A Precious Pearl in the Imperial City

T/N: OMG I’m sorry! I completely forgot that I didn’t schedule the chapter after committing the blunder of posting it while making the draft!!! T^T

“Your Majesty.” An official of the Dali Temple handed over the compiled report of the case to Liu Zhongbao and bowed toward Emperor Longfeng who was sitting on the throne: “The dealings of all the involved personnel in the Imperial horse farm with other people and their whereabouts are documented in there.”

 

“Beloved Official has worked hard.” Emperor Longfeng took the report from Liu Zhongbao and opened to the first page which recorded the list of all the people involved in detail. After that were the names of people they had contact with, their daily habits, their usual behavior, and even fine details like their food preferences and which day they spent more money than usual.

 

Under each list of suspects, there was a conspicuous red dot.

 

In order to find out these things, the officials of Dali Temple had not had a decent amount of sleep for a long time. However, after inspecting these people’s contacts, they were too afraid to sleep. Because several pieces of evidence, as well as a heap of other small matters, all pointed toward the harem.

 

What was even more startling was that these pieces of evidence were intertwined and came from more than one person, but their purpose united them. It was either to murder Chen Wang or to incapacitate him.

 

Not daring to utter a word, the official silently lowered his head.

 

The time and frequency of Chen Wang’s visits to the Imperial horse farm were irregular. Some of these spies with dubious identities were planted there nearly seven or eight years ago. How old was Chen Wang at that time?

 

Perhaps, this was not just a conspiracy against Chen Wang alone. Although the princes have become each other’s prey, Chen Wang was the fattest and most hated sheep of the flock.

 

No one present in the Palace Hall spoke. Emperor Longfeng looked at the list very seriously, not missing a single character of anyone’s name.

 

Each of these people wanted his son’s life.

 

Almost ten years ago, when he was confined inside his prince’s residence, Duqing was bullied by others. Now that he was the emperor who governed the country and was above all, could it be that he had to let others bully his people?!

 

“The criminals involved in this case will all be sentenced to death by execution.” Emperor Longfeng picked up the vermilion ink brush and drew a circle around the names: “As for the people from the harem involved in this matter… Zhen wants you to continue investigating. No matter who they are, they will not be let off.”

 

“Your Majesty!” The official was horrified: “The niangniangs live deep within the Palace walls. If the investigation goes on…”

 

There were as many shameful secrets in the Imperial family as there were fish and shrimps in the moat. He was worried that if he proceeded with the investigation, it would implicate the birth mothers of the princes and princesses. And in case this matter spread, wouldn’t it lower the Imperial family’s prestige?

 

“Someone wants my son’s life. As the emperor, does Zhen still need to endure it silently?” Emperor Longfeng flung the report on the table: “Beloved Official is tremendously gifted in investigating. Zhen believes that you can get to the bottom of things.”

 

“Your Majesty.” With a bitterness even greater than that of a huanglian1Huanglian [黄连] – An herb (Chinese goldthread / Coptis chinesis) used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for digestive disorders. It has a bitter taste which is due to the presence of an alkaloid called coptisine. rising in his heart, the official cupped his hands and bowed: “Your Majesty, please do not worry. Weichen will definitely investigate the case discreetly so as not to arouse the niangniangs’ suspicion. It’s just…” He looked up at Liu Zhongbao: “It’s just that weichen is a court official so it is not applicable to walk around in the harem. Liu gonggong’s help is needed in some matters.”

 

Emperor Longfeng nodded.

 

Liu Zhongbao bowed toward the Dali Temple’s official: “Lord Luo need not fear. This old slave will wholeheartedly assist you in investigating the case.”

 

“Many thanks, Liu gonggong.”

 

“Don’t be so courteous, Lord Luo. We are both helping to lighten His Majesty’s worries and difficulties.”

 

Liu Zhongbao looked at the calm emperor and noticed that he was holding the vermilion pen so tightly that his knuckles had turned white. He immediately understood that the emperor was absolutely outraged internally.

