Chapter 953: When a Minister

After Chen Guanlou returned to the capital, news of the Marquis of Pingjiang’s assassination finally reached the city and spread through every street and alley.

The court ministers were stunned and uncertain; as they glanced at the man on the dragon throne, another major scandal erupted from the Hou Fu.

The funeral had barely ended when the second branch of the Hou Fu demanded to split the household.

Absurd!

Unreasonable!

The mourning period hasn’t even passed, and they’re already demanding a division—do they have no filial piety at all?

The censors had new work to do; they rolled up their sleeves, picked up their brushes, and denounced the second branch of the Hou Fu in scathing terms.

For a time, everyone focused only on the Hou Fu’s division, and no one paid attention to the Marquis of Pingjiang’s assassination.

Xie Changling found it hard to put into words.

What had seemed somewhat clear had suddenly become chaotic again.

He met with Emperor Jian Shi.

The emperor and his minister spoke, unusually, a few heartfelt words.

“Your Majesty, is there any connection between those who disturbed the imperial mausoleum and the Marquis of Pingjiang? What does he truly intend? This is rebellion! I could justly seize the Hou Fu on this pretext—instead of watching them extravagantly stage a funeral. Reports say they spent hundreds of thousands of taels. When the late emperor passed, the treasury was empty, and his funeral cost only thirty to forty thousand taels. How dare the Hou Fu spend twenty thousand taels all at once? Unthinkable!”

Emperor Jian Shi was furious, as if the Hou Fu had spent his own money, not theirs.

“Your Majesty, there is currently no evidence linking the disturbance of the imperial mausoleum to the Marquis of Pingjiang. Your Majesty must not punish him on baseless charges—it would chill the hearts of all under heaven and allow the Prince of Chu to revive.”

“No evidence? Is that enough to clear his suspicion?” Emperor Jian Shi flew into a rage, kicking over a nearby chair. “Your Majesty, have you taken bribes from the Chen family?”

“Your Majesty, if I have acted improperly, you may order the Embroidered Uniform Guard to investigate. I welcome scrutiny. My only fear is that the Prince of Chu, old as he is, refuses to die. Your Majesty, the priority now is the south. To crush the Prince of Chu decisively, we must not create distractions. As for the northwest, I repeat: temporarily set it aside.”

Xie Changling bowed deeply, his stance clear.

Emperor Jian Shi was clearly dissatisfied. “Set it aside? Again? How am I supposed to set it aside now? Look at the Hou Fu’s conduct, look at the Marquis of Pingjiang’s behavior—he clearly disregards my orders. When his mother died, instead of returning to mourn, he staged a farce: assassination! Hahaha… Do you, too, think I sent assassins?”

“I have never entertained such a thought. Whether the assassination was self-staged or not, the injuries are real, and his inability to rise from bed is real. This means the Marquis of Pingjiang cannot return to the capital to play the filial son.”

After speaking, Xie Changling pondered the Marquis’s motives—was it truly only to delay his return to the capital?

As a son, when his mother dies, returning to mourn is unavoidable—unless the emperor issues an edict of forced service. But clearly, the emperor would never issue such an edict.

“He’s doing it on purpose. He plainly refuses to surrender his military command. When I was Crown Prince, I saw his disloyal heart, but the late emperor insisted on using him. Now I’m caught between two difficulties.”

Emperor Jian Shi hated him deeply!

He longed to strike him down.

If he loved assassination so much, let him face a real one.

As he thought this, the more he dwelled on it, the more he struggled to suppress his rage—when he saw Xie Changling shake his head slightly, clearly opposing him.

Emperor Jian Shi immediately flew into a fury and sneered, “What is your esteemed opinion, Your Majesty?”

“Your Majesty, everything must be done with proper justification! The Marquis of Pingjiang is a meritorious minister of the court; his situation, even his every move, moves the hearts of all under heaven. Our armies are reclaiming lost southern territories; public sentiment hangs by a thread. I beg Your Majesty not to act rashly. Once the south is secured, I will concentrate all efforts to resolve the northwest threat!”

Xie Changling offered his counsel with subtlety.

Some things need not be spoken aloud—those who understand, understand.

Emperor Jian Shi’s expression shifted repeatedly—embarrassed, angry—until he took a deep breath and barely suppressed his inner fury.

“Your words are reasonable. Now is indeed no time to create distractions—we must not give the Prince of Chu breathing room. But the Marquis of Pingjiang must return to the capital to mourn. This is filial duty. Unless he wishes to be branded an unfilial son and reviled by all under heaven!”

Emperor Jian Shi spoke with finality, revealing his bottom line.

The meaning was clear: he wanted Xie Changling to force the Marquis of Pingjiang to return. Otherwise, he would act on his own. The consequences? Irrelevant—as long as he felt satisfied.

He was becoming even more capricious!

Xie Changling silently shook his head.

This caprice differed from the late emperor’s favoritism toward Jiang Tu and his obsessive pursuit of immortality.

Emperor Jian Shi’s caprice was reckless, irrational, devoid of political wisdom—a mad outburst of long-suppressed vengeance, a desperate attempt to compensate himself.

Xie Changling wanted to advise him, but seeing the emperor’s bloodshot eyes, he knew the man would hear nothing now.

Enough.

“I humbly obey Your Majesty’s command! I will strive to urge the Marquis of Pingjiang to return to the capital as soon as possible. But once he returns, who will replace him to command the army and crush the rebels? Your Majesty must convene a court meeting at once to appoint a successor.”

“I understand! First, force the Marquis of Pingjiang to return. Ask him for me: is he utterly disregarding filial duty, stubbornly lingering in the northwest? The court cannot entrust an army to a man who is both disloyal and unfilial.”

“I receive Your Majesty’s decree!”

Xie Changling bowed slightly and withdrew from the Taiji Palace.

He stood beneath the eaves, gazing at the blue sky, his heart slightly heavy.

Wang Defa smiled warmly and offered to personally escort him out of the palace.

Xie Changling grunted and walked ahead. Wang Defa hurried to catch up, walking shoulder to shoulder with him.

“Your Majesty’s eunuch, you should still try to advise him.”

“Your Excellency, I am also in a difficult position!”

“Some things cannot be hidden,” Xie Changling said meaningfully. “Public condemnation and the scattering of hearts are not auspicious signs.”

Wang Defa’s face darkened slightly. “I don’t understand.”

Xie Changling stopped and turned to face him. “We both serve the Great Gan, we both serve Your Majesty! Wang Eunuch, I know you harbor loyalty. But Your Majesty’s recent actions have grown reckless, losing all sense of balance. By his side, you must constantly warn him!”

Wang Defa immediately put on a look of grievance and helplessness. “Your Excellency, I know your words are true. But you have seen it yourself—His Majesty has grown even more… I am merely a eunuch; I do only what he commands—how could I dare to speak out?”

“You are too modest! The palace has not taken in new attendants for years. It is time to order the Ministry of the Imperial Household to select beauties to replenish the inner quarters.”

What did he mean?

Wang Defa narrowed his eyes slightly.

Xie Changling smiled sweetly. “The pills from Yujian Palace truly work wonders!”

With that, he offered no further explanation and walked away.