Chapter 4 The Great Melon Field in the Chaotang
The main hall of Fengyi Palace was filled with suffocating silence and the lingering smell of blood (psychologically).
Empress Dongfang Qiwu looked at her husband, the emperor, whose face was ashen and whose air pressure was so low it could freeze someone to death, and her heart began to beat fast.
[Uh... At a time like this, saying anything would just be like rubbing salt into the wound, right? Everything would be awkward! It's best to let him calm down and process this green hat... I'll find a chance to talk to Ning'er later and get her to... uh, tone it down a bit?]
Nangong Yu took a deep breath, suppressing the rage and indescribable feeling of frustration that was boiling in his chest. He glanced at the concubines who were lying on the ground below, shaking like leaves in the autumn wind, and felt even more upset. He coughed coldly:
"Everyone, step back!"
This brief command was like the sound of nature! Defei, Xianfei, and the others, as if granted amnesty, tumbled to their feet and, with the help of their personal maids, rolled out of the main hall of Fengyi Palace at their fastest speed, almost using both hands and feet. They were afraid that if they were a step slower, they would be singled out by the living ancestor who could see through people's hearts and follow in the footsteps of Shufei.
In an instant, only the emperor, the empress, and the culprit, Dongfang Yuning, who looked innocent, were left in the hall.
Nangong Yu's gaze fell on his sister-in-law's stunningly beautiful face, which was still a little confused at the moment.
Dongfang Yuning felt a little uneasy when he looked at her, and quickly called the system frantically in his mind:
[System! What does that look from my brother-in-law mean? Is he taking his anger out on me? I didn't do anything???]
System 118's voice was filled with a hint of schadenfreude and sympathy:
[Host, as a man, especially a powerful man, being exposed in public as a cuckold would definitely be embarrassing! Do you understand?]
Dongfang Yuning agreed with this, and the villain in his heart began to let go:
[Alas, if you want to live a decent life, you have to have some green hair! Brother-in-law, you have three thousand beauties in your harem, so there will always be times when you can't handle it, right? Sometimes turning a blind eye can make things easier for everyone! Hahahaha!]
As she thought about it, she almost laughed out loud in her heart.
System 118 also responded with a distorted electronic laugh:
[Hahahaha… The host is right! Fortunately, she's not pregnant with someone else's child. Otherwise, with the backward technology in ancient times, blood tests wouldn't be reliable. By then, real and fake dragon seeds would be flying everywhere, and it would be a mess! Hahahaha…]
The veins on Nangong Yu's forehead were throbbing visibly! He felt his temples throbbing with pain!
This little girl's inner voice... was like pouring salt on the wound that had just been stabbed, and even twisting it twice!
Queen Dongfang Qiwu was so frightened watching from the side that she wanted to rush over and cover her sister's little mouth that was making "babbling" sounds non-stop even though no sound came out!
This little ancestor, really... Oh! She looked at the emperor's forbearing expression, and in addition to worry, she also felt a subtle bitterness and envy.
Ning'er could be so frank, so unscrupulous in criticizing the emperor, and even sympathize with him? This was a freedom and unrestrainedness that she, as the queen, could never possess.
Ever since she married into this royal family that was as deep as the sea, her every word and action, every frown and smile, seemed to be wearing invisible shackles, and she had long forgotten how to write the four words "do whatever she wants".
Nangong Yu suppressed the urge to pick up his sister-in-law and spank her or lock her up in a small dark room. He tried to make his voice sound calm and even added a hint of what he thought was a kind question:
"Ning'er, I see you look rosy and full of energy. Your illness is almost healed, right?"
When Dongfang Yuning heard this, his eyes lit up instantly!
[It works! My brother-in-law is letting me go home! Great! I can finally leave this melon field... No, leave the palace! I miss Daddy so much, and I miss my big brother, second brother, and third brother so much! I really want to go home and lie down and eat melons!]
She was cheering in her heart, nodding like a chick pecking at rice, and a smile so sweet it could make you sick appeared on her face:
"Reporting to the Emperor's brother-in-law, I feel much better! Thank you so much for your careful care, Emperor's brother-in-law and Empress sister!"
Nangong Yu looked at her finally liberated and excited look, a meaningful arc appeared on the corner of his mouth, and he spoke slowly:
"Well, now that you're all right, come with me to the court tomorrow morning."
"Queen, remember to have Ning'er wash and dress up early, don't miss the time."
He stood up slowly, as if he didn't notice the smile on Dongfang Yuning's face that froze for a moment, and the Queen's surprised look.
"I still have to review memorials, so I'll return to the Yangxin Palace first."
After saying that, he swung his dragon robe and walked away with big strides, leaving behind a back that looked extremely unruly in Dongfang Yuning's eyes.
Dongfang Yuning: "..."
She was frozen in place as if under a petrification spell, the smile on her face solidified, shattered, and finally turned into nothing.
