The Prime Minister's White Moonlight - Chapter 14

Chapter 14: Husband and Wife

“Someone at today’s court session impeached the son of the Minister of Revenue for abusing his father’s position to facilitate cheating in the examination and frame others,” Linglong poured a cup of tea for Hanbi, looking at the emerald-green liquid.

Hanbi took the teacup, slowly took a sip, and said, “Oh? The Minister of Revenue is a subordinate of the Grand Commandant. He must have pleaded for the Minister of Revenue, right?”

Linglong lowered her eyes. “Yes. If the memorial hadn’t been submitted directly through the Censorate, it would likely have been intercepted by the Central Secretariat. There were others who pleaded for him, but mostly from the Grand Commandant’s faction. However, the evidence was conclusive, and His Majesty has ordered the arrest of the Minister of Revenue and his son.”

Hanbi was not surprised. This was probably Shen Zhuo’s doing, with her own push from behind. “The Grand Commandant has been forced to cut off an arm. The Grand Commandant’s Residence is probably not having a good day today.”

Hanbi’s guess was correct. Grand Commandant Lu, who was usually good at concealing his emotions, was furious. The front hall of the Grand Commandant’s Residence was now filled with his faction.

“You all knew His Majesty would not tolerate even a speck of dust, yet you failed to be cautious,” Grand Commandant Lu was expressionless as usual when he was angry, but no one in the hall dared to speak, all holding their breath.

Everyone was still wearing their official robes, having been summoned immediately after the court session. Now they were subjected to a lecture. Pei Xun, an older Minister, said, “Grand Commandant, the urgent task now is to find a way to ensure that the Minister of Revenue remains our person.”

Grand Commandant Lu sighed deeply. “Do you think His Majesty will not insert his own person?” Zhao Yan probably wanted to make changes to the official appointments for a long time. Now that he had seized this leverage, the Minister of Revenue was immediately imprisoned. If Zhao Yan hadn’t given instructions, the Ministry of Justice would not have dared to act.

“The memorial did not go through the Central Secretariat; otherwise, it would have been withheld. Instead, it went directly to His Majesty through the Censorate. The person who submitted the memorial must be skilled in this path,” said Han Ting, the Minister of the Central Secretariat.

Grand Commandant Lu snorted. “That is also because you were not careful in your work and allowed loopholes to be exploited. In the past, I never stopped you, no matter how you conducted yourselves, but now you are even capable of cheating in the examination.”

Clearly, Grand Commandant Lu was also dissatisfied with the Minister of Revenue’s actions. Everyone was startled upon hearing this and quickly pledged to be more cautious.

After some further discussion, they dispersed. Grand Commandant Lu closed his eyes to rest. His wife brought him a cup of ginseng soup. Grand Commandant Lu heard the sound, opened his eyes, took the cup, and sighed, “Alas, I’m getting old. I must accept it.”

His wife covered his hand with hers. “Why not retire? You are a three-dynasty elder now, and both the Lu and Ning families have produced Empresses. What more do you need?”

The Grand Commandant held her hand and said, “His Majesty is determined to rule independently now. How can I feel at ease?” This was the truth, but there was also selfishness. If he retired, how could the Lu and Ning families retain their former glory?

His wife looked at his graying temples, her heart also filled with worries. After a long silence, she could only sigh. “When you retire, we will return to our ancestral home in Xingyang, renovate the old house, and no longer concern ourselves with matters in the capital.”

“Alright,” the Grand Commandant readily agreed. He spoke a few more words with his wife, drank the ginseng soup, and then went to write official documents.

In the Taiji Palace, the Empress also heard about the Minister of Revenue’s situation and was extremely worried.

She hesitated about whether to plead for the Minister of Revenue. After all, the Minister of Revenue had paid a considerable amount of money to the Ning family over the years. However, Ning Changxue told her that His Majesty was currently very angry and she should not act rashly. Yet, she still felt very uneasy.

Today was the fifteenth of the month. Zhao Yan was scheduled to have dinner with her as a routine. Thus, during dinner, the Empress was very attentive, serving food to Zhao Yan. This was unusual, as she was generally quite arrogant, so Zhao Yan glanced at her several times.

“Does His Majesty like tonight’s soup?” The Empress lowered her head, stirring the porcelain spoon in the soup bowl absentmindedly. “Speak. What is it this time?” Zhao Yan frowned slightly. It was always something about the Ning family. Since his relationship with the Grand Commandant was tense, she didn’t mention it, only bringing up the Ning family’s matters.

However, what she said surprised him. “How does His Majesty plan to handle the matter of the Minister of Revenue?” Zhao Yan rubbed his temples and then said, “Stripped of his official post, exiled, and his family’s assets confiscated.”

The Empress’s hand trembled, and the porcelain spoon fell to the ground, shattering into several pieces. Zhao Yan heard the noise, saw the glaring white shards of porcelain on the ground, stood up, and said, “Let the palace staff clean it up later. You should rest well.”

When Ning Changxue entered, she saw Ning Changyi sitting silently in the chair. “Sister, what’s wrong?” Ning Changyi only then regained her composure. “A little tired.” The fatigue in her eyes was unconcealable. She didn’t intend to tell Ning Changxue about her interaction with Zhao Yan, especially since Ning Changxue had advised her not to bring it up earlier.

Ning Changxue saw the broken porcelain on the floor, summoned Taozhi to clean it up, and chastised her slightly. “Sister, why didn’t you call someone to clean this up? What if someone accidentally steps on it and gets hurt?” Ning Changyi looked at her blankly, a hint of confusion in her phoenix eyes. “You’re right.”

