The Black Chamber Dream: Daiyu's Revenge

Upon hearing this, the other officials in the Ministry of Justice naturally looked at the case with a deeper meaning: Would the Crown Prince handle the case impartially?

Was Liu Zhizhang deliberately causing trouble? Xiao Tingjun wasn't quite sure, because as far as he knew, Liu Zhizhang wasn't one of the officials who supported his second or fourth brother; he had always been a diligent and upright official.

Or perhaps he had been hiding it well all along, and I hadn't noticed?

Of course, there is another possibility: this was arranged by the Emperor to test him.

Regardless of the circumstances, Liu Zhizhang has now brought the case to his attention, so he naturally has to react.

Fortunately, Yu'er had already told her, and after Jia Yucun was dismissed from his post, he returned to his hometown. At that time, Li Su's uncle was the Governor-General of Liangjiang, so she knew more about what happened to Jia Yucun.

Under the gaze of the crowd, Xiao Tingjun immediately said seriously, "Of course, I also know that this case is related to the Crown Princess's uncle, the current First-Class General of Rongguo Mansion, Lord Jia."

After saying this, Xiao Tingjun stopped and looked at everyone's reactions. His second brother had worked in the Ministry of Justice, and he wondered if his second brother had any people in the Ministry.

Upon hearing this, some people were surprised: His Highness the Crown Prince is really direct. He doesn't hold back at all and even mentioned the Crown Princess's uncle. Is this to show that he is handling matters officially and not personal?

Some were skeptical: Why did the Crown Prince say that? It seems like he was deliberately making it clear to everyone. His purpose must be more than just a formality, right?

Another person immediately spoke up: "I have heard that Jia Yucun's official position was recommended by the Crown Princess's family."

Xiao Tingjun glanced over and saw that the man was Zeng Xu, a fifth-rank official in the Jiangxi Provincial Department of Justice.

Meeting Xiao Tingjun's gaze, the man showed no hesitation or fear. Instead, Xiao Tingjun looked at him with newfound respect and nodded, saying, "I have heard of this matter. After all, when recommending officials, one should not avoid enemies or relatives. When my father-in-law knew Jia Yucun, he had passed the imperial examination and become a prefect. However, because he was arrogant and refused to compromise his principles in officialdom, his superiors found an opportunity to write a memorial accusing him of being cunning and treacherous, and of fabricating rituals. As a result, he was dismissed from his post."

At this point, Xiao Tingjun glanced at everyone's expressions before continuing, "When Jia Yucun, who had been dismissed from his post, was traveling around the world, he met his father-in-law, and that's why he hired him as a tutor in the household."

Daiyu had already told Xiao Tingjun about these past events, and Xiao Tingjun had later investigated Jia Yucun, so he understood him very thoroughly.

To be honest, he was originally a talented scholar who had passed the imperial examinations. However, people change. The man who refused to compromise his integrity back then was dismissed from his post, but after being reinstated, he lost his former pride and became someone who actively went along with the corrupt practices.

Having said all that, many people have already realized that no matter what happens in Jia Yucun's case, the Crown Princess's deceased father cannot be implicated. He knew Jia Yucun a long time ago, and since he changed later, it's not fair to blame the Crown Princess's father.

"As for his later official career, I have heard from the Crown Princess that he committed many illegal acts, which is why he was dismissed and sent back to his hometown." Xiao Tingjun took in everyone's various reactions and pondered more deeply. "Now that this case has been submitted to the Ministry of Justice, it must be carefully investigated."

Although no one knew the final outcome of the trial, they all understood one thing: the Crown Prince seemed to be very observant and aware of everything. When a case related to the Crown Princess was suddenly presented to him, his calm demeanor and ability to provide so much relevant information showed that he had a well-thought-out plan.

Liu Zhizhang remained calm throughout: "Since His Highness the Crown Prince already knows some things, then things will be even easier."

It was lunchtime, and Zhao Bingxin led a young eunuch to deliver Xiao Tingjun's meal. When the officials from the Ministry of Justice saw this, they were even more impressed: It seems that His Highness the Crown Prince had made preparations long ago, even bringing his lunch.

Xiao Tingjun, on the contrary, remained calm. Looking at the bowl of three-delicacy duck, the plate of ham stir-fried with mushrooms, the dish of ivory-shaped chess-shaped steamed buns, and the bowl of milk fish soup that Zhao Bingxin brought out, he immediately laughed and said, "Why is everything so light today?"

Zhao Bingxin hurriedly said, "The Crown Princess said that the weather is dry these days, so it's best to eat something light."

Xiao Tingjun smiled, said nothing more, and then washed his hands and began to eat.

Since neither the Crown Prince nor the Minister of Justice had left, everyone in the Ministry of Justice naturally had to stay and work. After eating a few bites, Xiao Tingjun noticed a problem.

