WK Chapter 43.2

A few seconds later, she suddenly seemed to realize something and smiled.

 

She was still struggling with whether to accept the Seventh Prince, whether she was truly ready to bear the expectations and affection of the Seventh Prince.

 

Little did she know that from the moment she hesitated, fate had already made the choice for her.

 

She closed her eyes, and when she opened them again, there was only determination in her gaze.

 

“Grind the ink.”

 

Xin Qing ground the ink for her. Consort Xuan picked up the brush and quickly wrote a short letter, rolled it to the size of a little finger, and stuffed it into a small bamboo tube.

 

“The North City Gate Inspection Department is in chaos right now. Have this letter sent out and make sure it’s delivered to the Xie family, you know where.”

 

Xin Qing solemnly agreed: “Rest assured, Your Grace.”

 

Everyone knew about the Inspection Department. Sometimes His Majesty would turn a blind eye for the sake of information flow. It was likely that well-known families had all placed people there, including the Xie family, of course.

 

This was the first letter Her Grace had sent home in five years.

 

–

 

Xie Manor.

 

In olden times, swallows from the Wang and Xie families’ halls flew into ordinary people’s homes.

 

The Xie family in the capital, though not the Xie from the poem, was known for being upright officials.

 

Consort Xuan’s original name was Xie Mingxuan, the late-born daughter of Grand Tutor Xie. She only had one older brother, and was cherished like a pearl by the whole family.

 

However, she had a conflict with Grand Tutor Xie, and after Old Madam Xie passed away, Consort Xuan rarely contacted her family.

 

Now, with a letter suddenly sent out, the current head of the Xie family, Consort Xuan’s brother, Vice Deputy Minister of Works Xie Jingshan, rushed into his father’s room.

 

Grand Tutor Xie was soaking his feet and glared: “What’s the matter, so flustered? Has all the steadiness I taught you gone to the dogs?”

 

“Yes, Father, son was rash,” Xie Jingshan took a few deep breaths, cupped his hands, and spoke in a steady voice, “Sister has sent a letter, just…”

 

“Why didn’t you say your sister’s letter earlier?!”

 

Grand Tutor Xie’s beard fluttered as he jumped out of the foot-soaking bucket with lightning speed, snatching the letter from Xie Jingshan’s hand.

 

Xie Jingshan: “…”

 

He said helplessly: “The letter only asks the Xie family to investigate whether Noble Lady Chu’s brother had contact with anyone in prison, or if anyone had inquired about Noble Lady Chu’s family background, and which consorts in the palace can interfere with the Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review.”

 

Grand Tutor Xie: “Which one is Noble Lady Chu?”

 

Xie Jingshan: “News just came from the palace that Noble Lady Chu tried to poison the Seventh Prince with prohibited items. Though unsuccessful, His Majesty was enraged and decreed the execution of three generations of her family. At tomorrow’s court meeting, the Court of Judicial Review and the Ministry of Justice will discuss this matter in detail.”

 

Hearing this, Grand Tutor Xie fell into thought. He was old now and had retired with honors.

 

The main branch of the Xie family now only had Xie Jingshan in the clean-handed Ministry of Works, while the rest held positions with good reputations but little power.

 

They had a reputation in the capital as an upright official family.

 

But this was also his intention.

 

The current Emperor was too prone to suspicion of high-ranking and powerful officials. When he was in court, he had many disciples, and over time, there was a fear of forming factions.

 

Only by retiring himself, and having family descendants in important but not crucial positions, or even sent to local posts, could there be prospects for advancement without being suppressed.

 

Even so, with the Xie family’s extensive connections, investigating such matters was as easy as turning over one’s hand.

 

Similarly, having been an official for most of his life, he was sensitive to certain things.

 

“Your sister has never recovered from the shock of losing her child. Now that His Majesty wants to choose a mother consort for the Seventh Prince, she’s reaching out to me at this juncture…”

 

Grand Tutor Xie and Xie Jingshan exchanged a glance.

 

Xie Jingshan: “Sister wants to adopt the Seventh Prince!”

 

“But adopting a prince, if the Seventh Prince wants to compete for power in the future, our Xie family would naturally stand on his side. Father, this is different from your initial idea of not taking sides.”

 

Grand Tutor Xie pinched the note, hands behind his back, walking barefoot around the room for two rounds.

 

Xie Jingshan looked at the wet footprints on the floor, wanting to speak but hesitating.

 

“Actually, it would be more normal for the Sword-Bearing Marquis’s family to make a move in this matter.”

 

“Hmph, how long has it been since Old Madam Hou entered the palace? If the Hou family reacts every time something happens to the Seventh Prince, once is fine, it can be seen as backing him up, but every time… The old marquis is still in the northern frontier, how do you think His Majesty will view this, as a threat?”

 

Grand Tutor Xie sighed: “It’s not appropriate for Old Madam Hou to act, but we can give her the information and see how she responds.”

 

Xie Jingshan: “And us?”

 

Grand Tutor Xie threw the note into the charcoal brazier, and the flames leapt up.

 

“The Xie family isn’t so afraid of trouble. If your sister can move on, adopting the Seventh Prince isn’t out of the question.”

 

“This matter, investigate it!”

 

–

 

The capital gathered all the power holders of the entire Da Zhou.

 

Those who could survive in the capital, under the emperor’s feet, all had some skills, more or less.

 

The Seventh Prince was again a hot topic in court.

