Soon, two eunuchs entered and grabbed Zhen Shicheng’s arms, dragging him out.
Zhen Shicheng, concentrating his energy, tried to increase the friction between his feet and the golden bricks, shouting, “Your Humble Servant hasn’t finished—”
Emperor Jingming’s face darkened further: “Drag him out and throw him into the imperial prison!”
Still wanting to speak, truly unrepentant!
Zhen Shicheng was quickly dragged away, leaving behind the fully packed wicker box.
The neatly arranged case files inside seemed to protest on behalf of their owner.
This was the result of Zhen Shicheng’s two-month investigation.
Emperor Jingming glanced at it once, then again, his mood worsening. He cursed, “That audacious old fool, he’s taking advantage of my good nature to say whatever he wants. Hmph, let him cool off in prison and think carefully about what he can and cannot say in the future!”
After waiting a while, Pan Hai didn’t respond.
Emperor Jingming glared at him: “What, you think I’ve done wrong?”
Pan Hai smiled sycophantically: “Your Majesty is wise and mighty—”
“Shut up! I’m not in the mood for your flattery right now.”
Pan Hai blinked: “Then, does Your Majesty want to inform the Empress?”
Emperor Jingming’s face darkened: “Inform the Empress of what? Have you forgotten the rule that the inner palace doesn’t interfere with politics after serving me for so long?”
Pan Hai, resisting the urge to roll his eyes, quietly reminded, “Minister Zhen is your in-law, Your Majesty.”
Emperor Jingming: “…” He needed a moment; in his anger, he had forgotten about that!
It was true that the inner palace shouldn’t interfere with politics, but he had thrown his daughter’s father-in-law into prison. Perhaps he should inform the Empress.
Thinking about this, Emperor Jingming became more irritated.
If he had known… if he had known… After pondering for a while, Emperor Jingming couldn’t decide whether he shouldn’t have married the princess to Zhen Shicheng’s son or shouldn’t have thrown Zhen Shicheng into prison.
Faced with Pan Hai’s concerned gaze, Emperor Jingming felt somewhat embarrassed and coldly snorted, “I don’t need your reminder. Even if it’s a family matter, I am the head of the family. I don’t need to report everything to the Empress urgently.”
Did they think he was like Minister Gu, afraid of his wife?
“You may leave.”
After dismissing Pan Hai, Emperor Jingming brooded alone. Thinking about what Zhen Shicheng had said, his heart felt like it was being fried in oil.
After an unknown period of torment, Emperor Jingming rose and approached the wicker box, bending down to pick up and flip through the case files.
His mind was heavy, and he couldn’t focus on what he was reading, but he had to admit that these categorized case files represented Zhen Shicheng’s hard work.
Zhen Shicheng was a genius at solving cases, something he had acknowledged many years ago…
Sighs echoed in the imperial study.
The Empress heard about Zhen Shicheng being thrown into the imperial prison the next day, from a very reliable source: Madam Zhen had come to the palace seeking an audience.
“Wait in the front hall. As soon as His Majesty finishes the morning court, invite him over.”
The eunuch accepted the order and left.
The Empress didn’t have to wait long before Emperor Jingming arrived.
Emperor Jingming’s mood was not good after the morning court.
The news of Zhen Shicheng being imprisoned should have spread outside the palace, yet today at court, no one pleaded for him!
What did this mean? Were they all happy to see the downfall of old Zhen, whom he had personally promoted?
He had thought that if the officials pleaded and made a fuss, he could teach Zhen Shicheng a lesson and be done with it. But now what?
Emperor Jingming sat down grumpily, drank several sips of tea, and then asked, “What matter does the Empress have?”
The Empress gestured for the attending palace servants to withdraw and tried to keep her tone even: “Madam Zhen came to the palace early this morning.”
“Ah, so you know about Zhen Shicheng’s situation?”
“Why exactly did Your Majesty throw Minister Zhen into prison?”
“You don’t need to concern yourself with these matters.”
