Do Not Offend the Reborn Wicked Wife-Chapter 164: Imperial Decree Lady, Cao Yin Is Dumbfounded!
"Minister Pang, you seem very attentive to this young man from your family!"
Among the ministers on both sides, someone leaned over to Pang Wenzhengโs ear and joked quietly. Pang Wenzheng glanced coldly at Cao Yin, who was sparring with Qi Yun, and snorted, "An old fool!" ๐ง๐โฏโฏ๐คโฏ๐ฃ๐โด๐๐๐.๐๐ฐ๐
"Emperor, not rewarding achievements will dishearten the soldiers!"
"Grandfather, the Emperor has already rewarded me!"
"Brat, who thinks thereโs too much reward?"
Cao Yin was truly annoyed with Li Qingmuโs lack of ambition and slapped him on the back of the head in anger.
"Grandfather..."
Li Qingmu covered his head, looking pitifully at him.
"Grandfather?" Qi Yun was curious about this term and looked at Cao Yin, "Is he your grandson?"
"No, no, no, he is my grandson-in-law! The husband of my Little Yueโer!"
"Oh, Little Yueโer?" Qi Yun pondered, then looked at Pang Wenzheng, "Minister Pang, if I recall correctly, sheโs your daughter, right?"
The Emperor never meddles in his ministersโ household affairs. But to think he doesnโt know would be a grave mistake!
Pang Wenzhengโs face twitched. What did the Emperor mean by this?
He glared coldly at Cao Yin and Li Qingmu, stepped forward, and spoke, "Reporting to Your Majesty, my daughter has broken decorum and consorted with others. I have already expelled her from the family!"
"Minister Pang, when others speak of their children, no matter how unruly or ill-behaved they are, parents would always save some face for them. To speak so bluntly about โconsortingโ, itโs quite rare! One might say, if youโre so harsh on your own children, how can you truly serve your King?"
"You wretch! Stop your nonsense!"
Li Qingmuโs previous words seemed careless, but this last sentence hit Pang Wenzhengโs sore spot!
Not sincerely serving the King!
These words are fatal. With the Emperor sitting above, saying such words leaves no room for dignity!
Pang Wenzheng was about to explode with anger, but Li Qingmuโs words were logical and indisputable!
He could even feel the Emperorโs somewhat unfriendly gaze!
Lousy brat!
Pang Wenzhengโs hand was shaking as he held the ceremonial tablet, ready to throw it at someone at any moment!
"Furthermore, whether Yueโer truly broke decorum, you donโt know, he doesnโt know, no one knows, only I know. Before saying such things, shouldnโt Minister Pang first ask me?"
"Pfft!"
Some colleagues beside chuckled. Li Qingmu was right; only he could know the chastity of his own wife.
"You..."
Pang Wenzheng pointed at Li Qingmu with his shaking hand holding the ceremonial tablet, his body trembling with rage. He truly wanted to rush up and hit him!
But this was the Golden Hall, he couldnโt be reckless, so he turned back to seek the Emperorโs judgement, "Emperor, this boy speaks nonsense. My loyalty to Your Majesty is as clear as day and earth!"
Qi Yun rested his chin on his hand, looked at Pang Wenzheng bent at ninety degrees, and then at Li Qingmu, "Boy, why arenโt you speaking now?"
"Emperor, as a minister, one must be loyal to the King, I feel thereโs nothing more to say!"
Good!
Cao Yin cheered for Li Qingmu in his heart, almost saying it out loud. This boy always has striking words!
Pang Wenzhengโs face darkened again, he looked at Li Qingmu with a sinister gaze. Was this brat here just to disgust him?
"Hmph!"
He snorted coldly and turned his face away.
Qi Yun rested his chin and watched, especially seeing Pang Wenzheng sulking, he suddenly felt having such young people in court seemed nice.
Seeing the ministers frustrated to the core was quite satisfying!
