Chapter 111 Worthless Face
The following morning, Marquis Pei Zhongyuan of Zhenbei, travel-worn, went to the palace to report.
"Your Majesty, I, Pei Zhongyuan, pay my respects! The northern border has been pacified, Helian Bobo has been executed, and the Northern Kingdom's court no longer exists. I have returned to the capital to report!"
Yuwen Che looked approving: "Marquis Zhenbei, you have worked hard. This battle is a great victory, which enhances our national prestige. I am very pleased. The detailed battle report will be sent later. I will not be stingy with the rewards."
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Pei Zhongyuan bowed and stepped back to stand in the row of military officers.
Just then, an elderly censor with white hair and beard stepped forward, holding a jade tablet, and said in a loud voice: "Your Majesty! This old minister has a memorial to present!"
Yuwen Che's expression remained unchanged: "Speak."
The old censor took a deep breath: "I have heard that His Majesty intends to send many of the concubines out of the palace, and even... even wants to announce their sudden deaths! Your Majesty, this is a matter that shakes the foundation of the nation! The imperial offspring are a matter of national importance, how can it be treated so lightly? I beg Your Majesty to rescind your order!"
As soon as he took the lead, several other ministers followed suit and echoed his sentiments.
"Your Majesty, please reconsider!"
"How can the concubines in the palace be dismissed at will? It's against all propriety!"
As Yuwen Che listened to their back-and-forth conversation, his expression grew cold. Only after the noise subsided did he slowly speak:
"This is my family matter and has nothing to do with you ministers."
These words left the assembled officials speechless. The old censor, unwilling to give up, turned his gaze to the Marquis of Zhenbei, who had just distinguished himself and stood at the forefront of the military officers. As if grasping at a straw, he hurriedly said:
"My lord! General Zhenbei! You...you are highly respected and have just returned in triumph. You...you must say something! Advise His Majesty!"
Pei Zhongyuan was taken aback when he was suddenly called upon. He had just returned to the capital and was not entirely clear on what had happened, but instinctively felt that His Majesty's actions were somewhat... shocking. He moved his lips, about to say something out of a subject's duty.
Standing beside him, Pei Xuan, quick-witted and nimbly, subtly tugged at his father's sleeve.
Pei Zhongyuan instantly understood, swallowing back the words that were on the tip of his tongue. He feigned just the right amount of bewilderment and helplessness, and shrugged at the old censor:
"Well... I just returned to the capital today, and after a long and tiring journey, I came to court without even having a sip of water. I have no idea what happened in the palace! I... I don't know anything about the situation, so what can I say?"
His words were perfectly reasonable, effectively shutting down the old censor. The old censor, seeing his "I know nothing, don't ask me" expression, was so angry his beard trembled, yet he was helpless.
Yuwen Che, sitting on the dragon throne, took in Pei Xuan's little actions, a hint of a smile flashing in his eyes.
Seeing that the Marquis of Zhenbei wouldn't respond and that His Majesty's attitude was so firm, the old minister steeled himself and knelt down, banging his head on the ground, and began to act like a rogue, his voice trembling with tears.
"Your Majesty! If you insist on doing this...this shocking thing, how can this old minister...this old minister have the face to meet the late emperor in the afterlife! The empire entrusted to him by the late emperor, this old minister has failed to fulfill his duty to advise him. Perhaps...perhaps this old minister should just kill himself right here in this hall!"
As he spoke, he made a move to crash into the dragon pillar next to him. Several ministers nearby pretended to stop him, and the court was thrown into chaos.
Yuwen Che, watching this farce, was not angry at all; instead, he found it somewhat amusing. He leaned forward slightly, resting his elbows on the imperial desk, and looking at the old minister who was threatening suicide, he spoke slowly with a hint of mockery:
"I don't understand what you're saying, my dear minister."
His voice suddenly turned cold, carrying a hint of sharpness:
"Back then, foreign enemies repeatedly invaded the borders of our Great Wall. When the late emperor was in power, you were helpless and almost lost even half of this country. At that time, I did not see any of you feel ashamed or unworthy to face the late emperor, nor did I see any of you want to atone with your deaths."
His gaze swept over the officials blocking the old minister's way, finally settling on the old minister himself, his tone mocking:
"How can you feel so ashamed that you have lost face and have no right to face the late Emperor, and even want to die, just because I have merely sent away a few insignificant concubines whom I have barely met?"
He sneered, "Your face is far too worthless; your life is worthless to the late emperor's empire, but it's precious to my harem?"
These words, a barrage of both criticism and barbs, were like resounding slaps to the face, leaving the old minister red-faced and frozen in place, unsure whether to respond or not, wishing he could disappear into the ground. The entire court was also stunned by the Emperor's words, falling into complete silence.
Marquis Pei Zhongyuan of Zhenbei was an upright military general who had often suffered verbal sparring with these old men. Hearing His Majesty's extremely sharp retort and seeing the old minister frozen in place, caught in a dilemma, he almost burst out laughing on the spot. He quickly lowered his head, covered his mouth with his fist, and barely managed to suppress his laughter.
Yuwen Che looked down at the old minister who had stopped shouting and banging his head against the pillar, and asked calmly, "Not banging it anymore?"
The old minister's face turned pale and then red, and he stammered, unable to speak.
Yuwen Che didn't bother with him anymore and stood up directly: "Li Dehai, court adjourned."
"Dismiss the court!" Li Dehai announced loudly.
Yuwen Che turned and left, leaving behind a hall full of ministers with varying expressions.
Seeing that His Majesty had left, the old minister, seething with anger, rushed up to the Marquis of Zhenbei, who was about to depart, and pointed at him, shouting, "You! You! You! You! Pei Zhongyuan! Why didn't you say a word in his defense?! You are a pillar of the state!"
Marquis Zhenbei was speechless at his unreasonable argument. His straightforward temper flared up, and he glared at him, saying, "What did I say? It's not my lady who's being sent away, what does it have to do with me!"
He sized up the old minister and sneered, "What? You can't persuade His Majesty yourself, so you want to drag me down with your newly earned military merits? Dream on! At my age, how many more military merits can I earn? You think you can trick me? No way!"
The old minister was so angered by his blunt words that he shouted, "Pei Zhongyuan..."
Marquis Zhenbei interrupted him directly, "Didn't you say you were ashamed to face the late Emperor? Then you'd better calm down quickly, lest you catch your breath again..."
"Hmph... You're even rougher-looking than me, yet you dream big."
Having said that, he was too lazy to pay any more attention to the unreasonable old man and called to his son beside him, "Xuan'er, let's go!"
Pei Xuan suppressed a laugh and quickly followed his father, the two of them leaving the place of trouble. The old minister was trembling with anger, standing there helplessly.
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