Qi Jingxuan spent the entire night in the Qianqing Palace reading memorials and didn't go anywhere else.
The memorials submitted by the ministers piled up one after another, all concerning how to deal with Consort Jiang. They proposed various ways to reorganize the harem, all things he didn't want to hear. It seemed the ministers of the previous dynasty had significant objections to this matter.
Qi Jingxuan stayed up late into the night and actually fell asleep on the table in the Qianqing Palace. This worried the eunuchs greatly, but they dared not go up to wake him, so they had no choice but to let him sleep until the morning court session.
I don't want to remain silent during the morning court session as usual.
The ministers, one after another, began to advise the emperor.
Jiang Meiren must be dealt with, and we must find out who is behind this.
"Your Majesty, you must give an explanation for this matter. With so many concubines in the harem, if this precedent is set, how will we manage them in the future? And how are we, the ministers, supposed to manage our own wives and concubines?"
"Yes, Your Majesty, just listen to what Lord Zhuo says."
"Your Majesty, this is not merely a family matter, nor is it simply a personal matter. It concerns the dignity of all men in the Great Qi Kingdom. If such matters are not handled seriously within the palace, what will become of us in the future?"
"Yes, Your Majesty, if this is reported back by the envoys of various countries, what will become of the dignity of our Great Qi Kingdom?"
The rhetoric has become increasingly heated, even escalating to the level of several countries.
Qi Jingxuan was furious and slammed his hand on the table. The sound was loud enough to intimidate every court official present. He then overturned the memorials in front of him to the ground.
"What do you mean? Don't I know? Do I need you to remind me? The child in Consort Jiang's belly is mine. She is my woman. Do you think I don't know whether the child is mine or not? I really don't know where you heard this. Rumors always spread everywhere."
After speaking, Qi Jingxuan looked at the ministers below and sneered.
"Heh, could it be that all of you ministers are in my harem? Do you have many spies? Otherwise, how would this matter have reached your ears?"
The ministers below exchanged bewildered glances, unsure what to say. After all, no one wanted to admit to having spies in the palace, even though it was common knowledge. Wasn't that obvious? Many ministers' children were in the palace, either as imperial guards or as their concubines.
It wasn't just about planting a spy by the emperor's side; it could also be about speaking up for one's own family. After all, the influence of one's spouse is the most powerful.
If we are fortunate enough to receive the Emperor's favor, it is not impossible for our family to be revitalized.
"What's wrong? Have you become mute? Why aren't you saying anything? I know how to handle family matters. When did it become your place to interfere? Issue the order: all the ministers who discussed this matter and those who submitted memorials on the ground, line up at the entrance of the Qianqing Palace and receive five strokes of the cane."
The Grand Tutor immediately knelt down and hurriedly pulled General Xu down to kneel as well.
"Your Majesty, you mustn't! You mustn't! Not all the ministers submitted impeachment memorials. If they are punished, wouldn't the entire court be flogged?"
General Xu was very uncomfortable kneeling, and he was fidgeting.
"Hmph, Your Majesty, my Zhang family has served three emperors as loyal ministers, yet today we have suffered such humiliation in this very hall. It seems this old minister is better off resigning! I shall retire and return to my hometown now!"
As he spoke, he immediately took off his official hat, threw down the bamboo plaque he was holding, and strode towards the palace gate.
"If Lord Zhang doesn't want this official position, he should leave as soon as possible. And your family can forget about ever holding office again. We won't force you. Who else wants to leave? If we were to remove your official hats now, we would grant it immediately and not try to stop you." Qi Zhenxuan knew that this decision was indeed influenced by some of his own subjective thoughts.
But there was no other way. Jiang Jinhua was his only remaining family member, and he had to defy public opinion to protect her. Otherwise, what was the point of his life? He could also take this opportunity to rectify the disobedient ministers in court. He also wanted to demonstrate his imperial power; after all, for the past two years since the founding of the dynasty, he had always maintained a good temper to win over the ministers and keep peace on the borders!
Now that the world is at peace and the people live in contentment, there are many things they shouldn't be meddling in, so they should just leave them alone.
"Your Majesty, you mustn't, you mustn't! The court is in dire need of capable people right now," ministers below continued to plead.
However, ever since Qi Jingxuan said those words, no one has brought up the matter of retiring to their hometown.
"Since no one wants to leave, let me explain why I'm doing this. You all know this is a matter within my harem. If it were to spread outside, the whole world would ridicule me and the imperial family would lose face. But Consort Jiang's child is indeed mine. I was drunk and forgot about this. I cannot let Consort Jiang suffer such injustice. I cannot allow the imperial heir to be lost and die unjustly alongside Consort Jiang. Therefore, I have decided that Consort Jiang will give birth properly in the Suqing Palace for a few years, and then be granted a fiefdom and exiled. What do you all think?"
The Grand Tutor stood up from the ground. Hearing such an absurd explanation, he no longer knelt to reply. He stroked his beard and stomped his foot.
"Oh, Your Majesty, so you already had a plan in mind all along. And what are the opinions of us ministers anyway? You can listen if you want, or ignore it if you don't. It doesn't matter. We just need to do our own jobs. The final decision still rests with Your Majesty, doesn't it?" It seems the Grand Tutor is indeed angry; he's starting to puff out his beard and glare as he speaks.
"Grand Tutor is right, the decision rests with me! These past two years since the founding of the nation, all the officials in the court have worked hard, but there are limits to many things. For example, what have you all done? Don't think I don't know! Extorting the people's wealth? Robbing women? You have, haven't you!"
No one in the court spoke, and General Xu kept wiping his sweat with his clothes, his legs trembling involuntarily.
"You'd better keep a low profile for now. Nobody's clean. If I'm not careful, I'll find out about you and you'll be in deep trouble! Mind your own business! The way of an official is to know what to say and what not to say! You don't know anything about official business all day, but you keep an eye on my harem! Keep an eye on how many children I've had. That's outrageous! I am the emperor! I'll remember that."
"Yes! Your Majesty! Long live the Emperor!"
"Minister of Revenue, supervise each of you to write a ten-thousand-word memorial to me overnight, clearly stating your job responsibilities and contributions! I think these people are far too idle!"
After Qi Jingxuan finished speaking, he ignored them. He had been mute for so long, and he had to speak up for the imperial power!
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