EMHTC -Chapter 87 The Honest and Reliable Emperor!

The old emperor also laughed—not a cold laugh, nor a mocking one, but a hearty, genuine laugh.

“Prince of Jibei…” the emperor roared with laughter, “It’s been so long since I’ve laughed this hard!”

The Jinyiwei loosened their grip on the Prince of Jibei’s mouth. After a moment of silence, the Prince erupted in rage. “Gao Jianyi! What are you laughing at!”

The old emperor: “Hahaha! You—someone with your intellect and military capabilities—actually thought you could rebel? Hahahaha!”

Truly, at this point, he wasn’t even angry about the rebellion anymore.

“When I first heard of this, I spent three whole days and nights wondering how you even summoned the courage to rebel. Hahahaha!”

“Gao Jianyi! A gentleman may die but must not be humiliated! Laugh again if you dare!”

“Hahahahahaha!”

The old emperor couldn’t hold it in and didn’t even try. He had no intention of sparing the Prince of Jibei’s pride.

The Prince of Jibei believed he was glaring coldly at the emperor. His tone turned icy. “Gao Jianyi, do you know what these past thirty years…”

“Pfft!”

“Gao Jianyi!”

“Hmm? Go on. I just couldn’t help but laugh at someone who spent thirty years plotting rebellion only to be defeated in less than a day.”

The Prince of Jibei: “…” He gritted his teeth, his expression twisting into something ferocious.

“Gao Jianyi, you tyrant, despot! Do you know how many officials defected to me over these thirty years?”

At this, a smug look crept onto his face.

The emperor spoke casually, “Are you referring to the Court of Judicial Review assessor who turned a blind eye to your excessive taxation and exploitation in your fief? Or the Sichuan Surveillance Commissioner you exchanged concubines with? Or perhaps…”

The Prince of Jibei was incredulous, “How do you know?!”

—These were officials who had previously avoided impeachment by Xu Yanmiao and Huang Yong.

The emperor pulled out a notebook, thick and slightly yellowed with age. He tapped it leisurely on the armrest and said with a faint smile, “It’s all recorded in the ledgers. Easy to look up.”

The Prince of Jibei widened his eyes. “Where did you get the ledger?”

“Oh, from your son’s residence.”

The Prince of Jibei’s expression became indescribable. He wanted to say something but hesitated, unwilling to speak openly in such a setting, biting down hard on his molars.

The emperor glanced at him and “kindly” filled in the blanks, “Foolish, isn’t it? I think so too. Any sensible person, sensing impending danger, would hide or destroy the real ledger in advance. But your son? Not him. He couldn’t bear to part with such leverage and tried to have the ledger sent back to Jibei. Naturally, my people intercepted it.”

The Prince of Jibei didn’t respond, but the rage burning within him was palpable. If his heir were in front of him right now, he’d probably slap him across the face.

The emperor observed his expression, his interest growing. “Do you know what your son has been doing in the capital with the gold you gave him?”

The Prince of Jibei grew suspicious but refused to let the emperor mock him. “I don’t want to know!”

The emperor chuckled, “Your son spent part of the gold meant to bribe court officials on promoting his favorite courtesan to the position of top courtesan. He threw money around like a prince of charity. What’s wrong? Isn’t he just a young man enjoying romance? You should be proud of him. Why aren’t you smiling?”

The Prince of Jibei: “…”

The officials quietly glanced at the Prince of Jibei, concerned that his labored, heavy breathing might lead him to collapse.

The emperor appeared to show some sympathy. “I understand. Who doesn’t have a troublesome son?”

The crown prince nodded in agreement.

True, even the princes in this palace are quite the handful.

The emperor continued, “But unlike you, I have a different situation. My crown prince, while not perfect…”

The crown prince: “?”

“When has this prince ever been a problem?”

The crown prince’s subordinates wanted to interject but held back due to the hierarchical decorum.

Meanwhile, the emperor, unfazed, turned his gaze back to the Prince of Jibei with a thoughtful look. “Well, I probably don’t need to elaborate. After all, for the past thirty years, you’ve been fixated on the crown prince. You’re probably more aware of his brilliance than I am as his father.”

