Jackie Chan's Son-in-Law

Chapter 158 Not giving face
"His Majesty."

At the entrance of the Yang residence, the entire Yang family, led by Yang Yuanfu, knelt down and kowtowed to His Majesty the Emperor.

This was not a casual outing from the palace, but a real outing with the emperor's regalia. Just look around the emperor's carriage, there were two rows of guards from the Imperial Guard, each wearing a flying fish robe with a dragon's head and a fish's body!

These are the Emperor's personal guards of the Yiluan Division. Unlike the Yiluan Division, which requires a commander of about a thousand to wear the flying fish robe, these Emperor's personal guards, once selected, all wear the flying fish robe and carry the embroidered spring knife.

To demonstrate the emperor's majesty.

However, their clothes were uniforms, not bestowed garments. In other words, theoretically, they could only wear them when accompanying the emperor out, and they could not wear them out at other times. Bestowed garments, like those of Tang Can and Yan Hu, could be worn at any time.

These guards of the Imperial Guard were only a part of the imperial power, while those of the Garrison Command were branches that extended outward from the imperial power.

His Majesty the Emperor stepped down from the imperial carriage and quickly came to the kneeling Minister Yang, reaching out to help him up.

The Emperor looked at the white-haired Minister Yang and sighed: "Is Minister Yuanfu feeling any better?"

Minister Yang rose and bowed deeply: "Your Majesty, this old minister is no longer in serious trouble."

He stepped aside, bowed, and said, "Your Majesty's presence at my humble abode is a great honor."

The emperor looked up at the prime minister's residence, smiled wryly, but said nothing.

This Prime Minister's residence, in any case, has nothing to do with the word "humble abode".

Led by Minister Yang, the emperor arrived at the main hall of the Yang family and took his seat. Minister Yang, however, was extremely respectful and sat at the lower end of the table, not daring to sit next to the emperor.

The Emperor looked at Prime Minister Yang and said softly, "Recently, several prime ministers in the cabinet have been complaining endlessly, saying that without Yuanfu, the cabinet will fall into chaos. Since Yuanfu has recovered from his illness, why not return to the cabinet to take up his post?"

The emperor smiled and said, "The cabinet cannot do without you, the chief minister."

Minister Yang lowered his head slightly and said, "Your Majesty, at the last grand court assembly, the various crimes that the Zhenfu Division was investigating have not yet been thoroughly investigated. This old minister cannot return to the cabinet in a state of uncertainty."

Minister Yang looked up at the emperor, then lowered his head again: "Otherwise, I will truly lose face in my later years."

The emperor lowered his head to drink his tea and slowly said, "Does Prime Minister Yang mean that he will only return to the cabinet after I have dealt with this matter?"

Yang Yuanfu lowered his head and said, "I can't say we should deal with it, but this matter needs to be clarified to set the record straight."

"Otherwise, my reputation built up over many years will be ruined in an instant."

The emperor frowned.

"What kind of resolution does Lord Yuanfu want? Does he want me to bring Chen Qing to justice before he'll have a resolution?"

These words were rather harsh. In the past, Minister Yang might not have taken them seriously, but now, he stood up and knelt on the ground, saying, "This old minister dares not."

"But right and wrong must be clearly explained."

The emperor remained silent for a moment, then quietly said, "Does Minister Yang believe that none of the issues concerning the Yang family that Chen Qing compiled are true?"

Yang Yuanfu looked at the emperor and said in a low voice, "Your Majesty, this old minister has already inquired about each matter..."

"If they are all true, then those who should be punished will be punished. If they are false, they should also be verified one by one. But regardless of whether they are true or false, they have nothing to do with Chen Qing."

Yang Xiangong lowered his head and said, "He is only investigating these matters, but he has not reported them."

Just as the emperor's power extends outwards, so too does Prime Minister Yang, who has been in charge of the cabinet for over a decade, grow into a towering tree, naturally extending his own branches outwards as well.

He, Minister Yang, was just an old man in his sixties or seventies. He worked between the cabinet and home every day. What evil could he possibly do?

Even if you gave him ten or eight beauties, the old man might not be able to sleep.

All the consequences of his sins are on his outstretched branches, his sons, his disciples, his family, his relatives, and even the servants in his household.

"For all proven crimes, whether the three judicial departments or the garrison command are to arrest them, this old minister will never protect anyone."

"If there is collective punishment."

Minister Yang bowed his head and said, "This old minister is also prepared to enter the Zhenfu Division prison."

The emperor helped him up again and sighed, "Lord Yuanfu, I have already stopped asking questions, so why should you?"

If we don't ask questions, we'll just put the problems aside. As long as the old man is still the prime minister, these problems won't surface until the day he officially steps down.

Even if the emperor doesn't ask these questions, his successors in the cabinet may still hold them accountable.

