Sure enough, talking too much leads to mistakes. Lin Zhen now regretted it, but there was no way to fix it. His mind raced, trying to figure out how to explain to Murong Yan.
Unexpectedly, at this moment, Gu Beichen delivered him a godly assist!
His neck flushed red as he shouted, “Nonsense! With your body hollowed out by wine and women, you think you can compare to me? If you dare, take it out and show His Majesty who’s better!”
Even Gu Yunting couldn’t back down on a matter of a man’s pride. “Your Majesty, I strongly recommend letting them compare on the spot. Whoever loses should be castrated!”
“Outrageous!” Murong Yan couldn’t stand such vulgar language. She slammed the dragon desk.
“Bang! Shame on you! You’re all court officials, yet in the main hall you dare to compare such filthy things. Do you have no shame?”
“Your Majesty, we’re all men, what’s the harm in looking?” Gu Yunting now wished for the Lin family to be exterminated.
Such a perfect opportunity could not be missed. Little did he know, Lin Zhen was already delighted inside. He never thought these two had such no bottom line as to propose this in the great hall.
Wasn’t this pushing the female emperor to the brink?
“What’s the harm in looking?” Murong Yan doubted her ears. Was this what the prime minister of the Great Qian Nation would say?
She was so furious that even her chest wrap was about to burst. She wished she could snap the writing brush in her hand. “Fine! You three start comparing now. Whoever loses gets castrated. Begin!”
Gu Yunting panicked immediately, “Uh… Your Majesty, I’m old now. I will definitely lose such a competition. Let them two compete instead!”
“Prime Minister Gu! Don’t change the subject!” Lin Zhen knew this farce couldn’t continue, or today would be wasted without gaining anything. “The issue now is your son repeatedly seducing my wife. You promised to give an explanation within three days. Now, in front of His Majesty, how do you plan to compensate the Lin family?”
Lin Zhen’s purpose was to confirm, in front of Murong Yan, that Gu Beichen had indeed seduced Liu Shuyao. As long as Gu Yunting agreed to compensate, the matter would be confirmed and might even enter the history books. Of course, Gu Yunting was no fool and would never give in easily.
“You brat, I promised the regent, not you, the heir!”
“Before I came, my grandfather authorized me to handle this matter.” Lin Zhen acted reluctantly. “How about this? Since we’re all colleagues, I won’t make it difficult for you. Just hand over the Yuanda Casino to me.”
Gu Beichen and Gu Yunting shouted in unison, “Impossible!” Gu Beichen yelled, “Yuanda Casino is our family’s core business! If we give it to you, our whole family will starve!” This story is hosted at novelping . com.
“Then, Prime Minister Gu, please give up the right to oversee the Ministry of Revenue.”
“Brat, don’t push your luck! The Ministry of Revenue was entrusted to me by His Majesty. How could I hand it over just because you say so?”
Heh. Lin Zhen sneered coldly. He knew they wouldn’t agree to anything. He turned to Murong Yan and said, “Your Majesty, it seems the Gu family is playing tricks. A prime minister of the nation, yet his words carry no weight. How can such a minister be trusted by Your Majesty?”
“When did I play tricks? I just said I wouldn’t agree, I never said I wouldn’t settle it!”
“Then propose a solution!”
“I…”
“Enough!” Murong Yan had no patience to hear them bicker anymore. The magnificent discussion hall, meant for state affairs, was filled with talk of perversion and adultery. And the heir of the Regent’s Mansion was truly absurd. His wife was seduced, yet instead of finding a way to get her back, he kept asking for compensation. What kind of divine official was this?
“Are you treating me like an old housewife to settle your family squabbles?” Murong Yan slapped the table and shouted, “You all think I have nothing better to do?”
“Your Majesty, please calm down.” The three bowed their heads simultaneously.
Murong Yan pointed at Lin Zhen, “Lin Zhen, the right to oversee the Ministry of Revenue was granted by the late emperor. I will not change it. Don’t harbor such foolish hopes!”
Gu Yunting finally showed a rare victorious smile and exchanged a glance of delight with his son. But Murong Yan’s next words almost choked them to death.
“Beichen, as the Hanlin Academy judge, you are supposed to be my trusted aide. Yet now you repeatedly cross the line by seducing a good family’s wife. This is punishable by death! Considering your past merits, I will not punish you. But from now on, you must never see Liu Shuyao again. As for the Yuanda Casino, it will be compensated to the Lin family. This matter ends here!”
“What?! Your Majesty…”
“Your Majesty…”
“Silence!” Murong Yan cut off the father and son’s protests. “If I hear anyone discuss this matter again, I will not spare them!”
After saying this, Murong Yan left the hall. The palace maid Huanhuan glanced at the shocked Gu Beichen with reluctance, cursed Lin Zhen’s whole family in her heart, and followed Murong Yan out.
Gu Beichen was completely dazed. He didn’t understand how he had come to file a complaint, only to foolishly end up losing the casino. Wasn’t Lin Zhen the one who should be punished? He had publicly beaten him, smashed his casino, and stolen the prettiest girl from his place, yet he still had to compensate him? What kind of situation was this? Visit g.com for the full chapter.
And as the winner of this debate, Lin Zhen happily cupped his hands at the two of them, “Thank you, Prime Minister Gu, Brother Gu, for your generous contribution. I’ll send people to take over the Yuanda Casino immediately. Don’t worry, I won’t keep a single member of your Gu family there!” After saying that, Lin Zhen walked away.
Gu Yunting was so furious that even his beard trembled. He pointed at Lin Zhen’s back, his hand shaking as he shouted, “Brat! Brat!! I will never coexist with you! Uh…” Gu Yunting almost fainted from anger. Gu Beichen hurriedly supported him, “Father!”
“I’ll take you to the medical clinic!”
…
Murong Yan returned to the rear palace, angrily took off her golden crown, and smashed it on the dressing table. “Bang!”
“Scoundrels! As court officials, they speak nothing but filth. Is my father’s empire really to be controlled by such people?”
“Your Majesty, calm down!” Huanhuan quickly picked up the golden crown and carefully checked if it was damaged, then put it back on Murong Yan’s head.
“Your Majesty, actually, this matter isn’t entirely Lord Gu’s fault. It’s that Lin Zhen who’s glib-tongued!”
“What do you mean? Are you saying Beichen didn’t seduce the Lin family’s young lady?”
“That’s not what I mean. I mean Lin Zhen beat people, smashed the casino, and took the shopkeeper—those are facts. But in his mouth, all of it became Beichen’s fault for seducing his wife. I believe someone who abuses private power and disregards the law is even more despicable.”
Right! Murong Yan finally realized. Today was supposed to be about punishing Lin Zhen, yet how had it ended with Lin Zhen taking the initiative? He committed so many crimes, yet she failed to focus on them and was instead led by his words, causing her to wrong the Gu family and issue punishments.
Now, the Gu family was aligned with her to deal with the Lin family. How could she have done such a thing?
All because of that damned Lin Zhen!
How could he be so good at twisting words?