Chapter 271: The Surprise Came Too Fast

Chapter 271: The Shock Came Too Fast

In less than fifteen minutes, all officials eligible to attend court had heard of the scandal at the Yongning Marquis’s estate.

The absurd excuse of servants bullying their master couldn’t fool the political veterans. Some opportunistic censors, eager to stir trouble, acted like vultures circling for prey, seizing the moment to draft impeachment memorials on the spot.

Neutral bystanders gathered in small groups, sighing over the never-ending parade of scandals surrounding the Yongning Marquis over the past half-year—one after another, far exceeding the total of the past decade.

The confrontation between the real and fake heiresses, the fake heiress threatening suicide, the real heiress wailing and lamenting; the real heiress proving utterly inept and being reprimanded at Grand Princess Duanhe’s birthday banquet; the Duke’s household risking the Emperor’s wrath to annul the engagement…

It never stopped—just one thing after another.

Was the Yongning Marquis’s biological daughter some kind of reincarnated torturer?

By comparison, many officials found their own willful and unruly daughters quite commendable.

"Yongning Marquis, my condolences."

He wasn’t in the mood for condolences.

Three cracks of the imperial whip signaled the Emperor’s arrival, and the civil and military officials took their positions in the hall, lining up on either side.

At the start of the court session, Censor Ming stepped up to impeach the Yongning Marquis.

Once Censor Ming moved, the rest of the Censorate joined in.

The Duke lowered his gaze, quietly weighing the odds of canceling the marriage arrangement.

Originally, he had harbored resentment toward Gu Huai for breaking his promise and insisting on annulling the engagement. Now, he wished to sever all ties completely.

Taking the Yongning Marquis’s daughter as a wife would spell disaster for the Duke’s household.

A wife ought to be virtuous—if not that, at least not downright wicked.

Meanwhile, the Emperor seated on the throne had a face that was unreadable.

The day before, he had issued an edict reprimanding Gu Huai, the heir of the Duke’s household, confining him to study the Daqian law under house arrest to clarify the truth.

Truthfully, had Yongming Grand Princess not mentioned the importance of imperial dignity and legal justice, the matter of Gu Huai driving a prisoner to suicide would never have reached his ears, let alone his heart.

You can’t expect purity in politics—he usually ignored minor misdeeds.

But at the family banquet, with Empress Dowager Xie present, Yongming Grand Princess had brought it up, compelling him to act to demonstrate his wisdom and fairness.

He couldn’t let Empress Dowager Xie think he was inferior to Emperor Jingxiang.

First came the absurd decree of a two-wives-one-husband marriage, then the reprimand of Gu Huai—both had slighted the Duke and stung the Duke’s family’s honor.

Now, with this new scandal from the Yongning Marquis’s household, his marriage edict looked even more like a calculated slight to the Duke’s household.

Both women were trouble.

His own daughter, Princess Qingyu, had more lovers in her bed than he had concubines in his harem.

Her shameless exploits were well-known.

And now, the Yongning Marquis’s eldest daughter…

This isn't just ignorance of etiquette, but sheer viciousness.

Now, the Duke is likely to resent him for meddling with the marriage arrangements.

Yet, since the emperor's decree is final, he cannot force the Yongning Marquis not to marry off his daughter.

But how did County Princess Le Rong get entangled in this debacle?

The emperor continued listening as Censor Minghui delivered a scathing and morally upright indictment, explicitly naming the Yongning Marquis as unfit for his title, lacking personal integrity, failing to discipline his household, and indulging his daughter’s wicked deeds—thus deserving severe punishment.

When Censor Minghui impeaches someone, she truly leaves no quarter.

Her choice of words is as foul and rigid as a privy's stones, venomous as tainted daggers.

Yet every phrase is grounded in classical texts, reasoned and justified, rendering the accused powerless.

Not only does she impeach colleagues, but when admonishing him, she stops just short of pointing and cursing, occasionally hinting at his dubious claim to the throne.

Many times, he wishes more than anyone to have Censor Minghui drawn and quartered.

