Chapter 828 Confessing
The atmosphere suddenly became awkward. Xie Shang seemed to realize this, and just as he was about to speak, Jiang Fenghua pressed down on Xie Shang's hand and whispered, "Didn't Your Majesty notice anything?"
Xie Shang said softly, "Does the Empress know what happened? How could I possibly know what happened? What is Xie Qi doing?" Xie Qi seemed to be on edge; was he trying to offend Grand Tutor Pan? Had he thought this through?
Jiang Fenghua didn't speak because she didn't want Grand Tutor Pan to think that the Empress was on the Lu family's side when questioning his granddaughter. They were all pillars of the Great Zhou Dynasty, and Xie Shang wouldn't offend either side.
Pan Xiuying wanted to embarrass Lu Xuefei, but Lu Xuefei refused to be a pushover and started to ask questions in return.
Xie Qi probably wanted to clarify his stance, which is why he asked Grand Tutor Pan those questions.
Grand Tutor Pan was also a clever man. He bowed to the Emperor and, being very tactful, smiled and said, "This old minister is good at scholarship, but to ask His Highness Prince Qi to teach him about laws and regulations would be putting this old minister in a difficult position. It would be more suitable for Minister Lu to teach Prince Qi, as everyone has their own expertise."
Xie Shang smiled and said, "Grand Tutor, you are too modest."
He then asked Lu Tingwei, "Has Xie Qi been having nothing to do in the yamen lately?"
Lu Tingwei had indeed neglected him for a long time. "I have been busy with other cases. I do not know what Prince Qi has been busy with."
"Xie Qi, come with me! The rest of you, continue." Xie Shang frowned and left the main hall.
Once Xie Shang and the Prince of Qi had left, Grand Tutor Pan also left with Pan Xiuying.
Lu Xuefei's eyes were full of worry. She shouldn't have argued with Pan Xiuying. If she wanted to compete in writing, then she should just write. It's not like she can't write well. She's not a great scholar, so why should she write so well on purpose?
Jiang Fenghua also made an excuse to leave with Xie Shang, and Lu Xuefei naturally couldn't stay any longer.
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Xie Shang found a quiet side hall and said in a deep voice, "If the Prince of Qi wants to become a disciple, he can do so in private. What were you doing just now?"
Xie Qi knelt on the ground, "I do not wish to become a disciple. I am doing quite well learning from Commandant Lu."
"You're doing so well, why are you asking Grand Tutor Pan for legal advice?" Xie Shang said angrily. "And what's going on between you and Grand Tutor Pan's granddaughter?"
"Your Majesty, didn't you realize that I didn't want to have anything to do with Pan Xiuying? It was she who insisted on pestering me." Xie Qi didn't know how to explain. "Madam Pan wanted to marry Pan Xiuying to me as the Princess Qi, but I didn't agree."
Xie Shang was stunned. "Is that all?"
He continued, "The Pan family intends to arrange a marriage between you and me, but you still refuse. What's going on in your head? Why won't you marry them? I will grant you this marriage..."
Xie Qi kowtowed and stated his request directly, "Your Majesty, please bestow upon me Lu Tingwei's daughter, Lu Xuefei, to be my princess consort! I do not wish for anyone else."
Xie Shang felt that since he had married Pan Xiuying, why not marry Lu Xuefei as well? He even chose to marry her, as a royal prince, he naturally had a responsibility to make sacrifices for the stability of the Great Zhou.
At this moment, Grand Tutor Pan and Pan Xiuying also came in.
Grand Tutor Pan pulled Pan Xiuying along. Pan Xiuying had clearly been crying. She knelt on the ground, not daring to look at Xie Qi, and couldn't utter a single word.
Grand Tutor Pan then said, "It is this old minister who has failed to properly educate his granddaughter; I beg Your Majesty to punish me."
Xie Shang feigned ignorance, "Grand Tutor, don't be anxious. Tell me what happened slowly. Miss Pan, please stop kneeling and get up!"
She had just been scolded by her grandfather, and she felt quite wronged. Why couldn't the daughter of the Pan family marry the Prince of Qi? Why did she have to give up instead of Lu Xuefei?
