Chapter 227 The Filial Son of the South
"Your Majesty the Empress Dowager..." "Your Majesty!" The ladies of the court were in a flurry of activity, unable to dissuade him. Only Li Banhui's mother dared to kneel and plead: "Your Majesty... the results can only be reported after the joint trial by the three judicial departments. If this procedure is not shortened, His Majesty will not be able to avoid controversy."
The Empress Dowager's overly excited emotions subsided, her chest heaving. After a few moments of stunned silence, she slowly sat down, supported by the head palace maid: "I know of your filial piety. It's done. Everyone, disperse. I'm feeling exhausted."
After saying this, the Empress Dowager looked tired, rested one hand on her forehead, and looked sickly and listless.
The ladies-in-waiting exchanged glances, suddenly realizing the situation. They calmed down, not daring to show any smiles or sorrow, and respectfully withdrew, maintaining a perfectly bowed posture.
Thus, Emperor Hongren, who was already troubled by the mess caused by the Ministry of Justice, suddenly received news that his mother was ill in the past two days.
"When did this happen? Why are you only telling me now?" Emperor Hongren was angry. He threw down the memorial and strode out.
Zhao Fuman hurriedly chased after her for several steps before regaining his usual leisurely pace. He bent over slightly and said, "The day before yesterday, Her Majesty the Empress Dowager couldn't eat anything, only having a bowl of rice porridge and some snacks. She also didn't sleep well yesterday and summoned the imperial physician in the middle of the night."
That's why the Imperial Hospital rushed to report the Empress Dowager's medical records this morning, detailing her recent anxieties.
"What has happened these past few days? Or has that Li boy gotten into trouble again?" Emperor Hongren asked calmly and confidently. The Empress Dowager was a kind and insightful person; ordinary matters wouldn't cause her such worry.
Zhao Fuman then cautiously recounted the recent gossip and what he had learned about what the Lady of the Heavenly Court had seen.
The more Emperor Hongren listened, the less he understood.
What does this have to do with the Empress Dowager?
The empress dowager was forbidden from interfering in politics, and she never actually went to the capital to discuss matters with the emperor. Instead, she would simply tell him that she had fallen ill after hearing about something, and the emperor would come to check on her and help her out. This was the normal procedure in their relationship.
Does the Empress Dowager mean... that she wants to plead for that merchant?
Emperor Hongren was already extremely annoyed and unsure how to handle the case. Now, what does his mother have to say?
Zhao Fuman couldn't give a clear answer.
Emperor Hongren gave him a look that said "check quickly," and the chief eunuch hurriedly agreed.
Upon arriving at the Empress Dowager's palace, the curtains were drawn, the light was dim, and a strong smell of medicine wafted from the main hall.
When Emperor Hongren entered, he bumped into a palace maid carrying medicine. The Empress Dowager wearily raised her hand from the couch and said, "...Leave it for now, I'll take it later."
"Yes." The palace maid bowed, holding the medicine bowl, and then gracefully left.
Emperor Hongren did not point it out, but turned to watch her leave and asked gently, "Your mother was ill and did not even send someone to inform me."
The Empress Dowager coughed twice and was helped to sit up slowly. She said politely, "It's an old ailment... The Emperor is busy with many affairs of state, how can we disturb him casually?"
These are all necessary procedures, polite exchanges that are made openly, but the words spoken are not entirely meaningless.
Emperor Hongren listened to this and seemed to be deep in thought. Normally it's inconvenient to disturb him, but is this matter really that important?
He gave a few more words of advice, and after exchanging pleasantries, he finally left.
Several hours later, Zhao Fuman returned to the palace, looking travel-worn. Emperor Hongren glanced at him, knowing that the old man had gathered a wealth of information.
He put down his imperial brush: "Speak."
“Before entering the palace, the Empress Dowager relied on her brothers for survival,” Zhao Fuman quickly explained. “The head of the Li family treated them harshly and doted on the children born to his concubines. It is said that… the Empress Dowager’s birth mother later died in sorrow. Perhaps because of this, the Empress Dowager has not been able to smile recently when she heard about the case.”
