Chapter 211 Favored but Holding the Wrong Hand
Emperor Wusu's tone did not show any anger.
His clear voice contained a barely perceptible hoarseness.
"The Northern Li people value martial prowess, hoping to intimidate other countries in times of chaos, not to encourage you to engage in martial arts battles."
This time, before Zhao Minghong could speak, Wei Ting spoke first.
"This humble general is guilty, please punish me, Your Majesty."
Prince Yong cursed the man inwardly as a cunning old fox, and said a beat too late, "Your Majesty, I know I was wrong. Please punish me."
Separated by a curtain, Ji Qingwu felt a little hungry. She looked at the various sweet pastries in front of her but dared not touch them. She held her breath and listened to the voices in the hall.
Upon hearing their apologies, Emperor Wusu said, "General Wei, please get up."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Wei Ting stood up and glared at Zhao Minghong, who was still kneeling on the ground.
Emperor Wusu tapped his long fingers on the table and said leisurely, "My good-for-nothing younger brother has always liked to cause trouble since he was a child. Today, he provoked you first, so he was in the wrong."
Wei Ting noticed something, paused, and bowed, replying, "Your Majesty, although the Prince started this matter, I am also at fault and should not have attacked the Prince."
Wei Ting originally had a way to avoid this chaos, but when he heard Prince Yong shouting that Ji Qingwu was not allowed to marry him, and saying that he was not good enough for his fifth cousin.
All the gloomy mood he had accumulated over the past few days was stirred up and ignited by Prince Yong.
Emperor Wusu nodded, a smile curving his lips.
But with a deep chill in his eyes, he said, "General Wei knows he is wrong, yet he knowingly commits a crime and attacks a member of the imperial family. What is his intention? Does he also have grievances against me?"
Wei Ting knelt down again, a look of surprise flashing in his eyes, and said, "This humble general dares not."
The two men stared at each other, and Emperor Wusu said sternly, "You say you wouldn't dare, yet you dared to fight with the prince in front of the Golden Palace. Your audacity is simply outrageous!"
Hearing his cold tone, Ji Qingwu, who was in the inner room, felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end.
Wei Ting lay prone on the ground, his palms resting on the gold bricks, his fingers making a tapping sound.
Emperor Wusu's gaze moved from his bowed back to his hands.
Wei Ting said, "Your Majesty is wise and surely knows that I have no resentment towards you. Today's events are not solely my fault. It was Prince Yong who went too far, leading his men to surround me after court. I was only trying to protect myself and had no intention of disrespecting Your Majesty."
As soon as he finished speaking, Emperor Wusu swept the plate of snacks that was on the corner of the table to the ground.
The celadon dish shattered into pieces, and some pastries rolled down to Prince Yong's feet.
Zhao Minghong caught a glimpse of the Longjing tea pastry with its crust chipped off, and immediately lowered his head even further.
Wei Ting remained calm and said nothing more.
"Li Yuzong, draft the imperial edict!"
The only sound that could be heard in the hall was Emperor Wusu's suppressed anger.
When Ji Qingwu heard clearly what the emperor's decree was, she sat up abruptly from the couch, her eyes widening in shock.
The tea on the large sandalwood table in front of the emperor was still warm.
In just a short while, Wei Ting, the outstanding General of the Northern Garrison, was demoted and demoted two ranks to the position of Commander of the Vanguard Battalion.
However, Prince Yong only imposed a lenient punishment of deducting half a year's salary.
What shocked Ji Qingwu the most was that the rewards and punishments were so unclear, which was not like Emperor Wusu's style of doing things.
Even she, a woman who knew nothing about politics, could foresee that this decree would surely cause a great uproar in the court.
It might give people grounds to say that the emperor favors his own brother and is harsh on the General of the North, or that the emperor is afraid of Wei Ting's great achievements and is using this as an excuse to suppress him.
Regardless of the outcome, the result will chill the hearts of the soldiers in the North.
Wei Ting and Prince Yong were driven out of the Qin Zheng Hall together.
Zhao Minghong was not gloating over Wei Ting's demotion; he was still in shock.
In his memory, his elder brother had never been so "favoring" him. Whenever he caused trouble, his brother would always punish him the most severely.
Wei Ting calmly accepted the decree in the hall and did not argue further.
But as soon as he stepped out of the palace, he pointed at Prince Yong's nose and said sarcastically, "Your Highness should be careful from now on."
Zhao Minghong: "What do you mean?"
Wei Ting said, "Every time I see you from now on, I will beat you up!"
To the palace servants, it appeared that the two had become sworn enemies, and that General Wei was dissatisfied with His Majesty's treatment.
Tao Wanyin was still standing on the steps at the door.
Zhao Minghong shouted at Wei Ting's retreating figure, "Do you think I'm afraid of a mere vanguard battalion commander like you!"
Wei Ting's back stiffened, his fists clenched, but he did not cause any trouble at the entrance of the Qin Zheng Hall and strode away.
Zhao Minghong took a few steps toward Tao Wanyin and asked, "What are you doing standing here?"
Tao Wanyin said, "The Emperor summoned me here, but has not yet granted me permission to return."
Zhao Minghong stared intently at her face, but said sarcastically, "In front of me, you refer to yourself as I am, is this the rule that the Princess Consort has always been so proud of?"
Tao Wanyin avoided his gaze and said softly, "The Emperor did not blame me for the Tao family's affairs and spared my life. I am already content."
Zhao Minghong frowned and said, "The Emperor spared your life because you are my princess consort and because you are carrying my child. Do you understand?"
Tao Wanyin waited outside the palace for so long, but Ji Qingwu did not come out.
Women are sensitive and perceptive. This is the Hall of Diligent Governance, where the emperor handles state affairs and meets with court officials. Even the concubines in the harem cannot stay there for long.
She said fairly, "I think it's Qingwu's doing."
Prince Yong was so focused on Tao Wanyin that he didn't even notice Ji Qingwu, who was deliberately avoiding them.
Zhao Minghong was in pain all over his body. His knees, which he had been kneeling for so long, were the least serious injury. The most serious injuries were caused by Wei Ting's underhanded tactics.
That damned vanguard battalion commander! He's a cunning bastard; he gave him many hidden injuries.
Zhao Minghong was beaten and forced to kneel, but he still didn't get any good out of Tao Wanyin.
He roared in exasperation, "What does it have to do with her!"
Sensing his anger, Tao Wanyin's face turned even paler. Emperor Wusu had told her to restrain Prince Yong; how could she possibly do that?
She had never done it before.
Now, without any family to rely on, she felt increasingly insecure in front of Prince Yong, so she lowered her eyes and remained silent.
Li Yuzong came out of the hall and walked up to the two men.
"Greetings, Your Highness and Your Highness."
Upon seeing that it was Chief Eunuch Li from the Emperor's presence, Zhao Minghong regained his composure and said, "No need for formalities, what brings you here, Eunuch Li?"
Li Yuzong said, "This old servant has come to convey the Emperor's decree that, effective immediately, the Princess Consort of Yong may move out of Anle Hall and return to the Prince Yong's residence to await childbirth."
The anger in Zhao Minghong's eyes was instantly replaced by joy, and he excitedly grasped Li Yuzong's hand.
Li Yuzong: "Your Highness, did you shake hands with the wrong person...?"
Zhao Minghong glanced back at Tao Wanyin and noticed that she didn't share his joy, so his smile faded.
Li Yuzong then said, "His Majesty also said..."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
