Chapter 674

Zhao Sir is the Censor-in-Chief of Southern Qi, a court official who speaks and writes against others, and moreover he is the head of the censors.

I never expected that the first person to join the new court would actually be the Empress from the imperial harem.

As soon as he finished speaking, the entire court of civil and military officials fell silent, not daring to utter another word.

Some people even broke out in a sweat for Zhao Sir, for everyone knows that Gu Jiu Ling is the current Empress Mother, the person closest to Xiao Yin's heart—could this Zhao Sir have gone mad?

Gu Kang, standing with his hands lowered, also furrowed his brow.

Zhao Sir, however, is quick-witted and bold to the point of recklessness.

Gu Kang understood the twists and turns of this. After the previous life-and-death showdown between Southern Qi's civil officials and military generals, Xiao Yin reshuffled the civil officials, purging a large number of them, thereby stabilizing the court.

But these censors also come from a civil-official background, and they inevitably harbor some prejudice against Xiao Yin.

Moreover, Xiao Yin indeed overstepped today—he failed to attend his first court audience, causing the officials to gossip endlessly.

Now that the new dynasty's court discipline is unstable, Zhao Sir's provocation is actually a test of Xiao Yin.

After all, Xiao Yin has just ascended the throne; he cannot possibly slaughter all of his ministers.

Xiao Yin glanced indifferently at Zhao Sir kneeling before him, his gaze already icy as frost, and he remained silent for a long time.

Zhao Sir drew a breath and went on: "As the Empress Mother, Gu clan should fulfill her duties faithfully and assist the Emperor in managing the imperial harem."

"How could she bewitch the sovereign, causing him to skip morning court? This is nothing short of bringing disaster upon the state and the people!"

"For our Southern Qi to have such an empress is nothing but misfortune for the family and the state."

Xiao Yin couldn't help but laugh in anger, turning the ink‑jade thumb ring on his thumb, he raised his eyebrows slightly as he looked at Zhao Sir before him.

"Oh? How is my beloved consort causing misfortune to the family and the state?"

"Did she dig up your Zhao family's ancestral graves, or has she brought harm to the people of Southern Qi? Do tell."

Upon hearing Xiao Yin's words already laced with barbs, Zhao Sir's attitude clearly showed some resentment, yet he boldly stared at Xiao Yin and said: "The Emperor ought to be a sage celebrated throughout the ages; he should not be entangled in amorous affairs. If the Gu lady were a proper and upright woman, how could she…"

He swallowed the two words that followed, unable to bring himself to say them, pausing before continuing: "The Gu lady should advise the Emperor to attend court today; how could she so bewitch the sovereign?"

Xiao Yin laughed out loud: "Even the intimate matters between us husband and wife, you, Sir Zhao, have investigated them so clearly—indeed rare."

Immediately, some people around lowered their heads, their faces flushed red from stifling laughter.

"Your Majesty! … … What kind of decorum is this?" Zhao Sir stared, stunned for a moment.

Xiao Yin leaned forward, coldly staring at Zhao Sir: "You keep saying the Empress is clinging to me, but after all those years on the frontier, I finally found someone who matches my heart—don't you realize it's me who's clinging to the Empress? How? Do I need to report to you, Sir Zhao, every woman I become attached to? That's the business of the palace's chief eunuch of rites; are you trying to muscle in on his job?"

Zhao Sir's face instantly turned ashen, and he couldn't utter a single word.

When Xiao Yin was Prince Rui, his unrestrained speech was tolerable enough, but now he is the emperor of Southern Qi and still behaves so improperly?

He is practically a foolish ruler of Southern Qi!

Yet he still fears having his head chopped off, so he stutters and cannot bring himself to utter the words 'foolish ruler' even after a while.

Xiao Yin sat up straight, composed his expression, and smiled faintly: "When Gu Jiu Ling was the Princess Consort, she shared weal and woe with me."

"She also bore me a pair of auspicious sons, continuing the Xiao family line, and has done merit without fault for the Xiao imperial clan."

"She alone stormed Yingzhou City, coordinating with me from inside and out, eliminating the rebels of the eight great clans, and brought peace to the people under heaven."