“I… I…”

The Prince of Jibei raised his hand, gasping as he pointed at the emperor. His face turned ashen, then suddenly flushed bright red before he coughed up a thick pool of blood onto the floor.

“Someone, escort the Prince of Jibei to the prison, and call for a physician,” the emperor said calmly as he settled back into his throne.

“Since the entire clan is to be executed, there’s no need to deny him this courtesy. Oh, and as for the heir—spare his life.”

The Prince of Jibei, utterly defeated, looked up suddenly at the emperor, gratitude flashing in his eyes. However, the gratitude lasted no more than two or three breaths before it morphed into a far more complicated expression.

It was hard to tell if it was surprise or ridicule.

“Gao Jianyi…”

To think I lost to someone like you, so soft-hearted and foolish. What a joke! Cutting the weeds without digging up the roots—after this ordeal, my child will surely change his ways, rise again, and seize your throne!

The emperor: “?”

Why was this man suddenly standing so confidently again?

He didn’t understand.

He turned and instructed the Commander of the Jinyiwei: “Send the Prince of Jibei’s son to the Nanfeng Pavilion. After delivering him, let that courtesan know that I, the emperor, always keep my word.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

At the Prince of Jin’s residence, the prince was playing the qin with his head lowered.

Halfway through the tune, he overheard his wife and her maid chatting outside.

“Hm? The Prince of Jibei attempted rebellion and was captured?”

His thumb twitched instinctively, causing the string to let out a dull, discordant hum as the note scattered into the air.

Hearing the noise, the princess carefully supported her pregnant belly and walked inside. “My lord?”

The Prince of Jin turned his head toward her. “Did I just hear you say that the Prince of Jibei attempted rebellion and was captured?”

The princess nodded.

The prince studied her expression. “What else? Tell me everything at once.”

The princess hesitated before continuing, “His Majesty has sent the Prince of Jibei’s heir to the Nanfeng Pavilion. Many are criticizing this decision, claiming it’s an insult to scholars and asking His Majesty to revoke the order.”

“The Nanfeng Pavilion?!”

The Prince of Jin instinctively glanced at his wife’s five-month-pregnant belly before quickly looking away, muttering, “Thank goodness…”

His voice was soft, and the princess didn’t catch it clearly. “What?”

Feigning relief, the prince said, “It’s fortunate that our household has little connection with the Prince of Jibei’s. We won’t be implicated—especially not you or the child.”

The princess chuckled. “Indeed. Thanks to my lord’s prudence and caution in avoiding factions, we’ve escaped this disaster.”

The prince’s gaze flickered momentarily. He didn’t respond, choosing instead to change the subject. “Anything else of interest happening outside?”

The princess thought for a moment. “It might not be ‘interesting,’ but Marquis Yongchang has returned victorious.”

Victorious indeed. He had even hauled back carts full of gold and silver ore.

Xu Yanmiao heard that the Minister of Revenue, who had gone to greet the marquis, turned green with envy at the sight. Smiling brightly at Marquis Yongchang, the minister personally held the reins of his horse and brushed off his clothes, fawning, “It must have been arduous, my lord.”

Lian Hang from the Ministry of War, who had also been part of the welcoming delegation, later vividly recounted, “Xu Lang, you should’ve seen it. Marquis Yongchang was practically trembling with arrogance. Even when the Minister of Revenue held his horse, he didn’t dismount!”

Xu Yanmiao asked honestly, “Is this what they call an overweening general?”

Lian Hang chuckled, “Exactly. That’s an overweening general.”

That evening, at the banquet celebrating the victory, Xu Yanmiao witnessed firsthand just how conceited Marquis Yongchang had become.

The marquis arrived already drunk, boldly riding his horse straight into the hall.

The entire court was in an uproar.

Several officials immediately stepped forward to impeach him, accusing him of arrogance and disrespecting the emperor.

However, the emperor smiled and said, “The Marquis Yongchang’s actions while drunk shouldn’t be taken seriously.” He then instructed the attendants to help the marquis to his seat.

But once seated, the marquis looked around, left and right, before suddenly standing up and walking toward Prime Minister Dou’s seat.

