“The Crown Prince is most generous.” Shen Xiabai tucked the jade pendant away and said slowly, “Your subject has not yet moved residences. Last night, the Emperor summoned me and Prime Minister Cui to play chess, and I have not yet returned home.”
“Is that all?” the Crown Prince asked.
Shen Xiabai nodded and answered, “Yes.”
The Crown Prince glanced at his chest, where the jade pendant now rested. “Lord Shen earns his ten thousand taels quickly indeed.”
From the side came the sound of Prince An’s mocking laughter.
Anyone who could see eye to eye with Cui Yunchu could hardly be a person of good character.
A eunuch’s shrill voice announced the start of court, and the Crown Prince returned to his place.
Shen Xiabai cast him a glance and added, “If similar work arises in the future, do remember to come looking for me, Your Highness.”
The Crown Prince: “…”
After a sleepless night, the Emperor’s competitive spirit had faded and he was growing drowsy, fully prepared to end court in a perfunctory manner.
But there are always troublemakers.
As a rule, once the six ministries reported their basic affairs and nothing major remained, court could be dismissed. Yet no one knew why, but today Shen Xiabai was like a dog possessed—every time Cui Qingyuan opened his mouth, he found fault.
He even raised objections over whether he stepped out with his left foot or his right foot when leaving the ranks.
Even the Emperor frowned at the reasoning.
The grounds were, truly, far-fetched.
“Then what does my beloved Minister Shen suggest should be done?”
Shen Xiabai’s expression was solemn. “If I may say, he ought to be caned.”
“Prime Minister Cui’s tone lacked respect—he should be caned.” Although, the Emperor himself could not tell where the disrespect lay.
“Prime Minister Cui was late for court some days ago—he should be caned.”
“Prime Minister Cui has failed to keep his household in order—he should be caned.”
“Prime Minister Cui is not properly attired today—he should be caned.”
“…”
The civil and military officials, including the Emperor, fell into silence.
The Emperor pressed his lips together. “So today, Prime Minister Cui simply cannot escape the caning?”
The Crown Prince murmured quietly, “Wasn’t Prime Minister Cui in the palace last night? You both washed and dressed together before coming to court. If he’s improperly attired, how are you any better off?”
Shen Xiabai said, “Your subject is willing to share Prime Minister Cui’s punishment. I humbly request that the Emperor decree that we both be caned.”
The Emperor: “…”
Civil and military officials: “.”
Today, Lord Shen truly seemed determined to have his caning no matter what.
Nearby, Prince An lounged at leisure, watching the spectacle with narrowed eyes.
“Your Highness, should we intervene?” one of Prince An’s men whispered. All morning, Prime Minister Cui had been impeached by Lord Shen seven or eight times; it was as if even breathing was a crime. After all, he was the prince’s father-in-law.
Prince An smiled faintly and gave his underling a sidelong glance. “Mind your own business.”
Whether those two in-laws quarreled among themselves was none of his concern. Perhaps, by comparison, Prime Minister Cui might even find him more agreeable.
And Yunfeng would not be crying at the thought of the Cui family every day, nor making trouble for him.
Shen Xiabai carried an air of “if there’s no caning, no one leaves today.” The Emperor, growing irritated, simply ordered ten strokes for each man to settle the matter.
Only then was court dismissed, allowing all to go home and sleep.
The court officials cast extremely strange looks at Shen Xiabai. Everyone who passed him could not help but stare at him.
The two had never seen eye to eye, but to go so far as to punish himself just to see Prime Minister Cui punished—such an aggressive move was truly… hard to fathom.
The two men were led away together by the chief eunuch.
Prime Minister Cui glanced at Shen Xiabai, his stern face nearly crumpling—there were hardly words for his current expression.
Disgust. He shot Shen Xiabai a glare, let out a heavy sigh, and walked past him as if looking at a fool.
The Crown Prince and Prince An trailed a few steps behind.
The Crown Prince asked, “Brother, do you want to go watch the excitement?”
“Let’s go. I can tell the story to the Princess An when I return—it’s bound to be highly entertaining.”
The Crown Prince felt that watching Shen Xiabai’s troubles wouldn’t be so easy, but he couldn’t resist joining in for the amusement, so they went along.
One bench, with the two men taking turns lying down on it.
Prince An and the Crown Prince leaned against the corridor pillars not far away, watching. When a palace maid passed carrying snacks, the pair stopped her and helped themselves, eating while they watched.
