Chapter 156: The Emperor's Test

Lying on the bed, Jun Jun Zhihao, and standing outside the door, Jun Jun Zhidie, were equally unwilling to accept this.

Jun Jun Zhidie's fingernails dug viciously into the doorframe, almost sinking into the wood; her eyes were bloodshot, and she ground her teeth in hatred:

"I will not let this go. Why should you enjoy boundless glory while I am so destitute? I must find a way to make you taste misfortune too."

At the Jun Fu, a servant stumbled in, panting heavily, and said:

"Master, someone from the palace has arrived, saying there is urgent official business to discuss."

A flicker of surprise crossed Xiang Xiang Junzheng's eyes, but he quickly regained his composure.

Dressed in court robes, he hurriedly entered the palace and stood respectfully in the Imperial Study.

He performed a grand bow to the Emperor, then stood with his hands hanging by his sides, waiting for the Emperor's instructions.

"Minister Jun, I heard that the Jun Fu rejected gifts from all quarters today. Is this true?"

Quan Quan Wuji's voice was not loud, yet it carried an undeniable authority.

Xiang Xiang Junzheng quickly stepped forward, bowed, and said:

"Replying to Your Majesty, this is indeed the case. My daughter's minor merit is entirely due to Your Majesty's great fortune and protection. The entire Jun Fu is filled with gratitude and dares not accept further rewards, lest we fail Your Majesty's deep benevolence. I only wish for the Jun Fu to serve Your Majesty wholeheartedly, to share the court's burdens, without the slightest selfish thought."

Hearing this, Quan Quan Wuji burst into hearty laughter: "Good! What a fine 'wholehearted service to me and sharing the court's burdens'!"

Suddenly, the Emperor's expression turned serious, and he stared sharply at Xiang Xiang Junzheng below for a long moment.

He stared until Xiang Xiang Junzheng felt as if his neck were being strangled, fine beads of sweat forming on his forehead.

Only then did Quan Quan Wuji slowly speak:

"Minister Jun, your eldest daughter, Jun Jun Yiyi, will marry into the Prince Yi Wang Fu as a secondary consort. You have two daughters; one marries the Crown Prince, the other marries Prince Yi. Prince Yi is ambitious; how will you position yourself in the future?"

The Emperor's gaze fixed tightly on Xiang Xiang Junzheng, trying to catch any hint of abnormality in his expression.

The Emperor's words seemed to carry a chill, lowering the temperature of the entire hall by a few degrees.

Xiang Xiang Junzheng's heart tightened suddenly; he instinctively raised his hand to wipe the fine beads of sweat from his forehead, only to find his palm was also soaked.

He hadn't expected the Emperor to bring up this matter again so suddenly; was this a settling of scores later? He took a deep breath, stabilized his emotions, and then slowly spoke; though his voice trembled slightly, he tried his best to remain firm:

"Your Majesty, my daughter Jun Jun Yiyi acted willfully and recklessly, committing such a foolish act; it is my failure in discipline. But my loyalty to Your Majesty and the Crown Prince is as clear as the sun and moon. I will certainly restrain my family and prevent them from doing anything that harms the interests of the royal house and the state."

The Emperor nodded slightly, yet a trace of suspicion remained in his gaze:

"Minister Jun, I hope you understand my concerns. The court is a complex situation; a single misstep could trigger great chaos. As Minister of Rites and soon to be the Crown Prince's father-in-law, I have high hopes for you. But the matter of your eldest daughter forces me to have reservations."

Xiang Xiang Junzheng inwardly wished he could slap Jun Jun Yiyi to death; she was truly useless for success but helpful for failure.

With no choice, he knelt again, his knees striking heavily against the cold blue stone floor of the hall; his forehead pressed tight to the ground, and his tone was resonant and powerful:

"Your Majesty, my loyalty to the Crown Prince is evident to heaven and earth. Whatever happens, I will prioritize the interests of the Crown Prince and the state. If I violate this oath, I am willing to suffer the penalty of ten thousand deaths."