Yuanfu bowed his head and said, "I have already found out some of the details of this matter in the past few days. Chen Qing said that Hu Lan, the governor of Zhejiang, sent more than a dozen beautiful women to my son. I have inquired about this matter and it is true."

"However, this old minister was completely unaware of this matter beforehand, and Hu Lan's appointment as governor of Zhejiang has nothing to do with this matter."

Minister Yang said in a low voice, "This old minister has already ordered that the rebellious son send all those women back. In addition, I request Your Majesty to dismiss Hu Lan from his post as governor of Zhejiang and imprison the rebellious son in the imperial prison to punish him for extorting court officials!"

Yang Xiangong's eldest son, Yang Tingzheng, entered the court through imperial favor and is now the Vice Minister of Works.

The second son, Yang Tingzhi, was a commoner with no official position, yet it was this second son who lived the most carefree and happy life in the capital. Minister Yang took a deep breath and said in a deep voice, "As for the other crimes, I believe they should also be dealt with in the same way. Only after they have been clarified and the truth restored will I be qualified to return to the cabinet."

The emperor narrowed his eyes, feeling somewhat displeased.

However, he did not show it, but slowly said, "What the old gentleman says is true."

“These things should be investigated thoroughly one by one.”

The emperor stood up and said, "Since Prime Minister Yang insists on finding out the truth, then fine, I will order the Zhenfu Division to investigate thoroughly and deal with those who need to be dealt with."

"I will come to invite Minister Yang again at that time."

Yang Xiangong respectfully rose.

"At that time, this old minister will go to the palace to apologize to Your Majesty."

"This old minister sees Your Majesty off."

The emperor grunted in acknowledgment, put his hands behind his back, and left the Yang family residence. He rode in his own imperial carriage all the way. Once inside, the emperor closed his eyes, his expression already quite unpleasant.

He had already come to invite him in person, but the old man still wouldn't give him face.

Thinking of this, His Majesty the Emperor opened his eyes and said, "Go to the Chen family in Da Shi Yong Fang."

The officials from the Imperial Guard and several eunuchs accompanying them outside were stunned. One eunuch lowered his head and cautiously asked, "Your Majesty, which Chen family in Da Shi Yong Fang?"

The emperor raised an eyebrow.

"Go to Chen Qing's house."

Since Minister Yang was not giving the emperor any face, the emperor naturally had to make a gesture. At this time, going to Chen Qing's house was undoubtedly the best way to show respect.

Soon, the emperor's imperial carriage stopped in front of the Chen family's house. As the attendant Yi Luan Si shouted "His Majesty has arrived," the entire Chen family was thrown into chaos.

After a short while, Chen Qing hurriedly led the Gu family father and daughter, along with several servants, to kneel before the emperor's carriage to receive him.

"Chen Qing respectfully welcomes Your Majesty!"

Inside the imperial carriage, the emperor alighted, glanced at the people in Chen Qing's household, and without saying a word, simply walked straight into the Chen family home with his hands behind his back.

Chen Qing got up from the ground, reached out and pulled Mr. Gu, who was standing next to him, and whispered, "Uncle Gu, get up."

Mr. Gu's legs went weak, and it took him a long time to stand up from the ground.

This wasn't Chen Qing's first time meeting the emperor, so he was much more composed. He took a deep breath and carefully entered his home.

When Chen Qing entered the main hall, the emperor was already seated. Chen Qing stepped forward and bowed.

"Your Majesty's arrival was completely unknown to me beforehand. Please forgive my rudeness."

The emperor glanced at Chen Qing: "Not even a cup of tea?"

Chen Qing immediately turned around and winked at Miss Gu behind him, who then hurriedly went to make tea.

The emperor looked at Chen Qing and said, "You are quite capable. You have only been in the capital for a short time, yet you have already acquired such a residence."

Chen Qing smiled wryly and said, "It was my father-in-law who bought it."

The Emperor then glanced at Master Gu behind Chen Qing, then at Chen Qing himself, and suddenly asked, "What is your relationship with Zhao Mengjing?"

He spoke casually, but Chen Qing felt a chill run down his spine. He immediately knelt on the ground and bowed his head, saying, "Your Majesty!"

It seems that my contact with Vice Minister Zhao did not escape the eyes of this young emperor.

Master Gu also knelt on the ground, gritting his teeth and saying, "Your Majesty, Zhao Mengjing is my sworn brother."

The emperor stroked his chin and nodded.

He ignored Master Gu and looked at Chen Qing, saying calmly, "In a little while, you will accompany me to the Zhenfu Division prison."

"Go see Zhao Mengjing."

Chen Qing looked up in astonishment at the emperor.

The emperor remained expressionless.

Chen Qing could only lower his head.

"My minister obeys."

　Gentlemen! The 8 PM and 12 PM updates are written the night before. Sometimes I fall asleep and don't have time to write. From now on, if there's no 12 PM update, it will be updated in the afternoon…

　　
　
(End of this chapter)