After Transmigration, I Snag a Stunning Bigwig as My Husband-Chapter 785 - 783 Father-in-law

On one side, Marquis Dongxiang was riding out of the palace, while on the other, Duke Chong had just learned that the Emperor had conferred the title of Princess upon Su Jin and designated Tan State, originally the Eldest Princess Duanhui’s fiefdom, as Su Jin’s.

In an instant, Duke Chong’s face turned a shade of purple-green.

Zhangzhou is not merely a fiefdom; more importantly, it harbors that iron mine!

Once the Princess Consort Zhenbei takes over Zhangzhou and discovers the iron mine...

Should it only be the discovery of the iron mine, it would be one thing, but if traces of its exploitation are found, Eldest Princess Duanhui could be accused of deception, a serious crime.

If she is then accused of rebellion, it would be a stigma impossible to cleanse, even if she were to jump into the Yellow River.

After venting his anger, Duke Chong recollected something more important and hurriedly said, "Quickly send someone to Zhangzhou to handle the aftermath!"

Dark Guard Li Zhong’s eyes carried worry.

Duke Chong sat in the chair, his body trembling slightly.

They had learned from Eldest Princess Duanhui that she was incited by the Heir of Prince Zhenbei to commit the assassination, falling into his trap.

Yesterday, the Emperor demoted Eldest Princess Duanhui to Commandery Princess, and it was with the help of Marquis Dongxiang’s intercession that she wasn’t reduced to a commoner.

Yet today, Marquis Dongxiang sought a princess title for Princess Consort Zhenbei and specifically requested Zhangzhou as the fiefdom.

It all seemed aimed at Zhangzhou.

Duke Chong was somewhat worried that Marquis Dongxiang had long since harbored suspicions about Zhangzhou, or he might even know something.

This speculation left him in a state of anxious unrest.

If he had known yesterday about Marquis Dongxiang’s covetousness for Zhangzhou, he might have found a way to remedy the situation.

Now that the Emperor has already granted Zhangzhou to the Princess Consort Zhenbei as a fiefdom, anything done now is too late.

Duke Chong’s face was as overcast as the sky before a storm, stifling to behold.

In the Prince Zhenbei Mansion, Agarwood Pavilion.

In the Political Discussion Hall, the Emperor, in front of all the officials, ordered the drafting of the decree to confer Su Jin as a princess, granting Zhangzhou as her fiefdom.

The news was relayed back to the mansion immediately.

It was an expected outcome, and Su Jin was not surprised.

Knowing in advance somewhat diminished the delight.

In terms of happiness, Su Jin was far less than Xingxing, who was ecstatic, "The Emperor has finally made you a princess, my lady."

"I will have to address you as Princess instead of my lady from now on."

"Don’t..."

Su Jin quickly stopped her, "Continue to call me my lady from now on."

Compared to being a princess, Su Jin felt it was better to be a well-connected bandit.

There were many rules in ancient times, and even more so for a princess.

She still preferred a free and easy life, and being addressed as a princess brought pressure on her.

Outside the room, Xie Jingchen stepped onto the stairs.

A servant ran up behind and said, "Young Master, the Emperor has summoned you to the palace for a discussion."

Xie Jingchen instantly felt overwhelmed.

Whether summoned by Marquis Dongxiang or the Emperor, Xie Jingchen always felt it was for no good purpose.

Particularly now that the Emperor had formally become his father-in-law.

Stiffening his resolve, Xie Jingchen turned and went into the palace to meet the Emperor.

Through the window, Xingxing looked worriedly at the departing young master and said, "My lady, the Emperor wouldn’t have summoned him to the palace just to reprimand him again, would he?"

Xingxing felt a pang of sympathy for the young master.

The Emperor often scolded him unreasonably.

Last time in the Imperial Study, the Emperor scolded him so harshly that Xingxing’s heart trembled.

The young master hadn’t properly taken care of the lady, allowing her to be attacked.

She hadn’t taken good care of the lady either.

When the assassin attacked the lady, she hid in fear of death.

Xingxing feared the Emperor might scold the young master first and then turn to scold her next.

"I can’t quite guess why the Emperor is summoning him to the palace," Su Jin said, nibbling on a fruit.

"But as for getting scolded, he should be used to it by now, right?"

"..."

Xie Jingchen rode into the palace.

When he reached the Imperial Study, the Emperor was not there.

The Empress Dowager had invited the Emperor to Yongning Palace for a talk.

The Empress Dowager had fallen ill and requested the Emperor’s presence, so he could not refuse.

However, the reason the Empress Dowager summoned the Emperor was to ask him to change Su Jin’s fiefdom.

Zhangzhou was initially meant for her daughter, the Eldest Princess Duanhui... No.

Now she is the Commandery Princess Duanhui.

The Empress Dowager asked the Emperor to assign Su Jin a more prosperous place.

Would the Emperor agree?

If Marquis Dongxiang hadn’t already told the Emperor that seven days ago he had dispatched the Flying Tiger Army to Zhangzhou to assist Eldest Princess Duanhui in moving, the Emperor might have indeed considered selecting a very prosperous state or county for Su Jin’s fiefdom, although Su Jin was not short of money, and was even wealthier than the Emperor, her own father.

Thinking about Su Jin’s trade with the Princess of Beimo, where she split three-tenths of the profit with the Emperor, the Emperor didn’t quite know what to say.

With Marquis Dongxiang withholding what exactly evoked his desire for Zhangzhou, and the Empress Dowager insisting on a change of fief for Su Jin,

the Emperor’s curiosity only grew.

