Chapter 246 Where to Live? A Standoff Between Ruler and Subject
The Empress Dowager said a few words and then instructed Fanghua to take Ji Qingyuan to the prepared palace to settle down.
Why haven't you arranged a palace for her yet?
Ji Qingwu asked, "Your Majesty, where shall I reside?"
The Empress Dowager said, "Qingwu, sit down first. We can talk about where you're staying later. I'd like to chat with you about everyday things."
Observing the Empress Dowager's expression, Shi Xi led the maids out.
Ji Qingwu had a gut feeling that there was something seriously wrong with what was going to happen later, and it seemed that what the Empress Dowager was about to say to her was a "casual conversation" that could not be heard by outsiders.
As soon as the palace doors closed, the Empress Dowager spoke up: "Qingwu, you no longer need to hide your affair with the Emperor from me."
Ji Qingwu immediately nodded in fear: "So the Empress Dowager already knew."
The Empress Dowager's eyes and tone conveyed a sense of complete confidence.
"You child, what are you hiding with me here?"
Since Emperor Wusu ascended the throne, the Empress Dowager had been trying to place women around the emperor, but the imperial concubine selection in the past two years had chosen women from the families of powerful officials who had contributed to the emperor's rise to power.
The Ji family was the only one missing.
Ji Qingyuan is beautiful but has an unpleasant personality. She finally waited for Ji Qingwu to be found and brought home, but she thought he was useless.
Unexpectedly, things have taken a turn for the better, with Emperor Wusu making an exception.
When the Empress Dowager saw Ji Qingwu again, she felt refreshed and found him pleasing to the eye.
Ji Qingwu pursed her lips, looking troubled.
The Empress Dowager said, "I don't mean to blame you. The Emperor is not my biological son. In the end, he is still estranged from me. If it weren't for your surname Ji, you might have entered this palace long ago."
"The Ji family has been supported by me. I do not want the Ji family to decline after my death."
Ji Qingwu followed the Empress Dowager's tone and pauses, nodding and humming softly at appropriate times, and then sighing at the right moment.
The Empress Dowager's brow furrowed as she said, "Qingwu, can you understand my good intentions?"
Ji Qingwu cooperated fully, nodding immediately with a bitter expression.
The Empress Dowager asked, "Qingwu, what were your thoughts on that day at the Hall of Diligent Governance?"
Ji Qingwu thought she only needed to listen, but she didn't expect that she would have to answer questions herself.
Her eyes flickered, and her answer was ambiguous.
"Your Majesty, I have many thoughts. Such a thing has exceeded my expectations."
The Empress Dowager nodded in agreement: "I couldn't have imagined it either."
"The brother that Consort Wei always relied on was kneeling outside the palace, while my own niece was sitting in the Hall of Diligent Governance. Whenever I think of this scene, I feel relieved."
Ji Qingwu wondered whether he should offer a word of advice.
Your own son, Prince Yong, is also kneeling pitifully outside.
The Empress Dowager seemed to already foresee the glorious rise of the Ji family in the palace, and she was excited about it.
She then pulled Ji Qingwu aside and chatted for quite a while.
Before she knew it, the Empress Dowager had said a lot. Her mouth was dry, so she picked up her teacup, took a sip, and leaned back on her throne.
"I am also tired, you may leave."
Ji Qingwu's back was getting stiff from sitting so long. She stood up and was about to walk out when she stopped.
She turned around and called out, "Your Majesty the Empress Dowager."
The Empress Dowager asked in confusion, "What's wrong?"
Ji Qingwu was even more puzzled than her: "Where would be a suitable place for me to stay?"
The Empress Dowager touched the phoenix hairpin at her temple, glanced at her, and said, "This child, do I need to teach you?"
They wouldn't arrange accommodation for her, nor would they explain why; they wanted her to actively seek out the emperor.
Ji Qingwu pretended to be confused and said, "Your Majesty, I'll go and squeeze in with my fourth sister."
The Empress Dowager felt that her words had been wasted; the child seemed utterly unappealing.
