The Sickly Emperor Is Only Immune to Me-Chapter 90 - 0 Tacit Understanding
Chapter 90: Chapter 090 Tacit Understanding
Tomorrow would come soon.
Taihe Hall
Before the ministers expressed their loyalty, He Ying let Xie Sui report the two major crimes of Qu Zhi: One was ordering an assassination attempt on Sang Kun; the other was the murder of Wan Zhang and framing it on Sang Kun.
“Qu Zhi has confessed to the crimes.”
“The murderer who attempted to assassinate Mr. Sang was also executed last night.”
“The person who captured the murderer was the second son of Duke Zhongyi Mansion, Jiang Ke.”
...
After Xie Sui finished reporting the details of the case, he presented the case file.
Pei Muyang took the case file and presented it to the Emperor.
The ministers murmured among themselves:
“How could this be?”
“Why would Mr. Qu do such a thing?”
“The reason is simple. Qu Zhi had a grudge against Mr. Sang and harbored murderous intentions, which is understandable. But Director Wan was innocent.”
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“Director Wan was a good man. My daughter’s marriages were unlucky, the first two being with a drunkard and a gambler, and her life was miserable. She nearly ended her own life. Out of desperation, I asked Director Wan to calculate her fate, saying the first two were not the destined ones, and the third would be. In fact, it was true; my third son-in-law cherishes my daughter like a treasure.”
“Indeed, Director Wan was also a former minister of the late Emperor. During the suppression of Pei Zhen, he persuaded the Empress Dowager to side with imperial power; otherwise, alas, it would be a pity.”
…
They began to voice grievances for Wan Zhang:
“Director Wan was generous, righteous, and never made enemies. To die tragically by Qu Zhi’s hand is a grievous injustice. We hope the Emperor will vindicate him.”
“Right, we serve the same court; we are like brothers. To see such fratricide is intolerable!”
“Please, Your Majesty, uphold justice and vindicate Director Wan.”
…
They knelt and pleaded.
Some officials held dissenting views:
“Have the Dali Temple and Ministry of Justice reviewed this already? Mr. Xie is merely a governor; allowing him to preside over this case may lead to bias.”
“Yes, Mr. Qu is none other than the Minister of Revenue; he must go through a triple court hearing before a conclusion can be drawn.”
Other officials pleaded for mercy for Qu Zhi:
“Mr. Qu has served for decades; if not meritorious, he has certainly suffered. We hope Your Majesty will show mercy.”
“Yes, Mr. Qu made a mistake in a moment, we hope Your Majesty will be lenient.”
…
Different voices rose and fell throughout the court.
He Ying listened to their disputes, suppressing his irritation, raised his hand, then pressed it down.
This was a gesture for silence.
The hall instantly fell quiet.
“Your focus is misguided. Qu Zhi killed Wan Zhang to frame Sang Kun. How can you ignore his existence with such criticisms concerning Sang Kun?”
“Jiang Chongyu, I remember you saying that serving in the same court is like being brothers, isn’t Sang Kun also your brother? He was targeted for assassination multiple times, and you remained silent?”
“Today, I will not discuss Qu Zhi’s matter but first let you know of Qu Zhi’s character, then question the loyalty of all my subjects. As for Sang Kun and Sang Family’s daughter, do you still seek their deaths?”
He laid this groundwork to vindicate the Sang Family.
Some officials understood the Emperor’s intention and expressed their stance:
“Of course, they should not be killed.”
“Indeed, not only should they not be killed, but they should also be rewarded.”
“Sang Family’s daughter won’t trigger an illness in Your Majesty; she is the chosen Goddess!”
“Congratulations to the Emperor for finding such a divine being.”
…
They began their sycophantic praises.
Some officials remained obstinate:
“What Goddess? She is clearly a demoness! You flip-floppers, full of nonsense, are unworthy to serve as officials!”
“Your Majesty, this upheaval all started with Sang Family’s daughter, reportedly even disturbing the Empress Dowager, causing her suffering. Though she cannot be killed, Sang Family’s daughter is not suitable to remain in the palace.”
“Yes, please, Your Majesty, expel Sang Family’s daughter from the palace.”
