Free Web NovelChapter 203: Chapter 203: A Free-for-all, Who is the Hypocrite?
「The next day, during morning court.」
Following the affair with Mr. Tao, more than twenty of his partisans were identified and rooted out.
The Emperor’s expression remained unchanged as he parted his lips to speak. "Tao Changhai embezzled disaster relief funds, bled the people dry, and deceived all those above and below him, acting with utter lawlessness. As long as a treacherous minister like him remains, there can be no discipline in this court. If we do not eliminate this prime offender, we cannot hope to purge the administration and rectify the government."
The hall fell so silent you could hear a pin drop.
His voice devoid of emotion, he continued, "The evidence is irrefutable. He is to be executed immediately, and his family punished by clan association. Once confirmed, all remaining partisans will be purged."
The terrified pleas of the condemned ministers were drowned out by the rest of the court, who kowtowed and shouted in unison, "Your Majesty is wise!"
In addition, Ji Bo Lian’s case was concluded swiftly yesterday, and officials from the Ministry of Justice were dispatched overnight to personally escort the Governor of Two Rivers back to the capital for trial.
The atmosphere in the court today was extremely oppressive.
Witnessing their former colleagues being dragged away by the guards, scared out of their wits, the remaining officials shared looks of somber unease.
After Emperor Wu Su nonchalantly declared the court session over, the officials exchanged glances, only then realizing their foreheads were beaded with sweat.
They thought they had been through enough excitement for one day.
But who could have imagined that the moment the Emperor left, all hell would break loose in the court.
Two factions of officials began brawling at the entrance to the Golden Throne Hall.
The moment Emperor Wu Su’s figure vanished from sight, Prince Yong was the first to exit the hall. He lay in wait by the entrance, anticipating the first sign of Wei Ting.
He bellowed, "You think you can marry my Fifth Cousin? Dream on!"
Prince Yong lunged forward viciously, landing two hard kicks.
No one expected anyone to dare start a fight right after morning court. Wei Ting was caught off guard, taking two solid kicks to his chest and abdomen. He staggered back several steps.
The pain was enough to make him curse under his breath.
A moment later, Wei Ting neatly took Prince Yong down.
But Prince Yong had a plan. Knowing he couldn’t overpower Wei Ting in a test of raw strength, he had already given his faction of officials their instructions.
Just as Wei Ting regained his footing, a group of officials in crimson robes, mixed with a few in indigo, both civil and military, swarmed forward.
Seeing their general attacked, General Zhenbei’s subordinates didn’t hesitate, charging right into the fray.
But they were far outnumbered by Prince Yong’s cronies, who had long held sway in Lin’an.
Despite the vast difference in fighting prowess, the two groups descended into a tangled melee.
Lu Juan, the Heir of Duke Zhongyong’s Mansion, happened to be passing by. At first, he frowned and steered clear, wary of getting caught in the crossfire. But when he got a clear look at the two men at the center of the brawl, he glanced around, then stealthily edged a few steps closer to the brawling mass of bodies.
Taking advantage of the chaos, he stuck out a leg and gave a certain over-occupied general a kick to the calf.
Afterward, without a second glance, he proceeded toward the Diligent Governance Hall.
When Lu Juan arrived, Little Dongzi was at the entrance, timidly saying something to Li Yuzong.
Chief Li was so shocked the old wrinkles on his face seemed to stretch out. ’How could they cause such a huge mess in the little time I wasn’t watching!’
Seeing Lu Juan, Li Yuzong composed his expression and said hurriedly, "Mr. Lu, the Holy Emperor is waiting for you in the hall."
Lu Juan said, "Eunuch Li, I will be the one to tell the Emperor what happened in the front court."
Li Yuzong said quickly, "Thank you, Mr. Lu. I’ll send someone to the front to take a look right away."
Lu Juan raised a hand to stop him, hinting, "Eunuch Li, it won’t be too late for you to send someone after I have reported to His Majesty."
