Four Harmonies and Good Fortune

Chapter 653 Can’t
in the palace.

The atmosphere in the Chuigong Hall was particularly tense. Huang, the eunuch, was standing outside the hall serving, but he was so frightened that he broke out in a cold sweat.

When the palace doors opened, he secretly glanced at Wang Yan and the Prince of Huai.

The two men reported to the official together, but after only a few words, the official flew into a rage and threw the jade pendant he was holding to the ground.

After listening to just a few words, Eunuch Huang's heart was pounding. He couldn't help but admire the two men in front of him; they were truly remarkable, able to remain calm and composed when they came out of the main hall under such circumstances.

He told the two men to go to their duty rooms to wait for news. Huang, the eunuch, went in to serve them. He wanted to take a look at the document that Wang Yan had handed to the emperor. As soon as he poked his head out, he felt a cold sensation on his neck, as if a knife was about to fall from the sky.

The Emperor was kind-hearted but also very strict. He did not allow eunuchs to interfere in state affairs. Recently, because of Minister Xia's case, someone secretly passed on information to the Xia family. Many people were arrested in the palace. Even he was terrified by the loss of those lives and dared not overstep his bounds. Even if he accidentally overheard something, he would pretend not to hear it.

"Yellow picture".

Huang, the eunuch, thought he had misheard. Usually, the Emperor wouldn't call him at such times, so it took him a while to come to his senses. He hurriedly replied, "Your Majesty."

The official's gaze wandered, as if he wanted to say something, but it turned into a sigh.

"Having reigned for decades, can I truly be considered a wise ruler?"

Huang Tu prostrated himself on the ground in alarm: "Your Majesty, what are you saying? The world praises Your Majesty's benevolence and virtue; you are truly a rare and virtuous ruler..."

The Emperor's gaze grew even darker: "Then why do they all treat me this way? The Minister of Justice, whom I personally selected, is like this, and the Privy Councilor is like this too."

Huang Tu thought for a moment and then raised his head: "This old servant dares to say... It is precisely because Your Majesty is benevolent that there are upright officials who dare to speak out. Similarly, there are also treacherous officials who take chances, but even treacherous officials can be brought to justice. This is also due to Your Majesty's skill in making good use of virtuous and capable people."

The emperor nodded: "You are right."

Despite saying this, the emperor's face remained gloomy. He might have been able to accept it if it were any other official, but this was his Privy Councilor, his Minister of the Western Palace.

A moment later, the Emperor instructed Huang Tu: "Summon Wang Yan in."

The Emperor has made up his mind to order Wang Yan to investigate the case before meeting with Privy Councilor Xie. The Emperor has always been extremely cautious about cases involving the two Grand Secretaries, and the charge of colluding with the heretical sect is something the Emperor finds intolerable. It seems that Privy Councilor Xie will not be able to withstand the pressure this time.

Huang Tu slowly withdrew.

A moment later, Wang Yan straightened his official robes and stepped into the main hall.

Since taking charge of the Imperial Secretariat, Wang Yan has frequently presented matters to the Emperor. He has long been able to be neither servile nor arrogant in front of the Emperor. Although he had just witnessed the Emperor's furious expression, he still bowed naturally as if nothing had happened.

In fact, the Emperor's decision to have the two of them step down was also a way to calm them down. The wise ministers may have already changed their minds and were ready to back down to avoid further conflict when the Emperor and his ministers faced each other.

The Emperor looked at Wang Yan: "I have read the memorial you submitted. It impeaches the Privy Councilor for colluding with a heretical sect. Do you know what crime that is?"

Without hesitation, Wang Yan replied, "At best, it's dereliction of duty; at worst, it's treason and rebellion."

The official's gaze was authoritative: "You dare to say, how should dereliction of duty be punished?"

Wang Yan declared firmly: "Remove him from his post and strip him of his privileged status."

He stood tall and straight, his eyes clear and unwavering, showing no hesitation whatsoever, clearly not trying to figure out what the official in front of him was thinking.

The Emperor said, "If even the lightest punishment is like this, then what about the heavier punishment?" Wang Yan simply uttered two words: "Execution, and exile of his wife and children."

