Chapter 411 - 189: Han Imperial Censor Files a Complaint

Chapter 411: Chapter 189: Han Imperial Censor Files a Complaint

Han Zhengchun mulled over the Right Minister’s words, finding the matter hard to believe.

’Grand Tutor Qin in cahoots with Duke Dingguo?’

Grand Tutor Qin had always been proud of his station, especially after becoming the Grand Tutor. He valued his reputation above all else, and the animosity between scholar-officials and the nobility ran deep.

It was a struggle waged between two groups from entirely different walks of life, one that wouldn’t change because of a few individuals.

The nobility enjoyed the protection of their ancestors. Even if their descendants were wastrels, they could still be granted official positions and live in luxury. Scholar-officials were different. They had to endure years of arduous study, climbing their way up one step at a time to make a name for themselves.

And now Grand Tutor Qin was in cahoots with Duke Dingguo?

One could only imagine how Han Zhengchun felt.

It was hard to say whether the Right Minister’s words were true or not. Now that Han Zhengchun was an Imperial Censor, he wouldn’t just blindly trust others. He had to investigate it for himself.

If those two were truly behind this, then his daughter being framed was far from a simple matter.

At this thought, Han Zhengchun turned around and went back to Taiji Palace to request an audience with the Emperor.

Feng Yi was reviewing memorials, and he was not in a pleasant mood. Scarcely any of the reports from across the country contained good news; major and minor issues were cropping up one after another.

He strongly suspected the Cabinet was deliberately selecting these memorials for him to see, just to keep him busy so he would have no time to cross swords with those old codgers in court.

"Your Majesty, Han Imperial Censor requests an audience," Meng Jiuchang said, stepping forward with a bow.

Feng Yi was taken aback. "Admit him."

"Greetings, Your Majesty," Han Zhengchun said, stepping forward to bow upon entering the hall.

"You may rise, my dear minister," Feng Yi said with a smile, looking up to gaze at Han Zhengchun.

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Han Zhengchun rose.

"You have returned, my dear minister. Is there something you wish to report?" Feng Yi asked. He noted Han Zhengchun’s poor complexion and, recalling the memorial from the Palace Justice Department, assumed he had come about Han Guipin’s matter.

Hearing the Emperor’s peaceful tone and seeing his calm expression—a stark contrast to his anger in court—Han Zhengchun felt a chill. ’His Majesty is no longer the man he was when he first ascended the throne,’ he thought. ’The Left and Right Ministers are still trying to fool him as they did in the past. That’s a dangerous game.’

"I do indeed have a matter to report to Your Majesty." Han Zhengchun was currently walking the path of an upright, impeaching official, so he naturally adopted the posture of a blunt and righteous man who despised evil. "I have come regarding the matter of Han Guipin. Please forgive me, Your Majesty. I dare not pry into the affairs of the inner palace, but I have just received a tip that has left me deeply unsettled, so I have come to beseech Your Majesty for a favor."

Feng Yi’s interest was piqued. He looked at Han Zhengchun and said, "Han Guipin was indeed wronged this time. We have already seen the memorial submitted by the Palace Justice Department."

Han Zhengchun immediately replied, "It is the Noble Consort’s greatest fortune that Your Majesty is upholding justice for her. A small grievance is no great matter, and thankfully, she came through the scare unharmed. I have no personal history with Duke Dingguo, so I truly do not understand why An Fangyi would want to harm the Noble Consort."

The investigation had revealed Wanqiu as the perpetrator, but Han Zhengchun’s every word pointed to An Fangyi. He clearly didn’t believe a servant like Wanqiu would have the courage to do such a thing.

Feng Yi neither corrected him nor went along with his accusations.

