MLIAM Chapter 29
by VolareChapter 29: Accusation Before the Throne. I will choose another good marriage for you another day…
Inside the Golden Luan Hall.
Emperor Zhao Wu frowned as he looked at Wei Yan and Yu Shuli.
“Why do you suddenly want to call off the engagement?” Emperor Zhao Wu looked at Yu Shuli, then sized up Wei Yan. “Whose idea is this, ultimately?”
Both remained silent.
Emperor Zhao Wu’s voice didn’t sound angry, but since Wei Yan was the one who proposed calling off the engagement, he still maintained the gentle tone of an elder, advising Wei Yan, “Wasn’t your mother exceedingly delighted when she received the Imperial Decree? She even gave out the betrothal gifts. How can you just say you want to cancel it?”
Yu Shuli had just opened his mouth to explain when Emperor Zhao Wu scolded him, “You shut your mouth! It must be you again who upset Xianqing!”
“All you do, day in and day out, is cause trouble for me! Xianqing has a good temper and indulges you, putting up with your antics. Sooner or later, when you have no one to restrain you, you’ll become completely lawless! I’ll have to meet with your father another day and ask him how he’s been educating his child, being idle all day long!”
When Yu Shuli heard him mention his father, he suddenly snorted lightly, interrupting the emperor, “Instead of scolding my father, Your Majesty might as well scold me directly. After all, my father dotes on me. If you scold me in front of him, it probably won’t even reach my ears.”
Emperor Zhao Wu was so angry that he blew his beard and glared. “You wicked creature! A wicked creature!” He clutched his chest, panting heavily, and was supported by Gonggong Li, who both soothed his breathing and urged Yu Shuli to quickly apologize.
Yu Shuli snorted again.
“You don’t even put me in your eyes. No wonder you can’t show any respect to the Crown Prince! I previously thought the matter at the Magnolia Cloud Ship was the Crown Prince’s fault, but I’m afraid it was you who provoked him first? Is the Imperial family so unsatisfactory to you? Am I lacking anything for you?” Emperor Zhao Wu raised his hand, ready to strike Yu Shuli.
“Your Majesty,” Wei Yan suddenly stepped forward, blocking Yu Shuli, and said, “Regarding the matter of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, I believe Your Majesty has already investigated it. It was indeed this humble official and the Crown Prince who acted impulsively. It has nothing to do with the young general.”
When Emperor Zhao Wu saw the person in front of him, he quickly retracted his hand. “Xianqing, even at this point, you’re still speaking up for him?!” He looked at Yu Shuli again. “Yu Shuli! Do you really think I wouldn’t dare to touch you?”
Yu Shuli smoothed out his sleeves, his voice nonchalant, “Your Majesty, it was Wei Yan who wanted to call off the engagement, it was Wei Yan who beat the Crown Prince, and it was the Crown Prince who wanted to kill Wei Yan. These are all their personal grievances. What does all of this have to do with me?”
Emperor Zhao Wu widened his eyes. “What are you saying?”
Yu Shuli looked at Gonggong Li and raised his eyebrows.
Gonggong Li then quickly produced a document and handed it to Emperor Zhao Wu.
The Crown Prince’s confession was also on it, but he probably wouldn’t dare to say those unspeakable thoughts he had about Yu Shuli. He probably only dared to speak of his grievances with Wei Yan.
Yu Shuli sneered inwardly. So the old emperor really hadn’t seen anything and didn’t care about the details of this matter at all. But Wei Yan was wrong about this. The Crown Prince was still his good son; how could he give up on him so easily?
After Emperor Zhao Wu narrowed his eyes and finished reading, he looked at Wei Yan meaningfully, his voice suddenly stern, “Wei Yan, you have great courage! Kneel down to me!”
Wei Yan obediently lifted the corner of his robe and knelt down, his body ramrod straight, “The one who clashed with the Crown Prince in this matter was indeed this humble official. I hope Your Majesty will investigate thoroughly.”
“You… you… you…” Emperor Zhao Wu pointed at Wei Yan. “Why on earth did you do this? How did my Crown Prince offend you, that you would resort to such a public brawl?”
Wei Yan’s eyes sharpened as he looked at the emperor, “It is indeed reasonable that the noble families in the Capital City do not want to entrust their noble daughters to me because of my deficiencies. But His Royal Highness the Crown Prince should not have been drunk in public, saying that this official has difficulty bearing children, that I should take in more concubines, and that I cannot satisfy people.”
Wei Yan repeated those brutal words of the Crown Prince word for word.
“Who did I become like this for? Others may not know, but does the Crown Prince not know? Does Your Majesty not know?” Wei Yan lowered his eyes. “This matter is truly disheartening for Xianqing. Because I could not bear the humiliation and had drunk some wine, I was somewhat intoxicated, which is why I clashed with His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. Afterward, His Highness directly ordered the guards to attack, wanting to kill this official. How could my frail body have dodged it? Fortunately, General Yu came to my rescue, otherwise…”
Wei Yan didn’t finish his sentence, leaving a meaningful “otherwise” for the emperor to imagine.
