After the Disabled God of War Became My Concubine Chapter 46
The Emperor was really in a good mood these days.
Though the court had been in chaos recently and the entire Ministry of Rites had been checked over and over again, and even the court was a bit of a mess, but with his uncle handling it for him, even if this kind of triviality stirred up the skies, it wouldn't sour his mood.
Therefore, the emperor did not care which officials were arrested from the Ministry of Rites.
However, his uncle told him that the official had embezzled money from his birthday banquet, which was a great disrespect to him. Therefore, the corrupt official must be severely punished.
The Emperor didn't care whether the culprit was severely punished or not. If anything, in order to compensate him, his uncle stealthily found him two Yangzhou skinny horses1, changed their names and disguised them as noble women, and then stuffed them into his harem.
Women who came out of brothels had a charm that women from noble families lacked. Hence, the emperor, who got intoxicated in his pleasure harem2 recently, felt that since his uncle said the culprit would be severely punished, it must be right. Severe punishment it was.
Then, within two days, an even bigger good news reached his ears.
His consumptive Fifth Brother suddenly had a high fever and couldn't get up from bed.
The emperor was so happy to hear this that he immediately jumped up from his pleasure harem and sent an imperial doctor to King Jing's residence to see if his brother’s illness would kill him.
It didn't take long for the imperial doctor to return and report on the completion of his task.
"His Highness King Jing does not have a fever," the imperial doctor started.
When the imperial doctor came, Pang Shao was accompanying the Emperor to play a trick-taking card game3. Upon hearing this, the two’s complexions turned ugly.
"What's wrong with him then?" Pang Shao put down the cards in his hand and asked in a deep voice.
Then they heard the doctor continue, "Although he’s not feverish, he’s bedridden. I’ve diagnosed His Highness’s pulse, and I believe it is a weakness caused by palpitation and restlessness, plus weakness caused by excessive drinking and the cold.”
Hearing these words, Pang Shao went into deep thought.
The Emperor said discontentedly, "Then why did he report to me that he’s got a fever? He’s already so sick, yet he still made an effort to deceive me. He’s got the nerve…”
But then, Pang Shao raised his hand: “Your Majesty.”
"Uncle?" The Emperor looked at Pang Shao.
Then he saw Pang Shao's pensive face gradually reveal a hint of a smile.
"If I have not guessed wrongly... the secrets in this matter perhaps call more for Your Majesty's rejoicing,” he said.
"Why?" The emperor was puzzled.
Pang Shao replied, "Does Your Majesty know Ji You?"
The Emperor thought for a long time before he could barely recall the somewhat familiar name: "Ah, the official who embezzled my money?"
Pang Shao smiled and nodded.
"On the morning when he was detained, King Jing hurriedly went to the Ministry of Punishment's prison and met him in private," Pang Shao informed.
The Emperor frowned: "What happened after?"
Pang Shao grinned and looked at him.
"Then, His Highness King Jing braved the rain and got drunk alone. Within two days, he fell ill. Your Majesty, what do you think this 'palpitation and restlessness' of his could be due to?"
After thinking for a long time, traces of surprise gradually surfaced on the Emperor’s face.
"Are you saying that...he must have embezzled as well and is afraid that he will be investigated?"
Pang Shao smiled and nodded, but still he said, "I am only guessing."
The Emperor’s eyes almost burst out with excitement.
"Then why don't you go quickly and have someone investigate him?!" He said, "As a minister, he actually dared to swindle me. Do you think this can be considered deceiving the king and wanting to rebel?"
The more the Emperor spoke, the more excited he became, as if he could sentence Jiang Suizhou to death on the spot. Speaking of this, he excitedly slammed the card in his hand on the couch and said, "Uncle, let me investigate this matter, alright?"
Pang Shao looked at him.
He knew best how much His Majesty hated his Fifth Royal Brother.
In those years, the late emperor did not have an abundance of children, and several of his sons died at a young age. Only the fifth born to the late emperor’s beloved imperial concubine was raised on his knee and cared for in every way, so he didn't suffer at all.
On the contrary, although His Majesty was the first son back then, he was transparent in the eyes of the previous emperor and had never received his attention. People in the palace had always been snobbish. They bowed to the high and trampled on the low. When His Majesty was young, Pang Shao knew how much injustice he had suffered and how much he hated his Fifth Royal Brother.
Therefore, if he wanted to please His Majesty, there was nothing wrong with making a move on King Jing.
However, King Jing was also a descendant of the royal family. Although Pang Shao could torment and insult him, it was not so easy to get him killed. Now, even if the embezzlement case was found on Jiang Suizhou's head, and he was indeed found guilty; even if he was found to be corrupt, he could not be convicted of any capital felony.
That being the case, he’d better hand him over to His Majesty and please him with a cricket-fighting pleasure.
With that in mind, Pang Shao gently smiled.
"His Majesty, King Jing is noble. I do not dare to overstep my bounds," he said.
"Since Your Majesty wants to investigate the case, I will immediately deploy my staff and be at Your Majesty's disposal."
Footnote:
1 Thin/Skinny horses - a term from the Yuan Dynasty referring to beautiful girls bought from poor families. Buyers will then let them study, teach them to sing and dance, to play chess and calligraphy, and then to sell them to rich men as concubines or brothels to profit from them.
2 Pleasure town/harem - (Wenrou township/gentle township) - a metaphor for a place of women’s charm
3 Madiao - also known as the game of paper tiger