 

At this moment, if anyone dared to offend him again…

 

“Your Majesty, His Highness Chen Wang seeks an audience.”

 

Emperor Longfeng put down the brush and spoke unhurriedly, “Granted.”

 

“Father Emperor.” Chen Wang entered in large strides and seeing Emperor Longfeng sitting on the throne, he knelt with a plop, “Father Emperor, erchen has been bullied. You have to decide for erchen.”

 

Lord Luo of Dali Temple turned to look at him. Who in the entire capital dared to bully Chen Wang?

 

“Liu Zhongbao, help him up quickly.” Emperor Longfeng stood up. The anger he had suppressed with great difficulty burst out in an instant: “Who has the audacity to disrespect my son?!”

 

Lord Luo was stunned by the emperor’s reaction. Shouldn’t he ask about the ins and outs of the circumstance first?

 

Since Emperor Longfeng ascended the throne, he had been a benevolent and virtuous monarch who was diligent in governing. Under his reign, the common people of Da Cheng lived in peace, worked happily, and had enough food and clothing. He didn’t like to indulge in pleasure nor was he violent or bloodthirsty. So much so that after his enthronement, he never inducted beauties into the Palace to serve him. He could be almost called an extraordinarily wise ruler.

 

Why was it ‘almost’ and not ‘totally’? The reason behind this was none other than his pampering of Su Guifei and the son she gave birth to, Chen Wang. Fortunately, Su Guifei was at odds with her natal family and didn’t seek honor for them. Or else, it might have led to another tragedy like what happened during the late Emperor’s reign where maternal relatives monopolized the Imperial authority.

 

Thinking of it this way, apart from Su Guifei’s bad relationship with court officials, her being too favored by the emperor, Chen Wang’s bit of a bad temper, and his unbridled and bossy technique of handling people, it seemed… that this pair of mother and son had never done anything disastrous enough to incur everyone’s hate before?

 

At least he didn’t kill people for not seeing eye to eye with them or everybody who offended him would have died…

 

Lord Luo shook his head. Reading and knowing too much was not good. He unconsciously compared him with other people.

 

The deeds recorded at the time of the previous Emperor’s reign were too brutal so it was indeed quite easy to feel satisfied with the present circumstances.

 

“Lord Luo, this old slave will send you out.” Liu Zhongbao walked up to Lord Luo and led him outside the Palace Hall.

 

Lord Luo came back to his senses, bowed to the emperor and Chen Wang tactfully, and walked out behind Liu Zhongbao. When he reached the door, he heard Chen Wang muttering that a person was brassy and did not apologize to him even after doing something wrong.

 

Hearing Chen Wang’s grumbling, Lord Luo couldn’t help but be curious. Who is gutsy enough to offend this prince?

 

Walking out of the door, Lord Luo saw Qi Wang walking toward them in a hurry. He turned to Liu Zhongbao and said, “Liu gonggong does not need to see me off.”

 

“Take care, Lord Luo.” Liu Zhongbao has also noticed Qi Wang. He shook the horsetail whisk in his hands and nodded to Lord Luo slightly: “Do be careful on your way out.”

 

“Many thanks, gonggong.” While walking past Qi Wang, Lord Luo cupped his hand and greeted him.

 

Qi Wang paused, returned a half-greeting, and then hurriedly walked to Liu Zhongbao: “Liu gonggong, I wish to meet Father Emperor for something. Please pass this message on my behalf, gonggong.”

 

Liu Zhongbao bowed with a smile: “Your Highness, please wait. His Majesty still has some matters to deal with at the moment.”

 

Hearing Liu Zhongbao’s refusal, Lord Luo quickened his pace, not daring to listen any longer.

 

The door of the Palace Hall was only half-shut. As a result, faint voices could be heard from inside, letting Qi Wang know that Yun Duqing was present there. He nodded gracefully: “I see. Many thanks, gonggong.”

