36 - Ninth Prince's visit

Chapter 26 – Ninth Prince’s visit

That night, Di Jing led the Four Great Constables to investigate the case, and Tian Chongyan who faked his own death was finally found.

The grave robber escapee, Liu Shan, had long been arrested by one of the Four Great Constables, Lei Feng, and was held in secret captivity to protect his life.

With the confessions of Liu Shan, Tian Chongyang, Jiao Siniang, and the others, many people were arrested in one swoop. It was discovered that the jade flute was a bribe given to Tian Chongyang by the Minister of Home Affairs. It turned out that when Tian Chongyang faked his death, the Tian Family had hidden the jade flute in the coffin as a burial item thinking that it was a foolproof plan but did not expect it would be stolen by grave robbers.

The case shocked the entire officialdom. The embezzled booty from the Ministry of Home Affairs was unearthed one by one and more than fifty people were arrested and thrown into prison.

The Minister of Home Affairs was a member of the Empress’s maternal uncle’s family. In anger, the Emperor ordered a thorough investigation into the family of the Empress’s maternal uncle, and at the same time, the Empress was placed under house arrest.

The imperial concubines in the Empress’s faction were in danger while Consort De and Consort An were secretly gloating.

The Emperor successively removed several important ministers and replaced them with new people. After the salt tax case, there was another river transport project case undertaken by the Emperor to fight corruption. The Minister of Home Affairs was put into prison and tried overnight by the Three Divisions of the Dali Temple*.

(The Three Divisions of the Dali Temple refers to the three judicial departments – Dali Temple, Ministry of Criminal Justice, and the Metropolitan Procuratorate. In major and difficult cases, all three divisions would sit together as judges and the Emperor would make the final decision. The Dali Temple is equivalent to the modern-day Supreme Court.)

Therefore, Di Jing was very busy handling this case while Shangguan Yan stayed peacefully with her parents. During this period, the imperial concubines in the inner palace did not dare to cause any trouble lest they make the Emperor angry. Even Consort An was well-behaved and did not look for Shangguan Yan.

However, some people could not stay idle nor control their temper and this person was the Ninth Prince, Si Liuyin.

When he found out that his Consort Mother had summoned Yan’er into the palace without telling him and almost caused her to receive the punishment of spanking, he was so angry that he had a cold war with his mother for several days. He also heard that his Consort Mother had refused to let him take Yan’er as his Wangfei and only permitted her to be a concubine causing Yan’er to refuse on the spot.

After his Consort Mother had messed things up, he finally could not remain calm and hung around the door of Shangguan Yan’s residence for many days. However, he did not see Yan’er come out so, straightaway he went to look for her.

“I have something to tell you. Follow me.” As soon as he saw her, the Ninth Prince said directly.

At this moment, they were in the reception hall of the Shangguan Mansion. Shangguan Yan faced the fiery eyes of the Ninth Prince and answered softly. “If Your Highness has anything to tell me, just do it here.”

“It’s not convenient here. Let’s go out and find a private place to talk.” There was unrestrained passion in his low voice.

Shangguan Yan frowned slightly then walked to the side before she turned around and said. “Your Highness, it’s really inconvenient for me as a girl to follow you. If there’s anything, just say it here.”

Thanks to the Ninth Prince, Consort An almost meted out punishment on her, so she does not need to speak politely to him. Anyway, both of them are friends, therefore, she need not pretend to be a lady.

“Yan’er…….”

“Your Highness, there is a difference between men and women, so Your Highness should call me Fifth Miss.”

Seeing that she showed an indifferent attitude, the Ninth Prince became anxious.

“Alright, let’s talk here. Let me ask you ……Consort Mother said you were unwilling to marry me. Is it because you were angry with Consort Mother, so you were unwilling?”

“No.”

“Is it because you don’t want to be a concubine?”

“Concubine or Wangfei , I’m still unwilling.”

“Why?”

“Your Highness, I’m used to doing as I please, so I’m not suitable to be a royal daughter-in-law.”

“But I like you.”

But I don’t like you!

However, saying this might annoy him and make him lose face, so Shangguan Yan kept this thought in her heart and the words that spilled from her mouth were earnest and sincere. “I have a low status and I am not worthy of Your Highness. Your Highness should marry the high-status ladies from noble families.”

