Lingzhu prepared dinner and had Anjia Shi specially brought out to sit down. Then there were his eldest son and his wife and their children. Lanqin sat with her three children around the table.
"Father, what exactly happened that led to your impeachment?" Lanqin asked directly. She knew that the whole family depended on Lingzhu. Although Anjia resented the concubines he had taken when he was young, she panicked when she heard that Lingzhu was about to be impeached and even lose his official position. She didn't know how they, who had been born with official positions as their highest priority and glory, would survive if Lingzhu lost his job.
Just moments ago, Lingzhu had a smile on his face, but upon hearing Lanqin's words, his smile vanished. Relying on his talent and the blessings of his ancestors, he had entered the Ministry of Rites at the age of twenty-five, climbing step by step to the position of a fourth-rank official. Although he hadn't achieved meteoric success, he had still steadily risen through the ranks. But unexpectedly, he had been impeached, causing Lingzhu to age considerably in an instant.
"Third Sister, why don't we finish this meal first, and then talk to Father slowly?" Zheng said, looking at the embarrassment on Lingzhu's face.
“We’re all family, Father, you don’t need to mind. Why don’t you just tell me? If Qin’er can help, she definitely will,” Lan Qin said.
“Father, since Third Sister has said so, you shouldn’t bear it all alone. Just say it all. Third Sister is now the concubine of Prince Yong. If she can sit for you, she will sit too,” Zheng said.
“Qin’er, back in the fortieth year of the Kangxi Emperor’s reign, Father held a memorial service for the late Empress together with the Minister of Rites at the time. Some people, I don’t know where they got the information, said that Father’s ritual implements and ceremonial robes at that time were all wrong, which is disrespectful to the late Empress!” Lingzhu said.
Lanqin looked at Lingzhu in surprise and said, "Thirteen years have passed. Who would use these old stories to impeach Father? Did Father offend someone?"
Lingzhu looked at Lanqin and shook his head, saying, "Father doesn't even know who impeached him. It was the Minister of Rites who told me this a few days ago."
Lanqin's expression darkened. She knew that Lingzhu's impeachment at this time was definitely not accidental.
The atmosphere immediately became tense. If Lingzhu was impeached successfully, he would not only be dismissed from his post but might even face imprisonment. The crime was far too serious—disrespect for the late Empress Dowager!
Although the late empress had passed away many years ago, she still held an insurmountable distance in Emperor Kangxi's heart. Since her death, Emperor Kangxi would skip three days of court to mourn her memorial tablet on almost every anniversary of her passing. Every three, five, and ten years, he would have the Ministry of Rites arrange a grand memorial ceremony to return the favor.
"Is this true? After so many years, how could they still remember this? Father doesn't even know who the other party is, so how can he let the Prince get involved?" Lanqin felt the thorniness of this matter, and if the Fourth Prince got involved, it would definitely displease Kangxi.
“My father did make some mistakes back then, but I never expected that someone would find out and even remember it. My father has been careful and cautious all these years and has never offended anyone, so why did this suddenly erupt now? It’s really puzzling,” Lingzhu said.
“Father, let me go back and ask the Prince. Let’s find out who impeached you first,” Lanqin said.
"Qin'er, then your elder brother will thank you on behalf of your father. If we can find out who impeached your father, then your father will know what to do. If he withdraws the impeachment himself, perhaps the Emperor won't see it," Zheng said.
Lanqin nodded, her heart completely broken. If Lingzhu had truly done those things, even if the Fourth Prince were willing to help, how could they plead for him before Emperor Kangxi? That was the late Empress Dowager! That was the most sacred place in Emperor Kangxi's heart, a place no one dared to touch.
Lingzhu knew he had been caught off guard today. As a ceremonial officer in the Ministry of Rites, he could usually get away with it as long as he didn't make any major mistakes or get away with anything. But at this crucial moment, someone had produced such evidence, leaving him completely dumbfounded.
The next day, Lanqin stayed at the Ling residence for another day before taking her child back home. Before leaving, she slipped 20,000 taels of silver to Anjia, the same amount Anjia had given her to protect herself when she had acted out of line. Lanqin returned the 20,000 taels of silver notes without touching a single one.
Upon returning to the manor, Lanqin sent someone to instruct Li Wei to summon him. The Fourth Master wouldn't return until the fourth day of the month, so Lanqin wanted to inquire with Li Wei first. Although he wasn't an official in the court, he was the Fourth Master's personal advisor and was well aware of the court's dynamics.
"This servant greets Consort Li!" Li Wei was still at home celebrating the New Year with his family when Lanqin specially sent someone to summon him, and he immediately followed that person into the mansion.
"Are Cui Niang and the child alright?" Lan Qin asked when she saw Li Wei.
“Thanks to Consort Cui, they are all doing well. Cui Niang said she wants to come back after the New Year,” Li Wei said.
"No rush, let Cui Niang rest more," Lan Qin said. "I called you here today to ask you something."
Li Wei had served by the Fourth Master's side for many years and possessed extremely high political acumen; he was essentially a key member of the Fourth Master's military team. Li Wei always held Lan Qin in high regard, and because of Cui Niang, he respected Lan Qin even more.
“Please speak, Consort!” Li Wei said.
"A minor official in the Ministry of Rites is suddenly impeached, and the person impeached is hiding in the shadows. What usually happens in this situation?" Lan Qin asked.
"The concubine refers to the concubine's father!" Li Wei said.
Lanqin nodded. Things had come to this point, and she couldn't hide it anymore.
"The concubine's father was impeached? The prince didn't mention this." Li Wei said.
“It happened before the Lunar New Year. My father and I went out before the New Year and didn’t know much about what was happening in the capital. After we returned, he stayed at the Dali Temple. Then the New Year came, and that person deliberately hid in the shadows and submitted the impeachment memorial without anyone noticing. Even my father didn’t know; the Minister of Rites told him personally. Now, this memorial is probably still stuck in the cabinet and hasn’t reached Father Emperor yet,” Lanqin said. “I want to ask if it’s possible to intercept this memorial. Father Emperor is the pillar of the Ling family; if something happens to him, I can’t ignore it. Besides, this matter happened so suddenly; I suspect someone did it on purpose.”
After listening to Lanqin's words, Li Wei said, "What Consort says is true. I wonder if Lord Ling has any enemies or has offended anyone?"
Lanqin shook her head.
Li Wei pondered again, "If the memorial is still in the cabinet, it can indeed be intercepted, but Your Highness will have to do it personally."
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