Chapter 83

Meanwhile, at the Xuanzheng Hall.

The members of Yaoyao’s faction had all gathered around Du Guanliu, showering him with flattery as though it cost them nothing.

Zhou Siren said, “Minister Du, you truly are blessed! Your legitimate daughter has earned the Emperor’s favor, the younger members of your clan are all more promising than the last, and to top it all off, you are a veteran minister who has served two reigns!”

Di Shunzhi added, “Minister Du is truly a pillar of the nation…”

Even Lin Qingti, who was usually the most aloof and high-minded of them all, had been thoroughly influenced by his colleagues. Once he started flattering someone, he was every bit as smooth as the rest.

High Official Gao Chongguang cupped his hands and simpered, “Lord Du has served two reigns, is the backbone of His Majesty, and a pillar of Yan Chi… blah, blah, blah… Yan Chi is blessed beyond measure to have Lord Du!”

Du Guanliu wore a smile on his face, but inwardly he gave a cold snort.

Not long ago, they had all been glaring at him with hostility. Now, every one of them was wagging their tails with delight.

What a bunch of despicable opportunists!

That said, he had to admit that listening to them sing his praises put him in an exceptionally good mood. He felt comfortable all over, practically floating on air.

Especially Gao Chongguang. As expected of a man who had inherited his father’s career, he had mastered the old flatterer’s techniques to perfection.

Ning Shouli, the newest member of Yaoyao’s faction, was feeling rather awkward.

No one had told him that following His Majesty meant learning how to flatter people!

As his thoughts wandered, Du Guanliu cast him a light glance and raised a brow.

“Why is Lord Ning so quiet?”

The implication was obvious: Everyone else had offered some pleasant words. Wasn’t he going to contribute?

Ning Shouli’s old face flushed.

Fine. It was all for His Majesty’s grand cause. He would sacrifice what little dignity he had left!

“This official was just reflecting on how Lord Du has rendered outstanding service to Yan Chi… blah, blah, blah…”

You shameless old bastard. The Du family won’t be riding high for much longer!

At the head of the hall, Yun Yaoyao also put on a display of deep affection with Du Guanliu. They looked as though they could hardly bear to spend a single day apart, much less sleep in separate beds.

For a time, the Du family was enjoying unparalleled glory.

Naturally, the other ministers were all sour-faced with envy.

At the head of the Ministry of Justice’s ranks stood a man with a dark, unreadable gaze.

He was Yan Qinghong, Minister of Justice. He had a pair of sinister phoenix eyes, and the skin beneath his crimson official robes seemed unnaturally pale.

Recently, Her Majesty and the Du family had joined forces to pressure him, clearly intending to bring him down.

Could it be that Her Majesty knew about his relationship with Prince Ze…?

Just then, a low, icy voice came from above.

“Minister Yan, what is your opinion regarding Prince Ze?”

Yan Qinghong bowed and tried his best to present a reasonable, impartial position.

“Your Majesty, regarding Prince Ze’s imprisonment in the Celestial Prison, this official feels that the matter is somewhat improper. Everything is based solely on Concubine Sha’s testimony, and no evidence has yet been produced. To proceed in this manner would violate the law.”

The other supporters of Prince Ze also spoke up, joining forces to apply pressure.

“Your Majesty, you have already kept Prince Ze imprisoned for three days…”

“Your Majesty, this is unfair…”

“Your Majesty, this official respectfully requests that Prince Ze be released…”

But Prince Ze’s faction had already fallen into decline. Not only had his reputation among the people been utterly ruined, but under the combined pressure of Yun Yaoyao and the Du family, his supporters had either defected or been removed from office.

Those who remained either had deeply entwined interests with Prince Ze or possessed enough personal influence to hold out.

As a result, their objections sounded increasingly feeble.

Yun Yaoyao let out a cold snort.

“Minister Yan, as Minister of Justice, your duty is to gather evidence of crimes. If all you can do is repeat these few lines, then what use do I have for you?”

Yan Qinghong immediately dropped to his knees, cold sweat trickling down his back.

“Your Majesty, please forgive me!”

The smiling tiger, Du Guanliu, promptly kicked him while he was down.

“This official believes Your Majesty has made a wise decision. Prince Ze has already aroused public outrage. In addition to being suspected of attempting to murder Consort Miao, he has yet to clear himself of suspicion regarding colluding with the Xiongnu and selling military intelligence. He absolutely cannot be released!”

“Minister Yan, why are you showing such favoritism toward Prince Ze? Could it be that he bribed you?”

Yan ​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​‍Qinghong’s voice turned hoarse.

