Chapter 21: Does It Hurt?

Chapter 21: Does It Hurt?

"This is how the incident unfolded."

Liu Xi, the Head Eunuch of the Ceremonial Directorate, interrogated the Crown Princess and the palace attendants, then recounted the entire sequence of events to the assembled ministers.

The Emperor's expression was unreadable as he looked down at the officials below, saying nothing.

The fathers and grandfathers of the involved ladies had all arrived at the Hall of Supreme Harmony (the main hall of the imperial palace). Present were Zheng Shanghe, the Minister of Finance; Shi Heng, the Left Commander of the Military Governor's Office; Marquis Yao, the Director of Communications; Kong Yunjie, the Minister of Rites; and, of course, Cheng Mingyu, the Head of the Censorate.

Although the Minister of Rites, Kong Yunjie, and the Left Commander, Shi Heng, were not usually aligned, today their children were both victims, so they naturally stood side by side.

After understanding the situation, Marquis Yao knew his daughter would not escape blame today. The best way to mitigate her punishment was to pin the blame entirely on Cheng Yian. He was the first to confront Cheng Mingyu.

"Your Majesty, as the eunuch just stated, my daughter was tripped by the young lady of the Cheng family, which led to the subsequent altercation. It is clear that Cheng Yian is the instigator of today's incident."

He then turned to Cheng Mingyu and snorted coldly, "It is said that Cheng Mingyu runs a strict household, yet even your own daughter behaves like this. One can only imagine what the other ladies of the Cheng family are like."

Cheng Mingyu remained facing the Emperor, bowing slightly in his direction, and then asked the Head Eunuch, "Chief Eunuch Liu, is there any evidence that my daughter tripped the Yao family's daughter?"

Chief Eunuch Liu smiled, "There is none. The Zheng family's young lady said she did not see it, and the Shi family's young lady said she thought she saw something, but there is no solid proof."

"Since there is no solid proof, then Marquis Yao's accusation is baseless slander."

Marquis Yao curled his lip and pointed at Shi Heng, "The Commander's daughter saw it with her own eyes. How could she be mistaken about your daughter?"

At this point, Zheng Shanghe interjected, "But my daughter insists she saw nothing of the sort from the Cheng family's young lady," the Minister of Finance said firmly. "And she would never lie."

Marquis Yao ignored him and continued to argue with Cheng Mingyu, "If your daughter hadn't tripped mine for no reason, how could she have ended up fighting with her?"

"Then perhaps we should ask you, Marquis Yao," Cheng Mingyu slowly turned around and retorted, "What kind of family raises a daughter to act so violently toward others at a palace banquet?"

This was what infuriated Marquis Yao the most. "That's absurd! It was clearly your daughter who acted violently, injuring three young ladies on the spot. Everyone saw it!"

Cheng Mingyu almost laughed out loud. "So, Marquis Yao, my daughter should have just stood there and taken the beating?"

Marquis Yao was momentarily speechless.

Cheng Mingyu spoke bluntly, "If you start trouble, don't be surprised when others fight back. If you're not skilled enough, don't blame others. It seems the Yao family thinks they can have it all. With the way you raise your daughter, no wonder she keeps getting beaten."

Marquis Yao's face flushed with anger. "You..."

"Marquis Yao..." Cheng Mingyu calmly straightened his robe and looked at him with a faint expression. "My daughter did you a favor by teaching your daughter a lesson. Don’t you owe us some tuition?" (a traditional gesture of gratitude for teaching).

"Cheng Mingyu, you..." Marquis Yao was so angry that he almost pointed his finger at Cheng Mingyu's face, but Zheng Shanghe suddenly rushed over, grabbed his hand, and pressed it down, whispering fiercely in his ear,

"Marquis Yao, calm down. The last official who yelled at Cheng Mingyu in court got a hundred lashes from Princess Minglan and is still bedridden. Be careful..."

Marquis Yao's anger instantly deflated, leaving him speechless and red-faced.

However, Marquis Yao, having been in the officialdom for many years, quickly composed himself and straightened his sleeve.

