She Became A Downfall Noble Lady
Chapter 741 - 739: Unforeseen Disaster?

Chapter 741: Chapter 739: Unforeseen Disaster?

The Emperor coughed lightly, rather undignifiedly touching his nose as he suppressed the smile that almost escaped his lips. By now, Emperor Qianqing was beginning to understand why Ye Xinyan had such a temperament. Having been raised by such a grandfather, it would be even more outlandish if the child were able to conform rigidly to the norms.

After reining in his amusement, the Emperor felt his voice return to its calm timbre, expressing his displeasure towards Duke An, "Among those present yesterday were pillars of our nation; they should have been afforded some respect, not relentlessly pursued when right. Your granddaughter’s behavior was somewhat excessive."

Hearing the Emperor’s judgment, Han Yanhui and others immediately felt as though they had found their backbone.

Right, right, look, there’s someone sensible, right? His Majesty said: your child’s actions were excessive! We didn’t dare argue because of your child’s threats, but you must listen to His Majesty, mustn’t you?

Duke An glanced dryly at the few court officials stirring restlessly and responded, "What His Majesty says is true. This humble servant will certainly admonish his granddaughter to be more restrained should a similar incident arise."

Damn, there’s a next time! His Majesty has spoken, and your granddaughter needs to only be ’somewhat’ restrained? You old fool, are you sure you didn’t misspeak?

The Emperor did not correct Duke An’s verbal error but said indifferently, "Then let her be fined half a year’s official salary as a warning."

Only then was Duke An struck with astonishment. He puzzledly raised his head; in his memory, such a fine was a thing of the distant past—here he was, with one foot in the grave, and yet he was still seeing such a penalty imposed.

Your Majesty, my official salary is quite high, half a year! This wretched girl, she’ll have to use her own earnings to offset the household expenses once I get back.

"Thank you for Your Majesty’s grace," Duke An’s astonishment lasted only a moment before he bowed deeply in gratitude.

Han Yanhui and others looked at His Majesty the Emperor with surprise and joy; if not for the inappropriate atmosphere, they would have knelt and loudly praised His Majesty’s wisdom.

However, what the Emperor said next hit everyone like a lightning bolt, "Beloved Minister Ye, go back and warn Ye Xinyan to speak and act cautiously and to dutifully complete this project for the court. As long as she behaves properly, no one will dare to slander her."

This time, Duke An knelt as he responded, "How could that girl be worthy of Your Majesty’s personal admonition? This old servant thanks Your Majesty on her behalf for Your Grace."

The court officials were stunned en masse. Was His Majesty supporting the Ye Family girl? And, more importantly, His Majesty even knew her name!

She, she, she is just a woman, right? Moreover, one with questionable moral conduct.

Spit, spit, spit, from now on, we can’t talk like that. Protected by the golden words of His Majesty, who dares to speak ill of that woman? The times are truly against reason!

"Also," His Majesty continued amid the officials’ stunned silence, turning to those he had looked at before, namely Han Yanhui, Liu Chengzhi, Sun Tingyue, and others, "Beloved Minister Ye wasn’t wrong—the ladies and wives in each of your households indeed require proper discipline."

The officials were dumbfounded. His Majesty, you just stood up for justice. It was you who said, Duke An’s granddaughter acted too excessively. Could so many of us have heard wrong?

Glancing down, the Emperor saw the usually shrewd court officials appearing so foolish and uncooperative, and his displeasure darkened his face. These fools, indeed, do not have the sense of Beloved Minister Ye.

"Such words, should an educated daughter ever say them?" The Emperor glowered down at them, "I can’t be bothered to name names. You know what concerns your own households. Take the initiative to report to the Ministry of Revenue; your official salaries will be docked for three months."

More than half of the court officials stood, stupefied, among them the offenders from the day before and others who did not fully comprehend the situation. But what did it mean for the officials to report to the Ministry of Revenue themselves?

