Climbing to the Top: A Reborn Queen's Journey-Chapter 512: Wang Yi (Part 3)

Wang Yi feared neither heaven nor earth, only his own father.

Prime Minister Wang’s face was as heavy as water, his gaze coldly swept over. Wang Yi immediately restrained his arrogant demeanor and stood honestly: "Father, I am back."

Prime Minister Wang coldly asked, "What nonsense did you spew to the Commandery Princess while in the Ministry of Justice prison?"

Wang Yi was stunned and quickly glanced at Wang Jin.

Wang Jin looked a bit helpless. Even if he wanted to report, he hadn’t had the time! The two brothers had been together all along! It must have been someone from the Ministry of Justice who tipped them off.

Sure enough, Prime Minister Wang began scolding him fiercely: "You disgraceful thing! My old face has almost been lost because of you!"

"The Commandery Princess is inspecting the six ministries on behalf of the Emperor and holds a noble status. Even the Six Ministers have to be extremely respectful in her presence. I, too, have to bow and salute her. What sort of scum are you, daring to speak ill of the Commandery Princess! You’ve utterly embarrassed the Wang Family!"

Wang Yi felt completely indignant at the scolding but did not dare to confront his father, having to bow his head in admitting his mistake: "I was wrong, father, please calm your anger."

Prime Minister Wang snorted heavily, turned on his heels, and entered the Prince Mansion, "Come with me!"

Wang Yi felt a tingling on his scalp and signaled to Wang Jin with his eyes.

Why haven’t you come over to support your brother? Can’t you see your elder brother is weak in the legs?

Wang Jin’s mouth twitched slightly. He had no choice with his elder brother, resignedly stepping forward to support Wang Yi’s arm. Wang Yi was quite the hefty man, almost as large as two Wang Jins. As he leaned most of his weight over, Wang Jin almost couldn’t hold him up.

"Father is furious today, isn’t he planning to administer family punishment on me?" Wang Yi murmured nervously, "I’m already over forty years old and a grandfather. Father, at least save me some face."

"If father really lays hands on me later, you must help your brother defend a little."

Wang Jin had no choice but to agree.

It turned out, Wang Yi’s concerns were entirely justified.

Prime Minister Wang led the inept eldest son straight into the ancestral hall, made him kneel before the ancestors’ tablets, and then took out a three-foot-long ruler.

Wang Yi had been beaten with it countless times since he was young. Seeing this familiar ruler, his corpulent body trembled, and he pleaded repeatedly: "Father, calm down, I truly know my mistake! I shouldn’t have embezzled money or caused trouble for the Wang Family!"

Prime Minister Wang, face pale with anger, raised the ruler and brought it down heavily.

A muffled smack resounded, and Wang Yi grimaced in pain.

Wang Jin opened his mouth to plead for mercy, but Prime Minister Wang angrily glanced over: "Shut up! Your elder brother has caused so much trouble, and today I must teach him a proper lesson. You watch from the side! If you err someday, I’ll discipline you just the same!"

Wang Jin cast a helpless and apologetic glance at his elder brother and retreated to the side.

Smack! Smack! 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

The specially crafted heavy ruler kept falling on Wang Yi’s back. Wang Yi howled in pain: "Father, I was wrong! Ah! No more hitting! I won’t dare again!"

Prime Minister Wang, over sixty years old, had limited strength. After delivering several dozen smacks, he couldn’t continue. He suddenly tossed the ruler aside, pointed angrily at Wang Yi and scolded: "You have no clue where you’ve erred!"

"Serving as Inspector, embezzling some silver wasn’t the main issue. But you acted with such reckless arrogance, never avoiding attention, that even trivial matters became widely known. Moreover, lacking in cunning, you couldn’t even control a mere Inspector Mansion, inciting your subordinates to rebel. This is incompetence!"

"I, as Prime Minister, was burdened by you and had to apologize repeatedly to the Emperor, recuperating at home."

