EWRN - Chapter 30
Chapter 30: The Consort Selection Controversy (III)
What was one to do when the Emperor was always stirring up trouble?
The old ministers were truly worried sick over this Emperor.
As the old eunuch’s announcement faded, the morning court session began.
The ministers reported their duties in an orderly fashion as always, appearing so competent. In contrast, His Majesty Huo Jinyu, leaning comfortably on the Dragon Throne, seemed a tad incompetent.
Huo Jinyu was indeed being incompetent; she was mentally calculating how to bring up the matter of taking a consort. In the past few months, she had taken two in succession, and many ministers already had considerable complaints. Although she wasn't afraid of them, she figured these old ministers would nag her to death.
It seemed she still had to start with the Bai family.
After all the ministers had finished their reports, they secretly prayed that there would be no more shenanigans. Just dismiss the court! Dismiss the court!
However, how could Huo Jinyu let them have their way? “Ahem.” As expected, Huo Jinyu’s light cough indicated she had something to say. The ministers frowned slightly.
“Beloved Ministers, this one has convened morning court today because there is a matter for discussion.” After saying this, Huo Jinyu paused, her eyes sweeping back and forth over the crowd below, taking in all their facial expressions.
Just as she expected, Prime Minister Bai frowned. Yesterday, Huo Jinyu had deliberately arranged for Bi Luo, the head palace maid in Noble Consort Bai’s palace, to leak the letter penned by the Noble Consort to the Bai residence. From the looks of it today, Prime Minister Bai had read that letter.
“I wonder what matter Your Majesty has? Please, tell us old ministers, so that we may resolve Your Majesty’s concerns.” As expected, Prime Minister Bai was the first to step forward, his voice deep. It seemed this old fox had guessed what she was going to say. Today, he couldn't hold his composure and was the first to step forward and ask.
Yesterday, Prime Minister Bai had received a letter from his second daughter, Bai Qing, in the palace. It said that the day before, while visiting the famous brothel city of Jiang City, His Majesty had brought back a courtesan. It was said he had spent a great sum to buy the woman’s first night and her indenture contract. He heard the woman was a government-registered courtesan, and His Majesty had used his status to forcibly take the indenture contract from the prefect, which was a disregard for the law. He heard that not only had he brought back the head courtesan, but he had also brought an unidentified woman into the harem with him. This Emperor must have been blinded by two femme fatales! In the letter, Bai Qing also expressed her worries, saying she was afraid of being bullied by the newcomers in the palace. In short, she was worried her position in the harem was not secure.
How could this be allowed? Now that the Second Prince was under house arrest, the Bai family could no longer count on him. The entire household was pinning its hopes on the child in Bai Qing’s belly. If she gave birth to a dragon son, the Bai family could latch onto imperial power in the future. Noble Consort Bai might even leap to the position of Empress, and then the Bai family’s status would be even more stable! If Bai Qing’s son were made Crown Prince, the Bai family would truly be dazzlingly glorious!
Conversely, there was already a Princess Yan in the harem, who was a huge threat. Now, with the arrival of a devastatingly beautiful head courtesan, perhaps His Majesty would favor the newcomer and forget the old one? If that head courtesan were to give birth to a son or daughter, wouldn't that threaten the position of his daughter, Bai Qing?
In conclusion, the Emperor wanted to take a consort, to make this head courtesan a consort. Unacceptable, absolutely unacceptable. It must be stopped!
Prime Minister Bai affirmed this in his heart, little knowing that disaster was about to befall him!
Huo Jinyu’s little scheme was well-planned. Whether she made Di An a consort or not didn't really matter. Di An was already living in the palace anyway; a title was just a matter of time. Huo Jinyu’s harem only consisted of Bai Qing, the Noble Consort Bai, and Princess Yan, Yan Xi. Yan Xi had a gentle disposition and was a good person; she wouldn't provoke or bully Di An. As for Bai Qing? Heh, this time, Huo Jinyu was bringing up the matter of making the head courtesan a consort precisely to use this opportunity to completely eradicate Bai Qing and the Bai family! As long as the Bai family made the first move, she would have an excuse to feign outrage and thereby lead to…
The corner of Huo Jinyu’s mouth curled up into a wicked, charming smile.
Huo Jinyu didn't speak immediately. She beckoned, summoning Eunuch Wang to her side, and gave him a low-voiced command. Eunuch Wang accepted the order and hurriedly left the court hall.
The civil and military officials saw His Majesty’s series of actions but couldn't hear what he said to Eunuch Wang. They all wondered what His Majesty was up to.
“This one does indeed have a matter to discuss with you beloved ministers today.” Huo Jinyu drew out her words, then slowly sipped her tea. A long time passed, and she still hadn't gotten to the point. Below, Prime Minister Bai had all sorts of opposing arguments ready. He was just waiting for His Majesty Huo Jinyu to announce the ennoblement of the consort so he could deliver them all at once. Seeing Huo Jinyu delay, he felt pent-up, as if a thousand ants were crawling in his heart—both excited and nervous.
Meanwhile, Eunuch Wang, having received his orders, left the Hall of Imperial Governance. He relayed His Majesty’s verbal command, dispatching a squad of guards to Biluo Palace to take Noble Consort Bai Qing into custody. At the same time, he personally led another squad of guards out of the imperial palace, rushing towards the Emerald Gold Pavilion to arrest its manager, Wang Jiachang. It seemed His Majesty intended to uproot the Bai family this time!