Han Zhengchun mulled over the Emperor’s attitude and made a few guesses. ’It seems I was right.’ He immediately followed up, "The Noble Consort has a peaceful temperament and never likes to quarrel with others. For her to suffer such a calamity despite this... if not for Your Majesty upholding justice, who knows what her fate would have been. This matter has weighed heavily on my mind these past few days. Today, I received news that Grand Tutor Qin and Duke Dingguo have been meeting privately and frequently. I request Your Majesty’s permission for me to investigate this matter."

Of course, Han Zhengchun could have investigated on his own and reported back with his findings. But what if he found nothing?

He had to get the Emperor’s explicit approval first, to make His Majesty wary of the two men. That way, even if he couldn’t find anything, a shadow of suspicion would be cast in the Emperor’s heart.

If the two of them were to do something in the future, today’s incident would become another weight added to the scales.

Han Zhengchun could have, like other civil servants, made his accusations in a roundabout way, but his current position as an Imperial Censor did not allow him to speak like that.

Leaving Taiji Palace, Han Zhengchun breathed a sigh of relief. What the Emperor thought or did next was beyond his control, but Duke Dingguo and Grand Tutor Qin could forget about getting off scot-free.

After Han Zhengchun left, Feng Yi sat motionless for a long while.

Duke Dingguo and Grand Tutor Qin...

’Who would have thought.’

’Grand Tutor Qin once told me to be wary of the noble families, and now he’s mixed up with one himself. What a joke.’

’How many of all the civil and military officials in this court are truly loyal to the throne and serve the people?’ The very thought made him furious.

Ever since he’d ascended the throne, the entire court had been riddled with problems. He spent his days trying to patch things up, but even so, people were constantly holding him back.

For Prince Zhenbei’s recent expedition, the Ministry of Revenue had pleaded poverty. The military provisions and fodder had to be scraped together from all over, and in the end, he, the Emperor, had to take silver from his own private coffers to cover the shortfall. Otherwise, Prince Zhenbei might never have left the Capital City, let alone gone to battle for the court.

He knew the late Emperor had been excessively extravagant, but he himself was in his sixth year on the throne. He had always been frugal, never spending silver on building traveling palaces or indulging in pleasures. He could even be considered diligent and conscientious. And yet, the Ministry of Revenue still pleaded poverty. ’So where has all the tax revenue from all these years gone?’

’It’s clear I can’t do without my own people in the Ministry of Revenue.’

The Emperor couldn’t help but think of Song Nanzhen. He had sent him to the Ministry of Revenue precisely to plant an agent there.

But as soon as Prince Zhenbei set out on his campaign, they had tried to put Song Nanzhen in charge of the army’s provisions—a roundabout way of kicking him out of the Ministry of Revenue. Song Nanzhen had deliberately broken his leg. The Emperor knew. He was sure Song Nanzhen had guessed at his intentions and knew he could not leave the Ministry.

Feng Yi let out a derisive snort. ’Who would have thought that I, the Emperor, would have to use the promotion of a favored concubine as a pretext just to plant my own people in the Six Ministries. How ridiculous.’

Yun Zhao was in the palace, always thinking of him and maneuvering on his behalf. Her father, Song Nanzhen, was fighting tooth and nail in the Ministry of Revenue for his daughter’s sake. How could he not cherish them? He wondered, how many others in the entire court were capable of such loyalty?

Grand Tutor Qin’s daughter was in the palace, true. The family backgrounds of the three concubines were all outstanding. But what were their fathers doing?

The more Feng Yi thought about it, the more he realized how rare and precious Yun Zhao was.

His judgment back then had been truly discerning. Out of so many people, he had chosen only his Zhaozhao. Not only had she never disappointed him, but her family hadn’t either.

With that thought, Feng Yi couldn’t sit still any longer.

He wanted to see her right now.

Desperately.

He rose, left Taiji Palace, and strode directly toward Wangyou Palace.

Meng Jiuchang was startled and quickly trotted after him. ’What’s gotten into the Emperor?’ he wondered. He thought carefully, but couldn’t recall any major incidents.

’What in the world has gotten into him?’