Ning Changxue finally coaxed her onto the bed. Seeing her alone, she couldn’t help but feel sorry for her. “Sister, let Xue’er sleep with you.” Ning Changyi nodded slightly and got into bed. Ning Changxue vaguely heard a few muffled sobs.

It was Ning Changyi crying. Ning Changxue sighed slightly in her heart. Finally, her soft hands stroked Ning Changyi’s back. “Sister, why are you crying?” At this moment, Ning Changyi didn’t seem like the Empress. Ning Changxue vaguely recalled how, before she was married, she would hide and cry alone whenever she was wronged in the mansion. At that time, Ning Changxue was shorter than her, yet she could always find her.

“Who is the older sister after all?” Ning Changyi complained. Ning Changxue laughed. “Of course, it’s you.” Ning Changyi looked at the girl in front of her, who was even shorter than her, and touched her head in resignation. “It’s alright.”

Ning Changxue and Ning Changyi were fundamentally different. She was the youngest daughter, doted on by her mother and spoiled by her sister. However, deep down, she harbored some dissatisfaction. She couldn’t learn what her sister learned. I can do better than her, Ning Changxue thought.

She was the youngest daughter, enjoying privileges, but some powers were entirely absent. For example, her sister could become the Empress, even if she wasn’t particularly smart. So, Ning Changxue was both jealous of her and tried to convince herself that she was her sister, and how could a younger sister be jealous of her older sister?

The disparity arose when Ning Changyi entered the palace and became the Empress, while Ning Changxue married the second son of the Du family. The marriage was not considered a step up for the Du family, but her husband was utterly unremarkable. Ning Changxue had seen her maternal uncle. Her uncle and aunt had a very deep affection for each other. She had always hoped to be like her aunt but was deeply disappointed.

Her husband in the Du family was certainly good to her, but that goodness was never excessive. And when her mother-in-law sent women to his room, he would not refuse. Ning Changxue naturally didn’t throw a tantrum. She simply did everything dutifully and observed with a cold eye.

She even deliberately bought a few more women from outside for her husband. As a result, everyone praised her for her virtue. However, Ning Changxue’s hopes were forever shattered. Her husband had no official position, relying only on his ancestors’ patronage. He quickly became obsessed with women, yet he still dared not neglect her out of consideration for the Ning family being the Empress’s maternal family. However, she didn’t care much and often advised him instead.

When she heard the news of her husband’s death, she was taking off her large red pomegranate earrings and holding them in her hand. At that time, she felt a slight, hidden excitement. She had thought she would have to stay in the Du family for the rest of her life. However, after a brief pause, she shed tears. The maidservants beside her advised her to restrain her grief. Afterward, she cried and kept vigil for him.

She could not stay in the Du family, so she returned to the Ning family. However, she gained the reputation of being a jinx to her husband. It would not be difficult for the Ning family to find another suitable family like the Du family for her, but she thought of her sister. Her sister truly felt sorry for her and specifically allowed her to enter the palace to relax.

Zhao Yan was much younger than her former husband. After all, he was still young when her sister married him. Since she was going to remarry anyway, why not marry the noble Zhao Yan? Zhao Yan did not love her sister, or perhaps he didn’t love anyone—neither Consort Shu, who was once the most favored in the harem, nor Consort Cui, who was currently highly favored.

It was just that her sister couldn’t see through it. She was jealous because she had no children. She had tried many methods before, but none were very effective. Later, she gradually gave up.

Anyway, no one in the palace had children. Even if they did, she could adopt one. If she found the birth mother troublesome, she could just find a way to eliminate her.

The next day, when Ning Changyi woke up, she was once again the proud Empress. Ning Changxue pretended that yesterday’s events hadn’t happened. Thinking this, the two finished their breakfast.

An unfamiliar maidservant came and whispered a few words to Taozhi. Taozhi came forward to report, “Niangniang, Hanmei has arrived.”

“Oh?” Ning Changxue was a little curious. Ning Changyi thought for a moment. “Let her come in.” She then explained to Ning Changxue, “Hanmei used to be by the Grand Empress Dowager’s side. After the Grand Empress Dowager passed away, she occasionally comes to brush my hair and pay her respects. You haven’t seen her the few times you’ve been in the palace before.”

Ning Changxue said nothing more. Hanmei approached Ning Changyi and performed a calm bow. “Greetings, Empress Niangniang.” Ning Changxue watched Hanmei, noting that her appearance was unremarkable, but her every gesture was truly different from an ordinary palace servant.

“What is the matter?” Perhaps because they were familiar, Ning Changyi asked casually. Hanmei said, “This servant wishes to ask for a favor from Niangniang. The Double Ninth Festival is in a few days. It is common for palace staff to miss their families. I hope Niangniang will allow some of the slightly older palace maids to see their families.”

Ning Changyi felt this was not a big deal. “That is not difficult. But if you also miss your family, why not ask for the favor of leaving the palace?”

Hanmei immediately said, “This servant has vowed to pray for the Grand Empress Dowager in the Baohua Hall. How could I leave the palace? Moreover, Empress Niangniang is merciful. I am quite satisfied just to be able to visit the Taiji Palace occasionally.”

Ning Changyi was clearly very pleased with the flattery. Although she didn’t like the Grand Empress Dowager, Zhao Yan’s biological mother, who often made things difficult for her, the feeling of being suppressed was always uncomfortable.

Thinking this, Ning Changyi rewarded Hanmei with several sachets stuffed with chrysanthemum petals. She had ordered many to be sewn for distribution on the Double Ninth Festival. Hanmei gladly accepted them, exchanged a few more words, and then withdrew.