Chapter 331: Who’s More Capable: Me or Big Brother?
Chapter 331: Chapter 331: Who’s More Capable: Me or Big Brother?
The Emperor’s gaze was distant as he looked out the door. He seemed lost in thought, then followed with a sigh.
"It is true. When one becomes a parent, one is willing to endure and sacrifice anything for one’s children."
Xie Suzhi lifted his robes and knelt. The Emperor was startled. "Minister Xie, what is the meaning of this?"
Xie Suzhi lowered his head, his voice cool yet firm and powerful.
"My second younger brother is unwell, and my sister-in-law has made a mistake. As the eldest brother, I am willing to accept her punishment. Please, Your Majesty, pass your sentence upon me."
The civil and military officials erupted into noisy discussion, a babble of differing opinions—
"Prime Minister, this is not your fault. Why must you do this?"
"Sigh, for something like this to happen in your family... it must be hard on you."
"But this witchcraft involves one of our dynasty’s generals. An explanation must be given."
Listening from the side, Imperial Secretary Qi frowned slightly.
’How did public opinion turn in Xie Suzhi’s favor so quickly?’
The Emperor thought for a moment, then said, "Let’s do this. A light punishment to serve as a stern warning."
"That sister-in-law of yours is indeed at fault. To use such a vicious method for her own selfish desires... it would be unjustifiable for Us not to punish her."
"She will be confined to prison for three months to reflect on her actions. During this period, your family is forbidden from visiting. Let this be a lesson to her."
"As for you, you are fined three months’ salary," the Emperor said, looking at Xie Suzhi.
Xie Suzhi kowtowed. "I thank Your Majesty for your great benevolence."
Imperial Secretary Qi became anxious. "Your Majesty, isn’t such a punishment too lenient?"
The Emperor’s gaze swept over him. "Are you still not satisfied?"
"Minister Qi, do you have a daughter in your family? If you were Second Master Xie, what would you do?"
Imperial Secretary Qi argued vehemently, "If my wife were to commit the crime of witchcraft, I would discipline her severely and set an example for my daughter, ensuring she would never follow in her mother’s footsteps!"
"Your Majesty, if this is not punished severely, others will follow this example. How then will you quell the ensuing chaos?"
Grand Tutor Ye snorted coldly and stepped forward to rebut Imperial Secretary Qi.
"Imperial Secretary Qi, you are gravely mistaken. His Majesty has shown a balance of firmness and mercy, punishing the Xie family while also showing some leniency."
"After all, in the Prime Minister’s household, the eldest son is leading troops against the enemy, the second son toils day and night at the Ministry of Justice, and even Second Master Xie, before his paralysis, had glorious military achievements and a renowned reputation."
"If His Majesty were to only punish, without any consideration for past merits, would that not be what truly chills the hearts of the people?"
Imperial Secretary Qi gritted his teeth. ’This old fool, coming out to contradict me again.’
Ever since Ye Shangyi had been punished by Consort Rong and nearly frozen to death in the Sunlight Tower, Grand Tutor Ye had been relentlessly pressuring the Qi family.
Their political views were in direct opposition, constantly pitting them against each other.
Unable to reason with Grand Tutor Ye, Imperial Secretary Qi turned back, cupped his hands in a salute, and looked earnestly at the Emperor.
"Your Majesty! A benevolent hand cannot command an army, and sentiment cannot build a state. If you show leniency in every matter, how will you command the awe of the officials and the people below you?"
The Emperor chuckled as he rose from the Dragon Throne, pointing to his seat.
"Minister Qi, you speak so eloquently. How about it? Would you like to sit here?"
Imperial Secretary Qi’s face went pale, and he scrambled to his knees. "I would not dare, Your Majesty."
The Emperor’s expression shifted dramatically. His face ashen with fury, he swept the memorials from the table with a single swipe of his hand.
"We have already made Our decision, yet you refuse to let the matter drop. What is your true motive?"
Imperial Secretary Qi cupped his hands, insisting on his loyalty. "I am merely speaking with impartiality. I who eat Your Majesty’s rice must also carry Your Majesty’s burdens. Witchcraft was used to curse a loyal official. If this is not handled properly, how can the soldiers on the border be expected to charge into battle without hesitation?"
"Impartially? We see it as you using your public office to settle a private grudge! Years ago, Chancellor Xie impeached you for allowing a subordinate to abduct a young woman. We demoted you one rank, and you’ve held onto that grudge to this day."
Imperial Secretary Qi’s eyes darted. "Your Majesty, I am innocent of this."
The Emperor had no patience for more excuses. "We have already punished the Xie family. Your persistence is futile and shows a lack of tact."