"What about the slap afterward? The earlier incident could be dismissed as a minor scuffle between young ladies, but your daughter's subsequent act of violence in court is an undeniable fact."

Cheng Mingyu replied expressionlessly, "That just makes it all the more justified."

"You..." Marquis Yao's anger flared up again, but he remembered Minister Zheng's advice and forcibly restrained himself, saying with restraint, "Cheng Mingyu, as the head of the Censorate, you actually allow your daughter's violent behavior. You are knowingly violating the law!"

Upon hearing the words "knowingly violating the law," Cheng Mingyu couldn't help but smile. He rarely smiled, but when he did, his sharp features became even more striking, reminiscent of the days when his elegance charmed the entire capital.

He ignored Marquis Yao and instead turned to bow to the emperor.

"Your Majesty, as per Article 13, Clause 4 of the 'Great Jin Dynasty's Rites and Regulations,' anyone who falsely accuses a court official or disrespects the emperor shall receive one hundred lashes and be exiled if the official is of the fourth rank or higher. If the official is below the fourth rank, they shall receive fifty lashes and be permanently stripped of their position."

"According to Article 1, Clause 8 of the 'Great Jin Dynasty's Rites and Regulations,' anyone who defames the emperor shall be beaten to death!"

Marquis Yao and the others were stunned by Cheng Mingyu's citation of the law.

"What are you implying?"

Cheng Mingyu's expression turned serious. "Your Majesty, Lu Xusheng is a second-rank military officer personally appointed by you, commanding the nine frontier garrisons. Marquis Yao's daughter slandered the commander of the three armies, calling him a butcher and a demon. Firstly, she falsely accused a court official, which constitutes a violation of Article 13, Clause 4, and should receive one hundred lashes and be exiled."

"Secondly, she insinuated that Your Majesty made improper appointments, tarnishing Your Majesty's reputation, and should be beaten to death!"

Every word Cheng Mingyu uttered was cold and merciless, like a death toll ringing in Marquis Yao's heart. His knees buckled, and he knelt down, trembling as he begged the emperor for mercy.

"Your Majesty... my disrespectful daughter spoke recklessly and deserves no forgiveness. I do not defend her, but it was merely a petty squabble between girls, not to be taken seriously. She would never dare to defame Your Majesty's reputation."

Cheng Mingyu's gaze swept over, his handsome face icy. "A petty squabble? Marquis Yao, do you realize the consequences if your daughter's words reached the frontier? Not only would it chill the hearts of the soldiers who have shed blood in battle, but it would also make them believe that Your Majesty does not care for them. The consequences would be immeasurable."

Throughout history, mutinies among frontier troops have been common.

The emperor's expression darkened.

Minister Zheng glanced sympathetically at Marquis Yao, thinking to himself, why did you have to challenge Cheng Mingyu? This man, who at seventeen silenced the scholars of Northern Qi with his eloquence, is not someone you can contend with.

Realizing that further argument would only bring him more humiliation, Marquis Yao prostrated himself and wept.

"Your Majesty, forgive me, forgive me. It is my failure in educating my daughter..."

Seeing Marquis Yao defeated, Shi Heng, who had remained silent until now, suddenly glanced lightly at Cheng Mingyu.

"Cheng Mingyu, even if Miss Yao was at fault, was it right for your daughter to strike her in public?"

"This is the imperial palace. Even if Miss Yao was at fault, it should have been reported to His Majesty or the Empress Dowager for judgment. What does it mean for your daughter to take matters into her own hands? Does she think the palace has no authority, or that she should take charge? Or does the Cheng family not regard the palace's masters at all?"

Shi Heng, after all, was not Marquis Yao. He immediately grasped the crux of the matter.

Anyone else would have been intimidated by Shi Heng's accusation.

But Cheng Mingyu was no ordinary man. Knowing this was the key point of the accusation, how could he not be prepared?

The man once hailed as the most handsome in the Great Jin Dynasty suddenly smiled and clasped his hands toward Shi Heng.