"Summon, decree! Confer, Li Pangshi Long Yue, the Sixth Rank Imperial Decree Lady, entitled as โJiaoโ!"
What?
All the ministers present were dumbfounded.
The Sixth-rank Imperial Decree Lady is a rank lower than the Titled Lady; generally, the titled lady is conferred to the wife of first to fifth-rank officials, but below fifth-rank, itโs the imperial decree.
Currently, Li Qingmu hasnโt secured his position as an Imperial Censor, yet you confer his legitimate wife as an Imperial Decree Lady. Emperor, do you still care about your dignity?
So, whether Li Qingmu passes the Jinshi exam or not, you plan to give him a Sixth-rank official position anyway?
Feeling discontent, but nobody dared to protest.
Previously, the Emperor made Li Qingmu a provisional Imperial Censor, and there were objections. Okay, the Emperor compromised and let him be on probation, turning official only after he passed his exams. Now, the Emperor intends to confer an Imperial Decree Lady, again thereโs opposition; this is disrespecting the Emperor!
There must be a limit between sovereign and ministers. Cross this limit, and itโs not good for either side.
"Brat, what are you dazing for, quickly express gratitude!"
Cao Yin felt he worried too much for Li Qingmu, this foolish lad!
Li Qingmu seemed to snap from his trance, hastily knelt in gratitude, "Your humble servant, thanks for Your Majestyโs grand favor!"
Next was the conferring of rewards to others, which took another hour before the court was dismissed.
Leaving the palace gate, the crowd dispersed wide, Cao Yin glanced at the energetic young man beside him and couldnโt resist smacking him again.
But this time, Li Qingmu cleverly dodged.
"Brat, tell me, why were you dazing back there in the hall? Hey, youโre a cunning lad, how could you possibly daze?"
"Grandfather, I had to daze!" Li Qingmu rubbed his head, "I devised so many ideas, subconsciously the Emperor would think Iโm shrewd; if I donโt act a bit foolish, itโd provoke the Kingโs suspicion!"
Cao Yin froze, then realized, yes, how did he forget the Kingโs suspicious nature?
Back in the hall, he solely wanted Li Qingmu to shine more, forgetting heโs just a scholar. Why should a scholar steal so much spotlight? Wouldnโt this unnecessarily draw the Emperorโs suspicion?
"Small chap, itโs my miscalculation, I nearly set you up!"
Li Qingmu smiled without speaking.
Actually, there was something he didnโt tell Cao Yin. At the moment he met the Emperor, he truly faltered for an instant...
...
...
In the Imperial Garden, Qi Yun walked slowly with his hands behind, followed by Chief Eunuch Chen Zhong.
"Chen Zhong."
"Your servant is here!"
"What do you think of Li Qingmu?"
Chen Zhong was taken aback, wondering why the Emperor cares about a mere scholar?
But the mind of the Emperor is hard to gauge, he pondered briefly, "Your servant sees him as fairly honest."
"Honest? Hmm! That boy intentionally played dumb in front of me, wanting to show heโs of no ulterior motive, that I can confidently use him!"
Chen Zhong laughed, "Thatโs because of Your Majestyโs mighty presence. Anyone before you has to act like a quail, behave honestly and properly!"
"Indeed, in recent years, the ministers have become more obedient!"
The relationship between ministers and the Emperor has always been complex, both adversaries and allies. Being an Emperor isnโt as free as imagined, as some ministers might question or even oppose your decisions.
Thus, after being gravely ill a few years ago, Qi Yun orchestrated the current triadic faction system of Crown Prince, Third Prince, and Seventh Prince, aiming to become the ultimate decision-maker, truly above all!
"With the current situation in court, the Emperor has grown tired. What do you think, if a reckless youth suddenly barges in?"
Chen Zhong was bewildered, "Your servant...servant doesnโt know..."
"Wouldnโt it be quite amusing? Hahaha..."
Qi Yun left, laughing with his hands still behind.
