Free Web NovelChapter 31: Chapter 31: Scolded and Punished, Bestowed "Wild Child
「The next day.」
Before the night had fully faded, the sound of golden drums echoed from within Phoenix Palace.
The ministers entered the hall, each taking their designated position.
On the Golden Throne, which symbolized supreme power, sat Emperor Wu Su. He was dressed in a Profound Golden Color imperial robe embroidered with coiled dragons and wore a crown. Nine tassels of beads hung from the front and back, each tassel strung with nine Five-Colored Jade Beads on five-color silk threads, all held in place by a Jade Balance bar.
Atop the magnificent court, he appeared all the more solemn and noble.
"Long live Your Majesty! Ten thousand years! Ten thousand, thousand years!" The ministers kowtowed, their voices echoing off the rafters.
After bidding them rise, Emperor Wu Su raised his eyes and asked in a heavy voice, "What is the situation with the floods in the southwest?"
The River Director stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Reporting to Your Majesty, the southwest has seen continuous heavy rain since the beginning of spring. Six sections of the river dikes have collapsed. The victims have already been moved to a safe location."
"And that is your solution?"
"Your Majesty, I..." The River Director paused, then said, "I will arrange for manpower to help the victims rebuild their homes and restore their livelihoods as soon as possible."
The man on the throne spoke again, his voice slow and deep, betraying no emotion.
He asked, "Why did the victims become homeless?"
The River Director kept his head down and answered, "It was the disaster caused by the floods."
"Your solution is merely to appease the victims? But the floods come every year. What use is it for the court to endlessly pour more relief silver into the problem? Do you truly understand the hardships of the people? The suffering of the common folk?"
Emperor Wu Su’s tone was as even as ever, but to the ministers’ ears, his words were thunderous.
The River Director hastily fell to his knees and said, "It is I who was short-sighted."
"Cai Zuodong, you are not short-sighted. You are far too calculating!"
A furious rebuke shattered the air. One moment, the Emperor had been deceptively mild-mannered; the next, his temper flared.
The hall fell silent as a tomb. The officials bowed their heads, daring not to meet his gaze. His imperial majesty was on full display.
Emperor Wu Su waved his hand. "Show it to Mr. Cai." Chief Li, standing to the side, handed the memorial he was holding to him.
The River Director’s forehead was already slick with cold sweat. He held his breath and opened the memorial. When he saw what was written inside, it slipped from his hands and fell to the floor.
"I... I have been wronged, Your Majesty." Cai Zuodong’s hands trembled. "I did not collude with the local officials to embezzle the relief silver! My loyalty is as clear as the sun and moon!"
Emperor Wu Su’s lips parted, his voice frigid. "Lu Juan."
"I am here."
"This case is yours. Within three days, We want a list of all who formed cliques for personal gain in this relief effort."
Lu Juan accepted the command and stepped back. Looking at the River Director kneeling on the floor, tears and snot streaming down his face, he shook his head. ’Emperor Wu Su was not one to fight an unprepared battle, even back when he led troops. A hidden dragon in the abyss; only with patience can one avoid disrupting a grand strategy.’
’He doesn’t act rashly, but when he does, his methods are utterly ruthless. To have dealt with this in front of all the officials in the hall today, he must have had irrefutable evidence.’
’The depths of Emperor Wu Su’s thoughts were revealed only when he wanted you to see a fraction of them.’
"Do any of you have other matters to report?"
His voice had returned to its nonchalant tone, but none of the ministers dared to cross the Emperor at a time like this. They kept their heads bowed and remained silent.
Just then, Imperial Censor Yan Zongrang stepped forward, his face grim. He announced loudly, "Your Majesty, this old subject has a matter to report. I wish to impeach someone."
The ministers exchanged glances, wondering which official this Imperial Censor planned to impeach today.
"Speak."
"The first I wish to impeach is the maternal family of the Empress Dowager—the Ji Family."
As soon as he spoke, a low murmur of discussion rose from below.
Shielded by the Nine-tassel Crown, Emperor Wu Su’s expression was hidden from the officials below the dais, who dared not look too closely anyway.
"For what reason?"
"Reporting to Your Majesty, the Ji Family, relying on their status as the Imperial Family, assaulted my grandson! This old subject impeaches the Ji Family clan for bullying others with their power and showing no respect for the law!"