Inside the Diligent Governance Hall, the scent of Agarwood drifted through the air, making the Emperor’s chambers feel all the more peaceful and serene.
Lu Juan bowed. "Your subject greets Your Majesty."
"You may rise."
Emperor Wu Su closed the memorial, tossed it aside, and as he looked up, he noticed something was off about Lu Juan’s expression.
"What has happened?"
Lu Juan replied respectfully, "To answer Your Majesty, a fight has broken out at the entrance to the Golden Throne Hall."
Emperor Wu Su’s Imperial Brush paused in his hand. He frowned slightly, his gaze fixed on the man below the dais.
Lu Juan endured the heavy gaze and continued, "The ones fighting are Prince Yong and General Zhenbei."
Emperor Wu Su put down his Imperial Brush and said in a cold voice, "The two of them have no feud. Why would they be fighting?"
"From what your subject heard, it seems Prince Yong was displeased that Wei Ting is seeking to marry the Ji Family’s Fifth Missy. He charged forward in a fit of anger, and now the fight is in full swing."
The Emperor looked slightly surprised and raised an eyebrow. "They’re still at it?"
’How could Prince Yong’s clumsy fighting skills possibly hold Wei Ting back?’
Lu Juan said, "To answer Your Majesty, Prince Yong’s entire faction joined the fray, so it’s an even match. It’s hard to say which side will win."
Emperor Wu Su chided, "Absurd!"
But he didn’t issue any verbal command. Instead, with a pleasant expression, he went back to reviewing his memorials.
Only when both sides had fought to the point of exhaustion did Li Yuzong arrive with the guards—who were conspicuously late—to break them up.
*
That morning, Ji Qingwu paid a visit to the clinic on the main street.
Seeing it again after a few days, the layout inside was very different. The arrangement was more refined, with added items like a basin for washing hands and a bronze mirror.
Mi Zhenchuan said, "Miss Mo personally purchased all these things and supervised their installation."
Mo Lingling smiled humbly. "You’re too kind, Uncle Mi. I just tagged along. You were the one who decided everything."
’It seems Mo Lingling has integrated quickly here and is adapting well.’
Ji Qingwu walked to the window and saw several people dressed in black walking back and forth nearby. A single glance told her they were from the Imperial City Department.
She asked, "Has Mr. Duan been here recently?"
Mo Lingling was wiping a glass box for storing medicinal herbs, and upon hearing the question, she almost dropped it.
"I haven’t met with him privately again."
Seeing her flustered expression, Ji Qingwu said with amusement, "I meant, has he come looking for me?"
Mi Zhenchuan said, "Mr. Duan hasn’t come by. However, these past few nights, I have often seen him appearing at the street corner."
Mo Lingling’s hand, holding a rag, repeatedly wiped the tabletop.
Ji Qingwu walked over to the newly delivered sacks of herbs and instructed, "Next time you see Mr. Duan, pass on a message for me. Tell him I need to see him about something."
Mi Zhenchuan nodded in acknowledgement. Mo Lingling lowered her head and fell silent.
Seeing the somber atmosphere in the room, the shop boy proactively started talking about recent events in Lin’an.
"Just now, a large group of government soldiers went to the Tao Mansion. I heard the Emperor ordered the confiscation of their property, and Lord Tao is about to be executed."
Mi Zhenchuan said, "That Mr. Tao seemed like a man of integrity. Who would have thought he would conspire with local officials to embezzle disaster relief Silver Taels and grain? You really can’t judge a book by its cover. It’s just a pity about all those beautiful essays he wrote."
Ji Qingwu opened a sack of herbs, took out a little to smell, and asked, "You’ve all met this Lord Tao?"
Mi Zhenchuan said, "That old lord liked to wear white robes. He had a scholarly and refined air about him, and his speech was elegant and gentle."
Suddenly, Mo Lingling slammed the rag in her hand onto the counter, startling everyone.
She said, "He’s just a shameless dog official who flaunts his learning! A sanctimonious hypocrite! The sooner he dies, the better!"
