Chapter 45: Cannot Return to the Capital

"Emperor, it's a misunderstanding, all a misunderstanding." Wang Jingyi's voice was full of sad sobbing; now her daughter was about to be executed, she was panicked yet not panicked, merely kowtowing.

She even shouted, "Emperor, I, the minister's wife, on behalf of the marshal, kowtow to you and plead guilty."

Chu Yunzheng's face instantly turned embarrassed, he turned back, looked at Wang Jingyi, his voice tinged with coldness: "General Xu indeed has great powers, even far in Bei Mo, must I also have to accept this apology?"

He seemed to smile, but the smile never reached his eyes, also chilling.

Wang Jingyi, calm in crisis, said orderly, "Neglecting to educate is the father's fault. The Imperial Concubine's ignorance caused trouble, that is the fault of the minister's wife and the marshal."

"I still request the Emperor to punish."

Just moments ago they could discuss a few words, now all are silent as cold cicadas.

Chu Yunzheng smiled, then said, "Madam, since you say the Imperial Concubine is ignorant, does your household never teach the women?"

"What truly needed to be taught was only brother‑sister affection, and the minister's wife didn't take it seriously." Wang Jingyi had a fine layer of sweat beads on her nose.

She looked at Madam Rong beside her and sighed, "Our two families are indeed close; Rong Ruo, when young, always studied together with my family's two sons, a close relationship."

"Seeing those children truly get along, our families discussed, and in the year Yan Er turned twelve, the two families became in‑laws, recognizing a formal kinship."

"The children of the two families then became one family, calling each other as brothers and sisters."

Contrasting Wang Jingyi's composure, Madam Rong was far more frantic, repeatedly wiping sweat from her temples, watching Rong Ruo pressed by a guard, tears streaming uncontrollably, she choked and nodded, "Yes."

"It's all true."

Chu Yunzheng let out a cold snort from his nostrils: "So, does that mean I have been short‑sighted?"

"Indeed the Imperial Concubine overstepped, now she is the Emperor's Imperial Concubine; even if she is a brother, she should keep distance."

"Alas! It's also my fault, having taught them deep brotherly affection since childhood. Rong Ruo is also considered a son of the Xu family; seeing the Xu men all off to Bei Mo to fight, I couldn't rest easy about this sister."

"Concern leads to chaos, which caused this blunder."

Chu Yunzheng's complexion grew extremely heavy.

Xiao Mingshu's gentle expression on her face was almost about to collapse.

Wan Tang's hand clenched hard into the flesh, her hatred toward Wang Jingyi burned deeper in her heart. She appeared at a terribly inopportune moment.

A good phrase of deep brother‑sister affection, a good phrase of concern leading to chaos, actually blocked the Emperor's mouth.

Xiao Mingshu gently advised from the side: "Emperor, so the true facts are indeed like this. The Rong family has generations of merit, the Xu family also boasts a whole clan of tiger generals. The two families' union is naturally a good thing."

"Only the Imperial Concubine could have clarified the truth, privately granting each other, causing needless misunderstandings."

The Empress's words, one by one, struck Chu Yunzheng's patience; the prayer beads in his hand clicked sharply: "No rules!"

"It is downright an insult to the royal face."

"Emperor." Another trembling voice; kneeling was the Minister of War Rong Qinghai.

He rushed in, disregarding the distinction between inside and outside, kneeling there outside.

"Emperor, the old minister is guilty, my teaching of my son was improper, thus this monster was born."

"If it were earlier, there would be no need for the Emperor to act; the old minister would have slain him with a sword."

"But …"

Rong Qinghai's voice trembled even more, choking, "Late Emperor passed away, Prince Yan forced the palace. As the commander of the Imperial Guard, I should protect the Emperor and his carriage."

"Who would think the rebel army would turn and go to the Prince's residence? My eldest was once the Emperor's study companion, yet also a loyal heroic child!"

At this point, Madam Rong was crying so hard she could not speak.

Rong Qinghai, choking, said, "Emperor, you have just ascended the throne, the political situation is unstable, several princes of the fiefs are restless; his second brother lobbies each fief."

"Although he is a brainless fool, he used his life to obtain a pretext for attacking Jiang City, to quell internal chaos."

At this moment, Rong Qinghai was already shedding tears profusely.

Wiping his tears, he looked at Rong Ruo, and his voice was more a plea: "He is the only bloodline of my Rong family. My wife and I, having had a child late, have taken him as our reliance for living."

Upon saying this, Rong Qinghai knelt on the ground, pounding his forehead heavily onto the blue stone slab.

The matter concerned major court affairs, the Imperial Concubines all lowered their heads, trying to avoid.

Chu Yunzheng's prayer beads in his hand began to turn again. His eyes stared straight at the seventy‑year‑old elder on the ground.

The Ministry of War had long been controlled by Former Dynasty old ministers, its power tangled and deep. After the Rong family and the Xu family joined forces, the Ministry became impenetrably tight, so that even a slight war made Chu Yunzheng appear passive.