He spoke carefully.
Emperor Hongren frowned.
He had heard about these situations, but knew little about them. The head of the Li family had passed away from illness during his father's reign, and he later followed his father's decree to bestow titles upon the Li family again—of course, only his own family members were granted titles, and he didn't care how his mother's half-brothers were doing.
Does the Empress Dowager believe that her birth mother was also abused? Was her birth mother's tragic death largely due to the torment inflicted by the Li family head?
No one dared to let the emperor call them "maternal grandfather" and "maternal grandmother," so Emperor Hongren never addressed these two unfamiliar elderly women in that way.
He sat in the main hall pondering, and finally figured out some of the Empress Dowager's inner conflict.
……Understood!
Mother is blaming the head of the Li family for dying too young!
The head of the Li family died too young, before the purge could take place. Even though the Empress Dowager is now living a life of luxury and power, what good is it?
"...I understand." Emperor Hongren finally felt relieved, and he knew how to approve the case.
Two more days passed, and rumors began to circulate in the capital that the Empress Dowager was bedridden with illness, along with stories of His Majesty personally caring for her day and night, showing his filial piety.
For a time, His Majesty set an example by his own conduct, greatly enhancing his reputation for filial piety.
The princes also had to rush to the palace to attend to the ailing emperor and inquire about his health these past two days. Qi Chengming was in a good mood, but he pretended to be worried, waiting for the matter to be resolved—every discerning person in the capital already knew how Emperor Hongren would rule.
However, the sixth prince was foolish. When he met the Empress Dowager in front of her palace, his face was full of worry, and it was clear that he was genuinely concerned about the Empress Dowager's condition.
The Seventh Prince hadn't been seen for a while, and he had grown taller, his demeanor even more composed and reserved. Seeing Emperor Hongren just stepping out the door, he frowned and said sensibly, "Crown Prince, Prince Ning, it's time to go in. We need to take turns caring for the sick and share the work."
Qi Chengming gave him a meaningful look, the meaning of which was clear:
Why should you be the one to say that?
Emperor Hongren was pleased to witness this scene and, in a slightly better mood, praised, "Your filial piety is commendable, but it's best not to attend to your illness. It would only disturb your recovery. After you've seen the doctor, go back."
"Yes," the three princes replied in unison, and Emperor Hongren then left.
Qi Chengming saw the Seventh Prince and the Sixth Prince huddled together, whispering something, and he vaguely heard a voice say, "How did my brother do... Father praised him..."
Due to the superficial, feigned hostility, Qi Chengming could only glance at the Sixth Prince again without saying anything.
—Does Prince Ning know that the Seventh Prince, who seems to be fighting for their glory, is actually just making a spectacle of himself? To Emperor Hongren, it's the Seventh Prince himself who gets the first spotlight.
Would Prince Ning really believe the Seventh Prince's nonsense about "it's an honor for you if your younger brother fights for it, it's all thanks to our strength"?
Qi Chengming lowered his eyes, still uneasy, preparing to continue observing.
Prince Ning couldn't suppress the Seventh Prince, but whether he could figure out such a simple trick on his own was a matter of his ability.
Let him hone his skills; if he becomes too useless, Qi Chengming will also have a headache.
After the princes had all paid their respects to the Empress Dowager, they dispersed.
Prince Ning couldn't help himself—as soon as he stepped out, he called out to Qi Chengming, "Your Highness, I heard that you were in charge of that recent case that's been making headlines?"
He winked slightly, his expression revealing a hint of worry.
The fact that this case of patricide had become such a sensation at this critical juncture made Prince Ning worry that someone was trying to use it against His Highness the Crown Prince.
Qi Chengming chuckled.
He suddenly realized how isolated Prince Ning was living in the palace, and how far his own manpower had developed.
It's clear that I let this situation unfold on my own, and I controlled it; now it's almost over.