"Shi Heng, the last volume, Article 8 of the 'Great Jin Dynasty's Laws' states: 'All citizens of the Great Jin Dynasty have the duty to uphold the honor of our nation. In such cases, they may act as they see fit.' The frontier soldiers who protect our homeland are the pillars of the Great Jin Dynasty. Shi Heng, as the left commander of the Military Governor's Office and the leader of the generals, if someone under your command were to call your soldiers murderous demons and butchers, I believe you would not hesitate to defend them."

"I thought that while others might question my daughter, you, the commander of the five armies, would not."

He emphasized the words "would not" with particular weight, like the clear, resounding strike of a drum.

When it came to using the law to suppress, Cheng Mingyu did not hesitate, and when it came to appealing to emotions, he was equally adept.

Hearing his final words, Shi Heng sighed and stepped back, saying nothing more.

He wasn't afraid he couldn't out-argue Cheng Mingyu, but he was worried that if today's incident were to spread, it would demoralize the soldiers, making it difficult for him to lead the troops in the future.

With Shi Heng stepping back, only Kong Yunjie, the Minister of Rites, remained. He had always been at odds with Cheng Mingyu and stepped forward, pointing at him, saying,

"Cheng Mingyu, according to you, your daughter did nothing wrong?"

This time, Cheng Mingyu did not argue with him but instead bowed respectfully to the emperor,

"Your Majesty, my daughter may have acted impulsively, but I beg Your Majesty to consider her actions as defending her husband. She is young and righteous, not yet adept at navigating social complexities. I still need to guide her carefully. Moreover, that slap might seem unwarranted, but I believe it was absolutely necessary. That slap ensures there will be no future repercussions."

Cheng Mingyu's words carried two meanings.

First, the emperor treats Lu Xusheng as his own son. A daughter-in-law standing up for her husband would naturally please her father-in-law, who would not blame her.

Second, Cheng Yian vented her anger on the spot, ensuring that Lu Xusheng would let the matter rest. After the death of the Prince of Nankang, a saying spread in Northern Qi: "Do not provoke Lu Xusheng." His unhappiness directly translates to the unhappiness of the border troops. The emperor was currently in a power struggle with the crown prince and the empress dowager, and the morale of the army could not be shaken.

This was why the crown princess chose not to report to the empress dowager but instead passed the problem to the emperor.

If the emperor handled it well, it would remain an internal conflict within the imperial faction. If handled poorly, it would lead to discord.

Cheng Mingyu had a firm grasp of the critical point.

Kong Yunjie, however, wasn’t about to let Cheng Mingyu off the hook so easily. Just as he was about to argue, the emperor shouted from above,

"Enough!"

Kong Yunjie had no choice but to hold his tongue.

The emperor slowly glanced at Cheng Mingyu and let out a faint smile.

He and Cheng Mingyu had been ruler and subject for nearly twenty years, and this was the first time he had seen a hint of human warmth in Cheng Mingyu—a touch of paternal protectiveness.

Rare indeed.

"Enough," the emperor said, placing his hands on his knees and slowly regaining his composure. "Today's incident started with the daughter of Marquis Yao. Yao Yiqing, you almost made me lose face today."

Marquis Yao immediately kowtowed repeatedly, saying, "I am guilty."

Seeing that his attitude in admitting fault was acceptable, the emperor slightly softened his anger. "I order you to personally visit Lu Xusheng and apologize. That is the first thing. Second, your marquisate will be fined three years' worth of allowances, and your right to recommend officials will be revoked. Take your daughter home and educate her properly. If this happens again, I will strip you of your title!"

Losing the official stipend wasn’t a big deal, as it wasn’t much to begin with. Officials of the Great Jin Dynasty did not rely on their stipends to live. However, losing the marquisate's allowances was a severe blow. The court provided a fixed annual allowance to the marquisate, including monthly, seasonal, and yearly stipends, all of which were substantial. Additionally, there were quotas for recommending officials. If a son failed the imperial examinations, he could still become an official through recommendation, ensuring a lifetime of comfort. Otherwise, why would so many officials strive for titles?

Marquis Yao cursed his daughter inwardly and tearfully accepted the order.