“I am merely discussing the matter on its merits. Lord Du, do not slander me!”

The second man in the Ministry of Justice’s ranks was Du Xiucheng, a highly capable member of a collateral branch of the Du family. At this moment, even his brows and eyes were brimming with smugness.

Lord Du had instructed that until Consort Ling gave birth to a prince, the Du family must not act recklessly in major matters or casually become Her Majesty’s blade.

But when it came to an opportunity to push his immediate superior aside and take his place, Du Xiucheng was more than happy to see it happen.

With a stern expression, Du Xiucheng spoke up.

“This official agrees with Lord Du. Both Consort Miao and the military intelligence matter are of the utmost importance. Until Prince Ze has cleared himself of suspicion, he must not be released from the Celestial Prison!”

With pressure from outside and betrayal from within, Yan Qinghong had never been in such a humiliating position.

Yet the Yan family’s ties with Prince Ze were already inseparable. No matter how unwilling he was to wade into these muddy waters, he had no choice but to do so.

Yun Yaoyao looked down at Yan Qinghong kneeling below, her eyes filled with certainty that victory was within reach.

This Minister of Justice, known as “the Living King of Hell,” was indeed a rare talent when it came to governing and handling official affairs. She had long wanted to bring him under her command.

On the surface, he had always remained a neutral figure who took no part in factional struggles. In private, however, he was bound to Prince Ze by shared interests for reasons that could not be spoken of openly.

Now that Prince Ze was in trouble, it was the perfect opportunity for her to poach one of his people!

Before long, the court was once again locked in heated debate over Prince Ze.

The ministers were so preoccupied that they did not even have the time to pay attention to Her Majesty promoting the two female officials who had previously served in the inner palace, Guan Wanyu and Ning Ying, to positions in the imperial court.

After the court session ended, many of the ministers had throats dry enough to smoke. All they wanted was to hurry out of the palace, climb into their sedan chairs, and drink some tea to soothe their parched throats.

Yet they had barely gone far from the Xuanzheng Hall when they saw a white-haired old man standing in the middle of the road. One hand stroked his beard while the other rested behind his back. Dressed in white robes and wearing a green jade pendant, he looked every inch the immortal-like sage.

The ministers froze. Quite a few of them immediately recognized him.

“Isn’t that Grand Tutor Tu? Why has Grand Tutor Tu suddenly appeared in the imperial palace?”

“Grand Tutor Tu was not only the late emperor’s teacher but also Prince Ze’s mentor. The late emperor personally granted him permission to enter the palace without prior notice. He must have come for Prince Ze.”

“Grand Tutor Tu’s status isn’t merely esteemed. His students are spread throughout the realm, and he also holds an imperial edict left by the late emperor. If he uses that edict and the influence of his former students to pressure Her Majesty, she may no longer be able to keep Prince Ze imprisoned…”

The ministers secretly glanced at Her Majesty’s expression.

The supporters of Prince Ze, in particular, had swept away the dejection from their faces and straightened their backs, their gazes blazing.

The skies had cleared and the rain had stopped. They felt invincible once more!

Come on, Your Majesty. Let’s fight again!

Grand Tutor Tu took three quick steps toward Yun Yaoyao, then gracefully bowed and cupped his hands.

“Your Majesty, this subject has emerged from seclusion today bearing a great responsibility. I have come to restore order to the court and support the sovereign, fulfilling the trust the late emperor once placed in me!”

Grand Tutor Tu proceeded to ramble on at length.

Perhaps because he had spent so many years lecturing others, Yun Yaoyao could hear an unmistakable trace of moral coercion and condescension in his every word.

But Yun Yaoyao believed that as long as she had no morals, she could not be morally blackmailed.

Say whatever you like. Her strategy was simple: if she did not listen, she would not be annoyed.

When his speech began to grate on her nerves, she gave a cold snort.

Because of the difference in their heights, Grand Tutor Tu could only look up at her.

All he could see were those dark, noble nostrils opening and closing. Beneath them, a pair of thin lips delivered words that nearly made Grand Tutor Tu jump out of his skin.

“After hearing you speak, it feels as though I’ve heard nothing at all.”

“If Grand Tutor Tu’s words had made any sense, then I wouldn’t have listened to him going on and on only to find not a shred of reason in them.”

“If you want Me to release Prince Ze, then produce evidence that clears him of suspicion. If you don’t want Me to release him, then don’t present evidence that clears him of suspicion!”

What kind of contradictory nonsense was that supposed to be?

His Majesty was even more outrageous than he had been during his tyrannical days. He was simply a complete fool of an emperor!