Prince Ning, who knew nothing, was still worried about him.
Qi Chengming felt a warmth in his heart, but he gave a cold laugh and replied amiably, "No need to worry. This case has already been transferred to the Court of Judicial Review. How can it be considered that I am in charge?"
Prince Ning carefully observed the young man's expression, confirming that he was speaking sincerely to comfort him, and felt a sense of relief: "..."
That's good.
He was relieved on the spot.
The two brothers parted ways without saying another word.
To a discerning eye, the conversation just now would have taken a different turn. The Seventh Prince seemed to be deep in thought: "..."
The next day, rumors began circulating in the capital that "His Highness the Crown Prince took charge of this case right away, but there's still no progress," which were subtle criticisms of his abilities and casual complaints.
Those spreading rumors dared not go too far, nor openly target the Crown Prince. They could only subtly influence people's first impression of His Highness by casually mentioning such things.
"Your Highness, our people haven't taken any action. It's better to remain still than to act now," Grand Scholar Mu reported without any urgency.
Qi Chengming wasn't in a hurry: "It's fine."
He's waiting for Emperor Hongren to prove others wrong with facts; then, it will be someone else who's in a hurry.
It will be in the next two days.
The joint trial by the three judicial departments finally received His Majesty's personal approval, and this long-delayed, highly controversial, and much-anticipated case finally came to a conclusion.
"...Wang Danan, a merchant from the South, committed patricide and filial impiety, an unforgivable crime! He should have been executed in the autumn. However, I pity his commendable filial piety, and his filial impiety was for the sake of his mother and sister, which is understandable. I will now show leniency... and sentence him to exile for three thousand miles. His Majesty personally praised him as the 'filial son of the South' and recorded him in the county annals..."
When the scholar in the teahouse loudly read the document aloud, everyone present couldn't help but cheer and applaud: "...Good!!" "What a man!"
"A filial son from the South, how does that sound?"
Qi Chengming sat quietly upstairs, listening to the thunderous cheers below, and asked with satisfaction.
The former Minister of Justice smiled kindly, his wrinkles smoothing out, and raised his cup of tea in place of wine to the Crown Prince: "I thank Your Highness on his behalf."
“We should all thank the Grand Tutor.” Qi Chengming turned his head and raised his teacup to Grand Scholar Mu.
If it weren't for the fact that Grand Scholar Mu lived a long life and knew a lot of information, they wouldn't have known where to break the deadlock this time, and how could it have been so easy?
"Your Majesty's actions are to avenge the Empress Dowager." Grand Scholar Mu raised his cup to drink with them with composure and calmness. "Wang Danan is a filial son worthy of being recorded in the county annals. What is his father compared to him?"
Emperor Hongren could no longer find fault with the long-deceased head of the Li family, who was also the Empress Dowager's biological father. Couldn't he just casually kill a commoner who liked to commit violence?
"Your Majesty has a backup plan." The former Minister of Justice nodded in satisfaction.
Sure enough, a few days later, Qi Chengming heard some new news from He Dajia in his mansion—the Empress Dowager's half-brother had been exposed for abusing his power for personal gain and lining his own pockets. It was said that in recent years he had been sent to a remote area as a minor official and had not been promoted, but he had been living a comfortable life by abusing his power.
His Majesty was furious about this and wanted to investigate where this man had obtained his wealth, which apparently involved the reputation of the late Empress Dowager's biological father...
"Now the Minister can retire and return to his hometown in peace."
The Empress Dowager must be in a very good mood these days.
Qi Chengming was in a good mood upon hearing this and loudly ordered, "Shishuang, go tell Aunt Fang to add a cold noodle dish to the dinner tonight to celebrate!"
"Why!"
...
With this, Qi Chengming had completed his first task as Crown Prince. And, judging by the time, the legitimate princess was finally getting married.
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Author's Note: Mini-Theater:
The Seventh Prince seemed to be deep in thought: ...
Qi Chengming: Ha, this is just for people like you!
(As expected, rumors spread)
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