He looked at the Empress Dowager and said, "Since Eldest Princess Duanhui has been demoted, the fiefdom must naturally be reclaimed."

"No previous dynasty has ever set a precedent for awarding someone newly claimed feudal lands."

The Empress Dowager knew she was in the wrong.

But Zhangzhou must not fall into the hands of others.

The Empress Dowager looked at the Emperor and said, "Duanhui has lived in Zhangzhou for nearly sixteen years; she has only stayed in the palace for fifteen years."

"Even if the Emperor wants to reclaim the land, there’s no need to hastily reward it to the Princess Consort Zhenbei."

The Emperor frowned, his face displeased, "When the Eldest Princess Duanhui was in Zhangzhou, the Empress Dowager allowed her to move back to the Capital every year, and now, even though she has been demoted to a Commandery Princess, she can still stay in the Capital to serve the Empress Dowager. Yet the Empress Dowager says the Commandery Princess Duanhui is reluctant to leave Zhangzhou."

The Empress Dowager, "..."

This statement hit the Emperor right on the sore spot.

The Emperor’s tolerance for the Eldest Princess Duanhui was already minimal.

How could he tolerate both the horizontal and vertical issues being about her?

Besides, the imperial decree was issued in front of all the officials; how could it be changed at will?

Letting the Empress Dowager recover well, the Emperor took his leave.

When the Emperor returned to the Imperial Study, Xie Jingchen had already been waiting for a full quarter of an hour.

Seeing the Emperor, Xie Jingchen quickly gave his respects, "Greetings to the Emperor."

"Call me Father-in-law!" the Emperor said.

"..."

No one’s ever contested this like this.

Who calls the Emperor ’Father-in-law’?

But since it was the Emperor’s command, Xie Jingchen had to comply.

Inside the Imperial Study, Eunuch Fu dismissed all the palace maids and eunuchs.

The Emperor sat on the Dragon Chair, looking at Xie Jingchen, and said, "What exactly does Zhangzhou have that makes Marquis Dongxiang covet it?"

So, this was why he was summoned to the palace, and Xie Jingchen replied truthfully, "Zhangzhou has an iron mine."

The Emperor’s face changed.

Eunuch Fu gasped.

Prince Qi already harbored treacherous intentions.

The Eldest Princess Duanhui is Prince Qi’s full sister, and her feudal land has an iron mine. Even if Prince Qi did not wish to rebel, such thoughts would arise.

No wonder Marquis Dongxiang sent people early on to help the Eldest Princess Duanhui move from Zhangzhou.

No wonder Marquis Dongxiang intervened on behalf of the Eldest Princess Duanhui to retain her title as a Commandery Princess.

Once the issue of the iron mine in Zhangzhou was revealed, the Eldest Princess Duanhui would find it difficult to escape culpability. If she had already been demoted to a commoner, the Emperor might not pursue it further.

But if she still had the title of a Commandery Princess, she would be judged according to the law, and the punishment would be much harsher than it is now.

And Prince Qi...

If Prince Qi truly intended to rebel, his malevolent intentions wouldn’t stay hidden for much longer.

Knowing about the iron mine, the Emperor could guess most of the subsequent events accurately.

"It’s truly a clever strategy that kills two birds with one stone," said the Emperor.

This strategy was mutually agreed upon by Xie Jingchen and Marquis Dongxiang without discussion.

That’s why Marquis Dongxiang praised Xie Jingchen for having the potential to be a bandit.

Once he knew about the iron mine in Zhangzhou, Xie Jingchen understood he wouldn’t have to endure further scoldings from the Emperor or whisper sweet words to influence decisions.

Marquis Dongxiang, for the sake of the Flying Tiger Army, would sacrifice anything.

Knowing about the iron mine in Zhangzhou, he would certainly have thoughts of claiming it for himself.

The iron mine was bound to please Marquis Dongxiang.

To openly and rightfully take over the iron mine, Marquis Dongxiang had to make the Emperor acknowledge Su Jin.

In doing so, the Emperor’s desires were satisfied.

Neither father-in-law was offended.

To ensure the plan’s absolute success.

He secretly infiltrated the Princess Mansion at night, stole that token, and, during the fight, discretely placed it on the assassin.

When the Junior Minister of the Ministry of Justice and the government officials arrived, not all the assassins had fallen.

Who would suspect that the token was planted on the assassin by Xie Jingchen?

With the Junior Minister of the Ministry of Justice and the government officials as witnesses, the Eldest Princess Duanhui couldn’t shake off the blame.

This was also why the Junior Minister of the Ministry of Justice had to be involved, as the case required testimony.

However, Xie Jingchen did not let the Junior Minister join without reward; by saving Su Jin, the Emperor was sure to reward him generously.

Undoubtedly, this was a win-win strategy.

But in the end, Xie Jingchen still offended the Emperor.

In such a major matter, he informed Marquis Dongxiang but did not proactively inform the Emperor, and that was the mistake.

The Emperor, even with the desire to reward him, did so with displeasure.

Between the two fathers-in-law, he, the Emperor, was the true one.

Even if not more partial to him, he should at least be treated equally without favoritism, shouldn’t he?!

But not rewarding him was also unreasonable.

And then—

The Emperor awarded Xie Jingchen the fake painting despised by Marquis Dongxiang.

Not only was he rewarded, but on his departure, Eunuch Fu chased after him to inform him that the painting was a fake.

The sweet reward was not sweet, but the knife was a true knife.

Xie Jingchen, "..."