The Imperial Study, within the Palace.
Emperor Xiaochang sat behind his desk, observing the second prince, whose body bore the smell of smoke, with a furrowed brow.
There were many princes within the palace, but a parent’s children were all dear to them. Not to mention the second prince had always been a source of little trouble, even if he were an unfavored prince, he was still his son. Only he had the right to neglect or punish him, how could anyone else bully him?
Marquis Xuanping, kneeling on the ground, saw the Emperor’s face growing increasingly grim. He wailed even more, tears streaming down his aged face. Disregarding his son, who was already half-dead from the beating administered by the second prince’s men, he continued to curse and berate, even begging the Emperor to have this lawless beast beheaded.
Jin Qianyu, sprawled on the ground, had wet his pants in fear. “Father! Father, listen to me explain! I truly didn’t send people to intercept the second prince and set the fire! I, I just wanted to…”
Before Jin Qianyu could finish, Marquis Xuanping angrily interrupted, “Wretch! What explanation do you have to offer when things have come to this!”
How could Marquis Xuanping not be aware of the schemes his son harbored in his heart?
The Jin family’s pharmacy, though seemingly unremarkable, generated a considerable amount of silver each year. Marquis Xuanping used this very wealth to pave the way for his official career.
This year, for some unknown reason, the four major medical halls suddenly ceased their cooperation with the Jin family’s pharmacy. How could he not be anxious!
It was for this reason that he had his son take over the pharmacy. He himself had even strategized for his son, indirectly advising him to bribe vagrants and seize the Western ginseng from the four major medical halls, thereby artificially inflating the price of Huangqi (astragalus) within the imperial city.
“Your Majesty, it is all this minister’s fault. It is my fault for raising such a presumptuous and reckless fool. I beg Your Majesty to punish me severely. I will humbly accept any punishment you deem fit!” Marquis Xuanping kowtowed repeatedly on the ground.
Since the second prince was convinced it was his son who set the fire and intercepted him, so be it. Although he didn’t fully understand the reason behind it, it was certainly better than having everything exposed.
Second Prince Xie Jingxi looked at the weeping Marquis Xuanping with utter disgust in his eyes.
If it weren't for his father ordering him to return to the palace posthaste, he would have already torn Jin Qianyu to shreds.
Emperor Xiaochang knew that Marquis Xuanping had only this one son in his life. If he were truly executed, Marquis Xuanping’s heart would die with him.
Although Marquis Xuanping held no real power, he had at least been loyal to the Emperor.
As the princes’ coronations followed one after another, officials in the court began to form factions, showing clear signs of discreetly aligning themselves behind various princes. Although this was a common occurrence throughout history and something everyone understood, Emperor Xiaochang, while aware he could not prevent it, had no intention of condoning it.
Therefore, Emperor Xiaochang was now in urgent need of loyal officials to remain by his side, to control and suppress the princes’ clandestine influence.
With this in mind, Emperor Xiaochang’s expression gradually softened.
Seeing Marquis Xuanping, an old man, weeping on the ground with his tears and snot indistinguishable, his anger finally subsided. “Death is spared, but punishment cannot be avoided. Since this matter is due to Marquis Xuanping’s negligent upbringing, I shall fine him half a year’s salary. I hope Marquis Xuanping will return and properly guide his son back to the right path.”
Marquis Xuanping breathed a heavy sigh of relief upon hearing this. However, before he could even offer his thanks, Feng Gu pushed open a door and entered.
“Your Majesty, the shopkeepers of the four major medical halls in the imperial city are waiting outside.”
Emperor Xiaochang frowned.
The relief Marquis Xuanping had just felt was instantly replaced by anxiety. Before the Emperor could speak, he preemptively said, “Your Majesty is benevolent to grant the four major medical halls the right to enter the palace. However, these individuals, for their own selfish interests, disregard Your Majesty’s health. If Your Majesty were to see them whenever they wished, where would your authority lie!”
The four shopkeepers waiting outside the door heard Marquis Xuanping’s words, and their already provoked anger blazed to their foreheads!
We haven’t even seen His Majesty yet, and you’re already flatly refusing? If you’re not guilty, why the guilty conscience? Oh, you kneel before His Majesty all night with your son to beg for mercy, and that’s not for selfish gain?
Bah!
You old bastard, you truly have no shame!
Chen Gang, who had always been the most considerate of the bigger picture, could no longer hold back. He turned to look at Wang Can and Xin Bi, his heart pounding as fast as his eyes blinked.
Wang Can and Xin Bi had never been the type to endure silently. Now, with Chen Gang’s tacit permission, they immediately unleashed their fury upon the closed door before them.
“A few days ago, when we were restocking, we noticed we were being followed. Before we could react, we heard someone claiming to be from Jin’s Pharmacy demanding to rob us and kill us. We ran, and the people from Jin’s Pharmacy chased us. We thought we had luckily escaped the clutches of the Jin family, only to discover that the Jin family had mistaken the second prince’s entourage for us and audaciously set fire and surrounded them!”
“There isn’t a single good person in your Marquis Xuanping’s household. To describe the robbery of our shop’s medicinal supplies and the accidental injury of the second prince so elegantly and euphemistically, Marquis Xuanping, you are truly a talent! It’s just that when you take an oath to prove your innocence, have you considered the feelings of your ancestors? Aren’t you afraid they’ll dig up their coffins in the middle of the night to fight you?”
“Marquis Xuanping, at your advanced age, why have you become so shameless?”
Such piercing scolding, coupled with constant epithets like “old scoundrel” and “shameless old man,” directly shook the entire imperial palace.
Xin Bi and Wang Can had naturally loud voices to begin with. With their deliberate shouting now, it was likely that everyone in the palace could hear them clearly.
Within the Imperial Study.
Marquis Xuanping’s old face turned a shade of purple eggplant.
How could he have imagined that when things were already progressing smoothly, these troublesome pests would suddenly appear, not only refusing to reason but also spewing vulgarities!
Faced with these old shrewish women, not only could Marquis Xuanping not curse back in front of the Emperor, but even if he wanted to retort, he wouldn’t know where to begin!
A teacup suddenly fell from the sky, smashing directly onto Marquis Xuanping’s forehead.
Marquis Xuanping, in pain and shock, looked up and saw the Emperor glaring at him with fiery eyes.
It was only at this moment that Emperor Xiaochang finally understood why Marquis Xuanping’s heir had dared to brazenly block the second prince’s path. It turned out that the Marquis Xuanping’s household, blinded by greed, had intended to rob the four major medical halls but ended up intercepting his own unfortunate son.
Second Prince Xie Jingxi’s expression was no better.
So, in the end, he was merely an add-on?
Marquis Xuanping, his face covered in blood, looked at the Emperor and the second prince’s thunderous faces and could only sigh, “It’s over.”
What were the four major medical halls?
They were the most people-friendly establishments in the imperial city!
Emperor Xiaochang cared most about popular sentiment and the voice of the people. Let alone the fact that Jin Qianyu had been blinded by greed and intended to tamper with the medicinal supplies of all the citizens in the imperial city, even just considering the four nuisances standing outside now, Emperor Xiaochang would not easily spare Jin Qianyu.
Otherwise, if this matter were to spread, where would his imperial authority lie?
Where would his reputation lie!