[I...was just hallucinating, right? Tongzi! Tell me quickly, I'm having severe auditory hallucinations!]
She screamed like a groundhog in her heart.
The voice of System 118 is full of sympathy (happiness), comfort (disaster), and consolation (disaster):
[Host, I regret to inform you that you are not hallucinating! The imperial decree has been issued. Tomorrow morning, you will be the first, and possibly the only, unmarried woman in Yan Nation's history to attend the court!]
As for the morning court session... well, you'll need to be waiting outside the palace gates around 3:30 AM, and the court session will officially begin at 5 AM! Good luck, host! Early to bed, early to rise, good health!
[Wuwuwu…Five o’clock?! It’s not even daybreak yet! What did I do wrong?! Why would God treat a beautiful young girl like me so cruelly?!]
The villain in Dongfang Yuning's heart has already shed tears.
If I don't grow taller, it's all my fault, brother-in-law. This black-hearted capitalist! He exploits child labor! He destroys the flowers of our country! Woohoo...
Queen Dongfang Qiwu looked at her sister's expression of despair and wanting to cry but having no tears, and then looked at the rich and explosive complaints in her heart, and couldn't help but burst out laughing.
The depression and heaviness of the past few days were actually dispelled by this straightforward and cute little girl. She gently patted the back of her sister's hand, with a long-lost, pure warmth in her eyes:
"Alright, alright. It's hard to disobey the emperor's order. I'll call you early tomorrow. It's also a good thing for Ning'er to go and see the court."
But she didn't dare to think too deeply about how many storms were behind this good thing.
The next day, at three quarters past three in the morning.
The sky was as dark as ink, the stars and the moon still visible. Before the towering palace gates, the civil and military officials waiting to attend the court had already stood in a solemn manner according to their ranks.
However, the atmosphere today was particularly strange. Everyone's eyes were vaguely glancing at the sedan chair carried by the Queen's eunuchs, which clearly belonged to the female members of the family.
When the curtain of the sedan chair was opened, Dongfang Yuning, dressed in a goose yellow palace dress and a snow-white fox fur cloak, walked out with sleepy eyes and unsteady steps, supported by a palace maid. It seemed as if the entire palace gate was muted!
Taifu Dongfang Yanru, the leader of the civil officials of the dynasty, a man who could remain calm even when faced with a mountain collapsing in front of him, now had his eyes almost popping out of his head!
Next to him was his second son Dongfang Qichen, the Minister of Rites, who was known for his gentleness and elegance. But at this moment, he couldn't control his expression, his mouth was slightly open, as if he had seen a ghost!
[Dad! Second brother! What's with that look on your face? I didn't want to come either! It was my brother-in-law, that big devil, who forced me to come!]
Dongfang Yuning wailed inwardly, forcing himself to stand up straight, trying to put on a "I am very dignified" look, but inwardly he was madly complaining:
[Tongzi! Help! I feel like a monkey in a zoo! The way they look at me is so scary!]
[Host, stay calm! Think about the points! Think about the scratch-off tickets! Think about the good stuff in the mall!]
System 118 pumps hard.
The shock in the hearts of the officials had already set off a huge wave:
[The little lady from the Dongfang family?! What is she doing here?!]
[An unmarried woman is actually going to court?! How shameless!]
[Is His Majesty truly blinded by beauty?! Or does the Dongfang family truly intend to dominate the world?!]
[It's over, it's over. The country is on the verge of collapse! The witch concubine... no, the witch is ruining the country!]
Amidst a sea of astonished and doubtful gazes, Dongfang Yuning felt as if he was walking on pins and needles. Led by the eunuchs, he followed the emperor and the crown prince into the throne room, the symbol of the highest power center of the empire!
When she sat on a small brocade cushion specially added next to the imperial steps and below the crown prince, Nangong Yu still had some conscience and did not let her stand but sit down. The whole Golden Throne Hall was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop!
All the ministers, including the princes and nobles, except for Crown Prince Nangong Chengqian, who remained calm and composed, were as if struck by lightning! Their eyes were filled with disbelief, anger, contempt, and deep fear.
Nangong Yu sat high on the dragon throne, taking in everything that was happening below, with a faint smile on his lips, as if he was very satisfied with the surprise he had created.
He cleared his throat.
"Gentlemen, please stand. Before we begin today's proceedings, I have something to say. The Grand Tutor's youngest daughter, Yuning, has been blessed by heaven. Her illness has been completely cured, and she is now intelligent and insightful. I have granted her special permission to attend court meetings to broaden her horizons. I urge you to speak freely and not to be restrained."
He deliberately emphasized the words "don't be restrained" and glanced below with an invisible warning.
Don't be restrained? What a joke! Who dares to speak freely in front of such a living ancestor who can see through people's hearts? The ministers complained madly in their hearts, but on the surface they could only respectfully nod.