“The reason you’re unwilling to marry me is not because of that person surnamed Pan?”

“No.”

“Really?”

“I don’t have to lie to you. I won’t marry into the Pan Family nor will I marry into the palace.”

After knowing that she would not marry that person surnamed Pan, the Ninth Prince was relieved. Once he felt relieved, he smiled.

Shangguan Yan felt it was weird and asked. “Why are you smiling?”

“Yan’er, I know what is bothering you. Don’t worry, I will definitely make you my main wife. If my Third Brother can promote his concubine to a Wangfei , so why can’t I?”

Of course, you can’t! That Ling Wang had earned merits with his great contributions to the country, thus he dared to ask the Emperor for independence in marriage as his reward. Moreover, he and the concubine have feelings for each other and they were destined to be together…….which is different from you and me!

Of course, these thoughts were kept in her heart.

“Your Highness, I have no intention to enter the palace. Your Highness, please grant me this wish and choose another good match.”

Her attitude showed her decisiveness as though there was no room for negotiation. The Ninth Prince had run out of patience and finally, his face sank.

“Anyway, I will marry you even if you don’t want to marry. You just have to wait for the bridal sedan chair.” After speaking, he flung his sleeves and left Shangguan Mansion.

After the Ninth Prince had left, Sixth Younger Sister, Shangguan Xin who was hiding and worrying as she watched this scene walked out and clung to Shangguan Yan’s arm.

“Fifth Elder Sister, it seems that His Highness, the Ninth Prince is determined, what shall we do?”

Seeing that her Sixth Younger Sister was worried, Shangguan Yan was not troubled at all. Shangguan Yan patted her hands and said. “Don’t worry, someone will help me deal with him.”

“Who?”

Facing Sixth Younger Sister’s curious eyes, Shangguan Yan recalled what Di Jing had said and her heart calmed down. Since she had chosen to believe in Di Jing, then she will just watch the changes.

“Fifth Elder Sister, what are you thinking?”

Shangguan Yan came out of her reverie and stared at Sixth Younger Sister’s face that looked very similar to hers. When she thought of the Ninth Prince’s stubbornness, she could not help but feel glad and lovingly caressed Sixth Younger Sister’s face.

“Fortunately, you are about to marry otherwise someone might feel anxious.” If the Ninth Prince could not marry her when the time comes, perhaps, he might take Sixth Younger Sister to fill the place.

Fortunately, her lovely Sixth Younger Sister already belongs to someone else.

Shangguan Xin felt shy. “Fifth Elder Sister, what are you talking about? Who will feel anxious?”

“Of course, it’s your fiancé. Let’s go, don’t let Mother know what happened just now, lest she worries.” She pulled Sixth Younger Sister’s hand and walked into the house.

Shangguan Yan continued to stay in the Shangguan Mansion, eating well and sleeping well, and threw aside the matter regarding the Ninth Prince.

At the same time, the situation in the imperial court was surging fiercely with the hidden currents which finally rose to the surface.

The Emperor carefully examined the accounts of the Ministry of Home Affairs and was unwilling to let go of even one hou* . This big case took more than a month to settle and in a blink of an eye, it was the beginning of autumn.

(A Hou is equivalent to 0.01 yuan [similar to cent] which is a monetary unit and yuan is the currency used in China.)

In the imperial garden, the Emperor, who is in his prime, was leisurely playing chess with the young and promising courtier. This scene looked as though the whole world was at peace, making people unable to tell that the imperial court had just undergone a bloody baptism. The Emperor beheaded many corrupt officials while those who deserved to be imprisoned were sent to prison and those who deserved to be demoted were stripped of their titles, just like the chess game they were playing.

The layout and the position of the chess game must be carefully arranged. A wrong step would put his situation in danger.

The Emperor looked at Di Jing. Over the years, this young and promising subject had strategized for him, did not group up with factions, did not collude or join with forces, subservient to him, and is one of his most trusted courtiers.

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“Minister Di.”

“ Chen* is here.”

(Chen means subject.)

“While you were investigating the case, you’ve offended all the officials……it was hard on you. What reward do you want?”

Di Jing replied calmly. “It is Chen’s responsibility to share the worries and burden of the Emperor. Chen did not suffer.”

The Emperor acted as though he did not hear and continued to ask. “Do you want a promotion? Or wealth?”