Chapter 120

It was the time of Mao for court.

As soon as Xie Tingzhou stepped into Chengtian Gate, Li Jifeng rushed over.

He lowered his voice and said, “You’re currently in the spotlight. Why did you come to court? Do you know how big a fuss you caused yesterday?”

“I know.” Xie Tingzhou said, “That’s why I’m here.”

Li Jifeng had intended to persuade him to go back, but he realized that Xie Tingzhou was willingly walking into the lion’s den.

He stomped his foot and followed Xie Tingzhou towards Xuanhui Hall, “Tell me what happened. The Jiang family’s influence in the court is deeply rooted. If someone attacks you in the hall, I can help out. You’re my brother. I can’t let people bully you.”

Xie Tingzhou glanced at him, “Jiang Ji stole my person.”

“He really stole your young man?”

Li Jifeng had also heard about what happened. But he thought that wasn’t Xie Tingzhou’s style. Either the young man was incredibly beautiful, or both Xie Tingzhou and Jiang Ji couldn’t resist him.

The officials were all outside the hall. When the two of them arrived, a group of people looked over.

“Look.” Li Jifeng whispered, “These must be their cronies.”

Xie Tingzhou smiled, not retreating but advancing. He stopped three steps away from Jiang Lianzhi, “Minister Jiang, you looked radiant yesterday. How come you’re so haggard in just one day?”

“You don’t understand, do you?” Li Jifeng took the opportunity to play along, “Even children know to cry for candy. What more can adults do?”

He implied that Jiang Lianzhi was putting on an act, deliberately pretending to be like this to gain sympathy.

The officials standing behind Jiang Lianzhi were fuming with anger but couldn’t vent it. They were about to speak up for Jiang Lianzhi, but he raised his hand to stop them.

“Crown Prince, don’t push your luck.”

“Pushing my luck?” Xie Tingzhou nonchalantly flicked his sleeve, “Then Minister Jiang should stop coveting what doesn’t belong to him.”

Li Jifeng chimed in, “Right! Stop coveting!”

Xie Tingzhou was speechless. He glanced at him sideways.

Li Jifeng was confused, “What are you looking at me for?”

Xie Tingzhou started to walk, whispering to Li Jifeng, “No matter what they do in the hall, don’t say anything.”

“Why?” Li Jifeng asked.

The Honglu Temple’s ceremonial whip sounded three times. The officials quieted down. After the “singing” of the imperial decree, they entered the hall in order.

Ge Liangji had just been executed yesterday, so many people must have felt relieved.

After the reports, an official stepped forward, “Your Majesty, I have a petition to present.”

Here it comes!

Xie Tingzhou turned back and saw that it was Zhang Huaixing, the Deputy Censor-in-Chief.

Emperor Tongxu said, “Granted.”

Zhang Huaixing bowed and said, “Your Majesty, I, your servant, hereby impeach Xie Yun, Crown Prince of Beilin and Deputy Commander-in-Chief, for recruiting private soldiers, leading troops to besiege the Chief Minister’s residence, blatantly disregarding the law, the imperial system, and the principles of morality. I request that Your Majesty severely punish him.”

Xie Tingzhou was calm and composed. He even smiled lightly when he heard a few “I second the motion” from the hall.

“Minister Zhang, you say I’m recruiting private soldiers. What evidence do you have for this accusation?”

Zhang Huaixing said, “The Crown Prince dares to argue. Did many people not see those who besieged Jiang Mansion yesterday? Are you still trying to deny it?”

“Did you count them? How many were there?”

Zhang Huaixing was furious, “There were so many people. How could I count them one by one?”

Xie Tingzhou said, “Since you didn’t count them, how can you be sure I exceeded the regulations?”

Zhang Huaixing said, “According to the law, a prince has 36 guards and 20 personal attendants. Surely the Crown Prince’s regulations aren’t higher than a prince’s?”

“Of course, they’re not as high as a prince’s.” Xie Tingzhou looked at Emperor Tongxu, “When I came to the capital, Your Majesty granted me the regulations of a prince, allowing me to lead three guard battalions. Logically speaking, even with everyone yesterday, it wouldn’t be half of one guard battalion.”

Zhang Huaixing said, “This…”

Emperor Tongxu nodded, “That’s true.”

Zhang Huaixing had no idea about the conditions Emperor Tongxu had secretly agreed to with Beilin. He was speechless for a moment.

“Even so, what explanation is there for besieging the Chief Minister’s residence?”

Xie Tingzhou glanced at Jiang Lianzhi, “Why don’t you ask Minister Jiang what happened?”