Dongfang Yanru and Dongfang Qichen exchanged a glance, each seeing a deep worry and a hint of pride in the other's eyes. Their own daughter/sister actually received such an honor (shocked)?
The court meeting began with the topic of delayed military pay in the north and instability of the border troops.
As soon as the Minister of Revenue finished stating his difficulties, Liu Zhang, the Minister of War, a fat, greasy-faced middle-aged man, immediately jumped out and said in a loud voice, spitting:
"Your Majesty! This is the Ministry of Revenue shirking its responsibility! The soldiers of the border army fought bravely to protect their country. How can they be disheartened by a lack of food and wages? I implore Your Majesty to conduct a thorough investigation of the Ministry of Revenue and recover the outstanding wages! Otherwise, the morale of the army will be shaken, and the northern border will be in danger!"
He was very excited and pointed his finger habitually. His short, fat finger pointed right at Dongfang Yuning, who was trying hard to reduce his presence!
[Oh my god!]
The little universe in Dongfang Yuning's heart exploded instantly!
[This damn fat guy! He looks like a walking lard bun, and it's eye-catching enough! How dare he point at me?! Do you think I'm Hello Kitty?! System! Attack! Target Minister of War Liu Zhang! Strip him naked! I want the most explosive melon! Choke him to death!]
System 118 instantly became excited:
[Target locked on 'Liu Zhang'! Scanning... Beep beep! Super hardcore melon! Guaranteed to be cooked and authentic!]
【Fast forward! 】
[Core News: The life-saving military pay from the North wasn't even on its way! Fatty Liu and his cronies embezzled it! The amount they pocketed was staggering!]
【What? ! 】
Dongfang Yuning was shocked.
He dared to swallow the war money?! Is he a money-eating beast? Isn't he afraid of choking to death?! The soldiers at the border are fighting on an empty stomach, and he's eating like a glutton! Shameless!
This inner voice was like thunder, crashing fiercely into the minds of every minister who was forced to prick up their ears! Embezzling military funds?! Or was it life-saving money for the North?!
Liu Zhang's fat face turned pale instantly, his eyes widened, and his fat body trembled with fear! His legs softened and he almost knelt down on the spot.
At this moment, Nangong Yu, who was sitting on the dragon throne, seemed to have just finished listening to the report from the Minister of Revenue. He asked in an unusually calm, even somewhat persuasive tone:
"Lord Liu, you sounded very urgent just now. In your opinion, why has the military pay for the northern border not arrived yet?"
His eyes seemed to be on Liu Zhang, but in fact he was always paying attention to the movements of his sister-in-law out of the corner of his eye.
When Liu Zhang heard the emperor's calm question and thought about the voice in his heart that was like the death warrant from the King of Hell, he felt a chill running from his tailbone to the top of his head!
He fell heavily to his knees with a thud, his voice trembling:
"Your Majesty... Your Majesty... I think... the Ministry of Revenue... the journey is difficult and dangerous, so there may be delays..."
Cold sweat flowed down his forehead and neck like a stream, and the back of his official robe was instantly soaked.
Dongfang Yuning got even angrier when he saw his cowardly look:
[Humph! Are you scared now? Too late! Tongzi! This kind of scum can't be appeased without a strong dish! Give me the strongest one! I'm going to stuff him to death! Then I'll find a way to tell my brother-in-law.]
System 118: [Ding~ The real dish is here! The melon is so big, I can't eat it in one bite!]
[The huge sum of money Fatty Liu embezzled had barely warmed its banks when it was snatched away by his sister-in-law, who cheated people to death without paying for it! With the money, his sister-in-law lived like a celestial being in another place, keeping several beautiful mistresses! She spent money like water!]
[Pfft! A rip-off sister-in-law? Hahaha! It's karma! Serves her right!]
【It’s not over yet! 】
System 118 continues to expose information,
The detailed account book of all Liu Zhang's embezzlement is hidden in the secret compartment behind the bookshelf in his study! The key to the secret compartment is hidden in the base of the cage of his favorite starling!
As for that damned account book… hehe, it’s disguised perfectly. The cover is—a vivid and colorful picture of a spring palace! But the title is printed with “The Analects of Confucius”!
【Hahahahahaha! 】
Dongfang Yuning laughed so hard in his heart that he fell down.
[A Analects of Confucius with pornographic pictures on the cover?! This fat guy is the epitome of a shrewd and naive person! He's greedy and lustful, yet he pretends to be a serious scholar!]
Absolutely! This… How am I supposed to warn my brother-in-law about this? I can't just tell him to send someone to Fatty Liu's house to catch some birds and look through some pornographic pictures, right? That's too rude!]
The barrage of comments in her mind was flying, and the atmosphere in the Golden Palace over there had become extremely weird!
