Chapter 918: Chapter 916: Leaked News from the Imperial Palace
The emperor complained with his son for a while, feeling somewhat better. Seeing Jinrong’s face seemed a bit awkward, the emperor grew curious and asked, "Even you feel embarrassed, I really want to hear what kind of idea this is?"
Jinrong’s face turned instantly dark. What did Imperial Father mean by this? What did he mean by even he feels embarrassed? Was he such a person with no bottom line?
The emperor urged with great interest, "What on earth is the idea?"
At this moment, the emperor didn’t take Jinrong’s embarrassing idea seriously. He just wanted to hear what trouble Ye Xinyan, a woman who never accepts loss and frequently causes disturbances for not accepting loss, was stirring now.
"It’s like this..."
Jinrong recounted Ye Xinyan’s bizarre proposal to the emperor in full detail.
The emperor listened, first stunned, then widened his eyes, even his beard lifting up.
Could matters be handled this way?
The emperor’s gaze unconsciously shifted to Zhang Cunhai, at least Zhang Cunhai seemed more honest and reliable than Jinrong and Ye Xinyan.
The emperor’s conversation with his son was sensitive, and Zhang Cunhai had been trying to minimize his presence all along.
He had just listened to Ye Xinyan’s proposal and was quite surprised. Such large-scale scheming against the court officials... If those officials were to know that the idea was given to the emperor by the Highness, and even if accidentally discovered to be Ye Xinyan’s idea, she wouldn’t be easy to deal with.
And now, there were only five people in the room. Zhang Cunhai felt heavily burdened, and sweat faintly appeared on his forehead. Good grief, of all times, the emperor looked at him.
... Did he dare to agree? Did he dare to disagree? Who said that being the Grand Steward in the palace, serving the emperor closely, came with infinite glory? It’s infinite risk, isn’t it?
Still tangled, Zhang Cunhai saw the emperor’s gaze withdraw, his mind spinning numerous thoughts.
As an emperor who spared no effort in filling the State Treasury, even penalizing officials and refusing to let go of civilian businesses like Guangsha Construction, this idea of getting something for nothing, he liked.
The emperor frowned and looked at Jinrong, "Such a sneaky idea, and it’s targeting so many important ministers, how could you come up with it?"
Jinrong had a relatively good understanding of his father. His father’s expression had been gloomy for some days, but though he frowned now, a hint of brightness and clearness couldn’t be concealed.
Jinrong sincerely nodded, admitting his fault, "Imperial Father is right, I also feel this is inappropriate."
The emperor, with unchanged expression, continued, "I didn’t see wrongly, Ye Family’s girl is indeed a good child, knowing how to share worries for the nation, better than your princes. You should learn more from her."
This statement was unexpected for Jinrong.
You wish to praise Ye Xinyan, that’s fine. But is there a need to simultaneously belittle your sons? No matter how good Ye Xinyan is, she is the granddaughter of Duke An, and daughter-in-law of Jiang Family, essentially an outsider. Can she really be superior to one’s own children?
Moreover, such empty praise, Ye Xinyan wouldn’t care for it at all. If she knew you used her idea and merely offered a fleeting compliment, she’d curse you out. Of course, she’d do so in her heart.
Jinrong gazed at the sky, deeply pained.
On the side, Zhang Cunhai’s expression was enduringly strained. If not for the emperor’s imposing authority, he would have covered his face on the spot. Your Majesty, couldn’t you at least hold off a bit longer before expressing such a contrary opinion?
Is it true that the more urgent the moment, the more one’s true nature is revealed? This performance of His Majesty truly overturns this old servant’s previous understanding!
...
After several days of no movement, the officials thought, with His Highness Prince Yu donating Lang Garden’s rental income, even though the emperor hinted at wanting them to imitate, they all pretended to be dead, and the emperor couldn’t do anything about it, so the matter seemed settled.
These people were still glad that they had the mental fortitude and courage to remain unfazed even if a mountain collapsed in front of them. Then, Old Prince Chong in the capital widely sent invitations to celebrate his grandson’s first birthday with a lively banquet.
Reportedly, because his lordship was elderly and last year happily welcomed a grandson. Watching the fair and chubby grandchild grow day by day, the old prince was overjoyed. Thus he widely issued invitations for a grand banquet to celebrate his grandson, seeking auspiciousness.
During this time to hold a grand feast, the officials couldn’t imagine anyone would scheme against them. They were puzzled by what problem was afflicting the usually reserved old prince.
Some were even worried the old prince might lose his integrity toward the end and be reprimanded by the emperor.
Suddenly, discussions and explorations about this event roamed continuously.
"Old Prince Chong’s grandson’s first birthday, never heard of it? When did Prince Chong’s Mansion have a new addition?" Completely unheard of, that the mansion had gained a grandchild the old prince valued highly?
An informed official whispered, "Of course you wouldn’t hear of it. I’ve already sent people to inquire, that child is born of the old prince’s concubine, a concubine’s son from a chambermaid."
"Ah? No wonder we hadn’t heard of this child earlier. Is it okay to hold such a grand banquet still?" Didn’t have such precedents before? Except in cases of severely lacking offspring over generations, treating a concubine’s son with such importance would be rare.
The problem is, the old prince’s mansion has plenty of offspring. Could even say the mansion is overcrowded, with several concubine sons living separately.
"Indeed, during such times, holding a grand feast for such inconspicuous descendants is not good, is it?"
"I heard vaguely that the emperor previously disapproved of the capital’s nobles flaunting extravagance. Only following His Highness Prince Yu’s remarks did the emperor refrain from addressing this. But the old prince’s actions... Aren’t related to commercial prosperity or increased taxes."
"Who would say otherwise."
"Will the emperor issue a decree to punish? If the emperor is displeased, should we attend?" A princely heir from a marquis family held a slightly troublesome invitation.
A well-informed official interjected, "No such thing. Latest news from the palace. It is said that His Majesty heard Prince Chong’s Mansion was holding a first birthday banquet for the young child and was very pleased, saying there should be such joyful events to dispel the recent gloom."
"Really? Like that, then we should prepare a decent congratulatory gift."
The news spreading from the palace had quite a reach.
Some simply thought, since His Majesty approved, they naturally shouldn’t offend Prince Chong’s Mansion. Though the prince mansion passed down generations, the rank would decrease, with the next generation being Commandery Prince.
Yet, as long as the old prince lived, he was the emperor’s uncle, undeniably.
Giving face to Imperial Uncle is giving face to the emperor. Hence, acknowledging the banquet with gifts, if not sumptuous, they wouldn’t be true to themselves.
Yet folks like Han Yanhui and Duke An, being old sly foxes, felt the palace’s news leakage seemed suspicious. Since when had palace’s information channels become like sieves?