Chapter 237
Huo Yunxuan refused to believe that Li Zhiwei would rather choose Xu Heming, that widower, over him.
However, her words at this moment made him realize that Li Zhiwei's choice was about to shatter his schemes.
Thinking of his eldest and third sisters, still recuperating from their injuries in Li'an County, and his second sister, whose reputation was now utterly ruined, Huo Yunxuan dug his fingernails into his flesh, not even feeling the pain.
All of this started because of Li Zhiwei. How could she live a life of wealth and honor in the capital with a clear conscience?
She should return to Li'an County with him and atone for the actions that harmed his family.
Huo Yunxuan then turned his gaze to Xu Heming beside her.
The reason his second sister was defiled was because Xu Heming had arranged to meet her at the Moonview Pavilion but failed to show up. Given the fate that befell his second sister, Xu Heming should also take responsibility.
He should marry his second sister.
Not just brush it off and walk away.
Thinking this, Huo Yunxuan looked at Xu Heming and said, "Your Highness Prince An, you clearly arranged to meet my second sister at the Moonview Pavilion that day. Why did you stand her up?"
Upon hearing this, the crowd turned their eyes to Xu Heming.
They couldn't understand—could this Prince An, who usually appeared aloof and cold, have also been moved by lust for another woman?
They had just been captivated by Li Zhiwei's beauty, and now they heard Prince An had someone else?
Could that person be even more captivating than Miss Li?
At this thought, everyone grew intensely curious about this Second Miss Huo.
"Young Master Huo, you must not speak recklessly," Xu Heming said with a face full of disdain. "After all, your second sister's... liaison with several beggars at the Moonview Pavilion has nothing to do with me."
Back then, he never said he would go. Huo Yunyao was just being presumptuous on her own.
Zhu Jingchen looked disappointed. He had originally thought Xu Heming was finally catching on.
Turns out, he was still that block of ice who understood nothing of human affairs.
"My second sister was violated by those men because of you. Shouldn't you take responsibility for her?"
After Huo Yunxuan finished speaking, everyone looked at him as if he were a fool.
They had just heard that Second Miss Huo had been with some beggars, meaning she had lost her virtue. How dare he suggest Prince An marry such a woman?
Censor Cao, hearing this, also somewhat disapproved of Huo Yunxuan's words.
However, remembering his master's order to cooperate with this Young Master Huo, he could only clear his throat and say, "Second Miss Huo suffered this grievance because of Prince An. It is only right that Prince An takes responsibility for her."
Censor Cao thought of his master's constant desire to win Prince An over. If Second Miss Huo married Prince An, wouldn't that count as a successful alliance?
Then, his master should certainly credit him for this achievement.
With Censor Cao's assistance, Huo Yunxuan felt more confident.
He didn't understand the rules of the court, but Censor Cao should. Since Censor Cao had also spoken up for him, he needn't worry.
In the end, he would marry Li Zhiwei, and his second sister would marry this Prince An. That wouldn't be a bad outcome.
It would be worth the ten thousand taels of gold he had spent to resolve this matter.
Zhu Jingchen found this more and more absurd. Where did this idiot come from, daring to make such a request? A woman who had lost her virtue—forget marrying Xu Heming, even being allowed to polish his shoes would be a disgusting insult in Zhu Jingchen's eyes.
Xu Heming was his man. When these people beat a dog, shouldn't they first consider the face of its master?
"Huo Yunxuan, is it?" This time, Zhu Jingchen didn't address him as Young Master Huo but called him by his full name directly.
Clearly, he was very displeased.
"Your humble subject is here!" Huo Yunxuan, unaware of the Emperor's growing anger, was actually quite pleased.
"What do you think of me, the Emperor, sitting here?" Zhu Jingchen looked at Huo Yunxuan and asked.
"Your Majesty, you are of heroic bearing and dignified appearance, truly worthy of being the Emperor," Huo Yunxuan thought for a moment and said.
"Then do you think I, the Emperor sitting here, am merely a decoration?" Zhu Jingchen's tone turned several degrees colder. The ministers all anxiously lowered their heads.
Their Emperor was easy to talk to when he was mild-tempered, but if he got angry, someone was surely going to suffer.
Looking at Censor Cao and Huo Yunxuan, the court officials all took a step back.
Even Minister You, who had always been on good terms with Censor Cao, quickly positioned himself three steps away from him.
He sighed inwardly. He had kindly advised Censor Cao, never expecting the man to completely ignore his counsel.
Did he really think the Emperor was so easily fooled?
"Your humble subject did not mean that." No matter how foolish Huo Yunxuan was, he could tell the Emperor seemed unhappy now. He just didn't understand what he had said wrong.
"Censor Cao, do you also think I'm old and easy to deceive?" Zhu Jingchen then asked Censor Cao beside him with the same icy tone.
"Your Majesty, this official dares not. Your Majesty perceives the smallest details and sees clearly through past and present. No treacherous person could ever blind Your Majesty," Censor Cao hurriedly replied.
He was also very uneasy inside. He had now realized the Emperor was angry.
"Censor Cao, before championing someone's cause, did you properly investigate? You don't even know how to distinguish right from wrong. I think you need not serve as a censor anymore!" Zhu Jingchen looked at Censor Cao and without hesitation moved to dismiss him.
After all, the matter between Li Zhiwei and the Ru'an Marquis's household was known to everyone in the capital, yet he insisted on distorting the facts.
What kind of censor was that?
"Your Majesty!" Grand Tutor Wei, hearing this, stepped forward, feeling this action was inappropriate. Dismissing a censor would inevitably be recorded in the historical annals, tarnishing the imperial legacy.
"Does Grand Tutor Wei believe Censor Cao's act of confusing right and wrong is correct?" Zhu Jingchen looked at Grand Tutor Wei with displeasure, not wishing him to interfere too much in this matter.
"Your Majesty, this official believes Your Majesty's action is entirely appropriate. Everyone knows why Miss Li and Prince An were betrothed. Yet, Minister Cao, based solely on this Young Master Huo's one-sided account, dared to speak recklessly before Your Majesty and distort the facts. Such a person is truly unfit to serve as a censor and remonstrating official of our dynasty!" Grand Preceptor Cheng Tianyuan stepped forward and said.
"This official concurs!"
Hearing Grand Preceptor Cheng's words, the other ministers also stepped forward in agreement.
Grand Tutor Wei, hearing this, sighed softly and said, "This old minister was confused. Your Majesty is wise!"
"Your Majesty, have mercy! This official was merely misled by this villain's one-sided story!" Only now did Censor Cao realize the severity of the situation and quickly knelt down to beg for mercy.
Huo Yunxuan's heart was pounding. Was this the arena of power?
A single word from the Emperor could decide an official's fate?
Censor Cao, who was full of vigor just moments ago, was now kneeling on the ground begging for mercy without a shred of dignity.
At this moment, Huo Yunxuan also panicked.
"Take him away!" Zhu Jingchen was unwilling to spare Censor Cao another glance.
Such a person was nothing but a scourge if left in place.
As for Huo Yunxuan...
