HomeSheng Shi Di FeiChapter 15: Battle of Words in the Golden Hall

Chapter 15: Battle of Words in the Golden Hall

At the morning court session, Imperial Censor Xu indeed submitted a memorial to the Emperor, impeaching Minister of Revenue Ye Wenhua for failing to properly educate his daughter. True to his heritage as being from the Great Chu’s premier scholarly family, Imperial Censor Xu had written even this impeachment memorial with flowing elegance, citing classics to describe how the Ye family’s Fourth Daughter openly associated with Prince Li before his engagement to Third Young Lady Ye was formally dissolved, showing none of the proper conduct expected of a noble lady. Naturally, all this was attributed to Revenue Minister Ye Wenhua’s failure to educate his daughter. What’s that? Do you say Third Young Lady Ye is also Minister Ye’s daughter? Third Young Lady Ye is Master Qingyun’s granddaughter – who would dare question the bloodline and upbringing of the Xu family?

The Xu family, as Minister Ye’s in-laws, unhesitatingly turning their firepower against the Ye family was completely unexpected, immediately leaving the recently complacent Minister Ye dizzy and disoriented. Although he was now a second-rank Minister of Revenue, Ye Wenhua still deeply respected his former father-in-law. His still-handsome face turned bright red, yet he couldn’t utter a single word in his defense. Though several members of the Wang family wanted to come to his rescue, their official ranks carried little weight. Moreover, every member of the Censorate was a scholarly purist with unyielding integrity, and most importantly, most were graduates of Lishan Academy – their sharp tongues weren’t just for show. Prince Li Mo Jingli, though not directly involved in this impeachment but implicated, was now darkly scowling, radiating cold fury. Unfortunately, though Imperial Censor Xu’s official robes might be thin, in this weather approaching the fourth month… he wasn’t cold.

In the Golden Hall, Emperor Mo Jingqi of Great Chu, seated high on the dragon throne, thoughtfully observed his officials below with their varying expressions. As an emperor, he didn’t mind his officials occasionally fighting among themselves – it would worry him more if they were all united. However, he hadn’t expected the Xu family to unhesitatingly attack Ye Wenhua over someone as minor as Ye Li. Although the Xu family’s direct influence at court had greatly diminished, they remained deeply respected and revered among scholars throughout the realm. It seemed… Minister Ye wouldn’t have an easy time in the coming days. This was just as well – too much prominence could make people think things they shouldn’t. Some people needed to be taught a lesson.

“Minister Ye, is Imperial Censor Xu’s memorial accurate?” Mo Jingqi asked Ye Wenhua with a smile. The monarch’s warm smile somehow sent chills through Ye Wenhua.

“Your Majesty… this humble servant… this humble servant has been wronged…”

“Is Minister Ye suggesting that Imperial Censor Xu is falsely accusing a colleague? But according to this official’s knowledge, as early as last year’s Double Ninth Festival, people saw your daughter and Prince Li together. At that time… Prince Li’s engagement to Third Young Lady Ye had not yet been dissolved, correct?” Another censor stepped forward, looking askance at Ye Wenhua. Though these Censorate officials held no real power, they were all genuinely learned scholars. Moreover, most disdained corruption and naturally didn’t fear making enemies. Since censors couldn’t be punished for their words, as long as they weren’t speaking nonsense, even the Emperor couldn’t fault them – what could others do?

“Indeed, this humble servant seems to recall my wife mentioning this matter. I heard that during this year’s Lantern Festival, Fourth Young Lady Ye also… went sightseeing hand in hand,” Grand Secretary Liu, Minister Ye’s old rival and Noble Consort Liu’s father, naturally didn’t miss the chance to kick him while he was down. The Liu and Ye families’ daughters fought bitterly in the palace, and the two families openly and secretly competed in court as well. Unfortunately, the Ye family’s foundations were shallow – even now with Prince Li’s support, they couldn’t shake established noble families like the Liu clan in the slightest. Moreover, Ye Wenhua was now dealing with internal troubles, being impeached by his in-laws. Grand Secretary Liu would have felt it a waste not to take advantage of this opportunity. Though Prince Li was the Emperor’s younger brother and had the Empress Dowager’s support, his Liu family wasn’t to be trifled with either. His two grandsons and granddaughter were the Emperor’s princes and princesses.

