On this day's morning court session, Imperial Censor Xu indeed submitted a memorial to the emperor, impeaching Minister of Revenue Ye Wenhua for failing to properly educate his daughter. As befitting the scion of the foremost scholarly family in Great Chu, Censor Xu's impeachment memorial was eloquently written, citing classics and historical precedents to detail how the fourth daughter of the Ye family had openly appeared together with Prince Li while the marriage contract between the third daughter and the prince had yet to be dissolved, and how she lacked the demeanor befitting a noble lady. Naturally, all of this was attributed to Minister Ye's failure in educating his daughters. What? You say the third daughter is also Lord Ye's child? The third daughter is the granddaughter of Mr. Qingyun—who would dare question the bloodline and upbringing of the Xu family?
The Xu family, as Ye Wenhua's in-laws, unhesitatingly directing their fire at the Ye family was utterly unexpected, immediately leaving the recently triumphant Lord Ye dazed and disoriented. Despite now being a second-rank Minister of Revenue, Ye Wenhua still held deep reverence for his former father-in-law. His face, still somewhat handsome, flushed red, yet he couldn't utter a single word in his own defense. Though a few members of the Wang family intended to intervene, their ranks were too insignificant to carry weight. Moreover, the entire Censorate was composed of upright scholars, each unyielding and proud—most importantly, the majority were graduates of Mount Li Academy, their eloquence not merely for show. Prince Li Mo Jingli, though not the primary target of the impeachment but clearly implicated, stood with a darkened expression, exuding an icy aura as if it cost nothing. Unfortunately, while Censor Xu's official robes might have been thin, in this nearly April weather… it really wasn't cold.
Seated high upon the dragon throne, the Great Chu Emperor Mo Jingqi observed his ministers' varied expressions with thoughtful detachment. As a ruler, he did not mind occasional conflicts among his officials—if they were all united, that would be cause for concern. However, he hadn't anticipated the Xu family would so decisively attack Ye Wenhua over a minor figure like Ye Li. Though the Xu family's influence in court had waned significantly, in the eyes of scholars across the realm, they remained objects of reverence and admiration. It seemed… Lord Ye's days of smooth sailing were over. Perhaps this was for the best—excessive glory could lead to dangerous ambitions. Some people needed a reminder.
"Lord Ye, is Censor Xu's accusation true?" Mo Jingqi asked Ye Wenhua with a genial smile. Yet the emperor's warm expression inexplicably sent a chill down Ye Wenhua's spine.
"Your Majesty… this humble official is wronged!"
"So, Lord Ye is implying that Lord Xu has falsely accused a colleague? Yet according to this official's knowledge, as early as last year's Double Ninth Festival, witnesses saw your daughter and Prince Li appearing together. At that time… the marriage contract between Prince Li and the third daughter had not yet been dissolved, correct?" Another censor stepped forward, casting a sidelong glance at Ye Wenhua. Though censors held no real power, they were men of genuine learning, most disdaining to collude with others—and thus unafraid of offending anyone. After all, censors were immune to punishment as long as they did not slander; even the emperor could not hold them accountable. What could others possibly do?Indeed, this humble official also seems to recall my wife mentioning this matter. I heard that during this year's Lantern Festival, the Fourth Miss Ye was seen... strolling hand in hand with someone. Lord Ye's longtime rival, the father of Imperial Concubine Liu who served as Minister of Personnel, naturally wouldn't miss this opportunity to kick a man when he's down. While their daughters fought tooth and nail in the imperial harem, the Liu and Ye families had been locked in constant political struggles at court. Unfortunately, the Ye family's foundations were shallow—even now that they'd climbed onto Prince Li's powerful branch, they still couldn't shake the established Liu family in the slightest. Moreover, with Ye Wenhua currently facing impeachment from his own maternal relatives, Minister Liu would consider it a wasted opportunity if he didn't take advantage to stomp on him. Though Prince Li was the emperor's younger brother with the Empress Dowager's backing, the Liu family wasn't to be trifled with either—his two grandsons and one granddaughter were the emperor's own princes and princesses.
"Jing Li, what do you have to say?" Mo Jingqi swept his gaze across the assembled officials before settling with an amused smile on Mo Jingli's gloomy face.
After a long silence in the hall, Mo Jingli finally spoke coldly: "This younger brother has nothing to say."
Some conservative old ministers snorted inwardly, their opinion of this prince sinking even lower. Indeed, there was nothing to say—such matters were typically ignored unless formally accused, but once exposed, any punishment would be justified. Who told Mo Jingli and Ye Ying to be so brazenly arrogant, thinking no one would dare speak out as they openly appeared together? Not just court officials, even commoners knew about it. Now that the Xu family had exposed it, any excuses would only deepen the humiliation.
Prince Li's faction couldn't stand by watching their master swallow this bitter pill silently. A minister quickly stepped forward: "Your Majesty, the Third Miss Ye lacked talent, virtue, and beauty—she was never worthy of Li Wang Dianxia. Moreover, His Highness is now betrothed to the Fourth Miss Ye through Her Majesty's own Imperial marriage decree."
Censor Xu sneered: "If Prince Li questioned the Third Miss Ye's qualities, he could have openly sought a marriage annulment to find a better match. Why resort to such underhanded methods? From what this official knows, when the Third Miss Ye received the annulment, she neither reacted violently nor stubbornly refused—her virtue speaks for itself. Furthermore... Prince Li's original engagement to the Third Miss Ye was bestowed by... the late emperor! Which carries more weight—the Empress Dowager's decree or the late emperor's? To put it more gravely, when the Empress Dowager issues a decree completely contradicting the late emperor's, one might even question Her Majesty's virtue."
...The loyal minister retreated pale-faced in defeat. Other spectators watched the drama while silently pitying those foolish enough to challenge Censor Xu in debate. Anyone with sense knew how the Xu family's second son had famously debated six Nanzhao scholars at sixteen—his recent low profile didn't mean he'd lost his sharp tongue.
"Enough. Does Lord Ye have anything to say in his defense?" Mo Jingqi cut off others who might foolishly attempt to speak.Ye Wenhua had not spent all these years in the officialdom in vain, rising from an ordinary scholar to a high-ranking official of the second rank. Knowing full well that Imperial Censor Xu had come prepared and that he truly had no defense, he simply admitted his guilt outright. "This humble official has long neglected household affairs and failed to discipline his daughter properly. I beg Your Majesty to punish me." After all, men were not supposed to interfere in domestic matters, so neglecting household affairs was entirely understandable.
The emperor clearly had no intention of using such trivial matters to punish one of his most capable ministers and his most beloved younger brother in one fell swoop. In fact, he was quite pleased with Ye Wenhua's pragmatism—had he continued to argue, the punishment might have been harsher.
"Very well," the emperor declared. "Lord Ye, you are fined one year's salary. And Prince Li, you are fined six months' salary." He then added, "As for the Third Miss Ye, who is virtuous and refined, I bestow upon her a hundred taels of gold and two jade Ruyi scepters as a dowry gift for Mr. Qingyun's granddaughter."
"Many thanks for Your Majesty's grace," said Lord Ye, his face ashen.
"Many thanks, Your Majesty," said Imperial Censor Xu, his expression indifferent.
"Many thanks, Imperial Brother," said Li Wang Dianxia, his demeanor even gloomier.
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