"In public, in private, for the state, for the people, and for me, she has a clear conscience!"

"If from now on I hear any words or deeds that fall short of the Empress…"

Xiao Yin slowly raised his gaze, swept a glance over the officials before him, and suddenly slapped the armrest of the Dragon Throne with one palm.

He struck with all his inner strength, shattering the gemstones inlaid in the armrest, which fell to the ground.

All around, people dropped to their knees in unison.

The newly established dynasty has just shattered the Dragon Throne—a dire omen!

Nobody dared to speak.

Xiao Yin's face sank cold: "I take into account that you, aged seventy or eighty, are also an elder minister of Southern Qi; today you have spoken nonsense, I will spare you this once, but if there is a next time, I will have you dragged out and beaten to death."

Zhao Sir snapped his head up, looking incredulously at Xiao Yin before him, gritted his teeth about to speak, when suddenly Gu Kang stepped forward from the side and laughed: "Sir Zhao, with your numerous descendants and outstanding literary talent, you are a model for us scholars."

"We admire him but can't keep up; nowadays the Empress's virtue is evident to all, and your misunderstanding of her, Sir Zhao, is what caused this mistake."

Gu Kang enunciated the four characters "numerous descendants" one by one.

Zhao Sir's heart tightened instantly; he finally sensed a hint of bloody danger, a flicker of displeasure crossed his face, yet he gritted his teeth and knelt before Xiao Yin.

But try as he might, he could not utter those yielding words, knowing that Gu Kang had saved his life.

Xiao Yin snorted coldly, thinking to himself, "These pretentious people, when they mention their own offspring, are nothing but timid turtles, unwilling to stand firm."

Their own offspring are their offspring, but other people's wives mean nothing to him—what business is it of yours?

Xiao Yin gave a cold snort, lightly tapping the armrest with his finger: "Sir Zhao, you are right about one thing: our newly founded court has many affairs awaiting renewal."

"Today we really just want to seek a good omen, look for some celebration; I hear the Zhao family has a young lady who is versed in music, chess, calligraphy and painting, and can be called the foremost talented lady of Southern Qi."

Upon hearing Xiao Yin mention his own granddaughter, Zhao Sir's heart leapt into his throat.

Without waiting for him to speak, Xiao Yin smiled faintly: "A talented lady ought to be matched with a talented gentleman, to make a fine marriage—this too counts as boundless merit for the new dynasty."

"I hear the young Heir Apparent of the Yong'an Marquis's residence is handsome and refined, with talent enough to fill eight dou, and matches your Zhao family's daughter well; I hereby appoint the Zhao family's eldest daughter as Commandery Princess and betroth her to the Yong'an Marquis's young Heir Apparent!"

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty, this cannot be!" Zhao Sir's face changed dramatically as he rushed forward to kowtow.

Everyone knows that the young Heir Apparent of the Yong'an Marquis is a spoiled rich brat.

His appearance is indeed top-notch in the capital, but his talent of eight dou…

Yes, yes, he is quite talented.

Walking dogs, teasing birds, pitching pots, playing cuju… in the capital there's no one who can surpass him.

At this moment, the Yong'an Marquis's eyes flickered slightly; his son's reputation had long been ruined, and daughters of families of equal standing would not look upon him.

As for families of lower standing, he still cares about his face and refuses to marry.

Now his son has reached the age of twenty, yet he cannot even hold a grandson.

At this point, not wanting the Emperor Gan Yuan to decide, to bestow the Zhao family's young lady upon his son in marriage—this is simply a windfall from heaven.

He hurried forward a step, without waiting for Lord Zhao to say anything, with a thud he kowtowed to Xiao Yin.

"I thank Your Majesty's great grace; tomorrow I will send the betrothal gifts to the Zhao household.

Lord Zhao's face turned ashen; just as he was about to say something, Xiao Yin's face grew cold: "What? Are you Lord Zhao intending to defy the edict?"

Xiao Yin finally felt a sense of relief in his heart; you keep nagging about my family affairs without end, so I will also make you taste what is called heart-wrenching pain?