Tears welled in Pan Xiuying's eyes. "Xiuying truly loves His Highness Prince Qi. Your Highness, please allow me to explain. I did not intend to deceive you, but rather to please you."
Grand Tutor Pan said, "Get to the point and stop with the nonsense."
“Tell me everything clearly in front of the Emperor, including what your mother told you and what you did.” Grand Tutor Pan hadn’t expected his granddaughter to harbor such wicked intentions; the Pan family’s traditions would never allow her to act recklessly.
Pan Xiuying was startled. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to disturb His Highness Prince Qi..."
Pan Xiuying told her mother about her marriage proposal to Prince Qi, but she held back, only saying that it was because she liked Xie Qi, without saying anything else.
Upon hearing this, Xie Shang turned to Xie Qi and said, "What's so great about you that two women are fighting over you?"
Xie Shang pretended to be relaxed, seeing through it but not saying it.
Xie Qi insisted, "I have known Lu Xuefei for many years. She has always helped me, and I am very moved. We are truly in love. I beg Your Majesty to grant us your blessing."
He then turned to Grand Tutor Pan and said, "I'm sorry, Grand Tutor..."
"Enough," he said to the Emperor. "Your Highness has not wronged this old minister. It is my granddaughter who is disappointing." He then turned to the Emperor and said, "Now that things are clear, I will take my granddaughter home." He had humiliated himself in front of the Emperor.
What could Xie Shang say? Grand Tutor Pan had come through all this trouble to show that he would not allow Pan Xiuying to compete with Lu Xuefei for Prince Qi, and to show that the Pan family would not collude with the prince to seize power.
Jiang Fenghua was guarding outside the door when Grand Tutor Pan happened to come out and saw her. He bowed to Empress Jiang with the respect due to a subject to a ruler, and was too ashamed to let Ying'er stay any longer.
Jiang Fenghua suddenly stopped Pan Xiuying, "I would like to have a private talk with Miss Pan."
Grand Tutor Pan nodded. "I'll be waiting for you in the carriage."
Jiang Fenghua led her to a secluded spot and had Hongxiu stand guard to the side before saying, "Miss Pan must be wondering why I asked you to stay behind and talk to me alone!"
Pan Xiuying found it strange. "The Empress and Lu Xuefei are friends. She likes Xie Qi. With the Empress's help, she should soon become Princess Qi!"
Jiang Fenghua felt that Pan Xiuying was unusually intelligent. At only sixteen years old, she had never experienced love and yet she had abandoned it. She kept mentioning Princess Qi, but she didn't mean Xie Qi.
She didn't tell her any of this. "I have never helped Lu Xuefei and Xie Qi. They have always been helping themselves. From the palace to outside the palace, Xie Qi and Lu Xuefei have worked very hard and helped and supported each other. They have promised to stay together for life and will never let anyone interfere in their relationship."
Pan Xiuying suddenly wanted to laugh, "Does Your Majesty think it's possible? Is it realistic?"
Jiang Fenghua knew, of course, that it was impossible and unrealistic, but she would try her best to help Lu Xuefei protect this sincere and devoted relationship.
She asked, "Does Miss Pan truly love Prince Qi?"
"I like it." Pan Xiuying was still lying.
Jiang Fenghua said in a deep voice, "If you really like him, why would you help the Tenth Prince plot against him? If you like him, why would you suddenly push him in front of everyone just now? You clearly investigated the Prince Qi's situation, but you still did it. If he failed to write the prayer and lost face, you wouldn't care. The more down on his luck he is, the more you think he should fawn over you, Miss Pan, and marry you as his princess."
Pan Xiuying's extremely selfish behavior shows that she is the real egoist.
Pan Xiuying had twisted the handkerchief on her fingers into a rope; it turned out they all knew.
Before she could argue, Jiang Fenghua continued, "Both the Emperor and I respect Grand Tutor Pan, yet his granddaughter has brought him shame... Grand Tutor Pan cares most about his reputation, and his most beloved granddaughter is going to destroy the Pan family with her own hands. Do you think your grandfather will forgive you?"
Pan Xiuying's heart suddenly trembled. Her grandfather's teachings were still ringing in her ears, and she had not forgotten them.
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