As soon as Xiao Yanshi entered the hall, many gazes turned toward him, accompanied by hushed whispers.
His hearing was keen enough to catch most of it.
“I don’t know what kind of game this Heir Xiao is playing; others avoid that Third Young Master like the plague, yet he goes out of his way to cling to him…”
“Exactly. It’s rumored that the Pingbei Marquis Estate has strict family discipline, yet who would have thought this Heir Xiao could stoop to such acts!”
“I once thought he was a young general who had conquered the battlefield; I never expected he would be no different from the wastrels of the capital… Conquering enemies and serving the country is one thing, but his conduct is degenerate, and he is hardly fit for greatness!”
“Shut your mouths!” Xue Shao let out a sharp rebuke, startling everyone into bowing their heads in silence. It was unclear when Xue Shao had entered or how much he had heard, but the moment the ministers who had been gossiping realized his relationship with Xiao Yanshi, they were gripped by fear.
Xiao Yanshi, on the other hand, stood by a pillar with a detached expression, as if the “Heir Xiao” they spoke of was a complete stranger.
“Ashi.” Xue Shao’s voice, which had been ice-cold moments ago, turned cautious and tentative toward Xiao Yanshi. “About that day…”
“Your Highness, it is time for the court session to begin.” Xiao Yanshi’s expression remained indifferent, as if nothing had happened.
That day, he had snatched the hangover soup intended for Xue You; though he had brought it upon himself, the one who had spiked the soup was Xue Shao. It was difficult for Xiao Yanshi not to feel a lingering resentment.
Seeing that he had no desire to speak further and that the surroundings were hardly the place to discuss such matters, Xue Shao opened his mouth, but ultimately fell silent.
“His Majesty is here.”
Someone whispered.
Xiao Yanshi took two steps back. Xue Shao could not follow suit, so he walked to the front, feeling unwilling and frustrated.
“Long live the Emperor!” A large crowd knelt down in unison.
With four eunuchs lined up at the sides, the Emperor ascended the dragon throne. He wore no crown today and looked weary. “Do any of my ministers have reports to submit?”
His voice was thin and powerless. Xiao Yanshi lifted his eyes to look; it had only been a few days since he last saw him, yet the Emperor looked so listless. As this thought crossed his mind, his sleeve was tugged.
He turned to look.
It was Liang Yan.
Xiao Yanshi frowned, his lips moving silently: Do you have something to say?
Liang Yan smiled: Nothing at all. But, what a coincidence, Heir Xiao!
As a seventh-rank official, instead of keeping a low profile in the back, he stood brazenly among the fourth and fifth-rank officials.
Xiao Yanshi glanced to the side: Master Liang, you seem to be standing in the wrong place.
Liang Yan smiled broadly: It does not matter; they do not mind.
Xiao Yanshi raised an eyebrow. Indeed, as Liang Yan had walked all the way here, no one had said a word, and even the Emperor above seemed not to notice.
Xiao Yanshi: Master Liang, you are formidable!
He then turned away, not even bothering to offer an expression. Liang Yan watched the back turned toward him and curled his lips into a smile. Interesting!
“Your Majesty, this autumn, the embankments of the Qujing River collapsed. The Ministry of Revenue allocated thirty thousand taels of silver, three thousand dan of rice, and one thousand nine hundred bolts of cloth for disaster relief. Yet, a month ago, commoners submitted a written complaint charging Liu Zhiru, the Prefect of Qujing River, with embezzling the relief funds, substituting new rice with rotten rice, and engaging in severe exploitation leading to the starvation of innocent people… Furthermore, he persecuted three families, totaling eight people, and subjected over a dozen others to severe torture. All those harmed were destitute commoners. I implore Your Majesty to investigate this strictly!”
Guo You, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, knelt on the ground. At fifty-six, his hair and beard were silver, and his hands trembled as he held up the book of crimes. Eunuch Wang Yu presented it to the Emperor’s desk.
Several others behind him knelt as well.
“Liu Zhiru embezzled funds, disregarded human life, and his crimes are too numerous to recount. I hope Your Majesty will punish him severely!”
“The people of Qujing River are innocent; without severe punishment, the resentment of the people cannot be appeased!”
The Emperor propped himself up on one side. Just as he opened a page, another person knelt down with a “thud.”
