Chapter 460 Price
The next day, as the morning light began to break, the atmosphere in the court was solemn.
Yan Xiuyun was wearing a dragon robe and looking at the ministers kneeling in front of the palace, his expression gradually becoming gloomy.
"The last time the imperial guards returned to the capital, you intercepted them outside the capital without authorization.
If the people from the Military Affairs Department hadn't arrived, I don't know how much trouble you would have caused.
I considered your actions excusable and did not pursue them, but now you still do not repent. Do you really want to force me to take action?
Yan Xiuyun looked at the leading young man with an oppressive gaze.
"Li Mao, you are the eldest son of the Duke of Wei and the head of the Ministry of Personnel.
Your father entered Duxin Temple in a fit of anger, but instead of trying to persuade him to return home, you came to make trouble in front of me.
Do you still have filial piety and the rules of conduct between ruler and subject?!"
Li Mao's eyes were obviously guilty for a moment, but he remembered his father's instructions and had to straighten his back and said:
"Your Majesty, this humble minister does not only out of filial piety, but also for your reputation!
My cousin Li Moxu died tragically in Qingzhou. My father was worried day and night about it and cried until he fainted several times. Only then did he go to Duxin Temple to express his determination.
If I cannot give justice to my cousin, even if I bring my father back home, his heart disease will still be difficult to cure.
What's more, the Chief Censor Zhu Lan behaved strangely while handling a case in Qingzhou. It was said that he often went out with a handsome man. How could such a person with an unstable mind be qualified to be an official?
Your Majesty has been delaying this case again and again. Isn't it intentional to cover up and make people all over the world feel disappointed?"
"How dare you!" Yan Xiuyun was furious.
"Drag him out of the palace and beat him to death!"
Upon hearing this, all the ministers fell to their knees and begged for mercy.
"Your Majesty, you must not do that!"
"The Duke of Wei is a veteran of two dynasties, and he saved the late emperor's life. The late emperor once made it clear in public at court that he promised the Duke of Wei a prosperous life for generations.
Now, Your Majesty has beaten his eldest son to death. How can you be worthy of the late emperor?"
"Yes, Your Majesty, if you kill Li Mao, I'm afraid it will damage Your Majesty's wisdom!"
"The Duke of Wei is already old, and the living conditions at Duxin Temple are poor. It is also the coldest time of the year, so I am afraid that the Duke of Wei will not be able to endure it.
If anything happens to him, how will Your Majesty explain to the late emperor?
Please, Your Majesty, sympathize with the Duke of Wei's love for his child and punish the Chief Censor Zhu Lan as soon as possible!"
"Your Majesty, please sympathize with the Duke of Wei's love for his child and punish the Chief Censor Zhu Lan as soon as possible!"
The ministers' pleas came one after another.
Yan Xiuyun's face turned pale and his hands were clenched into fists.
Almost all those kneeling below were old ministers from the previous emperor's reign. They were proud of their seniority and were not convinced that Zhu Lan, a woman, could take the position of Chief Censor, which was higher than theirs at such a young age. One can imagine the jealousy in their hearts.
When a wall falls, everyone pushes it.
"Your Majesty, a hundred officials from the Censorate have jointly submitted a petition, kneeling outside the palace, requesting that the death penalty be pardoned for the Minister of Justice."
A memorial signed by more than a hundred people was sent to Yan Xiuyun, which recorded Zhu Lan's achievements since she became the Chief Censor, saying that she should be a role model for all officials and must not be killed.
"Your Majesty once said that clear distinctions between rewards and punishments are the foundation of a country.
Although Zhu Lan had some achievements in the Imperial Censorate, it could not cover up the fact that she acted recklessly in Qingzhou, causing the tragic deaths of many officials.
Your Majesty, please understand!"
"Enough!" Yan Xiuyun was annoyed by their noise and stood up suddenly.
"I am tired today, so I will leave the court for now. We can discuss this matter another day."
Li Mao was unwilling and wanted to say something else, but was shocked by Yan Xiuyun's eyes.
Yan Xiuyun turned away.
…
harem.
Dong Lanxin looked quietly at a piece of thin paper on the table and asked softly:
"Have you thought it through?"
Qin Yuwei on the opposite side nodded slightly, with a firm expression and without any hesitation.
"The Duke of Wei and his people from the Li family are getting more and more aggressive, and they are putting pressure on Your Majesty by using filial piety. He can't do anything about the Duke of Wei.
Although the Ministry of Justice was also investigating the case, those officials were determined to drag Zhu Lan into the case and refused to tell the truth. All the evidence was burned.
This matter is too dangerous and cannot be delayed any longer."
“But this Xianglaier shop is the result of your hard work over the years, and the items sold here are what women in Daliang need every day. It’s no exaggeration to say that it’s a cash cow.
Are you really willing to hand over such a huge industry to Xue Hui?"
Qin Yuwei smiled bitterly and said, "As long as Zhu Lan can be saved, what does a shop matter?"
“But this time, we still need to trouble the Queen and Madam Huarong to mediate.
As long as Xue Hui can convince Duke Weiguo to stop pursuing this case, I will give her all of Xiang Lai'er's property."
Dong Lanxin looked at Qin Yuwei's face for a long time with a probing look, and said with mixed emotions:
“When Concubine Zhou competed with you for your favor, you set up a trap with just a hairpin, causing Concubine Zhou to fall from grace and hang herself in the palace.
You act ruthlessly and decisively, and I once thought you were a cold-hearted person.
But now it seems that you are the most loyal person in the harem, which is really interesting."
"It's just a way to survive." Qin Yuwei replied with her eyes lowered.
"Since you have such a character, I can feel more at ease." Dong Lanxin murmured, her eyes a little vague, but her words seemed to have a hidden meaning.
Qin Yuwei wasn't sure what she meant by "peace of mind".
Dong Lanxin smiled to herself and looked away.
“Don’t worry, I will ask Madam Hua Rong to bring it to Xue Hui as you said.”
"...Thank you, my lady."
…
"Xianglaier!?" After hearing what Madam Huarong said, Xue Hui's beautiful face showed shock.
It took her a while to react, and she smiled in disbelief:
“Your Majesty the Queen…this is really generous.
This Zhu Zhongcheng is really amazing. Someone is willing to spend such a huge price for her."
Madam Huarong smiled and lit a censer of incense, then said leisurely:
"Whether you agree or not is up to you. Don't consider our friendship.
I said, I'm just a messenger."
"Hehehe..." Xue Hui covered her lips and chuckled, her eyes and eyebrows revealing a look of joy that could not be concealed.
"The Xianglaier brand is now well-known throughout the country. Many businessmen are eager to seek an opportunity to cooperate with them, but they can't get it.
Now such a cash cow is given to me for free... It is worth three generations of my Xue family's assets."
The smile on Xue Hui's face finally faded a little, and she looked more serious.
"Okay, I, Xue Hui, am not a greedy person.
Since someone has spent a lot of money to save the female imperial envoy, I would be disrespectful to refuse such sincerity."
Madam Hua Rong asked, "Are you sure you can persuade the Duke of Wei?"
"The old man listens to me in everything now. As long as I can grasp his mind, there is nothing I can't accomplish."
Xue Hui called her personal maid Lian'er and said:
"Go to Duxin Temple and tell the master that my wife has caught a cold and is suffering from a headache.
Let him come back to see me soon. If he is late, he will never be able to enter my room again."
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