Chapter 261: Truth

Words : 1509 Updated : Sep 29th, 2025

The grand hall suddenly fell silent.Only the voice of Marquis Dongxiang lingered. The civil and military officials looked at Marquis Dongxiang as if he were a fool. Marquis Dongxiang, "...." "Is it a penalty of two years’ salary?" Marquis Dongxiang asked. "Yes," the Emperor held back his laughter. "...." "I’m sorry, I misheard," Marquis Dongxiang said. The officials stifled their internal injuries. Just when it was said that Marquis Dongxiang was punished with two years’ salary, he seemed so happy, turns out he misheard. Marquis Dongxiang glanced at the Emperor. He said nothing. Eunuch Fu, however, was trembling with anxiety. It’s over. Originally, it was a matter that could be settled with two years’ salary, but now it seems it won’t be easily resolved. If no one mentions it, it will naturally be left unsettled. The Imperial Censorate stood up to impeach Prince NanAn and others for their improper teaching of their offspring. Prince NanAn, who hadn’t seen his son for many days, was utterly perplexed by the impeachment. Wasn’t his son beaten black and blue and had no face to show up at the Dongxiang Marquis Mansion? How had he offended the Imperial Censorate again? "What’s going on?" the Emperor curiously asked. The Imperial Censor looked at the Emperor, "Your Majesty, last night the City Patrol Officer saw Prince NanAn, the Heir of Marquis Jingguo, and the Young Master of Dongxiang Marquis Mansion each carrying a man walking the streets in the middle of the night." The Emperor, "...." Prince NanAn twitched his mouth. He and Marquis Jingguo both looked at Marquis Dongxiang. Marquis Dongxiang said, "That was an assassin." Lord Imperial Censor Sun, with some courage, said, "According to the City Patrol Officer, the Young Master of Dongxiang Marquis Mansion and the others looked more like the assassins." The Emperor, "...." Marquis Dongxiang, "...." In the middle of the night. Each carrying a man walking the streets, it was indeed bizarre. The Emperor looked at Marquis Dongxiang, waiting for his explanation. Marquis Dongxiang calmly said, "I have already sent the person to the Ministry of Justice Prison, if Lord Imperial Censor doesn’t believe it, you can visit the prison." Imperial Censor Sun looked at Marquis Dongxiang, frightened by the cold glint in Marquis Dongxiang’s eyes. "No, no need." "Since Marquis Dongxiang says so in front of the Emperor, it probably isn’t false," Imperial Censor Sun said timidly. Entering the Ministry of Justice Prison and coming out unscathed isn’t that easy. This realization— Imperial Censor Sun still had it. The grand hall once again sank into silence. The Emperor said, "Is there no other matter to report?" No official spoke. Eunuch Fu announced the dismissal of the court. When the Emperor returned to the Imperial Study, he didn’t see Marquis Dongxiang. "Did Marquis Dongxiang leave?" the Emperor raised his eyebrow and asked. "He probably went back," Eunuch Fu smiled and said. The Emperor sighed with relief. As he stepped into the Imperial Study, he saw Marquis Dongxiang eating pastries. The Emperor, "...." Eunuch Fu, "...." Eunuch Fu glanced sideways at the Emperor. Rejoicing too early. The Emperor steadied his mind, sat on the Dragon Chair, and said, "Marquis Dongxiang didn’t leave the palace, what do you need from me?" Marquis Dongxiang looked at the Emperor. "Now that Your Majesty knows about the matter in Wangzhou, it’s time to reward me," Marquis Dongxiang said directly. Eunuch Fu, "...." After serving the Emperor for so many years, he had never seen such a straightforward request for a reward by an official. "The reward has already been offset," the Emperor said. Marquis Dongxiang frowned, "This can be offset?" "If I hadn’t intercepted the grain and grass of Wangzhou, Your Majesty wouldn’t have known there was a problem in Wangzhou, and that batch of grain and grass would have been embezzled," Marquis Dongxiang said. "Two great merits, and Your Majesty only punishes me with two years’ salary, then my whole family has to live on the northwest wind?" Marquis Dongxiang looked displeased. The Emperor glared at him. "If your Dongxiang Marquis Mansion has to live on the northwest wind, then others may not even have the northwest wind to live on," the Emperor said through gritted teeth. Marquis Dongxiang, "...." The Emperor picked up a tea cup and asked, "Honestly, how much silver did you seize from Wangzhou’s government office?" Marquis Dongxiang glanced at the Emperor. "How much silver can a government office that needs