Becoming a literary master starting from the story of Minglan

Chapter 396 Imperial City Division

A big difference?
Upon hearing this, Eunuch Cui's face twitched, but he did not answer immediately.

Instead, he first secretly raised his head and quickly glanced at the official on the seat, and then thought about it for a while.

"This father and son really do prove the old saying—a tiger father begets a dog son!"

Eunuch Cui muttered to himself.

"Our family is still the best. Once we're in the palace, everything will be over!" Eunuch Cui said, trying to find humor in his misery.

After all, he had no choice.

If he had had a choice back then, Eunuch Cui would certainly not have wanted to be the "palace matriarch".

In fact, as someone who served the Emperor closely, Eunuch Cui naturally knew a great deal about the affairs of Grand Secretary Yu and his son.

In fact, due to certain institutions, he knows even more about the matter than the parties involved.

After all, an official who can sit in that position cannot possibly be without an oversight agency, and nowadays, that agency is called the Imperial City Guard.

The Imperial City Guard was a privately owned institution under the government, overseeing various departments and acting as a violent agency in charge of the emperor's ceremonial guards and personal attendants.

However, the Imperial City Guard was not part of the official court. Its members were merely the emperor's retainers, and on the surface, they were only responsible for the private affairs of the royal family. As for monitoring officials and carrying out espionage, these were just their "private activities."

The government has always been "completely unaware" of this.

However, to prevent the Imperial City Guard from acting improperly, they only have the right to investigate, but not the power to take action.

Getting back to the point, Eunuch Cui understood that while the Emperor's words were ostensibly a comment on the affairs of Grand Secretary Yu and his son, in reality, the Emperor was thinking about his own family matters.

Compared to the Yu family's affairs, the affairs of the imperial family are far more complex, dangerous, and terrifying!
At present, no crown prince has been appointed!
"Your Majesty, although the father and son are related by blood, it cannot be generalized."

Being by the emperor's side, Eunuch Cui knew what he could and could not say.

Although the current emperor is kind-hearted by nature, he does not discriminate between close and distant relatives. As his subordinate, Eunuch Cui could only offer the best of a story to comfort him indirectly.

As the saying goes, "Like father, like son," meaning that a father who is a hero will often have an outstanding son as well.

"This is simply because they are bound by blood."

Although that wasn't entirely what he thought, Eunuch Cui's words were never ambiguous.

"The father and son are of one mind and will inevitably have some similarities."

However, on a whim, Eunuch Cui added.

"But, Your Majesty!"

"A large forest has all kinds of birds, so naturally not everyone in this world can be as great as his father."

He stepped forward and tacitly accepted the jade cup from the official's hand, saying, "After all, this child has been influenced by too many outsiders as he grows up!"

"Otherwise, there wouldn't be the saying 'The blessings of a virtuous person will last for five generations.'"

"Yes, it ends after five generations..."

Upon hearing this, a hint of agreement flashed across the official's weary face, but it quickly turned into a look of helplessness.

"Daiban, what do you say?"

"How should we handle the matter concerning the Yu family?"

"Should we pretend we don't know and let them off the hook? Or..."

Just as the Emperor was considering his options, Eunuch Cui immediately took a step back and said with a forced smile, "Your Majesty, aren't you making things difficult for this old servant?"

"Such an important matter is not something an old servant like me can comment on."

People are shrewd with age, especially an old man who has lived most of his life in the palace. Eunuch Cui didn't dare to answer at all, and just kept smiling and trying to please the emperor.

"Heh heh, you old codger!"

The official chuckled and scolded him, but didn't make things difficult for him.

The Emperor was well aware of Eunuch Cui's thoughts. However, it was precisely because of Eunuch Cui's integrity that the Emperor relied on him as a confidant.

Moreover, the emperor himself was not really seeking advice from others; he was just asking a question subconsciously while he was considering his options, hoping that someone would speak up to corroborate his thoughts.

"That's it!"

After thinking for a while, the official finally said something.

"Grand Secretary Yu has worked diligently for half his life, and he only has this one son. How can I bear to let him, an old man with white hair, bury his black-haired son?"

"really!"

Eunuch Cui thought to himself.

Eunuch Cui was not surprised by the official's decision.

After all, the emperor has always been kind and generous to people.

Moreover, when a Grand Secretary retires, he will surely receive preferential treatment, either bestowing favors upon his descendants or bringing blessings upon his entire household...

Just as Eunuch Cui was secretly speculating, the Emperor continued, "However, Yu Zhenghao may be spared the death penalty, but he cannot escape punishment!"

"Once things have calmed down, let him take off his official robes and live like an ordinary citizen!"

Because of concerns for Grand Secretary Yu's reputation and that of the imperial court, the emperor decided to punish him after the fact.

However, Yu Zhenghao is now finished!
Of course, Yu Zhenghao hadn't really risen to prominence anyway.

"It's just a pity about the Yu family..."

Eunuch Cui sighed inwardly and shed a tear for Grand Secretary Yu.

"Your Majesty is wise!"

Seeing that the Emperor had made his decision, Eunuch Cui immediately affirmed it.

"To be treated so kindly by the Emperor, Grand Secretary Yu's life has truly been worthwhile!"

"This old servant guesses that if Grand Secretary Yu knew that His Majesty was considering the Yu family's future so much, he would be so excited he would lose his bearings!"

"Haha, I hope so!"

The Emperor didn't say much, but a hint of anger flashed across his face: "However, I never expected that someone would dare to collude with the Liang bandits in order to enter the cabinet!"

"Big companion, call Lei Jing!"

"I'd like to see who has such audacity!"

……

Lei Jing, the Chief of the Imperial City Guard, is the leader of the Imperial City Guard.

In fact, the Emperor was well aware of the hidden story behind Yu Zhenghao's case, since every time someone entered the cabinet, there was always a bloody battle.

However, if someone dares to make a fuss about the Liang Kingdom, it will inevitably touch the emperor's sore spot!

Since the Zhenzong incident, defeating the Liang Kingdom and recovering the old territory of Yanzhou has become the Emperor's obsession. It is only because the current conditions are not right and the Emperor dares not take risks, lest he repeat the mistakes of the Zhenzong. Otherwise, the Emperor would have already led his army north and started another national war.

However, even if we cannot actually take action now, anyone who dares to collude with Beiliang will be severely punished!

In other words, Yu Zhenghao's actions had their reasons, and the long-standing relationship between Grand Secretary Yu and the Emperor was taken into consideration. Otherwise, the Yu family's affairs would not have been so easily swept under the rug by the authorities.

Moreover, this was only a formality in front of the emperor. If the Yu family could not appease the officials in the court and prevent them from reporting the matter, then the Yu family would not have passed this test.

In other words, if someone were to impeach this matter during court, the Emperor would still severely punish the Yu family and Yu Zhenghao.

If that happens, Yu Zhenghao will be incredibly lucky to survive being exiled.

But that depends on how the Yu family operates.
I'm recovering slowly. I don't want to go to the palace, I don't want to be an old matriarch...

(End of this chapter)