The Empress bit her lip, her tone turning cold: “I dare not and cannot interfere with major affairs outside, but Minister Zhen is Fuqing’s future father-in-law. Isn’t it somewhat unseemly for this to happen before Fuqing is even married?”
Emperor Jingming remained silent.
“Your Majesty, what crime did Minister Zhen commit?” The Empress, seeing Emperor Jingming soften slightly, probed.
Emperor Jingming snorted coldly: “He recklessly investigated a case and claimed that the Empress Dowager was behind the rumors spread about the Crown Princess!”
Emperor Jingming was puffed up with anger, waiting for the Empress to comfort him. To his surprise, the Empress was silent for a moment, then said softly, “I’ve heard that Minister Zhen has investigated countless cases and has never been wrong.”
“What do you mean by that?”
The Empress lowered her gaze: “Has Your Majesty not considered that Minister Zhen might be right this time as well?”
Emperor Jingming was stunned, then became furious: “Empress, how can you think like this?”
The Empress’s tone grew colder: “How else should I think? Fuqing has encountered trouble time and again, each time related to Cining Palace. Now Minister Zhen has discovered that the Empress Dowager was involved in the Crown Princess’s ordeal. Your Majesty, isn’t it time you opened your eyes to see?”
The Empress no longer wanted to hold back.
In the past, she was alone and powerless, in the position of a daughter-in-law, with no chance of winning against the Empress Dowager. But now it was different. She not only had her father-in-law as an ally but also the support of the Crown Prince and his wife.
Restraint was for finding a better opportunity, not for enduring forever.
Expressing her stance now might incur the Emperor’s wrath, but it would surely add another weight to the scale in the Emperor’s heart. One day, it might bring the opportunity to overthrow the Empress Dowager.
She wouldn’t miss such an opportunity.
“Are you accusing me of being willfully blind?”
“I only hope Your Majesty won’t let a single leaf block your view and refuse to listen to your inner voice.”
“Enough! I don’t want to hear any more of this nonsense!” Emperor Jingming stormed off.
The Empress pressed her lips tightly, thought for a moment, and unable to contain her frustration, kicked over a small stool.
Who couldn’t kick a stool to vent? The Emperor was such an idiot!
The imperial couple began another cold war.
It seemed that Zhen Shicheng, the Prefect of Shuntian, might have a long stay in the imperial prison.
The officials were puzzled, and the atmosphere that had just relaxed became tense again.
As May was more than half over, Han Ran, the Commander of the Jinlin Guards, hurriedly entered the palace to report to the Emperor.
“What is it?” Emperor Jingming felt irritated just looking at Han Ran.
If Zhen Shicheng wasn’t still locked up in the Jinlin Guards’ prison, he would have considered making Zhen Shicheng the Commander of the Jinlin Guards.
When would this fool Han Ran ever show some competence?
Han Ran looked somewhat excited: “Your Majesty, I’ve received an urgent report. My subordinates in the southern border have discovered Elder Hua’s whereabouts!”
Emperor Jingming was overjoyed: “Really? Have they apprehended her?”
“My subordinates have quietly taken her into custody and are rushing towards the capital without stopping.”
“That’s good!” Emperor Jingming felt much relieved.
The escape of Elder Hua and her granddaughter from the imperial prison had been a thorn in Emperor Jingming’s side.
Han Ran hesitated: “However—”
Emperor Jingming frowned as soon as he heard this.
He hated hearing the word “however.”
Often, just as something good happened, it would be followed by a “however.” Life was truly unbearable!
“Speak quickly!” Did he expect to be rewarded with an imperial feast before speaking? He was more likely to reward him with a beating.
Han Ran’s expression became somewhat strange: “My subordinates discovered Elder Hua near the Xue Miao tribe.”
“Xue Miao tribe?”
“Yes, it’s said that the Xue Miao and Wu Miao share the same origins, but the Xue Miao have always been suppressed by the Wu Miao.”
Emperor Jingming slightly furrowed his brow: “After bringing Elder Hua back to the capital, interrogate her thoroughly. We must get her to talk!”
Some doubts should finally have answers.