Those officials, whose children were not implicated but who suffered consequences by simply being present at the scene, were now trapped in a painful dilemma. Among those mentioned by His Majesty, were they included?

Were they included?

This was no small matter—it was three months of salary. Though they wouldn’t starve without it, that represented a significant sum for the household, not something to be lightly forfeited. And they couldn’t just stand to be wrongfully accused!

Sun Tingyue had already been reviewed by His Majesty the Emperor twice, and both times he had been lumped together with the two ministers. But he was wronged.

Initially, he had some hesitation, whether to defend himself or not. It was after seeing his colleagues’ pleading gazes that he made his decision.

"Your Majesty, your minister has something to say," Sun Tingyue stepped forward and said.

The Emperor raised an eyebrow; he felt pity for himself for not having witnessed the embarrassing predicament these powerful officials faced at the hands of the Ye Family’s lady. Now, seeing Sun Tingyue looking as though he wanted to defend himself, although it wasn’t as sensational as yesterday’s event, it was still better than nothing.

"You may speak freely," His Majesty said.

Sun Tingyue first glanced at Duke An, one couldn’t blame him, this was the Imperial Court, and the person he was facing was His Majesty. Whatever the matter, there could be no deception before His Majesty.

"Your Majesty, my daughter also attended General Huwei’s banquet yesterday. But she was not among those children discussing these matters; truly, I am unjustly implicated."

"My granddaughter, although present in the side hall, did not participate in the discussion."

"Your minister as well..."

Several ministers in the same situation, seeing a leader emerge, stepped out to plead their cases.

Once all those who needed to speak out had done so, the Emperor uttered an "Oh," and then asked Sun Tingyue, "As far as We are aware, when the Han Family’s girl and your two daughters appeared, the issue had not yet blown up..."

The Emperor paused, looking at the few ministers below.

Sun Tingyue immediately sensed trouble; who could have expected the Emperor to be so extensively informed about the incident, much less that His Majesty had such leisure time. Even if it wasn’t busy due to the approaching spring, couldn’t he focus on getting some rest?

Looking at Sun Tingyue, the Emperor asked, "Your daughter was designated as Prince Yu’s concubine by Our command, meant to assist the principal wife. In that situation, did your daughter try to dissuade the Han Family’s girl?"

Han Yanhui’s eyes slashed towards Sun Tingyue like knives. It was just about three months’ official salary — was it worth squabbling over in the Imperial Court? Look now, not only had he got himself into a mess, but he was also dragging Han Yanhui and his granddaughter into it.

Sun Tingyue, in his forties and considered young among the ministers of equal rank, was quick on the uptake. Sensing that the tide was against him, he decisively knelt down: "Your minister knows his fault. I will definitely discipline my daughter strictly once I return home; I beg Your Majesty’s forgiveness."

The others who had followed Sun Tingyue in coming forward promptly knelt down as well.

The Emperor raised his eyebrows high, surprised by this effect. This was no major affair, requiring no decisions to be made, no difficulties to handle. Just a trivial matter had caused a number of ministers to kneel, without him having to wrack his brains for countermeasures. It was rather amusing and relaxing.

The Emperor’s gaze traveled in a semi-circle towards Han Yanhui and the others, then felt a twinge of embarrassment. After all, Prime Minister Han and Minister Liu were old servants of the court, having given their all for the nation. It would not be right to trouble them over such an incident.

But then again, he had missed yesterday’s excitement.

"We had thought that after yesterday’s event, all Our beloved ministers would realize their errors and strictly discipline their children. But it seems that’s not the case, so a penalty of half a year’s salary it shall be. We need not call out names one by one, do We?" the Emperor inquired.

Han Yanhui knew he had narrowly escaped embarrassment and quickly bowed deeply: "Your humble minister thanks Your Majesty for your magnanimous mercy."

When the court was adjourned, and the court officials had left the hall, Han Yanhui wiped his forehead — damn, there really was sweat!