EMHTC -Chapter 37 Wow! So This Is What the Court Is Like!

The Crown Grandson dropped to his knees with a loud thud.

“Grandfather, I wasn’t being disrespectful to Grandmother!” Despite the Crown Princess’s attempts to stop him, the words spilled out of his mouth:

“I just meant to say that Ah-Zheng and Grandmother are generations apart. Grandmother is over sixty now—how could there be any connection between them? Ah-Zheng surely respects and honors Grandmother as a senior, as someone to be filial to, and in the future, she’ll join me in caring for Grandmother in her old age until her passing.”

On the surface, the words sounded thoughtful and proper, but…

The Crown Prince raised his wine cup, silently shielding his face.

As expected, in the next moment, the familiar sound of hearty, boisterous laughter filled the air:

【Hahahahahahaha! Is this Crown Grandson completely clueless? Doesn’t he know the emperor is only five months older than the empress? And Qin Zheng used to be an imperial consort! Hahahaha! Generations apart? Respect? Filial piety? Old-age care? Hahahaha! Every word is a dagger to the emperor’s heart!】

The grandson looked bewildered as he noticed his grandfather’s face growing even darker, and the atmosphere in the hall turning strange.

…Did he say something wrong?

—Although he was the Crown Grandson and had participated in grand ceremonies like offerings to heaven and his official investiture, he was ultimately still overshadowed by the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince was the true heir, complete with the Prince’s Seal and his own palace (effectively a small imperial court), while the grandson only had the title of Crown Grandson—unless the Crown Prince passed away, in which case, he would inherit those privileges. Thus, he couldn’t hear Xu Yanmiao’s inner voice.

The emperor’s eyes burned with deep dissatisfaction.

Why hadn’t he realized earlier that this grandson was unfit to rule?

Fortunately, this situation with Qin Guiren had arisen, allowing him to cut his losses in time. Otherwise, wouldn’t the Xia dynasty collapse within three generations?

Feeling the empress gently grasp his hand, her warmth gradually calmed him. The emperor’s tone was cool as he said, “I understand.”

The Crown Grandson instantly sighed in relief.

He failed to notice the Crown Prince and Crown Princess’s quiet sighs or the strange looks on the faces of several officials.

The Deputy Commander of the Left Army nudged his colleague with exaggerated winks: “His Majesty has already decided to abandon him…”

The Deputy Commander of the Front Army murmured, “About time. Remember when the Crown Princess gave him 3,000 taels to aid disaster victims, and he pocketed 500 taels for himself? Following this guy in the future, we’d starve nine days out of ten!”

Mutter, mutter, mutter.

Though the two coarse-voiced commanders were trying to whisper, their efforts were far from effective.

Meanwhile, Princess Qinghe, outwardly composed and dignified, couldn’t help but glance their way and suddenly smiled.

Oh, how delightful! I used to think only the refined wit of civil officials could be amusing, but even these military commanders have such entertaining remarks. With the New Year’s festivities loosening Father’s watchful eye, I must arrange to indulge in some role-playing games tomorrow.

The emperor, noticing his second daughter’s gentle smile, suddenly felt a wave of comfort.

“Ah, my girl. Daughters are still the best—so much less trouble!” He leaned toward the empress, whispering, “Didn’t I tell you that our second daughter must’ve just been going through a phase? Look at her now—so virtuous, so graceful. I knew I couldn’t possibly raise anything less than an exemplary child!”

The Empress Dowager: “…”

Honestly, she had long been aware of their children’s true natures. The only one in denial about their peculiarities was their father, who stubbornly refused to admit they had inherited his more…eccentric traits.

Xu Yanmiao wiped his mouth and, taking advantage of his seat in the back, crouched low as he quietly slipped away to use the latrine.

He had barely left for a cup of tea’s time when a young eunuch rushed over to the Crown Grandson, whispering in his ear. The grandson’s voice rose in excited disbelief: “Is that true?”

The eunuch nodded lightly.

The Crown Grandson let out a gleeful “Ha!”

“Finally! He’s left the hall!”

Straightening his back with exaggerated seriousness, he announced loudly, “Your Majesty, I have something to report!”

The Deputy Commander of the Front Army audibly sucked in a breath, leaning toward the Deputy Commander of the Left Army: “I’ve never admired anyone, but I have to hand it to the Crown Grandson. Does he still not realize what he’s done wrong? And he keeps making waves— even Xiao Baize has gone quiet, but he’s still oblivious.”

The emperor eyed his grandson, his mood surprisingly calm, and magnanimously decided to grant him a chance to speak.

“What is it?”

Like a crimson velvet curtain rising on a grand stage, with drums rolling in the background, the grandson declared boldly:

“Your Majesty, I submit an accusation! An outside official has trespassed into the harem!”

By convention, all women in the palace, whether or not they shared the emperor’s bed, were considered his. Even rumors of a eunuch engaging in an affair with a palace woman could provoke imperial wrath—let alone an outside official entering the harem. Trespassing was indeed a grave offense.

With this explosive accusation, many in the hall visibly paled.

—On this joyful occasion, when even Xiao Baize wasn’t causing trouble, why bring this up now? Couldn’t it wait until after the New Year? Why risk angering the emperor, forcing everyone to spend their New Year’s Eve pleading and apologizing? What do you gain from this?

Moreover, you—someone who’s personally been involved in palace scandals—daring to accuse others of misconduct?

The emperor fell silent for a moment before asking, “Who?”

The grandson took a deep breath and projected his voice:

“The Ministry of Personnel…”

【HELP! SAVE ME! DON’T COME ANY CLOSER! AHHHHHHH!】

The anguished cries in the hearts of officials were nearly deafening.

