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Chapter 304: The Xun Family's Turmoil
Chapter 304: The Xun Family's Turmoil
During the days when the Emperor was absent from the capital, Chancellor Xun was left to handle the affairs of the court.
Today's court session was bustling with numerous memorials, primarily revolving around the Chu family's case.
Once again, Wang, the Royal Inspector, single-handedly engaged in a verbal battle with the scholars, creating an undefeated record.
The officials, one by one, left the Golden Throne Hall with anger and frustration, their faces ashen.
"This is outrageous! Since when has there been a precedent for a woman to be granted a title of nobility? Lu Yuan disregards moral principles and acts recklessly. Doesn't Wang, the Royal Inspector, understand propriety and law? How can he serve as an inspector?"
"Forget it, we can't win against him in an argument."
"Although Lady Chu suffered an unjust accusation, in my opinion, granting her the title of a first-rank noble lady is already the Emperor's grace. How dare she still harbor the ambition of becoming a marquis?"
"Let's go, let's go. Wang, the Royal Inspector, is here."
The officials grumbled as they returned to their respective offices.
Wang, the Royal Inspector, stood outside the Golden Throne Hall and asked Chancellor Xun, "Chancellor, do you also believe that women should not be granted titles of nobility?"
Chancellor Xun smiled, his expression both amiable and dignified, befitting a regent minister, "Lady Chu saved lives and treated the wounded at the border, assisting the army in establishing great merits. Such an extraordinary woman deserves special treatment from the court, and granting her a title of nobility as an exception is not unreasonable."
Wang, the Royal Inspector, continued, "Then why didn't you say a word earlier?"
Chancellor Xun sighed helplessly, "It's not that I don't want to argue for Lady Chu's case, but the matter of granting a title is of great significance. We must wait for the Emperor's return from the Autumn Hunt to make a decision."
Wang, the Royal Inspector: Old fox.
Wang, the Royal Inspector, has always been impartial and unbiased. Chancellor Xun temporarily had no leverage, and Wang, the Royal Inspector, at most, thought him to be a smooth operator, but he didn't feel any particular dislike.
He cupped his hands and said, "Your subordinate takes his leave."
Chancellor Xun politely raised his hand, "Please, Lord Wang, take your time."
It wasn't until they left the palace and boarded the carriage back to the mansion that Chancellor Xun's amiable and merciful expression faded, and his eyes became deep and inscrutable.
He took out a jade thumb ring from a hidden compartment and put it on, then closed his eyes to rest.
When the carriage was halfway through its journey, a shadow guard swiftly climbed onto the carriage.
"My lord, the seventh young master has sent a message by carrier pigeon."
Chancellor Xun kept his eyes closed and replied indifferently, "Speak."
The shadow guard spoke with a solemn expression, "The shadow guards sent to assassinate the Majestic King have failed, and none of them survived."
The shadow guards of the Mansion of the Minister were not ordinary guards; each one was carefully selected and rigorously trained, making them elite warriors chosen from a hundred.
This loss was devastating.
However, Chancellor Xun remained calm, and he responded with a nonchalant 'hm.'
"There's more."
The shadow guard continued, "Luo San's identity has been exposed, and he is now a hostage in the Marquis's mansion."
Finally, Chancellor Xun's expression changed slightly, and he rubbed the jade thumb ring on his left thumb.
The shadow guard said, "The Majestic King is full of tricks, and his poison bug skills are extremely sinister. Should we... take care of Luo San?"
Chancellor Xun remained silent.
The shadow guard broke out in a cold sweat.
As a shadow guard, his task, along with his companions, was to execute the lord's orders. The mansion's advisors were responsible for providing strategies and counsel.
He knelt on one knee and bowed his head with utmost respect and fear, "My subordinate spoke out of turn, please punish me, my lord!"
Chancellor Xun continued to turn the jade thumb ring on his thumb, not even opening his eyes.
However, the shadow guard already felt a palpable sense of oppression.