When the guards arrived at Biluo Palace with uniform steps, Bai Qing was dressing up in her finest attire. She was waiting for Huo Jinyu to dismiss court and leave the palace so she could go meet her little lover. She hadn't seen Manager Wang Jiachang for several days. Every time she left the palace to make clouds and rain with Manager Wang, she found it incredibly thrilling. As His Majesty’s woman, to be carrying on with a mere shopkeeper was truly stimulating.
Seeing the large contingent of guards approaching Biluo Palace, the palace maids fell to their knees in fear. The guards entered the hall unimpeded. The sound of their footsteps made Noble Consort Bai’s hand tremble, smearing the lipstick past the corner of her mouth and leaving a long streak on her face. The Noble Consort was instantly enraged. She turned and snapped, “Who is it? Such audacity! Who dares make such a racket in the palace!” The words had barely left her mouth when a group of guards in military armor strode in. Before the guard captain could speak, Bai Qing shrieked, “Who allowed you to enter this consort’s palace? Get the hell out!”
The guard captain’s brows furrowed coldly, and he adopted the stern authority of the Imperial Palace Guard. “By His Majesty’s verbal command! We are to arrest the adulteress Bai Qing! Noble Consort Bai, please come with us quietly to avoid unnecessary physical suffering!”
Of course, Bai Qing refused, though her heart was starting to panic. “You’re spouting baseless slander! How dare you insult this consort! This consort wants to see His Majesty!” Bai Qing stood up in a fluster. It is said that if you do nothing to wrong your conscience, you needn't fear a ghost knocking at your door. Bai Qing had done plenty to wrong her conscience, and she broke out in a cold sweat in broad daylight.
Seeing Bai Qing’s lack of cooperation, the guard captain frowned. With a wave of his hand, two guards surged forward. They closed the distance in a few quick steps and seized the Noble Consort. As a weak woman, she struggled but couldn't move, and could only shout, “Do you know who this consort is? This consort is His Majesty’s properly wedded wife! The Noble Consort of the palace! The Bai family is behind this consort! Do you understand, the Bai family? You filthy people! Are you worthy of touching this consort? Let go of this consort at once…”
“Gag her!” the guard captain ordered in a low voice. What kind of shrew was this? Death was imminent, and she still didn't get it. How could His Majesty have ever taken a fancy to such a virtueless shrew?
The guard captain shook his head to himself. True, who hadn't been young and ignorant once? As if remembering something, the captain let out a world-weary sigh. He led the guards, escorting the Noble Consort, and stepped past the palace maids who were kneeling on the ground, trembling, as they left Biluo Palace.
Meanwhile, at the Emerald Gold Pavilion, Manager Wang Jiachang was on the second floor, drinking and feasting with a few of his disreputable friends.
“None of you can compare to me! I’m a man who’s done great things!” After three rounds of drinks, Manager Wang was already drunk, his speech slurring. He spoke thickly, “Do you know what great thing I’ve done?”
His friends were also in various states of drunkenness. They chimed in, “Old Wang, don’t tell me you went to the Emerald Fragrance House for some warm, fragrant, soft jade again?”
“Hahahahahahaha…”
The group roared with laughter.
“Not at all, not at all!” Manager Wang took another large gulp of wine. “The great thing I’ve done… is the Noble Consort in the palace!”
“Pah!” one of his friends spat. “You? A toad lusting after a swan’s ass!”
Hearing this, another round of laughter erupted in the private room. No one took him seriously. Manager Wang was about to boast some more when suddenly, a commotion was heard from downstairs, followed by the sound of uniform footsteps arriving at their door. With a loud bang, the door was kicked open, and a squad of guards swarmed in.
“You… Who are you people? How dare you barge into this young master’s restaurant!” Manager Wang was dizzy from the drink, but he still tried to put on a brave face in front of everyone.
“You must be Wang Jiachang. Take him away!” The lead guard wasted no words, directly ordering the guards behind him to seize Manager Wang. His friends were so frightened by the scene that they slumped into their chairs, breaking out in a cold sweat, not daring to say a word. They wondered just who Manager Wang had offended.
Although Manager Wang didn't understand what was happening, he was scared out of his wits. He was dragged downstairs by the guards. A crowd of commoners had already gathered below. Seeing Manager Wang being dragged away, they pointed and gossiped endlessly.
Back in the court hall, Huo Jinyu sipped her tea, leisurely calculating the time in her head. When she estimated enough time had passed, she finally spoke slowly, “This one acquired a beauty yesterday and wishes to ennoble her as a Noble Consort. Do my beloved ministers have any objections?”
The ministers had already been standing for a long time. When Huo Jinyu spoke, they were so shocked their legs almost gave out. His Majesty had gotten another beauty! He was taking another consort! The late Emperor had only passed away a little over three months ago, and this was already the third one! This Emperor was truly “unprecedented”!
Of course, there were also ministers who supported Huo Jinyu, wanting to flatter him.
The ministers were silent for a few breaths and were about to voice their opinions when Prime Minister Bai stepped forward first and said, “Your Majesty! This old minister believes the matter of taking a consort is improper!”
The ministers were all shocked. How could Prime Minister Bai be so blunt? Wasn't he afraid of offending His Majesty in front of all the civil and military officials?
Huo Jinyu deliberately put on a displeased expression. With a stern face, she asked, “Prime Minister Bai, are you dissatisfied with this one in some way? Just say it directly. Why must you repeatedly obstruct this one’s attempts to take a consort?!”
Prime Minister Bai’s powerful frame trembled, and he knelt down.
“Your Majesty may take anyone as a consort, but it absolutely cannot be that woman from the brothels!”
As soon as these words were spoken, the entire court was in an uproar!
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