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Awkwardness
T/N: Translated by Jen on Broken Jinsei! Please do not repost my translations! All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!
Starting from the moment Qi Ke got taken into the Judicial Court, this young gifted scholar that became renowned all over after scoring high in the autumn exam once again left behind a heavy mark in Great Sheng’s history book.
On one hand, following Qi Ke’s questioning, the ambiguous dealings between Wu Wang and Wei Wang officially got recorded down word by word in the Judicial Court’s archives. This was due to the current Head of the Judicial Court having a reputation of being firm and upright. Although listening to Qi Ke’s words, he was also a bit shocked inside, but he still let someone record one by one.
On the other hand, this matter also initiated the biggest disturbance among the scholars in the Tianxu era. Because, when Qi Ke was getting taken away to the Judicial Court, the students of the various academies were precisely in the middle of discussing about seeing off Qi Ke who will soon leave the capital to return to the countryside. At the time, there were scholars who were full of youthful vigor that questioned the Judicial Court’s bailiffs, why treat Qi Ke this crudely. The Judicial Court’s bailiffs were ordered to arrest Qi Ke, so how could they possibly pay attention to these scholars, thus a dispute just broke out on the spot.
Afterwards, when it came time for Qi Ke to stand in court for questioning, because the decree from the palace somewhat had the meaning of interrogating strictly, in addition to Qi Ke himself also saying that he’d already requested to be stripped of his scholarly titles, no longer considered a juren[1] that possess scholarly honors, so can be interrogated under torture, even willing to use this as a way to prove that what he’d said previously weren’t false…………
Thus, that night, when a few Qingyang Academy students headed by Yu Zhengshan went through the procedures and paid their way into the Judicial Court to check on Qi Ke, they were immediately shocked by the scars and bloodstains on him. This news practically passed on to all the academies inside and outside of the capital overnight. Countless verses were rapidly composed, and the next morning, Yu Zhengshan and the others directly went to the Judicial Court to cry for the injustice, asking why Qi Ke was interrogated under torture. Could it be that his Majesty, for the sake of covering up his own sons’ moral character in private, wants to hound a scholar to death?
Normally, this kind of statement passing on to the ears of the Judicial Court and imperial censors, they would merely assume that it was just the scholars making a fuss due to the friendship as schoolmates, thus just need to refute. However, afterwards, Yu Zhengshan and the others tossed out another matter———–Wu Wang had once drugged Qi Ke before, causing him to fall ill and unable to participate in the spring exam. Afterwards, he also used Qi Ke’s mother’s life to threaten him to become his aide, helping him go around inside and outside of the capital, recruiting scholars, even asking Qi Ke to follow by his side day and night. All these various coercions, Qi Ke and the scholars all didn’t dare to speak up because of fearing the imperial power, yet now, they even want to have Qi Ke tortured to death to extort a confession, where is justice?
When these words came out, the Head of the Judicial Court didn’t dare to make a decision on his own and could only report up to the imperial court. Xuan Emperor naturally was angered to the point of slamming the table in court, the civil and military officials all kneeling onto the ground. Just, no one dared to say anything, all inwardly grumbling: ‘Wu Wang and Wei Wang causing such an ugly scandal, one can’t even cover up in time, exactly why was there the need to question Qi Ke again? What arguments can even be dug out? Even if proving that Qi Ke or someone else had drugged and set up the two princes, but the two princes can already be considered having done the deed. Making a scene of it would only be even more unsightly.
The cabinet ministers were even more speechless inside. It’s true that Xuan Emperor was kindhearted by nature, but these ears really weren’t just ordinarily soft. The empress, on the surface, advised to investigate again, saying perhaps even able to return the two princes their innocence, but in reality, the matter has already occurred, where was there still any innocence left? But, these words ultimately struck a chord with Xuan Emperor as the father. It can be said that he immediately went to investigate Qi Ke on an impulse.
Yet now, great, the Judicial Court have used their rods, and under the beating, Qi Ke still didn’t change his words, instead evoking the righteous indignation of the scholars. It wasn’t enough that they had Wu Wang and Wei Wang’s matter made public again. Now, they even flipped out how Wu Wang schemed against Qi Ke back then.
But, this matter, the most awkward part was precisely Wu Wang’s motive.
