Chapter 406 - 407: Citing the Past to Discuss the Present
Chapter 406: Chapter 407: Citing the Past to Discuss the Present
The Gu Family Brothers and their wives huddled to the side, trembling. They had gotten it all wrong. The old matriarch wasn’t the least bit easygoing; what was truly terrifying was how she held a grudge.
They racked their brains, trying to recall just how many hurtful things they had said to her over the years. ’Will we be torn to shreds like this one day, too?’
Li Cuicui saw right through them and sighed to herself.
’These sons of mine aren’t truly rotten to the core,’ she thought. ’All these years of penny-pinching and squabbling... it’s all because we were poor.’
Now that they had some spare cash, every one of them was willing to play the part of a loving mother and her filial sons.
But they had completely forgotten that some wounds, once they scar over, are nearly impossible to erase.
Wasn’t she using this very opportunity to put them in their place?
At that moment, Wang Caiyue clearly remembered the things she had said when she’d thrown a tantrum, demanding to split the family household.
Her eldest sister-in-law had married into the family first and, as a new bride, hadn’t dared to cause too much of a scene.
But she’d had no such inhibitions. Believing she had Gu Yuanmu wrapped around her little finger, she had raised an absolute storm back then.
"That’s all in the past," Wang Caiyue mumbled.
Li Cuicui nodded in agreement. "That’s right. The matter with Le Huan is in the past now, too. So, as her mother, you should just be a bit more generous, a bit more magnanimous. Try to be understanding."
The Gu Family Brothers: ’...’ ’A mother like this is terrifying. How in the world did Fourth manage to make her so furious?’
The Gu sisters-in-law: ’...’ ’Looks like our second sister-in-law really set Mom off this time.’
Wang Caiyue: ’...’ ’Husband, I want to go home.’
...
＆
「Today in the imperial court」
A hush had fallen over the officials ever since they’d heard the urgent report.
"What, have you all gone mute?" Hua Shunming glared down at the assembly. "Go on, cite your classics and debate your precedents! Drive these bandits out for me!" Just a quarter of an hour ago, these same men had been red in the face arguing for their own interests. Now that it was time for actual business, every last one of them had shrunk into his shell.
"Holy Emperor, I may be old, but my martial skills have never dulled," Cao Xiangqian declared, taking a step forward. "I am willing to lead our forces to help General Zhou suppress the bandits."
"I am willing to go as well," Xiao Liwei added, right on his heels. Many other military generals then stepped forward in succession.
Hua Shunming pointed to the civil servants observing coldly from the sidelines. "And where is all your talk of loyalty, honor, and integrity now? The one suffering this time is a Prefecture City! These bandits are so audacious they can infiltrate a Prefect’s residence to pillage and murder. What’s to stop them from coming for your own manors next time?
"I hope by then you’ll still be chanting about prizing harmony and turning swords into plowshares."
Every time there was a conflict, these civil servants knew only how to pay lip service. It was precisely because of their inaction that his own sister had been married off to a faraway land for a political alliance by the late Emperor.
And now, after only a few short years, tragic news had come: the Eldest Princess had passed from this world.
Thinking of his own little princess in the palace, who had just learned to toddle about, Hua Shunming’s gaze on the men below filled with a menacing darkness.
"Holy Emperor, our most pressing task is to dispatch someone immediately to assume the former Prefect’s position. Only when the home front is secure can General Zhou confront the bandits without distraction," said Niu Hai’an. As the Imperial Tutor, bearing the weight of everyone’s expectant gazes, he had no choice but to step forward.
Ever since the Prefect was assassinated, General Zhou has had no choice but to send his own Deputy General to try and maintain order.
But this is hardly a long-term solution. They are desperately short-staffed. It’s not just the loss of the Prefect; his Deputy and others were also seriously injured and are completely unable to manage the prefecture’s affairs.
Even though many coveted the position of a Fourth-rank Prefect, no one was willing to send one of their own protégés to take over. ’Who knows if the same thing will happen again? If it goes poorly, you’d just be inviting trouble upon yourself.’
"Niu Aiqing, do you have a candidate in mind?"
Niu Hai’an glanced back at the other officials. "This is a matter we must leave to you, my lords. Do you have any candidates? In the past, you were all so enthusiastic when discussing such appointments. I will refrain from getting involved."
The civil servants behind him: ’...’ ’No, honored Imperial Tutor, please get involved! Name anyone you want, just don’t kick the ball back into our court!’
"The border city of Lu City is of critical military importance. This candidate must be chosen with the utmost care," Cao Xiangqian said, his expression stern. He was genuinely worried these men would, for a sliver of personal gain, try to shove one of their useless protégés into the position.
After all, danger and opportunity often go hand in hand. If the gamble paid off, they would gain even more bargaining chips.
"Holy Emperor, in my opinion, the Heir of Marquis Wu’an has carried out his duties away from the capital with the utmost diligence and has proven himself exceptionally capable. I recommend Prince Bai for the position of Prefect of Lv City," said Chen Zishu, the Minister of Rites, as he stepped forward.
An official named Gold, standing nearby, immediately stepped out to retort. "I hear that Mr. Chen has recently been discussing a marriage between his children and the Marquis Wu’an’s. I wonder if this is why you’re so willing to ’recommend the worthy without avoiding family’?"
Many in the court understood the implication and shot Chen Zishu mocking looks. ’His daughter hasn’t even married into the family, and he’s already helping the Princely Heir angle for a promotion.’
Hua Shunming’s eyes narrowed as he stared at Marquis Wu’an, who had remained silent. "Marquis Wu’an, and what do you think?"
Bai Yugang could clearly hear the fury in the Holy Emperor’s tone, and he felt terribly wronged. Even now, he had no idea why Chen Zishu had said such a thing.
"Reporting to the Holy Emperor, my son is wild and incompetent. I fear he is incapable of shouldering such a heavy burden."
Hua Shunming pressed, "Then who, in your opinion, Bai Aiqing, can shoulder this great responsibility?"
"I do not know. That is for all the ministers to deliberate upon."
’That rebellious son of mine is a master at raking in money for the Emperor,’ he thought. The Emperor’s question made it instantly clear what choice he had to make.
"Can it be that in this mighty Rong Dynasty, we cannot find even a few capable men to send?" Hua Shunming could no longer suppress his fury. "You collect your court salaries every day, yet you refuse to do any actual work! So this is your idea of public service!
"I don’t care what you all think. You will draw up a list of candidates for me today.
"And until a candidate has been chosen, none of you, my lords, will be leaving this palace."
With that, Hua Shunming rose and stormed out with his personal eunuch, leaving the men below to sort it out themselves.
"You civil servants normally fight until you’re blue in the face over a single appointment. How is it that now, of all times, you’re all just passing the buck?" As the Minister of War, Cao Xiangqian had no fear of these old fogeys and didn’t mince his words.
"Mr. Cao, that’s easy for you to say when you’re not the one at risk," Xu Zhiwen retorted. "Everyone knows Lu City is fraught with danger. One misstep and it could cost a man his life. We cannot be so cavalier with the lives of others." His expression, which practically screamed ’you brute’, thoroughly enraged the military generals.
Xiao Liwei shot back, "Mr. Xu, you truly live up to your reputation, spouting your scholarly nonsense all day while remaining completely ignorant of the people’s suffering.
"The only reason you can all stand here in this hall, squabbling over power and profit, is because our soldiers are on the frontiers, holding the line through immense hardship! Every year, fending off invaders, how many loyal men are buried in the border cities? Are their lives not also lives?"