"Besides, Minister Qi, if you were truly so impartial, you would be thinking about how to deal with your own sister’s transgressions!"
At these words, Imperial Secretary Qi’s entire body trembled.
’My sister? Consort Rong? What has Consort Rong done wrong?’
The Emperor had the Chief Eunuch hand two secret reports from the previous night to Imperial Secretary Qi.
"We had intended to spare your Qi family some face, but you insisted on challenging Us. Since that is the case, take a good look for yourself!"
Imperial Secretary Qi read the two secret reports. His face grew deathly pale, and cold sweat beaded on his forehead.
The Emperor’s face was a mask of fury. He commanded the Chief Eunuch, "Go. Read them aloud for all the officials to hear."
The Chief Eunuch hastily retrieved the documents from Imperial Secretary Qi.
"Upon investigation, the incident in which Miss Ye was accused of losing the Buddhist Scripture copied by the Ninth Prince was, in fact, orchestrated by one of Consort Rong’s own palace attendants, who stole the item in order to frame Miss Ye."
The court officials erupted in an uproar. Grand Tutor Ye’s eyes widened in stunned fury, his white beard trembling.
"What?!"
The other secret report was the testimony of the palace maid, Jindeng, who had finally confessed under severe torture.
However, she refused to admit she had been acting on Consort Rong’s orders.
She claimed only that she held a grudge because Ye Shangyi had given her a hard time on one occasion.
But the report also stated that during the interrogation of other palace attendants, it was discovered that Consort Rong had been aware of what Jindeng was doing.
The Emperor’s face was grim as he said, "We may as well tell you all. The reason We were late to court this morning is that We went to question Consort Rong."
"She has always been known for her kindness and magnanimity, so how could she condone a maid under her charge doing such a thing? Yet Consort Rong said that Jindeng had served her for many years. She had made a mistake, but she also had a long history of diligent service."
"She pleaded with Us to spare Jindeng’s life. Minister Qi, you tell Us: should We execute this palace maid, or not? And if We do, should We punish Consort Rong for concealing the truth, or not?"
Imperial Secretary Qi was now drenched in a cold sweat, his lips trembling so hard he couldn’t speak.
"I... I..."
"Speak! Why have you fallen silent? Weren’t you just arguing so forcefully, insisting that We mete out the harshest punishment for every offense? How is it that when it concerns your own sister, you dare not speak!" the Emperor thundered, his imperial wrath palpable.
The officials hurriedly cried out, "Your Majesty, quell your anger!"
Imperial Secretary Qi also knelt on the floor, trembling uncontrollably.
He lacked Xie Suzhi’s conviction, the ability to see his own sister-in-law sent to prison.
When it came to his own sister, Consort Rong, Imperial Secretary Qi only wanted to shield her. He was utterly incapable of asking the Emperor for her punishment.
The Emperor’s voice was eerily calm. "We have already demoted Consort Rong in rank and sentenced the palace maid Jindeng to death. Do you find that sufficient?"
Imperial Secretary Qi finally kowtowed, his cold sweat dripping onto the azure stone tiles.
"I... submit to Your Majesty’s judgment."
And with that, the morning court session was dismissed.
As Grand Tutor Ye passed the shell-shocked Imperial Secretary Qi, he snorted heavily.
"Consort Rong truly has a heart of gold, doesn’t she? But only for her own people," Grand Tutor Ye said, then flicked his sleeves and departed.
Xie Suzhi was also preparing to leave, but Imperial Secretary Qi called out to stop him.
Imperial Secretary Qi’s expression was venomous. "Chancellor Xie, you knew I was going to denounce you in court today, didn’t you? That secret report... that was your handiwork too!"
"You are a man of deep and cunning schemes. I cannot recall ever offending you, so why are you so relentlessly targeting me?"
Xie Suzhi’s sharp eyes were inscrutable. He looked at the man with an expression as placid and unmoving as if he were looking at a tree.
"You’re overthinking it. You aren’t important enough to warrant my personal attention."
With that, he strode away, leaving Imperial Secretary Qi so furious he nearly jumped out of his skin.
But Xie Suzhi wasn’t lying. Investigating Consort Rong truly hadn’t been his work.
It was Xie Ming’an.
Just then, word came from his informant in the palace. A pleased Xie Ming’an then headed to the National Academy to wait for Shen Ningning to finish her classes.
The moment he saw the little one emerge from the National Academy, he eagerly went up to share the news with her.
He raised an eyebrow, his thin lips curling into a cool smirk. "I told you. If I want to find something out, I can."
"So? Do you believe me now? Between my eldest brother and me, who’s more capable?"