“How dare you evade the question in the imperial court!”

Xie Tingzhou smiled coldly, “When did it become your turn to question this Crown Prince?”

Wan Ruixian, the Deputy Censor-in-Chief, was about to step forward, but he saw Xie Tingzhou subtly scan the crowd, his gaze lingering on him for a moment.

He instantly understood and broke out in a cold sweat.

Thankfully, he hadn’t spoken up for Xie Tingzhou. Emperor Tongxu feared Beilin. If Emperor Tongxu knew that there were people in the court who supported Xie Tingzhou, what would his reaction be?

The fewer people who spoke up for Xie Tingzhou, the more at ease Emperor Tongxu would be, and he wouldn’t punish him.

“Minister Jiang.” Xie Tingzhou didn’t even look at Jiang Lianzhi, “Why don’t you explain everything clearly in the hall today?”

Jiang Lianzhi was forced to step forward, “This servant had a minor disagreement with the Crown Prince.”

Xie Tingzhou said leisurely, “Actually, this isn’t something that should be discussed in the hall. But since Minister Zhang has impeached me, we should make it clear. I frequent brothels. To be honest, I have a beloved young man.”

As soon as these words were spoken, the hall erupted in an uproar.

Such vulgar matters shouldn’t be brought up in the court. It was simply unseemly.

Xie Tingzhou continued, “It’s a coincidence that even someone as pure as Minister Jiang has taken a liking to the same person as I have. He secretly brought him back to his mansion. If it were an ordinary person, it would be fine. But how can I let someone else have my beloved?”

“Nonsense! You’re just using your status as the Crown Prince of Beilin to frame a court official.”

“It’s completely absurd! Minister Jiang is pure and upright. How could he do such a thing?”

Xie Tingzhou looked at Jiang Lianzhi, “Minister Jiang, what do you say?”

Jiang Lianzhi clenched his fists.

If he admitted it, he would implicate Shen Yu. Had Xie Tingzhou calculated that he wouldn’t dare, or was Shen Yu not that important to him?

Jiang Lianzhi bowed, “It’s true. This servant has acted inappropriately. I beg Your Majesty to forgive me.”

This was an admission.

Those who had been praising his purity and uprightness were now speechless.

Zhang Huaixing was sweating profusely. There were many things that happened in the homes of wealthy families that couldn’t be seen. But he didn’t expect Jiang Lianzhi to be like this.

If he hadn’t impeached Xie Tingzhou in the hall today, how would Jiang Lianzhi’s affairs have been made public?

Xie Tingzhou smiled, “Your Majesty knows what kind of person I am. I’m used to being a scoundrel. If I can’t even find a young man, then it’s really not worth staying in Shengjing.”

Shengjing is boring. Where is there fun?

Isn’t it Beilin? How could Emperor Tongxu let the tiger return to the mountain?

In the end, it was just two young masters from prominent families fighting over a prostitute. It was completely inappropriate to bring it up in the court.

But Xie Tingzhou had surrounded Jiang Mansion yesterday. If he didn’t give the Jiang family an explanation, he wouldn’t be able to justify it to the civil and military officials.

If other young masters from prominent families followed suit, today you bring your servants to surround me, and tomorrow I bring my servants to surround you, wouldn’t it be chaos?

Emperor Tongxu pondered for a moment and said, “You two are fighting over a young man. It’s truly unseemly. Xie Yun is to be placed under house arrest for one month.”

“A month?” Xie Tingzhou sighed.

Li Jifeng heard this and was shocked. A month? That was unbearable. He had almost died when he was placed under house arrest for half a month.

He stepped forward, “Father, it was clearly Minister Jiang who took the person first. Why are you only punishing Tingzhou?”

“Shut up.” Emperor Tongxu said in a deep voice, “Jiang Ji is currently acting as the head of the Ministry of Revenue. He will not be placed under house arrest. Instead, he will be fined three months’ salary. Any objections?”

“Your servant obeys.” “Your servant obeys.”

Xie Tingzhou and Jiang Lianzhi replied in unison.

“But…” Xie Tingzhou dragged out his words, “Your Majesty, I see that Minister Jiang’s backyard is empty. He’s actually fallen into the same habit as I have, frequenting brothels. It really damages Minister Jiang’s image of being pure and upright. Minister Jiang is different from me. He’s a pillar of the nation.”

Emperor Tongxu understood Xie Tingzhou’s implication.

Jiang Ji was already of age, and he hadn’t married yet. It was time to consider arranging a marriage for him.