She frowned and said, "Do you even know why you've come to the palace?"
Ji Qingwu clasped his hands in front of him and said cautiously, "I'm here to help the Empress Dowager prepare for her birthday celebration."
*
Morning this morning.
After being demoted two ranks, Wei Ting was petitioned by the Censorate.
"Your Majesty, Lord Wei has been transferred to the position of commander of the vanguard battalion, but he has neglected his duties. In the past two days, many people have seen Lord Wei appearing in a clinic in the city during the day."
Although Wei Ting's gift of Welwitschia mirabilis was rejected, he continued to send flowers, plants, birds, and fish to the clinic every day without interruption.
What was delivered yesterday was a green-haired turtle.
Upon hearing the words "medical clinic," Emperor Wusu shifted his posture slightly. The secret reports sent from all corners of the country in the past few days included information about the medical clinic.
When His Highness Lu Juan caught a glimpse of the Emperor's actions, he couldn't for the first time guess whether the expression indicated happiness or displeasure.
Emperor Wusu asked, "Lord Wei, are you dissatisfied with your position as commander of the vanguard?"
Wei Ting stepped forward with his head held high, cupped his hands and said, "This humble general has been the General Who Guards the North for many years in the northern border region. Suddenly becoming the commander of this Vanguard Battalion is not a good habit, so I often forget that I have this important position. This humble general is getting old and my memory is not good."
As soon as he finished speaking, the hall fell into a deathly silence.
Wei Ting grew increasingly audacious, even daring to challenge the emperor in court.
Emperor Wusu said in a low voice, "Bad memory?"
Wei Ting remained unfazed: "Exactly."
Emperor Wusu lowered his brows, his heavy aura not only falling on Wei Ting but also on every minister standing below.
The officials fell silent; no one dared to step forward and offer advice in the face of the emperor's anger.
At this moment, someone stepped forward.
"Please calm your anger, Your Majesty. This old minister would like to say that General Wei Ting has been fighting on the frontier for a long time and spoke frankly. He did not mean any disrespect to Your Majesty."
When Emperor Wusu saw the person who stepped forward, he was a high-ranking official dressed in purple robes.
"Prime Minister Su, I remember you have no relationship with Lord Wei, so why did you stand up for him?"
Su Fengyue was nearly sixty years old, with graying temples, and looked every bit the upright and honest official.
"This old minister is only on the side of reason. Even if Your Majesty does not agree with it, this old minister still has to say something. We must not discourage the hundreds of thousands of soldiers on the border."
Emperor Wusu's gaze was cold and unsettling as he said, "Everyone says that honest advice is hard to swallow, but is it truly honest advice, or is it because the one who said it is a traitor who has no respect for me?"
The title of "traitor" was too heavy for any of the officials in the court to bear, and even Prime Minister Su Fengyue could not utter another word.
Wei Ting turned around and said, "This humble general is grateful to Lord Su, but there is really no need for him to speak up for me. This humble general believes that justice will prevail."
"What a wonderful saying: Justice resides in the hearts of the people!"
Emperor Wusu waved his sleeves and threw the memorials from the previous discussions onto the gold bricks.
"Wei Ting has acted in a disorderly manner, neglected his duties, shown no loyalty to the emperor, and disregarded the grand plans of the court. He is now demoted to a subordinate officer of the infantry battalion."
The officers under the command of the infantry were city gatekeepers, a minor official of the seventh rank.
After returning to the capital, Wei Ting rose through the ranks from a first-rank military officer to a third-rank vanguard battalion commander, and now he is a seventh-rank city gatekeeper.
It is clear that the relationship between the emperor and his minister had completely fallen apart, and everyone knew that it was because of the power of the military.
Emperor Wusu said coldly, "I hope you will all take this as a warning and be indignant about it!"
Wei Ting looked back at the emperor and said loudly, "Your Majesty, I thank you for your great kindness!"
Emperor Wusu roared, "Court adjourned! Wei Ting, go to the Hall of Diligent Governance to await the imperial decree. Once you have received the decree, report to the city gate."
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