At this moment, the Empress Dowager could still recall the fear, anger, and above all, helplessness she felt as the Queen when she heard that the legitimate princess was to be sent on a peace - making marriage.
Later, if she hadn't taken drastic measures and turned the tables on those who had schemed against her, sending the woman who had tried to seduce her son to the bed of the Prince of Nanzhao, their treacherous plan would have succeeded!
Consort Hui and her son first framed her son for having an affair with a married woman using a niece from her natal family, trying to ruin his reputation as an upright and wise man. Then, under this pretext, they impeached the Crown Prince, claiming that his character was flawed and he was unfit to be the heir.
She had heard that some officials had even written memorials, waiting for the right moment to present them.
On the other hand, they tried to send her daughter on a peace - making marriage, thus ruining her daughter's engagement with the Shen Family and cutting off a major source of support for Emperor Mingxi, who was then the Crown Prince.
Emperor Mingxi pretended not to hear her scolding him for being incompetent and replied, "If she wants to establish herself there, she won't be able to do it without the manpower and resources of Dayan in the early stage.
If she wants to turn against us when she becomes powerful? Well, it depends on the Crown Prince's methods. If he can't even control his cousin, he'd better give me a grandson as soon as possible."
The Crown Prince, who was being urged to have a child, said that if he was to have a grandson, the Emperor should first help him marry a wife!
The Empress Dowager also said, "Fuguang, sending Zhiyao on a peace - making marriage was also a move by the Emperor. The peace - making marriage proposal from Xiqiang came three months ago, and the Emperor has been delaying the reply.
He originally planned to reject it at this birthday festival, but unexpectedly, Zhiyao walked right into the trap.
I couldn't bear to send my daughter on a peace - making marriage back then, and naturally, I can't bear to send my granddaughters now.
Your Majesty, after Xie Zhiyao gets married off, how about discussing with the court officials to abolish the system of sending women on peace - making marriages?"
Emperor Mingxi quickly replied, "What the Empress Dowager says is right. Even if some court officials oppose it, I will firmly abolish this system."
"Your Majesty, when the time comes, if anyone opposes, just tell them clearly that if there is another peace - making marriage, their own children will be sent. Let's see if they can still be so high - minded when the pain hits them!"
[Master, what if there are really those who sacrifice their daughters for personal gain?]
[Then, we'll give them a good publicity about their act of sacrificing their daughters for personal gain. Don't scholars value their reputations the most? Add one more thing: send all their beloved sons and grandsons as part of the dowry or send the whole family to guard the border.
We'll call it a great favor, saying that it allows them to be closer to their daughters and granddaughters who have married into other countries. Hahaha!
Let's see who would dare to oppose and who would dare to sacrifice their daughters for personal gain!]
Emperor Mingxi nodded secretly. This method was good. It might be effective against those old - fashioned and stubborn officials who valued their reputations, clung to the old rules, and were reluctant to give up their own interests.
Soon, the news that Prince Qi was placed under house arrest, the princess was sent on a peace - making marriage, the county princess had her title stripped, and the princess and her husband were punished spread like wildfire through different channels into the ears of officials and aristocratic families in the capital city.
And the source of this storm was just a child - like "appeal to the Emperor" made by the Junior Grand Tutor!
People once again realized the terrifying power of the Junior Grand Tutor!
Those who didn't know the inside story only thought that the Junior Grand Tutor was young and was just like a mascot in the court. They never expected that this underestimated young man would show his fangs in his first move!
For those officials who knew the inside story, this was just the tip of the iceberg. The Junior Grand Tutor had sent at least eight hundred people to prison, and the few people from the princess's mansion were nothing!
Yue Fuguang: How could a good immortal be like a killing demon?
Everyone: Just tell us if you were the one who sent those people away!
Yue Fuguang: !!!!
Some people keenly noticed that in the judgment of the princess's mansion's encroachment on farmland, the Xu Mansion's properties were confiscated and handed over to the national treasury. The illegally obtained farmland would be verified by the Ministry of Revenue and then returned to the original owners.
This judgment was quite normal, but there had been no such precedent in previous years. Back then, all such properties were confiscated by the state and then auctioned off to various families.
Now, they were to be returned to the commoners... Smart people seemed to smell some extraordinary signs from this!
Was the Emperor finally going to take action on land issues? This was what those who knew the inside story thought.
Those who didn't know the inside story were also divided into two groups. The smart ones had smelled the danger, especially those who had done the same things as the Xu father and son.
They had started to hide in the shadows and think about countermeasures, trying to cause some trouble for the Emperor.
The arrogant and lawless group was still indulging in pleasure every day. They thought that the Emperor was just trying to be a wise king, first currying favor with the gentry and now with the commoners?
Emperor Mingxi: You're the one currying favor. Your whole family is currying favor! This is called testing the waters. Do you understand?
Crown Prince: Father, calm down! Calm down! It's better that they don't understand!
Then he silently picked up his sword!
Yue Fuguang and the system, who were watching the show: Host, that barbecue you treated us to was worth it. Look, things are starting to happen!
Yue Fuguang covered her heart painfully: That meal cost me twenty points, twenty credits!
...
"Your Majesty, please uphold justice for me! Your Majesty!" As soon as Emperor Mingxi summoned the Chai father and son into the palace, Chai Jin knelt down with a thud in front of the Emperor's desk.
In the Yangxin Hall, apart from Eunuch Qian, there were only the Emperor and the Chai father and son. Chai Jin had nothing to hide, so he told the whole story in detail.
Today, because Emperor Mingxi wanted to stand up for Yue Fuguang and punish Prince Qi, he ordered Prince Qi to be summoned to the palace after the morning court.
And what was Prince Qi doing at that time?
He was having a private meeting with Chai Jin's wife, Feng Linlang. One had to say that this man was really bold. He dared to have a private meeting with his sister - in - law during the day, not caring about her reputation at all.
By sheer coincidence, Chai Jin happened to pass by and saw them.
At first, Chai Jin was extremely angry, thinking that his wife still had feelings for Prince Qi. But in the end, he managed to keep a bit of his sanity and went home.
He had to ask his wife for an explanation.
At first, Feng Linlang was too concerned about her reputation to tell the truth. Later, seeing that her husband really misunderstood her and Prince Qi, she had to tell the truth.
She poured out all her grievances, fears, and helplessness!
Today's meeting was arranged by Prince Qi. She didn't want to go at first, but Prince Qi threatened her with her reputation, her children, and her husband's future, so she had no choice but to go.
At the meeting, Prince Qi said that Chai Jin had suspected their affair and had started to investigate him. He needed her cooperation to dispel Chai Jin's suspicion.
Feng Linlang was both panicked and furious when she heard this. What affair? When had they ever had an affair?
Wasn't it just this scoundrel who had been pestering her unilaterally? If she could beat him, Feng Linlang would have killed him on the spot!
Feng Linlang was so angry that she didn't say a word, just listening to Prince Qi talk. In fact, he didn't say many useful things. They had only been meeting for less than half an incense stick's time when Prince Qi was invited away by the Emperor's men.
Left alone, Feng Linlang finally managed to calm down and then left the small courtyard one after another with Prince Qi. Coincidentally, she was seen by Chai Jin who was passing by.
