Happy Spring Every Year

Chapter 226 Father and Son Choose One

On the second day, officials from Qingping City were escorted to Beijing.

Waiting with Jiang Xun in the Dali Temple was Censor Zhang.

He has received the emperor's order and is here today with a transfer order to take the person away.

At this time, people in the car got off one after another.

The leader was a tall and thin middle-aged man who looked to be in his early forties, with thin cheeks, slightly protruding cheekbones, and a cold and sharp expression that even revealed a hint of harshness.

Censor Zhang stepped forward and whispered, "Master Jiang, don't forget that you have no right to participate in this case now."

Jiang Xun frowned, but he didn't make things difficult for Censor Zhang. He just stood there without moving.

He guessed that the middle-aged man was Wei Yongnian, the prefect of Qingping City.

Following them were the prefect, the prosecutor, and the assistant prefect.

At this time, Censor Zhang waved his hand and signaled them to get on the carriage of the Censorate.

Wei Yongnian cooperated very well and walked forward. When he passed by Censor Zhang, he saw Censor Zhang saying something to him.

Wei Yongnian paused, slowly turned his head, and his sharp eyes fell directly on Jiang Xun.

He just stared at Jiang Xun quietly, with an undisguised scrutiny in his eyes and a cold expression on his face.

Seeing this, Jiang Xun looked serious and looked back.

After a moment's silence, unexpectedly, the corners of Wei Yongnian's mouth, which had always been tightly pursed, curved slightly, as if the ice had suddenly cracked, revealing a barely perceptible smile.

"I've heard a lot about you, Lord Jiang—"

He said this silently, then nodded slightly to Jiang Xun, and then got on the carriage without hesitation, his sleeves drawing a neat arc in the air.

Censor Zhang waited until all the officials from Qingping City got on the carriage, then he glanced at Jiang Xun and turned to leave.

Jiang Xun stood there and stared for a long time. Seeing Jiang Xun's solemn expression, Xie Hui couldn't help but call out, "Sir?"

Jiang Xun came back to his senses and whispered, "Xie Hui, you can prepare to close the case. My people will come to pick up the grandparents and send them back home."

"what?"

These words came out so suddenly that Xie Hui was stunned for a moment before he reacted.

He scratched his head, "Sir, how do we resolve this case?"

Jiang Xun looked in the direction where Censor Zhang had left and said in a deep voice, "Censor Zhang will bring the evidence later."

Because Wei Yongnian will take responsibility for the case, keep his promise, and allow the grandparents and grandchildren to return home safely.

----

In the next few days, the court was in turmoil and everyone was in danger.

It is said that the Censorate put in all its efforts this time and almost turned the Ministry of Personnel upside down.

The most incredible thing is that, under Zhang Xian's "instigation", the emperor issued an edict, asking Minister Cui to stay in the Ministry of Personnel during these days and fully cooperate with the Censorate.

In this way, it seems like... Minister Cui is under house arrest in the Ministry of Personnel.

This went on for a few days, and people gradually sensed something was wrong.

Everyone said that the Censorate took over this time to investigate the emperor's tutor's clique and selfishness, but why did it seem in the end that they were investigating the Ministry of Personnel and Minister Cui?

Thinking of the decades-long teacher-student friendship between His Majesty and the Imperial Preceptor, everyone pondered and felt that this might be a conspiracy set up by His Majesty and the Imperial Preceptor.

They said that the imperial tutor had a high reputation both as a person and as an official, so how could he form a clique for personal gain?

The Cui family...I'm afraid a disaster is about to happen!

At this time, the Censorate conveyed the emperor's decree, proposed a reward plan, and set up a secret reporting box to encourage officials to report the situation and evidence of forming cliques for personal gain. Once the report was verified to be true, they would be rewarded.

For a moment, people's hearts were in turmoil again.

In the harem, Concubine Shu finally couldn't sit still anymore.

She washed herself carefully, took the yokan that Emperor Sheng loved to drink, and went to the Yangxin Palace.

