Chapter 342: Turmoil in the Imperial Court
Chu Yi entered the palace to announce the joyous news.
The Emperor personally named the child Chu Hongjue, with the childhood name Jue Ge'er.
In the midst of midsummer, Jue Ge'er lay on the couch wearing only a bellyband, his exposed arms as fair and tender as lotus root segments.
Whenever Chu Hongyu and Chu Changsheng finished their studies, they would slip into Yun Chu's room. The two children would prop their chins in their hands, staring intently at Jue Ge'er.
If Jue Ge'er merely waved his tiny arm, his little older brother and sister would immediately exclaim excitedly: "Wow, our Jue Ge'er is amazing!"
"Jue Ge'er's arm strength is so powerful, how impressive!"
"Mother, his diaper is wet."
The wet nurse immediately stepped forward, carrying the child aside to change his diaper.
"Jue Ge'er is going to nurse, and the young master and young mistress should have their meal too." Nanny Zheng led the two young masters to the flower hall.
Yun Chu was still in her postpartum confinement period, so she took her meals in the bedchamber. A small table was set up beside the bed where Chu Yi joined her for the meal.
"Chu Mo has joined forces with the Censorate to impeach the Crown Prince's conduct, accusing him of being unfit for the position of heir apparent," Chu Yi said after finishing most of his meal. "The Eastern Palace is suffering repeated defeats. The Empress made a foolish move that caused the Emperor to strip her of the Phoenix Seal. Now Consort Hui and Consort Yun are jointly managing the rear palace together."
Yun Chu set down her chopsticks.
From her pregnancy until now during her confinement, Chu Yi rarely mentioned court affairs in front of her.
She asked: "Is it about to begin?"
Chu Yi nodded: "The court will be unstable for some time. I'll be returning home less frequently, I'm sorry to leave you like this."
"How is this leaving me?"
Yun Chu smiled gently.
During the previous six months, their family had been traveling outside the capital.
Since returning to the capital over half a year ago, he spent only half days handling official duties at the Court of Judicial Review, devoting all his remaining time to her and the children.
They should have long ago removed the Second Prince, Gong Xi Prince Chu Mo from his position. To avoid any mishaps and ensure the child's safe delivery, they had delayed until now.
She would soon complete her confinement period, and it was time for her to gradually become busier too.
"Given your position, some matters are inevitable," she said after taking a sip of chicken soup. "Don't worry about me. I need to do something, otherwise I'll become too plump—truly unfit to be seen."
"Where are you plump? You're just right as you are." Lin Shi walked in from outside.
Lin Shi now visited the manor every few days, coming and going freely throughout the residence. Seeing Chu Yi seated beside the bed eating at the small low table—so short that he had to sit on an even lower stool, his long legs cramped uncomfortably beneath him—was a scene Lin Shi had grown accustomed to.
After all, previously there had been a narrow couch set up in the room where Chu Yi had slept for over half a year.
"Mother has come." Chu Yi stood up. "I'll go check on the two children."
As he left, he took the small table with him.
Lin Shi sat down by the bed and said quietly: "I must say, Chu Yi is far better than Xie Jingyu..."
Back when Chu'er had her premature birth, her health was depleted. During her confinement period, Xie Jingyu had hardly appeared.
But Chu Yi, from the time Chu'er became pregnant until now, had constantly been by her side.
While other men typically took concubines when their wives were pregnant, the rear courtyard of the Prince of Pacifying the West Manor remained perfectly clean.
This was sufficient proof that this man was worthy of entrusting one's life to.
"Why mention that person anymore," Yun Chu said. "I heard from Chu Yi that elder brother has been promoted."A smile appeared on Lin Shi's face: "Your eldest brother personally went to handle farmland tax matters in March, and along the way resolved the long-standing refugee problem in that area. He performed a great service, and the Emperor wasn't stingy either - he promoted your brother from seventh rank to fifth rank, a two-level jump at once."
Yun Chu knew that over the past year, her eldest brother had stopped holding back and had instead shone brilliantly, achieving numerous merits, which was why he could rise so rapidly in official rank.
