Joyful Motherhood in a Rural Family-Chapter 873 - : Fabricating Sins
Chapter 873: Chapter 873: Fabricating Sins
“Lord Gan Senior has served as an official for many years, and the Gan Family has been prospering like the midday sun. How could it all disappear so suddenly?”
Liu Sisi found it somewhat hard to believe.
“The Imperial Decree was issued after noontime. I made it a point to ask—His Majesty was perfectly fine during the early morning session, but strangely enough, during his midday rest, Doctor Lord Cui entered the palace to request an audience, and exactly what they discussed is unknown. After Lord Cui left the Palace, His Majesty made a trip to the cold palace. When he emerged, he ordered the drafting of a decree to arrest Lord Gan Senior and his son, and everyone from the top down was taken into custody and thrown into the sky prison.”
Lord Cui requested an audience with His Majesty during His Majesty’s nap, and afterward, His Majesty went to the cold palace. Although the cold palace held many who had committed offenses, the person who could make His Majesty condescend and personally visit the cold palace was most likely Empress Yang!
“Initially, His Majesty wanted to directly have both Lord Gans beheaded at Wu Gate, but after several ministers advised against it, His Majesty barely suppressed his anger, deciding to wait for the so-called embezzled taels of silver to be seized from the Gan Estate before dealing with them.”
Di Yelei also spoke with puzzlement, “The Gan Estate was also searched. The ones ordered to search the Gan Estate were none other than Lord Cui and the current Commandant of Training Tang Ji. In my opinion, His Majesty still intends to teach the Gan Family a lesson. Otherwise, he would not have assigned Tang Ji to carry out the order to confiscate the property despite knowing of Tang Ji’s relationship with you and me…”
An elder minister who has lurked in the officialdom for many years naturally has certain unwritten rules to follow; otherwise, it is impossible to get anywhere in officialdom.
Both father and son of the Gan Family serving as officials of the same dynasty and being able to reach their current positions—it is impossible to say they are completely innocent.
No matter how you look at it, they likely had more or less acquired some ill-gotten wealth or engaged in mutual protection among officials.
His Majesty’s decision to confiscate the Gan Family’s property on the accusation of embezzlement could be a big or a small matter, depending on His Majesty’s final decision.
“Could it be that His Majesty is merely making a lot of noise but doing little?”
Liu Sisi hesitated, thinking that having been thrown into the sky prison, it probably wasn’t just all noise.
Di Yelei furrowed his brows and pondered for quite some time before speaking softly, “If they were arrested because of the embezzlement case, it would be a minor issue. I fear that His Majesty harbors other accusations in his heart that cannot be brought to light, and simply found a convenient charge to entrap the Gan Family.”
“Now that things have come to this point, even if it is not because of Ruo Ruo’s issue, considering I had once recognized Madam Gan Senior as my grandmother, I cannot ignore this matter. The urgency to enter the palace cannot be delayed,” Liu Sisi said, her gaze however, was fixed on Di Yelei.
Di Yelei merely smiled and gently took her hand, “As soon as I returned to the mansion, I had Old Cheng prepare the carriage. Let’s go! I will accompany you to the palace.”
–
By the time the two were to enter the palace, it was already dusk, and the wait to report their arrival was lengthy.
At last, they saw Eunuch Yuan, who had gone in to report, come out, but he brought the oral decree of Honored Princess Consort Luo.
“Old Master Marquis, Princess. His Majesty is still busy in the royal study and has ordered that no one disturb him. On the other hand, Honored Princess Consort Luo heard that the Princess had entered the palace and expressed a desire to have a chat with you and talk about family matters.”
The two exchanged a discreet glance, both seeing a sense of caution in each other’s eyes.
Although Empress Yang is currently confined in the cold palace, she is still officially announced to be seriously ill and has not been stripped of her title as the Empress. Therefore, the Honored Princess Consort, being second to the Empress, is effectively the head of the Imperial Harem at the moment.