So he immediately put down his chopsticks and called to Zhao Bingxin, "Go back and tell the Crown Princess to have the kitchen make more and send it here."

Zhao Bingxin didn't react at first, thinking, "My master has such a good appetite now that he's become the crown prince?" But he quickly understood and agreed to go and do the work.

PS;

1. The original text describes Jia Yucun at the beginning:

Having passed the imperial examination and been selected for an outside post, he has now been promoted to Prefect of this prefecture. Although he is highly capable, he is somewhat greedy and cruel, and also arrogant and disrespectful to his superiors, causing other officials to look at him with disdain. In less than a year, his superior found an opportunity to write a report accusing him of being cunning and treacherous, and of unauthorized use of rituals. Enraged, the superior immediately dismissed him from his post. When the official document arrived, all the officials in the prefecture were overjoyed. Although Yu Cun felt extremely ashamed and resentful, he showed no resentment on his face, remaining cheerful and composed. After handling official business, he sent the capital he had accumulated over the years and his family back to his hometown, making arrangements for them. He then went off to travel the world, enjoying the scenery.

2. The Case of Shi Daizi —

Ping'er gritted her teeth and said, "...Who knew there would be such a stubborn fool, a scoundrel everyone calls 'Stone Fool,' so poor he couldn't even afford food, yet he had twenty old fans, which he absolutely refused to bring out. Second Master, after much pity, offered him a fortune. But Stone Fool said, 'I'd rather starve or freeze to death than sell them for a thousand taels of silver each.' Master was at his wit's end, cursing Second Master every day for being useless. He had already promised him five hundred taels, to be paid first and then he'd get the fans, but he still wouldn't sell, saying, 'If you want the fans, you'll have to take my life first.' The young lady thought, what could be done? Then that unscrupulous Yu Cun overheard this and devised a plan, accusing him of owing government silver, taking him to the yamen, saying, 'The owed government silver will be repaid by selling your property.' They confiscated the fans at the government price and sent them over. Stone Fool, we don't know if he's alive or dead. Master, holding the fans, asked Second Master..." "How did they get here?" The second master only said one sentence: "To ruin someone's family and business over such a trivial matter is hardly something to be proud of." The master, upon hearing this, became angry, saying the second master was using words to shut him up. Therefore, this was the first major incident. There were several smaller incidents in the past few days, I can't even remember them all, so they all piled up and a fight broke out. They didn't stop there; they used boards and sticks, just standing there, and I don't know what they used to beat me, I got two bruises on my face."

Chapter 174 New Official Takes Office, Emperor Rewards

Actually, Xiao Tingjun had thought about this matter when he was in the Ministry of War, but due to his status at the time and the many other things he had to do, he didn't bring it up immediately.

Now that I have become the crown prince, it would be better for me to offer my advice to the emperor.

This was the same for officials in all six ministries, since not every official could afford a house in the area closest to the capital. After all, in the capital where land was incredibly valuable, some officials in the six ministries simply couldn't afford a house and often had to live in the cheaper areas to the south or even in the suburbs.

As a result, when many officials need to work overtime, there is no way they can have hot meals delivered to their homes. They can only grab a bite at the nearest small shop, and the meals that some officials bring are already cold.

Thinking of all this, Xiao Tingjun returned to the palace that evening, had dinner with Daiyu first, and played with his daughter for a while before going to see the Emperor.

"Did you come back from the Ministry of Justice so late today?" The Emperor wasn't too busy today. He was looking at a memorial sent from Shandong. When he heard that the Crown Prince had arrived, he put down the memorial in his hand.

"No, I came over after having dinner and playing with Yue'er for a while. I thought Father should be less busy now." After paying his respects, Xiao Tingjun brought up an idea he had come up with when he was in the Ministry of War and now in the Ministry of Justice.

"Your Majesty, I have something to say to you." Xiao Tingjun raised the issue of meals for officials of the Six Ministries who work overtime. "I think that since they are all working for the court, they are doing their jobs conscientiously. The court should consider their needs. So I wonder if the court could coordinate and provide the Six Ministries with a large kitchen, so that all the officials who work overtime can have meals there."

Upon hearing this, the Emperor looked at Xiao Tingjun approvingly. This child is indeed willing to use his brain: "I mentioned this idea to your grandfather when I was still a prince, but at that time I encountered the war in the Northwest and forgot about it for a while. You are indeed my son. We are father and son in perfect harmony."

Although he first praised the matter, the emperor also pointed out: "Although this matter may seem small, firstly, it involves the Six Ministries; secondly, the Grand Kitchen needs to be newly built, which involves personnel and resources; and thirdly, since this expenditure will be a long-term expense, there must be regulations and procedures in place. We cannot allow officials who are just loafing around to freeload."

