46. A copy of Consort Shu's book
Jinlanyue's boudoir.
"Moon, look, your big brother is back. Let him stay with you for a while, okay? Mommy and Daddy have some things to discuss." Jiang Xiyue carried her daughter back to bed and gently tucked her in.
“Okay~” Jin Lanyue nodded obediently.
Jiang Xiyue turned to Jin Qizhi, who had just finished school and rushed over upon hearing the news, and instructed him, "Take good care of your younger sister. Your parents will be right back."
Jin Qizhi nodded and sat down next to the little dumpling's bed.
The two children watched the two adults leave.
After the door closed gently, Jin Qizhi leaned closer to his younger sister and asked in a low voice, "Yue'er, besides telling Xiaobai to beat up, what else did Consort Shu say to you?"
Although the older brother, who is only ten years old, has a calm personality, he is not yet very experienced.
His expression at that moment revealed undisguised worry and heartache.
The little dumpling hugged a soft pillow, its face looking especially innocent in the candlelight: "They said so much..."
Jin Qizhi's fingers unconsciously tightened around the corner of the blanket: "What...what did they say?"
"Hmm..." The little dumpling tilted its head and recalled, "So many... but Yue'er didn't understand..."
She wrinkled her little nose: "She's acting so fierce, is she scolding Yue'er?"
Jin Qizhi's tense shoulders relaxed instantly, and he let out a soft breath: "That's good... Maybe she was just talking nonsense. How could anyone not like our Yue'er, who is so cute?"
The little dumpling was happy again, its little tail wagging: "Hehe~ Big brother is cute too!"
“Moon is the cutest,” Jin Qizhi smiled, reaching out to tidy up his sister’s stray hairs. “Go to sleep, your brother will stay here with you.”
“But Su Yue’er can’t sleep…” The little dumpling lay on the bed, her big, grape-like eyes staring longingly at him.
"How about I tell Yue'er a story?"
"Okay, okay! Big brother Xie Xie!"
"You're welcome. What would you like to hear, Moon?"
"We want the Seven Fairies!"
"Okay. A long, long time ago..."
-
Under the porch
Jiang Xiyue gripped the handkerchief tightly in her hand: "What a concubine! How dare she humiliate my daughter like this!"
Marquis Beiding's face was frighteningly gloomy, his fists clenched so tightly they cracked: "To say such things in front of a three-year-old child is simply outrageous!"
When the incident occurred in the palace, there were too many people involved and a large number of onlookers.
With a little inquiry, anyone interested can learn the whole story.
Qu Zijin learned everything from the palace servants, and the Marquis of Beiding learned everything from him, and then told Jiang Xiyue.
The two were already furious after hearing the initial brief report, but their anger intensified after learning the truth in detail.
"We absolutely cannot let this go!" Jiang Xiyue said indignantly.
Marquis Beiding sneered, "Even if my wife hadn't said anything, I would have done it anyway. Tomorrow at the morning court, I will definitely impeach her and her family!"
Jiang Xiyue turned to look at her daughter's bedroom window. The candlelight cast her eldest son's shadow, as he coaxed his younger sister, onto the window paper: "How dare she? My Yue'er is still so young..."
“Precisely because she is still young,” Marquis Beiding said in a deep voice, gently holding her hand, “we must let those people know that if they dare to harm my child, they will pay the price.”
-
Consort Shu, née Qi, whose maiden name was Xun Yuan, was the daughter of a Vice Minister of the Ministry of War.
The next day.
In the imperial court.
Marquis Beiding stepped forward, holding a jade tablet, his voice steady and powerful: "Your subject has a memorial to present. Consort Shu, née Qi, condoned palace servants committing violence and showed contempt for imperial authority; her family members have also committed numerous illegal acts..."
He presented a thick stack of memorials: "Please take a look, Your Majesty."
Marquis Beiding was always kind to others, but at this moment he suddenly stood up and impeached someone, and the one who was the only consort who had given birth to a prince, as well as her family. This surprised the court officials, who began to whisper among themselves.
Consort Shu's father, the Vice Minister of War, also looked rather unpleasant, not flustered, but rather impatient.
