Huh? The Tyrant Cries After My Inner Thoughts Were Exposed!-Chapter 210: Even If He Survives, He’ll Be Ruined!
Awakened by a bucket of water, Imperial Censor Chen lay on the ground, vomiting violently, with vomit mixed with water, in utter disarray.
The people nearby silently distanced themselves, simultaneously pinching their noses, looking on with disdain.
His face flushed red as he glared at Su Juan, who had thrown the bucket aside, gnashing his teeth, "You go too far in bullying me!"
"I am a Third Rank Imperial Censor of the current dynasty... How dare you humiliate me so!"
Su Juan, completely indifferent, corrected him, "It is actually the Third Rank Right Vice Imperial Censor."
Someone couldn’t help but laugh out loud.
Su Juan emphasized the words "Right Vice" heavily, "I am still Princess Jinyang of the current dynasty."
[Discussing status, are we?]
The guests watching had already completely distanced themselves from the Right Vice Imperial Censor, thinking: How much did this Imperial Censor Chen drink to still not be sober?
You may be of the Third Rank, but they are not only a Fourth Rank Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, but also the Imperial Grandson, personally appointed by the Emperor, and soon to be inscribed in the Imperial Family genealogy at the Zongzheng Temple, a legitimate Imperial Grandson!
How dare you bring up status in front of them.
The Right Vice Imperial Censor got up from the ground, "You rely on your royal status to do as you please and humiliate a court official. I will enter the palace tomorrow and report to the Emperor..."
[Oh, are you going to report to the Old Emperor?]
The Right Vice Imperial Censor suddenly felt triumphant, brushing off his robe; after all, she is just a woman, who must be easily frightened.
Scholar Yuan from the Hanlin Academy quietly said to Su Juan, "Your Highness, do not fear. Imperial Censor Chen audaciously criticizes the imperial bloodline and dares to disrespect you. We are all witnesses and will surely seek justice for you before the Emperor."
Many who heard this became anxious; this Yuan is quite cunning.
"Your Highness, Imperial Censor Chen is adept at sophistry. I believe we should enter the palace ahead of him to inform the Emperor of today’s events, accusing him of disrespect."
"Your Highness, this old minister also believes we should seize the initiative!"
Each person was eager to curry favor, feeling grateful to the Right Vice Imperial Censor; if it weren’t for his folly, they might not have had the chance to make an impression on Princess Jinyang.
Looking at these people before her, Su Juan appeared moved, "I appreciate your intentions, my lords."
She calculated the hour, turned to the Right Vice Imperial Censor, her expression complex, kindly asking, "Your Excellency is in no condition to be seen... Shall I have someone prepare a change of clothes for you?"
The Right Vice Imperial Censor immediately exploded, feeling that Su Juan was humiliating him again: "Su Juan, your bullying is excessive!"
"I think it’s you who is excessive in bullying!"
A sonorous voice came from outside, startling everyone; in the entire Da Jin, only one person could refer to themselves in such a manner.
The courtiers all knelt and bowed, "Your humble servant greets Your Majesty."
No one expected that even the Emperor, who is so busy with state affairs, would attend Su Juan’s banquet, indeed a great honor.
The Right Vice Imperial Censor turned pale, prostrating on the ground, trembling, his soul terrified out of him—how could the Emperor be here!
No one knew how long the Old Emperor had been outside, or how much he had heard.
Many inwardly rejoiced, relieved they hadn’t aligned themselves with Imperial Censor Chen’s folly.
The Old Emperor, dressed in everyday clothes, entered the hall, accompanied by the Empress, followed by two guards and two palace attendants.
His face stern, looking at Su Juan with a hint of disdain: A dignified princess allowing herself to be bullied to this extent; you really bring me great honor.
Su Juan appeared innocent, [Aren’t these censors indulged by you?]
Old Emperor: "?" When did I ever indulge them!
Many of the courtiers inwardly agreed vigorously: Indeed, indeed!
The Emperor truly has been too lenient with the imperial censors.
[He claims to be a Third Rank Imperial Censor, while I, a mere Fourth Rank, respect the high-ranking officials, isn’t that right?]
"..." Although, really, it’s hard to see where you’re showing respect.
The words "Right Vice" must have nearly driven him to vomit blood?
Su Juan looked aggrieved; Xie Xun and others familiar with her almost spat out their drink, thinking that she had just doused him with a bucket of water, yet now she looked as if she had suffered some great grievance—what an act indeed.
The Empress nearby, however, was heartbroken, pulling her granddaughter’s hand protectively, giving her husband a glance.
Upon receiving his wife’s gaze, the Old Emperor looked at the Right Vice Imperial Censor kneeling prostrate on the ground, noting he was the only one still kneeling, a sign of guilt.
At this point, the Right Vice Imperial Censor, frightened by the Old Emperor’s arrival, had sobered up considerably.
The Old Emperor asked coldly, "Where is the Right Vice Imperial Censor?"
Imperial Censor Chen, trembling, shuffled forward on his knees, "Your humble servant, the Right Vice Imperial Censor."
The Old Emperor, with a stern look, asked, "Do you admit your guilt?"
The imperial censors in the court are always the best at gauging the Emperor’s disposition, and now sober, merely from his tone, he knew his usual excuses would be useless here, as the Emperor was truly angry; admitting guilt was the only wise course.
He kowtowed, the sound echoing through the hall, "Your Majesty, I recognize my guilt! I should not have presumptuously discussed the imperial family, disrespected the princess... I admit my guilt, please punish me!"
The sound was so loud that others felt pained on his behalf.
Those familiar with such proceedings knew clearly that when the Emperor’s anger was perceived, these censors would admit their faults rapidly, pleading for punishment, and at such times, the Emperor would usually downplay the issue.
Su Juan naturally understood this but was in no hurry, merely watching, intending to use today’s event to test the Old Emperor’s attitude towards her.
The Old Emperor understood better than anyone that if he let Imperial Censor Chen off as usual today, the world would know that the same disregard applied to his Imperial Granddaughter, and anyone would feel free to trample over Princess Jinyang, rendering her royal status meaningless and drawing endless criticism.
But if he punished Imperial Censor Chen severely, it would proclaim to the world that Princess Jinyang’s royal status is beyond question, and in the future, anyone thinking of raising the issue would consider the censor’s fate and treat her with respect.
Everyone present was waiting eagerly to see if Princess Jinyang was truly favored.
If even an imperial censor could insult her, then the name ’Jinyang’ would become a joke.
Even the Empress beside her was waiting, knowing her husband too well, now clutching her granddaughter’s hand, hoping he would not disappoint her again.
Imperial Censor Chen held onto a glimmer of hope that the Emperor, who was known for not executing officials who spoke their minds, would be lenient towards him.
But in the next moment, he heard the Old Emperor coldly say, "Since you acknowledge your error, let’s avoid further disputes. At tomorrow’s morning court assembly, you will receive forty lashes before all the officials as a warning to others."
The courtiers were shocked, gasping; forty lashes in court... even if he survived, he’d be crippled!
All the color drained from Imperial Censor Chen’s face; kneeling on the ground, he desperately kowtowed, begging for mercy, "Your Majesty! I know my mistake! Please spare your humble servant!"
He even tried to kneel forward to reach Su Juan, but someone dragged him away, his pleas for mercy fading...
"Your Highness, please have mercy on me! It was wrong of me to speak out of turn, it was wrong of me!"
"Your Majesty!"
Everyone present felt their hearts tighten, secretly relieved that they had the sense to avoid trouble.
