RPAGF Chapter 432 He was questioned before the Emperor and dismissed from his post.
Chapter 432 He was questioned before the Emperor and dismissed from his post.
The palace was shrouded in deathly silence in the dead of night, and the chiwen (mythical beasts) on the eaves looked like ferocious beasts under the moonlight.
Lu Jiangnian escorted Zhou Jianming, who was bound hand and foot, through the many palace gates. His black official boots echoed dully on the bluestone slabs.
"Your Majesty, Lord Lu and Zhou Jianming are waiting for your decree outside the palace."
When the emperor's personal eunuch bowed to report, he caught a glimpse of the vermilion pen in the emperor's hand pausing slightly.
“Xuan.”
The emperor's voice was forced out through clenched teeth, filled with suppressed anger.
Lu Jiangnian escorted Zhou Jianming into the hall and made him kneel on the ground.
The emperor's gaze was like a knife, passing over the trembling Zhou Jianming and piercing straight into Lu Jiangnian's upright back.
News of Liang Yuhua's death had already reached the palace; this carefully planted pawn had fallen just like that.
"My dear minister, what brings you here so late at night?"
The emperor's voice was as cold as ice.
Lu Jiangnian kowtowed heavily, his jade crown striking the gold bricks with a clear sound: "Your subject is guilty."
“My cousin Zhou Jianming, under the influence of alcohol, committed a violent act with the intention of defiling Miss Liang, causing her to be unable to bear the humiliation and commit suicide by hitting her head against a wall.”
His voice was steady and strong, "Your Majesty, I have failed in your grace and have come to apologize."
"oh?"
The emperor suddenly sneered, and as he rose and paced, his dragon robe stirred up a gust of cold wind.
The black dragon-patterned boot sole ground down hard on Zhou Jianming's trembling fingers. "The man I bestowed upon you can't even keep his innocence in the Lu family?"
The Emperor's voice grew even more sinister and icy, "Speak, who gave you the audacity?"
Zhou Jianming trembled violently, his clothes soaked with cold sweat.
He never dreamed that he would one day meet the emperor, let alone that it would be under these circumstances.
His throat felt as if it were being choked by an invisible hand, and he could only utter broken sobs: "Forgive...Forgive me..."
A foul, fishy smell suddenly filled the hall—this once arrogant and domineering playboy had actually lost control of his bladder in front of the emperor.
"presumptuous!"
The emperor roared in anger.
Zhou Jianming's eyes rolled back, and he completely lost consciousness, collapsing onto the gold bricks like a rag doll.
The palace servants quickly carried the unconscious Zhou Jianming out, while several eunuchs knelt on the ground and quickly wiped away the urine stains with handkerchiefs soaked in perfume.
However, the stench of blood still lingered in the hall. The emperor, his face grim, stood up: "Let's move to a side hall."
Inside the side hall, the ambergris incense was reignited.
The emperor sat upright on the dragon throne, his sharp eyes fixed on Lu Jiangnian, who stood with his head bowed. The hall was so quiet that the dripping of the water clock could be heard.
"Lu Jiangnian," the emperor suddenly spoke, his voice as cold as ice, "tell me, how should I handle this matter?"
Lu Jiangnian raised his head and met the emperor's unfathomable gaze—a gaze brimming with blatant suspicion and scrutiny.
"I am guilty."
He knelt down heavily, his forehead touching the ground, "Today happens to be my younger sister's wedding day. There are many people and things going on in the mansion. In a moment of carelessness, I failed to protect Liang Yuhua."
His voice was steady and powerful, "Zhou Jianming deserves to die ten thousand times over. As for me, I will accept any punishment Your Majesty deems appropriate, without any complaints."
"Yeah?"
The emperor sneered, tapping his fingers lightly on the armrest. "Is the truth really that simple?"
He suddenly leaned forward. "I've heard that Liang Yuhua has been in the palace for half a month, and you haven't gotten close to her at all. What, are you dissatisfied with my decree?"
The atmosphere inside the hall suddenly became tense.
