Repudiating a Good Wife Is Out of the Question

181. A Heated Dispute in Court

 

Translator: Sissy That Walk

 

The officials started to chant and sing the emperor’s praises in unison, the emperor stroked his beard with satisfaction and he got so carried away.

An eunuch announced outside of the hall when the emperor was puffed with pride, “Marquis Valour asks to see His Majesty!”

“Invite him in.” the emperor was in such a good mood.

Prince Ning panicked as soon as he heard Xiao Yugui had arrived, he pretended to fall in a faint, the emperor summoned an imperial physician for Prince Ning and asked two eunuchs to support him to take some rest in the side palace hall.

Imperial Concubine Fair sent a message to Prince Ning as soon as he had set foot in the side palace hall, “Don’t worry, Her Highness has got this under control.”

Prince Ning had no idea what his mother was talking about, he kept pacing back and forth in the room until Eunuch Lai came to summon him on the emperor’s behalf.

“Your Highness, the emperor needs to ask you a few questions.” Eunuch Lai looked very grim.

“Eunuch Lai, what does this concern, please enlighten me!” Prince Ning asked nervously. It turned out Prince Ning sent a couple of assassins to ambush Xiao Yugui on his way to the capital city, but now it looked like Xiao Yugui had defeated the assassins. Prince Ning just hoped Xiao Yugui didn’t capture anyone.

Eunuch Lai sighed, “Your Highness, the assassins that Xiao Yugui has captured are all equipped with weapons with inscriptions of your manor.”

Prince Ning’s face darkened, he knew he was in big trouble this time, inscriptions on weapons could not be counterfeited, especially the ones in princes’ manors.

Overwhelmed with anxiety, Prince Ning walked back to the emperor’s audience hall and shocked to find his uncle Lu Jianzhong had attempted to commit suicide, Lu Jianzhong was drenched in blood.

It wasn’t until now did Prince Ning realize what his mother meant by she had got this under control, she had made Lu Jianzhong the scapegoat.

Prince Ning cried his heart out, “Father, what happened to my uncle?”

“You unfilial son! I heard you have maintained troops in Qinglian Lake, should I brand my own son as a rebel?” the emperor fumed.

Prince Ning defended himself that he sent some troops to Qinglian Lake to look for and protect the twin ear rice, and he felt so wronged that people were slandering him like this.

The emperor didn’t have solid evidence in hand, he just averted his gaze and ordered the Ministry of War to investigate this.

Prince Ning heaved a sigh of relief, he could pull a few strings as long as he wasn’t imprisoned. He raised his head and saw Xiao Yugui’s gloating look, he gnashed his teeth and said, “Father, I have something to report.”

“What is it?”the emperor looked rather impatient.

“I used to have an actor in my manor called Qin, Qin was born with double pupils and he was a great actor. But I heard he once fell in love with Shizi Madam Cao Mo and soon disappeared, the South has been looking for Qin, I think Cao Mo must know Qin’s whereabouts.”

The emperor felt so speechless, he couldn’t believe that his son could be this impatient. He couldn’t wait to fight back right after Xiao Yugui had impeached him.

But the emperor had to act as if nothing had happened to save his son’s face, he frowned and asked Xiao Yugui, “Marquis Valour, what do you say about this?”

Xiao Yugui was well prepared for this question, he replied indignantly, “I’ve never heard of this. My son-in-law is the most respectful and submissive one, he stay indoors all the time managing our household, he never talks to anyone else except for our own family and relatives. No way would he be friends with an actor!”

Prince Xing chimed in as well, “It does sound ridiculous, father, everyone knows Shizi and Shizi Madam are an affectionate couple. I don’t think they would still be in love if Shizi Madam had fallen in love with someone else.”

“I think Prince Ning is fooled by someone with an ulterior motive, our entire family has been showering Cao Mo with praise, no way would he have an affair with Qin.” said Xiao Yugui with proud written all over his face.

The emperor showed a sour face on hearing that, he felt like Xiao Yugui was laughing at Prince Ning.

Prince Ning didn’t give up, he squinted his eyes and said, “Father, that Cao Mo will bring nothing but calamity to our country!”

Xiao Yugui frowned and countered, “Your Highness, please watch your language! I have no idea why would you keep launching tirades like this against my son-in-law, I will ask His Majesty to uphold justice for us!”

The other officials gazed at each other in speechless despair, they dared not to take sides. Xiao Yugui’s comments were quite harsh, it sounded like Prince Ning was avenging a personal wrong in the name of public interests.

Prince Ning flared up, “Cao Mo connived with his brother Cao Le to purchase timber from the South, that’s no difference than colluding with the enemy considering we are on bad terms with the South at the moment.”

Prince Xing frowned, he didn’t want to act rashly and fell into Prince Ning’s trap for he had no idea of the timber matter.

“Your Majesty, I have something to report!” Yao Wenyuan stepped forward.

Prince Xing shot Yao Wenyuan a glimpse with gratitude, while Yao Wenyuan ignored him. He was still mad at Prince Xing for Prince Xing had been so aloof even since he came back from Hunan and Hubei region.

‘Humph, you think I’m going to save Cao Mo? You are wrong, I’m only willing to save you!’ thought Yao Wenyuan.

“I’m all ears, Yao Wenyuan.” the emperor was more and more intrigued, more and more people were joining the debate due to Cao Mo.

Yao Wenyuan held his head up high and said, “I’m impeaching Marquis Valour for failing at disciplining his family. Shizi Madam has been nothing but domineering in the capital city, please deprive Cao Mo of his title and order Xiao Yi to repudiate Cao Mo!”

Prince Xing glared at Yao Wenyuan, he couldn’t believe Yao Wenyuan did this to him, Cao Mo and Xiao Yi were his right-hand men.

“Father, there must be some misunderstanding, Cao Mo has been nothing but cautious and meticulous, no way I would describe him as domineering.” Prince Xing defended Cao Mo.

Anger simmered inside Xiao Yugui, he cursed Yao Wenyuan in his heart, ‘You little rascal Yao, impeaching me? For I have the best son and son-in-law? Domineering? This is slandering, pure slandering!’

Xiao Yugui made a bow with hands folded in front, “Your Majesty, this is not the first time that someone is slandering my son-in-law, please uphold justice for my son-in-law! All I know is our soldiers in the borders would be starving if not for him this time!”