Chapter 70
Although to interrogate someone with the involvement of torture might seem inhumane, but sometimes this methods are necessary for certain types of people. After a night of torture, the head housekeeper from the Xu Family finally admitted his crimes. This Housekeeper Fang works for Xu Shang Yong as the head housekeeper, while his wife is the Madam’s right hand person.
Xu Shang Yong is the father of Xu Wei Rong, the empress dowager’s younger brother, he is always involved with cases of bullying woman and causing them to suicide, which after Ji Wu Jiu has settled the case, and sent him to his death. Now, the person in charge of the family is the eldest son of Xu Shang Yong, Xu Ling, the brother of Xu Wei Rong. Within his many children, Xu Shang Yong only has this son from the main wife. So the Madam also treats the son like her life, with the addition of his useless father, the result is that the son grew up to be the same type of person his father was. Not only that he is a well known player, with an empress dowager aunt, and a bunch of useless friends, which praises him up to the sky as a usual routine, it made him a person that cannot accept defeat.
According to the housekeeping couple, they did receive orders from their master, to spread the rumours about the empress. The officer who interrogated them was very detailed, not only that the both of them admitted that the Madam Xu gave out the orders, but they also said that the Eldest son was also involved, ordering them to do so.
Putting down the report, Ji Wu Jiu looked towards the kneeling officer and ordered “Capture the entire Xu Family, no matter male or female, young or old. Xu Ling is to be interrogated alone, while the rest are to be remained captive first, and await for orders”
“Understood”
Feng You De walked in the hall, and politely said “Your majesty, Minister Fang has arrived from your orders”
“Let him in”
Fang Xiu Qing works in the nearby office, which was not too far from Yang Xin Hall, so he was often called upon by Ji Wu Jiu, therefore he did not felt anything was wrong, and thought it was the normal office business. However, ever since he stepped into the hall, Ji Wu Jiu has not mentioned a single word about work, and only discussed with him about Xian Concubine.
Although Ji Wu Jiu was speaking about It calmly, but the more Fang Xiu Qing listen, the more scared he becomes, after a few sentences, cold sweat starts to form, threatening to drop down. Although the emperor did not mention explicitly, but somehow or other, he can hear his dissatisfied tone about Xian Concubine, although he seems to be praising her, with the skin alone smiling, gritting his teeth speaking about the good things about her, in another person’s ears, it was much more scary than scolding.
Xian Concubine has already entered the palace, the emperor’s woman, according to the rules, if she has done anything wrong, the emperor can punish her accordingly, why would he call in this minister to say this type of things?
It was to notify him, to warn him, to settle his own daughter? Or was it to tell him, that he will spare her this time, to give face
No matter which case was it, there was one thing that can be confirmed: This time my daughter has created too big of a trouble, crossing the emperor’s bottom line.
Fang Xiu Qing does not know what Ji Wu Jiu was thinking, so he can only say “I did not teach my daughter properly, making the emperor troubled, it really makes me shameful”
“I was not really troubled, the person who was really troubled was the empress” JI Wu Jiu answered.
Seems like the case involves the empress, Fang Xiu Qing thought. The Ye Family’s daughter really cannot be underestimated, last time she was treated as though as the emperor’s enemy, now their relationship has turned so good.
Ji Wu Jiu said “Since you did not teach properly, then teach her well again”
Not to mention the royal family, even the normal citizen, for a married daughter to be reeducated by the father, was not common. As a woman from the inner palace, to return home to their maternal home was something impossible, and it was almost not possible for him to see his own daughter again as well, even if they were to meet, they have to go through the differences of master and servant, so who is to educate who now?
Although it seems like something weird, but Fang Xiu Qing was not a common person, ever since he came out from Yang Xin Hall, and returned to his office, he returned to his normal composure and reign over his ministry.
His own daughter, seems like she has sided the wrong side!
All along, what an emperor is most offended by was that someone trying to climb over his head and to take his powers, therefore for families to kill one another was something common, not to mention to get rid of a mere side family. Xu family is the maternal family of the empress dowager, but so what? Previously Ji Wu Jiu’s father even killed off his own brother, for him to face his uncle and grandfather now is just a small case. The empress dowager has always thought that she being the birth mother of Ji Wu Jiu meant that she can do anything she wants, and was not afraid of anything, but ever since she had the intention to raise a new monarch, it has caused the relationship between the mother and child to be broken.
To have faced this type of event, that supposedly clever daughter of his actually openly sided the empress dowager’s side.
If this was not looking for death, then what is?
Fang Xiu Qing’s heart dropped, and cursed Xian Concubine for being foolish. Previously she was chosen amongst her sisters to be wedded to the emperor because she was smart and cautious, and was a little like him. He himself was rather regretful that this daughter was not a son, and could not continue his legacy. When she was finally sent to the palace, although a little worried, but he was still confident, as the rumors said that Ye Xiu Ming’s granddaughter was a stubborn and willful person, so she shouldn’t be hard to deal with.
