Chapter 156: Beloved Minister Rong, What’s Going On With Your Face?
Rong Zhi went to the morning court.
The butler looked at him as if he had something to say while packing his belongings.
Rong Zhi naturally knew what he was looking at.
He was also in a very bad mood at the moment.
The marks from fighting with Shang Wuyang yesterday were becoming more and more obvious on his face.
His skin was fair, and bruises would likely look even worse after a night had passed.
He could only use women’s powder to conceal them, but he didn’t want to apply too much; he felt uncomfortable with the stuff on his face.
Therefore, some marks still couldn’t be covered, such as the bruises on the corners of his mouth and cheekbones.
“My Lord, why don’t you ask for a day’s leave?”
Rong Zhi shook his head: “It’ll be fine like this.”
The Imperial Examination matters are urgent.
Although he had long known that many people would be watching him at court today, when those gazes fell upon him, especially his face.
Rong Zhi smiled, but in his heart, he had stabbed a little person named Shang Wuyang eight hundred times!
“Oh my, who do we have here? Where did our Left Chancellor go to fight someone yesterday? Oh my, this isn’t something the Left Chancellor would do. Look at this little face, all beaten up. Hahaha…”
This gloating mockery was extremely obvious.
Hearing the rough voice, Rong Zhi raised his eyes and looked over.
Then he smiled. Just as he was about to divert everyone’s attention, here it came.
It even came to him willingly, so he couldn’t be blamed.
Rong Zhi’s smile made Marquis Wu’an utterly creeped out.
Has Chancellor Rong’s brain been damaged from the fight?
“Marquis Wu’an.”
Rong Zhi smiled meaningfully, startling the bear-like, burly man, Marquis Wu’an, into being defensive.
“What… what do you want?”
It is well known that civil officials and military generals in the Imperial Court do not get along.
Tianqi was no exception.
Therefore, seeing Rong Zhi’s face, which had clearly been beaten, today, most civil officials were curious about who had dared to lay a hand on him, while the military generals were gloating.
Marquis Wu’an, a man who lived directly opposite Rong Zhi’s home and spoke frankly, stepped forward to be the sacrificial bird.
Rong Zhi’s smile was gentle: “Marquis Wu’an, there’s no need to act like this. However, I heard an interesting story yesterday. It is said that Marquis Wu’an was caught hiding some private savings by his esteemed wife and was made to kneel on a washboard all afternoon?”
“How do you know…”
Before he could finish his words, Marquis Wu’an covered his mouth.
But with his booming voice, most people in the Imperial Court heard it.
Immediately, those around him looked at him with astonished or excited eyes.
He straightened his neck and retorted loudly, blushing, “That’s not true, there’s no such thing at all!”
But the more guilty this person felt, the louder his voice became.
Everyone looked at him with disbelief.
Some even teased: “I didn’t expect this, Marquis Wu’an, you’re afraid of your wife.”
“Hahaha… Didn’t you say your wife listened to you the most?”
“No wonder Marquis Wu’an never treats people when we go out to eat. It turns out the financial power is in your esteemed wife’s hands.”
“Marquis Wu’an, your marital authority is not in place. As a military general, you have to find ways to hide money.”
“Heh… Not only do you have to hide it, but if you don’t hide it well, you have to kneel on a washboard.”
“Tsk tsk tsk… What a shame we couldn’t witness it.”
Marquis Wu’an: (Goddammit!)
Ahhhh!!!!
How on earth did Rong Zhi know this? When he was kneeling on the washboard, there were only him and his wife present!
“That’s not true, my marital authority is very strong!”
But no one believed him!
By the time the Emperor arrived for court, almost everyone in the entire Imperial Court knew that Marquis Wu’an had hidden private savings, been discovered, and had to kneel on a washboard.
Marquis Wu’an could no longer explain himself and was completely stunned.
Standing behind, he stared at Rong Zhi in front of him with resentful eyes.
“Your Majesty has arrived…”
“Long live Your Majesty, long live, long live…”
The Emperor sat on the throne, as bored as usual, and his eyes fell on the bruises on Rong Zhi’s face as he stood at the front.
