Chapter 133

Chapter 133: Treason Against the Emperor

But Zhang Huan remembered it clearly.

That low-ranking official had entered service the same year as Zhang Huan. Before the examinations, they had even stayed in the same inn.

Zhang Huan felt grief for a fellow scholar, the kind of grief you felt when you saw someone like yourself ruined.

Zhang Huan paid closer attention to the case, and Zhang Huan also heard rumors that the women Yang Jun Kang had driven to death numbered in the dozens.

Even back then, when the official beat the Petition Drum, the matter could be pressed down.

Now it was only a wealthy merchant.

If the Yang Family wanted to crush him, it would be effortless.

As Zhang Huan thought of that, Zhang Huan suddenly felt a chance had fallen into Zhang Huan’s hands, a chance to leave Zhang Huan’s name in the history books.

Zhang Huan was only a small Deputy Censor-in-Chief, but Zhang Huan was still part of the scholar-official class. Zhang Huan carried a censor’s heart and a fierce sense of duty to supervise and correct the ruler’s mistakes.

Now Emperor Chong Sheng deeply favored Noble Consort Qi. Noble Consort Qi kept a low profile, and the Third Prince born to Noble Consort Qi acted with humility and restraint, leaving others no easy handle.

Minister Yang ruled the household strictly, yet somehow produced trash like Yang Jun Kang.

So what if he was a minister’s son? So what if he was Noble Consort Qi’s younger brother?

More importantly, Zhang Huan had long since become a man of the Second Prince, Sheng Yuan Qi.

Even if Third Prince Sheng Yuan Hao acted as though Sheng Yuan Hao had no interest in the Crown Heir position, a prince was still a prince.

Who knew whether that image of clear winds and bright moonlight, of roaming mountains and rivers with fine wine, did not hide a wolfish ambition?

Emperor Chong Sheng favored Noble Consort Qi. Noble Consort Qi’s father was also the Minister of War. The Third Prince himself was cherished by Emperor Chong Sheng as well.

No matter how Zhang Huan looked at it, the Third Prince was a powerful rival to the Second Prince.

Now there was a chance to chop off a rival’s claws. Zhang Huan could not let it pass.

Zhang Huan did not even bother lingering with the miss. Zhang Huan hurried out of Rouge House.

Soon, that small “fun story” traveled from a prostitute in Rouge House to Zhang Huan’s ear.

Then it traveled from Zhang Huan’s mouth to the Second Prince’s manor.

Inside the Second Prince’s manor, the advisers argued fiercely, words like blades and spears. In the end, they all agreed with Zhang Huan.

This truly was a good chance to drag down Noble Consort Qi’s favor.

Second Prince Sheng Yuan Qi had long listened to Sheng Yuan Qi’s mother’s complaints about Noble Consort Qi. Now Sheng Yuan Qi could finally vent a little anger on Mother’s behalf, and Sheng Yuan Qi was pleased.

Even toward Zhang Huan, the minor Deputy Censor-in-Chief Sheng Yuan Qi had once looked down on, Sheng Yuan Qi showed a warmer face.

Second Prince Sheng Yuan Qi said, “Deputy Censor-in-Chief Zhang, you handled this well. Since you discovered this matter, why don’t you write the memorial yourself?”

Second Prince Sheng Yuan Qi added, “As long as you do it well, I will not treat you poorly.”

“Yes!” Zhang Huan replied, ecstatic. “Second Prince, rest assured!”

Zhang Huan rushed back and shut himself in the study.

In the past, when Zhang Huan attended court, Zhang Huan, a junior fifth-rank Deputy Censor-in-Chief, had always stood silently outside Zi Sheng Hall, so unnoticed that Zhang Huan had to strain to catch even a fragment of the Emperor’s voice.

But tomorrow, Zhang Huan would have a matter to present.

For Zhang Huan’s first memorial since taking office, Zhang Huan naturally wanted to write it as brilliantly and emotionally as possible.

Zhang Huan struggled and revised again and again. At last, before the morning court, Zhang Huan produced a version Zhang Huan found perfect.

Duke Qi sat in the carriage on the way to court and wondered if Duke Qi had offended something unclean these past few days.

Otherwise, how could Duke Qi be this unlucky?

First, Qi Fei Yan got involved in private salt trade, throwing the whole manor into chaos. Madam Cui’s health also worsened.

Then, just yesterday, Duke Qi’s relationship with Lady Tao nearly got discovered.

When Duke Qi thought of the way Yang Jun Kang had looked at Lady Tao yesterday, Duke Qi wanted to gouge out Yang Jun Kang’s eyes.