If it was flipped out before mid-autumn, Wu Wang actually still had a lot of leeway to explain himself. To put it bluntly, even though Qi Ke has talent, he was still just a scholar with no background. It’s not like he was some peerless genius like a hidden dragon or young phoenix, prophesied to help one obtain the world.
However, now, after going through the mid-autumn incident, saying that Wu Wang once spared no means to force Qi Ke to become his aide, even someone as experienced as the Ying Duke, and someone as solemn as Marshal Yan, when mutually sharing a glance, they all had a bit of hard to describe awkwardness.
After all, Qi Ke, this youngster, indeed was quite elegant and pretty………….
And at this time, upon the court, the one that was even more awkward, aside from Xuan Emperor who was Wu Wang’s father, was probably the Chang’de Count who was Wu Wang’s father-in-law, as well as the Yiyang Marquis who was Wei Wang’s father-in-law. The two that can be said to be the most awkward father-in-laws of the Tianxu era also shared a glance, already having the desire to cry. In the end, it was still the Chang’de Count that tremblingly stood out to explain. He was ultimately also Qi Ke’s clan uncle, so it was also a bit more suitable for him to speak, “Your Majesty, according to what this subject heard, Qi Ke at the time had caught a cold on his own, thus unable to participate in the spring exam. His Highness, because of loving talented……….cough, cough, his Highness only ordered someone to bestow ginseng and medicinal ingredients. Afterwards, his Highness had also provided material assistance to his family, purely out of goodwill, never once having the act of coercing.”
However, this kind of explanation truly was too weak. In fact, without even needing the others to say anything, Xuan Emperor whose temples were already pulsing from the anger just directly asked in a rage, “There’s that many scholars in the world, yet why did he insist on assisting Qi Ke?”
“Your Majesty……” At this time, the crown prince who has already changed his court gown, listening to the governmental affairs to the side, went forward a step, “For this matter to have reached this step, it’s best to ask your Majesty to select another imperial envoy and give Qi Ke a public trial, so as to pacify the scholars. If Wu Wang didn’t do these things, then it can help rectify the imperial clan’s name, but if Wu Wang did commit these acts, hope that your Majesty can fairly punish, so as to straighten out the laws and discipline of the imperial court.”
At this point now, Xuan Emperor was increasingly angered to the point where his head incessantly ached. As such, he just waved his hand, ordering the cabinet ministers to discuss the candidate as well as the hearing for the case, having this matter taken care of as soon as possible, the sooner the better. As for himself, he directly ordered to end the court meeting, returning to the inner palace to rest.
TN: All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!
Just, unfortunately, after returning to the inner palace, Xuan Emperor instead headached even more.
The scholars shouting for justice for Qi Ke was that big of a commotion. Li Consort and Wu Wang both were unable to participate in court discussions, so could only kneel outside Ganxi Hall and wait for Xuan Emperor to return, so as to explain that Wu Wang didn’t do those things, and so on. Seeing Li Consort who has aged a lot over several days, that bit of pity in his heart originally increasingly whittled away. As for his once most beloved son, Wu Wang, whose injury had just healed, Xuan Emperor only had anger left.
He immediately just swung a slap over, “Look at what you’ve done! Get lost back home!”
Wu Wang covered his face and could only cry, while repeatedly kowtowing, “Imperial father, please believe me, this son is innocent, this son really is innocent!”
Li Consort, these days, has already shed the hairpins to beg for forgiveness don’t know how many times. Losing the cosmetics as cover, the two scars left behind on her forehead and lower jaw from the assassination attempt previously were also increasingly obvious, appearing both haggard and sorry. She similarly went forward to hug Xuan Emperor’s leg, tearfully begging, “Your Majesty, you can’t not believe your own son!”
The mother and son pair both cried and begged. However, Xuan Emperor just got even more angry from watching, directly ordering the eunuchs and guards to have these two taken back to their respective palace and residence to reflect on themselves, not allowed to come out without a decree. As for the empress who rushed over soon after, as well as the fourth prince Zhao Wang who was still carrying a bit of a cough, but still tried to plea for his second brother, Xuan Emperor’s expression actually eased up a little towards them, even once again sensing the steadiness and virtuousness of his main wife and di son.