“Princess Ruyu has not seen Honored Princess Consort Luo for quite some time and misses her deeply. Since Her Majesty has extended an invitation, I shall respectfully comply,” said Liu Sisi.
Because it involved entering the Imperial Harem, it was not suitable for Di Yelei to accompany them, so he stayed outside to wait while Liu Sisi followed Eunuch Yuan alone into Ruizhu Hall, where Honored Princess Consort Luo resided.
Honored Consort Luo looked even more radiant and graceful than the last time Liu Sisi saw her!
Before Liu Sisi could kneel in greeting, Honored Consort Luo hurriedly stepped forward two paces and personally helped her up, “I heard from the palace servants that Princess Ruyu entered the Palace, and since I myself long for the life outside the palace, I had the audacity to invite the Princess to come and chat with me to prevent this pile of old bones from getting rusty and immovable.”
It had only been a few years since Honored Consort Luo entered the Palace, yet she managed to rise above all and secure the exalted position of the Empress Consort, only second to the Emperor. It was impossible to achieve that without some means!
However, the Nineteenth Prince, whom Honored Consort Luo gave birth to, was the youngest, being only five and a half years old this year. According to the rules, royal sons had to be at least ten years old before they could move into separate sleeping quarters, so the Nineteenth Prince was still living in a side hall of Consort Luo’s Palace.
Liu Sisi, with lowered eyes, paid her respects unobtrusively, not daring to presume anything. She also didn’t dare to speak freely and had to carefully pick up on Honored Consort Luo’s topic and respond with statements that wouldn’t lead to mistakes.
“Your Majesty looks so young and heavenly, far surpassing me by countless times, how could there be any talk of being old? If you ask the palace maids beside us, everyone will say that Your Majesty looks even younger than myself by a few years.”
Many thoughts were running through Consort Luo’s mind; His Majesty was nearing 60 this year, and yet the Nineteenth Prince was so young, and he had a mother who was an honorable consort. Outsiders viewed this as a favor and a sign of immense grace!
Only Honored Consort Luo herself knew, she was unmistakably a target!
Which of the women in the Imperial Harem didn’t wish to pull her down from her horse and take her place?
With this thought, Honored Consort Luo smiled and called her imperial son over.
“Ruyu’s little mouth is becoming sweeter by the day. Oh yes, Ruyu, you haven’t met your Nineteenth imperial brother yet, have you? Zhao’er, come and pay your respects to your sister, Princess Ruyu.”
The Nineteenth Prince looked exceptionally frail and small, he cuddled shyly at the nursemaid’s side. Upon hearing Honored Consort Luo’s call, instead of coming forward, he turned back and hugged his nursemaid, pitifully whispering, “Nanny…”
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The nursemaid, not daring to be negligent, quickly held the Nineteenth Prince in her arms and took two steps forward, kneeling down to Liu Sisi.
And properly said, “Zhao’er pays respect to Princess Ruyu!”
This was on behalf of the Nineteenth Prince in her arms, paying respects.
The eyebrows of Liu Sisi and Honored Consort Luo both slightly furrowed undetectably.
Wasn’t the Nineteenth Prince already five and a half years old? Why was he unable to kowtow on his own? Considering her own triplets who were just over five years old, and even younger than the Nineteenth Prince by just over three months, it felt as if her own children seemed a year or two older in comparison.
“Nineteenth Prince, please rise quickly.
Liu Sisi thought to herself, but her expression didn’t show it, and with a smile, she fumbled for a moment on her body and took off the blood jade pendant hanging at her waist to offer it.
“Since I came in a hurry today, I did not prepare a proper meeting gift. I hope the Nineteenth Prince will not take offense.”
While speaking, she handed the blood jade to the palace maid beside her.
The palace maid promptly presented it, and after receiving a nod from Honored Consort Luo, the nursemaid accepted the blood jade and once again expressed gratitude to Liu Sisi.