Lu Jiangnian remained kneeling, his back still straight: "Your Majesty, it is precisely because I remember Your Majesty's grace that I dared not be disrespectful to Liang Yuhua."
"What a silver tongue!"
The emperor slammed his fist on the table and rose abruptly. "Then dare you say that what happened today wasn't you using someone else to do your dirty work? Wasn't it your defiance of my bestowed marriage?"
Lu Jiangnian's expression remained unchanged, but he lowered his head even further: "Your Majesty, I dare not say that. Liang Yuhua's death was truly an accident. If Your Majesty does not believe me, you may send the Ministry of Justice to investigate."
The emperor narrowed his eyes, his gaze sweeping over Lu Jiangnian like a knife, as if trying to see through his internal organs.
After a long silence, he coldly replied, "Is that so?"
"You still dare to say that you are not dissatisfied with me?"
“I heard that since Liang Yuhua entered the manor, you have never even glanced at her. Isn’t that a silent form of resistance?”
Lu Jiangnian's voice was as steady as an ancient well: "Your Majesty is wise. The imperial decree of marriage came suddenly. I have never been interested in women, and I already have a virtuous wife at home. It is truly..."
His Adam's apple bobbed slightly. "Not ready to accept new people yet."
"Snapped!"
The emperor slammed his teacup down on the table, splashing tea everywhere: "My bestowal of a beauty has turned into an injustice to you, General Lu?"
"I had absolutely no such intention."
Lu Jiangnian pressed his forehead against the cold gold brick.
The emperor suddenly sneered: "Lord Lu, who can command the three armies, can't even protect a weak woman?"
"I think you're deliberately trying to embarrass me."
Lu Jiangnian's pupils contracted sharply. "Your subject dares not."
The Emperor, seething with anger, stood up and declared, "Effective immediately, the position of Minister of the Imperial Guard will be filled by someone else."
"Since you love Yuan Shi so much, then stay home and recuperate, and go and be loving with her."
Lu Jiangnian dug his fingertips into his palm, blood seeping into the cracks of the gold bricks: "Your subject... obeys the decree."
These three words carry immense weight.
-
"Lord Lu has been dismissed from his post?"
"I heard it's because of the beauty bestowed upon him by the Emperor..."
"Shh-"
The dismissal of Lu Jiangnian caused a huge uproar in the court. Since the incident involving the Second Prince, the Emperor's every move has become increasingly unpredictable.
The Crown Prince was the first to plead for Lu Jiangnian, but the Emperor wouldn't listen to a word and instead reprimanded the Crown Prince for overstepping his bounds.
"Father, Lord Lu is utterly loyal..."
"Is the Crown Prince going to teach me how to do things?"
The emperor interrupted with a cold laugh, "Or perhaps... you've been in cahoots all along?"
These words were like a sharp sword, piercing straight into the prince's heart.
He pressed his forehead against the cold gold brick, feeling only a deep sorrow in his heart.
"Father, what am I to you?"
He looked directly into the emperor's eyes, his eyes overflowing with grievance and resentment.
The Emperor looked at those eyes that most resembled those of the late Empress, and quickly looked away.
"How dare you! Are you questioning me?"
"Your Highness, don't forget, this is my empire, and it's not your place to make the decisions."
The crown prince gave a bitter laugh.
He never thought about it and was eager to take up this position.
However, his father now sees him as a thorn in his side.
Why did things come to this between father and son?
Like mortal enemies!
-
The vacant official position vacated by Lu Jiangnian was quickly filled by someone.
The new Minister of the Imperial Guard is actually a member of the Jiang family, the same Jiang family that was Lady Zhaohua's maternal grandfather.
Moreover, in the following period, several officials who clearly supported the crown prince were dismissed from their posts on various pretexts.
The vacancies they left were quickly filled, and the successors were almost all from the Fifth Prince's faction.
Those with discerning eyes in the court have already realized that the Emperor intends to support the Fifth Prince in challenging the Crown Prince!
"This wind direction is ominous," an old minister sighed in a low voice.
But what could they, as subjects, possibly do?
I only hope that His Majesty will not make a mistake.