Xiao Tingjun had also considered these points: "Father is right. I just have an idea and came to ask for your opinion first. If you agree, I will go back and draft a detailed plan."

The emperor was even more pleased to hear this: if Xiao Tingjun had not come to him privately, but instead presented this method directly as a memorial to the emperor, then the emperor would have been suspicious. A memorial to the emperor is naturally different from a private conversation. If he, the emperor, disagreed with the memorial, wouldn't the officials of the six ministries think that the emperor was petty?

The Crown Prince knows to communicate with his father, the Emperor, on everything, which is good.

"Then I'll leave this matter to you." The Emperor nodded with a smile. "Your Uncle Chun complained to me the other day that his youngest son spends his days fighting cocks and chasing dogs and does nothing productive. You should have a chat with him when you have time. This kid should come out and do some work for the court."

The youngest son of Prince Chun is Xiao Qingzhou. Xiao Tingjun recalled that when he was still at Prince Yijun's residence, Yu'er hosted a banquet, and Xiao Qingzhou had attended. He was quite a witty person.

Although Xiao Qingzhou was younger than the Fifth Prince, in terms of seniority, he was of the same generation as the Emperor and was Xiao Tingjun's cousin.

After the emperor inquired about Xiao Tingjun's affairs with the Ministry of Justice, the father and son chatted for a while.

When Xiao Tingjun returned to Delin Palace, he saw that his wife was still waiting for him. He hurriedly went up to her and said, "You should rest early. You have to get up so early every day, and now you have Yue'er to take care of."

"I have something to tell you. I saw you rushing to see Father Emperor earlier." Daiyu told Xiao Tingjun about her visit to her mother that day.

The Empress had previously told all the concubines in the palace that they did not need to come and pay their respects to her every day, only on the first and fifteenth of the month.

Today is the first time the Crown Princess has come to pay her respects, and the Empress has given orders early this morning that everyone must be present. Even the Princess Consorts of the Princes Rui, Li, and Cheng must all come.

Therefore, when Daiyu went to Fengyi Palace to pay her respects, Consort Zhou and Consort Lu were already there, and other concubines followed one after another.

After everyone paid their respects, the Empress sat at the head of the table and addressed the Emperor, the concubines of the six palaces, and the Princess Consorts of Rui, Li, and Cheng, who had come to pay their respects. Her words were crisp and clear.

“When ordinary people have daughters-in-law, they help their mothers-in-law manage household affairs. Now that there is a Crown Princess in the palace, I have a right-hand woman. From now on, the Crown Princess will help me manage all the affairs of the six palaces.”

With a single sentence, the Empress set the tone for today's greetings. Her decisive action at that moment gave Daiyu a taste of the Empress's authority.

Song Huilan was immediately displeased upon hearing this, but seeing that the concubines sitting in front of her showed no sign of anything amiss, she, as a junior, had no reason to speak, so she obediently lowered her head.

However, the Empress noticed this and immediately reprimanded them: "As for the three princesses, you must manage your respective residences properly, so that the princes can't go to court in peace."

One sentence swept across two people: Princess Consort Song Huilan of Rui County and Princess Consort Ge Xijia of Li County. Now that Prince Rui County wants to take a concubine, the chaotic affairs in Prince Li County's mansion are known to almost everyone who needs to know.

Zuo Jiangqiu was different. She had a good relationship with Daiyu and never intended to compete for power, so she remained calm when she heard the Empress's words.

The other two, though dissatisfied, had no choice but to obediently agree.

Seeing that they had all agreed, the Empress nodded in satisfaction: "Perfect timing. The Sixth Prince's birthday is next month. His Majesty said that he has been too busy in previous years, but this year everything has gone smoothly, so we should celebrate the Sixth Prince properly. This matter will be left to the Crown Princess."

Daiyu quickly agreed, and Consort Lu thanked the Emperor and Empress on behalf of the Sixth Prince.

"No need for thanks. Xiao Liu has made great progress at Yuntao Academy, and His Majesty is pleased to see that." The Empress smiled. "Yu'er, you should discuss the arrangements for the Sixth Prince's birthday banquet with Consort Lu. She is Xiao Liu's birth mother and knows what he likes."

Consort Wu listened from the side, feeling very uncomfortable: The Empress is really biased to no end now. Isn't she obviously trying to win over the Sixth Prince on behalf of the Third Prince and his wife?

Thinking about it carefully, weren't the fifth brother and his wife also taken away by the third brother and his wife in the same way?

The Empress had already planned it all out: help the third prince? Consort Wu belatedly realized this and suddenly looked up at the Empress, who was now smiling happily.

"My mother also specifically told me that we should invite Lan-ge'er to my sixth brother's birthday party." Daiyu told Xiao Tingjun about this.

Jia Lan? Xiao Tingjun was also somewhat surprised.

