EWRN - Chapter 32
Chapter 32: The Consort Selection Controversy (IV)
"His Majesty can marry anyone as a consort! But it absolutely cannot be that woman from a brothel!"
As soon as these words were spoken, the entire court was in an uproar!
What kind of joke was this for the Great Yuan Kingdom! The most honored person in all of Great Yuan was actually going to marry a brothel woman?! This… this… what a disgrace!
Relying on his seniority, Prime Minister Bai knelt on the ground and continued, "Your Majesty, you must think carefully. We old ministers have said more than once that the late Emperor passed away just over three months ago, not even three years. Your Majesty insisted on marrying my daughter, and then married Princess Yan for a political alliance. We can let these matters rest. But now Your Majesty wants to marry another woman. If she were a lady from a respectable family, it would be one thing, but this woman is from a brothel. Everyone knows what a filthy place a brothel is! Your Majesty absolutely cannot take her as a consort today! If you truly do, how will you face the late Emperor?! How will you face the royal family's honor?!" Prime Minister Bai knelt on the ground, his every word ringing with conviction, appearing so righteous and awe-inspiring! Many of the old ministers were moved, nodding to themselves in agreement, thinking that he was right.
"An'er is no filthy brothel woman. She is the top courtesan of the famous Jade Spring Pavilion in Jiang City. How could We take a fancy to a mere brothel woman? Prime Minister Bai must be joking," Huo Jinyu said with a smile, her expression completely unruffled.
Prime Minister Bai felt something was strange. He thought to himself, Normally, if I repeatedly used the late Emperor to pressure His Majesty, he would have lost his temper long ago. Today is truly abnormal! For some reason, a heavy stone suddenly settled in Prime Minister Bai's heart, and he grew very flustered. He then recalled the incomprehensible words His Majesty had instructed Eunuch Wang to deliver, and his heart panicked even more. He had a faint feeling that the matter was related to him, or rather, to the Bai residence.
Just then, Eunuch Wang rushed back, his head beaded with sweat. He leaned in close to Huo Jinyu and said, "Your Majesty, Noble Consort Bai, Manager Wang, and the head palace maid of Biluo Palace are all waiting outside the hall. They await Your Majesty's command." Eunuch Wang was panting slightly, as if he hadn't yet recovered from his sprint.
Huo Jinyu nodded in satisfaction and had Eunuch Wang wait by her side. The ministers below saw His Majesty exchange some secretive words with Eunuch Wang and were all curious about what was said. His Majesty was truly acting abnormally today.
"Your Majesty, even if she is the top courtesan of the Jade Spring Pavilion, she is still a prostitute! She is unfit for refined company! How can Your Majesty marry her just like that! Even the sons of ordinary officials would disdain to marry a prostitute!" Seeing that Huo Jinyu had finished speaking with Eunuch Wang, Prime Minister Bai immediately reported.
"Are you implying, Prime Minister Bai, that We are inferior to the son of an ordinary official?" The smile on Huo Jinyu's face began to fade. "Prime Minister Bai, what dissatisfaction do you hold against Us, that you repeatedly obstruct Our wishes?" Huo Jinyu said leisurely, lifting her teacup.
"This subject would not dare!" Prime Minister Bai performed another deep bow.
"Then there is nothing more to be said. This consort, We are determined to take her today!" Huo Jinyu set her teacup down on the table with a "ping," startling the more timid ministers in the court into trembling.
"Your Majesty! You mustn't, Your Majesty! If Your Majesty takes a prostitute as a consort, won't you become a laughingstock to the entire world? It would be the greatest joke under heaven, Your Majesty!" Prime Minister Bai's words were spoken with great emotion, every part of his speech seemingly for the sake of His Majesty, Huo Jinyu.
