novelden Chapter 1013: Eight Characters Clash, Everything Goes Wrong
Chapter 1013: Eight Characters Clash, Everything Goes Wrong
Emperor Hongde looked at the ministers in front of him and said, "In the coming days, the Shuntian Prefecture will work with the Imperial Guards, the Five City Garrison Commands, and the City Defense Battalion to ensure the security and stability of the capital!"
They also need to work with the Five City Garrison Command to ensure the safety of the capital, including fire prevention, theft prevention, and prevention of riots.
Remember this!
"Yes, Your Majesty!
"Your Majesty, I understand the gravity of the situation and will certainly not fail in my duty!"
"it is good!"
Emperor Hongde nodded in satisfaction and continued, "During my reign, many foreign delegations will stay and travel in the capital. Your task is, firstly, to absolutely ensure their personal safety."
Secondly, we must also be wary of individuals with ulterior motives within certain diplomatic delegations, and we must never allow them to cause trouble or create disputes in the capital!
My dear ministers... no, all officials of the court, in the days to come, you must remember this: there are no trivial matters in the capital!
Even the slightest mistake during this process could cause discord between my Jingyue Kingdom and other countries, and such a situation must be avoided as much as possible!
Of course, the premise for avoiding these situations is that the prestige and dignity of my Jingyue Kingdom must not be compromised!
As officials of Jingyue, we must take it as our duty to safeguard the dignity and interests of the Jingyue Kingdom!
I hope all my beloved subjects will keep this in mind!
Furthermore, I must make this clear from the outset: regardless of the reason, anyone who dares to openly or privately collude with other countries and betray the interests of Jingyue Kingdom will not be spared!
This is something all of you must keep in mind!
"Yes, Your Majesty, we will remember!"
The courtiers in the hall responded in unison.
Some of them responded verbally, but had other thoughts in their hearts!
Some people felt a chill run down their spine and broke out in a cold sweat after hearing Emperor Hongde's last words, such as... Xia Qinian!
Xia Qinian still remembered that just last night, the deputy envoy of the East Venezuelan delegation suddenly appeared at his mistress's residence;
That idiot from Dongwei actually threatened the lives of his four sons, ordering me to arrange two marriages at Emperor Hongde's Thousand Autumns Palace Banquet: the marriage between Princess Yin of Dongwei and Prince Yu, Xiao Jingyu, and the marriage between the Crown Prince of Dongwei and Princess Chengxian, Leng Rongyue!
How could this possibly be accomplished?
Prince Yu, Xiao Jingyu, and Princess Chengxian, Leng Rongyue, were betrothed by the current emperor through two imperial edicts. It's a done deal, how could it be easily changed?
Anyone who dares to try to break off this engagement...
Ugh!
Let's see what happens to the former Grand Secretary Zhang Jinyan!
Zhang Jinyan, relying on his position as the Second Grand Secretary and the father-in-law of Prince Yi, dared to obstruct the matter back then...
But now? He's just waiting to collect his corpse!
The situation I'm facing right now is:
If I don't do my best to facilitate these two marriages, my four sons will not be able to save their lives!
But if I were to try my best to facilitate these two marriages, I'm afraid... I'm afraid I'd lose my head!
Xia Qinian suddenly remembered that the Prince Yi, Xiao Jingyi, whom he followed, had also revealed that he wanted Leng Rongyue and was determined to get her!
How to do?
If I were to help the Crown Prince of Dongwei secure a marriage alliance with Leng Rongyue, wouldn't I offend not only the current Emperor and Prince Yu, but also my own master—Prince Yi!
It's so hard! It's so hard for me!
The fates of my four sons, and my own fate;
The current emperor, a master he chose himself, is now being forced to acknowledge him as his master...
God!
What should I, as a Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, do?
Just when Xia Qinian felt he was in dire straits and was on the verge of crying out in despair...
"Minister Xia!"
Xia Aiqing!
Xia Aiqing!
Emperor Hongde, sitting high on the dragon throne, summoned Xia Qinian with increasingly louder calls, finally bringing him back to his senses from his chaotic thoughts!
Startled back to his senses, Xia Qinian looked up sharply at Emperor Hongde on the throne, only then realizing... that he had just... drifted off into thought!
Just as Xia Qinian came to his senses, he didn't understand why the Emperor had summoned him. He only instinctively cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, your subject... your subject..."
"Minister Xia, all of you ministers have returned to your respective classes, but Minister Xia is still standing here, motionless and lost in thought..."
But I wonder what important question Xia Aiqing is pondering?
How could he be so engrossed in thinking?
Or does Minister Xia disagree with what I just said?
"Minister Xia, why don't you tell me and all of you? Perhaps it can help you understand the situation!"
Emperor Hongde spoke very calmly, and his expression was also very indifferent, showing no sign of anger at all.
Xia Qinian was terrified!
Only then did he suddenly realize that Han Xu, the Minister of Rites, Bian Wenbo, the Vice Minister of Rites, Dong Wen, the Commander of the Imperial Guards, and Zheng Tong, the Prefect of Shuntian Prefecture, who had stood to his left and right with him when he came out to receive the imperial decree, were no longer by his side. He was the only one standing there unconsciously in front of the steps like a pillar!
Now that the emperor is asking me a question, how should I answer?
I can't possibly blurt out everything that was just on my mind, can I?
Of course not!
Unless you don't want to live anymore!
But... when the Emperor asks a question, I have to answer!
Xia Qinian was filled with regret.
I should have just asked for leave and stayed home to rest since I was still shaken from the night's ordeal. I shouldn't have come to the morning court session at all!
It seems that today's almanac is against my birth chart, and everything has been going wrong since midnight!