Chapter 175 The Prince's Birthday Celebration: Jia Lan is Invited

When Xiao Tingjun heard that the Empress had specifically invited Jia Lan, he quickly realized: "It must be that Father Emperor wants to see Jia Lan. Firstly, it must be because Sixth Brother praised Jia Lan. Secondly, I think Princess Qingjia has made contributions to the country, and Father Emperor originally wanted to commend the Rongguo Mansion, but the other people in the Rongguo Mansion are really too incompetent, so Father Emperor wants to see Jia Lan."

"I've thought about that too, but Lan-ge'er is a smart man, so I'm not worried." Daiyu was thinking that the fact that Jia Lan was invited to the Rongguo Mansion was like throwing a big stone into the stagnant waters of the Rongguo Mansion.

“I also have something to tell you.” Xiao Tingjun told you about the matter concerning the Ministry of Justice. “You don’t need to worry, but if the investigation really goes on, I’m afraid your uncle will be in trouble.”

It's funny, actually. When I entered the Jia family, my maternal uncle didn't even want to see me. Later, he never cared about me at all. That's not all. As the eldest son of the Rongguo Mansion, all he knew was drinking, having fun, and indulging in lust.

It would be an injustice if someone like that didn't get into trouble.

"Let things be as they are; every cause has its effect." Daiyu didn't care.

Xiao Tingjun, on the contrary, asked curiously, "Huh? What? Aren't you worried at all about getting involved?"

Daiyu wrinkled her nose and glared at Xiao Tingjun: "You underestimate me too much. My surname is Lin, not Jia. First of all, secondly, that Lord Jia has been my teacher for many years. People change, and his mistakes have nothing to do with me."

Amused by Daiyu's charming expression, Xiao Tingjun didn't think twice and leaned in to kiss his wife.

But... the next moment he felt a sharp pain, hissed, and wiped his lips with his hand, leaving a faint bloody mark on his finger.

Daiyu snapped out of her daze, looking at the bloodstain on his lips, feeling both ashamed and regretful. "I...you..." She hadn't meant to bite him; she'd just accidentally bitten him, but she hadn't meant to! She really didn't know what had happened! She hadn't intended to hurt him!

Xiao Tingjun laughed instead: "It's okay, it doesn't hurt."

"But, Yu'er, you have to make it up to me." With that, she leaned in and pressed closer.

Daiyu opened her eyes and saw Xiao Tingjun's eyes, as black as ink, yet with a strange light, like a dark fire in the still night, which ignited her as well.

As a result, when Daiyu opened her eyes and woke up, Xiao Tingjun had already left.

"What time is it?" Daiyu panicked and was about to get up when Zijuan heard the commotion and rushed in, speaking first.

"Princess Consort, please don't rush. Her Majesty the Empress said there's no need to pay your respects. Today you only need to go to Consort Lu's place. It's still early. His Highness the Crown Prince told us not to disturb you and to let you sleep a little longer."

Seeing that she hadn't wasted any time, Daiyu was still a little embarrassed, so she got up silently without saying a word. After a while, she asked Zijuan, "Has Your Highness had breakfast?"

"His Highness ate some and praised the sesame rice porridge, saying it was good for nourishing the liver and lungs and relieving autumn dryness. He also suggested that the Crown Princess have some." Zijuan helped Daiyu wash up and get dressed, while Xueyan and Chunyu brought in breakfast with others.

Daiyu asked Yue'er again, and Xueyan, who was standing nearby, smiled and said, "The little princess is very well-behaved. She woke up once before dawn, probably because she was hungry. She drank her milk and then fell asleep again. She's still asleep now."

Now, Xueyan, Chunxian, and others all like the young princess very much and pay her special attention.

Daiyu was relieved upon hearing this, and after combing her hair, she sat down at the dining table to begin her breakfast. Today, she felt a bit lonely being alone, and perhaps because she was hungry, she ate half a bowl more porridge than usual.

Since it was the sixth prince's birthday banquet, Daiyu felt that she should listen to the birthday boy's opinion.

Xiao Tingyu was very happy and immediately offered his idea: "Liu Jun from our academy invited everyone to a banquet at the East Garden for his birthday. We enjoyed the flowing water, composing poems, and playing chess. Everyone was very happy."

Upon hearing this, Consort Lu quickly said, "You child, you are a prince, of course you cannot be the same as your classmates."

The Emperor was so pleased that he wanted to hold a special birthday banquet for the Sixth Prince. As his mother, Consort Lu was already very happy. Seeing her son being so disrespectful, Consort Lu quickly spoke up to prevent others from thinking that the Sixth Prince was ungrateful. After all, Consort Lu was not like other concubines. She came from a palace maid background and had no one to rely on. She only had this one son, so of course she had to be careful.