Chapter 294: Fury
Emperor Jian’an could not figure it out and could not let it go.
Rage and jealousy surged and burned together, burning away Emperor Jian’an’s reason and calmness completely. He actually issued an imperial decree and had the Vice Minister of Rites send it out.
When Gao Yong and Eunuch Shen learned the news, they were both dumbfounded at the same time.
“What did you say? The Emperor issued a decree to enfeoff General Pei as Imperial Consort?”
“Assistant Minister Han who is delivering the decree has already left the Imperial Palace? Quick, quick, have someone chase him back!”
Eunuch Shen was exasperated and suddenly sat up from the bed. He used too much force, and his head felt somewhat dizzy. Gao Yong reached out to support Eunuch Shen: “Don’t get agitated first, lie down.”
Eunuch Shen could no longer lie down, anxious like ants on a hot pan: “What is to be done! Commander Gao, quickly think of a method! How could General Pei accept such humiliation!”
Gao Yong irritably rolled his eyes: “What can I do? It’s an imperial decree personally written by the Emperor, who dares to block it? Are they tired of living?”
“But…”
“No buts.” Gao Yong steeled himself and said: “Just let the Emperor crash into the iron plate, crash until his head is broken and bloodied, making a fool of himself, then he will naturally settle down obediently.”
“Even if it needs to be stopped, it’s not our turn. There are definitely people more anxious than us.”
Someone even more anxious than Gao Yong and Eunuch Shen indeed existed.
The virtuous and magnanimous Empress Zhang could no longer pretend. With red eyes, she left the palace and returned to Zhang Mansion, tearfully complaining to General Zhang: “…That Pei Qinghe is just a vixen. The Emperor is already bewitched, and as soon as I opened my mouth, he flew into a rage and scolded me. He said I am narrow-minded, unworthy of being Empress, and should request to step down and give up the position of Empress.”
“Father, you must stand up for your daughter!”
General Zhang’s face darkened.
Fury burst from Zhang Yun’s eyes, and he sneered: “What a Son of Heaven! Relying on our Zhang Family to sit on the Dragon Throne. Now that he hasn’t crossed the river yet, he plans to burn the bridge.”
“Our sister is virtuous and gentle, manages the Imperial Harem, bears princes, and has no faults. He opens his mouth to divorce his wife! This shows he doesn’t take our Zhang Family seriously at all!”
“Father, I will enter the palace right now to question him and see what he really wants to do!”
General Zhang fiercely glared at the furious Zhang Yun: “Don’t act recklessly!”
“The Emperor has missed Pei Qinghe for over six years, and now he is blinded by jealous flames, so what he does doesn’t count.”
“Then are we just going to let it go like this?” Zhang Yun said angrily: “In less than a day, this matter will spread. What will everyone think of our Zhang Family? And our sister, returning home with such grievance, are we going to ignore it and let her be humiliated!”
Zhang Jingwan’s tears fell like a string of broken pearls, rolling down nonstop.
Zhang Yun had always doted on his sister and could not bear to see it. General Zhang also felt sorry for his daughter, but he was much calmer than Zhang Yun: “Wait a bit first.”
“Wait until when?”
“Wait until Assistant Minister Han arrives at Liaoxi City, wait until Pei Qinghe angrily flips the table first.” General Zhang sneered: “Wait until the Son of Heaven’s face is slapped swollen by Pei Qinghe, then we make our move.”
“By then, morality will be on our side.”
“Jingwan, you return to the palace right now.”
Zhang Jingwan was full of grievance: “I don’t want to go back, I want to stay at home for a few days.”
“Nonsense!” General Zhang’s face darkened: “You are the Empress, how can you abandon your husband and son to return to your parental home? Do you really want to hand over the position of Empress?”
“Return to the palace immediately!”
Zhang Jingwan returned crying and tearfully went back to the palace again.
The imagined scene of husband and wife confrontation did not appear. Emperor Jian’an did not return at all and directly slept in the Imperial Study.
The next day at the morning court, everything was as usual.
