Chapter 134:
Both were people who loved cleanliness. After being naked and intimate for so long, both of their bodies were soaked with sweat, sticky and greasy.
Pei Yuqing sat up, untied the layers of curtains, and called the servants waiting outside to send hot water to the adjoining cleansing room.
After everyone left, he wanted to carry her off the couch again, but Xie Wanning hurriedly refused, put on a piece of clothing herself, got up, and went to the cleansing room.
Such an intimate act as bathing together was indeed something she could not do.
Warm water flowed over her body. She simply cleaned herself, her eyelids fighting with exhaustion. When she returned to the couch, she fell asleep almost as soon as her head touched the pillow.
When Pei Yuqing returned, what he saw was the young lady curled up in the quilt, only a small face exposed, sleeping soundly.
A smile played at the corners of his lips. He lifted the quilt and got on the bed, pulling her into his arms, holding her steady and tight.
The two pressed closely together, their bodies fitting perfectly.
The next day, when Xie Wanning woke up, the spot beside her had already gone cold.
Although the year-end was approaching and the officials were about to have their holiday, they still had to attend the last day of court.
Pei Yuqing nominally held an official position in the Ministry of Justice, of no low rank, so he still had to attend court for audience.
She had also made an appointment with Xie Ruyu today to go to Puyin Temple outside the city together to offer incense, praying for the whole family to have smooth sailing next year.
After a good night’s sleep, her waist did not feel sore or soft.
Er Qing led the two little maidservants Yuan Zhu and Yuan Yue inside. Seeing their own young lady with a flushed face full of spring, they smiled and curtsied.
“Madam was tired last night. Do you still have to go out today? Otherwise, this servant can go inform the Second Young Lady.”
She was no longer a new bride, but being teased like this, Xie Wanning’s face still could not help but turn red. She rubbed her face with her hand and said, “We are going out.”
The two had made an appointment early on. If she just stood them up like this, with Xie Ruyu’s temperament, next time they met, she would definitely ask why she broke the appointment.
What would she say then?
…………
On the other side.
In the Golden Hall, civil and military officials stood in two rows, and the last court session of the year began.
Not long after the Emperor sat down, after the ministers paid their respects, Minister of Personnel Qi Yan stepped forward and directly knelt down with a thud.
“This subject has a matter to report.”
The Emperor straightened his posture and said solemnly, “What matter does Minister Qi have? Speak.”
Qi Yan said, “This subject wants to impeach Grand Secretary Chen for corruption and perverting the law, selling official positions, occupying good farmland, and oppressing the common people.”
As soon as these words came out, it was like a drop of water splashing into a pot of boiling oil.
All the officials were shocked.
The impeached party, Grand Secretary Chen, was stunned for a moment, then immediately stepped forward and bowed deeply: “Before Your Majesty, please Minister Qi watch his words and not slander randomly.”
To hold the position of Grand Secretary, he must be an old official of the court, with many disciples and relatives.
Not to mention that after the New Year, the Xie Family young lady would become the First Prince’s Consort, and there were no few officials on the imperial court standing with the First Prince.
Soon, someone reacted and spoke up to help.
The hall buzzed with discussion. The Emperor sat high above and said, “Does Minister Qi have evidence?”
Pointed at by the crowd, Qi Yan was neither flustered nor hasty. He took out a thick memorial from his sleeve, held it high with both hands, and said respectfully, “At the beginning of the year, there was an earthquake in Qingzhou, with disaster victims everywhere. In the case of local officials embezzling the court’s disaster relief silver and grain, the mastermind behind it was Grand Secretary Chen.”
“Qingzhou Prefect Chen Wen is Grand Secretary Chen’s disciple. The letters exchanged between the two, the account books, and the personnel lists are all listed in it, undeniable. This is just physical evidence. The witnesses are also in the capital right now. Please examine it, Your Majesty.”
The Emperor raised his hand slightly. The chief eunuch Yuan Shu behind him quickly walked down the steps and personally took the memorial from Qi Yan’s hands and presented it.
All eyes fell on the memorial in Yuan Shu’s hands.
“This is just the evidence of crimes in Qingzhou alone, already too numerous to record. Lord Chen covers the sky with one hand and wields power over the court. Who knows what kind of misery the people in other prefectures and commanderies of our Great Khan are suffering.”
As he spoke, Qi Yan broke down in sobs: “This subject knows his position is low and his words shallow, yet he still has a heart for the people. Since he learned the truth, he cannot conceal it. Today, with this official’s status, he impeaches the Grand Secretary of the court. If there is half a false word, this subject is willing to atone with death.”
The noisy hall fell completely silent.
The smart ones had already understood everything.
The Qingzhou case—no one did not know who investigated it.
It was the imperial envoy Lu Ziyan personally dispatched by His Majesty.
Given His Majesty’s regard for him, this evidence had probably already been seen by His Majesty. What was happening now was just going through the motions.
Grand Secretary Chen was of course also a smart person.
