It's not a problem if something happens when it doesn't need to happen.
When something goes wrong, it's a real incident.
Madam Xie had a weak heart. After such a terrible incident at the Xie family, she fainted and lost consciousness. She didn't wake up for three or four days. Those who wanted to gossip about the Xie family shut up. After all, they had frightened the old lady so much that she became ill, which was really inappropriate.
Princess Hui and Guan Heng originally planned to seek justice from Xie Yun, since the incident happened at his residence, and if he wasn't responsible, who would?
But Lord Xie had a deep affection for his wife. Upon hearing that she had fainted and never woken up again, he rolled his eyes, clutched his heart, and fainted. Even as he fainted, he was still holding a cup of wine in his hand, exchanging flattering words with Yan Shiren.
Alright, now the two rascals of the Xie family have fainted. Prince Hui and Guan Heng hesitated, and this hesitation led to the Xie family members going to the palace to file a complaint.
Emperor Mingde was still ill, waiting for Physician Peng, but Physician Peng never came. So the Empress Dowager was in charge of the government. Xie Qiuliang, the eldest son of the Xie family, along with his wife, younger brother and sister-in-law, as well as the eldest and second sons, made a grand procession, as if they had suffered a great injustice.
She knelt before the Cining Palace, kneeling in utter grief and wailing for almost an hour. Zhang Chu, tired of hearing it, summarized: "Empress Dowager, the Xie family says that Lord Xie and Madam Xie have fallen ill because of Miss Guan and Princess Liuli. They are asking you to take charge. What do you think?"
The Empress Dowager listened for almost an hour, but she had a good mental fortitude. She reviewed the memorials while listening, and reviewed about thirty in that hour. She had almost finished reviewing the ones on her desk. Hearing this, she looked up at Zhang Chu and said, "Call everyone together and come to the hall. Let's talk things out face to face and clarify who is right and who is wrong, so that they won't say that I am unfair in the future."
"Yes." Zhang Chu understood that the Empress Dowager was going to suppress the Guan family and Prince Hui to the death. Even if they wanted to overturn the case in the future, it would be impossible. However, no one was thinking about overturning the case. They wished that things would be settled as soon as possible and that no one would remember it, since it was too embarrassing.
She began to feel sorry for the Guan family and Prince Hui. Wouldn't it have been better if these two families hadn't gotten involved and instead lived a life of wealth and leisure? They had no ability, yet they insisted on going into trouble. Who could they blame for their downfall?
Soon, everyone arrived. Of course, whether it was intentional or not, Zhao Nihong was not called over, along with the Marquis of Huainan and the Marquis of Ningguo.
Everyone knelt in the main hall of Cining Palace. Guan Heng and the Huiwang family also knew that the matter had come to the palace, meaning the whole world would know. If the charges were proven true, who knew how long their infamy would last? They had to take a gamble; perhaps a gamble could turn the tide.
However, both families understood that the Empress Dowager would never side with them, so they had their own selfish motives. Guan Heng and Yi De had a factional relationship, and he was also capable. He managed to persuade Yi De to support Emperor Ming De.
Emperor Mingde has become increasingly weak lately, his health deteriorating day by day. Even when he comes to uphold justice, his face is deathly pale. Even though the palace maids apply some rouge to his face in an attempt to conceal his illness and prevent the court officials from panicking, they cannot hide his sickly appearance.
Upon seeing this, everyone had the same thought: the emperor's days were numbered.
After the emperor and his ministers exchanged greetings, Emperor Mingde sat down and said, "Speak." He began to pant after saying just two words.
The Xie family sent a representative, Xie Qiusheng, who was more eloquent than his elder brother. He first bowed to the Empress Dowager and Emperor Mingde and said, "Prince Hui and Lord Guan have failed in their duty to educate their daughters. My mother originally thought that since the autumn weather was cool, the war was going well, and there were good news of victory after victory, she wanted to gather all the nobles in the capital together to make it lively. No old person dislikes a lively atmosphere, and it should have been a happy occasion. I never expected that my two daughters would do such a despicable thing on such a joyous occasion. However, my mother is kind-hearted and feels that if she hadn't organized this autumn appreciation party, such a sordid thing wouldn't have happened. She is filled with remorse and is still unconscious. I beg the Empress Dowager and the Emperor to do justice for me, severely punish my two daughters, and give my mother justice."
There seemed to be something wrong with what he said. Emperor Mingde frowned upon hearing this. "Your mother fell ill, so you summoned the imperial physician. No one blamed her for this. Why did you have to make a scene in the palace?"
"Please allow me to explain in detail. Both of these women are engaged to Marshal Wei, yet they have committed such despicable acts. I am not afraid of Lord Guan and Prince Hui being unreasonable, but I am afraid of Marshal Wei's wrath. My purpose in entering the palace this time is twofold: first, to ask the Empress Dowager and the Emperor to make a decision, and second, to ask the Empress Dowager and the Emperor to clarify the truth to Marshal Wei. This matter has absolutely nothing to do with the Xie family."
Upon hearing this, Emperor Mingde coughed several times, his face flushed with a sickly redness. His throat was so sore that tears welled up in his eyes. He hadn't been thinking about many things lately, and for a moment he hadn't even considered the matter of the Imperial Guard.
Liang Yunsi quickly patted him on the back to help him catch his breath. He was coughing so badly that he couldn't speak. After drinking some tea to soothe his throat, he shut his mouth in fear.
The Empress Dowager gently fiddled with the prayer beads in her hand, glanced at Prince Hui and Guan Heng, and asked, "Do you two have anything to say?"
"Empress Dowager, Your Majesty, my daughter is innocent! She is simple-minded and wouldn't even step on an ant. How could she have done such a vicious thing? Empress Dowager, please do justice for me!" Prince Hui began to cry. He was old, and his tears flowed freely, making him a truly pitiful figure.
Guan Heng was no exception. He immediately kowtowed repeatedly, "Your Majesty, although I am impulsive and prone to tantrums, I have no ill intentions. My innocent girl has been ruined like this. My heart is breaking, Your Majesty. I beg Your Majesty to do justice for me, considering my loyalty."
Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager remained silent, pondering for a moment. The Xie family also kept quiet, not behaving inappropriately by arguing in front of the Empress Dowager and Emperor Mingde. After a long while, the Empress Dowager asked, "Do you two believe that Xie Jiu harmed your daughter?"
"Your subject dares not." The two lowered their heads. Although they said they dared not, their expressions showed anger that they dared not speak out. They were really trying to shift the blame onto the Xie family.
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