The lord had experienced many storms and was capable of handling any situation, no matter how big, from within his command center.
But recently, more and more things had been going against the lord's wishes.
Just yesterday, the Xun family's ancestral tomb had been dug up by the Majestic King.
Who would have such a simple and unadorned ancestral tomb?
Who could've imagined this?
He could sense that the Lord's mood was terrible.
Could it be that the feng shui was disrupted, leading to a string of misfortunes?
There was another piece of bad news, but the Shadow Guard suddenly hesitated, unsure if he should speak.
Amidst the internal struggle, the carriage arrived at the Mansion of the Minister.
Chancellor Xun had just stepped off the carriage when Lady Wei, dressed in elegant attire, rushed over, sobbing uncontrollably, "Brother—you have to stand up for Xuan'er—”
Chancellor Xun asked, "Didn't Xuan'er go hunting? What trouble did he cause this time?"
Lady Wei spoke with distress, "Brother! What are you saying? What do you mean by Xuan'er causing trouble? Xuan'er is your nephew! Without even asking, you assume he's the one at fault? Is this how an uncle should act? Clearly, someone has harmed Xuan'er! My poor Xuan'er—his mother is no longer here—if she were alive, how could she allow her own grandson to be humiliated like this? Ah—my Xuan'er—”
The Xun family's steward stood at the door, his scalp tingling, and advised Lady Wei, "Madam, please enter the mansion first. Don't make a scene outside, letting others laugh at us."
Lady Wei scolded, "My son has been taken to jail, and you're worried about people laughing at us?"
After she finished speaking, she turned to Chancellor Xun, "Brother, you are the Chancellor. They dared to arrest your nephew, as if they don't respect you at all!"
"What happened?"
Chancellor Xun looked at the steward.
The steward replied, "This servant also just received the news. It's said that the Heir and the Young Master were taken back to the capital and locked up in the Ministry of Punishment's jail. I had just sent someone to inquire when you returned."
Chancellor Xun turned back, furrowing his brows as he glanced at the Shadow Guard following behind him.
Shadow Guard: The third piece of bad news, and it's finally unavoidable.
He took a deep breath and stepped forward, mustering the courage to report, "The Heir and the Young Master were caught engaging in indecent acts in the hunting ground and were discovered on the spot by Princess Wanping and several young ladies. In her anger, Princess Wanping ordered their arrest."
Lady Wei shrieked, "What indecent acts? Nonsense! My son isn't that kind of person—”
Chancellor Xun clenched his fists, and his usually unchanging expression showed a hint of cracks, "Block the news!"
"It's too late... Lu Yuan has already spread the news, and moreover..."
The Shadow Guard spoke in a low voice, "The Heir and the Young Master were brought back to the capital in a prisoner's cart, openly escorted."
This was almost like a public shaming.
Furthermore, Lu Yuan had bribed beggars on every street and storytelling masters in major teahouses, so now the entire capital knew that Xun Yu had an affair with his own cousin.
The carefully cultivated image of a virtuous gentleman crumbled overnight, exposing his true nature.
All of this was witnessed firsthand by the Shadow Guard on his way to the palace to find Chancellor Xun.
As the saying goes, good news doesn't travel far, but bad news spreads like wildfire, especially with Lu Yuan pushing the matter behind the scenes.
The higher Xun Yu had risen, the harder his fall would be.
The Shadow Guard could already imagine that the Heir's days ahead would be difficult.
And the Heir was the Lord's only legitimate son. If Royal Censor Wang, who was known for his sharp tongue, found out about this indiscretion, he would certainly submit a report criticizing the Lord for failing to educate his son properly.
Thinking of Royal Censor Wang's iron-clad words, the Shadow Guard feared that the Lord's days in court would also become difficult.
"Ah—"
Lady Wei couldn't bear this blow and fainted, her eyes rolling back.
Chancellor Xun's eyes filled with murderous intent, and he slammed his palm onto the stone lion at the door, "Lu Yuan!"
He was desperate! He was desperate!
(End of Chapter)
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