Wang Yi’s face was a mess of tears and snot, sniffing continuously: "But hasn’t father returned to the court and continued as Prime Minister..."

"Fool!" Prime Minister Wang couldn’t stand the foolish look of his elder son, angrily delivering a slap: "Due to this matter, my prestige as Prime Minister has greatly diminished. Apologizing repeatedly to the Emperor, even when confronting the Nanyang County Princess, makes me feel somewhat weak. And all this is because of you!"

Wang Yi had been locked up in the Ministry of Justice prison the entire time, while he, as Prime Minister, felt like he was being choked, lacking legitimate reasoning and confidence.

Today, Jiang Shaohua did not hold Wang Yi’s inappropriate words against him, and requested the Emperor for leniency to release Wang Yi from prison. This was yet another favor that could not be refused.

If this continued, how could he, as Prime Minister, hold his head high before Jiang Shaohua?

The officials of the Prime Minister Faction would also become weak and retreat. As this dynamic shifted, Jiang Shaohua’s influence would only grow stronger!

Prime Minister Wang grew more and more irate the more he thought about it, raising his other hand and delivering another slap.

Wang Yi cried out in pain, hands covering the fresh red fingerprints, feeling utterly wronged yet not daring to argue.

Wang Jin finally stepped forward to support the panting old father, "Father, calm down, elder brother has received such a heavy lesson, he will surely be cautious and not cause trouble in the future."

Wang Yi endured the stinging pain on his face, bowed his head and said: "My official position has been revoked, I will be away from the court, even if I want to cause trouble, I won’t have the opportunity. Father, rest assured."

Is this even something a person could say?

Wang Rong’s lifelong reputation was nearly ruined by this disappointing eldest son.

Prime Minister Wang forcefully expelled a deep breath, and said in a deep voice: "Tomorrow morning, you’ll leave the Capital City and head back to the ancestral home."

Wang Yi was shocked and looked up sharply: "Father!"

"Your wife and children, I’ve already made arrangements, they’ve all returned to the ancestral home. You will too!" Prime Minister Wang said coldly: "You can become a wealthy landowner, living carefreely. The position of Wang Family Head, I will pass down to Sir Lang in the future. Just let it go."

Wang Jin was also surprised, quickly raising his head: "Father, I am still young and incapable of such responsibilities. Furthermore, I have the second and third brothers above me..."

"Your second and third brothers are of average competence, not much better than your elder brother." Prime Minister Wang said blandly: "If they had talent and promise, would I have assigned them to distant posts outside the Capital City?"

"Sir Lang, you are an Imperial Minister close to the Emperor. I have been diligently teaching you. In the future, you will be a vital minister of Da Liang, and you will have to take on the responsibility of the Wang Family Head."

Logically, the position of Family Head should be passed to the legitimate eldest son. Unfortunately, Wang Yi was truly disappointing, leading Prime Minister Wang to let go of this thought ten years ago, focusing on educating and nurturing the youngest son.

Wang Yi was aware of this deep in his heart. Upon hearing his father’s words, he was not dissatisfied but rather relieved, covering his face and saying to Wang Jin: "Fourth brother, I will have to rely on you to take care of me in the future."

Wang Jin felt the weight on his shoulders suddenly increase significantly.

Prime Minister Wang sighed: "Tomorrow I have to rise early to attend the small morning court. Escort your elder brother a bit."

Wang Jin suppressed his complicated feelings and replied softly.

Prime Minister Wang strode away.

Wang Jin stepped forward to support Wang Yi. Wang Yi continued to complain incessantly: "Father’s hand is too heavy; he’s not afraid of crippling me."

"I just got out of prison, at least let me stay a few days before returning to the ancestral home. Telling me to leave tomorrow is truly heartless."

"By the way, fourth brother, take your elder brother’s advice. That Jiang Shaohua is formidable, don’t pine over it..."

Wang Jin: "..."