Chapter 240: Volume 1, Chapter 240 — Di Yue Nu Requests an Audience with the Noble Consort

Yun Jing looked at his daughter with a complicated expression. Hmph, after marrying she really had improved—she even knew how to threaten her own father!

Yun Jing fell silent for a moment before saying, "The Protector Duke is about to marry the princess of Qingxuan. Do you know what this means?"

Yun Shizhuang paused, startled. "What does that have to do with us? As long as Di Yue Nu doesn't help Rong Dai scheme for the position of Principal Consort, she and I will keep to our own business."

"You certainly think simply." Yun Jing knew his daughter's words carried a note of pique—she was still angry about his earlier behavior. He patiently looked at her and pointed out, "The Protector Duke has a concubine who is a young lady from a branch of the Ningyuan Marquis's household. The Ningyuan Marquis's daughter has been titled Lady Zhenshen in the palace. The Protector Duke has clearly abandoned his own daughter to stand on the Ningyuan Marquis's ship. What does this mean? It means that once Lady Zhenshen gains many supporters in the palace, the likelihood of her ascending to the Empress's seat becomes very great. This may not be a good thing for you either—do you understand?"

Yun Shizhuang might not fully understand matters of state, but when it came to these matters she grasped it at once: Di Yue Nu was supporting Lady Zhenshen. Once Lady Zhenshen became Empress, she would certainly repay Di Yue Nu. By then, if Rong Dai had the Empress backing her, how could she remain comfortable as Princess Consort Qi?

"So this matter cannot be rushed. Last time I said we should hold off and see, and you stormed off in a huff." Yun Jing feigned anger.

Yun Shizhuang seized the excuse to back down and quickly said with a smile, "Your daughter has always been raised spoiled by Father. It's just that when you spoke, I felt uncertain. Now it's fine—with Father backing me, what do I have to fear? So what do you think should be done about this matter? I never expected it would implicate so many people. But the Prince must achieve some results with the Internal Court Office, otherwise he won't be able to account to His Majesty. If the Prince establishes a foundation before His Majesty, then we won't fear any Empress—won't the Empress still have to heed His Majesty?"

Yun Jing looked at his daughter. "Alright, Father understands. Go back and tell the Prince—we are family. I will certainly help with the Internal Court Office matter."

Yun Shizhuang rose happily. "Then thank you, Father. I knew you always doted on your daughter."

Yun Shizhuang was eager to return to the Prince's residence, and Yun Jing did not keep her. He sat in his chair with a dark expression for a long while before standing up and calling his personal attendant. "Go summon Xue Mingli's family."

"Yes, Lord Chancellor."

After the attendant withdrew, Yun Jing exhaled deeply. Hmph, Dowager Ming was threatening him, but even if she hadn't said anything, he would ultimately still help Prince Qi.

Prince Qi was his son-in-law after all. The Ningyuan Marquis had indeed shown goodwill toward him, but he was also exchanging knowing glances and joining hands with Su Mubai—did he take him for a fool?

They would fall out sooner or later anyway. Better to use this current matter and see whether they could rock this great ship.

Having decided to act, Yun Jing naturally had to plan things thoroughly. But how could Prince Qi alone suffice?

He ultimately still had to demonstrate loyalty to His Majesty. Now that His Majesty wished to use Prince Qi, the matter of his own daughter being Princess Consort Qi became less important. It so happened that he could use Xue Mingli's death to stir up the wave of turmoil His Majesty wanted in the court. That way, even if His Majesty did not treat him as a confidant, he would not leave him out in the cold.

The more Yun Jing thought about it, the more feasible it seemed. He immediately rose and headed out, and upon meeting Xue Mingli's parents, took them away directly.

That very day, Chancellor Yun brought Xue Mingli's parents into the palace to request an audience with His Majesty. The next morning, on Prince Qi's way to the Internal Court Office, his carriage was blocked. The Xue parents cried out for justice for their son, insisting over and over that their son had not hanged himself but had been murdered!

