“What is he doing here?”
Yin Gezhi put down his chopsticks and said quietly, “Invite him to sit in the side pavilion.”
Then, turning to Guanzhi, he quickly added, “Keep a close eye on her.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Feng Yue rolled her eyes and continued eating her breakfast, showing little interest in Shi Hongwei – after all, it had nothing to do with her.
Indeed, it had nothing to do with her – the visitor had come for Yin Gezhi.
“Your Highness,” Shi Hongwei bowed and said with a smile, “This old minister comes by Imperial decree, having selected several dozen maidens for Your Highness’s consideration.”
Upon hearing this, Yin Gezhi didn’t even want to sit down. He glanced sideways and said, “If the Grand Secretary comes for this matter, there’s no need for further discussion.”
His expression was displeased. Had it been any other official, they might have knelt in reverence by now. However, the Grand Secretary’s expression remained unchanged as he calmly replied, “This old minister knew before coming that I couldn’t persuade Your Highness, so I didn’t even bring the portraits.”
Yin Gezhi’s expression softened slightly after looking at him, and he sat down to ask, “Does the Grand Secretary have other matters?”
With a slight bow, Shi Hongwei smiled and said, “Has Your Highness heard the rumors circulating in the capital? They say Guan Canghai’s vengeful spirit has returned to eliminate those who once wronged him.”
Picking up his teacup indifferently, Yin Gezhi shook his head: “Such absurd talk hasn’t reached my ears. If there truly were a vengeful spirit, why would it wait until now to seek revenge?”
“Therefore, this old minister believes that the recent major incidents in the capital are not the work of vengeful spirits, but rather someone’s deliberate revenge.” Shi Hongwei looked up, his aged face completely serious. “Ever since Your Highness attempted to reopen the Guan family case at Fulu Palace, those connected to the case have met with misfortune one after another. First, He Lan Changde, whom you testified against, wrote a ‘confession of crimes’ and disappeared. Then, Grand Marshal Zhao Xu, who was the first to memorialize for severe punishment of the Guan family, died in disgrace. Now, Minister of Justice Shi Youxin, who presided over the Guan family case back then, has also disappeared. Doesn’t Your Highness find this rather coincidental?”
“Indeed, quite coincidental. The Grand Secretary is wise – while the court is now in turmoil and rumors spread among the common people, no one else has noticed this connection, except for you, sir.”
Pupils contracting slightly, Shi Hongwei frowned as he looked at him: “Is Your Highness admitting to it?”
“Admitting?” Looking up at him in bewilderment, Yin Gezhi asked, “What am I admitting to?”
With a penetrating gaze, Shi Hongwei, radiating righteousness, asked, “Are you saying all these incidents have nothing to do with Your Highness?”
“Do you have evidence to prove my connection to these matters?” Meeting his gaze frankly, Yin Gezhi said, “Falsely accusing others is not a good habit. As the Grand Secretary serving two reigns and the head of the Three Excellencies, you shouldn’t speak based purely on speculation.”
After giving him a deep look, Shi Hongwei lowered his gaze: “Indeed, I was rash in not preparing evidence beforehand. However, Your Highness, if I truly had evidence, I might not be visiting you, but rather meeting you directly in court.”
With a hint of mockery in his eyes, Yin Gezhi nodded: “Then I shall await your formal accusation in court, sir.”
The conversation had reached an impasse. Shi Hongwei’s expression darkened as he bowed to Yin Gezhi. As he turned to leave, he said softly, “You are no longer the Crown Prince of those days, Your Highness.”
Yin Gezhi raised an eyebrow, resting his chin on his hand, and replied lightly, “Then you all can show your true colors as well, Grand Secretary.”
Pausing momentarily, Shi Hongwei departed the prince’s mansion and headed straight for the palace.
Emperor Wen of Wei was sitting by his dragon couch drinking medicine, with the Empress dutifully attending to him. She said softly, “You should worry less lately. The Imperial Physician said you need proper rest. Whatever matters arise can be handled by the Crown Prince.”
“Him?” Coughing twice, Emperor Wen spoke with slight disdain, “He’s not ready to handle my Imperial Seal.”
Hearing this, the Empress became somewhat dissatisfied. When Yin Chenbi wasn’t Crown Prince, he had once wielded the Imperial Seal and handled state affairs for seven days. Why couldn’t Chenyu, the legitimate Crown Prince, do the same? What was the point of making him Crown Prince then?
Despite her dissatisfaction, she was ultimately someone who had climbed to the position of Empress through her own abilities. The Empress maintained her smile as she wiped the Emperor’s mouth with a handkerchief, speaking gently, “If the Crown Prince doesn’t know how Your Majesty can teach him. After all, everything will eventually be handed over to him. Surely Your Majesty doesn’t want to see Wei’s dynasty left without an heir?”
As mentioned before, Emperor Wen was extremely possessive of power. He despised anyone who coveted his authority, even his bedmate and son.
Therefore, hearing these words, he gave a cold laugh, pushed away the Empress’s hand, and said sarcastically, “Besides him, I have other princes. A Crown Prince can be appointed, and can also be deposed.”
He had said this to warn the Empress to behave and not think about seizing power – the right to appoint or remove the Crown Prince was in his hands! However, these words carried a different meaning to the Empress’s ears.
