The Censor Wanted to Accuse Me of Forming a Faction? I Dragged the Whole Court Down with Me
The emperor stopped what he was doing.
The incense smoke rose upwards in the hall, bypassed the dragon table, and dissipated under the beams.
The emperor turned to the imperial physicians.
Is he right?
The imperial physicians looked at each other.
Someone was staring at the floor tiles.
Someone was staring at the cuff.
Some people's Adam's apples bobbed twice, but they didn't dare to make a sound.
Elder Shen took half a step forward and bowed.
"Your Majesty, Chu Tianxing's words may be blunt, but his medical principles are commendable."
The emperor looked at him.
Elder Shen bent his back even lower.
"The dangers of elixirs lie in stopping them as soon as possible."
"Your Majesty's health is still sound. As long as the Imperial Medical Bureau devises a formula to clear toxins and calm the mind, and coordinates it with your diet and daily routine, and conducts regular pulse checks, your condition will surely recover and stabilize."
The emperor did not respond.
The medicine cup beside the emperor's desk was still there.
The half-cup of medicine sat there, dark and gloomy, its bitter taste emanating from it.
Elder Shen paused for a moment, then added a sentence.
Long live Your Majesty!
After those four words were spoken, someone in the hall finally dared to take a breath.
Gu Moran scanned the emperor with her Eye of Monitoring.
A panel pops up.
[Current status: Headache persists, fear of erysipelas, anger is being suppressed.]
[Fear: Descending.]
[Suspicion of the host: 51.]
[Attitude towards Chu Tianxing: Usable, but needs to be controlled.]
Gu Moran looked at the line of doubt values and felt a bitter taste in her mouth.
Others offered him elixirs, but the emperor kept a close eye on him.
Even though others handled the poison, the emperor still kept an eye on him.
He stood by the palace without saying a word, and was unable to escape from the dragon-headed desk.
The Second Prince Gu Mochen, quickly bowed and kowtowed, pressing his forehead against the gold brick.
"Father, please understand. Your son offers this elixir only so that Your Majesty may rest peacefully and recuperate. The Eastern Hermit of the City deceived me, Tao Wujiu has also disappeared. I am also a victim."
The emperor looked at Gu Mochen.
"Your people can't even figure out how many times the pills have been handled?"
Gu Mochen's forehead was still pressed against the ground.
"Your subject failed to observe properly."
The emperor repeated those two words to himself.
"What a blatant oversight."
The fabric of Gu Mochen's clothes clung to his back, and sweat trickled down his temples.
I didn't dare to raise my hand to wipe it.
The hall was filled with the strong smell of medicine, mixed with the lingering scent of incense; smelling it for too long made one's throat feel dry.
The emperor raised his hand.
" The Imperial City Bureau will continue its investigation into the sources of the Danpu, Tao Wujiu, and Jiula in the eastern part of the city. The Imperial Medical Bureau will temporarily detain Chu Tianxing. Before the case is cleared, no prince is allowed to contact Chu Tianxing privately."
Gu Moran's shoulders and back were slightly loose.
The second prince is now firmly entangled in the matter of offering the elixir, and it will be difficult for him to extricate himself from the situation in the short term.
Finally, I can catch my breath.
At that very moment.
On the left side of the train, someone stepped out of the line carrying a folded paper.
Gu Moran met his gaze, then pressed her fingertip against the testimony hidden in her sleeve.
He was a Chancellery of the Imperial Censor.
It seems the Crown Prince, even after three months of seclusion, is still quite busy.
Lu Huaizhang knelt down.
"Your subject has a memorial to present."
The emperor rubbed his temples.
"Speak."
Lu Huaizhang folded his hands.
Chen Dehai took it and unfolded it.
The paper rustled softly inside the hall.
Lu Huaizhang began, "I have heard that the Prince Yi's Residence's household is harmonious, with his six wives working together in mutual support; it is truly a beautiful story."
Gu Moran lowered his eyes.
The more pleasing the praise at the beginning, the sharper the knife will be later.
Lu Huaizhang continued, "However, recently, the Lady of Prince Yi's Residence has been frequently returning home, either to deliver letters to her maternal relatives or to summon old acquaintances. I dare not presume to say that Prince Yi harbors disloyal intentions, but I urge Your Majesty to investigate carefully."
Gu Moran frowned secretly.
Here they come; these dogs from the Censorate can just spout off accusations without batting an eye.
This is about the elixir case, not the morning court session, and coincidentally, neither Chancellor Su nor Grand Commandant Lin, these powerful relatives of the empress, are in the hall.
That bastard really knows how to seize any opportunity.