Chancellor Pang, this old fox, acted as if nothing had happened. General Zhang and his son also pretended as if nothing had happened.
It was Meng Liulang who kept glancing at Emperor Jian’an on the Dragon Throne from time to time.
Emperor Jian’an had probably gone mad yesterday, and today he was unexpectedly steady and prudent, discussing state affairs with all officials. After court, he specially kept his father-in-law and brother-in-law behind.
Emperor Jian’an first expressed to the Zhang father and son that he had no intention of divorcing his wife, and yesterday was just angry words between husband and wife.
General Zhang expressed understanding to the Son of Heaven and greatly praised the Son of Heaven for being affectionate and righteous.
Emperor Jian’an breathed a sigh of relief and promised that after Pei Qinghe entered the palace and was enfeoffed as Imperial Consort, the position of the principal Empress would forever be Zhang Jingwan’s. He also said that when the eldest son reached one year old, he would be enfeoffed as Crown Prince.
General Zhang repeatedly thanked the Son of Heaven for his grace.
Zhang Yun had not cultivated to such a level, his face was not thick enough, and hearing this he could not help but say: “Has the Emperor considered what to do if Pei Qinghe refuses the imperial decree?”
Emperor Jian’an finally revealed the domineering majesty of the Son of Heaven: “General Pei is a loyal official and good general, loyal to me, and will not defy the decree.”
Zhang Yun swallowed a cold snort.
The Son of Heaven was so confident that no one could say anything.
Meng Liulang went to the Chancellor’s Mansion.
Chancellor Pang knew full well the purpose of Meng Liulang’s visit, but pretended not to know. As soon as Meng Liulang mentioned the imperial decree for the marriage, Chancellor Pang looked away and changed the subject.
Meng Liulang was not like his mild-tempered brother and quickly lost patience for beating around the bush: “The Emperor has made such an impulsive, reckless, and rude move. As the leader of civil officials and an old minister of the Eastern Palace, does Chancellor Pang not plan to advise the Emperor?”
Chancellor Pang sighed helplessly: “The Emperor doesn’t even care about the face of Empress Zhang and General Zhang. Eunuch Shen is injured and still lying on the bed. How can I, as Chancellor, open my mouth? Even if I thicken my face and muster the courage to go, from where should I start speaking?”
After speaking, another long sigh: “Young General Meng is loyal and upright, a man of temperament. Today I also advise you a few words: on this matter, you must not open your mouth. Lest you provoke the Son of Heaven’s displeasure and dissatisfaction.”
The anger pent up in Meng Liulang’s heart suddenly flared up.
The man before him was his future father-in-law, not an outsider. Meng Liulang kept his handsome face taut and said in a deep voice: “The Beiping Army lives and dies for the Emperor. My father and several brothers all died on the battlefield for the Emperor. If I voice a few grievances for General Pei, does that make me a rebellious minister? The Emperor’s heart is too narrow.”
Chancellor Pang twitched the corner of his mouth and glanced at the reckless and impulsive Meng Liulang: “How can these two matters be confused? The Beiping Army’s loyalty and righteousness are unmatched, everyone sees it, and the Emperor also values and treats you brothers highly. This has nothing to do with welcoming General Pei into the palace as Imperial Consort. Even if there is some grievance, it is General Pei’s matter.”
“You jumping out to voice grievances, what is that about?”
Meng Liulang said coldly: “I just can’t stand the Emperor humiliating a great general who fights on the battlefield to protect the country!”
“I, Meng Ling, am also a military general. If someone disgusts me like this, I absolutely will not compromise or yield. I will definitely flip the table and make a big fuss.”
“Chancellor Pang watching from the sidelines today, I hope there will not be a day of regret.”
After speaking, he stood up, flicked his sleeves, and left.
Chancellor Pang furrowed his brows tightly, hesitated for a long time before standing up, walked to the door, sighed again, and stopped.
Meng Liulang stormed out of the Chancellor’s Mansion and went to the Pei Clan mansion.
