klisemfg Chapter 36 Shi Ming, why are you running?
Chapter 36 Shi Ming, why are you running?
"On his first court appearance, you dismissed a high-ranking official and flogged a prince. He might go even crazier in the future. Are you sure you won't regret it?"
Emperor Longyun remained completely still.
"Your Highness the Crown Prince has always been a gentleman, gentle and refined. You've married my little madwoman. Don't you regret it?"
Emperor Longyun suddenly turned his head smugly, "You don't know, your troublemaking younger brother is very obedient to my son, and he never listens to anyone."
Lin Shihe: "... ..."
Well, it seems you're all enjoying it.
"You don't need to test me. As I said, I've known your son's temperament for a long time, which is why I wanted him involved. I'm very satisfied with his results today."
"...They've all gone mad."
"How dare you insult me?"
Lin Shihe remained expressionless. "No, you misheard."
"Li An, did he just insult me?"
Li An gave an awkward laugh and took two steps back.
Emperor Longyun snorted in dissatisfaction.
"I've gone mad! I've been mad for five years!"
Emperor Longyun suddenly threw his fishing rod into the pond, and Li An hurriedly dismissed all the guards and eunuchs who were guarding the area.
"Lin Shihe, do you know what a good and outstanding child he is? He has been tormented by that old woman countless times for my sake, in order to uphold the title of 'filial piety towards his stepmother'!
"Later, his grandmother, whom he had respected for more than ten years, used this as an excuse to send him away, and so many people robbed and killed him on the way."
"He's the crown prince! He's my most beloved child!"
"You saw his body; when it was carried back, it was in such a tattered state..."
Lin Shihe raised his hand to support the agitated Emperor Longyun, "Your Majesty..."
Emperor Longyun waved his hand and stood up unsteadily. At this moment, the face of this shrewd and unpredictable emperor was filled with suppressed pain and indignation.
"I regret it! Today I sat on the dragon throne and watched the Crown Princess scold one by one, two by two, she was not afraid of anyone, and when she got angry she could drag the princes out and beat them. I was happy to watch, but I also regretted it."
"If I had let your brother into the court sooner, or if I had been more like him, never suffering losses and always seeking revenge, would I have been able to protect my child... Even if it was just to fight back and avenge him after he passed away!"
Lin Shihe also stood up and stood tightly beside Emperor Longyun, saying, "Your Majesty, aren't we helping him avenge himself?"
Emperor Longyun stopped in his tracks. “Yes, we’re already avenging him. Did you see Mu Xiaoguang’s deadpan face today? I still remember five years ago in court, he, a mere Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice, actually disregarded the law and advised me to leniently release the Qin family. Look at him today, I feel so good looking at him! If it weren’t for the fact that he should be seen in the future… I would have executed him as the Crown Princess suggested!”
"Oh, and Prince An too. Back then, the Crown Prince was kind and took care of his younger brother, whose maternal family was not of high status, both openly and secretly. But when the Crown Prince was being tormented by the old woman, he was laughing on the sidelines in order to please her."
"Now, how much tax revenue and disaster relief funds have been squandered for money? How many heinous things have been done? I think today's twenty strokes of the cane are too lenient! Just wait, after this imperial examination, I will thoroughly investigate him!"
"The Empress and I have both gone mad long ago."
Lin Shihe had already attended court at that time and had seen the elegant and handsome Crown Prince Hua Min, as well as Emperor Longyun leading Lin Yunyue in a frenzy to kill all the Qin family members.
Now, many years have passed, and only a few sentences in the history books remain about what happened back then, but he still remembers the look of despair and anger on Emperor Longyun's face at that time.
"Your Majesty," Lin Shihe stopped in his tracks, "we will succeed."
"Of course. I've tolerated them for so long."
Emperor Longyun took a deep breath, and the agitated and indignant expression on his face gradually faded.
"Go back."
"What should we do about the Ministry of Justice? We just lost our Left Vice Minister before the New Year and haven't found a replacement yet. Today, we lost our Minister as well. I'm afraid a Right Vice Minister won't be enough."