Silence filled the hall; the Emperor sat on the dragon throne, his gaze deep as an abyss, staring at Xiang Xiang Junzheng kneeling on the ground.

His fingers tapped lightly on the armrest, making a faint "da-da" sound, as if weighing something.

The fact that Jun Jun Yiyi would marry into the Prince Yi Wang Fu was like a thorn stuck in his heart, preventing him from ever fully letting it go.

Whenever he thought of this matter, a complex, indescribable emotion surged within him.

But Xiang Xiang Junzheng would soon be the Crown Prince's father-in-law. In the Emperor's view, entrusting Xiang Xiang Junzheng with a major responsibility would not only stabilize the court but also safeguard the Crown Prince's smooth ascension to the throne in the future.

Finally, the Emperor's gaze softened, and he slowly opened his mouth:

"Minister Jun, now that the Right Prime Minister has been executed, the position of Right Prime Minister has been vacant for a long time. After much thought, I believe only you can bear this heavy responsibility. I intend to appoint you as Right Prime Minister to succeed in this post; what is your opinion?"

After the Emperor ordered the High Chancellor's family to be confiscated and his head cut off, panic spread throughout the court; the vacancy of the Right Prime Minister position instantly became the focus of everyone's attention. Undercurrents surged in the court, and various factions stirred, all eyeing the position greedily.

Hearing this, Xiang Xiang Junzheng was startled; he quickly knelt and kowtowed, his voice sincere:

"Your Majesty, I am overwhelmed with gratitude for Your Majesty's trust and deep benevolence. But I believe the position of Right Prime Minister requires a more suitable candidate. I am aware of my limited abilities and doubt I can handle such a heavy responsibility. Moreover, I fear that once I take the post, it will cause dissatisfaction and suspicion among other factions in the court, bringing unnecessary trouble to Your Majesty and the Crown Prince. I earnestly beg Your Majesty to revoke this order and select another worthy person."

Nowadays, the Jun family has one daughter titled a Princess and betrothed to the Crown Prince, and another daughter whom Prince Yi will soon take as a secondary consort.

The Jun family is already on the tip of the spear; Xiang Xiang Junzheng knew very well that the Right Prime Minister position, though seemingly glorious, hides turbulent waters. Once stepped into, one would be deeply trapped in the vortex of power; a single misstep would lead to eternal destruction.

Furthermore, he had always upheld the path of being clean and incorruptible as an official, even going so far as to feign mediocrity, simply because he did not wish to be drawn into power struggles.

The Emperor did not expect that, in the face of such a huge temptation, Xiang Xiang Junzheng could still maintain a clear head and a firm stance.

He pondered for a moment and slowly said:

"Minister Jun, I can understand your concerns. But regarding the Right Prime Minister position, I have considered it for a long time; there is no one else but you. You need not rush to reply to me; go back and think it over well. In three days, I will hear your reply."

"Your Majesty..."

Xiang Xiang Junzheng bowed his head to the ground, still trying to decline.

Quan Quan Wuji glared, a hint of shamelessness appearing on his face:

"You will soon be the Crown Prince's father-in-law; this Right Prime Minister position is crucial and will help the Crown Prince ascend the throne smoothly in the future. If you don't do it, who will?"

Xiang Xiang Junzheng raised his head, his face showing difficulty, but he met the Emperor's unquestionable gaze; the Jun family could no longer avoid this now.

After pondering for a moment, Xiang Xiang Junzheng slowly spoke:

"Your Majesty's great benevolence; I accept this command with trepidation. I only earnestly beg Your Majesty to grant me some time to organize family affairs, ensuring the entire Jun family is united in serving only Your Majesty and the Crown Prince."

Hearing him speak of family matters, Quan Quan Wuji glanced sideways at Xiang Xiang Junzheng with a look of disgust.