"Furthermore, your marquisate's allowances for the next three years will be allocated as military funds to provide winter clothing for the border troops."

The emperor's move was quite clever.

The Minister of Revenue, Zheng Shanghe, immediately nodded, "I obey the decree."

"As for the other ladies, although there were reasons for their actions, they still violated palace regulations. Each of you will take your daughters home and educate them properly. Additionally, you will be fined half a year's stipend. Any objections?"

The emperor clearly intended to smooth things over by punishing everyone equally.

"We thank Your Majesty for your mercy."

Zheng Shanghe and Cheng Mingyu's annual stipends were less than two hundred taels, so half a year's stipend was only about one hundred taels—a trivial amount.

Shi Heng and Kong Yunjie also did not care about the stipends, but they felt aggrieved for having lost face and not won the argument.

After leaving the Hall of Supreme Harmony, several officials were ordered to go to the Taiye Pond to pick up their daughters.

Marquis Yao strode ahead, outpacing the others, desperate to drag his daughter out of the palace at once. Military Governor Shi and Minister Kong trailed close behind, while Cheng Mingyu was held back by the Chief Eunuch to discuss official matters.

Marquis Yao, flanked by palace attendants, hurried to the Guanghan Hall.

Upon arriving at the Guanghan Hall, the other women had already departed the palace. Only the young ladies involved in today's incident stood under the corridor, each lost in thought, soaking up the sun.

In the afternoon, the dark clouds dispersed, revealing a vast expanse of blue sky. The slanting sunlight poured down, illuminating the steps with a golden glow.

Having sat too long and feeling stifled indoors, the young ladies stepped outside for some fresh air.

Cheng Yian and Zheng Ying stood at the corridor's eastern corner, while Yao Yuzhuang stood by herself at the western corner.

Shi Feiyan and Kong Zhen had retreated to the shade of a nearby tree.

Everyone seemed on edge.

Marquis Yao caught sight of his daughter leaning against a pillar, her face half-covered, lost in thought. His temper flared, and he berated her from a distance,

"You disgraceful child!"

"You stir up trouble wherever you go!"

"You've hurt others, tarnished your own name, and now you've wrecked your brother's future, shaming the entire Marquis's household!"

Yao Yuzhuang had an older brother, the heir, and a younger brother, a good-for-nothing, so the family had pinned their hopes on this privilege.

Marquis Yao barked as he marched forward to seize Yao Yuzhuang. Seeing her father's rage, Yao Yuzhuang cowered behind the pillar,

"Father..." Tears streamed down her face.

She had expected her father to ask about her injuries, but instead, he launched into a tirade.

When Marquis Yao seized her wrist, Yao Yuzhuang broke into tears, begging,

"Father, please, let's discuss this calmly. We're in the palace..."

Marquis Yao let out a bitter laugh, yanking his daughter down the steps and forcing her into the sunlight, scolding, "You realize this is the palace? You couldn't handle your issues outside, so you had to make a spectacle here?"

Yao Yuzhuang's face crumpled, and she stuttered, gesturing toward Cheng Yian,

"Father, it's not my fault, it's that Cheng..."

"Enough! I know precisely who you are. From today onwards, you are confined to your room, reflecting on your actions. You will go to the Buddhist hall every day to copy scriptures. You won't leave the ancestral hall until I say so."

Yao Yuzhuang's face turned pale, and her body trembled like a leaf in autumn.

The other young ladies, witnessing Marquis Yao's fury, silently braced for the worst.

Looking up, they saw several high-ranking officials in crimson robes approaching together, and their hearts sank.

It's over, their fathers have come to hold them accountable.

Shi Feiyan, who was usually so bold, now trembled when she saw her father's cold gaze.

"Father..." She managed to steady herself somewhat, giving Shi Heng a slight bow.

Shi Heng approached her, and though he didn't roar like Marquis Yao, his expression was far from pleasant.

"Today, I let you enter the palace to pray for blessings, why did you get involved in the dispute? Have you forgotten what your father has taught you all along?"

