Whаt is hе hеrе fоr?
Yin Gezhi set down his сhоpsticks аnd said quietlу, "Рlеаsе hаve him wait in thе side hall."
Then, turning to Guan Zhi, hе murmurеd, "Kеeр а сlоse еуе оn hеr."
"Yes."
Fеng Yue rolled hеr еyеs and continuеd eating hеr breakfаst, shоwing littlе intеrеst in Shi Ноngwei sincе it hаd nothing tо dо with hеr.
Indeеd, it had nоthing tо do with her—hе wаs herе for Yin Gezhi.
"Your Нighness." Shi Hongwеi bоwеd to Yin Gеzhi with a smile. "This оld ministеr hаs beеn оrdеrеd bу Нis Mаjеsty tо selеct sevеral dоzеn еligible уоung wоmеn for Your Highnеss to review."
Upon hеaring this, Yin Gezhi didn’t evеn want to sit dоwn. Hе glаncеd sideways and said, "If the Prime Minister has come for this matter, there is no need to say more."
His expression was grim. If it were any other official, they would likely have knelt in apology by now, but Prime Minister Shi’s expression remained unchanged as he replied calmly, "Before coming, this old minister knew he could not persuade Your Highness, so I did not even bring any portraits."
Yin Gezhi looked at him and only then relaxed his expression, sitting down to ask, "Does the Prime Minister have other business?"
With a slight bow, Shi Hongwei smiled. "Has Your Highness heard the rumors circulating in the capital? They say that Guan Canghai’s vengeful spirit has returned, seeking to eliminate all those who once harmed him."
Unperturbed, Yin Gezhi picked up his teacup and shook his head. "Such absurd talk has not reached my ears. If there truly were a vengeful spirit, why would it only return to seek vengeance so long after?"
"Therefore, this old minister believes that the recent major incidents in the capital are not the work of a vengeful spirit seeking life, but rather someone deliberately seeking revenge." Shi Hongwei raised his eyes, his aged face serious. "Ever since Your Highness attempted to overturn the Guan family case at Fulugong, those implicated in the case have encountered misfortune one after another. First, Helan Changde, whom you accused, wrote the 'Proclamation of Guilt' and disappeared. Then, Zhao Xu, the first to petition for the Guan family’s severe punishment, was convicted and died. Now, Shi Youxin, the chief judge of the Guan family case, has also gone missing. Does Your Highness not find this all too coincidental?"
Truly a minister of integrity, to come questioning him so early in the morning? Yin Gezhi calmly sipped his tea, gently set the cup down, and said unhurriedly, "It is indeed quite coincidental. The Prime Minister is wise. While the court is in turmoil and rumors abound among the people, no one else has noticed this pattern—except for you, sir."
His pupils contracted slightly as Shi Hongwei frowned at him. "Is Your Highness admitting it?"
"Admitting?" Yin Gezhi looked up at him, feigning confusion. "What am I admitting?"
With sharp eyes and an air of righteousness, Shi Hongwei asked, "Could it be that all these incidents have nothing to do with Your Highness?"
"Do you have evidence to prove my involvement in these matters?" Yin Gezhi met his gaze calmly. "Making baseless accusations is not a good habit. As a senior minister of two dynasties and the head of the Three Excellencies, your words should not rely solely on speculation."
Shi Hongwei looked at him deeply before lowering his gaze. "This old minister was indeed rash, not having prepared evidence in advance. However, Your Highness, if there were indeed evidence, I might not have come to your residence but would have confronted you directly in court."
A hint of mockery flashed in Yin Gezhi’s eyes as he nodded. "Then I shall await the day you summon me to court for questioning, sir."The conversation reached an impasse. Shi Hongwei’s expression darkened as he lowered his head and cupped his hands toward Yin Gezhi. Turning away, he murmured softly, “You are no longer the First Prince of old, Your Highness.”
Yin Gezhi raised an eyebrow, propping his chin on his hand as he replied indifferently, “Then you may also reveal your true colors, Prime Minister.”
His body stiffening, Shi Hongwei flicked his sleeve and left the prince’s residence, taking a carriage straight into the palace.
Emperor Wen of Wei was sitting by the dragon bed, drinking medicine. The Empress dutifully attended to him, whispering, “Your Majesty should worry less these days. The imperial physicians have advised you to rest and recuperate properly. If there are matters to attend to, entrust them to the Crown Prince.”
“Him?” Coughing twice, Emperor Wen replied with slight disdain, “He is not yet ready to take hold of the imperial seal.”
Hearing this, the Empress felt somewhat displeased. Back then, Yin Chenbi had handled state affairs for seven days while holding the imperial seal, even though he wasn’t the Crown Prince at the time. Why couldn’t Chenjue, the rightful Crown Prince, take it now? What was the point of establishing him as Crown Prince then?
Despite her dissatisfaction, she was, after all, someone who had climbed to the position of Empress through her own abilities. The Empress maintained a smile on her face, wiping the corner of the Emperor’s mouth with a handkerchief as she spoke gently, “If the Crown Prince doesn’t know how, Your Majesty can teach him. The seal will eventually have to be passed to him. Does Your Majesty wish to see the Wei Kingdom’s legacy left without a successor?”
As mentioned before, Emperor Wen of Wei was an extremely power-hungry man. Anyone who coveted the authority in his hands displeased him, even those by his side and his own sons.
Thus, upon hearing this, he sneered coldly, pushing the Empress’s hand away and remarking sarcastically, “Besides him, I have other princes. A Crown Prince can be established, and he can also be deposed.”
These words were meant to warn the Empress, urging her to behave and not think of seizing power, as the authority to establish or depose the Crown Prince lay solely in his hands. However, to the Empress’s ears, they carried a different meaning.
