The Emperor seated on the Dragon Throne today was different from other days.
He smiled slightly and replied, "My loyal ministers, I have witnessed your unwavering loyalty these past days. Those who plot against the Imperial Heir will, as you wish, be severely punished without mercy. I have been investigating this matter, and expect results within the next couple of days. You may all rise."
Those kneeling ministers had already prepared their persuasive arguments in case His Majesty flew into a rage, hoping to gain the reputation of offering frank advice regardless of personal risk.
When they heard His Majesty’s words, they were all momentarily stunned.
It was all too smooth, for in the past, His Majesty either ignored their concerns or chastised them for speaking out. Today’s agreeable demeanor was indeed puzzling.
It took them a good while to recover before they all stood up and said in unison, "His Majesty is wise."
Some ministers felt something was amiss. His Majesty’s words seemed responsive yet also as if he had said nothing at all. They wanted to press for a definite answer, but upon seeing the Emperor’s discerning gaze, they recoiled, deciding it best to wait – after all, another two days would not make much difference.
Some ministers exchanged glances upon rising, revealing confusion in their eyes.
Things had been brewing for some days, and they were just one shudder away from bringing down the Xu Family. Today’s proceedings were part of their plan, that final shudder, intended to force the Emperor to make a decision.
Before they could thoroughly digest the situation, the Emperor spoke again: "Release those from the Minister’s Family who have been causing trouble lately; they’ve likely reflected enough."
The breath of the kneeling court officials caught again.
Zhao Zhong was particularly shaken. He shuddered involuntarily. The "troublemakers from the Minister’s Family" His Majesty referred to were the rough military generals from the Ministry of War, especially those who had been outspoken on behalf of Xu Hu.
Before their imprisonment, these troublemakers had dared to attack Imperial Court officials in public, and to create disturbances daily to stand up for Xu Hu. The targets of these attacks and provocations were none other than Zhao Zhong himself.
Zhao Zhong’s injuries had yet to fully heal, and hearing that the Emperor was going to release these people, his immediate reaction was to shudder.
He had not enjoyed many peaceful days before this unexpected turn of events.
Zhao Zhong felt a twinge of regret inside, unable to take any pleasure in the prospect of toppling the Xu father and daughter.
With the military generals who supported Xu Hu present, he foresaw endless future troubles for himself.
Though he had these thoughts, he had no way out and was forced to be Xue Ping’s pawn.
Xue Ping, with his head bowed among the court officials, appeared calm on the surface, but inwardly, he was in turmoil.
His unease about the Emperor’s demeanor was the greatest. What they had done seemed successful and they had received assent, but His Majesty’s every sentence was loaded with meaning.
Since before the court session, he had felt a persistent twitch in his eyelid, his heart pounding faster than usual, sensing that something was slipping from his control and gradually becoming uncontrollable, yet unable to pinpoint the problem.
The thought of the Guo family’s situation made him particularly anxious, wishing he could leave the court immediately to go back and find out the full story.
The entire Guo family had been arrested by the Internal Guard Bureau, a fact he had heard from other court officials upon arriving at court.
He remembered that all the officials were waiting at the palace gate when one of the older ministers from the Ministry of Rites, who came from noble lineage and looked down on merchants, saw him. Casually rubbing his hands, he said: "Master Xue, the residents of the former Marquis of Zhenyuan’s Mansion are your wife’s family, are they not?"
These kin-born elderly officials were stubborn and haughty, disdaining merchants, and still referred to the home as the Marquis of Zhenyuan’s Mansion despite its change of owners many years ago. This was an evident dissatisfaction with sharing a neighborhood with merchants.
At that moment, he was momentarily stunned upon hearing the words, then he nodded, not understanding their meaning. The old minister’s mansion was located near the Guo residence. Normally, he kept to himself, looking down on others through his nostrils, rarely bothering with him.
Then, the old minister continued, "So you are indeed related to Master Xue. What crime has your relative committed to warrant His Majesty’s men arresting them in the dead of night?"
He thought he had misheard and asked repeatedly for clarification. The old minister simply ignored him, with an expression as if they spoke entirely different languages.
Some court officials he was on good terms with also lived near the Guo family. Hearing their conversation, they came over and whispered a few words to him.
He was taken aback; the matter was completely unexpected, without any warning signs.
He had wanted to rush off and instruct his subordinates to find out what was happening in order to respond promptly, but it was already too late—the Eunuch in charge of announcing had arrived, summoning the court officials to attend the Imperial Court, as the session was about to begin...
At today’s Imperial Court session, there was a major event planned with the noble families, but due to the Guo family incident, a heavy shadow clouded his mind. He couldn’t focus at all, his thoughts preoccupied with what had happened, why the Internal Guard Bureau had arrested them in the middle of the night, and why the entire Guo family had been taken without any prior rumors.
The more he thought about it, the more his heart raced with fear. The Guo family had done many things for him, especially that significant matter.
He treated his legitimate wife coldly, although part of it was due to actual dislike, it was also a deliberate act. To make it convincing, he never associated with his wife’s family in public. He had even intentionally created a major conflict years ago, with the purpose of distancing the two families to avoid drawing attention to the Guo family.
His heart burned with worry, accompanied by a sense of panic. He considered all the possibilities and countermeasures. During the major event of the session, he inevitably became distracted.
Someone at the Imperial Court continued to present their petitions, but Xue Ping’s thoughts had drifted outside the court, and he hadn’t listened carefully.
"Master Xue, Master Xue?"
Someone next to him called out several times, and Xue Ping came back to his senses, looking blankly at his colleagues beside him.
His colleague gestured for him to look towards the head of the hall.
The Emperor, wearing an expression of displeasure, said, "It seems Minister Xue’s Family has nothing to say. Considering your past service to the country and the people, and your minimal interaction with the Guo family, you are hereby fined one year of your official salary as a warning. My court officials, I have made myself clear before—if you cannot manage your own families in the future, the punishment will not be as simple as a salary deduction. If you dare to plead for leniency, your crimes will be increased in severity. Govern your family before you govern the state; if you cannot even manage your relatives, how can I entrust you with greater responsibilities?"
All the court officials replied in unison, "His Majesty is wise, we will certainly take this as a warning."
"The court is dismissed," the Emperor said, flinging his sleeves, stepping down from the Dragon Throne and striding out.
"We bid farewell to His Majesty, long live His Majesty, long live, long live!"
After performing the retirement ceremony, the Minister of Rites led a few people and immediately followed the Emperor out.
His face was a picture of confusion: What had happened while he was lost in thought?
When was the Guo family mentioned during the Imperial Court? Had he missed some important detail?
He had still wanted to understand the situation with the Guo family, why they had all been arrested, and he had wanted to ask the Emperor about it. How had it come to be that, in a moment of inattention, the verdict had been settled?
And he had even been fined a year’s official salary for not properly supervising the Guo family?!
The problem was, what exactly had happened to the Guo family, and he was still completely baffled!