Wei Yan’s tone was quite sad, causing Emperor Zhao Wu’s body to tremble.
The meaning behind “otherwise” could naturally be guessed.
The Crown Prince could use drunkenness as an excuse to insult his savior in such a way. This person was also an imperial official. The Crown Prince even wanted to silence him by killing him. If he ascends the throne in the future, even if he can be a wise ruler, he will have already recorded a stain in the annals of history.
Moreover… What exactly was the Crown Prince thinking when he attacked a powerful official under the emperor’s command…? It was also worthy of deep thought.
Emperor Zhao Wu pursed his lips, seemingly believing him, and asked Wei Yan, “What is the origin of your feud with the Crown Prince? Why is he hostile towards you for no reason? You two seemed to have a good relationship in the past. How did it come to this point of drawing swords?”
Wei Yan shook his head. “This humble official does not know. Your Majesty must ask His Royal Highness the Crown Prince about this matter.”
He couldn’t openly reveal the Crown Prince’s interest in Yu Shuli. Such royal secrets would be bad for everyone if spread.
Wei Yan was a smart man, and so were the others present that day.
Emperor Zhao Wu glanced at Wei Yan a few times and sighed, “I understand. The Crown Prince… perhaps he is indeed not a talent for being an emperor. I will have him confined to reflect. You and the third prince should put more effort into the disaster relief conclusion. In a few days, I will have him apologize in person.”
Wei Yan nodded, knowing that this was the emperor’s answer to him.
Even though the Crown Prince had made a mistake, he was still not deposed, indicating that the emperor had still left him an opportunity to make a comeback.
But having him apologize in person gave Wei Yan enough face.
This outcome wasn’t good, but it wasn’t bad either. After all, their beating of the Crown Prince was originally a capital offense.
Emperor Zhao Wu glanced at Yu Shuli, who was idle on the side, and waved his hand irritably, “Alright, there’s nothing for you to do. Go back quickly! At least let me have a few days of peace. Be more behaved for a while.”
Yu Shuli didn’t expect this matter to be resolved so easily.
He glanced at Wei Yan, seeing that he didn’t seem to need him, so he simply didn’t bother accompanying him to suffer grievances and left with a flick of his hand.
“Wait!” Emperor Zhao Wu suddenly called out to him.
Yu Shuli frowned and turned back.
Emperor Zhao Wu said, “Since Xianqing is dissatisfied with you and wants to call off the engagement, I will choose another good marriage for you another day.”
Yu Shuli smiled, “As Your Majesty commands.” He blinked. “But when Your Majesty bestows a marriage next time, you must find me someone comparable to the Prime Minister. If their appearance is not as good as the Prime Minister, this humble official will not agree.”
Emperor Zhao Wu waved his hand. “I know what I’m doing, so rest assured. Since you like men, I will also find you someone who naturally likes men. This time, I will definitely not randomly match you with someone. You should also focus on training your troops. You’ll be going on an expedition soon, yet you’re idle all day long. How can I entrust the military seal to you with peace of mind?”
Yu Shuli’s eyes deepened. He didn’t know where the emperor got the idea that he liked men, nor did he know what he was planning.
But when it came to the military seal, Yu Shuli was indeed tempted, but he still had to appear indifferent on the surface.
He continued to tell the emperor some of his self-invented criteria for choosing a spouse, which really annoyed the emperor, before he bowed and took his leave.
After hearing their conversation, Wei Yan froze, as if he had fallen into an ice cave.
He looked at the emperor and asked with difficulty, “Your Majesty, does the young general… like men?”
The emperor’s eyes flickered. “Yes… I previously thought that you two had a good relationship and that you both had feelings for each other. In addition, Ji’an hinted to me that he liked men, so I thought, who could be the person he has feelings for? Wouldn’t it be you? That’s why I bestowed the marriage. He agreed to it that day and didn’t reject me. I thought that it just so happened that he was satisfied with you as well. Who would have thought that some things would happen after the marriage was bestowed, which was ultimately unlucky. Since you two are mutually dissatisfied, the engagement should be canceled. Since you don’t like Ji’an and care about those words the Crown Prince said earlier, I will find you a suitable noble lady in the future, and I will definitely not wrong you. You are the Prime Minister of Da Liang. Why worry about not being able to marry a wife? There are plenty of women from noble families who want to marry you. Why must you always belittle yourself?”
Upon hearing this, Wei Yan suddenly smiled sadly, his chest feeling tight. He barely managed to support his body, but his throat still tightened.
With a “poof” sound, a mouthful of blood spilled out.