasped in front of his abdomen, subtly tugged at the dark patterns on his cuffs with his thumbs.
This was his most subtle, instinctive reaction when he sensed an impending storm, a reaction he had developed after serving the emperor for decades.
Your Majesty is furious beyond measure.
Huang Lang and Li Xu were still basking in their own "merits" and "loyalty," waiting for the emperor's reward.
Finally, the emperor spoke again, his voice deep and cold:
"Censor Huang Lang, as an official responsible for speaking out in the court, instead of upholding integrity and discerning the truth, fabricated rumors and framed the imperial daughter, making a false accusation due to oversight. He is hereby removed from his post as Censor and demoted to the position of Registrar of Yazhou."
Every word struck Huang Lang's ears with crystal clarity, and his face paled with terror.
Dismissed from office! Demoted! Yazhou!
He went from being a fifth-rank censor to a lowly ninth-rank official, living far away in the ends of the earth!
The immense disappointment and the despair of a ruined future struck him like a hammer blow to the chest. His legs could no longer support his weight, his knees buckled, and he collapsed to the ground with a thud.
Only then did the three of them see the emperor's expression clearly.
His brows were furrowed with anger, and his eyes were sharp as knives.
The emperor's gaze shifted to Li Xu, who was kneeling on the ground, pale-faced and trembling.
"Li Xu, Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, has colluded with others to fabricate charges. His duty is to conduct investigations, but he has failed to do so effectively and has resorted to alarmist rhetoric. He is hereby removed from his position as Assistant Minister and demoted to Military Advisor of Danzhou."
Li Xu's vision went black, and his ears rang.
The prestige and future of the position of Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Personnel vanished in an instant, replaced by a demotion akin to exile.
The emperor seemed exhausted, and the faint anger on his face faded. He lowered his eyes, no longer looking at the three kneeling, trembling, and terrified people on the ground.
The emperor said calmly, "As for Zhao Ping, the interpreter, his job is to convey messages, not to be involved in important matters. He blindly followed others' opinions and was negligent and negligent. He shall be fined one year's salary and allowed to remain in his post to observe his performance."
"Your subject... Your subject Zhao Ping... kowtows in gratitude... kowtows in gratitude to Your Majesty for your grace! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!" Zhao Ping struggled, using all his strength to hoarsely shout out his words of thanks, each kowtow filled with the trembling of having escaped death.
Huang Lang and Li Xu, who had been slumped on the ground, seemed to have had their souls ripped out. With the help of two low-ranking eunuchs who appeared out of nowhere, they stood up and were led away from the main hall.
Zhao Ping doesn't remember how he got there.
He was in a daze, and a cold wind blew in his face, making him shiver. Only then did he realize that he had left the Golden Palace. The densely packed vermilion eaves and brackets were arranged like a military formation, pointing to the stone steps leading out of the palace.
The person leading him was Luo Hong. Noticing that he had stopped walking, Luo Hong also stopped and turned around to look.
Zhao Ping swayed and quickly grabbed the cold, vermilion pillars to steady himself.
He stared at the unfathomable Grand Eunuch before him, his face still showing shock, his lips trembling: "Really...really alright? Chief Eunuch Luo, His Majesty...Will His Majesty...in the future..."
Luo Hong spoke slowly, his voice not loud, but clearly reaching Zhao Ping's ears, carrying a peculiar yet reassuring certainty: "Lord Zhao, His Majesty is discerning. The other two have been demoted and exiled, while you have been given a reduced salary and retained your post. This is already an extra leniency from His Majesty. If you remain dutiful in the future, you will naturally be fine."
With the assurance, Zhao Ping finally settled down.
On his way out of the palace, Zhao Ping recalled the emperor's somber, cold, and furious expression. He felt a lingering fear and a strange feeling.
He had a premonition that the two men would not succeed, but he did not expect the emperor to be so angry that he immediately announced their dismissal in court. The emperor did not even glance at the evidence brought by Huang Lang and Li Xu.
He had heard about the fact that the eldest princess was keeping a large private army and had been frequently training and expanding its size. Although he had heard that the princess's private army was a birthday gift from General Gu, and the emperor knew about it, it was only a small team of a hundred men at the time. Now that it had expanded so much, it was indeed attracting attention.
Although Huang Lang and Li Xu were ambitious and eager for quick success, they were not reckless. The content of their report was not a smear campaign or a statement of facts.
The emperor's leniency and protection of the eldest princess truly surprised him.
