Chapter 427: Severe Punishment

“Imperial father, it really isn’t like that, you have to believe me………….”

Le Cheng Emperor had a cold look, looking to Princess Min Xiang as if looking at a dead person. It was obvious, he simply didn’t believe Princess Min Xiang’s words.

“Your Majesty.” Noble Consort Su was extremely conflicted inside, seemingly no longer able to endure, “Min Xiang being like this today, that is all this consort’s fault. It was this consort that didn’t teach her right.” Sobbing as she said this, softly, as if extremely sorrowful yet also forcibly enduring, feeling disappointed towards Princess Min Xiang, but further blaming herself, “Your Majesty, the hundreds and thousands of faults, all this consort’s fault. Min Xiang has already suffered a lesson. If your Majesty wants to punish, then just punish this consort. To not educate the daughter, it is the fault of the mother. Everything all should, all should…………….”

“Imperial father, this matter, this son is also responsible. On normal days, one has paid too little attention towards Min Xiang, to the extent that many things, one all didn’t know, thus resulting in her making continuous mistakes. If this son had taken some time to question a little, even if it’s just discovering some clues, things absolutely wouldn’t have reached this step today.” Li Hong Ming also had a look of remorse.

To put it bluntly, the mother-son pair were just advancing by retreating. Moreover, in this kind of situation right now, they not only can’t ‘extinguish one’s family out of righteousness’, they even needed to ‘defend’ Min Xiang. This wasn’t just because of their relationship, but also because of another factor. Min Xiang was a princess, the emperor’s daughter. Don’t say something like, ‘a prince breaking the law is punished the same as a commoner’. That was just said for commoners to hear, else why would they be called ‘heavenly noble descendants’. Furthermore, she’d even been injured by her fuma, so her guilt has already reduced by quite a bit.

This kind of method in itself wasn’t wrong, but there was a premise, and that depended on whether or not Le Cheng Emperor bought it.

Princess Min Xiang’s matter, in itself, was just the imperial family’s ugly scandal. If each and every princess were all like her, then for the princesses after her, further don’t think about finding a slightly better husband. After all, no one was willing to follow fifth fuma’s footsteps. An ordinary women that was easily jealous and malicious, can they even compare with Princess Min Xiang?

Alright, the matters of the back manor, and the women of the back manor, you forever can’t underestimate. Certain people’s methods absolutely weren’t inferior in the slightest to Princess Min Xiang’s. Princess Min Xiang’s greatest ‘mistake’ was just handling it with great fanfare, making it known on the surface. It didn’t matter if others don’t know, but once others know, then it was just a scandal, thoroughly embarrassing the imperial family.

But, if they just punish Princess Min Xiang like this, then where would the imperial family’s prestige lie?

“This emperor hasn’t even said anything, yet you all just rush to beg for forgiveness first.”

Le Cheng Emperor was different from what they’d expected, but the mother-son pair still didn’t dare to continue saying anything. In reality, this kind of seemingly unable to advance or retreat situation, made one strangely nervous and at a loss for what to do. All in all, there was one thing that was very certain, this absolutely wasn’t a good sign.

The scene strangely sunk into silence. This kind of silence made one exceptionally unsettled, aside from Le Cheng Emperor that controlled everyone’s life and death, honor and disgrace. Even the inner court attendants all felt it was somewhat difficult to breathe.

All the way until a trusted attendant by Le Cheng Emperor’s side entered, “Your Majesty, the others of fifth princess’s manor have already been interrogated……….”

Turns out, the others from Princess Min Xiang’s manor also got escorted into the palace behind them.

“………….The result of the interrogation,” The inner court attendant paused for a moment, “Fifth fuma in the princess manor was probably, easily bullied by all.”

The last four words were very light. In this place where the drop of a needle can be heard, everyone all heard it very clearly. It was more than enough to see that just now, the people by Princess Min Xiang’s side still somewhat held back.

“Easily bullied by all?” The tip of Le Cheng Emperor’s finger tapped against the imperial desk, “Qi Yuan’s fuma has fallen to such a degree?”

Towards those fumas, regardless whether it was his sisters’, or his daughters’, the ones that Le Cheng Emperor was satisfied with definitely didn’t exceed three. In Le Cheng Emperor’s eyes, even if because of marrying a princess severed one’s future prospects, resulting in many people all unwilling to marry a princess, it’s not like ones like the Grand Elder Princess’s fuma didn’t exist. However, his son-in-laws, in his eyes, really were more and more disappointing than the other. Looking at it now, it wasn’t just the problem of their future prospects, his daughters weren’t outstanding to begin with either. Compared to the Grand Elder Princess, they really were far too inferior. In additions to ones like Min Xiang, it’s no wonder no one liked.

(T/N: The Grand Elder Princess’s husband, Jiang-fuma, was introduced during the Grand Elder Princess’s birthday banquet chapters.)