But it seems like, Ye family’s granddaughter has properly secured the empress’s seat, as for his own daughter seems to be heading towards the end of the road, step by step.
Not sure if this happens because of her ownself, or because it was destiny.
When Fang Xiu Qing returned to the office, with a down face, Ye Xiu Ming saw him and was shocked. To be in the world of politics, one must be able to maintain poker face very well, and Fang Xiu Qing who was very good at it, is not appearing so now, which was rare.
Ye Xiu Ming, although is troubled with the rumours surrounding the empress, but looking at Fang Xiu Qing now, it seems like his troubles are worse than his, so feeling better, he smiled and asks “Minister Fang, did you meet with any tough problems? Why don’t you tell me, so I can help you solve it together?”
Fang Xiu Qing raises his hands to bow tiredly, “I was just reprimanded by the emperor for not capable in performing in one of my duties”
The emperor would not have reprimanded you, Ye Xiu Ming thought, but did not say it out, “O? What was it regarding? I will speak for you in front of the emperor, maybe he will give me some face”
Fang Xiu Qing was too lazy to continue with him, “No need to trouble you”
Ye Xiu Ming looked at his back figure, that fella actually did not even have to mood to fake pleasantries, it seems like something serious really happened?
On the other hand, Fang Xiu Qing was already at his desk holding a brush, eyes full of vigor. Thinking back carefully about what Ji Wu Jiu said earlier, to reeducate your daughter?
Could what the emperor meant was to give him another chance to help Xian Concubine ?
If it was really so, then the emperor really gave enough face for Fang Family. To be honest, no matter how the emperor wants to deal with Xian Concubine, Fang Xiu Qing actually has no say at all. But no matter what, they were still father and daughter, if anything were to happen to Xian Concubine, then Fang Xiu Qing will not get any benefits as well. Now that the emperor did not deal with Xian Concubine himself, but to first notify him, and to give another chance to his daughter, this was truly the emperor being kind and giving him face.
Fang Xiu Qing sighed, and started to draft his report. This report was then delivered to Ji Wu Jiu’s table, after JI Wu Jiu read it, using a pen, he wrote “Allowed”
***
Xian Concubine thought that it was a success, Ye Zhen Zhen is going to go down soon.
Fang Xiu Qing’s report stated that Madam Fang was sick, and misses her daughter, and hoped that the emperor would allow Xian Concubine to go home. JI Wu Jiu agreed without much thought and allowed Xian Concubine to return home the next day.
Such a big honor was given, meaning that the emperor was being good to her.
It must be Ye Zhen Zhen getting confirmed pregnant, that made the emperor angry, but because this type of thing was shameful, so he did not dare to openly do anything about it.
After this case, it would be impossible for the empress to make a comeback.
For the emperor to take the initiative to be good to her, the day the empress steps down would be near. Thinking about these makes Xian Concubine very happy. She went to Ci Ning Palace, and said many good things to the empress dowager making her happy, and the both of them was too happy and started talking about how to step Ye Zhen Zhen under their feet.
The next day, Xian Concubine went back home. Originally thinking that her mother was really sick, but although she seems a bit pale, but there seems to be nothing wrong with her body.
After a few words with her mother, Xian Concubine felt that her mother was somehow not in a good mood, and not long after, she said “Your father wants to meet you”
Fang Xiu Qing was waiting since earlier. When Xian Concubine knows that her father wants to speak to her, she sent all the servants away, and leaving only her with her father alone, and ordered someone to guard the door outside.
Because they were alone, Fang Xiu Qing also forgoes the greetings, and asks Xian Concubine “Liu Yue, did you do anything that offended the empress recently?”
Xian Concubine was stunned, and answered “it was just only the silk ceremony previously, I have already apologized to the empress, and she also said she will not punish me. There is no need to worry about this anymore Father”
Fang Xiu Qing shook his head, “No, did you do anything else? Think some more”
Xian Concubine shook her head “I have been avoiding her, why are you asking about this father? Did someone say something to you ?”
Fang Xiu Qing can only say, “The emperor asks me to reeducate you”
Xian Concubine was stunned “This.. what does that mean?”
“What else can it mean, it means you did something that made him unhappy, and taking care of my feeling, was the only reason he let you come back. You better tell me honestly, if there is any link between you and the rumours regarding the empress that is being spread around now?”
Xian Concubine immediately answered “No, that was ordered by the empress dowager”
Fang Xiu Qing’s expression got even more serious, “If it was ordered by the empress dowager, how did you know about it?”
“I……..”
Fang Xiu Qing asked again “Did you or did you not use this opportunity to do other things?”
“I………..”
“At this point you are still not willing to tell me the truth!?”
Note: Busy busy ~~
On a side note: anyone wants to sponsor me a new keyboard? My backspace key failed on me.. life is though when when you can’t erase the mistakes you have done…(UPDATE: touched by donations offers haha.. but i bought a new one already.. can’t stand it anymore .. ehehe.. u can look forward more updates …though…………… the next few chapters.. i need to do it somewhere discreet ?? )