Imperial Physician Sun had been quite enjoying the drama when his name was suddenly called. Startled, he quickly dropped to his knees, his words measured and precise: “The Young General Huo’s words are indeed true. If she hadn’t been brought to us in time yesterday, even this old subject would have been powerless to save her.”
Meanwhile, he was grumbling internally: Well, aren’t you something, ‘Huo Ci’! I saved your daughter, then your wife. I’ve practically done you the favor of two lives, and this is how you repay me? Dragging me into this?
When mentioning others, you just say ‘the other imperial physicians,’ but when it comes to me, you use my full name!
Physician Sun secretly rolled his eyes, failing to notice Emperor Xiao Ao’s utterly stormy expression.
The Lady Dowager Huo was terrified and, finding herself unable to defend against the accusations, turned deathly pale, with beads of sweat the size of beans forming on her forehead. Her guilt was firmly established. If the Emperor pronounced punishment, there would be no room for reversal.
Thinking frantically, her eyes darted around. Then, with a sudden gasp, she feigned fainting.
Xiao Ao closed his eyes for a moment, forcibly suppressing the rage in his heart.
Absurd. Utterly absurd.
In all his years on the throne, the morning court had never been this chaotic.
A mother accusing her son, a son accusing his mother.
Was there anything more ridiculous and preposterous in this world?
What place did filial piety hold? What place did the law of the land hold?
Su Sheng, having grown up with Xiao Ao, immediately grasped his fury. He shot a look to the young eunuchs standing on either side.
They swiftly stepped forward and dragged the unconscious Lady Dowager Huo out of the Taihe Hall.
For a moment, the hall fell into a silence so profound one could hear a pin drop.
Xiao Ao let out a cold laugh.
Whoosh!
The civil and military officials instantly dropped to their knees in unison.
Xiao Ao rapped his knuckles on the dragon throne, his tone icy. “This is the imperial court, not a local magistrate’s office!
If all of you bring your petty domestic squabbles here to argue, then when are we to discuss matters of military and state? When are we to uphold the laws and statutes of the court?
Shall we simply move the morning court to the market square?!”
“Your Majesty, please calm your anger! Your subjects deserve death!”
Yun Chunfeng spoke up calmly, “Your Majesty, please quell your wrath and preserve your royal health. This subject has just performed a divination and deduced that yesterday’s heavenly thunder was not, in fact, aimed at General Huo. If it were, it would have struck him personally.”
Xiao Ao held Yun Chunfeng in genuine respect and had never lost his temper with him. Now that Yun Chunfeng was stepping in to smooth things over, Xiao Ao gave him face and reined in his thunderous anger.
“Oh? Then, State Preceptor, what punishment do you deem appropriate?”
Yun Chunfeng offered a faint smile. “I am honored by Your Majesty’s high regard, but this humble subject only interprets the heavenly mysteries for Your Majesty. I do not understand the affairs of the court. Your Majesty, possessing the true dragon’s form and the mandate of heaven, will undoubtedly dispense rewards and punishments with perfect measure, rivaling even the sage emperors of old.”
Was there anything more pleasing than praise and flattery from an immortal?
Xiao Ao felt soothed, his mood improving considerably.
“Li-shi of the Huo family is domineering and of deficient character. She is hereby stripped of her First Rank Honored Lady title and is confined to the Grand General’s estate, forbidden to leave without summons.
Huo Ci has failed to honor filial piety and neglected his personal virtue. He is fined one ten-day cycle’s salary and ordered to return to his estate to manage his household affairs. If further disputes arise, he will not be leniently treated!
Henceforth, the authority to manage the inner household of the Grand General’s estate is transferred to Huo Jiang-shi as compensation.”
Yun Chunfeng led the court in a respectful chorus: “Your Majesty is wise! Long live Your Majesty, ten thousand, ten thousand years!”
