Chapter 243: Contempt

Words : 1391 Updated : Sep 27th, 2025

Taihe Palace. After the Empress fainted in anger, the eunuch reported to the Emperor. The Emperor knew the Empress was very angry, but for her to faint so easily, the Emperor was indeed a bit surprised. Normally, he would definitely visit her, even if the Emperor and Empress didn’t get along, she was still his Empress. Marquis Dongxiang rose and took leave from the Emperor. "Your Majesty, please rest well, I will return to the mansion first," said Marquis Dongxiang. The Emperor glared at him, "If you dare cause chaos in the Ministry of Justice, I will not forgive you." Marquis Dongxiang laughed, "Once I’m in the Ministry of Justice, Your Majesty will know just how chaotic the court is inside and out." The Emperor, ".... " To be able to say such words. Indeed, he would detour to kick out the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice. Such disdain for the law, yet he entered the Ministry of Justice—— The Emperor’s head ached. He didn’t know if Marquis Dongxiang was foolish or if he, the Emperor, was foolish. Su Jinfu curtsied. Followed behind Marquis Dongxiang and left. Not long after leaving Taihe Palace, Marquis Dongxiang encountered the Minister of the Ministry of Justice who had returned. Toward the Minister of Justice, who was his immediate superior, Marquis Dongxiang’s attitude was quite normal. Invited his superior for a meal. "I have ordered a table of dishes at the Drunken Immortal Pavilion, Lord Minister, may I have the honor?" Marquis Dongxiang laughed. "No, I should be the one to invite you for a meal," said the Minister of Justice. "I should be the one to invite," said Marquis Dongxiang. "I don’t dare presume, Marquis, your talents in my Ministry of Justice are truly overqualified, I should be the one to honor you," said the Minister of Justice. "Alright then," said Marquis Dongxiang. The Minister of Justice, ".... " Although a meal is nothing to the dignified Minister of the Ministry of Justice. But why couldn’t Marquis Dongxiang be a bit more humble? After all, he was his immediate superior. Filled with confusion, the Minister of Justice walked to Taihe Palace. Seeing the Minister of Justice return again. Even the eunuch was puzzled. Why did he come back? Inside the hall. The Emperor sat on the bed, compared to lying down, he preferred sitting, just couldn’t move. Eunuch Fu sat beside him, worried, fearing the Emperor might break a stitch again. A little eunuch came in and said, "Your Majesty, the Minister of Justice requests an audience with you." The Emperor frowned. Can’t he get a few days of peace? But thinking of Marquis Dongxiang, the Emperor didn’t blame the Minister of Justice. Anyone who knew Marquis Dongxiang was under their charge would have trouble eating and sleeping well. "Let him in," said the Emperor. The little eunuch withdrew. The Minister of Justice walked in. Seeing him, the Emperor asked, "What brings you to see me?" The Minister of Justice bowed to the Emperor, then said, "Your Majesty, I remembered a case at hand that may be a wrongful conviction, I wish to investigate personally and need to leave the capital for a while; I hope Your Majesty will permit this." The Emperor, ".... " Was this to avoid Marquis Dongxiang? Eunuch Fu felt sympathy for the Minister, and thought he was smart enough. Marquis Dongxiang’s temperament couldn’t even be restrained by the Emperor; if he entered the Ministry of Justice, the Minister certainly couldn’t manage him. If he incurred Marquis Dongxiang’s displeasure, he might end up in trouble. Better to stay far away; whatever chaos Marquis Dongxiang caused in the Ministry of Justice wouldn’t be pinned on him if he wasn’t there. The Emperor remained silent. The Minister of Justice sincerely said, "I hope Your Majesty will permit it." The Emperor raised his hand to rub his temples, "I hope you can return to the capital soon, dear minister." The Minister of Justice breathed a sigh of relief. "I will not disappoint Your Majesty’s expectations," he said. The Emperor waved his hand. The Minister of Justice withdrew. After leaving Taihe Palace, the Minister of Justice looked at the drifting white clouds