Free Web NovelChapter 211: Chapter 211: Exclusively Favored, Grabbed the Wrong Person
Emperor Wu Su’s tone held no anger.
Within his clear, cold voice, there was a faint, almost imperceptible rasp.
"Beili reveres martial prowess in the hope of deterring other nations in these chaotic times, not for you to engage in brawls."
This time, Wei Ting spoke before Zhao Minghong could.
"I am guilty. I await Your Majesty’s punishment."
Prince Yong cursed him inwardly, ’What an old fox,’ and said a beat too late, "I was wrong. I await my Imperial Brother’s judgment."
Separated by a screen, Ji Qingwu felt a pang of hunger. She stared at the array of fragrant, sweet pastries before her but didn’t dare touch them, holding her breath as she listened to the voices in the hall.
Hearing their admissions of guilt, Emperor Wu Su said, "General Wei, you may rise."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
As Wei Ting got to his feet, Zhao Minghong, still kneeling on the floor, shot him a sideways glare.
Emperor Wu Su’s long fingers tapped on the table as he said languidly, "This good-for-nothing brother of mine has loved stirring up trouble since he was a child. He provoked you first today, so he is in the wrong."
Wei Ting seemed to notice something. His gaze paused for a moment before he cupped his hands and replied, "Your Majesty, although the Prince initiated this matter, I am also at fault. I should not have raised a hand against the Prince."
Wei Ting could have avoided this brawl, but he had heard Prince Yong shouting that Ji Qingwu was forbidden from marrying him, and that he was not worthy of his Fifth Cousin.
The gloomy mood that had been building up in him for days was completely drawn out and ignited by Prince Yong.
Emperor Wu Su nodded, the corners of his lips curling into a slight smile.
But with a deep coldness in his eyes, he said, "General Wei, you know you are at fault, yet you committed this offense willingly, laying hands on a member of the Imperial Family. What is your meaning? Are you perhaps dissatisfied with Us as well!"
Wei Ting fell to his knees again, a flash of surprise in his eyes. "I would not dare."
The two locked eyes. Emperor Wu Su’s voice was sharp and severe. "You say you would not dare, yet you dared to brawl with a Prince before the Golden Throne Hall. Your audacity is simply heaven-defying!"
In the inner room, Ji Qingwu heard his icy tone, and the fine hairs on her back stood on end.
Wei Ting remained prostrated on the ground, his palms pressed against the golden floor tiles, his fingers making a tapping sound.
Emperor Wu Su’s gaze swept from Wei Ting’s lowered back down to his hands.
Wei Ting said, "Your Majesty is wise and discerning; you must know that I harbor no dissatisfaction toward you. The fault for today’s incident is not mine alone. It was truly Prince Yong who went too far. He led his men to corner me after court was dismissed. I was merely acting in self-defense and had no intention of disrespecting Your Majesty."
The moment his words fell, Emperor Wu Su swept the dessert dish from the corner of his desk to the floor.
The celadon dish shattered into pieces, and a pastry rolled to Prince Yong’s feet.
In his peripheral vision, Zhao Minghong saw the Longjing tea pastry with its chipped crust and instantly lowered his head even further.
Wei Ting composed himself and said no more.
"Li Yuzong, draft an edict!"
The only sound in the hall was Emperor Wu Su’s voice, thick with suppressed rage.
When Ji Qingwu heard the imperial edict clearly, she jolted upright on the couch, her eyes wide with shock.
The tea on the large red sandalwood desk in the imperial court was still warm.
In just that short time, Wei Ting, the highly decorated Northern General, had been demoted—not just by one rank, but two—to Commander of the Vanguard Camp.
Prince Yong, however, received only a lenient punishment: a fine of half a year’s stipend.
What shocked Ji Qingwu the most was that such an unfair ruling was completely unlike Emperor Wu Su’s usual style.
Even a woman like her, who knew little of politics, could foresee that this edict would undoubtedly cause a huge uproar in the court.
