Zhao Junyao was impatient.
"Call the messenger, convey my imperial decree!"
"Fan You’s second son, Fan Changsheng, has disregarded the law, bullied the common folk, and Fan You, his father, has failed to discipline him strictly, allowing him to beat the people!"
"From this day forth, escort him back to Capital City to await trial at the Ministry of Justice!"
As Zhao Junyao spoke, he quickly penned his imperial approval on the impeachment memorandum.
Li Shengan hurried off.
Fan You, styled Zhongxian, was conferred the rank of first-grade general during the reign of the previous emperor and was ennobled as Marquis Zhongyong.
As the saying goes, a thousand troops are easy to obtain, but a good general is hard to find.
In his youth, Fan You was indeed a rare good general, distinguished in battle and quite renowned.
Stationed at Yanguan City in the Northwest, there had been peace for decades.
Zhao Junyao pondered carefully and decided not to reassign the Commander for the time being.
Little did he expect that only three years into his reign, he would see such a memorandum!
To say he wasn’t disappointed would be a lie.
Yet, this was also within his expectations.
Fan You might be a fine general, but he was not very adept at disciplining his son.
Even from a thousand miles away, Zhao Junyao often received impeachment memorandums.
One could imagine how notorious they must be locally.
Zhao Junyao had long wanted to deal with him!
But after all, Fan Changsheng and the Empress were born from the same mother. According to common customs, this made Fan Changsheng his brother-in-law.
If he dealt with the matter too harshly and exposed all the sordid details, it would be his own face that he was losing.
Zhao Junyao, left with no choice, could only turn a blind eye.
However, this time, the situation had gone too far.
Publicly beating people in the streets, causing several deaths.
Human life is precious, and he could no longer tolerate this.
Just as an impeachment memorandum came forth, Zhao Junyao seized the opportunity to rid himself of this malignancy.
The messenger arrived promptly.
Zhao Junyao placed the great seal on the imperial edict and handed it over.
"I don’t care how many men you take with you, you must escort Fan Changsheng back to Capital City!"
"If he escapes, you lot can go to the Ministry of Justice to take his place!!"
The messenger’s face turned pale in an instant, and he knelt on one knee.
"Your servant obeys the decree!"
Zhao Junyao got up and swept his sleeve.
Only then did the messenger clasp his hands, bow, and take his leave.
On the way back to the Capital Camp, he wore a grim expression.
Yanguan City, Fan Changsheng... that’s the devil incarnate! So, how many men would it take to bring him back?
The Commander overseeing the Three Great Camps was General Xiao, a man in his forties.
When Zhao Junyao was still in the Eastern Palace, General Xiao was one of the Crown Prince’s staunch allies.
This man was tough and astute in strategy, and Zhao Junyao trusted him deeply.
Both were military generals, yet he and Fan You were quite different.
Fan You had been a diehard ally of the previous emperor, while the Xiao family had followed the Crown Prince.
Every King brings his own Imperial Court Officials.
In Zhao Junyao’s heart, even if Fan You was ever so loyal and valiant, his status could never surpass that of the Xiao family.
The messenger left the palace and went directly to see General Xiao.
Upon hearing the situation, General Xiao became worried.
He was also a bit incredulous.
He confirmed the imperial edict repeatedly.
"’This is the Emperor’s handwriting... Could it be that the Emperor really intends to deal with that crooked shoot of the Fan family this time?’" he muttered to himself.
The messenger bowed respectfully, clasping his fist.
"The Emperor’s intention is, if he cannot be escorted to Capital City, we must go to the Ministry of Justice to pay with our lives!"
General Xiao stroked the stubble on his chin, pondering for a long while.
"’That little demon is said to have killed several people this time, causing those censors to erupt in outrage!! This time the Emperor probably truly can no longer tolerate it!’"
With that thought, he felt a bit of schadenfreude.
"Good! Order Primus Camp to take the imperial edict and set out for Yanguan City overnight, and make sure to bring back Second Young Master Fan!"
"Your servant obeys the command!"