This time, the inner voices weren’t just loud—they were ear-piercing, as if intent on shattering eardrums.

Even compared to the last outburst at Yulong Temple, the inner cries were louder. If Yulong Temple’s incident echoed from the mountain’s back to the temple gates, this time, it reverberated through the entire imperial city.

The grandson finished his accusation.

“…The Ninth Official, Xu Yanmiao!”

From the Prime Minister down to low-ranking officials, faces turned ghostly pale. Several individuals wavered on their feet, some outright fainting in shock.

The Deputy Commander of the Front Army glanced anxiously toward the exit, clearly itching to run out.

—If only he knew where Xu Yanmiao was, he would’ve dashed out already! Turning back, he saw the smug satisfaction barely concealed on the grandson’s face.

“Crack!”

The jade wine cup in the emperor’s hand splintered into tiny cracks.

This fool!!!

This traitor!!!

Suddenly, someone stood up.

“GAO QISHENG!“ With a loud bang, it was Princess Xiangyang slamming the table, her eyes practically ablaze. “Xu Yanmiao could never have barged into the inner palace! He’s more interested in slightly bland pastries than he could ever be in the inner palace! Where have you taken him?!”

The Crown Grandson folded his arms, his tone dripping with sarcasm: “Aunt, you’re right. Maybe he’s not interested in the palace itself… but what about the palace’s wo—”

Before he could finish, a cup of wine was splashed right onto his face. The Crown Grandson let out a startled cry and turned to see it was Princess Wanshou.

It was her first time doing such a thing, and her hand gripping the cup had turned white with tension. Yet her expression was filled with disgust. “Shameless!”

The Crown Grandson wiped the wine off his face and looked toward the silent Emperor nearby. He pleaded urgently, “Grandfather, believe me! Xu Yanmiao really did force his way into the palace! Several people tried to stop him, but couldn’t! It was only because a young eunuch happened to see it that I found out!”

The Emperor’s face darkened. “Where?”

The Crown Grandson, trembling with excitement, said, “Grandfather! Let me take you!”

The Emperor: “Fine.”

【Help, help, help!】

【Is anyone nearby? Help, help, help! Where is this place?!】

The Emperor quickened his pace.

“My dear minister! Wait for me!”

The other officials all stood up, their steps quick and purposeful.

Princess Xiangyang, lifting her elaborate court dress, charged ahead like a raging bull. As she passed the Crown Grandson, she kicked him hard. “You’d better not try to silence him! Killing him to destroy the evidence will only make things worse!”

The Princess didn’t notice that her words caused the surrounding officials to look horrified, nearly shouting in protest.

Meanwhile, the Commander of the Front Army whispered anxiously, “Xu Yanmiao! Don’t just keep yelling for help! Shout where you are too!”

He was practically pulling his hair out with regret.

Why didn’t he assign someone to keep an eye on Xu Yanmiao during the palace banquet?! He could’ve submitted a request to the Emperor for the Imperial Guards to watch over him!

Wait… the Imperial Guards!

There should be Imperial Guards in the palace, right?

As they approached the dividing line between the inner palace and the court, they saw several Imperial Guards standing nervously, their shadows long and ominous. They craned their necks, not daring to step further into the inner palace.

When questioned, the Emperor learned that two of the guards had gone to report back to him but must have missed him on the way.

“Your Majesty, we followed Xu Yanmiao from a distance, unsure of his intentions. After a conversation with a palace maid, he willingly followed her into the inner palace. We failed to stop him and deserve punishment!”

The Imperial Guards were livid at the Crown Grandson.

If it weren’t for his meddling, would this blame have fallen on them?

But the Crown Grandson remained oblivious, urging the Emperor with desperation:

“Grandfather, I know where he went! Let me lead the way!”

The Emperor nodded. “Run.”

The Crown Grandson: “Huh?”

The Emperor’s tone was cold: “Faster!”

The Emperor added ominously, “If anything happens to Xu Yanmiao, you’ll spend the rest of your life in labor camps.”

Execution? That’d be too easy on this troublesome grandson.

The Crown Grandson: “What?! Why is this happening?!”

The Crown Grandson ran at the front, followed by a massive entourage of officials and servants. He gritted his teeth.

“How could it come to this?!”

He had targeted Xu Yanmiao because his men discovered a note stuck in his uncle’s door lock. The note revealed that A’zheng was his uncle’s granddaughter.

Because of that note, his uncle attempted to storm the execution ground. If his uncle hadn’t done that, he wouldn’t have been demoted to a provincial position, and his faction wouldn’t have crumbled.

It was all Xu Yanmiao’s fault!

“Y-You! Stop it!”

Xu Yanmiao clutched his waistband tightly, his face flushed as he whispered nervously, terrified of attracting attention that might harm the palace maid before him. “I won’t tell anyone! Just leave quickly! Otherwise, you’ll be in trouble!”

The palace maid tugged at his hand.

Xu Yanmiao pressed harder on his waistband.

“Whoever sent you, you’d better go now! If we’re discovered, I don’t care what happens to me, but you… it won’t end well for you.” His voice was hushed, barely audible to the maid.

But in his mind:

【Ahhhhhhh!】

【Help! Somebody, help!】

【This is terrifying! Who’s trying to hurt me?! Is this what politics is? Is this what court intrigue feels like?!】

BANG!

The Emperor kicked open the door. “Drop the kni—”

He froze.

It was nothing like what he’d imagined—someone holding a knife, ready to chop off Xu Yanmiao’s fingers. Instead, before him was a plump palace maid holding a torn waistband, while Xu Yanmiao rolled to the ground, clutching his loose clothes tightly and on the verge of tears.

It was the very picture of a virtuous man about to be wronged.