Selling wife for fame? Kick out the scumbag and marry the new emperor to enjoy the harem of favors

Chapter 219

"Your Majesty, Xie Wei's act of putting righteousness before family has been widely discussed and praised by scholars. I believe that, regardless of Your Majesty's thoughts, since praise has already been given in court, it is not appropriate to take any further action against it now."

Wei Zhang analyzed in a deep voice.

The reasoning behind this is self-evident.

Zhao Xingjin's brows furrowed slightly with displeasure. "I never intended to punish him. His father is despicable, but he is an upright man. I just didn't expect the Xie family to have such a great influence among scholars. It's more powerful than I anticipated."

How could he not realize that most of the students who spoke out for Xie Wei were students of Donglin Academy, founded by the Xie family?

Even if he knew, there was nothing he could do; after all, he couldn't possibly sew all the scholars' mouths shut.

Moreover, Donglin Academy is indeed a place that produces many talented people. He cherishes talent, and this year is the first year of the imperial examination. So no matter what, these students' mouths cannot be silenced.

This led Zhao Xingjin to change his original plan.

“I dare not say that this thorny branch, once its barbs have been smoothed out, can be a good baton if held firmly.” Zhao Xingjin slightly raised his chin, a sharp glint in his deep eyes.

Wei Zhang immediately understood his meaning: "Does His Majesty intend to subdue the Xie family and bring them under his control?"

“The title of the first scholarly family is indeed useful.” Zhao Xingjin said calmly. “In the past, Xie Mingshen was cunning and difficult to deal with, and I disliked him deeply. I never thought that the Xie family would be of such use. Now that I think about it, it is quite good.”

By making good use of the Xie family, we can not only select and recruit talented people more cheaply, but also control the scholars better from the source, as the Xie family owns five academies.

Zhao Xingjin hoped to gradually bring the country's education under the control of the imperial court.

“That’s a good thing,” Wei Zhang nodded. “There has been a lot of bloodshed since the beginning of the year. If the Xie family’s matter can be handled in a different way, there will be less killing.”

"However, Xie Mingshen is doomed."

Zhao Xingjin lowered his eyes, his gaze filled with murderous intent.

Back then, the Zhao family was perfectly content being vassal kings of different surnames, but Emperor Hui insisted on eliminating them, forcing them to rebel. Xie Mingshen probably played a part in this as well.

Jingming Palace.

Xie Jiugang secretly burned some things for his mother, Yang.

Watching Chunrong and Qingfang pack up, she couldn't help but whisper, "I wonder if the Emperor will ever come to my Jingming Palace again. Perhaps, my position as a concubine will come to an end."

"Your Highness is still young. A person can't live by just one idea; that would be so meaningless," Qingfang said, looking up at her with a smile.

Xie Jiu also curled the corners of her lips, "Yes, I am destined to be someone who can't stay idle. Even if the emperor doesn't come, I will go find him myself. I have a long life ahead of me in the palace. I can't just do one thing and then fade into obscurity."

“That’s right.” Chunrong said with a smile in her eyes. “But no matter what Your Highness chooses, this servant will follow Your Highness.”

"Me too!"

Qingfang immediately followed.

As they were talking, greetings came from outside.

Princess Wenxi has returned.

Xie Jiu immediately got up and went outside to meet her.

"Your Highness Jin," Princess Wenxi said with concern upon seeing Xie Jiu, "Are you alright?"

"Ok?"

Xie Jiu was puzzled, so he squatted down and patted her head. "Why are you asking that? I'm fine."

Upon receiving this reply, Princess Wenxi seemed somewhat unconvinced. Her eyes flickered, and she cautiously said, "But today I heard a servant say that Consort Jin's father committed a grave crime and has been imprisoned in the imperial prison. He is sure to be sentenced to death."

It turned out to be this.

After hearing this, Xie Jiu smiled and said, "Don't worry, it won't affect me. Besides, he deserves his punishment."

"Isn't Lady Jin sad at all?" Princess Wenxi asked in surprise.

Seeing this, Xie Jiu thought for a moment and then said softly, "Your Highness, not everyone is worthy of being a parent. Only qualified parents are worthy of their children's filial piety and gratitude, and of being happy and sad for them. I am not as lucky as the princess. The emperor truly loves Your Highness, but my father only uses me as a bargaining chip. Such a person is not worth my sadness."

Princess Wenxi seemed to understand, but not quite, and slowly nodded.

Xie Jiu straightened up and looked at her gently, "Your Highness will understand these words in the future."

After speaking, he ordered someone to take Princess Wenxi to rest.

Just then, Xie Jiu noticed that a bright yellow figure was standing in a corner of the palace gate.

"Your Majesty, I am late in welcoming you. Please forgive me."

"Get up." Zhao Xingjin waved his hand, her image still etched in his mind. "Why didn't you expect me to come?"

The question was direct. Xie Jiu looked up at him, paused, and then nodded.

"I think Your Majesty may never come to see me again."

As she spoke, her voice carried a suppressed joy, along with grievance and reluctance. Tears welled up in her beautiful eyes, but remained unshed.

Zhao Xingjin reached out and said, "Why are you crying? How could I not come to see you?"

"No, Your Majesty knows that His Majesty's purpose in taking me into the palace is different from that of his other concubines." Xie Jiu shook her head, but did not avoid Zhao Xingjin's outstretched hand. "Now that things are more or less done, it is normal that His Majesty will not come again and will not have to spend any more effort on me."

The soft touch on his fingertips made Zhao Xingjin's heart soften. He didn't know if it was because of the touch or because he understood the grievance in Xie Jiu's voice.

He then sighed softly, as if coaxing a child, "You just like to overthink things. I said I would treat you well, so of course I won't not come."

Upon hearing this, Xie Jiu's eyes suddenly lit up, as if she had heard some good news, and her cheeks flushed a light pink with excitement.

"Alright, let's go inside and talk." Zhao Xingjin took her hand and led her into the house.

Chunrong immediately brewed tea and brought it over. Taking this opportunity, she secretly glanced at Xie Jiu a few more times out of the corner of her eye, still somewhat worried.

"Your Majesty, I thank you for not punishing my brother," Xie Jiu said first.

Zhao Xingjin took a sip of tea, appearing quite calm. "He did not violate the laws of Dajing, otherwise I would not have forgiven him. But you may not know that your brother has become a role model for students throughout Dajing because of his act of putting family members before family."

"example?"

Xie Jiu's face immediately showed some disbelief, followed by a self-deprecating laugh.

"This act of sacrificing one's own family for the greater good may seem glorious, but it is not a good thing. If it weren't for my biological father, I wouldn't have been plotted against so cruelly. I hope that my family can live in harmony and that such things will never happen again."

The words were half true and half false.

After all, Xie Jiu had arranged all the students from these states in advance, so the phenomenon of students speaking up for Xie Wei today was already expected.