 

Recently, all major events were related to the Seventh Prince, and the court officials were almost numb to it. One by one, they bought milk tea to stay alert before entering the palace, finishing it on the way and placing the containers on the high rack outside the hall—

 

Ever since drinking a cup of hot milk tea daily became an unconscious habit, Emperor Chongzhao had specially set up a rack at the entrance for them to place their bamboo cup holders.

 

For no other reason than that after drinking milk tea, these officials could be more energetic and speak louder during court sessions.

 

Civil and military officials lined up on both sides, heads bowed, waiting for the emperor to hold court.

 

They waited and waited, the time already exceeding the normal time by a quarter of an hour.

 

Everyone had been secretly gossiping, saying how so-and-so official was punished by his wife to kneel on a washboard yesterday, how so-and-so official caught someone in adultery at a Taoist temple a few days ago and was so angry he vomited blood, still bedridden, and so on. Some were even pulling on opposite sides of a paper, playing Gomoku on it.

 

Now they were all puzzled: Why hasn’t His Majesty arrived yet? Is this morning court session still happening? If it doesn’t start soon, they might as well go home.

 

After a while longer, there was finally movement at the front.

 

The officials hurriedly tidied their clothes, only to see a huge screen appear first, almost covering the area around the dragon throne, including the side passages.

 

Then, they saw His Majesty’s extremely blurred figure. He seemed to be holding something in his arms, passing behind the screen and sitting on the dragon throne.

 

Several palace servants carried wooden trays, placing something unknown on the table, but it smelled quite fragrant, probably food.

 

How strange.

 

His Majesty never ate during court sessions, at most he would drink tea.

 

Today, with the screen and snacks, what was going on?

 

Head Eunuch Yu cleared his throat: “Court is in—” His voice paused, suddenly dropping in tone, “session.”

 

The officials: “…”

 

Suppressing their puzzlement, they cupped their hands and bowed, “Greetings to Your Majesty!”

 

Their voices were loud and resonant.

 

Emperor Chongzhao frowned. These officials usually ate too well, that’s why their voices were so loud.

 

He looked down at the sleeping child in his arms, who was in a deep sleep and hadn’t been awakened by the noise.

 

Once this child fell ill, he couldn’t be separated from him. He had stayed up all night with the imperial physicians taking care of him. When it was time to get up for the morning court session, the child had tightly gripped his arm, his mouth biting his hair, refusing to let go no matter what.

 

There were only two ways to rescue his hair: first, cut it off; second, bring the little brat to court.

 

The body, hair, and skin are received from one’s parents, and unless for natural disasters, loss of country, or national mourning, an emperor cannot cut his hair. He struggled with Qu Dubian for quite a while, but couldn’t pull it out no matter what. Last night’s scene was truly frightening, and Emperor Chongzhao didn’t dare to provoke him awake again.

 

The mighty emperor bowed his head in defeat.

 

Wrapping the child in a small blanket, he brought him to court.

 

Emperor Chongzhao, now sitting on the dragon throne, still felt as if he were in a dream.

 

If he could go back in time, he really wanted to slap himself on the head. Why did he have to choose Noble Lady Chu of all people? It had only been two days, and he was already back to the grueling days of caring for Xiao Qi when he first fell ill.

 

He touched his own dark circles and sighed.

 

How long had it been since he felt relaxed?

 

General Zhao, the Commander of the Imperial Guards, stepped forward, “Reporting to Your Majesty, yesterday this official has arrested Noble Lady Chu’s relatives in the capital. They are now detained in the Ministry of Justice, awaiting punishment.”

 

Qu Dubian stirred.

 

Emperor Chongzhao immediately covered his ears. After waiting for a while and seeing him settle down, he breathed a slight sigh of relief.

 

If the child were to cry out during court, and he had to comfort him as he did in Zichen Palace, his image of being wise and mighty would probably no longer exist. He didn’t even dare to imagine how the history books would record it.

 

His voice carried a hint of gritted teeth.

 

“General Zhao, you seem to have eaten quite well, speaking so loudly.”

 

Hearing this, General Zhao laughed heartily, cupped his hands, and said with a sincere and grateful expression: “It’s all thanks to Your Majesty’s benevolence, allowing us to drink milk tea in the palace. Once this enters the mouth, all hunger disappears, hahaha!”

 

“Fellow officials, don’t you agree? We have more and more energy for work now!”

 

Qu Dubian became annoyed: “Ah ah, Father is so noisy, Father is so noisy…”

 

Emperor Chongzhao quickly covered his little son’s mouth and said to the Commander: “Beloved official, please be quiet for me, if you hurt your throat it would be… very… bad.”

 

These words were almost squeezed out through his teeth.

 

General Zhao became as quiet as a chicken, his voice as faint as a mosquito: “Yes.”

 

He returned to his place, and the court fell into an awkward silence.

 

The Court Recorder deeply held his forehead. He understood less and less about court sessions. Every day, he had to record the facts while also embellishing them. Didn’t anyone care about his hair?

 

They were all working people, whose life wasn’t a life?

 

He picked up his brush and wrote:

 

[On X day, General Zhao said at court: His Majesty shows consideration for the officials with the new drink!

 

The Emperor said: Your voice is loud, you must have eaten well.

 

General Zhao laughed heartily and said: This is due to His Majesty’s benevolence.

 

The Emperor said: You may lower your voice, lest you hurt your throat.

 

General Zhao happily returned to his place.

 

All officials were envious.]

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