pdf-ebookys Chapter 448 The New Emperor Establishes His Authority, Starting with the Censorate! (3)
Chapter 448 The New Emperor Establishes His Authority, Starting with the Censorate! (3)
Evening, Zichen Palace.
Jin Xuan bowed and reported: "Your Majesty, Hu Bufei has been taken to the Dali Temple, and Xu Wei from the Censorate has also gone there, saying that he is going to 'assist in the trial.' Judging from his attitude, he actually wants to protect Hu Bufei."
Xiao Ruojin sat under the lamp, toying with a white jade thumb ring in her hand, and chuckled softly upon hearing this:
"Protect him? No matter how powerful he is, he can't protect Hu Bufei. As for Yu Heng, has the evidence all been prepared?"
"It's ready. Although the letters between Hu Cheng and Baili Luochen are old, they do contain content that exonerates the Baili family."
Add to that the evidence of Hu Bufei's alcoholism and dereliction of duty—multiple crimes combined, at the very least he could be convicted of confiscation of property and exile!
Jin Xuan paused, her gaze shifting hesitantly to Xiao Ruojin: "Your Majesty, you really..."
"Really what?" Xiao Ruojin looked up.
“What I mean is… if we really want to take action against the Hu family…” Jinxuan suddenly lowered her voice, “Hu Cheng has many disciples and old friends, if we push them too far…”
"No rush." Xiao Ruojin put down the paperweight. "Let's first determine Hu Bufei's guilt. As for the rest of the Hu family... let's see what Xu Wei decides."
Jinxuan suddenly realized.
His Majesty is trying to force Xu Wei to take sides—if Xu Wei is willing to cooperate and convict Hu Bufei, then the rest of the Hu family might be spared.
If Xu Wei insists on protecting him, then don't blame His Majesty for being ruthless.
What a brilliant move, killing two birds with one stone!
“Furthermore,” Xiao Ruojin suddenly said, “I intend to place my own people in the vacant positions at the Censorate.”
Go and draft a list—they need to be young, talented, and, most importantly… obedient.”
"This servant understands!" Jinxuan bowed and withdrew.
The hall fell silent again. Xiao Ruojin got up and walked to the window. She opened the window, and the night wind blew in, causing the candlelight to flicker.
In the distance, the direction of Dali Temple was brightly lit, and the sound of prison cart wheels rolling over stone slabs could be faintly heard.
A cleanup operation has begun.
This cleanup is just the first step.
Xiao Ruojin gazed at the stars in the night sky, a cold smile appearing on her lips.
"Brother, do you think that by giving up the throne you can exchange it for brotherly harmony and peace throughout the land?" he murmured to himself. "You're wrong. The power of this land is not something you can easily obtain by simply handing over the throne to me with a forged edict!"
Most people in the court are dissatisfied with me as the new emperor. If I want to secure my position on the throne, I have no choice but to do this…
The night breeze stirred the crown that the Imperial Household Department had made for Xiao Ruojin on the imperial desk. The pearls and jade on the crown clinked together, making a crisp sound.
The sound was not pleasant.
……
At three quarters past Xu hour, there was an urgent knock on the door of the study in the Langya Prince's Mansion.
Xiao Ruofeng was studying a map of the southwest region when he heard the voice and looked up: "Come in."
Ye Xiaoying pushed open the door and entered, his face ashen: "Your Highness, something has happened! Hu Bufei of the Censorate has been taken to the Dali Temple on charges of treason and collusion with the enemy."
The brush tip paused, and the ink spread out on the rice paper.
Xiao Ruofeng slowly put down his pen, his expression grave: "Who convicted him?"
"It's...it's His Majesty!" Ye Xiaoying said through gritted teeth. "This morning at court, Yu Heng, the chief clerk of the Ministry of Personnel, impeached Hu Bufei for drinking heavily and neglecting his duties during the national mourning period. He also brought up the old friendship between his father, Hu Cheng, and Baili Luochen. His Majesty ordered him to be arrested on the spot."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Ruofeng was greatly alarmed and abruptly stood up: "Prepare the horses, let's go to the palace!"
"Your Highness!" Ye Xiaoying exclaimed urgently, "This matter is clearly the new emperor's attempt to establish his authority. If you enter the palace now, wouldn't that be..."
"That's precisely why we must go!" Xiao Ruofeng unfastened the Haoque sword from his waist and changed into a prince's casual robes.
"My brother has just ascended the throne, and the people in the court are not yet loyal to him. If we were to purge the old officials on trumped-up charges at this time, it would chill the hearts of scholars throughout the land."
He paused, then looked at Ye Xiaoying: "You wait for me in the manor. No matter what happens, you must not move!"
"I obey your command!"
Inside the Zichen Palace, Xiao Ruojin was intently reviewing the memorials submitted by officials over the past few days.
Seeing Xiao Ruofeng enter the hall without being announced, a hint of displeasure flashed in his eyes, but he quickly replaced it with a gentle smile:
"Your Highness has arrived? Please have a seat! Serve tea to the Prince of Langya!"
Xiao Ruofeng did not sit down. He stood a few steps away from the imperial desk, cupped his hands, and said:
"Your Majesty, I have heard that Hu Bufei has been imprisoned in the Dali Temple on charges of treason and collusion with the enemy."
“That is indeed the case.” Xiao Ruojin put down the vermilion brush, her expression changing from gentle to warm. “The evidence against this person is conclusive, Your Highness need not plead for him.”
“Your subject is willing to guarantee with his title of Prince,” Xiao Ruofeng raised his head and looked directly at his elder brother, “Although Hu Bufei is reckless in his behavior and lazy in his actions, he is absolutely not suspected of colluding with the enemy!”