“Jingli, what do you have to say?” Mo Jingqi swept his gaze across the hall before settling on the dark-faced Mo Jingli with a smile.

The hall fell silent for a moment before Mo Jingli’s cold voice was heard: “Your brother has nothing to say.”

Some conservative old officials mentally snorted, their opinion of this prince dropping even lower. Indeed there was nothing to say – such matters wouldn’t normally be investigated without a formal complaint, but once exposed, no punishment would be considered too severe. Who told Mo Jingli and Ye Ying to be so arrogant, thinking no one would dare say anything as they openly appeared together? Not just court officials, but even common people knew about it. Now that the Xu family had brought it up, the more they tried to defend themselves, the more embarrassing it would become.

Prince Li’s supporters naturally couldn’t watch their master suffer this silent defeat. They hurriedly stepped forward to speak: “Your Majesty, that Third Young Lady Ye lacks talent, virtue, and beauty – she was never worthy of Prince Li. Moreover, Prince Li’s current engagement to Fourth Young Lady Ye was personally arranged by the Empress Dowager.”

Imperial Censor Xu laughed coldly, “If Prince Li questioned Third Young Lady Ye’s talents and virtues, he could have properly broken the engagement and sought another match. Why resort to such underhanded methods? According to this official’s knowledge, when Third Young Lady Ye’s engagement was broken, she showed no extreme reactions nor desperately clung to the engagement refusing to let go. Third Young Lady Ye’s virtue is evident. Moreover… Prince Li’s original engagement to Third Young Lady Ye was… bestowed by the Late Emperor!” Between the Empress Dowager’s arranged marriage and the Late Emperor’s bestowed marriage, whose carried more weight? Taking it further, the Empress Dowager arranging a marriage that completely contradicted the Late Emperor’s wishes could even call into question the Empress Dowager’s virtue.

“…” The loyal official retreated, face alternating between pale and flushed. Others watched the spectacle while internally sympathizing with anyone foolish enough to try matching wits with Imperial Censor Xu. Any knowledgeable person knew that years ago, the Xu family’s second son had achieved fame at just sixteen by defeating six great talents from Western Ling in a battle of words. Though he had kept a low profile in recent years, it didn’t mean he had suddenly become ineloquent.

“Enough, does Minister Ye have anything to say in his defense?” Mo Jingqi stopped those below who still seemed eager to speak.

Ye Wenhua hadn’t spent all these years rising from a common scholar to a second-rank official for nothing. Knowing Imperial Censor Xu had come prepared and that he truly had no defense, he simply admitted guilt: “This humble servant has long neglected household matters and failed to strictly discipline my daughter. I request Your Majesty’s punishment.” Men weren’t supposed to interfere in internal household affairs, so neglecting such matters was entirely understandable. The Emperor had no intention of using this trivial matter to eliminate a currently useful official and his most beloved brother. Therefore, he was quite satisfied with Ye Wenhua’s wisdom in knowing when to yield – if he had continued to argue, he might have been forced to issue a heavier punishment, “In that case, Minister Ye shall forfeit one year’s salary, and Prince Li, half a year’s salary. Additionally, as Third Young Lady Ye is refined and virtuous, I grant her one hundred taels of gold and two jade ruyi scepters as additional dowry from me for Master Qingyun’s granddaughter.”

“Thank you for Your Majesty’s grace.” The ashen-faced Minister Ye.

“Thank you, Your Majesty.” The composed Imperial Censor Xu.

“Thank you, Royal Brother.” The even darker-faced Prince Li.

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