LRAB Chapter 140 Only the weak can choose between 2
Chapter 140 Only the weak can choose between 2
Xiao Jichen's calm eyes were rippled with surprise and suspicion. He pulled his lips and smiled maliciously:
"Master Imperial Master, your aura of surrendering the country is truly eye-opening for this prince. Why should I trust you?"
Xuan Mo's deep, cold eyes contained an incomprehensible emotion, and he spoke in a deep voice as if bewitching:
"Have you made your choice, my lord? As long as you tell me today, I will promise to make your wish come true."
Xiao Jichen chuckled: "Only the weak will make choices, but I... want them all."
Xuan Mo's eyes suddenly turned cold, "Prince, those who are too greedy may end up with nothing."
Xiao Jichen laughed even more wantonly, "Master, don't worry about this. I still want to remind you not to think about people you shouldn't think about, otherwise the next time we meet, it will be a fight to the death!"
Xuan Mo narrowed his eyes slightly, "Xiao Jichen, you can't keep her."
"Even so, she won't choose you."
"Then let's go and see..."
The next day, Grand Tutor Fu handed a petition to Emperor Jing Zhao.
Emperor Jing Zhao pinched his brows, and his cold gaze swept across the court, finally stopping on Prince Rui and Xiao Nanchuan.
Xiao Nanchuan was appointed as the commander-in-chief of the palace a few days ago, in charge of the Shangjing garrison, which is the defense fortress of the imperial palace. The responsibility is heavy and those who hold this position are all confidants of the emperor.
Prince Rui became more certain because Emperor Jing Zhao chose Xiao Nanchuan. He knew that his brother had never suspected him, so he became more bold in his actions.
Even if Grand Tutor Fu listed his crimes in front of the emperor, he didn't care.
He did not conceal his fearless indifference at all, as if the person who disregarded the rules of hierarchy and etiquette that Grand Master Fu mentioned was not him.
"Since Prince Su's Mansion is not happy about marrying my Fu family, why didn't they report this to His Majesty earlier? Why did they have to humiliate me on the wedding day? My granddaughter has become a laughing stock in the city and her reputation has been ruined! Please give me some justice, Your Majesty!"
"Oh, Grand Tutor Fu's words are pure slander. My granddaughter was brought into the Su Palace by a sedan chair carried by eight men. How can you say that it is humiliating? Instead, it was your Fu family who didn't know the big picture. You carried her away for such a trivial matter. In the end, my son was forced to marry a concubine. You made my palace a topic of conversation for the people. It is your Fu family who should give an explanation!"
"Prince Rui's shameless behavior of turning the tables is simply despicable!!!" Grand Tutor Fu was so angry that his beard was shaking.
Prince Rui didn't care at all. "This matter is a worrying example of your Fu family's family tradition. Fortunately, you feel guilty and carried the man back. Then my Rui Palace will not bother with you. Come and get the divorce letter in two days."
"You...you..." Master Fu was so angry that his breath got stuck in his chest, causing him to feel a constant pain in his chest. After a dizzy spell, his eyes went dark and he fell down.
"Grand Tutor Fu——-" The ministers nearby were in a mess and rushed forward to help.
The culprit, Prince Rui, folded his arms and sneered, "Brother, Grand Tutor Fu is old, you should let him retire and enjoy his old age as soon as possible, right?"
After a long silence, Emperor Jing Zhao finally spoke: "Carry Master Fu away and ask the imperial physician to treat him..."
The court fell silent again, and Emperor Jing Zhao looked at Prince Rui and his son again.
"Have you made up your mind? Don't marry into the Fu family anymore?"
Prince Rui waved his hands in disgust, "The daughter of the Fu family is ignorant and petty. She turned against Tian Gang on the day of her wedding. How can she be worthy of entering the Prince Rui's Palace? My royal brother, please choose a good match for Qing An again."
Prince Rui spoke as if it was a matter of course, completely unaware that there was something wrong with Emperor Jing Zhao's eyes.
"Prince Rui disobeyed the order and violated his superiors, which is extremely disrespectful. He allowed his son to favor his concubine and kill his wife, disregarding etiquette and ethics. This is a failure to manage the family strictly. Do you know your crime?"
As soon as Emperor Jing Zhao finished speaking, the atmosphere at the ceremony suddenly became tense.
