zChapter 928 - Whose Word Counts in the Capital? (2/2)
She recognized him as one of the eunuchs from Heavenly Hall. Normally, he would be accompanying Zhang Yuan, thus she asked with a smile: “Instead of taking care of Father Emperor, what have you come to the Yu Palace for?”
The eunuch looked at the giant group of people kneeling on the ground and taking up half of the street, helplessly saying: “Princess might not know, but the citizens asking for Hundred Herb Hall to be reopened today did not just come to the Yu Palace. There are even more people kneeling in front of the Imperial Palace’s gates! His Majesty heard about it and had this servant come to invite Princess into the palace. Princess, quickly come with this servant into the palace!”
Upon hearing that the Emperor had invited Imperial Daughter Ji An into the palace, the citizens began to rejoice, as someone rushed to ask: “Could it be that His Majesty also supports Imperial Daughter in reopening Hundred Herb Hall?”
“Could it be that His Majesty has made the decision and agreed?”
The eunuch turned around and said with a joyous expression: “Everyone, do not rush. It’s natural that His Majesty would stand on His Highness Prince Yu’s and Princess Yu’s side. Hundred Herb Hall benefits Da Shun, and it benefits the people. In the past, even His Majesty had enjoyed its services quite a bit. Now that Princess has returned to the capital, His Majesty has said that the reopening of Hundred Herb Hall should be added to the agenda.” After saying this, he turned around and said to Feng Yu Heng: “Princess, His Majesty did indeed say it like this.”
She nodded. She was still able to guess a bit of what the Emperor intended. It seemed that the Emperor was able to think of the same thing when she had insisted on closing Hundred Herb Hall. He wanted to see just how much of a disturbance would be caused by closing Hundred Herb Hall. He also wanted to see old eighth’s crisis management ability. Now, the things that needed to be observed had already been observed. To carry on like this would be pointless. The citizens were pleading, thus they would do as they wished. This would even obtain the goodwill of the people.
She said to the eunuch: “Then I will trouble you with heading over to the Sheng Palace. Back when Hundred Herb Hall had been closed, it was not this princess’ word that counted. For it to open once more, I fear that I can’t make such a decision! Since Father Emperor wants me to go into the palace, I will invite His Highness Prince Sheng to go as well!” After saying this, she looked at the people in front of the palace, and her tone changed: “Everyone, get up. Since His Majesty had made the decision to resolve this, I trust that an explanation will be provided to everyone. You can go home to wait for the news! If you truly can’t wait, you can go and wait outside the Imperial Palace’s gates; however, you must remember that the Imperial Palace is an important place. Even if you are outside the gates, you must not start a scene, do you understand?”
Everyone was quite anxious. How could they be willing to go home and wait. Upon hearing that they could go and wait outside the imperial palace, they immediately rejoiced. After promising that they would not cause trouble, they began to head toward the Imperial Palace.
Upon seeing everyone disperse, the eunuch smiled and said to Feng Yu Heng: “Princess really is able to think of the same thing as His Majesty. Before this servant came out, His Majesty advised that this servant go to the Sheng Palace first before coming to the Yu Palace. Right now, His Highness the eighth prince should already be arriving at the palace’s gate.”
Feng Yu Heng chatted with this eunuch for a bit before returning inside to get changed. She then climbed into her imperial carriage and followed the eunuch into the Imperial Palace. Stepping across the threshold into Heavenly Hall, she saluted to the Emperor and saw that the eighth prince was standing to the side with his hands behind his back, thus she faced him and bowed: “A-Heng greets eighth brother.”
Xuan Tian Mo quickly returned the courtesy: “I don’t dare, younger sister has been courteous.”
The Emperor watched the two exchange greetings and did not say anything; however, his expression was clearly very ugly. It was especially so when Xuan Tian Mo had returned the courtesy to Feng Yu Heng, as he let out a snort. He had held it in for a long time but was unable to hold it in the entire time. In the end, he still managed to say: “You should properly greet your younger sister! Don’t think that I don’t know that you’re the one that supported those old geezers that caused a fuss on the first day of the new year, nor should you believe that the people of this world are idiots! How about it? Before the end of the first month, how many times was the front of your residence blocked?”
Xuan Tian Mo had also been flustered by this matter. A dignified prince, the dignified Prince Sheng, actually had the entrance to his palace blocked by so many people! They also threw eggs and vegetables, which left the Sheng Palace in a terrible state. He could neither curse them nor hit them, and he needed to endure the occasional humiliation that came from the Emperor. It was truly terrible.
Today, with this matter being brought up, and him being called into the palace, Xuan Tian Mo knew that Feng Yu Heng’s Hundred Herb Hall would definitely be reopened. He did not want to let the Emperor be the one to bring it up. Either way, it would have the same result. It would be better if he showed some initiative to buy some sympathy. Thus he said: “Father Emperor’s words are true, but back when those officials caused trouble, son did indeed try to stop them. Unfortunately, those officials were too stubborn and resolute, thus we arrived at that unavoidable outcome.” He intended to distort the fact that it was he who had found that Persian doctor. He just pointed to Feng Yu Heng’s unexplained medical abilities and claimed that they were the cause of a discussion on that matter. Now, he pushed all responsibility for those events onto those officials. Either way, they were no longer around the court. “Dead” men tell no tales. “Reality shows that those people had indeed enjoyed a government salary from the court, and they ended up failing the examination questions. That can be considered retribution! Now that younger sister has returned to the capital, son is in favor of having Hundred Herb Hall reopened to benefit the citizens in the capital.”
It had originally been a plea from the citizens, but it had now become a plea from the eighth prince and the citizens. This position was quite good. Xuan Tian Ming had gone to visit the military camp today; otherwise, Feng Yu Heng figured that she would have wanted to bring him into the palace with her to see old eighth’s speaking ability. It could be considered a bit of a hobby.
“Sure enough, it’s eighth brother’s words that count for the most in the capital. You said that A-Heng’s medical abilities came from an unclear origin and used the officials to start a motion to have A-Heng close Hundred Herb Hall. Now, you say that it is a benefit to the people and told A-Heng to reopen Hundred Herb Hall. Although A-Heng is a bit confused as to whether what I’ve done is right or wrong, since eighth brother has given the order, I’ll reopen it!”
With just a few words, the reopening of Hundred Herb Hall had become Xuan Tian Mo’s order, and it placed the burden of “having the most say in the capital” on him. This did not anger Xuan Tian Mo. Instead, it angered the Emperor, as the Emperor suddenly slammed the table: “Old eighth! In this grand capital, it’s you who has the most say?”