This caused the Yun family's momentum to surge once again.
But so what?
This lifetime was already completely different from the previous one.
When the child reached its first full month, Yun Chu and Chu Yi unanimously decided not to hold a celebration banquet. With the current strange atmosphere in the court, they wouldn't give anyone any opportunity to exploit.
On the third day after Yun Chu's postpartum confinement ended, Chu Yi kissed her forehead before going to court.
Court proceeded as usual, with ministers taking turns to present memorials, all discussing important matters concerning people's livelihood. After that, officials from the Censorate came forward to impeach various figures - mainly criticizing the Crown Prince for being unworthy of his position, Prince Pingxi for neglecting his duties, and the Emperor for damaging the Empress's dignity... essentially just symbolic impeachments.
Finally, Gao Gonggong asked if anyone else had memorials to present. If not, today's court session would conclude.
"Those with matters to report step forward, otherwise court is dismissed!"
A member of the Gongsun family stepped forward.
The Emperor's face darkened.
Over the past six months, the Eastern Palace and the second prince's faction had been going back and forth, constantly bringing up trivial matters - sometimes about Gongsun family members harassing women, other times about Gui family servants oppressing commoners. He was thoroughly tired of these petty affairs.
"Your Majesty, this humble official has a memorial to present!"
The Gongsun family member lifted his official robe and knelt directly on the ground.
Chu Yi's eyes flickered.
Last night, he had arranged for someone to deliver an anonymous letter to the Gongsun family containing material evidence of Chu Mo's involvement in imperial examination fraud over the years.
With the Empress currently weakened, she naturally wouldn't miss this opportunity to bring down Chu Mo.
The Gongsun family member declared loudly: "The imperial examinations are the primary method for selecting talent in the Great Jin Dynasty! However, someone has been exploiting the examinations for personal gain and placing large numbers of their own people in court positions!"
The Emperor's expression immediately changed: "Speak quickly!"
The Gongsun family member immediately presented evidence: "Through private investigation, this humble official has discovered that among those who passed the examinations in recent years, at least ten individuals met with Gong Xi Prince before their exams. While this alone proves nothing, this official has further discovered that all these individuals deposited silver for Gong Xi Prince in banking houses. Those who deposited the largest amounts have enjoyed smooth sailing in their official careers, with the most successful among them having already entered the Grand Secretariat, holding a position only below that of Grand Secretary..."
Chu Mo's head buzzed.
Over six months ago, Xie Shi'an had come to warn him that Chu Yi was investigating the examination matters.
That very day, he had dispatched assassins to eliminate the few officials who knew about it. As for evidence... he had long since erased all traces.
For the past six months, with Chu Yi taking no action, he had assumed the matter was perfectly concealed and had let his guard down.
He never expected that on this utterly ordinary morning, the Gongsun family would expose everything.
This meant the Empress and the third prince had joined forces!
"Your Majesty, the imperial examinations form the foundation of our state! If fraud exists within them, who knows how many truly capable talents have been buried over these years!"
"Meddling with examination matters affects the very roots of our nation! This cannot be ignored! We implore Your Majesty to thoroughly investigate Gong Xi Prince and the Gui family!""Prince Gong Xi's involvement in the imperial examinations to plant his own people in the court clearly shows his ambition to covet the Crown Prince's position and replace him!"
"..."
Chu Mo fell to his knees with a thud.
Every prince harbored such ambitions, but all kept them hidden in the shadows. If brought to light and exposed openly, it would be considered a grave crime!
"Your son is wronged!" Chu Mo prostrated himself on the ground. "Since the founding of our Great Jin Dynasty, the imperial examinations have selected countless pillars of the state. How would I dare to interfere with them! I beg Your Majesty to investigate this matter thoroughly and clear my name!"
He did not know how the Gongsun family had obtained the material evidence.
But without witness testimony, it was all in vain.
His father would never convict his own outstanding son based on such ambiguous evidence.
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