It might even give rise to gossip: that the Emperor was favoring his own brother while being harsh on the Northern General, or that he feared Wei Ting’s accomplishments were overshadowing his authority and was using this as an excuse to suppress him.
But no matter the reason, the result would be the same: it would dishearten the soldiers of the Northern Border.
Wei Ting and Prince Yong were driven out of the Diligent Governance Hall together.
Zhao Minghong didn’t gloat over Wei Ting’s demotion; instead, he was still in a state of shock.
In his memory, his Imperial Brother had never shown him such "partiality." Whenever he caused trouble, his was always the harshest punishment.
Inside the hall, Wei Ting had accepted the edict with relative composure, offering no further argument.
But the moment he was out the door, he pointed at Prince Yong’s nose and said mockingly, "The Prince had best be careful from now on."
Zhao Minghong said, "What do you mean by that?"
Wei Ting said, "From now on, I’m going to beat you every time I see you!"
In the eyes of the passing Palace Attendants, it looked as if the two had forged a great enmity, and that General Wei was deeply dissatisfied with His Majesty’s ruling.
Tao Wanxin was still standing at the bottom of the steps by the entrance.
Zhao Minghong yelled at Wei Ting’s retreating back, "You think I’m afraid of a mere Commander of the Vanguard Camp!"
Wei Ting’s back stiffened and his fists clenched, but he didn’t start another incident at the entrance of the Diligent Governance Hall. He strode away.
Zhao Minghong walked a few steps toward Tao Wanxin and asked, "What are you doing standing here?"
Tao Wanxin said, "The Emperor summoned me, and he has not yet permitted me to leave."
Zhao Minghong’s eyes were fixed on her face, but his words were sharp and fault-finding. "Speaking so informally, using ’I’ in front of me? Is this the etiquette the Princess Consort has always been so proud of?"
Tao Wanxin avoided his gaze and said softly, "The Emperor did not blame me for the Tao family’s affairs and even spared my life. I am already content."
Zhao Minghong frowned. "The Emperor spared your life because you are my Princess Consort, and because you carry my child in your belly. Do you understand that?"
Tao Wanxin had been waiting outside the hall for so long, but she hadn’t seen Ji Qingwu come out.
A woman’s mind is delicate and sensitive. This was the Diligent Governance Hall, where the Emperor handled state affairs and summoned court officials. Not even the concubines of the inner palace were permitted to linger here.
She said impartially, "I, for one, think it was thanks to Qingwu."
Prince Yong had been so focused on Tao Wanxin that he hadn’t noticed Ji Qingwu deliberately avoiding them as she left.
Zhao Minghong ached all over. His knees from kneeling for so long were the least of his injuries; the serious ones were all from Wei Ting’s underhanded blows.
’That damn Commander of the Vanguard Camp! He’s so treacherous, all the injuries he gave me are hidden.’
Zhao Minghong had been beaten and forced to kneel, and he wasn’t getting any sympathy from Tao Wanxin either.
He roared in exasperation, "What does it have to do with her!"
Feeling his anger, Tao Wanxin’s face grew even paler. Emperor Wu Su had told her to restrain Prince Yong, but how could she possibly do that?
She had never been able to do it before.
And now, with no family to rely on, she felt she had even less standing before him. She lowered her eyes and remained silent.
Li Yuzong emerged from the hall and walked over to the two of them.
"Greetings, Your Highness, Princess Consort."
Seeing it was Chief Li from the imperial court, Zhao Minghong regained his composure. "Dispense with the formalities. What is it, Eunuch Li?"
Li Yuzong said, "This old servant is here to convey a verbal edict from the Emperor. Effective immediately, Princess Yong may move out of Anle Hall and return to Prince Yong’s Mansion to await childbirth."
The fire in Zhao Minghong’s eyes was instantly replaced by joy, and he excitedly grabbed Li Yuzong’s hands.
Li Yuzong said, "Your Highness, I believe you’ve grabbed the wrong person..."
Zhao Minghong looked back at Tao Wanxin, only to find that she did not share his happy expression. The smile on his face faded.
Li Yuzong added, "The Holy Emperor also said..."
