Chapter 161

Chapter 161

Cheng Heyuan was also quite surprised upon receiving the imperial edict, directly promoted from a position without rank to Censor-in-Chief. This promotion leap was even greater than those of Cui Xuan and Xie Yiguan.

"Brother, you're probably going to be everyone's target," Cheng Jinyuan said with a frown. Although the position of Censor-in-Chief wields significant power, Cheng Heyuan's personality is bound to rub many people the wrong way.

As soon as Cheng Jinyuan finished speaking, a second imperial edict arrived, summoning both of them to the palace.

Cheng Jinyuan pointed at himself, surprised. Was he included too?

The palace attendant nodded and motioned for them to follow.

Su Yu met them in the imperial study.

Cheng Heyuan had previously taken part in the palace examination and the tail-burning banquet, having visited the Hanyuan Hall and Linde Hall, and assumed that the entire palace was as splendid as those halls. However, Cheng Jinyuan was entering the palace for the first time. Both brothers went silent when they saw the broken pillar in the imperial study. The furnishings inside, except for the large sand table and the map on the wall, which were kind of impressive, were surprisingly plain. Even less luxurious than the study of a scion from a prestigious family.

They glanced at Su Yu's face, thinking how the shabbiness of the imperial study clashed with her noble appearance.

Maybe their shock was too obvious, as Su Yu casually looked at the broken pillar. Other officials had been in and out so many times that they weren't fazed anymore. Maybe when Xie Yiguan gets back, she can have him paint something on the pillar to hide it?

Su Yu casually looked away and asked them, "Do you know why I summoned you to the palace?"

The two brothers exchanged cautious glances and shook their heads.

"Do you know why I made you Censor-in-Chief right away?" Su Yu asked Cheng Heyuan.

Cheng Heyuan steeled himself and replied, "After leaving the Hanlin Academy, I've spent the last two years farming under Premier Yao, with no ties to others in the officialdom. Plus, I'm from a humble background, with no connections to any prestigious family, so I'm the best fit for this job."

Su Yu smiled and turned to Cheng Jinyuan, "Bohan, you're honest. Answer my question."

Cheng Jinyuan paused for a moment before saying honestly, "My brother's proud and has no backing. He can keep an eye on the officials and, if needed, be thrown under the bus."

Su Yu laughed heartily and waved her hand, "I finally got a Cheng Jinwen, and with a capable Cheng Bohan as a bonus. I wouldn't want to push Cheng Jinwen out to take the blame. However, it's true that the position of Censor-in-Chief is prone to offending people."

She smiled at Cheng Heyuan, "I think you've endured hardships under Premier Yao these years and can persevere. But if you feel you are afraid of death and can't do it, I will replace you sooner rather than later."

Cheng Heyuan's eyes shone brightly, "Your Majesty, I am not afraid of death. I have always been weak and sickly, not destined for a long life. If I can achieve something in my lifetime, it would not be a waste of this life."

Cheng Jinyuan asked, "What does Your Majesty mean by 'buy one, get one free'?"

Su Yu looked at Cheng Jinyuan, who instinctively touched the scar on his face. With this scar, he was destined not to become an official.

"You have not taken the imperial examination, so I cannot openly appoint you. You need to prove yourself with real achievements. Are you willing to assist your brother by his side?" Su Yu did not mention his appearance but spoke matter-of-factly, as if the scar on his face did not exist.

Cheng Jinyuan choked up and immediately knelt on the ground, "This commoner is willing."

Su Yu helped him up and smiled at them, "Since you have no objections, I will give you your first task."

Cheng Heyuan and Cheng Jinyuan tensed up, their eyes filled with excitement, as Su Yu said, "Your first task is to investigate the Censor-in-Chief."

Cheng Heyuan and Cheng Jinyuan were stunned for a long time before they reacted. Their first task upon taking office was to impeach their direct superior. How thrilling!

Su Yu waved her hand, "I just want you to investigate. If you find evidence, impeach him. If not, then get along well with your superior."

Cheng Heyuan and Cheng Jinyuan: "..." They hadn't even started working yet, but they already realized that the position of Censor-in-Chief was more challenging than they had imagined.

However, the excitement in Cheng Heyuan's eyes did not fade. Back then, to catch Su Yu's attention, he had spent all his money to buy a coffin, which he still used as a bed. Pulling down his direct superior was nothing extraordinary. After all, the only person he would obey was the emperor!

After the Cheng brothers left, Su Yu summoned Cui Xuan.

Su Yu wasn't in a rush to discuss matters with Cui Xuan. Instead, she remembered a lake in the imperial garden with a pavilion in the middle. Long ago, Xie Yiguan had even rowed her there.