The court officials standing here were more or less aware of what had happened yesterday, but they did not expect that the Marquis of Beiding would stand up and confront the Consort Shu's family head-on.
After all, in their eyes, Consort Shu was wrong yesterday, but she is still the mother of the young prince, and most likely the future Empress Dowager and the birth mother of the next emperor.
From any perspective, going against the Consort Shu's family was unwise—no, it was downright irrational.
Besides, didn't the Emperor already punish Consort Shu yesterday? What's the point of her jumping out to impeach this one as well?
It might even anger the emperor, which would be a huge loss.
Therefore, many people think that the Marquis of Beiding may have gone mad.
However, given his good interpersonal relationships, some officials began to advise him that it was not too late to change his tune.
However, the Marquis of Beiding ignored him and stubbornly carried the memorial forward.
Wei Xiuming accepted it without saying a word or showing any expression.
Everyone lowered their heads, unable to bear to watch any longer—
Why bother?
"They really won't turn back until they hit a brick wall."
"Is it to seek justice for his youngest daughter? But His Majesty has already punished her, why keep making a fuss?"
"Isn't it said that his Lady Fukang is a lucky star and a filial daughter? I think the Marquis of Beiding's mansion is going to be in trouble because of this 'lucky star' and 'filial daughter'."
People expressed their regret, helplessness, or schadenfreude.
But everyone's attention was focused on His Majesty.
Wei Xiuming took the memorial and his face grew increasingly grim as he read it.
Suddenly, he slammed the memorial shut: "How dare you!"
The Vice Minister of War revealed a smug look: "Did you hear that? Marquis of Beiding, how dare you overestimate yourself and oppose me."
He was smug and mocked, "Your Lady Fukang's good reputation seems to be all show and no substance. Not only have you not gained any benefits, but you're also going to ruin your future."
Marquis Beiding looked at him coldly: "The matter is not yet settled. Isn't the Vice Minister of War getting too smug?"
“It’s already quite obvious which side His Majesty will stand on,” the Vice Minister of War said in a low voice, his tone sarcastic. “You don’t actually think you can win, do you?”
Marquis Beiding remained silent, only looking at the emperor on the high seat.
Beneath the nine-dragon crown, no one could see his expression; only the young emperor's cold voice could be heard—
"Issue my decree."
All the court officials bowed and listened attentively.
"Consort Shu, née Qi, is arrogant and domineering, and her words and deeds are improper, which is unbecoming of the imperial family. She is stripped of her power to assist in the management of the six palaces, her title is revoked, and her confinement is extended to one year."
"His father, Qi Chongyi, the Vice Minister of War, was guilty of embezzlement and bribery, and his private conduct was flawed. He has been suspended from his post pending investigation!"
The entire court fell silent for a moment.
Many court officials were so shocked that they forgot their manners and looked up in astonishment.
After a short while, everyone bowed down.
"The court session is adjourned for today. Court is dismissed." The emperor rose from his throne and left.
The eunuch drawled, "Court adjourned—"
As soon as the emperor left, the court was in an uproar.
"Impossible! This is impossible!" The Vice Minister of War was filled with disbelief as he was forcibly dragged away by the guards. His shouts grew louder and louder until they disappeared from sight.
Marquis Beiding smiled again and shouted at him, "It's already very obvious which side His Majesty will stand on. You don't actually think you can win, do you? Hahahaha, so satisfying!"
He was immediately surrounded by the crowd, who were all puzzled and asked him a barrage of questions.
"No, how did you do that?"
"This shouldn't be happening..."
"Why is His Majesty on your side, and not on the Qi family's side?"
"You didn't write something extraordinary in your memorial to the throne, did you?"
In response, Marquis Beiding shrugged and said, "Nothing special was written. I just impeached people the way the Censorate usually does."
"As for why His Majesty is on my side, it's actually because—" He drawled, whetting everyone's appetite, then shrugged, his smile arrogant, "to be honest, I don't know either, haha ...
He laughed loudly and went out the door, leaving behind a group of people looking at each other in bewilderment.
"Something's not right, is it?"
"I don't know..."
"What an amazing plot twist..."
"This can't be! How could this happen?"
"Could his Lady Fukang really be a reincarnation of a lucky star?"
"It seems... that's the only possibility?"
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