Upon hearing this, the Emperor's expression changed. He abandoned his usual gentle demeanor, slammed his hand on the table, and said sternly, "Are you suggesting that I become the first emperor of Great Liang to kill a prime minister? Who gave you the audacity to offer such advice?"

Huang Tu, standing at the door, shuddered. A man who rarely lost his temper could be truly terrifying when he did. He patted his chest, wishing he could immediately step forward and plead with Wang Yan to be merciful and not be so upright.

Instead of kneeling in shock, Wang Yan straightened his posture even more and said, "My courage is the courage of the people who look up to me and yearn for a way to survive; my spirit is the spirit of my fear that the nation will collapse and the foundation of the country will be shaken. Although my courage and spirit are small, I dare not fail to speak frankly and honestly to offer my advice."

"Similarly, Your Majesty bears the hopes of the people. I only hope that Your Majesty will heed loyal advice and live up to the trust placed in you by the people. As for reputation, I believe Your Majesty need not care about it."

After Wang Yan finished speaking, the Emperor's heavy breathing could be heard from inside the hall.

"Well done, Wang Hechun," the Emperor said coldly. "You claim to be selfless and devoted to the country. Let me ask you, why is the most severe punishment not the punishment of your entire family, but exile of your wife and daughters? Whom are you afraid of getting involved?"

"Is she the head of the porcelain shop, the real Xie Erniangzi?"

Wang Yan's hand twitched slightly under his sleeve. He raised his eyes to meet the Emperor's gaze. He had just reported that Xie Yuyan was Xie Yisong's daughter, the real Second Lady Xie.

Even with the Emperor's anger, Wang Yan did not deny it. To let Xie Yuyan off the hook at this time would be unfair to her, and he did not want to do so.

As long as he is here, Xie Yuyan will inevitably be mentioned openly and respectably.

Wang Yan said, "Your Majesty, I intentionally did not include her among those convicted because her father's death was probably related to Xie Yizhi. She survived only under the protection of the Dowager Lady Xie, but was forced to leave home and almost lost her life at the hands of kidnappers. She survived by chance but forgot her past. However, she still helped the court investigate cases many times and has done no wrong."

"The case implicates the clan because clan members have benefited from it. Xie Yuyan has not only never benefited from it, but has also suffered many misfortunes. If she is also included in this, it will be hard for the world to believe."

The emperor stood up and looked down at Wang Yan, saying, "What do you mean the world can't believe you? I think it's you who's not convinced."

Wang Yan bowed and said, "Yes, Your Majesty, I am not convinced. If the court has indeed dealt with the matter this way, I will definitely submit a memorial to question it and will not hesitate to beat the drum to appeal for justice for Lady Xie."

As he spoke with firm words, Wang Yan's gaze was even more resolute than when he was recounting Xie Yizhi's crimes.

The emperor pointed at Wang Yan: "There are rumors that you have an affair with that Xie family. Is your impeachment of Xie Yizhi motivated by personal motives?"

Wang Yan did not back down and replied, "Yes."

The emperor was slightly taken aback, somewhat surprised. He hadn't expected Wang Yan to admit to everything. Was he determined to get involved with Xie Yuyan?

The emperor frowned even more deeply, but remained silent, wanting to hear how Wang Yan would defend himself.

Wang Yan said, "Your Majesty, I am fond of Lady Xie and do have ulterior motives towards her. It is precisely because I am investigating Lady Xie's background that I have been particularly thorough in my investigation of Xie Yizhi, but I do not think there is anything wrong with it."

"Xie Yizhi has committed ten heinous crimes, and the evidence is conclusive. Even if I harbor resentment towards him, there is no need to frame him. As long as the investigation is thorough and no detail is overlooked, the crime can be punished truthfully."

The Emperor stared intently at Wang Yan: "Your affair with the Xie family will be discovered sooner or later. Your connection with the Xie family will raise questions no matter how the case is handled. If you are willing to distance yourself from the Xie family, you will avoid giving others grounds for criticism..."

Wang Yan interrupted the emperor, saying, "I cannot comply."

(End of this chapter)