The Imperial Capital Rhapsody 15: The War of Words on the Golden Throne
Golden Temple verbal sparring
On this day, early in the morning, Xu Yu Shi indeed handed a memorial to the emperor, impeaching Ye Wen Hua, the Minister of Revenue, for not teaching his daughter properly. Xu Yu Shi is truly worthy of being from the number one scholarly family in Great Chu, as even a simple impeachment memorial was written with flair and elegance, citing classics and canons to describe how the four daughters of the Ye family, including Miss Ye, openly went out with King Li while her engagement to him had not been dissolved, and how they completely lacked the demeanor of a noble lady. Of course, all this was due to Minister Ye Wen Hua's failure to teach his daughter properly. What? You say that Miss Ye is also the daughter of Minister Ye? Miss Ye is actually the granddaughter of Master Qing Yun, so should we question the bloodline and upbringing of the Xu family?
As the Xu family, who were outsiders to Ye Wenhua's family, did not hesitate to aim their cannons at the Ye family, it was absolutely unexpected. In an instant, it made Ye Shangshu, who had been enjoying a smooth and prosperous life, dizzy and disoriented. Although he was now a second-grade official and the Minister of Revenue, Ye Wenhua still deeply respected his former father-in-law. His face, which was still somewhat handsome, turned bright red, but he couldn't utter a single word to defend himself for half a day. Although some members of the Wang family had come out to help him save face, unfortunately, their ranks didn't carry much weight. Moreover, among the officials from the Imperial Censorate, who wasn't a refined scholar or a proud and unyielding individual? Most importantly, many of them were graduates of the Rui Mountain Academy, and their tongues weren't idle. In this impeachment case, although he wasn't directly involved, it was clear that Li Wang Gongzhuo Mei Jingli had some connection to it. At this moment, his face was gloomy, and cold air emanated from him without cost. Unfortunately, Xu Yushi's official robes were a bit thin, but in the weather approaching April... he really wasn't cold.
On the golden throne, the Great Chu Emperor Mo Jingqi gazed thoughtfully at his ministers with varying expressions below. As an emperor, he didn't mind his ministers occasionally fighting each other; if they all stuck together, that's when he'd worry. However, it was unexpected that the Xu family would unhesitatingly attack Ye Wenhua for a mere Ye Lili. Although the Xu family's influence in the imperial court had dwindled significantly, in the eyes of scholars across the land, the Xu clan remained an object of reverence and admiration. It seemed... Ye Shangshu wouldn't have it easy for a while. This was also good; too much glory would make people think things they shouldn't. Some people needed to be knocked down a peg or two.
"Is what Xu Yu Shi reported true?" Mo Jing Qi asked Ye Wen Hua with a hint of a smile. The king's warm and gentle smile, however, made Ye Wen Hua inexplicably feel a chill run down his spine.
"Your Majesty... I, your humble subject, am wrongly accused..."
"Does Lord Ye mean that Lord Xü is framing his colleague? However, according to what this humble official knows, as early as last year's Double Ninth Festival, someone saw your daughter and Prince Li entering and exiting together. At that time... hadn't Prince Li and Third Miss Ye not yet dissolved their engagement?" Another censor stepped forward, casting a slanted glance at Ye Wen Hua. Although the officials of the Censorate did not have real power, they were all men of true talent and learning. Moreover, most of them were unwilling to go with the flow and curry favor with others, so naturally they weren't afraid of offending people either. As long as their words weren't nonsense, even the Emperor couldn't blame them, let alone anyone else?