Prince Rui and Xiao Nanchuan were both stunned, and Prince Rui even suspected that he had heard it wrongly.
His royal brother, who has always indulged him, actually wants to punish him in public today?
"Lord Xu, please tell King Rui how he should be convicted and punished for his crimes."
Xu Hantang stepped forward and bowed: "Your Majesty, according to the laws of the Great Yin, those who are disrespectful to the emperor and despise his majesty will have their property confiscated and be exiled three thousand miles away. Those who fail to manage their families properly and behave badly will be punished with fifty strokes of the cane."
"Prince Rui, did you hear what the Imperial Censor said?"
Prince Rui saw that Emperor Jingzhao's seriousness did not seem to be fake. For the first time, he felt an unfamiliar yet unsettling pressure from this emperor.
"Brother Emperor, I acknowledge my guilt."
"Since you have been convicted, let the Censorate handle the matter!"
Emperor Jingzhao's words were like a bolt from the blue. Everyone knew that Prince Rui had always been indulged by Emperor Jingzhao because he was his younger brother.
Two years ago, Prince Rui trampled four young children to death while riding his horse in the street. Emperor Jing Zhao did not blame him, but instead gave the victims money to get rid of them.
A year ago, Prince Rui and Emperor Jing Zhao fell in love with the same dancer from the Western Regions. Prince Rui had an affair with Emperor Jing Zhao even though he knew that Emperor Jing Zhao wanted to take the woman into his harem.
But when Emperor Jing Zhao found out, he just gave him a mild reprimand, punished him with house arrest for a month, and even gave the woman to him.
But today he is being punished according to the law for such a "small matter"?
Not to mention King Rui, anyone would find it unbelievable.
Prince Rui finally got anxious, "Brother, you want to confiscate my property and exile me? You are just saying this in anger, right? Have you forgotten that we are brothers from the same mother? My mother will never forgive you if you do this."
Emperor Jing Zhao raised his eyelids tiredly, "Then I will give you one last chance for the sake of your mother. You can be spared from exile, but you and your son will be caned thirty times, and then... your current property will be confiscated."
Prince Rui knelt on the ground helplessly, "What? How is this different from confiscating property?"
"Also, remember to have Qing An deliver the divorce letter from the Fu family. You guys take care of yourself!"
After Emperor Jing Zhao finished speaking, he waved his hand to signal the eunuch that he could adjourn the court session.
Princess Rui was selecting new headgear with Su Yueying in the largest jewelry shop, Linlang Pavilion, when they saw a group of runners from the Censorate running past the store in an orderly manner and heading towards the Rui Palace.
As soon as one saw the weapons in their hands, one could tell whose house they were going to rob.
Princess Rui lowered her voice and muttered, "Our emperor is a good ruler. Whenever the treasury is not full, he will search and confiscate officials' homes. I wonder who will be the unlucky one this time."
Su Yueying picked out three sets of headgear and had just left Linlang Pavilion with Princess Rui when a carriage came running towards them on the road. The frightened two were almost hit.
Princess Rui was furious and was about to have the carriage stopped and punished when she discovered that it was the carriage from Prince Su's mansion.
Before she could say anything, the carriage stopped by itself. Su Yunling in the carriage lifted the curtain and stuck her head out:
"I'm sorry to offend Princess Rui. I have to rush to save people, so I won't get out of the car to salute."
"You saved someone, is that a big deal? You're riding a horse in the street in broad daylight. People who don't know would think someone in your family died! You're really not worthy of being in public. You don't have the dignity of a royal nobleman at all."
Su Yunling smiled instead of getting angry: "Princess Rui is right. You are still decent. Even though your house was raided, you can still stroll around here leisurely. I really admire you. If it were me, I would have gone crazy a long time ago."
Princess Rui's face immediately darkened, "How dare you!..."
"The Prince Rui's Mansion has been ransacked, come and watch the excitement!" Someone among the people on the street shouted excitedly, and a large group of people rushed towards the direction of the Prince Rui's Mansion.
Upon hearing this, the respectable Princess Rui's face turned red and she fainted on the spot.
Su Yunling lowered the curtain and continued to rush to Grand Tutor Fu's residence.
I heard that after Grand Tutor Fu fainted due to Prince Rui's anger, he is now in critical condition and is on his deathbed.
This old minister is a loyal minister of the Great Yin and he cannot die like this.