The Empress’s face turned pale as she anxiously withdrew her hand, her heart sinking heavily.
Yin Chenbi’s return to the country and appointment as Prince had already posed a great threat to Chenyu. Now, talk of deposing the Crown Prince had come from the Emperor’s mouth – this was pushing mother and son to the edge! With Yin Chenbi present, Chenyu’s position as Crown Prince would never be secure! She needed to think of a solution quickly.
Just as she was thinking, the eunuch outside came to report: “Your Majesty, the Grand Secretary requests an audience.”
“Summon him.”
Shi Hongwei entered with a grim expression and bowed, keeping his gaze lowered: “This old minister has a matter to report.”
Looking down at his expression, Emperor Wen smiled, “What matter has made the Grand Secretary so displeased?”
“It’s not displeasure, but rather that this old minister feels the situation is grave. If I don’t report to Your Majesty now, it may be too late.” Kneeling directly, Shi Hongwei said with a trembling voice, “Your Majesty explicitly ordered the Filial Prince not to investigate the Guan family case further. While the Prince has indeed stopped investigating, he has… harmed all those previously involved in the case, like catching fish in a net!”
Emperor Wen started in shock, quickly rising to stand before him: “What did you say?”
Pulling out a memorial from his sleeve, Shi Hongwei presented it to the Emperor with both hands: “Please review this, Your Majesty!”
This memorial had been prepared before he visited the Filial Prince’s mansion. It connected recent events to the old Guan family case, pointing out that only the Filial Prince Yin Chenbi could manipulate such situations and officials within the capital. It concluded by suggesting that the Filial Prince would not rest until the Emperor personally issued a decree to reverse the case. Written with various rhetorical devices and in an imposing calligraphy style, it immediately provoked Emperor Wen’s fury.
“Is he rebelling? Is this rebellion?” The Emperor stamped his feet in anger.
The Empress was startled and glanced at Shi Hongwei, who slightly turned his head, giving her a reassuring look.
This was the Grand Secretary Shi, praised by civil and military officials for his integrity. Even Feng Ming and Yin Gezhi had been deceived, believing him to be uninvolved and fair, not knowing that he was consistently protecting himself. Only when his nephew’s interests were threatened would he step forward to bite.
The current Empress was Shi Hongwei’s younger sister, making Yin Chenyu his nephew.
The Emperor hadn’t considered this point, as Shi Hongwei’s character was universally praised. Even when Shi Youxin was in court, he had shown no favoritism. To the Emperor, he was simply an impartial and upright official. Therefore, after reading this memorial, Emperor Wen didn’t think he was targeting the Filial Prince, but rather felt that Yin Chenbi was truly becoming arrogant and going too far!
“Your Majesty,” the Empress said softly, “Please don’t be too angry, mind your health.”
“How can I not be angry with such a rebellious son!” The Emperor tossed the memorial to her and sat aside, breathing heavily.
The Empress quickly read through the memorial, her eyes shifting slightly as she sighed, “Perhaps the Prince has some difficulty he cannot speak of, and isn’t truly defying Your Majesty? Why don’t you test him first, to avoid creating discord between father and son?”
Hearing this, Emperor Wen found it reasonable and looked toward Shi Hongwei.
Shi Hongwei gave the Empress a reproachful look, presumably feeling that the inner palace shouldn’t interfere in politics, then faced Emperor Wen with a righteous expression and bowed: “If you truly wish to test him, it’s simple. Your Majesty can send a lady to be his consort. Such a small matter, by reason, the Prince shouldn’t refuse. If he accepts, perhaps he’s only defiant regarding the Guan family case. If he refuses… then Your Majesty should truly be careful.”
Finding this logical, Emperor Wen immediately designated a concubine’s daughter from a third-rank official’s family and sent his chief eunuch to deliver her to the Filial Prince’s mansion.
Yin Gezhi, unaware of all this, was sitting in the courtyard staring at Feng Yue when the chief eunuch unexpectedly arrived with a woman, saying to him: “Your Highness, this is the consort bestowed by His Majesty. Please arrange for her accordingly.”
His tone was as casual as if saying “This is a dish bestowed by the Emperor, please eat it.”
Yin Gezhi frowned, slightly raising his hand, and Guanzhi immediately pushed both the chief eunuch and the woman out, closing the door behind them.
Feng Yue glanced sideways and sneered, “Our Emperor is quite interesting, casually sending someone else’s daughter to another’s mansion to be humiliated when it’s not even his daughter.”
Looking at her, Yin Gezhi said, “You needn’t be jealous. I won’t accept her.”
Feng Yue: “…”
Was this Prince being overly confident? Which eye had seen her being jealous? In the current situation, she’d be more irritated if he didn’t die – what jealousy was there to speak of?
Looking at him with disdain, Feng Yue turned and left.
“Where are you going?” Yin Gezhi frowned.
Without turning back, Feng Yue shouted boldly: “To pee! Want to come along?!”
Staring at her retreating figure in shock, Yin Gezhi stiffly lowered his eyes and fell silent. After a moment, he gave a slight smile.
How could a young lady be so crude?
This was just a small incident on a peaceful afternoon, neither Feng Yue nor Yin Gezhi took it seriously. However, no one expected that this small matter would trigger huge waves, with disaster rushing toward the Filial Prince’s mansion like a flood!