"This, We do not understand. We are taking a consort. Who We take is Our freedom. How would the people of the world dare to meddle in the affairs of the imperial family? In other words, if all you beloved ministers were to guard your tongues today and not go chattering to the gossipy old women in your households, how would the world ever know that We took a top courtesan as a consort?" Huo Jinyu narrowed her eyes, staring intently at Prime Minister Bai kneeling in the center, the knuckle of her right index finger tapping rhythmically on the table, making a "thump, thump, thump" sound. "Prime Minister Bai, there is another matter We do not understand. We only brought An'er into the palace from outside yesterday. How is it that in a single day, you, Prime Minister Bai, already know the identity of the person We brought back? Hmm? You've investigated quite thoroughly, haven't you? You even know with perfect clarity that We went to Jiang City!" Huo Jinyu raised her right hand and slammed it down on the table, creating a huge noise. The civil and military officials were so frightened they all dropped to their knees at once.
"Your Majesty, calm your anger! Your Majesty, calm your anger!" the ministers cried out in haste. But inwardly they cursed, This Prime Minister Bai really knows how to touch a raw nerve. If His Majesty wants to take a consort, just let him. Look, now he's put himself in an impossible position, hasn't he? And he's dragged all of us down to suffer with him.
Prime Minister Bai began to tremble with fear, but he still pretended to be calm. "Your Majesty, this old subject… this old subject…" Before Prime Minister Bai could find a suitable excuse, Huo Jinyu spoke again, "Prime Minister Bai, I fear you are not acting for Our sake or for the sake of the realm, are you? I'm afraid, Prime Minister Bai, that you repeatedly oppose Us for the sake of that precious daughter of yours, Bai Qing, and her position in the imperial harem. Is that not so?"
"Your Majesty, that is not the case at all. This old subject is acting for Your Majesty's reputation! Heaven and earth be my witness! Marrying a prostitute is against all propriety! I hear that woman is a government-owned prostitute, a remnant from the late Emperor's era!" Prime Minister Bai, like a dead pig that no longer fears boiling water, knelt on the ground and shouted.
Hearing Prime Minister Bai mention a remnant from the late Emperor's era, the ministers once again broke into a flurry of discussion.
Soon, several ministers stepped forward to object, "This subject also believes it is improper to take a government-owned prostitute as a consort. It is against propriety!"
"I concur!"
"I concur!"
"I also concur!"
…
Seeing the number of ministers agreeing with him grow, Prime Minister Bai felt a bit more confident and became rather smug. With so many ministers obstructing you, let's see what reason you, Huo Jinyu, can possibly have to take a consort!
"Reporting to Your Majesty, this subject believes that Your Majesty taking a consort is in accordance with the law. It is also for the sake of propagating the imperial line for the kingdom and the royal family, a matter of great virtue. Why do you all object?" At this moment, a minister stepped out from the ranks and reported. This minister was none other than the Minister of Revenue, Li Wenjie, from Huo Jinyu's faction! Li Wenjie's ability to assess situations was what had allowed him to reach his current position. Since His Majesty was dead set on marrying this woman, why not just go along with His Majesty's wishes? This group of objecting ministers must have been kicked in the head by a donkey.
"Minister Li! What trouble are you stirring up! What nonsense about a matter of great virtue! If His Majesty takes this vixen as a consort, it will bring chaos to the imperial harem! His Majesty absolutely must not!" Prime Minister Bai turned, spat in Minister Li Wenjie's direction, and said fiercely.
"Oh? Chaos in the harem?" Huo Jinyu looked at Prime Minister Bai with great interest and repeated, "Prime Minister Bai, perhaps you can explain to Us what this 'chaos in the harem' means?"
"Reporting to Your Majesty, 'chaos' implies lewdness. How could a prostitute not be lewd? I fear she will corrupt the imperial harem and ruin its virtue!" Prime Minister Bai hastily replied.