 

He moved to the side, his posture as elegant as a pine: “Then I will wait here for Father Emperor’s summon.”

 

Liu Zhongbao smiled and bowed to Qi Wang.

 

“Father Emperor, don’t you think this Pingyuan residence is abominable?” Chen Wang drank the tea brought by the palace maids: “A few months ago, that little brat of the Zheng family called Mother Consort a ‘Demon Consort’ inside the Palace. Mother Consort is tolerant so she didn’t bother to haggle with that child. Unexpectedly, their whole family turned out to be so arrogant and ill-mannered.”

 

“Father Emperor, I’m your son. Looking down on me means looking down on you.” Chen Wang quenched his thirst with half a cup of tea: “In fact, it is fine if they wish to slander erchen. It is not the first time anyway. But the Ming family is a family of loyal officials; they must not undergo this sort of unredressed injustice just because their daughter is set to wed erchen.”

 

“Three generations of the Zheng family maintained the position of a Marquis; Zhen seems to have been too tolerant of their family.” Emperor Longfeng lowered his eyes. He had originally been suppressing his rage but hearing about Pingyuan residence’s arrogance, the flame in his heart intensified: “Summon an official from the Ministry of Rites into the Palace. Zhen is going to issue a decree.”

 

When Ming Jingzhou entered the Palace, he saw Qi Wang standing outside the Taiyang Palace’s main hall. It was not known for how long he had stood there.

 

“Lord Ming, you are finally here. His Majesty has been waiting for you.” Liu Zhongbao greeted Ming Jingzhou with a smile: “Lord Ming, please follow this old slave.”

 

Qi Wang licked the corners of his somewhat dry lips and looked up at the door that was opened but not yet closed.

 

Then he heard his Father Emperor’s voice coming from within.

 

“Pass Zhen’s decree, the Pingyuan residence’s title will be reduced from Marquis to that of a Count on account of the failure in managing their subordinates well and for belittling the Imperial family. All possession that exceeds their rank must be seized at once. It must not be delayed.”

 

Some withered leaves from the treetops fluttered down with the cold wind. Qi Wang watched the leaves falling on the ground with a lowered gaze, his eyelids trembled slightly.

 

His wedding with Sun Caiyao was extremely close. A few days ago, Imperial Concubine Yang died of illness but the Imperial Astronomer was unwilling to shift the auspicious day. And now, his maternal family had also been demoted. If this matter spread, he would become a joke in the eyes of the other princes and princesses.

 

Both of them were Father Emperor’s own sons. So why did he not leave himself any face even at a time so close to his wedding?

 

Ming Jingzhou accepted the decree stamped with the Imperial seal and glanced at Chen Wang who was sitting on a chair and eating pastries.

 

Perceiving his gaze, Chen Wang nodded at him and casually lowered his head to see if there were any pastry crumbs on his body. Nowadays, as long as Ming Jingzhou took a look at him, he would subconsciously think that he wanted him to copy something again.

 

Unexpectedly, Ming Jingzhou just smiled at him, cupped his hands, and bowed before departing.

 

Chen Wang could no longer continue drinking tea at the sight of this smile. Even his appetite for the pastries died down. He kept on guessing, what did Ming Jingzhou mean by that ambiguous smile?

 

He didn’t study properly in the past. But now, his Father Emperor found him an awfully scary father-in-law who neither hit nor admonished him. Perhaps this was the divine retribution he had to undergo for his younger self’s thoughtlessness.

 

His biggest mistake was meeting Ming Xiaozhu at the entrance of the Ministry of Rites and uttering some hefty words that he shouldn’t have uttered.

 

Vanity makes a man pay a bitter price.

T/N: Bwahahaha Chen Wang’s traumatized hahahahaha! He got himself a worthy father-in-law. I bet Emperor Longfeng feels immensely gratified now xD

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1Huanglian [黄连] – An herb (Chinese goldthread / Coptis chinesis) used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for digestive disorders. It has a bitter taste which is due to the presence of an alkaloid called coptisine.