Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne

Chapter 1071: Chapter 118: Does Princess of Annan Intend to Shake the Great Zhou Court? (Part 2)

The Emperor fulfilled Consort Shu’s wish by mitigating her punishment, demoting her to Lady Shu, and confining her to her palace. Without his orders, no one was allowed to visit her, and she couldn’t leave at will.

Empress Xie was very displeased with the Emperor’s decision to not send Lady Shu to the Cold Palace. In her opinion, since the previous Prince Zheng committed so many crimes, Lady Shu, as his mother, could not be blameless. Whether by law or palace rules, Lady Shu should have been demoted to a palace maid and sent to the Cold Palace.

For this reason, Empress Xie specifically went to the Emperor, hoping he would severely punish Lady Shu. However, the Emperor rejected her request, saying that although Lady Shu did not teach her son well, her crime was not punishable by death.

Empress Xie, upon hearing this, was naturally angry and unsatisfied, but she could not openly contradict the Emperor. She could only resort to petty actions, such as reducing Lady Shu’s allotment.

As for Duke Anyang and his son, the Emperor temporarily did not punish them. Likewise, Duke Zhen Country Mansion and Marquis Xuanping’s Mansion were temporarily untouched, as their actions in Annan were still under investigation and verification.

When Noble Princess Consort Rong learned that the Princess of Annan had accused Prince Dai and the Marquis Xuanping’s Mansion of recruiting soldiers and forging weapons in Annan, she immediately ran to the Emperor to proclaim their innocence, insisting they would never do such things and urging him not to believe the Princess of Annan. She claimed the Princess of Annan was deliberately falsely accusing Duke Zhen and the Marquis of Xuanping, and other ministers, with the intention of destabilizing the Great Zhou’s court.

She was very clever and didn’t claim that the Princess of Annan only falsely accused the Marquis Xuanping’s Mansion. If she had said that, the Emperor would have realized she was pleading on behalf of the Marquis Xuanping’s Mansion. By saying the Princess of Annan intended to destabilize the entire Great Zhou Court, it would carry more weight with the Emperor. Even if the accusations were true, the Emperor would not punish them severely.

The Emperor understood Noble Princess Consort Rong’s little thoughts, but he did not say much.

Empress Xie also came to plead, saying words similar to Noble Princess Consort Rong. Initially, she only wanted to plead for Duke Zhen Country Mansion and took the opportunity to strike at the Marquis Xuanping’s Mansion. Later, Noble Princess Consort Rong sought her out, exposing her intentions and warning her that if she only pleaded for Duke Zhen Country Mansion, the Emperor would not spare them. If she pleaded for everyone as Noble Princess Consort Rong suggested, Duke Zhen Country Mansion might remain safe.

Sometimes, Empress Xie could indeed be foolish, but she wasn’t always. Although she very much wanted to take this opportunity to bring down the Marquis Xuanping’s Mansion, now was not the time. Her priority was to protect Duke Zhen Country Mansion.

Noble Princess Consort Rong also went to see Princess Consort De, after all, Prince Han was also involved in this matter. Princess Consort De did not need Noble Princess Consort Rong to tell her what needed to be done.

Seeing Empress Xie, Noble Princess Consort Rong, and Princess Consort De all pleading for those accused by the Princess of Annan, and uniformly claiming the Princess of Annan was attempting to destabilize the Great Zhou Court, the Emperor found it amusing.

"Sun Kui, do you think the Princess of Annan is trying to destabilize my Great Zhou Court?"

Sun Kui, bowing respectfully, replied, "I... I don’t know."

The Emperor gave Sun Kui a sidelong glance. "Speak up when asked, I won’t punish you."

Encouraged, Sun Kui cautiously said, "Your Majesty, the Princess of Annan, no matter how bold, wouldn’t dare to falsely accuse Great Zhou officials lightly; it’s a serious crime. I believe the Princess wouldn’t dare to destabilize the Great Zhou Court."

The Emperor praised him, "You have some sense."

Embarrassed by the compliment, Sun Kui smiled slightly, "Your Majesty, the Empress, and others must know as well; they plead so earnestly, thus shifting the narrative to say the Princess of Annan deliberately accused the court officials, to make Great Zhou unstable."

The Emperor jokingly cursed, "That rascal Xiao Shi really knows how to stir up trouble for me."

"Ah, was this orchestrated by His Highness Prince Han?" Sun Kui was shocked, wondering if Prince Han was behind the Princess of Annan accusing the previous Prince Zheng and other ministers.

"Who else but him?" The Emperor sneered. "Could the Princess of Annan have uncovered all this and gathered evidence by herself?"

"So it was His Highness Prince Han secretly assisting the Princess of Annan," Sun Kui thought to himself; Prince Han certainly had skills to uncover all these affairs.

"The Princess of Annan has been in Great Zhou for some time, collecting evidence of that scoundrel’s crimes."

Sun Kui: "!!!!"

"Your Majesty, how did His Highness Prince Han know about Duke Zhen and the ministers’ actions in Annan?"

"That rascal set up businesses in many places in Annan; it wasn’t hard to learn what was happening there." The Emperor laughed, "That rascal is quite capable, nothing in Annan escapes his notice."

"Well," Sun Kui wanted to ask what Prince Han did in Annan, but he knew better than to inquire about matters that didn’t concern him. "His Highness Prince Han is truly impressive."

"That rascal disrupted my plans." The Emperor said, somewhat exasperated. "Could he have done it on purpose?"

Sun Kui couldn’t comprehend what the Emperor was talking about.

"Alas, messed up is messed up, it still needs to be dealt with."

Upon hearing this, Sun Kui’s heart skipped a beat; he thought to himself, the Emperor wasn’t planning to let Duke Zhen and the ministers off.

Indeed, with the Emperor’s temperament, how could he pardon them?

"Perhaps I have been too benevolent lately." The Emperor sighed, "It’s time for them to understand my prowess."

Sun Kui inwardly sympathized with these self-destructive ministers.

"Go tell Lao He and the others to conduct a thorough investigation without hesitation; once clarified, deal with it as needed." Reducing the court by some ministers was no issue, there were always new ones to take their place. Great Zhou lacked no officials, for many young talented ones had been selected through civil service exams over the years.

"Your Majesty, even without your orders, Prime Minister He and the others will surely investigate rigorously."

"I want you to convey my decree to frighten certain people, understand?"

Sun Kui immediately comprehended the Emperor’s intent, "I will go at once."

Soon, all the previous court officials and the harem ladies knew the Emperor intended to thoroughly investigate the matter and wouldn’t spare anyone.

The ministers accused by the Princess of Annan were filled with despair: it was over, they were doomed!

Noble Princess Consort Rong couldn’t believe that despite all their pleas, the Emperor remained unmoved.

Could it be that her cousin truly intended not to spare the Marquis Xuanping’s Mansion?