That’s why, in the following few days, as the imperial envoy interrogated Qi Ke, the situation becoming greatly unfavorable towards Wu Wang and Li Consort more and more, the emperor and empress in the palace were unprecedentedly harmonious.
However, this news nevertheless made Yu Lingxin strangely start to worry. After coaxing An’er to sleep after the evening meal, she directly went to the study to look for Xun Che who has been busy for several days in a row lately.
Seeing his wife directly come over, Xun Che was still a bit surprised. Having the document in hand placed down, he got up to meet her, “What are you doing coming over this late, why didn’t you let someone pass on a word?”
Yu Lingxin looked at the documents and scrolls on his desk that have piled up like a little mountain, both heartaching and worried, “Just now, heard Bai Guo mention the current state of affairs. I keep feeling a bit uneasy. Li Consort and Wu Wang are unable to climb up again, but the empress and the fourth prince have nevertheless obtained favor before his Majesty. Isn’t this situation similar to the past life? I’m scared that they respectively walk their old paths again. You’ve also entered the palace a lot recently, is it possible that………”
“The so-called old paths afraid will be inevitable.” Xun Che reached out to caress Yu Lingxin’s back, “But, I naturally won’t let them succeed, don’t worry too much. As for Ying’er, is she still well? Regarding Qi Ke getting interrogated under torture, what Zhengshan and the others are proclaiming, it’s still a bit of an exaggeration. I’d asked the doctor, it really isn’t that serious.”
Yu Lingxin slightly sighed, “How can she be well? Previously, when she heard that Qi Ke will leave the capital, she was still a bit better. Although sad, she ultimately was still able to endure. A few days ago, when the matter of Qi Ke getting interrogated under torture came out, Ying’er was simply just unable to eat and sleep. Mother probably also knows inside.”
Xun Che’s expression was a bit complicated, but overall, it was still relaxed, “Tell her to not worry. Qi Ke also has an understanding inside. After passing this obstacle, everything will be better.”
Yu Lingxin couldn’t help but glance at him, “Is this something she can just not worry about? Back then, when you got whipped by your father, my heart all clenched along with. Qi Ke having suffered in the Judicial Court this time, I feel bad just looking at Ying’er. What use is there just telling her to not worry.”
“Yes, yes, yes, all in all, it’s my fault, letting you all worry.” Xun Che smiled, bringing Yu Lingxin’s hand to his lips and kissing, but then directly sent her outwards, “Go back first to rest. I’ll go back after I finish reading the documents. The matters in the past certainly won’t reenact, don’t worry. If you have time, it’s better to think about what I’d said last time regarding Li mama. Perhaps, it’ll be useful in a few days.”
Yu Lingxin originally still wanted to ask a bit about something else. However, with Xun Che mentioning Li mama’s matter, her heart also slightly tightened at once and could only nod her head, returning to their room first.
As she passed through the corridors, looking at the tranquility of the Wen’an Marquis Manor under the moonlight, this kind of feeling was actually somewhat indescribably odd, hard to say whether it was familiar or unfamiliar.
The Wen’an Marquis Manor of the past life was also very quiet. Just, that kind of quiet was because of the decay of the family. In those years where Yu Lingxin lived as a widow, she sometimes even felt that she could hear the sounds of the flowers blooming and shedding. The manor although was peaceful, it nevertheless was further silent.
But, the Wen’an Marquis Manor now was instead a kind of subtle quietness, perhaps because the second branch moved out, or perhaps because Cide Hall was now in low spirits. At the same time, it also filled with the nervousness of an upcoming rain.
But, this didn’t make Yu Lingxin produce even more apprehension. She thought of the gentleness and firmness in Xun Che’s expression just now, even somewhat looking forward to the soon to arrive storm. It’s about time to let everything come to an end.
[1] Passing candidate of the imperial exam on the provincial level (autumn exam)
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poor Qi Ke… is it worth it? also this emperor………… speechless. this is his own damn fault, why is he upset? if you sent them away sooner and pretended everything was fine why would the scholars be up in arms? why would the case be reopened if not for his own decree? just retire and go chill and plant some flowers in the palace.
It’s also the empress constantly giving him ideas recently, but this emperor really is easily swayed 😂