in the sky. Once he left the capital, the entire Ministry of Justice would effectively be in Marquis Dongxiang’s hands. The Minister of Justice went to the Ministry of Justice after leaving the palace. He informed the Vice Minister about the Emperor’s permission for him to leave the capital. The Vice Minister’s face turned pale. His superior didn’t dare be alone with Marquis Dongxiang. With the same rank as Marquis Dongxiang, wouldn’t he be completely suppressed? But with the Minister of Justice evading, he couldn’t flee either. The Vice Minister looked utterly defeated. The Minister of Justice, not wanting to be harsh, said, "Once Marquis Dongxiang is in the Ministry, whatever he wishes to do, just don’t interfere." "Whatever you’re told to do, just do it; if it’s truly impossible, feign illness." The Vice Minister forced a bitter smile. At this point, there was no other choice. Not getting run over by Marquis Dongxiang’s horse and breaking a leg was already lucky. The Minister of Justice didn’t stay long at the Ministry before returning to his Mansion. The Minister’s wife already knew he was leaving the capital; with teary eyes, she asked, "Why did the Emperor let Marquis Dongxiang into the Ministry of Justice, pushing you out of the Capital City?" The Minister of Justice waved, signaling the maids to leave. Once alone, he looked at his wife, "Leaving the capital was my own choice and has nothing to do with Marquis Dongxiang." "How can it have nothing to do with him?!" "If he hadn’t entered the Ministry of Justice, would you be leaving the Capital?" asked the Minister’s wife. He couldn’t refute this. He said, "The Duke sent a letter through Marquis Dongxiang, letting me hand over the Ministry of Justice to Marquis Dongxiang for a while, advising me to feign illness and recuperate at home, not to interfere with whatever Marquis Dongxiang does." "How could it be father?!" The Minister’s wife looked shocked. "It was indeed the Duke’s handwritten letter, telling me to stay home pretending to be sick." "But pretending illness would mean not leaving home for months, it’s too trying for me." "Whatever Marquis Dongxiang intends to do, I can’t ignore it; hence, I must leave the capital," the Minister of Justice said wistfully. It was Duke Zhen’s advice for the Minister of Justice to leave the capital, quenching the wife’s anger, leaving only confusion. "Why would father help Marquis Dongxiang?" She couldn’t understand. She knew Duke Zhen wasn’t the type to aid evil for being coerced or because Marquis Dongxiang saved his son. For him to write such a letter. It clearly showed he knew Marquis Dongxiang’s purpose in entering the Ministry of Justice. And agreed with his actions. What Marquis Dongxiang intended was surely no trivial matter. "Do not disclose this to anyone, even the Old Madam," the Minister of Justice instructed. "I understand." "Have you visited the Old Madam at Duke Zhen’s Mansion?" the Minister of Justice asked. "Not yet, if I don’t go soon, it’ll be too late; I’ll help pack your luggage when I get back," said the Minister’s wife. She rose briskly and left. Duke Chong’s Mansion, main hall. Old Madam Duke Chong sat on the Arhat Couch, her face livid with anger. The maid was kneeling on the ground, cleaning up broken teacup pieces. Such great anger clearly showed she had heard about the Empress fainting in rage. Duke Chong knew Marquis Dongxiang’s vengeful nature, and to prevent Marquis Dongxiang’s men from finding Mr. Huang, he had people searching all over the Capital City. Duke Chong’s Mansion searched quickly, while Marquis Dongxiang’s Mansion was much weaker in this aspect. Not even having seen Mr. Huang, how could they find him? But finding him wasn’t crucial. The key was getting the message to the Empress’s ears. Whether it calmed or unsettled her depended on the message she received. Marquis Dongxiang grasped the key. Even without Mr. Huang, the Empress confessed by herself. Once admitted, there was no chance to go back on her word. All the hustle at Duke Chong’s Mansion. Aside from causing the Empress to spit blood in anger, it was entirely futile.

Chapter 243: Contempt

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