Chapter 1970: Imperial Visit to Yuzhen Palace! (1/2)
Edited by: Michyrr
”Your Majesty, this subject is not speaking recklessly. There truly is such a matter, and this lowly subject has kept the memorial, which even has Your Majesty's jade seal,” Wang Chong confidently said, reaching into his sleeve and removing the memorial. Whoosh! The memorial unfolded, revealing several lines of black characters.
'It is hereby agreed that the King of Foreign Lands is granted full authority to build a navy, to use the power of the Six Bureaus as he sees fit…'
And it really was true that the large red seal of the Sage Emperor could be found at the very end.
Wang Chong began to speak once more. ”…Earlier, when Your Majesty attended court, you declared to all the officials that the Prime Minister, King Song, and the other major officials of the court were to jointly rule on government affairs. It was at that time that your lowly subject's memorial was passed.
”If there are details of this matter that Your Majesty is unaware of, Your Majesty may ask the Lord Prime Minister. The Lord Prime Minister knows every detail of the matter.”
At the very front of the ranks, Li Linfu had had a bad feeling from the moment Wang Chong took out the memorial, though he hadn't expected Wang Chong to dump the responsibility on him at the very end.
He naturally had some recollection of this memorial. When Wang Chong had come with this memorial, he claimed that the Sage Emperor had already agreed. Li Linfu hadn't carefully inspected it at the time, and he felt that there was simply no problem. After all, Wang Chong was the Nine Provinces Protector-General and the Supreme Marshal of the realm. The navy was under the scope of the military, and for Wang Chong to set one up was not a problem.
He had never expected Wang Chong to take this memorial, run off to Lingnan, and cut down the trees the Emperor needed for his Peace Pavilion.
Though Li Linfu was incredibly reluctant, he still spoke up.
”Your Majesty, this truly is the case!”
Silence!
A deathly silence!
No one had expected this sort of twist in the court session the 'Sage Emperor' had called out of rage.
The 'Sage Emperor' was stunned, and then, after glaring at Li Linfu, he turned to Wang Chong, his body trembling in anger.
”Bastard!”
If looks could kill, Wang Chong would have died one thousand times by now.
When Wang Chong mentioned the matter of Li Linfu ruling jointly with King Song and the other major officials, he had intentionally left out that he had been one of the named major officials.
This was clearly Wang Chong writing and approving his own memorial! It was utterly absurd!
And what made the 'Sage Emperor' even more furious was that this decree was one that he had made. In other words, there was nothing wrong with saying that Wang Chong had his approval.
Thus, even if he wanted to execute Wang Chong, he had no good excuse.
But the more this was the case, the angrier he became.
”Wang Chong, you still dare to lie in front of Us!”
The eyes of the 'Sage Emperor' glinted with cold light as he bolted up from the throne.
”Ever since your return from the northwestern campaign, you have truly become more and more lawless. You would even dare to interfere with Our Peace Pavilion! Do you have designs on the entire court?”
”Your lowly subject would not dare!”
”Wang Chong, while you might have achievements and prestige, do not forget that We are the master of this country, and We granted you everything you have! We can give, and We can take back!”
The 'Sage Emperor' angrily grunted, and with a wave of his sleeve, he angrily stomped back into the rear hall.
”Court is dismissed!”
The voice was overcome with wrath.
The officials glanced at each other, but none of them dared to say otherwise.
”Our decree is thus!” Just when he was about to step into the rear hall, the 'Sage Emperor' stopped and suddenly declared, ”King of Foreign Lands Wang Chong, for opposing the Son of Heaven, you are placed under house arrest for three months and fined three years of official salary! Without Our decree, you are forbidden from stepping out of your estate!
”In addition, for the failure to construct even a little Peace Pavilion, the Minister, Assistant Minister, and Auxiliary Assistant Minister of the Bureau of Works are all removed!”
With this said, he vanished from sight.
Wang Chong and the other officials were all startled. No one had expected this act from the 'Sage Emperor' right when he was about to leave.
A sliver of deep concern appeared in Wang Chong's eyes.
But the major officials around him sighed in relief. They had predicted a storm from this court session, and for it to end this way was actually not that bad.
The court session ended very quickly. Meanwhile, in the rear hall…
”All of you, get out!” the 'Sage Emperor' declared, upon which all the eunuchs, guards, and palace ladies withdrew.
The moment they were all gone, the 'Sage Emperor''s face turned extremely dark and grim.
”Wang Chong, Wang Chong… Li Taiyi, it was one thing for you to suppress me for thirty-some years, but now, the person you raised is also planning to suppress me. I'll tear him into ten thousand pieces!
”You destroyed my life, so I will destroy everyone close to you, everything you value! We will destroy it all! This is the price you must pay!”
The 'Sage Emperor' raised his head, a savage and frightening look on his face.
”Someone! Prepare my carriage to Yuzhen Palace!” the 'Sage Emperor' suddenly cried out.
”I'll start with your most beloved woman first!”
His eyes bursting with venom and loathing, the 'Sage Emperor' called his carriage and headed toward Consort Taizhen's residence, Yuzhen Palace.
A few moments later, in Yuzhen Palace…
”Your Majesty, His Majesty is coming!”
In Yuzhen Palace, a clever palace maid of sixteen or seventeen excitedly ran toward Consort Taizhen with the news.
”Really?”
Consort Taizhen's eyes flashed.
”Mist Rain, Lotus Scent, help me with my clothes!”