Previously, even if others had doubts about Xue Mingli's death, there was no aggrieved party, so the matter ultimately sank beneath the surface. But now it was different. The Xue parents filed a complaint accusing the entire Internal Court Office of murdering their son and using a hanging to cover up the truth of the killing—now things had truly become lively.

Prince Qi wanted to investigate the entire Internal Court Office, and what he lacked was an entry point. Now Yun Jing had delivered this opportunity. Prince Qi's assignment could proceed with full legitimacy and tremendous destructive force.

The entire Internal Court Office had only one Director-General, and that was Xue Mingli—which showed how critical his position was.

Before, the Internal Court Office could still cover up Xue Mingli's death as a suicide. Now that the Xue parents were accusing the Internal Court Office of murder to shift the blame, with this pretext, Prince Qi could openly interrogate anyone in the Internal Court Office, top to bottom, and make the first cut.

Today's court session was rife with undercurrents. Yun Jing stood in the front rank, feeling layer upon layer of gazes upon him. He kept his head slightly lowered, pretending not to notice. When he raised his head and happened to meet the eyes of Chancellor Su across from him, he even offered the man an amiable smile.

Su Mubai: …

Shameless!

Scum!

Sitting on the dragon throne, Han Xinglan watched the undercurrents among the ministers. He had not expected that Xue Mingli's death would not only give Prince Qi an opening to enter the Internal Court Office, but would also cause Yun Jing to switch sides.

For him as emperor, this was indeed a most pleasing thing.

Appointing Prince Qi was a dangerous move, but his thinking was right—place them in mortal peril and they would fight to survive. He had correctly judged that Prince Qi would not abandon Dowager Ming and her daughter.

As long as a person had a weakness, that was good—they could be used.

After the court session, Yun Jing requested an audience with His Majesty and presented five hundred thousand taels of silver notes he had prepared, speaking with great reverence, "This humble subject is deeply grateful to His Majesty for granting this subject such a fine opportunity. This subject will certainly devote full effort to overseeing the Liuli Kiln matter, to repay His Majesty's great grace."

Han Xinglan did not even glance at the silver notes. He only had someone help Yun Jing to his feet and said with a smile, "I naturally trust what Lord Yun says. The Liuli Kiln matter is not urgent. You should first assist Prince Qi in handling the Internal Court Office affair—that is the priority."

Yun Jing's heart lurched. Merely paying money was not enough—His Majesty was forcing him to antagonize the other noble houses.

However, since he had already made his choice, he could not retreat. He immediately said, "His Majesty trusts this humble subject, and this subject is naturally willing to lay down his life for His Majesty. I will certainly devote myself fully to assisting His Highness Prince Qi."

Han Xinglan's lips curved slightly. With Yun Jing available for use, his advantage in the court grew by another fraction. In a while, when the Internal Court Office was thoroughly purged and in his grasp, and with the Liuli Kiln opening to fire its first batch of glazed glass, he as emperor would be a few degrees more at ease than now.

All of this had been brought to him by Luoge. When she gave birth next year, whether a prince or a princess, he would make her Empress.

Though Luoge did not care whether she became Empress or not, he would keep the Empress's seat vacant only for her.

In Yuzhao Gong, Rong Luoge looked at the invitation card on the table and gave a scoff. Looking at Rong Xin, she said, "I truly never expected that I would actually receive an invitation from Di Yue Nu."

"Your Ladyship, what is so strange about that? You are now the highest-ranked consort in His Majesty's Hou Gong. Di Yue Nu, as the princess of Qingxuan, His Majesty only received her envoy and did not see her—that was already humiliating enough. And then you did not see her either. She is getting anxious now," Rong Xin said with a smile.

Rong Luoge, however, felt it might not be for this reason. Di Yue Nu was patient and ruthless. If there were no major matter, would she seek an audience with her just to humiliate herself?