Chapter 147: Punishment

Meng Hui knelt on the ground, his body trembling incessantly. He picked up the memorial from the floor and quickly read through it.

When he saw clearly what was written on it, his pupils quaked as if from an earthquake.

This... when did all this happen?

In an instant, Meng Hui was sweating like rain: "Your Majesty, this... this subject does not know, this subject truly does not know!"

"Does not know? Utter nonsense!" The Emperor slammed his hand against the desk: "This matter was committed by your household, and now you tell me you were unaware? Do you take Us for a doddering fool?"

"This subject would not dare." Meng Hui prostrated himself on the ground: "This subject swears upon the ancestral tablets that I had absolutely no knowledge of this, else may I die a wretched death. I beg Your Majesty to grant this subject a little time. All household affairs are managed by my wife—allow this subject to return and inquire. If she truly did this, this subject will certainly not let her off lightly. I beg Your Majesty for mercy!" he said, streaming with snot and tears: "This subject has served as an official for many years and has never overstepped bounds, working diligently and conscientiously..."

Meng Hui began to enumerate his years of merits and hard work, his words earnest and sincere. Though the Emperor was angry over the grain matter, hearing this heartfelt plea softened his heart a few degrees.

"Your Majesty, I beg Your Majesty for mercy, this subject..."

"Enough, shut up!" The Emperor frowned deeply, but said nothing more about stripping him of his post.

Meng Hui wiped the sweat from his brow and silently breathed a sigh of relief.

Mo Junheng, seeing that the timing was about right, stepped forward slowly and said softly: "Imperial Father, this son has a humble opinion, though I know not whether it is proper to voice it."

"Crown Prince, if you have a good opinion, then speak it and be done. If you yourself know it is a humble opinion, why must you air it in the court?"

No one had expected that the Emperor would deny the Crown Prince face before the entire assembly.

One and all pressed their heads very low, fearful that fire at the city gate would bring disaster to the fish in the moat.

Mo Junheng's heart burned with fury, but he dared not refute to the Emperor's face. He gritted his teeth and continued: "This son has some conjectures regarding the matter at Minister Meng's household."

"Speak."

"Minister Meng is Your Majesty's right-hand man; he would absolutely not do such things. It may well be that someone under him wanted to seize this opportunity to enrich themselves, and, without informing the master of the house, took it upon themselves to raise the price of grain."

"Exactly!" Meng Hui hastily echoed: "It must be so. After court adjourns and this subject returns home, I will certainly investigate thoroughly. If anyone has truly lined their own pockets, this subject will punish them severely as a warning to others."

"Even so, it shows a lack of discipline in your household. Even servants dare to act on their own, bypassing you as master of the house. It is clear you lack the authority befitting a prime minister." The Emperor said coolly: "Half a year's salary forfeited."

"Yes, many thanks to Your Majesty."

When the news reached Prince Li's Residence, Mo Junyan gave a cold laugh: "This imperial father of mine is indecisive. He wants to punish Meng Hui, yet feels he still has use for him. The Meng Family has caused such an enormous incident, and yet the punishment is merely a salary forfeiture. All her scheming for so long, wasted. I wonder what expression she will wear upon hearing this news."

Chi Nan Yi looked at the slip of paper in her hand, a glint of amusement flashing through her eyes.

This result had already exceeded Chi Nan Yi's expectations.

She had never expected to bring down the Meng Family with this one matter to begin with.

Though Meng Hui did not come from a great noble house, he had sat in the prime minister's seat for many years, his roots deep and tangled—how could he be toppled so easily? But to have achieved this much, she was already thoroughly satisfied.

Meng Hui was a man who cared deeply about face, and was extremely hypocritical.

Now that he had been soundly berated by the Emperor before the entire court, his pride and face ground into the dirt. Given his temperament, upon returning to the Minister's Residence, he would surely fly into a towering rage.

Jiang Clan and Meng Qinghe's days were about to become unbearable.

She held the letter over the candle flame, watching the paper gradually burn to ash, as though witnessing the beginning of the Meng Family's decline from prosperity.

Just as Chi Nan Yi had thought, at this very moment the main hall of the Meng Family was ablaze with light.

Jiang Clan and Meng Qinghe knelt on the ground. The other members of the Meng Family stood to one side; only Liu Yiniang was seated at Meng Hui's side.

"Wretched woman! Look at the fine daughter you raised! Look at the fine deeds she has done! This old face of mine has been utterly disgraced by her!" Meng Hui slammed the table, speaking through gritted teeth: "A useless fool who can accomplish nothing but ruin everything! Speak! Who told you to do this?"

When had Meng Qinghe ever seen such a display?

Her face was covered in tearstains as she cried: "Father, I know I was wrong. I won't dare again, I'll never dare again."

"Did you not hear me ask you something? I am asking you—who told you to do this!" His gaze fell upon Jiang Clan standing to the side: "Was it you?"

Jiang Clan hastily shook her head: "My Lord, it was not me. How could I possibly have told her to do such things?"

"Then where did the silver for her grain purchases come from? Eh?"

Jiang Clan trembled: "I..."

"And you still won't confess the truth?"

"It was I who gave it to her, but the idea was her own. I only gave her the silver."

"One stupid as a pig, the other an accomplice to villainy!" Meng Hui clutched his head, feeling his qi and blood surging upward: "How could I have sired such a thoroughly stupid creature! Had I known this, I never should have acknowledged you, never acknowledged you!"

Liu Yiniang stood to the side, continuously rubbing his back to calm him: "My Lord, calm your anger. The eldest young miss is still a child. She is still young; it is only natural that she acts a little rashly."

"Still young? She is about to come of age. I had originally intended to marry her into the Crown Prince's Residence. From the looks of it now, that hope is gone."

Hearing him say this, the expressions of Jiang Clan and Meng Qinghe changed drastically.

"Father... your daughter knows her wrongs, truly she knows her wrongs."

"What use is knowing your wrongs now? Do you think, looking the way you do, that the Crown Prince would want you?"

Hearing this, a glint of amusement flashed through Liu Yiniang's eyes. If the eldest young miss could not enter the Crown Prince's Residence, her own daughter would have the chance to change her fate.

The Lord would not give up on marrying a daughter to the Crown Prince. Since the eldest young miss was no longer viable, there were still the second young miss and the third young miss.

Whether Qingrong or Qingyue married the Crown Prince, her standing in the Minister's Residence would rise above the First Lady's. As long as her daughter's womb proved fruitful and bore the Crown Prince a son or daughter, the future heir of the Minister's Residence could only be her own son.

"Father, I have a way. I have a way to make the Crown Prince marry no one but me. Father, believe me."

Marry no one but her?

Meng Hui's brow furrowed slightly. Recalling how the Crown Prince had stepped forward to rescue him from embarrassment at this morning's court session, the anger on his face abated somewhat.

"Truly?"

"Truly. Your daughter has a way."

"Very well, I will trust you one more time." Meng Hui said coldly: "But do not think this lets you escape punishment. Today I shall record thirty strokes of the cane against you. If you cannot make the Crown Prince marry you, I will certainly not spare you." He looked at Jiang Clan: "First Lady Jiang Clan, for failing to properly raise your daughter and abetting villainy, you are confined to your own quarters from this day forward. Without my permission, you may not leave, and no one is permitted to visit you. All affairs of the household, great and small, are entrusted to Liu Yiniang."