After hearing the little girl's inner voice, Liu Zhang felt as if struck by lightning. He collapsed completely to the ground, his face ashen, and there was even a faint smell of foul odor coming from his crotch - he was actually scared to pee!
He didn't even have the strength to beg for mercy. The immense fear and shame made him want to die immediately.
All the ministers lowered their heads tightly, their shoulders shaking slightly suspiciously, trying hard to suppress the urge to laugh but not dare to laugh, to be shocked but not dare to be shocked.
Some people pinched their thighs tightly, some covered it up by coughing, and some wanted to bury their faces in their tablets!
The emperor's icy, warning gaze swept across the room once again, his silent threat as real as day: [Hold it! Anyone who dares to reveal the truth will be next!]
In the entire hall, only Dongfang Yuning's modern and angry voice echoed in everyone's mind, and Liu Zhang's heavy and desperate breathing.
In this suffocating silence, Crown Prince Nangong Chengqian, who had been standing by the imperial steps with an expressionless face, silently made an extremely covert gesture towards a corner outside the palace gate. No one noticed.
Time passed minute by minute, each second seemed as long as a century. The ministers felt every second was like an age, hoping that this public execution would be over soon.
Finally, a series of extremely soft, well-trained footsteps were heard outside the palace. A guard dressed in ordinary imperial guard uniform, actually the leader of the Eastern Palace's secret guards, quickly approached the Crown Prince and discreetly handed him a humble cloth bag and a birdcage.
Crown Prince Nangong Chengqian looked normal, as if he had simply straightened his sleeves. He then held the two items in his hands, quickly walked to the imperial steps, bowed, and spoke in a steady voice:
"Your Majesty, I have just received a secret report concerning the military pay in the northern border, and I have important evidence to present!" As he spoke, he opened the cloth bag in front of all the civil and military officials in the court.
A book with a unique binding was revealed - the cover was full of colorful and obscene pictures of erotic scenes!
But on the spine of the book, written in neat small characters is - "The Analects of Confucius"!
“Puff…cough cough cough!”
Finally, someone couldn't hold it in any longer and let out a series of violent coughs, their faces turning red. Many more people bit their lips tightly, their shoulders shaking even more violently.
Nangong Yu looked at the ironic account book, then at Liu Zhang, who was lying on the ground like a puddle of foul-smelling mud. He laughed in anger, his voice icy cold:
"Excellent! A truly remarkable Minister of War! A truly remarkable 'Sage's Book'! He embezzled military funds, framed his colleagues, and deceived the emperor! His crimes are unforgivable! Come! Strip Liu Zhang of his official uniform, throw him into the Sky Prison, and keep him under strict guard! Confiscate all his property! Exterminate his entire clan! All officials involved in the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of War will be investigated rigorously by the Crown Prince! No leniency will be shown!"
As soon as the order was given, the guards stepped forward and dragged the limp Liu Zhang out without mercy, leaving a wet mark on the ground and a pungent smell.
Nangong Yu rubbed his throbbing temples, and glanced at the man next to him with complicated eyes, who was still immersed in the shock of "Spring Palace Analects" and whose heart was filled with anxiety.
[My brother-in-law is awesome! The prince is incredibly efficient!]
[System! Points! Where are my points? This melon is big and ripe!] Sister-in-law.
He took a deep breath, tried to calm himself down, and announced:
"Retreat from the court today!"
"Long live our emperor!"
The ministers' voices were louder and more eager than ever before! It was like escaping death! Each one lowered their heads and hurried out of the Golden Palace, with only one thought in their minds:
[Hurry home! Keep your little story under wraps! That Miss Dongfang sitting on the brocade cushion is not human! She's a walking magic mirror! She's the most terrifying knife in His Majesty's hand! Don't mess with her! Absolutely don't mess with her!]
Dongfang Yuning stood up with everyone else in a daze, still bargaining with the system for points in her heart. She didn't notice that the eyes of the people around her were filled with extreme awe and fear.
She rubbed her aching waist and sighed inwardly:
[It's finally over! This class is more tiring than playing games all night! My brother-in-law is such a jerk!]
Nangong Yu looked at her innocent and naive appearance, completely unaware of how big a storm she had caused, and heard her complain in her heart that she was Zhou Baopi, and the corners of his mouth twitched violently.
He stood up, walked in front of her, looked down at her, suddenly revealed a meaningful smile, and whispered:
"Ning'er listened very carefully today. Very good. Remember to be on time for the court tomorrow morning."
Dongfang Yuning: “!!!”
"What?! You're coming tomorrow?! Brother-in-law! Are you a devil?!"
The villain in her heart instantly petrified, cracked, and turned to ash...
Nangong Yu admired her instantly fallen face, and his mood inexplicably improved. He swung his dragon robe and strode away. Well, with this sharp blade, this dull court seemed... much more interesting.
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