The First Prince stood in the front row, his usually mild face stern, his knife-like gaze sweeping toward Lu Ziyan, who met it with a slow, mocking smile that made him tremble with anger, even his lips shaking.
The Emperor on the dragon throne looked at the presented memorial, his gaze growing colder and colder, until he suddenly stood up and said sternly, “Investigate! Strictly investigate!”
“This case is to be jointly tried by the Supreme Court, Censorate, and Ministry of Justice. Ministers Lu, Pei, and Ji will assist in the investigation, with the Supervision Yuan overseeing the entire process and reporting progress to Us at any time.”
With the Emperor ordering a strict investigation, the object of the investigation, Grand Secretary Chen—Chen Shizhong—would of course be taken to the Ministry of Justice prison.
This Grand Secretary over sixty years old removed his official hat himself, did not utter a single word in his own defense, and bowed gracefully toward the Emperor on the dragon throne. “This old official will wait in the prison for Your Majesty to deliver justice.”
That demeanor of composure in honor and disgrace was quite the style of a civil official.
Seeing this, among the full court of civil and military officials, some were moved, some sighed, some gently shook their heads.
Only Lu Ziyan gave a cold snort, the contempt in that voice very obvious in the vast hall, drawing a chorus of gasps.
Never seen anyone so arrogant.
Even more, some were puzzled. Lu Ziyan was arrogant and proud, but not stupid.
Grand Secretary Chen was a civil official, one of the leading figures among them. What interest conflict could he have with a military general like you to pull him down?
After all, cooperation leads to mutual benefit.
Soon, these puzzles were answered.
After Grand Secretary Chen was taken away, the Emperor lost his earlier sternness and said with a faint smile, “Today, We have a piece of good news to share with all you ministers.”
This sudden shift made Pei Yuqing, who had not spoken, slightly restrain his expression.
The other ministers were even more puzzled, whispering and discussing animatedly.
There had been no news from the palace of any imperial consort being pregnant. Where did this good news come from?
Chief eunuch Yuan Shu held the imperial decree and read it aloud on the spot, announcing it to the officials.
In the past, after the late Empress Yuan passed away, she left behind the prematurely born and weak Fifth Prince, who several times nearly followed her. The high monk of Zhenguo Temple declared that the prince should be fostered outside the palace, best in the home of a minister with heavy killing aura to ward off evil spirits, so he could grow up safely.
After discussion among several ministers, the Fifth Prince was fostered with the Lu Family of Wuyuan Marquis’s Estate, and it has been eighteen years now.
Now that the prince is of age, he should return to the imperial family and restore his status as a legitimate prince.
After the imperial decree was read, while the officials were still dazed as if hearing a heavenly book, Grand Tutor Li Yuan, Minister of Justice Liu He, and Chancellor Zhao Ming stepped forward and congratulated in unison: “We ministers welcome the Fifth Prince’s return to the clan.”
In front of the full court of civil and military officials, Lu Ziyan received the imperial decree with both hands.
“These years, you have been wronged, my son.” The Emperor said lovingly: “My son established illustrious military merits before even reaching adulthood, brave and strategic. Now that you have returned, We shall enfeoff you as King Zhenbei, granting you the soldier tallies for the three major military districts in the northwest to awe the enemy.”
With that, he waved his hand again. Chief eunuch Yuan Shu once more produced a prepared imperial decree enfeoffing the king.
This imperial decree was no smaller than the news of one more prince.
Before, the Emperor had only four princes in total. Including the First Prince, none had been enfeoffed as kings; they only held positions in the court.
Yet Lu Ziyan, upon restoring his prince status, was directly enfeoffed as King Zhenbei and granted control of the northern military power.
The three major military districts in the northwest—that was a full thirty thousand elite soldiers who fought year-round.
Previously, the struggle for the heir position in the court had only the First Prince and Second Prince vying openly and covertly, neither yielding. But after today, the two major factions would have to reshuffle.
Suddenly inserting a legitimate prince, and one who was King Zhenbei holding thirty thousand troops—the chaos that would ensue was imaginable.
Many officials who had sided with the First Prince and Second Prince began to beat retreat.
Although Lu Ziyan was the Fifth Prince, he was the late Empress Yuan’s legitimate son, a proper eldest legitimate son.
And a legitimate prince with illustrious merits. Otherwise, even giving him the soldier tallies would not convince the troops.
……No wonder these years, His Majesty treated him like his own son.
From childhood close to the imperial palace, studying with the princes, training soldiers and practicing martial arts under the Old Marquis of the Lu Family’s personal guidance…
Giving trust, giving positions, giving opportunities for experience, painstakingly cultivating.
Entering the military camp at fourteen to command troops, given a position at sixteen to prove himself, and even when the dispatched supervisor was beheaded, not a bit angry.
At the time, some speculated it was the Emperor’s strategy to raise and then kill.
In the end, he was indulged, favored, and even when Lu Ziyan repeatedly requested to fight in the Northern Frontier several times, he was not allowed to go.
