Jackie Chan's Son-in-Law

Chapter 147 Resigning on the Spot
For two days, Chen Qing did not go to the Zhenfu Division. Instead, he used the free time to write the next installment of the Chronicles of Heroes.

At noon, Prince Jiang, who was the Vice Commander of the Imperial Guard, came to Chen Qing's residence and read out the imperial edict that dismissed him from all his posts.

Chen Qing accepted the emperor's decree with utmost respect.

After reading it, Prince Jiang reached out and helped Chen Qing up, then pulled Chen Qing aside and whispered, "I have already had the things you left in the Zhenfu Division's office sealed up and will be sent to the court assembly immediately. His Majesty and a group of court officials are waiting at the court assembly now."

He looked at Chen Qing and asked, "Are you going or not? If you are, I'll take you to the court assembly."

Chen Qing shook his head and laughed, "The imperial decree said I was to be dismissed, but it didn't ask me to go to the emperor's court. Even if I wasn't dismissed, I would still be a sixth-rank military officer, not even qualified to attend court."

"Besides, it's not very convenient for me to go."

Chen Qing said in a low voice, "I was reported by my own father and went to the Grand Court Assembly. If I argue, it will confirm my filial impiety. If I don't argue, I'm afraid the cabinet members will notice something is wrong."

He paused, then said, "His Highness has dismissed me from my post. Go back and report. If His Majesty asks, just say that I have confessed my guilt."

"Moreover, I was sick a few days ago and am currently recuperating at home, so I can't move around very well."

Chen Qing said solemnly, "I have been asking Commander Yan for leave these past few days, which also proves that I am sick."

"Your Highness, you may simply return to the court to report back."

Prince Jiang looked Chen Qing up and down, hesitated for a moment, and then asked, "Then I'll be leaving?"

Chen Qing smiled and said, "Once I recover, I will invite the young master to a banquet."

The chubby boy rolled his eyes at Chen Qing: "I don't know how this will turn out. I'm still a little worried. But you're all set on drinking."

Young Master Chen laughed nonchalantly: "I no longer hold any official position. With nothing to do, what else is there to do but drink?"

He said with a smile, "Not to mention, once the young master brings the things to the court, I'll be much safer. At least for the time being, Lord Yuanfu will definitely not let anything happen to me."

The chubby boy looked at Chen Qing, shook his head and said, "I don't know when I'll be free from official duties. Alright, there are so many people waiting for me in the court, I won't chat with you anymore."

"I'll go first."

After bidding farewell to Chen Qing, Prince Jiang returned to the main hall of court with a collection of documents he had taken from Chen Qing's office. Upon returning to the hall, Jiang Chu knelt respectfully and kowtowed to the emperor, saying, "Your Majesty, your younger brother... your younger brother has been ordered to dismiss Chen Qing from his post and has brought back all the documents from Chen Qing's office."

Upon hearing his words, the expressions of the several prime ministers in the cabinet varied.

Prime Minister Xie Guan frowned slightly.

His ultimate goal in arranging this affair was, of course, to make the emperor lose trust in Yang Yuanfu. However, even in his plans, he never imagined that the emperor would deal with Chen Qing so easily.

And it was handled so decisively.

If that's really the case...

Master Xie looked up at Master Yang beside him and a thought began to linger in his mind.

Could it be that Lord Yuanfu's position is truly so unshakeable?

Xie Xiangong's mind was racing, but his face remained expressionless as he stood quietly beside Yang Xiangong.

The emperor grunted in acknowledgment and asked, "What about Chen Qingren? Has he been brought back?"

Prince Jiang shook his head and said, "Your Majesty, you only said to dismiss him from his post, not to bring Chen Qing back. Moreover, Chen Qing has been claiming illness since the day before yesterday. I went to his house to see him, and he is indeed ill and bedridden."

“Your Majesty was worried that it would be unseemly to bring him to the court assembly, so you did not bring him into the palace.”

The emperor frowned and groaned, "With his character, I don't want to see him either."

"Did you find any other evidence of wrongdoing in his official residence in the garrison?"

Prince Jiang lowered his head and said with a wry smile, "Your Majesty, they are just ordinary documents, mainly related to the White Lotus Sect. There's nothing else. Although Chen Qing's character is questionable, he is quite diligent in his duties at the Zhenfu Division."

The emperor raised an eyebrow: "Can a person who is disloyal and unfilial do a good job?"

"Bring these documents up here, so I can see them with my own eyes."