“Your Majesty, embezzling relief funds, abusing torture, and disregarding human life none of these acts were committed by Liu Zhiru. This accusation is a malicious fabrication. I implore Your Majesty to investigate clearly!”
“Does Master Su mean that Master Guo fabricated the will of the people to frame Liu Zhiru? Or are you accusing Master Guo of deceiving the Emperor?”
The person who spoke was relentless. The “Master Su” remained silent, kneeling straight on the floor. “I hope Your Majesty will investigate clearly.”
A large crowd knelt on the floor; Xiao Yanshi only recognized one or two.
Yet, at that moment, his sleeve was tugged again. There was no need to ask; it was Liang Yan again.
Xiao Yanshi didn’t want to engage, but the person behind him stepped forward and leaned in to whisper, “This Master Su is named Su Sanshi. He was the former Magistrate of Yangquan who returned a few days ago to report his duties; he is just a minor seventh-rank official.”
“Are you not also seventh-rank?” Xiao Yanshi slanted a look at Liang Yan. “Besides, this Master Su has nothing to do with me; I do not care what his name is.”
“True, I am also seventh-rank, just a small sesame official!” Liang Yan smiled, unbothered.
Xiao Yanshi turned his head and glanced calmly at the Emperor.
The Emperor flipped through the book of crimes for a long while before speaking. “Wang Yu, how long has Liu Zhiru been in Qujing River?”
Wang Yu bowed his head and replied, “Reporting to Your Majesty, it has been six years.”
“Six years,” the Emperor closed the book. “Six years is not a short time…”
No one below could gauge the Emperor’s intent. Vice Minister Guo, being elderly, grew unstable after kneeling for so long, and his vision blurred as his body began to tilt to the side. Unexpectedly, someone steadied him. “Master Guo, be careful.”
Xiao Yanshi raised an eyebrow. What is Liang Yan doing now?
Before he could wonder, Liang Yan pulled up his robes and knelt. “Your Majesty, since Master Guo and Master Su hold conflicting testimonies, there must be hidden truths behind the disaster relief in Qujing River. I am bold enough to request to investigate this matter personally. I hope Your Majesty will grant it.”
“Liang Yan, you…”
Guo You’s beard trembled as he looked at Liang Yan with an unreadable expression.
Xiao Yanshi scanned the faces of the ministers around him and saw that many were both suspicious and surprised. Naturally, Xiao Yanshi felt a twinge of curiosity himself. Among the dozens of officials in the court, the attitude toward a minor seventh-rank official like Liang Yan was truly intriguing.
“Since you have volunteered, I shall grant it.” The Emperor tapped his fingers on the desk, as if deliberating.
“Thank you, Your Majesty!” Liang Yan bowed and knelt again.
“However, since you are an Imperial Envoy, you should change out of these green robes…” The Emperor spoke as if off-the-cuff, then turned to Wang Yu. “Let it be red robes then.”
A collective gasp of shock filled the air.
Xiao Yanshi couldn’t help but look at Liang Yan. This man… he is interesting!
Following that, the Emperor sent three others for the Qujing River affair. Xiao Yanshi did not recognize any of them, but judging by their ranks, none held higher positions than Liang Yan. Given the Emperor’s suspicious nature, there should have been someone to supervise him, but looking at the arrangements, there was no indication that Liang Yan would face any restraint.
Xiao Yanshi could not fathom it, but then thought, What does this person have to do with me? Why should I care?
“Do any ministers have any more reports?” The Emperor was already weary and now lacked all patience.
Wang Yu, being quick-witted, slowly raised his hand, about to call for the session to end.
Liang Yan began to retreat silently. Unexpectedly, a voice sounded from behind him.
“Your Majesty, I have a request.”
Xiao Yanshi stood out from the crowd and bowed. “I have a matter I wish for Your Majesty to grant.”
Because of the Qujing River relief funds, the ministers in the hall had almost forgotten Xiao Yanshi’s existence. Now that he stood out so abruptly, the rumors surrounding him flared up once more.
Even the Emperor was quite surprised. “What is it that you want me to grant?”
“I am bold enough to request an Imperial Edict of Marriage.”
The Emperor was stunned. “An edict of marriage?”
Xiao Yanshi raised his head and said, word for word, “I have fallen in love at first sight with the Third Young Master of the Princess’s Estate. In this life, I will wed none but him!”