—————
Jiang Xingyan reluctantly brought the feigning-unconscious Lady Dowager Huo back to the Grand General’s estate.
She had initially intended to see Yun Chunfeng back to the military camp first, but Little Ya clung to him and refused to let go.
Jiang Xingyan thought the child didn’t want to return to the Huo estate, which was like a hell for them, so she suggested Yun Chunfeng take Little Ya with him.
Unexpectedly, the little girl said, “Little Ya wants Uncle to come too.”
Yun Chunfeng said with feigned reluctance, “Since Little Ya’s invitation is so hard to refuse, this humble one will accompany the General on this trip.”
Jiang Xingyan felt something was a bit off but didn’t dwell on it. Having Brother Yun around did make her feel more confident.
Soon, the carriage came to a smooth stop in front of the General’s estate. Jiang Xingyan was the first to lift the curtain and step down, missing the slight movement of Yun Chunfeng’s fingers as he popped a piece of candy into Little Ya’s mouth.
Little Ya ate it with relish, her little hair buns swaying.
I didn’t know asking Uncle to help A-Niang came with candy!
Jiang Xingyan directed the servants to carry the supposedly unconscious Lady Dowager Huo and swaggered through the main gate.
The maids and old servants, seeing the Dowager seemingly at death’s door and dumped by the Young General in the main room to fend for herself, knew a change of power was imminent.
Eager to prove their loyalty, they all rushed to explain what had happened yesterday the moment Jiang Xingyan asked, each fearing that any delay might cause the Young General’s displeasure and implicate them.
The noise gave Jiang Xingyan a headache. She coldly snapped, “Silence, all of you! Speak one at a time!”
From their vivid, overly detailed accounts, she gradually pieced together the sequence of events.
After she had left yesterday, Li Yishu, feeling terribly wronged, actually blamed the Lady Dowager for deceiving her. She accused the Dowager of lying about her cousin Huo Ci still having feelings for her, luring her there only to suffer humiliation and nearly get involved in a capital crime, potentially even facing legal trouble herself.
The Lady Dowager, already furious, was incensed by this direct defiance from her own niece. With two sharp smacks, she slapped Li Yishu across the face and ordered her locked in a side courtyard without food for three days and three nights.
Just then, two consecutive claps of thunder sounded at the gate. A panicked servant rushed in to report that the estate’s main plaque had been struck twice by heavenly lightning and was practically reduced to dust.
The Lady Dowager was scared out of her wits. It was Yuzhu, standing by her side, who calmed her and offered advice: “Do not distress yourself, Madam. The Young General dared to defy you. It seems his old feelings for that merchant’s daughter have rekindled. We must snuff out this affection immediately, or the consequences could be dire. Why not take advantage of this heavenly punishment and make a big scene of it, taking the matter directly to the Emperor? Tomorrow, using your status as a First Rank Honored Lady, go to court and petition the Emperor. Attribute the lightning strike entirely to the Young General’s unfilial behavior towards you, provoked by that merchant’s daughter’s bewitchment. Request that the Emperor lightly punish the Young General and, at the same time, grant him permission to divorce that woman, severing any chance of them reconciling.”
At first, Mrs. Huo was reluctant to make a big fuss, as she felt sorry for Huo Ci being punished.
Yuzhu pressed further: “Madam, the Young General has always been obedient to you. If such insolence goes unpunished, it may become impossible to control him in the future. You must make him understand that a mother’s authority can never be overstepped. Your rank as a First Rank Honored Lady is no lower than his. He must know that even the Son of Heaven will punish him for unfilial conduct, so he will continue to obey you.”
These words successfully persuaded the Dowager. Losing control over Huo Ci was her greatest fear.
Jiang Xingyan sneered repeatedly.
What a fine Yuzhu.
Truly a great help to her mistress.
“Guards! Bring Yuzhu here!
This slave has a wicked heart and loves to gossip and stir up trouble. This General will have her tongue plucked out as a warning to others!”