He said angrily, “Beloved Minister Rong, what is wrong with your face? Who hit you?”
He was heartbroken. His beloved Minister Rong had such a handsome face. He woke up every morning with resentment and couldn’t persevere through the day without looking at a handsome face a few more times.
Who had beaten his beloved Minister Rong’s face, which was like that of an immortal, into this state.
Don’t misunderstand, the Emperor was a genuine straight man, but purely a face-con.
Those standing at the front were all carefully selected by him, chosen for their good looks among the important ministers.
Although it went against regulations, he was the Emperor now, and he wasn’t promoting people based on their looks. How could he not treat himself a little better?!
However, he didn’t dare to go too far; some old ministers were still at the front.
Rong Zhi’s mouth twitched slightly. He knew this would happen.
He stepped forward and said, “Your Majesty, I am fine.”
The Emperor: “Beloved Minister Rong, you must take good care of your face. Don’t you need me to seek justice for you?”
“No.”
“Alright then.”
Since Rong Zhi didn’t hold a grudge, he wouldn’t pursue it further.
However, the Emperor was somewhat curious about who had beaten the usually resourceful Chancellor, who was now in such a disheveled state.
The court session proceeded normally, ministers argued, and then the court was dismissed.
After leaving the Imperial Court, Marquis Wu’an snorted at Rong Zhi and strode away.
His lifelong reputation was ruined!
“Censor Cai.”
Rong Zhi called out to Censor Cai, who was about to leave.
Censor Cai bowed to Rong Zhi.
“Does the Left Chancellor have something to say?”
Censor Cai was Rong Zhi’s man, so he reminded him.
“When you get back, keep an eye on your second daughter. My men happened to see her being intimate with a man.”
Hearing his words, Censor Cai seemed to recall something, and his expression changed instantly.
“Thank you for the reminder, Left Chancellor. I have matters to attend to, so I will take my leave.”
After Rong Zhi nodded, Censor Cai hurried away.
Rong Zhi did not leave the palace but went to see the Emperor. The Emperor was currently laughing heartily as the Grand Eunuch recounted the story of Marquis Wu’an kneeling on a washboard.
“Alas, what a pity I can’t go and see.”
He really wanted to see the scene.
“Your Majesty, Chancellor Rong has arrived.”
The Emperor’s eyes lit up: “Beloved Minister Rong has arrived? Quickly, invite him in.”
“Beloved Minister Rong, how did you know about Marquis Wu’an kneeling on the washboard? Did you see it with your own eyes? What was the situation like at the time?”
Rong Zhi directly ignored his expectant gaze and told him about the cheating in this Imperial Examination.
Emperor: (Thinking…)
Emperor: (Exploding with rage)
His expression changed from hearty laughter to a vanishing smile, and now he wanted to flip the table.
He couldn’t flip the table; it was too heavy. So he threw the inkstone on the table, of course, not hitting his beloved Chancellor Rong.
“Rebellious son, rebellious son!”
“Go and summon that rebellious son!”
“Your Majesty, it is not advisable to alert the snake at this point.”
Rong Zhi stopped him. He didn’t want to expose himself.
The Emperor calmed down.
“Then what should we do?”
Rong Zhi: “Let the news be leaked to the First Prince.”
“The Grand Marshal has been training troops recently, hasn’t he? I heard he plans to train his men and place them in the Jinwu Guard.”
The Jinwu Guard is the elite guard specifically protecting the Emperor.
If they are all filled with the Grand Marshal’s men, it remains to be seen whether it will be protection or a threat to the Emperor.
And this Grand Marshal is the First Prince’s maternal uncle.
Hearing this, the Emperor immediately couldn’t sit still; it concerned his own life.
“Good, Beloved Minister Rong, quickly tell me how we should proceed.”
Rong Zhi’s idea was simple: let the First Prince’s and Second Prince’s factions engage in a dog-eat-dog fight.
When they start fighting and the matter of the Imperial Examination is exposed, he will then find someone to subtly leak what the Grand Marshal plans to do to the Right Chancellor, causing the Right Chancellor to counterattack and foil the Grand Marshal’s plan. Then, he can fish in troubled waters and install a few of his own people.
Yes, perfect.
