Chapter 134: Sister And Brother
Yue Tang smiled a little: “Otherwise?”
The Emperor turned his head to look at the window. At this time, because the stove was burning inside the room, the window was already half open.
Through this gap about a foot wide, the daylight illuminated his face a bit brighter, his thick and long eyebrows and deep eyes, with contours outlined very clearly.
“To tell the truth, I used to think the same.” He lowered his head slightly, eyes looking at the two cups of tea in front of him. “When setting off from Jiangling to return to the capital back then, I was full of anticipation, excited only because I could finally reunite with Father Emperor.
“But after returning, what awaited me was Father Emperor’s cold corpse, the chaotic inner palace, the previous dynasty with everyone harboring their own thoughts, and this vast kingdom.
“Although I had long known that Father Emperor had special expectations for me, I never thought I would take charge of the kingdom so soon.
“I was filled with fear and trepidation, afraid that a hasty, rash decision would cause irreparable damage.
“So in handling state affairs, I cannot but rely on a group of capable ministers. Prince Jingyang was left to me by Father Emperor, so I naturally trust him unconditionally.
“Besides him, the force I am most familiar with is the Mu Family.
“It is a fact that the Mu Family has merit in acting as regent these years, but probably because I delegated too much power, it has also caused some bad consequences.
“This incident proves that my indulgence is not only unhelpful to the stability of the Imperial Court, unhelpful to the decorum of our Imperial Family, but also unhelpful to the Mu Family.”
The Emperor said this, gazing at her intently: “Elder Cousin was personally taught by Father Emperor and Mother Empress, with literary and martial skills not inferior to men.
“Apart from our blood relation as cousins, we also share the fate of bearing the same calamity on the same month and day, so we should naturally be closer than others.
“As family that cannot write two ‘Yue’ characters with one stroke, as Imperial Family members, and even more as sister and brother, now, Younger Brother wants to hear a truthful word from Elder Sister. Do you really think that I should still allow the Mu Family to be arrogant because of ‘grace’?”
Lan Qin, waiting under the door, heard this and couldn’t help but glance inside the room.
What the Emperor had said all along made his meaning very clear. Even though the Mu Family was his maternal clan, he had not developed a rift with the Mu Family due to Mu Shuyun’s death, nor harbored resentment toward Yue Tang.
But the Mu Family’s ten years of raising the Emperor could not be disregarded by anyone.
If the Emperor ignored it completely, he would risk being reviled by the world as ungrateful, burning bridges after crossing the river, cold and heartless.
So his question hid a sharp point.
Yue Tang naturally wanted a million times to nod along with his words, but if she really said it, then if the Mu Family side couldn’t hold steady in the future, the risk that arose would inevitably have to be borne by her.
Mu Shuyun was already a lesson from the past.
Yue Tang held the cup and smiled slightly: “Imperial Uncle and Imperial Aunt treated me as their own, doting on me greatly. No matter what decision the Emperor makes, I firmly support it.
“Speaking of the Mu Family, I suddenly remembered something.
“I wonder if the Emperor has heard that on the day of interrogating the Mu Family, the Mu Family’s guards also collided with the Imperial City Department yamen, and were caught red-handed by Prince Jingyang who happened to be inspecting the yamen?”
The Emperor paused, then nodded: “I know. However, Prince Jingyang has not submitted the petition to me in the past few days.”
“Exactly,” Yue Tang said. “The captured guards are still held in prison, and the petition accusing the Mu Family of allowing their slaves to act arrogantly and collide with the royal guards is still at the Censorate.
“Back then, Imperial Uncle allowed Prince Duan’s Mansion this branch to permanently take charge of the Imperial City Department. Now that I have taken charge of the mansion, I cannot ignore the affairs of the Imperial City Department.
“It happens that I must request the Emperor: how should this case be handled?”
One sentence made the Emperor fall silent.
Yue Tang did not urge him, just slowly sipping the fragrant tea in her hand.
The Emperor had already acted against Mu Shuyun; no matter what, this thorn was stuck in Mu Chang’s heart.
Now, if he wanted to win over Yue Tang—or rather, thoroughly win over Yan Bei—he would have to issue an edict to investigate and pursue the Mu Family’s charge of indulging their slaves.
And if he did so, then how he would treat the Mu Family next—whether to continue indulging them out of gratitude for raising him, or to start reining in power from then on— the answer would be evident in his decision.
The Mu Family had held power these years, with soaring ambitions and a greatly expanded appetite; having one Mu Shuyun granted death only put them in a rage.