“Tell me, what was all this about today?” the Crown Prince asked.
There was no real harm done—so why would Shen Xiabai insist that Prime Minister Cui take those ten strokes?
Prince An popped a fruit into his mouth. “Didn’t you spend ten thousand taels on him to find out? Did he not tell you?”
The Crown Prince: “…”
“He said if there’s more work like this in the future, I should come find him again. Ten thousand taels per job.”
Prince An’s mouth twitched.
The Shen family had a hundred years of standing—setting aside wealth enough to rival a nation, their reserves ran deep. Moreover, Shen Xiabai headed the Judicial Review Court and was a favorite of the Emperor. Countless people jostled to curry favor with money and gifts. Why would he ever be short of silver?
The Crown Prince suddenly thought of something. “Could it be that your cousin’s bride-price demands are too high, and he can’t afford them?”
Prince An found the Crown Prince’s reasoning extremely sound.
Cui Yunchu’s mouth wasn’t a lion’s—it was a gluttonous beast.
Over there, the caning was finished. Prime Minister Cui being older, though the strokes were few, still suffered some flesh wounds and had to be supported by attendants to leave.
But Shen Xiabai waved the attendant away and volunteered, “I’m in considerable pain myself as well. Why don’t the two of us support each other as we leave the palace?”
“No need.” Prime Minister Cui’s face was ashen.
But Shen Xiabai acted as if he hadn’t heard, forcibly pulling the man along, and more than once yanked him stumbling. All his refusals were like words spoken to the void.
Prime Minister Cui was, after all, father-in-law and uncle to the Crown Prince and Prince An respectively. The two exchanged a glance and appeared in time to rescue him.
Shen Xiabai’s expression was perfectly calm. “I wish to invite Prime Minister Cui to a meal at the wine house.”
“I am not eating.”
Prince An and the Crown Prince’s faces twitched slightly.
Shen Xiabai first looked at the Crown Prince. “The Crown Princess has her eye on the vacancy in the Ministry of War. Has Your Highness found a way to settle that?”
Then he looked at Prince An. “A long-coveted position, or the Princess An’s fury—has Your Highness decided which to part with?”
“…” The two fell silent. A moment later, they spoke in unison, “Since Lord Shen is being so insistent, Prime Minister Cui might as well go.”
Cui Qingyuan: “…”
There they were—Cui Qingyuan’s carriage driver and servants—watching helplessly as their master was forcefully taken away by the Crown Prince, Prince An, and Lord Shen.
In the private room of the wine house, Cui Qingyuan’s expression was heavy.
The Crown Prince and Prince An sat on either side, waiting for Shen Xiabai to begin.
Prime Minister Cui said, “I and Lord Shen are at odds in politics. We have nothing to say to each other.”
A waiter came in, poured tea, and promptly left.
Beneath Shen Xiabai and Prime Minister Cui were thick, soft cushions.
“How is Lord Zhou faring?” Shen Xiabai said lightly.
At those words, Prime Minister Cui’s eyes instantly turned cold and sinister.
He had not expected Shen Xiabai to be so brazenly audacious.
Shen Xiabai continued, “I imagine Lord Zhou has already told you much, Prime Minister Cui.”
Prime Minister Cui’s brows knit darkly. “My daughter is willful. I will discipline her strictly henceforth. As for anything else—it will never happen.”
His words were absolute, leaving no room for negotiation.
The Crown Prince and Prince An glanced at each other with raised brows, their interest piqued.
Shen Xiabai’s eyes were equally cold. “I wish to discuss a deal with you, Prime Minister Cui.”
“The Shen, Cui, and Tang families have long been at odds. As things stand now, the positions of Cui and Tang are hardly favorable—you know this well in your heart. I can help resolve the matter of Cui Yunli’s posting and smooth his way into the Ministry of War.”
The Crown Prince and Prince An narrowed their eyes simultaneously, first glancing at Shen Xiabai, then turning to look at Cui Qingyuan.
At this moment, this was indeed the most pressing matter.
Cui Qingyuan remained silent, and Shen Xiabai continued, "The Cui-Tang family has suffered a heavy blow due to Grand Tutor Tang. To a certain extent, it could be said that Cui Yunli's future can sway the direction of the Cui-Tang family—even its very survival. Prime Minister Cui can neither bear to see his legitimate daughter wronged, nor can he ignore the fate of his clan."
"Thus, only the terms I have offered will be the most advantageous for Prime Minister Cui."