The Empress’s face paled as she nervously withdrew her hand, her heart sinking heavily.
Yin Chenbi’s return to the kingdom and his enfeoffment as a prince already posed a significant threat to Chenjue. Now, with the Emperor uttering words about deposing the Crown Prince, it felt as though they were being pushed to the brink of despair! As long as Yin Chenbi remained, Chenjue’s position as Crown Prince would never be secure! She had to think of a way to deal with this.
Just as she was pondering, a eunuch entered from outside to announce, “Your Majesty, the Prime Minister requests an audience.”
“Summon him.”
Shi Hongwei entered with a grim expression, bowing in greeting. Even as he raised his head, his gaze remained lowered. “This old minister has a matter to report.”
Glancing at his expression, Emperor Wen smiled and asked, “What matter has left the Prime Minister so displeased?”
“It is not displeasure, but this old minister believes the situation is grave. If I do not report it to Your Majesty now, I fear it may be too late.” Kneeling directly, Shi Hongwei said in a trembling voice, “Your Majesty explicitly forbade Prince Xiao from further investigating the Guan family’s old case. The prince indeed ceased his inquiries, but… he has harmed innocent bystanders, targeting everyone involved in the case back then and taking ruthless action against them!”
Emperor Wen was startled and quickly rose to his feet, walking over to him. “What did you say?”
Drawing a memorial from his sleeve, Shi Hongwei presented it with both hands before the Emperor. “Please review this, Your Majesty!”This memorial had been written before he went to the Prince of Filial Piety's Mansion. It connected recent events with the old Guan family case, pointing out that the only person capable of stirring up such turmoil in Lidu and manipulating officials in this manner could be Prince Xiao, Yin Chenbi. It also noted at the end that Prince Xiao would not let the matter rest and would surely force the emperor to personally issue an edict to overturn the case. Spanning several thousand words with various rhetorical flourishes and written in a dignified, elegant script, it immediately enraged Emperor Wen of Wei upon reading it.
"Is he rebelling? Is he trying to rebel?" Emperor Wen of Wei stomped his feet in anger and roared.
The empress was startled and glanced at Shi Hongwei, who slightly tilted his head and gave her a reassuring look.
This was Prime Minister Shi, praised by civil and military officials alike for his integrity. Even Feng Ming and Yin Gezhi had been deceived, believing him to be uninvolved and unwilling to wrong others, unaware that he was merely adept at self-preservation. Only when the interests of his own nephew were threatened would he step forward and bite back.
The current empress was Shi Hongwei's younger sister. His nephew was Yin Chenjue.
The emperor had not considered this, as Shi Hongwei was widely praised for his character. Even with Shi Youxin serving in the court, he had never shown the slightest favoritism. In the emperor's eyes, he was a fair and upright man who upheld justice. Thus, after reading this memorial, Emperor Wen of Wei did not suspect Shi Hongwei of targeting Prince Xiao at all. Instead, he believed Yin Chenbi was truly arrogant and overstepping his bounds due to imperial favor!
"Your Majesty," the empress said softly, "please do not be too angry. Take care of your health."
"With such an unfilial son, how can I not be angry?" The emperor tossed the memorial to her and sat nearby, panting heavily.
The empress quickly read through the memorial, her eyes shifting slightly as she sighed. "Perhaps the prince has some unspeakable difficulties and does not truly intend to defy Your Majesty? Your Majesty might test him first to avoid creating a rift between father and son."
Hearing this, Emperor Wen of Wei thought it made sense and looked toward Shi Hongwei.
Shi Hongwei gave the empress a reproachful glance, likely feeling that the inner court should not interfere in politics. Then, with an air of righteousness, he bowed to Emperor Wen of Wei and said, "If you truly wish to test him, it is simple. Your Majesty need only send a woman to the prince as a consort. Such a minor matter, in principle, the prince should not refuse. If he accepts, then perhaps his defiance is only regarding the Guan family case and not directed at Your Majesty. If he refuses... then Your Majesty must truly be cautious."
Finding this reasonable, Emperor Wen of Wei immediately pointed to the daughter of a third-rank official and ordered the chief eunuch to send her to the Prince of Filial Piety's Mansion.
Yin Gezhi knew nothing of this. He was sitting in the courtyard, staring at Feng Yue, when suddenly the chief eunuch arrived with a woman and announced, "Your Highness, this is the consort bestowed upon you by His Majesty. Please make proper arrangements for her."
His tone was as casual as saying, "This is a dish bestowed upon you by His Majesty. Please eat it."
Yin Gezhi frowned and slightly raised his hand. Guan Zhi, standing beside him, immediately pushed the chief eunuch and the woman out and closed the gate behind them.
Feng Yue glanced sideways and sneered, "Our emperor is truly amusing. Sending someone else's daughter so casually to another's mansion to be humiliated."
Yin Gezhi looked at her and said, "You need not be jealous. I will not accept her."
Feng Yue: "..."Was this prince being overly confident? Which eye saw that she was jealous? Given the current situation, it would only bother her if he didn't die—what on earth did she have to be jealous about?
Shooting him a disdainful glance, Feng Yue turned and walked away.
"Where are you going?" Yin Gezhi frowned.
Without looking back, Feng Yue roared with earth-shaking vigor, "To pee! Want to come along?"
Stunned by her retreating figure, Yin Gezhi stiffly lowered his gaze and fell silent. After a moment, however, he let out a soft chuckle.
What kind of girl was this, so utterly crude?
This was but a minor incident on an otherwise peaceful afternoon, and neither Feng Yue nor Yin Gezhi gave it much thought. Yet, no one could have foreseen that this trivial matter would stir up a tempest, as calamity surged like a tidal wave, fiercely crashing toward the Prince of Filial Piety's Mansion!
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