"Old Rong's words indeed make me feel ashamed."

Chu Yunzheng raised his voice, slowly saying, "Thinking carefully, the Rong family these years has devoted themselves to me, to the court."

"If I recall correctly, Old Rong is seventy this year?"

Rong Qinghai clearly realized something, yet could only nod.

Chu Yunzheng said, "Unfortunately my teaching was improper; Rong Ruo is more handsome than the two older brothers, yet lacks the loyalty the two brothers have toward me."

"It is that the old minister was busy with state affairs, neglecting to discipline this wayward son," Rong Qinghai trembled, struggled, and finally sighed deeply.

Trembling, he slowly plucked the black hair from his head, cupped it in both hands, tears streaming, he said, "I am advanced in years, lack vigor. I beseech the Emperor, allow me to retire to my hometown, taking this wayward son away from the Capital, to properly raise him."

Madam Rong had become a weeping figure, but compared to preserving the Rong family's lineage, wealth and honor were all fleeting clouds.

Chu Yunzheng's gaze swept over the Rong family members, he personally stepped forward, extended his hands, and helped them rise from the ground.

He said lightly, "Having Old Rong share my worries, I indeed overlooked your age."

"Enough, Old Rong is also at the age to enjoy grandchildren. If I forcefully retain him, it becomes my fault."

Chu Yunzheng's dragon aura fully displayed: "I recall Old Rong's hometown may be in the Qin Mountains?"

"Yes!"

"The Rong family's contributions to my Fengqi Kingdom are truly beyond monetary reward."

Having said that, Chu Yunzheng looked at Rong Ruo: "I order you to escort Old Rong back to his hometown; with parents present, do not travel far. I confer upon you the title of Brave and Fierce General, to guard and manage, serving your parents."

On the surface this promotes Rong Ruo, yet it strips the Rong family's generational power. Being sent to the frontier is a covert demotion. With the Rong family gone, there is no longer any force to oppose the Emperor.

Rong Ruo was somewhat dazed; he cared not for these details, only knowing that this departure meant he would never again meet Xu Luoyan.

Rong Qinghai hurriedly kowtowed in thanks: "Thank you, Emperor."

"The Rong family has been loyal to the Emperor for generations, guarding Tong Pass, and without summons they shall never return to the Capital for all eternity."

Chu Yunzheng waved his hand casually: "Li Defu, Lord Rong is advanced in years. You personally escort him back to his residence."

After the Rong family had left, Chu Yunzheng immediately said to Zhang Rang, the second-rank eunuch at his side: "Convey my oral decree: the Ministry of War must not be without management for a single day. Order Ning Peizhong to succeed Lord Rong in his post."

"No objections shall be entertained!"

Zhang Rang immediately went to deliver the message.

Although the Emperor had not yet mentioned Xu Luoyan, Wang Jingyi's face was already ashen. Her entire person was listless and dispirited, like a defeated chicken, her whole body drained of strength.

The Emperor was by no means a rash man; being able to settle on a candidate in the blink of an eye, this matter had likely been long deliberated in his heart.

An absurd struggle in the Imperial harem had actually led the Emperor to conduct a major reshuffle of the Ministry of War. The Rong family and the Xu Family, one civil and one military, had been like an old tree with deep roots, firmly entrenched in the Ministry of War.

But now, this tree had been split in two. How could the Xu Family still grasp the Ministry of War with their tangled roots?

Most of the vexation on the Emperor's face had dissipated. As for Xu Luoyan, he merely said lightly: "Send her back to Jingren Palace at once. Halve all her allowances. Without summons, she shall not take a single step beyond Gongmen."

Xu Luoyan cast a pleading look at Wang Jingyi, but Wang Jingyi only glared at her in annoyance.

Having used the power of half the Ministry of War to preserve Rong Ruo's lifeline and secure her position as Noble Consort, even Wang Jingyi had no energy left to struggle.

Wan Tang slowly raised her head, unable to open her eyes against the blazing sun overhead. Her heart was filled with frantic, heart-wrenching grief. She had never expected that by crossing her moral bottom line, she had actually made a wedding dress for the Emperor, successfully enabling a political reshuffle.

Who, after all, was scheming against whom?

Wan Tang grew more and more confused, no longer understanding.

Her hand tightened again and again, then she pulled a small pill from her bosom.

The scene from that day surfaced before her eyes. She only remembered that when she walked out of the Empress's palace, Aunt Baiwei had chased after her.

Handing the small box to Wan Tang, she said: "Her Ladyship said, if you reach the end of your rope, if this item is used well, perhaps it will lead to a turn of fortune."

She could not resign herself to this—Xu Luoyan still only received a punishment that was neither here nor there. Nor could she resign herself to merely being a pawn in a political reshuffle. She could not resign herself to all her hatred, all her sacrifices, passing away like smoke and clouds.

She absolutely had to make Xu Luoyan pay the price!

She slowly raised her hand, covering her mouth and nose with a handkerchief, and swallowed this bitter thing.