"The Crown Prince is the heir apparent, so let him take the place for now. Once the imperial examinations are over, the Crown Princess can go to the Ministry of Justice."
"I accept the decree."
*
Jade Hibiscus Palace.
After the court session, Prince Ping did not return to his residence to discuss the day's events with his officials and advisors. Instead, he went straight to Consort Shen's Jade Hibiscus Palace.
As soon as he entered, Prince Ping downed a cup of tea.
"Oh, don't drink this anymore, it's cold. Let me have someone bring you a pot of hot tea."
"No need."
Prince Ping stopped Consort Shen, who was about to make him tea.
"I have something to discuss with you, Mother."
Consort Shen sat down. "What is it? Why did you come at this time?"
Prince Ping glanced at the palace maids in the hall, and Consort Shen understood.
"You all go down first."
"Yes."
Consort Shen smiled gently, "What is it? Speak."
King Ping paused for a moment before speaking in a low voice.
"Mother Consort said the other day that she wanted to find a way to make things difficult for the Crown Princess. Has she taken any action yet?"
Consort Shen was somewhat surprised. "We just came up with a plan and are preparing to do it in a couple of days."
"Don't do it yet."
"Why?"
King Ping got up and paced back and forth for a while.
"Mother, the Crown Princess went to court this morning."
Consort Shen frowned and gripped her cup tightly. "What use is a married woman from the harem attending court?"
"Let's not talk about that for now. Mother, do you know that today in court, the Crown Princess casually picked a crime and wanted to execute the Minister of Justice, who was a first-rank official? If it weren't for everyone pleading for him, Father would probably have given in to her. But even so, the Minister of Justice was still dismissed from his post and will never be employed again."
Consort Shen's beautiful eyes widened in disbelief.
"How dare he? His Majesty is so lenient with him?"
"How could he not dare? He comes from the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion and is now the Crown Princess, deeply loved by the Emperor and the Crown Prince. And today it wasn't just that. The Fourth Prince defended the Minister of Justice, pointed his finger at him and cursed him, and was dragged out in court and flogged twenty times for the crime of disrespecting his superior. The Fourth Prince is probably in the mansion now calling for the imperial physician!"
"How can this be?" Consort Shen shook her head in alarm. "Prince An is a prince, won't His Majesty stop him?"
The Prince of Ping said irritably, “The Prince of An is a prince, but Lin Shiming is the Crown Princess, whose status and treatment are equal to that of the Crown Prince! Before the Prince of An was dragged out, I saw with my own eyes the Imperial Guard Commander’s eyes questioning the Emperor, but the Emperor ignored it.”
Consort Shen was somewhat flustered and stood up, holding onto the table for support.
"What should we do then? The other day he said he would bully you in the future, and he even beat Prince An in front of His Majesty. What are you going to do? If he finds fault with you, wouldn't that be—"
"Mother concubine!"
King Ping shouted and then sat down impatiently.
“Mother, there’s no need to be so alarmed. I’ve come today to ask you to put aside your plans to take revenge on him for now. Otherwise, if he finds something to use against you, it will be a huge problem. As for me, as long as I’m proper with my manners, he can’t do anything to me for the time being.”
Consort Shen sat down in bewilderment. "Alright, alright. Don't worry, I'll just avoid him. I usually won't see him."
"Okay. That's good to know. Your son will be leaving now."
"and many more!"
Consort Shen caught up with him, saying, "You should also stay away from him. If there's a conflict, don't be stubborn and refuse to back down, understand?"
King Ping nodded haphazardly and strode away.
*
East Palace.
Lin Shiming was led back to the main hall by Lu Yuxi.
Upon entering the palace, Lu Yuxi cleared out the eunuchs following her and closed the palace door before her face darkened.
Lin Shiming chuckled awkwardly, somewhat frightened, and tried to back away, but Lu Yuxi, who was prepared, grabbed his hand immediately.
"Shi Ming, why are you running?"