They naturally dared not openly blame the Emperor, but if the Emperor pursued punishment again over the Imperial City Department matter, it would undoubtedly push Mu Chang further away.
At that point, even if the Emperor was unwilling to curb the Mu Family, he would have to curb them.
Whatever actions the Mu Family took in the future, the Emperor would have to bear it himself, and could absolutely not blame Yue Tang.
But if he did not punish them, wouldn’t that just show that his determination to deal with the Mu Family was not that firm?
The air in the hall seemed to stagnate into silence.
Yue Tang finished one cup of tea, then lifted the pot to add more for the Emperor, and also for herself.
After a long while, the charcoal fire in the small stove had gradually dimmed, and the water in the copper pot once again made a loud gurgling sound.
The Emperor slowly inhaled, lifted his head: “The Grand Tutor, as one of the Three Dukes, yet fails to set an example as a minister, has not taught his daughter properly and has not managed his household strictly; how to judge the crime should naturally follow the rules.”
Yue Tang looked at him: “Then does the Emperor mean to issue an edict to the Censorate?”
The Emperor stood up, strode to the side of the desk, picked up the brush, wrote a few lines on the laid-out paper, then held the seal with both hands to stamp it, took it and walked back to his original seat.
“This imperial edict to the Censorate will not be mounted separately; trouble Elder Cousin to convey it on my behalf.”
Yue Tang took it and read it, then stood and bowed: “Thank you, Your Majesty, for standing up for this minister’s daughter.”
The Emperor gazed deeply at her: “Although it is only docking pay for a year and ordering reflection, it should surely indicate my attitude.
“Elder Cousin, you should believe Younger Brother now, right?”
“Your Majesty is too serious.” Yue Tang stood up, rolled up the imperial edict. “This minister’s daughter not only never doubted the Emperor, on the contrary, now this minister’s daughter is single-handedly supporting the family, and must request the Emperor to take more care of Prince Duan’s Mansion.”
“It should be so.” The Emperor said deeply. “In the future, if Younger Brother has difficulties, I hope Elder Sister will show some understanding.
“This minister’s daughter receives imperial salary, for the court’s kingdom, I would not hesitate to die ten thousand times.”
Yue Tang bowed deeply again. Then said: “Since there is an imperial order, I dare not delay. Please allow me to take my leave first, Your Majesty.”
The Emperor watched her retreat step by step to under the door, withdrew his gaze after she stepped past the door curtain, picked up the bowl of cold broth on the desk again, and sipped it sip by sip.
The palace maid stepped forward: “Eating cold food all the time is not good.”
“No matter.” He gazed wistfully at the place ahead untouched by daylight. “Eating cold food will only make me more awake.”
The palace maid sighed: “Then how should this servant advise you?”
“No need to advise.” He put down the bowl, his freed right hand gently pinching the palace maid’s hand. “I know what to do.”
……
After leaving Zichen Hall, Yue Tang did not speak all the way.
She held the imperial edict in hand, her eyes as dark as the gray-black stone bricks under her feet, yet occasionally flickering with a few points of light, like icicles under the eaves.
Lan Qin followed closely behind her until stepping onto the long covered walkway leading to the palace gate; she quickened two steps to catch up: “Princess, Miss Shen is ahead.”
Only then did Yue Tang slow her steps, casting her gaze on the person walking toward her.
“Princess.”
Shen Yizhu arrived before her, gracefully bowed in salute. When she raised her head to meet Yue Tang’s eyes, a thin blush floated on her cheeks.
“Miss Shen.” Yue Tang smiled a little. “You alone, where are you going?”
Shen Yizhu lightly pursed her lips, slowly stepping forward half a step: “This minister’s daughter heard that the Princess entered the palace, and specially waited here for the Princess.”
“Waiting for me?” Yue Tang’s laugh rose a bit higher.
Shen Yizhu nodded, pulling a handkerchief from her sleeve: “That day in the small garden, I accidentally picked up this silk scarf, and for some reason felt it suited the Princess even more.”
The handkerchief unfolded, with two characters written on it in dried balsam flower juice.
Yue Tang’s gaze flickered slightly; after looking at her for a moment, she said: “Then what does Miss Shen intend?”
Shen Yizhu looked at the ground, then deeply performed a grand salute: “Yi Zhu thanks the Princess. The Princess’s grace of saving me, Yi Zhu will remember for life!”
Yue Tang looked at her body bent deeply down, lingered for a moment at the top of her head, then smiled again, stuffed the handkerchief into her sleeve, bypassed her, and headed to the palace gate.