"Not bad, it seems that I, a humble official, have also heard the lady mention this matter. I heard that at this year's Lantern Festival, Ye Si Miss was also... hand in hand with someone. The old rival of Ye Shangshu, the father of Liu Guifei, Liu Chengxiang, naturally wouldn't miss the opportunity to kick him while he's down. The daughters of the Liu and Ye families are fighting each other to the death in the palace, and on the court, they are also openly and secretly struggling with each other. Unfortunately, the Ye family has a shallow foundation, even if they have now climbed up the big tree of Li Wang, for the time being, they can't shake the Liu family's aristocratic clan at all. Moreover, Ye Wenhua is currently being impeached by his own relatives and having trouble in his own backyard, so Liu Chengxiang wouldn't miss the opportunity to step on him. Although Li Wang is the emperor's younger brother and has the support of the empress dowager, the Liu family isn't one to be trifled with either. His two grandsons and one granddaughter are the emperor's princes and princesses."
"Jing Lei, what do you say?" Mo Jing Qi swept his gaze across the people in the hall, placing his eyes on Mo Jing Lei's gloomy face as he asked with a hint of a smile.
The hall was silent for a while before Mo Jingli spoke in a cold voice: "My brother has nothing to say."
Some conservative old ministers secretly despised this prince even more. Indeed, there was nothing to say about it, as such things were originally not reported by the people and not investigated by the officials. But once they were dug up, no punishment would be excessive. Who let Mo Jing Lei and Ye Ying be too arrogant at first, thinking that no one dared to say anything, openly entering into a pair. It was not only the officials in the court who knew about it, but also many ordinary people. Now that it has been brought up by the Xu family, the more they try to justify themselves, the more embarrassing it will be.
The ministers of the Li Wang family naturally couldn't bear to see their master swallow this dumb loss, and hastily stepped forward to memorialize, "We beg to report to Your Majesty, that Ye San Niangzi has no talent, no virtue, and no looks, and was originally not a match for His Highness Prince Li. Moreover, His Highness Prince Li is now betrothed to Ye Si Niangzi by the Empress Dowager's own arrangement."
Xu Yu Shi coldly smiled and said: "Since King Lei doubts Miss Ye's talent, beauty, and virtue, he should just openly break off the engagement and find a better match. Why must he resort to such clandestine means? According to what this official knows, when Miss Ye was previously jilted, she did not make any extreme displays or stubbornly refuse to back down. Her virtue can be imagined. Moreover...the marriage arrangement between King Lei and Miss Ye was originally...bestowed by the previous emperor! Which one carries more weight, the empress dowager's bestowed marriage or the previous emperor's? To put it more severely, if the empress dowager were to bestow a marriage that completely goes against the previous emperor's wishes, wouldn't that already be enough to question her virtue?"
The loyal and devoted servants retreated with pale faces. The rest of the people watched the commotion while secretly sympathizing with those who were foolish enough to try to outdo Xu, the imperial historian, in a battle of wits. Anyone with some knowledge knew that years ago, the second son of the Xu family had become famous at the age of 16 for defeating the six great scholars of Western Hill in a debate. Although he had kept a low profile in recent years, it didn't mean that he had suddenly become inarticulate.
"Well, does Minister Ye have anything to say in his defense?" Mo Jingqi restrained the people who were still eager to speak.
Ye Wenhua's many years in office, from a ordinary holder to a second-grade official, were not in vain. He knew that Xu Yu Shi was well-prepared and he himself could not defend against the charges, so he directly pleaded guilty: "Your humble servant has been neglecting his duties in the palace for many years and did not discipline his daughter properly, please Your Majesty punish me." Men should not interfere with internal affairs of the palace, and neglecting one's duties was understandable. The Emperor obviously had no intention of punishing his useful minister and beloved brother over such a trivial matter. Therefore, he was very satisfied with Ye Wenhua's understanding of the situation, if he continued to argue, he might have been punished more severely: "Since that's the case, Ye Shangshu will be fined one year's salary, and also Li Wang, half a year's salary. Additionally, Ye San Niangzi Xiumin is virtuous and wise, I grant her 100 taels of gold and two jade hairpins as a dowry for Qingyun Mr.'s granddaughter."
"Thank you for your imperial kindness." The pale-faced Ye Shangshu.
"Thank you, Your Majesty." said Xu Yu Shi with a calm expression.
"Thank you, Emperor." The dark and gloomy Li Wang Hall below.