…
Their words were forceful.
He Ying watched the two factions’ attitudes and scoffed, “So we are no longer hurrying the birth? The heir no longer concerns the future of Da He?”
No one responded.
In front of the heir, there seemed… to be room for negotiation.
The stubborn faction led by Jiang Chongyu was the first to waver: “It seems the Emperor is quite certain Sang Family’s daughter will bear the heir.”
He Ying nodded: “Naturally.”
He, being a normal man and in his prime years, favored Sang Yan, naturally there would be an heir.
Jiang Chongyu immediately knelt down, “Then within three months, I shall quietly await the good news.”
This meant the Emperor was to favor the Sang Family’s daughter within three months and have her conceive an heir.
“If within three months, the Sang Family’s daughter does not conceive an heir, I hope the Emperor can expel her from the palace.”
“What if she does conceive an heir?”
“Then please, Emperor, grant her a proper status, and we will also be grateful for her great contribution to Da He.”
“Very well.”
He Ying smiled at the other ministers and asked, “Dear ministers, do you have anything to say?”
The ministers unanimously said, “Please, Emperor, let us see the heir as soon as possible.”
They shared the same thought: the heir was more important than anything else. In front of the heir, everything else was trivial.
*
News of the court meeting in the Taihe Hall reached Sang Yan’s ears.
Sang Yan was petting a cat and eating grapes.
Upon hearing it, she almost choked, “Cough cough, so even before I’m pregnant, I have to rely on my child for status?”
The entire court must be crazy for the heir.
Can’t they have a little decency?
She felt an immense pressure: So now, isn’t He Ying going to work hard? For the sake of the child, how could their love life hold any meaning? It’s absurd for the Emperor to agree to such a thing.
How infuriating!
How despicable!
“Let me know when the Emperor leaves the court,” she told Quiuzhi after giving her instructions, she then had someone prepare paper and ink to practice her calligraphy.
They say writing with a brush could calm the mind.
But after a quarter of an hour, she was still restless.
Just then, Qiuzhi whispered in her ear, “Miss, Princess Consort Sang has come.”
Sang Ruoshui had come? This was a visitor who never came without some pressing matter.
Unknown why she had come.
Sang Yan became cautious, put down her brush, and looked over—
When Sang Ruoshui came close, she glanced at the paper, her tone tinged with envy and jealousy, “Sister really is in a good mood.”
Look at that “Joy” character!
Heh, the news does travel fast!
Actually, Sang Yan wasn’t in a good mood, and her expression was cold as she got straight to the point, “What is it?”
Sang Ruoshui indeed had something on her mind.
She didn’t beat around the bush and just said, “Sister must also know, the Emperor promised the ministers to have an heir within three months. Sister must be under a lot of pressure, right? Do you want me to share your concerns?”
Upon hearing this, Sang Yan paused, then curiously responded, “How do you propose to share my concerns?”
The Emperor wasn’t to touch other women.
Did she think she could persuade the Emperor to divide his favor?
As she was thinking, she saw Sang Ruoshui kneel down—
“What are you doing? Get up!”
She was really put off by Sang Ruoshui’s dramatic act—it felt like emotional blackmail!
Her instincts were accurate.
Sang Ruoshui was indeed attempting emotional blackmail.
She clung to her legs, her voice plaintive, “Sister, I genuinely admire the Emperor and would see it as a life’s honor to bear his heir. I hope sister can make this happen.”
“How can I make this happen?”
Sang Yan frowned and said unhappily: “You tried before, and the Emperor fell ill when he touched you. I can’t encourage the Emperor to suffer just to favor you, right?”
She wasn’t so magnanimous as to let the Emperor be impartial with his favors!
She even felt relieved that he had that strange illness, completely cutting off any chances of getting involved with other women!
Which woman doesn’t want to be the only one forever?
“Sister misunderstood.”
With her face flushed, Sang Ruoshui said, “Sister might have heard that I once offered a strategy to the Empress Dowager, and she had people try it out, and it was effective, so—”
Sang Yan: “…”
So she wanted to conceive an heir through that method?
Madness!
Truly madness!