The daughter-in-laws of the imperial family were considered part of the imperial household, and the imperial family’s son-in-laws were also considered half a member of the imperial family. Getting stepped on by a bunch of lowly servants, no matter how cowardly of a man, he would still have his dignity, so it’s no wonder he would snap and violently injure the princess. In a certain sense, Princess Min Xiang was just asking for it.

Le Cheng Emperor also felt that Princess Min Xiang was also just asking for it, but regardless of the reason, it all wasn’t an excuse for a fuma to injure a princess, no matter how great of a price he paid.

“Noble Consort has erred in raising the daughter, forfeiting one’s salary for a year, and shutting the palace doors for half a year. During this period, not allowed to interfere in any palace affairs. Rui Qinwang left one’s post without permission, not knowing the severity; forfeit one’s salary for a year, and temporarily suspended from one’s post in the Ministry of Appointments. Princess Min Xiang’s nature is malicious, lacking in morality and conduct; shut oneself in confinement to reflect over one’s mistakes. Additionally, order two etiquette mama to re-educate. Fifth fuma had duped the ruler, as well as offended one’s superior by injuring a princess, will be taken into prison, unable to be pardoned for life. However, considering his severe injuries, will allow him to be imprisoned in the home, never to leave for all one’s life. As for the people of the fifth princess manor, to not dissuade the princess, aiding in the tyranny, those in the slave class will be sent back to the Department of Internal Affairs and dealt with from there; those not in the slave class will be punished with forced labor for three years.”

Once Le Cheng Emperor’s words came out, regardless of what the people below felt, all could only ‘thank his Majesty’s magnanimous grace’.

For fifth fuma as well as his family, this punishment actually wasn’t considered anything, and should shed tears of joy, but they can’t be happy too early. Fifth fuma’s current situation wasn’t optimistic, perhaps having the danger of losing his life.

Princess Min Xiang’s face was like dead ashes. If not for Noble Consort Su pulling her in time, she would’ve almost openly defied the decree.

(T/N: She literally has the lightest punishment out of all of them, equivalent to just getting grounded to ‘reflect on her mistakes’.)

And in reality, Noble Consort Su and Rui Qinwang further wanted to directly strangle her to death. The ones that were truly dripping blood inside were the two of them.

For Noble Consort Su, with the Empress absent, the palace affairs were left to her and Shu Consort Qin. Now that Shu Consort Qin has also collapsed, it was just her alone in charge. Although there was still a Xian Consort Wei, but as the Former Wei princess, that was just a flower vase decoration. This was definitely the best opportunity to insert her own people, but now, she directly got her powers stripped, even needing to shut her palace doors for half a year. Of course, closing the palace doors didn’t mean that Noble Consort Su wasn’t allowed to leave Yucui Palace, but rather, in this half a year’s time, she won’t have the opportunity to serve the night. Despite nowadays, Le Cheng Emperor going to Yucui Palace, majority of the times, Noble Consort Su would all arrange someone else to serve the night, but that was still Yucui Palace’s honor. The shut doors were directed at Le Cheng Emperor. In this half a year’s time, he won’t set foot in Yucui Palace. In the imperial harem, regardless of how luxurious, and how high the consort’s position was, the emperor not setting foot in one’s palace, that was just equal to being the cold palace.

And Rui Qinwang was just even more sullen. From the sounds of Le Cheng Emperor’s meaning, he was just being meddlesome, throwing aside the important matters in hand to go interfere in this kind of inner manor dispute, directly losing his job in the Ministry of Appointments. He had gone through so much to finally enter the Ministry of Appointments, exhausting so much effort to finally stabilize his foothold. By knowing even more information, his words will have more weight, but now, his efforts were all wasted.

As for the people in Princess Min Xiang’s manor, who would still care about them.

“Your Majesty, Jin Qinwang requests an audience.”n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Upon hearing this, Le Cheng Emperor’s expression eased a little. Never mind Noble Consort Su, even Li Hong Ming all couldn’t help but reveal a look of hope.

Li Hong Yuan entered, his gaze not shifting, “Greetings to imperial father.”

“How come you entered the palace at this time?” Le Cheng Emperor asked.

“This son heard that something happened to Min Xiang, so just entered the palace for a look.”

“You have heart, but this matter, this emperor has already finished taking care of, so just go on with your own business, no need to get involved.”

“Imperial father, can this son know how it was taken care of?”

“What is a grown man like you getting involved in these for? Quickly get lost.” Le Cheng Emperor impatiently waved his hand.

Li Hong Yuan ‘hesitated’, and afterwards, swiftly got lost.

T/N: This is the extent of Princess Min Xiang’s punishment, because she’s an imperial princess, if they punish her, it will affect the imperial family’s authority. As for karma, well she lost an ear and has a bad reputation now, I guess, but she will still live in luxury as a princess. As I’ve said before, the imperial power is absolute, there’s no such thing as justice or fairness. This is a realistic portrayal of it.