Jiang Chu gritted his teeth and said, "Your Majesty, these documents are complicated. I don't know how long it will take to read them now. I'll have someone send them to the Imperial Study. It won't be too late to read them after Your Majesty has finished the court session."

The emperor frowned: "Are you still going to protect him?" He looked around and said, "Prime Minister Lu, you are a Hanlin Academician, come and see."

The Hanlin Academician was a fifth-rank official who was in charge of the Hanlin Academy. However, due to the high rank of the position, it was customary for the Grand Secretary to hold the post concurrently.

This Mr. Lu was a Grand Secretary of the Cabinet and a Hanlin Academician.

Lu Xiangong was in his early fifties and had relatively little seniority in the cabinet. After hearing the emperor's words, he first bowed and agreed, then walked to the pile of documents that the chubby boy had brought to the court meeting and opened a few of them.

At first, he remained calm, because what he saw were documents about the White Lotus Sect compiled by Chen Qing.

When he saw the second and third documents, he was as if he had been burned, and the documents in his hands almost slipped out of his grasp!
This Minister Lu suddenly looked up, glanced at the expressionless emperor on the throne, then looked back at the other cabinet ministers, and finally turned to look at Jiang Chu beside him.

"Your Highness, this is...this is..."

Jiang Chu smiled wryly and said, "Don't ask me, Lord Lu, I don't know either."

On the dragon throne, the emperor frowned and asked, "What's wrong?"

Lu Xiangong took a deep breath, held the document in his hands, and bowed his head, saying, "Your Majesty, this should be the outline that Chen Baihu compiled himself. As for the specific content, I cannot say. Please take a look, Your Majesty."

Two eunuchs quickly handed the document over. The emperor took it casually, glanced at it, and his expression changed.

He slowly turned his head to look in the direction of the cabinet, revealing a look of sudden realization, then frowned.

"Lord Yuanfu".

The emperor threw down the document in his hand, frowned, and said, "All of you cabinet ministers, take a look."

Minister Yang lowered his head and replied, "Yes." Then, the five cabinet ministers gathered around the pile of documents and passed around about a dozen of them.

After looking at a few of the documents, Minister Yang glanced thoughtfully at Chen Huan, who was standing not far away, and then looked at Minister Xie next to him.

However, he did not speak, but instead read through the remaining documents one by one.

These documents record in detail some of the results of the Zhenfu Division's investigation into the Yang family, some with evidence and some without.

The evidence includes the fact that the Yang family owns 200,000 mu of farmland in their hometown, which is absolutely true.

Furthermore, a student of Master Yang, who is now a governor in the south, once sent more than a dozen beauties to the son of Master Yang's family.

There is also evidence for this matter; the Zhenfu Division has already found detailed evidence.

Chen Qing wrote down all the other charges, more than a dozen in total, and added four words to each one.

There is currently no empirical evidence.

Without evidence, if it were presented in court or before the emperor, it would be considered a false accusation. However, these things were discovered by the imperial court, meaning that Chen Qing had not yet had a chance to file a complaint.

Since no complaint was filed, it cannot be considered a false accusation.

His Majesty the Emperor frowned, then stood up from his throne and said, "Let's end the court session here today. Jiang Chu, please seal these documents away later."

The chubby boy knelt on the ground and replied, "Yes."

Minister Yang rose and bowed to the Emperor, saying, "Your Majesty, this old minister humbly requests that Your Majesty transfer these documents from the Zhenfu Division to the Three Judicial Offices or the Zhenfu Division, so that they may continue to investigate them."

He paused here, then continued, "Moreover, Chen Qing of the Zhenfu Division was suddenly and inexplicably accused by his own father of a crime. This matter is highly suspicious, and I believe that we cannot simply close the case like this."

"We should send someone to investigate the cause and effect in detail. We must not let the disloyal and unfilial people go unpunished, nor should we wrong the emperor's personal guards."

The emperor sighed and said, "Chen Qing is far too audacious. I only told him to keep an eye on the situation in the capital, not to investigate anyone, yet he has already done these things in private."

"Let's put this matter on hold for now and talk about it later."

Minister Yang's expression was serious. He bowed deeply and said, "Your Majesty, the Zhenfu Division does indeed have the function of supervising all officials. No matter who it is, the Zhenfu Division can investigate them."

This prime minister, who had served two dynasties, knelt down with a thud and bowed his head to the emperor.

"I implore Your Majesty to make a clear and decisive judgment, otherwise this old minister will have no face to continue in charge of the cabinet and will have no choice but to retire and return to his hometown."

(End of this chapter)