His father, Hu Cheng, was a loyal and righteous man, especially devoted to the late emperor. Even if he had a past relationship with Baili Luochen, that was over a decade ago. Hu Bufei was young then; how could he possibly be colluding with a traitor now?
Xiao Ruojin's smile gradually faded as Xiao Ruofeng spoke.
He picked up his teacup, took a small sip, and slowly said, "Seventh Brother, you are a commander, you should know what it means to nip problems in the bud. It is true that Hu Cheng and Baili Luochen were old friends, and it is also true that Hu Bufei was drunk and derelict in his duties during the national mourning period."
"Yu Heng, the chief clerk of the Ministry of Personnel, has already collected evidence of the crime. As the emperor, I cannot simply ignore it, can I?"
He put down his teacup, his voice turning cold: "Moreover, Hu Bufei's drinking during the national mourning period is a grave offense. The Great Li has always governed the world with benevolence and filial piety, and his drinking during the national mourning period is a great act of filial impiety towards his sovereign!"
"If I cannot even punish such an unfilial person, how can I govern the world?"
Xiao Ruofeng's heart sank upon hearing this.
He looked at the familiar yet unfamiliar face behind the imperial desk—it was his elder brother, the one he had grown up with, practiced martial arts with, and endured the emperor's whippings with.
But at this moment, his face exuded an unfamiliar air of authority and indifference.
Did power change him?
Or... was he always like this, and I just never saw it clearly?
“Your Majesty,” Xiao Ruofeng’s voice was hoarse, “I have always believed that you are a diligent and benevolent emperor who can safeguard the Xiao family’s empire. But if you purge old officials on trumped-up charges at the very beginning of your reign, what will become of the court…”
"What's wrong with the court?" Xiao Ruojin interrupted him, then suddenly laughed, a mocking laugh in her eyes. "Royal brother, what do you think the court is? Is it the brotherhood of江湖人 (jianghu people) or the camaraderie of 同学堂 (students from the Jixia Academy)?"
He stood up, walked around the imperial desk, and stood before Xiao Ruofeng:
"This imperial court is an arena for power struggles. Xu Wei, Gao Shuyi, Zhang Taiyue... do you really not know what these people are thinking on the surface, despite their outward obedience?"
They submit to the late emperor, and they submit to you, Prince Xiao Ruofeng of Langya! As for me—"
Xiao Ruojin reached out and pressed down on Xiao Ruofeng's shoulder with great force: "In their eyes, I am nothing more than a mediocre prince who got a bargain."
"If I don't establish my authority and let them know who the true emperor of Beili is, how can I sit securely on this dragon throne?"
These words startled Xiao Ruofeng.
He suddenly remembered his master Nangong Chunshui's words: "Feng Qi, you care too much. You care too much about brotherhood, about the common people, about this and that... But not everyone in this world is like you."
It turns out that Master had seen through it all along.
He saw through his naiveté, and he also saw through his elder brother's... ambition.
"Your Majesty understands." Xiao Ruofeng took a step back, freeing himself from the hand, and bowed, saying, "This matter is my overstepping my bounds. Matters of state should be decided by Your Majesty."
He turned to leave, but then stopped, his back to Xiao Ruojin, and said, "But I still want to advise Your Majesty to prioritize the overall situation. The Hu family has many followers and associates throughout the court. If the punishment is too severe, it may cause unforeseen changes!"
After saying that, he strode out of the Zichen Palace.
The palace doors closed behind them, separating the two brothers.
Xiao Ruojin stood there, watching her younger brother's departing figure. The anger on her face gradually faded, replaced by a complex expression.
He walked back to his desk and sat down, tapping his fingers lightly on the table. After a while, he suddenly spoke: "Jinxuan."
From the shadows, Jinxuan appeared silently: "Your Majesty."
"Go catch up with the Prince of Langya and say a few words of comfort on my behalf," Xiao Ruojin said calmly. "Just say that I was only angry for a moment, and that I will handle Hu Bufei's matter appropriately."
Jinxuan was taken aback: "Does Your Majesty really intend to be lenient?"
"Of course not." Xiao Ruojin sneered, "Hu Bufei must be severely punished, and the Censorate must be overhauled!"
But I cannot say such things. Go and tell the Prince of Langya now, and I will consider his opinion—how he considers it is up to me.”
Jinxuan nodded upon hearing this and bowed as she withdrew.
Xiao Ruofeng walked quickly along the long corridor outside the hall.
The night wind blew into the corridor, making his robes flutter loudly.
"Your Highness, please wait!" Jinxuan ran up to him, panting, and said, "His Majesty asked me to convey a message that he was angry just now and his words were too harsh. Please forgive him."
Regarding Hu Bufei's matter, His Majesty said he would handle it appropriately and would certainly not implicate the innocent.
Xiao Ruofeng paused and turned to look at Jin Xuan.
In the candlelight, the newly appointed Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial wore a humble smile, but his eyes were unfathomable.
"Thank you for your trouble, Grand Eunuch Jinxuan. I understand..." Xiao Ruofeng nodded and continued walking forward.
As he walked out of the palace gate, he suddenly remembered something and turned to Jinxuan, saying, "Please also tell Your Majesty that I will soon lead the army south to quell the rebellion. During this time, I will entrust the affairs of the court to Your Majesty."
These words were spoken politely, yet they carried a sense of drawing a line between oneself and others.
Jin Xuan bowed in agreement, watching as Xiao Ruofeng mounted his horse and disappeared into the night.
……