So she asked Cui Xuan, "Can you row a boat, Xing Jian?"

Seeing Cui Xuan's puzzled expression, she briefly explained, "The weather is nice today, and I thought of going to that island in the lake with Xing Jian to enjoy the scenery. If you can't row, then forget it."

Cui Xuan's expression turned strange, and his ears slightly reddened. He coughed heavily before saying, "Your Majesty, I can row."

He glanced at Su Yu's calm face and silently cursed Xie Zhiwei. Xie Zhiwei must not have told Her Majesty that the late Emperor Su Yan often played around with various women in the lake pavilion, especially engaging in unspeakable activities.

But now that Su Yu wanted to boat on the lake, he couldn't spoil her mood.

If Xie Yiguan rowing was like a graceful and elegant gentleman, then Cui Xuan rowing was like an aloof immortal, detached from the mortal world.

Holding a bamboo pole, his movements were fluid and effortless, as if he were performing some sacred ritual rather than rowing a boat. It was a sight to behold.

After a moment of silence, Cui Xuan slightly lowered his head and noticed Su Yu dip her hand into the water, her sleeve following.

"..." He hesitated but couldn't resist and reminded her, "Your Majesty, your sleeve is wet."

"Oh," Su Yu sat up and took her hand out of the water. Before Cui Xuan could relax, she rolled up her sleeve, showing her fair arm, and dipped her hand back into the water.

Cui Xuan: "..."

His silence was too obvious. Su Yu leaned on the edge of the boat, tilting her head to look at him, and said innocently, "The water feels cool."

Cui Xuan wanted to say the water wasn't clean, but Su Yu had already dipped her hand in a second time. She was enjoying herself, and though he looked at her several times, he couldn't bear to ruin her joy.

He thought he would indulge the emperor just this once.

When they arrived at the lake pavilion, Cui Xuan helped Su Yu onto the shore, and the water on her hand naturally dripped onto his robe.

Su Yu offered a not-so-sincere apology, "I didn't mean to."

Cui Xuan looked down at the water stain on his robe and thought, since Her Majesty said it wasn't intentional, a little water stain wasn't a big deal. He took out a brocade handkerchief from his sleeve and carefully dried Su Yu's hand. When the handkerchief touched her arm, he hesitated slightly, but Su Yu simply took the handkerchief from his hand and continued drying her arm herself.

Cui Xuan lowered his gaze, watching her dry her arm. Su Yu had always been unrestrained in front of him, her movements open and unpretentious, neither like someone with a physical ailment nor someone disguised as a man. Perhaps it was his own improper thoughts that made him see things suspiciously.

He slowly raised his eyes and met Su Yu's bright gaze. He sighed faintly, pretending not to care, and shifted his gaze to the lake behind her.

He wasn't sure if it was his imagination, but he thought he heard Su Yu chuckle.

Su Yu sat down, letting the wind play with her long ponytail.

Cui Xuan took out a brocade box from his wide sleeve and retrieved a jade hairpin from it. "Your Majesty, let me fix your hair."

Su Yu looked at the jade hairpin in his hand and asked sincerely, "How many things do you have hidden in your sleeves?"

Cui Xuan replied modestly, "Just a few everyday items."

Su Yu: "..." How could such a large brocade box be considered an everyday item?

After he finished fixing her hair, Cui Xuan asked, "Your Majesty, do you have any orders for me?"

Su Yu leaned against the railing and half-jokingly retorted, "Can't I just have you accompany me without any orders?"

Cui Xuan lowered his head and said calmly, "Of course, you can."

Though his ears were bright red.

Su Yu chuckled again and said candidly, "I want Cheng Jinwen to gather evidence of the crimes of the Censor-in-Chief. You can assist him discreetly."

Cui Xuan's fingers clenched. The Censor-in-Chief was from the Li family.

Su Yu, perhaps worried he might misunderstand, stated directly, "I have no intention of targeting the Li family. It's just that I want to reform the Censorate, and the Li family cannot remain in the position of Censor-in-Chief. I also do not want you, Xing Jian, to fall out with the Li family, so this matter must be handled by Cheng Jinwen."

"Does Your Majesty intend to promote Cheng Jinwen to the position of Censor-in-Chief?" Cui Xuan asked.

Su Yu leaned back, resting her head against the pillar of the lakeside pavilion, messing up the hair Cui Xuan had just tied. "I won't place him in such a high position for now. I intend to leave the Censor-in-Chief position vacant and then reorganize the Censorate."

Though the Cheng brothers were zealous, they had no foothold in the capital, making it difficult to find obscure evidence. Therefore, Su Yu immediately turned to Cui Xuan.