The Prime Minister was about to greet him when a fist the size of a bowl slammed into his eye.

“Ah!” Prime Minister Dou clutched his eye in pain.

On the dais, Empress Dou’s smile froze. Even the emperor was taken aback.

After landing the punch, Marquis Yongchang declared righteously, “How dare you sit ahead of me when you’re so useless?!”

The old emperor rubbed his forehead. “Someone, sober him up!”

The Jinyiwei prepared to escort Marquis Yongchang out to sober him up. However, the marquis struggled, clearly unwilling, and the commotion threatened to escalate. Left with no choice, one of the guards picked up a nearby teapot and poured its contents onto Marquis Yongchang’s forehead. Luckily, the tea was only warm and didn’t scald him.

“!!!”

Marquis Yongchang jolted awake, his eyes instantly regaining clarity.

“Are you sober now?” The emperor’s calm voice reached him.

Marquis Yongchang immediately dropped to his knees. “Your Majesty! I know my wrongdoing!”

The emperor chuckled softly. “This is a celebration banquet; let’s aim for auspiciousness. You are pardoned.”

Marquis Yongchang quickly kowtowed, overwhelmed with gratitude. “Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace!”

The emperor continued, “I hear that your eighty adopted sons are all exceptional warriors. Since this is a celebration, let them come into the hall as well.”

Marquis Yongchang was overjoyed. “Thank you, Your Majesty!!!”

In these times, adopted sons were treated almost the same as biological ones. The emperor’s words suggested potential promotions for them, leaving Marquis Yongchang elated.

The emperor gave him a deep, thoughtful glance but said no more.

One by one, the eighty adopted sons entered the hall. All were tall and robust, and their presence instantly made the space feel crowded.

The emperor smiled and invited each of them forward, asking their names and observing their appearances. His demeanor was approachable and warm throughout the process.

Marquis Yongchang couldn’t stop grinning as he watched.

Meanwhile, Xu Yanmiao hastily set down his chopsticks and clumsily pulled out a bamboo scroll, scribbling down the names and descriptions of the adopted sons.

Lian Hang, curious, leaned in and asked, “What are you writing?”

Xu Yanmiao glanced at him and whispered, “I can’t tell you.”

【How am I supposed to explain to you that the emperor memorizing their names actually means he has no intention of using them?】

Lian Hang: “…”

Oh no.

This was bad.

He quickly lowered his head, pretending to focus on eating cake, hoping the emperor wouldn’t notice his involvement.

On the other side, Marquis Yongchang’s smile faltered slightly, his gaze turning toward the emperor in confusion.

The emperor, true to his imperial composure, remained calm even after being exposed. He continued his warm inquiries with the eighty adopted sons as if nothing had happened.

Xu Yanmiao, while performing his duties as an attendant, silently grumbled to himself.

【The old fox is still the craftiest.】

【That folding screen in the emperor’s chamber probably just gained eighty more names.】

The ministers nearby perked up their ears.

A folding screen? What folding screen?

The emperor gave them a faint smile but didn’t stop Xu Yanmiao from revealing more.

—In fact, he had long anticipated this issue with the adopted sons and had almost tacitly allowed it.

【Even Prime Minister Dou fell into this trap before. It’s no surprise Marquis Yongchang is following suit.】

Prime Minister Dou, who was still rubbing his eye, felt his heart skip a beat when he overheard this and looked uneasily at his brother-in-law, the emperor.

【When the dynasty was first established, the emperor gathered his old comrades and earnestly praised them as pillars of the nation, saying that the kingdom’s foundation was built on their efforts. He insisted they all submit the names of their children, relatives, and close associates, promising to reward them generously.】

【Delighted, the ministers rushed home, combed through their genealogies, and painstakingly compiled lists. They included not only sons and grandsons but also distant relatives and even friends.】

【What did the emperor do next? He had those names embroidered onto a folding screen.】

【Afterward, every time the Ministry of Appointments submitted a list of promotions or appointments, the emperor would cross-check it against the names on the screen. Any matching names were rejected with an excuse.】

【What a sly old dog.】