Now at eighteen, he eagerly restored his identity, enfeoffed him as king, and granted military power…
Thinking carefully about it, the Emperor’s regard for this son could make one gasp.
It really made one suspect that the crown prince position had always been vacant specifically reserved for this legitimate prince raised outside the palace?
Could it be that the previous First Prince and Second Prince were just targets?
Targets—the First Prince’s lips pressed into a straight line, his hands clenched in his sleeves. He had long known Lu Ziyan’s true identity, but today he was still caught off guard.
His future father-in-law imprisoned, the ‘younger brother’ he had always seen as a thorn in his eye and flesh now restoring his identity and openly returning to court. The First Prince’s heart burned with hatred and jealousy toward the Emperor’s favoritism, twisted into who knows what.
Yet on the surface, he still had to put on a shocked and delighted expression, performing a play of brotherly harmony before the Emperor and officials.
He followed closely behind the three ministers to congratulate Lu Ziyan.
But Lu Ziyan truly could not stand this ‘elder brother’ with the hatred of a murdered wife. In his past life, he had trampled him underfoot. Now, he had no intention of putting on a show, not even giving him a proper glance, just a light hum as if he had heard.
This time, even the First Prince with his exceptional self-control could not hold it together, his face faintly turning green.
Even the Emperor high on the dragon throne could not help but rub his forehead, let alone the other ministers.
The court session was extremely stimulating. After it ended, many ministers still had not come back to their senses.
When Lu Ziyan walked out of the Golden Hall, he happened to run into his past life’s eldest brother-in-law.
The moment their gazes met, the atmosphere froze for a moment. Many around them then remembered… the Xie Family young lady was this one’s former fiancée?
At that time, the Xie Family insisted on breaking off the engagement. This Killing God sought reconciliation several times but was refused at the door. Now, the Xie clan’s eldest legitimate daughter had remarried into a high family.
……This was a classic case of failed marriage alliance turning into enmity.
Who knows if the Xie Family now regrets not leaving any room that day. What they gave up might have been the future Empress’s position.
In the awkward atmosphere, Xie Yanyu shifted his gaze away, nodded faintly to his colleagues, and left first.
Lu Ziyan glanced at his departing back, his eternally stern expression unchanged, as if he did not take the earlier friction to heart.
The few ministers tasked with supervising Grand Secretary Chen’s case stayed in the rear hall to discuss matters.
Apart from the veteran ministers from the Supreme Court, Ministry of Justice, and Censorate, the Pei Yuqing, Ji Chengfeng, and Lu Ziyan specially named by the Emperor to assist were all of the younger generation.
At this moment, the three walked side by side. Though draped in thick cloaks, their straight backs were still visible, all with outstanding bearing and dignified appearance.
Walking on the majestic palace path covered in white snow, they appeared even more aloof and exceptional, each one more eye-catching than the last.
When the old Emperor saw the three enter, his eyes lit up slightly. Stroking his beard, he praised, “Our Great Khan’s rivers and mountains have successors.”
As the old ministers he had promoted in his youth retired one by one, the younger generation of ministers was gradually taking power.
These would all be the talents he left for the next Emperor.
The Emperor’s gaze turned to his only legitimate son, only to see him staring dazedly at…
He followed his gaze.
Over there, Pei Yuqing was removing his cloak and handing it to the inner servant. Inside, he wore a cyan official robe, with a black jade belt tight at his waist. His figure was tall and slender, broad-shouldered and narrow-waisted, truly an immortal posture and jade tree.
……But no matter how handsome he was born, he was still a man. No need to stare so dazedly.
Lu Ziyan was more than dazed—his pupils were even faintly trembling, his face terrifyingly awful, his expression utterly distraught, without a trace of the arrogant dominance from the Golden Hall.
Ji Chengfeng beside him sensed something off and followed the gaze. Being closer, he could see on Pei Yuqing’s neck… that neat bite mark, and he was stunned for a moment.
Once he understood what it was, his face slightly reddened, and he uncomfortably turned his face away.
Pei Yuqing, as the person involved being stared at like this, frowned and touched his neck.
Finally remembering that the little young lady had bitten here last night…
His hand stiffened for a moment, he lowered his head, showing a bit of bashfulness.
Ji Chengfeng, an unmarried young master, was not one to tease. But the other veteran ministers were not so polite.
The Minister of Justice was an old official over fifty. Seeing the flirtatious glances here, he shook his head and smiled, “Still got to be the young ones.”
The other two veteran ministers also smiled and chimed in.
“…” Pei Yuqing was silent for a moment, did not respond, but helplessly pulled up his collar, barely covering the tooth mark.
After a few casual remarks, the Emperor granted seats, inner servants brought tea, and everyone began discussing matters.
Lu Ziyan, this newly made prince and majestic King Zhenbei, was distracted throughout, not saying a word, not taking a sip, not even moving a muscle.