Naturally, she had no desire to utterly dismantle the Li family, nor did she want Cui Xuan to sever ties with other prestigious families. The current relationship between Cui Xuan and the prestigious families could subtly balance her own relationship with them.

Cui Xuan gazed at her long hair for a moment and, for once, spoke harshly to Su Yu, "If Your Majesty wants me to help Cheng Jinwen, please do not mess up your hair again."

Su Yu smiled, her eyes crescent-shaped like the moon, and she turned around, letting Cui Xuan comb her hair again. "Xing Jian, comb my hair once more. I promise I won't lean around this time."

Once Cui Xuan had re-tied Su Yu's hair, when they rowed back, Su Yu sat upright, her eyes blinking at him, as if seeking praise.

He sighed inwardly, fully aware that her actions were a plea, but he couldn't refuse.

However, the Censor-in-Chief was a seasoned courtier, adept at shifting with the wind, and indeed unfit for the heavy responsibility of supervising the officials. It was only right to remove him.

Cui Xuan thought so.

Before they knew it, it was the Mid-Autumn Festival on August 15th.

Xie Yiguan had returned from Qiantang two days earlier, just in time for the Mid-Autumn Festival reunion. He made a special visit to the palace to present Su Yu with mooncakes and plum wine from the south.

The Mid-Autumn Festival in Great Qi traditionally included a three-day holiday. He returned home to rest and celebrate the festival with his parents and Xie Yixin.

Seeing the full moon, Xie's mother shed tears, her teary eyes turning to Xie Yixin, who immediately knew something was amiss. Her mother was thinking of arranging a marriage for her again. She quickly said, "Brother has not yet married, and there is no daughter-in-law to accompany Mother at home. I am worried that Mother will have no one to accompany her. Mother, why not keep me for a few more years?"

Xie Yixin's words reminded Xie's parents, and they turned their accusatory gazes to Xie Yiguan.

Xie Yiguan: "..."

He looked up at the bright moon in the sky and quickly said, "I have urgent matters to discuss with His Majesty."

Xie's father sneered, "At this hour, you want to see His Majesty?"

"The curfew has not yet started; I can still enter the palace," Xie Yiguan calmly replied.

Without waiting for his father to speak again, he left without looking back, leaving his father cursing him as an "unfilial son."

Xie Yiguan, fearing that his parents would bring up his marriage again upon his return, shamelessly hid in the palace for two days.

He had prepared for Cui Xuan to come to the palace as well, but this time, Cui Xuan remained remarkably composed and did not come to see the emperor for two days.

Instead, Cheng Heyuan entered the palace once and spoke with the emperor for a long time.

Then, during the court meeting on August 18th, Cheng Heyuan, the Censor-in-Chief, impeached the Censor-in-Chief for embezzlement and accepting bribes from officials.

The Censor-in-Chief was the cousin of Li Jianxing, the head of the Li family, and naturally, he had to defend him. However, Cheng Heyuan was well-prepared and calmly called witnesses to confront the Censor-in-Chief in court.

Su Yu immediately ordered the arrest of the Censor-in-Chief and sent troops to his residence, where they indeed found the stolen goods mentioned by the witnesses.

Li Jianxing could no longer speak and could only watch as the Censor-in-Chief was taken to the prison of the Supreme Court. He returned home, thinking more and more that something was amiss. How could Cheng Heyuan, a newly appointed young man, have investigated so thoroughly?

Unless someone was secretly aiding Cheng Heyuan.

Li Jianxing immediately thought that Xie Yiguan had specifically returned from Qiantang these past few days and even stayed in the palace for two days—there must be some scheme afoot!

Fuming with anger, Li Jianxing couldn’t confront Xie Yiguan directly in court, especially since the Imperial Censor had just been implicated and he was part of the Li family. However, he simply couldn’t swallow this grievance!

So, the next day during the court session, Li Jianxing claimed illness and did not attend. Instead, he quietly waited outside the palace gate. As soon as the Xie family’s coachman stepped away to relieve himself, Li Jianxing quickly removed one of the carriage wheels.

When Xie Yiguan came out after the court session, he saw his coachman looking distressed. He then noticed the carriage missing a wheel and felt puzzled. He had been away from the capital for a while and hadn’t crossed anyone.

Cui Xuan also happened to come out of the palace at that moment. He completely ignored Xie Yiguan’s wheel-less carriage, walking past Xie Yiguan without even glancing sideways.

Xie Yiguan narrowed his eyes at Cui Xuan’s retreating figure. Cui Xuan was unlikely to stoop so low as to steal a carriage wheel…