Emperor Wu Su glanced at Li Yuzong, who immediately took two steps forward and quietly explained the ins and outs of the matter. The Emperor had been at Qiniandian yesterday to worship the ancestors and was unaware of the incident.
After listening, the Emperor’s brows knitted tightly, and his cold eyes fell upon Imperial Censor Yan.
Ji Changlin also stepped forward hastily. "Mr. Yan, this is just a misunderstanding. There’s no need to bring it up during the morning court session."
"That little girl is so aggressive! She dared to beat the Imperial Censor’s own grandson in the Upper Study Room. How can this be tolerated?" an official on good terms with Imperial Censor Yan spoke out.
A cold smile touched the corners of Emperor Wu Su’s lips.
He asked, "Do you know who that little girl is, and what her relationship is to Us?"
What did he mean by that?
According to their relations, the Ji Family were the Emperor’s cousins through marriage. The little girl could even call him uncle.
Imperial Censor Yan took another step forward. "I do not care who that child is! While this may be a small matter, we must not forget the clear lessons from the past! Your Majesty must not show favoritism to the Ji Family! King Liang of the previous dynasty doted on the Demon Queen excessively, allowing her maternal family to amass overwhelming power, which ultimately led to the fall of his empire."
Emperor Wu Su shifted his posture, stretching out a long leg to rest on the floor and leaning back slightly, which made him look even more indolent.
But Lu Juan, who was familiar with the Emperor, felt his heart tighten. ’This is a sign that he’s about to lose his temper.’ He shuffled toward a corner, afraid of getting caught in the crossfire.
Imperial Censor Yan puffed out his chest, his words growing more indignant. "Even if it were Your Majesty’s own son, this old subject would still impeach him! My second impeachment is aimed at the Young Master Yuan Heng, and at Your Majesty for failing to discipline your son!"
A series of sharp intakes of breath could be heard throughout the court.
The Nine-tassel Crown on Emperor Wu Su’s head shifted slightly.
Almost simultaneously, with a THUD, a piece of jade crashed down, landing right at Imperial Censor Yan’s feet.
A ferocious, crouching Chi Tiger with wide, staring eyes seemed to glare up at Yan Zongrang. He recognized it as the Jade Seal and immediately dropped to his knees, not daring to utter another word.
"You compare Us to that kind of fatuous ruler and see yourself as a capable minister. In that case, We might as well grant you your wish."
"Strip Yan Zongrang of his position as Imperial Censor. Banish his entire family to the barren mountains."
Lu Juan sighed internally. ’Now the whole family will be moved to some godforsaken mountain. Yan Zongrang’s grandson really will become a wild child now.’
But the matter wasn’t over. Emperor Wu Su immediately moved on to pronounce judgment on the Ji Family and Yuan Heng.
When Ji Changlin returned to Anju Garden after court ended, Mrs. Qiao and Ji Qingwu were waiting for him in the front hall.
Seeing her eldest son’s face flushed purple and his dejected, unhappy expression, Mrs. Qiao took a few steps forward and asked worriedly, "Changlin, did the Emperor blame you?"
Ji Changlin sighed. "I was punished."
He held out his palm, which was red and swollen.
Mrs. Qiao asked in confusion, "Why were you... struck on the palm?"
Ji Changlin gave a bitter smile and recounted the events of the morning’s court session.
After dealing with Imperial Censor Yan, the Emperor had passed sentence on the Ji Family and the Young Master. Although the one who provokes a fight is often the one to blame, once fists fly, the nature of the situation changes. Emperor Wu Su ordered twenty strikes of the paddle, and Yuan Heng naturally couldn’t escape punishment.
But Jiu Jiu’s punishment had fallen upon him instead. Ji Changlin still remembered what the Emperor had said.
"The little girl of the Ji Family is also at fault. Since she is not present, her own maternal uncle shall take the punishment for her."
He had said it as if it were some kind of favor, and Ji Changlin had no choice but to accept the punishment. As long as he could remember, Ji Changlin had never been struck on the palm, especially not in front of the entire imperial court. frёewebnoѵel.ƈo๓
Hearing her brother’s description, Ji Qingwu’s eyes blazed with fury. She slammed her teacup to the ground.
’That dog of an Emperor!’
’He hit my son again!’