Fushun was waiting outside. When he saw Concubine Shu from afar, he reported to the inside.

Emperor Sheng's deep voice came from the hall: "No."

Fu Shun did not show any surprise when he heard this. He responded lightly and went forward to greet Concubine Shu, saying with a smile:

"Your Majesty, His Majesty is taking a nap."

Upon hearing this, Concubine Shu's expression changed slightly.

When Shen Jiasui escaped unscathed after meeting the emperor a few days ago, she had a vague feeling that something was wrong, but her father sent a message asking her to stay calm.

Rumors have been rampant these days, and my father lives and eats in the Ministry of Personnel, so the news can't be spread at all.

Now that the emperor refuses to see her again, doesn't it prove that this is just a show with Old Lin to kill the Cui family?

"Your Majesty, I have something important to ask you!"

Thinking of this, Concubine Shu immediately walked past Eunuch Fushun and called out.

"My lady, please keep your voice down."

Fushun hurriedly spoke out to stop them. Although he looked frightened, he was actually used to it.

The former dynasty and the harem have never been separated.

He had been with the emperor for so many years, and he had seen countless concubines come to the outside of the Yangxin Palace to plead for mercy on behalf of their mother's families.

Upon hearing this, Concubine Shu's expression suddenly darkened and she glanced at Fushun coldly.

Fushun shrank back slightly, but still stood in front.

Seeing this, Concubine Shu sneered and looked at the tightly closed palace door, with a hint of sarcasm in her eyes.

It is really true that "when the cunning rabbit dies, the hunting dog is cooked". If he had not had the strong support of her Cui family, how could he have sat in this position?

In the end, he broke his promise first and then demolished the bridge, refusing to leave any chance for the Cui family to survive!

"Your Majesty, I suddenly remembered an old story involving the late Empress. I have no choice but to share it. Should I report it to Your Majesty outside this palace?"

Fushun raised his eyes suddenly when he heard this, and at this moment, a trace of surprise flashed across his face.

Madam Shufei, please don't...

The next moment, Emperor Sheng's deep and solemn voice was heard from the Yangxin Palace: "Come in."

Concubine Shu felt it was very ironic, and she knew that this sentence would work.

Seeing Fushun smiling again to invite her, Concubine Shu snorted and coldly stuffed the food box in her hand into Fushun's hand.

At this critical juncture, the emperor probably wouldn't dare to drink what she gave him, so he just fed it to the dog!

She smoothed her hair, walked inside, and without asking anyone to serve her, she pushed open the door of the palace.

Inside the palace, Emperor Sheng was lying on the rocking chair he usually used, holding a book in his hand. He was rocking in the creaking chair and looked very comfortable.

Concubine Shu exhaled slowly, and a gentle look appeared on her face again. She took light steps and half-knelt beside Emperor Sheng.

"Your Majesty, is this the only way you'll see me?"

Emperor Sheng shifted his gaze from the book and glanced at Concubine Shu, which frightened her so much that she trembled all over and almost fell to the ground.

That gaze was icy cold, as if wrapped in frost and snow in the coldest days of winter, full of coldness and ruthlessness.

"Shu Fei, you should know that the mouth can cause disaster."

Emperor Sheng said this, pushing himself up with his arms and sitting up from the rocking chair.

Concubine Shu's face turned slightly pale, but when she thought of her father who was still in the Ministry of Personnel and the Cui family, she bit her lip and said softly:

"Your Majesty, I know I was wrong."

"Recently, rumors have been spreading everywhere, and I am truly uneasy. Your Majesty has been avoiding me, so I have resorted to this desperate measure."

As Concubine Shu spoke, she raised her long eyelashes slightly and looked at Emperor Sheng with watery eyes.

Emperor Sheng, however, had a calm expression. He looked down at Concubine Shu and suddenly asked in a deep voice:

"Shufei, you can only choose between father and son. What will you choose?"