"Prime Minister Bai, Our beloved minister, I'm afraid the one bringing chaos to the harem is not Our new bride, but your daughter, Bai Qing, is it not?" Huo Jinyu was smiling, but her eyes were filled with coldness. A powerful aura emanated from her, pressing down on the ministers below. It was time to bring out the imposing presence she had cultivated over decades of rule. Otherwise, these damn ministers would really think this emperor was easy to manipulate.
The ministers knelt on the ground, trembling. They felt the chill in the great hall grow heavier. Prime Minister Bai, bearing the brunt of it, broke out in a cold sweat in an instant. It's finally happening! His premonition had been correct! His precious daughter might really be in trouble!
"Your Majesty, this subject does not understand!" Prime Minister Bai said, gritting his teeth. The best method was to play dumb, hoping to help his daughter escape this calamity.
But it was obvious that today, Bai Qing was doomed.
"Since Prime Minister Bai cannot understand Our words, then We shall let your precious daughter tell you herself." Huo Jinyu leaned back, sitting comfortably on the Dragon Throne, and waved her hand. "Eunuch Wang, bring Noble Consort Bai before Us."
"Yes!" Eunuch Wang responded, straightened up, and shouted, "Bring in Noble Consort Bai!"
"Thump, thump, thump." The sound of orderly footsteps approached. The ministers turned to look at the entrance of the Hall of Imperial Governance. They saw two guards holding down a lavishly dressed Noble Consort Bai as they walked into the hall. But what was comical was that the Noble Consort had somehow smeared her lipstick onto her cheeks.
Prime Minister Bai stared at this scene in shock, finding it utterly unbelievable. He turned back to Huo Jinyu and cried out, "Your Majesty! May I ask how this old subject has offended you, that you would have the innocent Noble Consort Bai bound and shamed before the court?! Your Majesty, what is the meaning of this!" It seemed Prime Minister Bai was determined to protect his precious daughter.
"What is the meaning of this? Prime Minister Bai, you've raised your daughter well! And you still have the gall to brazenly question Us about what's going on?!" Huo Jinyu's face darkened, on the verge of anger.
"This subject would not dare!" Prime Minister Bai said, his words lacking sincerity and even carrying a hint of defiance.
"We have truly given your Bai family too much face!" Huo Jinyu slammed her hand on the table again, so hard that the teacup jumped. Tea splashed everywhere. Seeing this, Eunuch Wang hurried forward and wiped the tea from the table with his sleeve.
"Un-gag Bai Qing for Us." Huo Jinyu waved her hand, and a guard stepped forward to remove the strip of cloth from Bai Qing's mouth. Bai Qing had been seized by the guards with a look of utter confusion, brought to the entrance of the Hall of Imperial Governance, and then led inside. Her disheveled appearance was exposed before all the civil and military officials. She had never seen such a grand spectacle and was already in a panic. Now that her mouth was free, she was so frightened she burst out crying with a wail, "Your Majesty, save me! These guards barged into my palace and tried to molest me! I beg Your Majesty to save this consort!"
Hearing Bai Qing's words, a vein in Prime Minister Bai's temple throbbed violently. How could a man as intelligent as he, Bai Qun, have fathered such a girl who couldn't grasp the situation! And to think he had doted on her so much!
Huo Jinyu felt several dark lines form on her forehead after hearing this. If it weren't to prevent an alliance by marriage between Prime Minister Bai's family and General Hou's family, she would never have married such a stupid, despicable, and □□ woman into her harem!
Some of the civil and military officials had been silently watching the drama unfold. Now, seeing Noble Consort Bai Qing's comical appearance and hearing her speak words so devoid of womanly virtue, they found it truly laughable. "Pfft." A few ministers secretly covered their mouths and let out a laugh.
Prime Minister Bai's face grew even darker.
"Insolence! Noble Consort Bai! Are you not going to confess to Us all the fine things you've done!"
Huo Jinyu slammed the table again. Fortunately, most of the tea had already been spilled. Eunuch Wang felt a pang of pity for his two sleeves.
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