His mind flashed through the image of the main hall of the Prince's Mansion on a rainy night.
The ladies protected him.
In the mouth of the censor, it became a convergence of six schools of thought.
Lu Huaizhang looked up.
"If women in the inner quarters frequently communicate with those in the outer quarters, and if the power of six families is all concentrated in one prince's residence, it may not be a trivial matter for the nation."
The Second Prince Gu Mochen, knelt beside him, his shoulders motionless, but the corners of his lips pressed down slightly.
Gu Moran saw it.
The fire of the elixir hadn't even died down when another one was already burning at the gates of Prince Yi's Residence.
Gu Moran coughed.
The Emperor, look this way.
"Third brother, do you want to say something?"
Gu Moran his robe and knelt down, his knees hitting the bricks.
"Father, I have something to say, but I don't know whether to admit my mistake first or cry out for justice."
The emperor narrowed his eyes.
"You admit you're wrong? What did you do wrong?"
Gu Moran nodded.
"Your Majesty's mistake was marrying too many women; it's exhausting."
Several officials in the hall couldn't help but look up.
Gu Mochen also paused for half a breath.
Lu Huaizhang frowned.
" Your Prince Yi, I am reporting on the external affairs of the six families, not private matters within the inner quarters."
Gu Moran turned to look at him.
"Did Censor Lu's family have no such dealings?"
Lu Huaizhang paused.
What does Your Highness mean?
Gu Moran spoke earnestly.
"When a wife returns to her parents' home, she delivers letters, collects accounts, and asks questions—aren't these all part of the daily routine after marriage?"
"If the wife of Censor Lu were to return to her parents' home and inquire about the price of rice, would you also submit a memorial accusing her of abusing her family's control over grain?"
Lu Huaizhang kept a straight face.
" The Prince Yi's Residence is different. All six of his wives come from important families."
Gu Moran raised his hand and counted for him.
"That's why we need to go back even more."
The Su Clan fears I'll implicate the Chancellor's Residence; the Shen Family fears I'll drag the Imperial Medical Bureau into it; the Murong Clan fears the Northern Territory merchants' goods will be seized by the capital; the Lin Clan fears the Grand Commandant's Residence will be accused of protecting the prince; Xie Clan fears the literati will be drawn into factional strife.
He withdrew his hand.
"As for Lady Liu, she doesn't even have a family of her own; she only has those few sisters in the building."
Lu Huaizhang cupped his hands in greeting.
"Your Highness is eloquent, but what worries me is not that each family is protecting itself, but that the six families are using the inner quarters to pool their strength."
Upon hearing this, the number of breaths in the hall decreased slightly.
Gu Moran didn't rush to answer.
If he only defends the six wives, Lu Huaizhang will lead him astray and drag him into petty squabbles.
No, you have to follow my pace.
The emperor looked at him.
"Why did you stop talking?"
Gu Moran lowered his head.
"I think Censor Lu is being unfairly accused."
The emperor asked, "How is it an injustice?"
Gu Moran lowered her forehead.
"If they really unite, their first thought will definitely be how to torment me. I'm not capable of satisfying everyone in the inner quarters."
Someone inside the hall lowered their head, trying to suppress a laugh.
Lu Huaizhang's fingers pressed against the tablet, his knuckles taut.
Gu Moran knelt down firmly again.
"Father, I am not afraid of being investigated. What I fear is that they are clearly upholding the rules for me, but in the end, they become the ones who commit the crime."
Lu Huaizhang answered quickly.
"My question concerns the convergence of the resources of the six families within the Prince's residence, not whether every matter has a designated purpose."
Gu Moran looked at him.
"Then let's establish a framework."
Lu Huaizhang frowned.
The emperor's fingers, which had been resting on the table, also stopped.
Gu Moran continued, "From this day forward, I wish to register all correspondence between the six ladies of the Prince's residence and their families outside the palace. Records of visits to their maternal homes, receipt of gifts, delivery of letters, and reception of guests shall be kept every three days and submitted to the Imperial Clan Court."
Lu Huaizhang was about to speak.
Gu Moran looked at the emperor first.
"But I beg Your Majesty not to investigate only the Prince Yi's Residence."
The emperor asked, "Who else do you want to investigate?"
"Investigate everything if you're going to investigate."
Gu Moran's knees pressed against the floor tiles, and the cold air crept up his bones.
We must push this forward and make all the officials in the court feel the pain.
He spoke loudly.
" The Crown Prince's Residence, the Second Prince's Residence, and officials of the Fifth Rank in the court shall all be treated the same. Those whose wives have officials in their families shall be remembered in even greater detail."