Yet Duke Qi still had to endure it.

What sort of person was Yang Jun Kang? Yang Jun Kang was the kind of vile man who relied on power, a true sinner steeped in evil.

But in Lady Tao’s eyes, Duke Qi’s current identity was only that of a wealthy merchant.

If Yang Jun Kang went to trouble Lady Tao again…

Duke Qi grew so worried that Duke Qi felt bald spots forming from stress.

When the carriage reached the palace gates, Qi Shu Xian spoke to Duke Qi several times, but Duke Qi stayed absent-minded.

Even when court began, Duke Qi was still thinking about how to deal with Yang Jun Kang.

Duke Qi did not know if it was an illusion, but Duke Qi thought Duke Qi heard Yang Jun Kang’s name.

Duke Qi froze and listened again.

“This subject, Deputy Censor-in-Chief Zhang Huan, dares to speak with humble words and impeach Noble Consort Qi’s brother, Minister Yang’s legitimate second son – Yang Jun Kang!” Zhang Huan declared. “In the marketplace, he openly humiliated commoner women, forcibly seized married women, relied on power to bully others, and treated the law as nothing…”

Duke Qi fell silent.

Duke Qi’s face lit up.

So Yang Jun Kang was even more shameless than Duke Qi expected. Yang Jun Kang had not only tried to seize Lady Tao, but had been reaching for other women too.

Now Yang Jun Kang was actually being impeached by a Deputy Censor-in-Chief.

Good. Wonderful.

This Deputy Censor-in-Chief Zhang Huan was truly something.

If Zhang Huan could bring down Yang Jun Kang, Duke Qi would definitely remember Zhang Huan’s name – Zhang Huan, Zhang Huan!

What a fine name!

“And this subject heard that the woman was already pregnant when she was seized,” Zhang Huan continued, voice full of righteous emotion. “Her husband was only a wealthy merchant…”

Duke Qi’s expression stiffened.

A married woman, pregnant, and a wealthy merchant?

Wait…

A loud ringing filled Duke Qi’s ears.

The woman Zhang Huan spoke of… could it be Lady Tao?

And that wealthy merchant… was Zhang Huan talking about Duke Qi?

After that thought struck, Duke Qi could no longer hear anything Zhang Huan said.

Duke Qi’s body swayed, and Duke Qi’s vision blurred.

Keeping a mistress outside, if it was discovered at other times, might only be called a stain on private virtue.

But right now, it had been dragged before the Emperor in this way.

In Duke Qi’s mind, only two words remained: I’m finished.

If Duke Qi admitted it now, what would happen to Duke Qi’s reputation?

But if Duke Qi did not admit it…

If the truth was uncovered later, that would be treason against the Emperor.

Duke Qi ground Duke Qi’s teeth, hatred burning toward Zhang Huan. Duke Qi wanted to turn and see who this damned Zhang Huan was, what Zhang Huan looked like, but Duke Qi did not dare.

Duke Qi could only listen as Zhang Huan’s words plunged the court into dead silence, and then stirred up a storm of voices.

“This subject has a memorial…”

“This subject also has a memorial…”

One by one, officials of the Second Prince’s faction stood up. They listed Yang Jun Kang’s crimes in detail.

Old matters from years ago were dragged into the light again, including the case where a low-ranking official beat the Petition Drum.

Back then, Emperor Chong Sheng had already investigated the truth and punished Minister Yang.

Yet for some reason, that low-ranking official later died mysteriously while in office.

After the official died, public opinion also mysteriously shifted.

All of it now pointed straight at Minister Yang.

Minister Yang’s face turned grim.

Minister Yang never expected the matter Minister Yang had worked so hard to bury would be dug up again.

Minister Yang also never expected a mere Deputy Censor-in-Chief would dare to impeach Minister Yang.

But though Minister Yang thought that, Minister Yang still dropped to Minister Yang’s knees and pleaded, “Your Majesty, forgive this subject!”

Everyone stared in shock, including the very Zhang Huan who had been speaking so passionately.

Minister Yang’s face showed deep guilt. “This subject truly did not know. Before, Kang’er acted rashly and committed a great wrong. This subject ordered him to do good deeds to atone. These past two years, this subject thought he had already changed.”

Minister Yang continued, “If what Deputy Censor-in-Chief Zhang said is indeed true, this subject must thank him for telling this subject.”

Minister Yang bowed lower. “It is better to correct my son before he commits a greater crime. This subject will also personally go to that wealthy merchant and his wife, carry thorns upon my back, and beg forgiveness.”