As Zhao Ping watched Luo Hong's retreating figure, he secretly took out a few taels of silver from his sleeve. Just as he was about to approach and inquire further, Luo Hong seemed to have eyes in the back of his head, anticipating his actions and stopping in front of the steps.
"I'll see Lord Zhao off here." Luo Hong lowered his eyes and called over a young eunuch from the corridor. He nodded to Zhao Ping and said, "Xiao Shunzi, take Lord Zhao out of the palace."
"Yes, sir."
Zhao Ping couldn't stop him; Luo Hong had already disappeared into the distance.
The lamplight flickered, and the water clock dripped deeper into the night.
After escorting the person back, the young eunuch arrived at Luo Hong's duty room. The satin curtain was lifted very lightly, and the young eunuch slipped in silently like a nimble cat.
He moved with utmost lightness, quickly glancing at Luo Hong who was resting with his eyes closed, before letting go of his anxiety.
Xiao Shunzi did not step forward immediately, but stood patiently in the shadows by the door, waiting for a while.
Luo Hong paused his rubbing of his temples and lowered his hands from his knees. Only then, as if receiving some silent permission, did Xiao Shunzi tiptoe cautiously to a stop about three steps away from Luo Hong. He dared not get too close, maintaining absolute respect.
"Is the ancestor tired?"
Luo Hong didn't open his eyes, but only gave a very soft "hmm" through his nose as a response.
Having received a response, Xiao Shunzi grew a little bolder and took another half step forward, his voice still extremely low, carrying a barely perceptible hint of caution:
"I just saw Zhao Sheren out, and he looked like he'd lost half his soul... It's rare to see His Majesty so angry today."
Luo Hong lifted his eyelids and glanced at him: "Want to ask why the Emperor is angry?"
Xiao Shunzi hesitated for a moment, then obediently nodded.
Xiao Shunzi was Luo Hong's man and his confidant. Seeing that he was interested in finding out, Luo Hong no longer hid it from him.
"The situation in the court is currently very complicated, and a group of people are constantly bowing their heads and busy with their tasks," Luo Hong said slowly. "Tell me, what are they all busy with?"
Xiao Shunzi: "Is it...is it a struggle for the throne?"
“That’s right,” Luo Hong said. “Huang Lang and Li Xu, who were just demoted and sent to lower ranks, are both men of the Fourth Prince.”
Xiao Shunzi seemed to understand but not quite: "So His Majesty is actually expressing his dissatisfaction with the Fourth Prince by doing this?"
“No.” Luo Hong shook his head. “The Fourth Prince will not send anyone to impeach the Eldest Princess.”
Xiao Shunzi was even more confused. But he also knew that if he asked why at this point, he would probably be scolded for being stupid and clueless, so he quietly waited for Luo Hong to continue.
Luo Hong looked at him, but his gaze drifted further and further away, back to a long time ago.
He certainly knew why the emperor was angry.
The only person who could move Wei Tianxuan was Empress Zhaolie, who had passed away many years ago.
Everyone else, whether it was Princess Wei Yihua, the Fourth Prince Wei Jing, Consort Li, or the deceased First Prince Wei Changqiong, only benefited from her influence to some extent and gained some of the Emperor's favor.
Because he had seen how the emperor looked when he loved someone wholeheartedly.
Those two people would never know until their deaths that they had just reopened the wounds of the true emperor in the imperial palace.
In Luo Hong's view, Wei Tianxuan had cultivated his character to a new level in the past two years. In the past, Huang Lang and Li Xu would have been dragged away and beaten to death long ago.
If the emperor was already a person with half a broken soul after the death of the empress, then after the death of the eldest prince, the emperor became a complete walking corpse.
A stagnant pool of water, never to flow again, only when a pebble is thrown in can it create some ripples.
"His Majesty protects the eldest princess because she has obtained His Majesty's most precious possession."
Xiao Shunzi asked curiously, "What is that?"
“Guilt.” Luo Hong slowly opened his eyes. “The most precious guilt in this world is the guilt of a true dragon emperor.”
Many forces have tried to find out his opinion, and some have even offered him very tempting conditions because of his status as the Grand Steward of the Emperor, in an attempt to win him over to their side.
But Luo Hong never paid any attention.
There is absolutely no suspense about who will be the future ruler of this world.
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Author's note: It's finished! [rainbow emoji]
In fact, the story of the emperor and empress is a tragedy. The Wei family suffered a lot, and the eldest princess was already considered to have the best life, and originally had the best ending.
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