court aid have?" Marquis Dongxiang replied with a question. "...." "Tell the truth!" "I’m telling the truth, whether His Majesty believes it or not, why not simply ask Marquis Jibei?" Marquis Dongxiang said. "...." The Emperor stared at him. Marquis Dongxiang said, "The exact amount, I didn’t count, but the silver vault in Wangzhou’s government office is empty." Not only the silver vault, but even the Prefect of Wangzhou’s residence was raided, and everything valuable was taken. Since I made a detour to do this, how could I not seize the opportunity to take a solid haul? The Emperor felt a headache coming on. He waved his hand, "Bring the reward to him." Eunuch Fu looked bewildered. There was no preparation for a reward beforehand, how could he give one to Marquis Dongxiang? But the Emperor wanted to give Marquis Dongxiang an illusion. Earlier in the Political Discussion Hall it was just an act for those ministers, to maintain the Emperor’s dignity, but now it was putting them in a difficult position. Eunuch Fu turned and went to the Emperor’s small treasury. Took out ten thousand taels in silver notes. He asked the little eunuch, "Is this enough?" The little eunuch shook his head. He didn’t know. Eunuch Fu assumed it wasn’t enough. Took another three thousand taels. He looked at the little eunuch again. The little eunuch shook his head again. Eunuch Fu took more. Looking at the nearly emptied brocade box. Eunuch Fu felt a bit guilty, returned five thousand taels, and took a pair of Blood Ruyi and a box of Rubies, arranged them on a tray and brought them out. Marquis Dongxiang looked at them, thanked with satisfaction, and left. After seeing him off, the Emperor finally could drink his tea at ease. Eunuch Fu looked at the Emperor, hesitating to speak. "Say what you need to say," the Emperor said. "There are only eight thousand taels left in the small treasury," Eunuch Fu said. "...." Cough, cough! The Emperor started coughing. Outside, a little eunuch came in and said, "Your Majesty, the Eldest Young Madam of Duke Zhen’s Mansion has arrived." The Emperor, "...." Eunuch Fu, "...." It’s over. The last eight thousand taels are likely to be lost. Poor him, what he saved from Marquis Dongxiang’s reward might fall into his daughter’s hands again. "I’m busy, don’t see them," the Emperor resolutely said. The little eunuch went out to convey the Emperor’s words to Su Jin. Xingxing looked at Su Jin, worriedly saying, "If the Emperor won’t see us, what will we do?" Su Jin looked at the little eunuch and said, "Is the Emperor really unable to spare a moment?" "He can’t spare it," the little eunuch replied. "Then we’ll have to look for the Empress Dowager," Xingxing said disappointedly. To look for the Empress Dowager? A quick mental image of the Empress Dowager’s woeful end flashed through the little eunuch’s mind. Seeing Su Jin turning to leave. Startled, the little eunuch quickly said, "Please don’t go yet, I’ll ask the Emperor again." Su Jin, "...." Xingxing, "...." They waited outside the Imperial Study. In no time, the little eunuch returned. "The Emperor asked you to come in," the little eunuch said. "...." Su Jin had black lines running down her face. How much is the Emperor afraid of her going to see the Empress Dowager? She’s not unreasonable. Su Jin stepped into the Imperial Study. Seeing her walk in with a smile that said "no unnecessary visits," the Emperor’s headache started to throb. Su Jin stepped forward, curtsied, and greeted the Emperor. "Rise." "Thank you, Your Majesty." Su Jin stood up. The Emperor looked at her and asked, "Do you have urgent matters for me?" Su Jin shook her head and replied, "It’s not an urgent matter, nor a matter that must be addressed to the Emperor, just that the Emperor is more approachable." "What is it?" the Emperor asked amiably. Su Jin looked at the Emperor briefly, then lowered her head. "Yesterday, the Empress Dowager awarded me with quite a few items, including six hundred mu of good farmland, but I misplaced the land deed, and I don’t know where the six hundred mu of good farmland are," Su Jin confessed with embarrassment. "I’m afraid the Empress Dowager will blame me for not taking care of the land deed properly, which is why I’ve come to the Emperor," Su Jin said. "Just this?" the Emperor asked. Su Jin nodded. Such a trivial matter, it wasn’t even much effort for the Emperor, just a few words would do. He instructed Eunuch Fu, "Go and make a trip to Yongning Palace." "Yes," Eunuch Fu responded.

Chapter 261: Truth

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