Shi Feiyan knew her father's temper well; once he was displeased, severe punishment would follow. She hurried to defend herself,

"Father, when I saw them fighting in a mess, I feared it might anger Her Highness the Crown Princess, so I went to stop them. Unexpectedly, I was pushed by someone," she rubbed her waist, looking pitiful, "My waist is bruised, and my elbow is scraped. It still hurts."

Shi Heng glared at her, "You deserve it!"

Shi Feiyan dared not argue and quickly lowered her eyes.

Kong Zhen, however, was well aware of her grandfather’s temper. As soon as she approached, she readily admitted her fault, leaving Kong Yunjie with nothing to say but a couple of grunts, "Don't let it happen again."

On Zheng Ying’s side, things were much better. Father and daughter spoke softly, and Zheng Shang didn’t ask any more questions, only speaking gently,

"Let’s go home, with Father."

Zheng Ying looked at Cheng Yi'an, who stood alone, feeling hesitant.

Cheng Yi'an forced a smile at Zheng Ying,

"It’s getting late, and you didn’t eat much earlier. Go back quickly."

Seeing the fathers’ expressions, she knew the emperor was furious. She felt fortunate not to be Cheng Mingyou’s daughter; otherwise, she wouldn’t know what fate awaited her.

Whenever she had disputes with others outside, he would always scold her without hearing her side of the story upon her return.

She felt wronged but dared not speak up.

Every child relies on their father, even if they make mistakes, they hope for comfort from their father.

Her eyes were slightly downcast, staring blankly at the shimmering water outside the woods, when suddenly a voice called out from the shaded path ahead,

"An An...."

Cheng Yian quickly looked up and saw Cheng Mingyu hurrying towards her. He stood tall and sturdy like a pine tree, as if he had emerged from the forest. Even as he walked quickly, his shoulders were steady, and his robes stayed neat, maintaining his graceful demeanor.

Cheng Yian felt a sudden pang of emotion. Even Minister Zheng had been scolded; he must be in trouble too.

Before he could reach her, Cheng Yian quickly curtsied respectfully,

"I've caused you so much trouble."

Her gentle and obedient words deeply hurt Cheng Mingyu. He bounded up the steps in a few quick strides,

"Silly girl, what are you talking about? You've been wronged, and I'm worried sick for you. How could I ever think it's trouble?"

He then looked her over carefully. Her small, delicate face was pale from the winter sun, and her lips were slightly blue, likely from the cold wind. Her dark, almond-shaped eyes glistened with tears, brimming with guilt.

Cheng Mingyu's heart ached deeply. He asked sternly, "An An, did they hurt you?"

If Cheng Yian had been hurt, this wasn't over.

Cheng Yian shook her head, "No..."

Cheng Mingyu noticed her hands behind her back and frowned, "Which hand did you use? Show me, does it hurt?"

Before Cheng Yian could respond, the Yao father and daughter nearby twitched their mouths, already casting sharp glances their way.

"Cheng Mingyu, don't play the victim after getting your way."

Cheng Mingyu ignored him, keeping his gaze fixed on Cheng Yian.

Cheng Yian, blushing, offered her small hand and gently shook her head at him,

"It's okay..."

Seeing her palm clean and without obvious marks, Cheng Mingyu relaxed, "Good, come on, Daddy will take you home."

He gestured forward with his sleeve, guiding Cheng Yian down the steps.

"Did you have lunch?"

"I had a little..."

"Did you eat enough?"

Cheng Yian didn't speak.

Cheng Mingyu then said,

"Daddy's taking you to Sifang Restaurant for another bite."

Meanwhile, Yao Yuzhuang and Shi Feiyan watched as the father and daughter left, taken aback. They had been bracing for someone to discipline Cheng Yian, but not only did that not happen, her father appeared to be consoling her with the offer of a meal.

Both men are fathers, but her dad isn't just easy on the eyes; he's also a pillar of support for his daughter. The memory of him asking "Does it hurt?" brought Shi Feiyan to the brink of tears.

Uncertain if Cheng Yian felt any pain, Shi Feiyan was certain of her own anguish.