But the Ming family possesses a plaque bestowed by Emperor Wencheng, praising their unyielding integrity as censors, along with his handwritten edict to favor the worthy and reject the corrupt.

Short of treason, he cannot touch Censor Minghui.

Maddening!

Emperor Wencheng emulated ancient rulers by erecting a mirror to reveal truths and flaws, yet this mirror now irritates him!

"Yongning Marquis," the emperor murmured, turning his glistening jade thumb ring, his voice deep. "Do you acknowledge the indictment by the censors of the Court of Censors?"

The Yongning Marquis stepped forward and knelt decisively on the floor.

"Your Majesty, your servant has been blind and remiss, failing in my duty to govern my household, unworthy of Your Majesty's favor and trust."

"However, your servant has never for a moment disregarded the Daqian law, nor have I ever harbored thoughts of indulging my cherished daughter in wrongdoing or violence."

"In truth, it was driven by my indulgent affection as a father, solely wishing to compensate my daughter for our separation in her childhood, yet neglecting proper guidance. Never did I expect such excessive spoiling would lead my already timid and insecure daughter astray amid sudden privilege and status, further blinded by the instigation of wicked servants, ultimately committing grave offenses."

"Your servant fully acknowledges my guilt and willingly accepts any punishment from Your Majesty without complaint."

"I shall soul-search earnestly, impose stern correction, and atone for my past faults."

The Yongning Marquis kowtowed in plea for punishment.

The coldness of the floor relentlessly pricked at the Yongning Marquis's nerves.

He felt a tremulous relief that his wife had finally recognized what was at stake.

With the censors' impeachment so fierce, any denial would backfire. Thankfully, his wife grasped his predicament and did not stubbornly defend Minghui.

The entire court was stunned.

He admitted?

Just like that?

Even the emperor on the throne was taken aback.

Traditionally, the Yongning Marquis was as slippery as an eel, avoiding responsibility and taking no stance whenever possible. This time, he uncharacteristically admitted fault outright.

"Very well."

The Emperor leaned forward slightly with keen interest. "Did you know about your daughter's behavior?"

"Your Majesty, I did not," the Yongning Marquis answered without hesitation.

"And after learning of them, what were your thoughts?" the Emperor pressed on.

The Yongning Marquis replied remorsefully, "My wife and I reprimanded our daughter severely, administering thirty strokes as household punishment."

"Our daughter has shown genuine repentance, offering to pay compensation and vowing to support the victims' families for generations."

"Furthermore, to better herself, she has requested to enter Chengchan Temple as a lay practitioner, spending her days repenting and atoning."

"She won’t leave the temple until the affected families grant their forgiveness."

"Your Majesty, while my daughter is to blame, I also failed as a parent. I humbly beg for Your Majesty's punishment."

The Emperor's eyes flickered with interest.

This time, the Yongning Marquis's handling of the matter truly impressed him—decisive, resolute, and without the slightest hesitation.

"The Yongning Marquis has acted with fairness. This pleases me greatly."

"However, entering Chengchan Temple as a lay practitioner is unnecessary."

"She’s only sixteen, and her wedding approaches."

The Yongning Marquis kowtowed deeply. "Your Majesty, after careful thought, marriage should bring families together in harmony."

"My daughter is uncouth, her manners are poor, her temper is rough like an unpolished stone, and her actions reckless and lawless. I cannot, in good conscience, marry her into the Duke's household."

"If she were to cause a scandal or bring shame to the Duke's estate, I would be too ashamed to live."

"I humbly beg Your Majesty to allow her engagement to be annulled so both may go their separate ways."

"As for my daughter, let her enter Chengchan Temple dutifully to seek spiritual refinement, repent her sins, and mellow her wild temper."

The Duke: *This good fortune came out of nowhere.*

The usually bootlicking Yongning Marquis was finally making sense.

The Emperor's satisfaction deepened, his gaze upon the Yongning Marquis softening further.

This had been handled splendidly.

He was pleased.

"A true advisor."