Zhao Junyao was in no mood to review any more petitions. Seeing it was getting late, he simply put down his brush.
"Go and bring Lady Xia over!"
He hadn’t seen that little miss for two days. And he missed her a bit.
Li Shengan promptly acknowledged the order and rushed to send someone to fetch her.
When the warm sedan arrived at Qingya Residence, Xia Ruqing was bending over in the small vegetable garden, digging up vegetables.
Da Bai followed beside her, hopping around. Little White’s paws were covered in mud.
"Master, let your servant take care of it, this dirt is too filthy!"
Zi Su and Zi Ning watched from the side, completely at a loss, both almost ready to kneel.
Xia Ruqing was unconcerned.
"Filthy? The soil isn’t dirty. Doesn’t all the food we eat come from here?"
Zi Su and Zi Ning exchanged glances.
They couldn’t argue with their master’s reasoning. So they could only watch helplessly.
Xiao Xizi suddenly ran over.
"Master, Eunuch Li is here! He says the Emperor wants you to go over!"
"Master, quickly! The heated sedan chair is already waiting!"
Xia Ruqing hadn’t even reacted before Zi Su and Zi Ning helped her up.
"Master, please hurry..."
This really isn’t a place for you to be, Master, they thought.
Xia Ruqing was inwardly reluctant. I’m so bored I’m about to grow mold! Can’t I even pick a few spinach leaves? Is there any justice in the world?!
Without even changing her clothes, Xia Ruqing was stuffed into the heated sedan chair.
The Emperor’s summons was so urgent!
When Xia Ruqing arrived before Zhao Junyao, her hands were still covered in soil.
Zhao Junyao fell silent. Newest update provıded by 𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹·𝖿𝗂𝗋𝖾·𝗇𝖾𝗍
"Your Majesty, please forgive this consort for coming in such a rush, without..."
Zhao Junyao looked at Li Shengan. "Have someone prepare a bath and a change of clothes for her."
"Your servant is on it!"
Bathe and change clothes? Xia Ruqing thought. I haven’t even had dinner yet! Could it be... that again? No way! I’ll be tormented to death!
Anxiously, Xia Ruqing finished bathing and changed into clean clothes.
Appearing before Zhao Junyao, Xia Ruqing was somewhat unwilling.
Her expression looked a bit aggrieved.
Zhao Junyao remained unperturbed and extended his hand.
Xia Ruqing bit her lip and slowly shuffled towards him in small steps.
As she got close, Zhao Junyao pulled her into his arms.
"Am I going to eat you?"
Xia Ruqing quickly caved in, lacking any backbone.
She only dared to mutter softly, "It’s not like you haven’t before..."
Zhao Junyao’s face darkened. "Do you believe I will right now..."
Xia Ruqing immediately backed down, her face flushing red.
Zhao Junyao felt a frustration welling up in his heart, unable to be released or to subside.
This Lady Xia! Honestly! I really have no way of dealing with her!
After a pause, Zhao Junyao grabbed her leg.
Xia Ruqing felt her hair stand on end and widened her eyes.
Zhao Junyao glared at her.
Then Xia Ruqing really didn’t dare to move.
Zhao Junyao lifted her skirt to check her knees.
"Have you used the medicine I gave you? Do your knees still hurt?"
Xia Ruqing felt a warmth in her heart.
So, he wasn’t going to... do *that* to me after all. Is he... worried about me? It seems so.
Xia Ruqing blushed, feeling somewhat embarrassed.
"They don’t hurt anymore!"
Honestly, what was I thinking?
To alleviate the awkwardness, Xia Ruqing asked again, "Your Majesty, how did you know... my knees were bothering me?"
Zhao Junyao glanced at her with annoyance.
"You were kneeling on the ground, your face twisted into a pretzel!"
Xia Ruqing was speechless.
Really? Did I actually look like that??
Xia Ruqing felt embarrassed and didn’t want to speak anymore.
Zhao Junyao gently set her down.
"Go change your clothes. I’m taking you somewhere!"