Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne Chapter 1071 - 118: Does Princess of Annan Intend to Shake the Great Zhou Court? (Part 2)

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Previously on Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne...
The Imperial Court of Judicial Review swiftly verified all accusations against Prince Zheng, confirming his murder of over a thousand lives in his fiefdom. The emperor, expression grim, publicly announced the crimes, demoted him to commoner, confiscated his properties, ordered probes into colluding officials, and decreed his public beheading in the fiefdom to appease the people. Prince Zheng endured public fury en route, pelted with stones and filth, descending into madness while his mouth was stuffed to prevent suicide. His concubine mother confessed her parental failures without pleading mercy, aiming to shield Duke Anyang Mansion.

The Emperor granted Consort Shu’s request, easing her penalty by downgrading her to Lady Shu and restricting her to her residence. No one could visit without his command, nor could she venture out freely.

Empress Xie felt deep dissatisfaction with the Emperor’s choice to avoid sending Lady Shu to the Cold Palace. She believed that, given Prince Zheng’s numerous offenses, his mother Lady Shu bore responsibility too. By legal standards or palace customs, Lady Shu ought to have been reduced to a servant and banished to the Cold Palace.

Because of this, Empress Xie approached the Emperor directly, urging harsh punishment for Lady Shu. Yet the Emperor turned her down, stating that while Lady Shu had failed to guide her son properly, her fault didn’t warrant execution.

Hearing those words, Empress Xie grew furious and discontent, though she dared not challenge the Emperor outright. Instead, she turned to minor schemes, like cutting Lady Shu’s provisions.

Regarding Duke Anyang and his heir, the Emperor held off on any chastisement for now. Similarly, Duke Zhen Country Mansion and Marquis Xuanping’s Mansion faced no immediate action, pending confirmation of their deeds in Annan.

Upon hearing Princess of Annan’s charges against Prince Dai and Marquis Xuanping’s Mansion for enlisting troops and crafting arms in Annan, Noble Princess Consort Rong rushed to the Emperor, swearing their innocence and denying they’d ever stoop to such acts. She begged him to dismiss the Princess of Annan’s claims, accusing her of framing Duke Zhen, Marquis of Xuanping, and various officials to sow chaos in Great Zhou’s court.

Displaying sharp cunning, she avoided limiting the defense to just Marquis Xuanping’s Mansion alone. Such narrow focus would expose her bias toward them. By framing it as the Princess of Annan’s plot to upend the whole Great Zhou Court, her plea gained greater sway. Even if the claims held truth, the Emperor might show leniency.

The Emperor saw through Noble Princess Consort Rong’s subtle maneuvers but chose silence on the matter.

Empress Xie joined in the appeals too, echoing Noble Princess Consort Rong’s arguments. At first, she aimed solely to defend Duke Zhen Country Mansion while undermining Marquis Xuanping’s Mansion. But then Noble Princess Consort Rong confronted her, revealing her scheme and cautioning that partial pleas would doom them all. Aligning with the broader defense, as suggested, could safeguard Duke Zhen Country Mansion.

Empress Xie could play the fool at times, yet not invariably. Though eager to topple Marquis Xuanping’s Mansion, the moment wasn’t ripe. Her main goal remained shielding Duke Zhen Country Mansion.

Noble Princess Consort Rong visited Princess Consort De as well, since Prince Han was entangled here. Princess Consort De grasped the necessary steps without guidance.

Witnessing Empress Xie, Noble Princess Consort Rong, and Princess Consort De all interceding for those targeted by Princess of Annan—while collectively alleging her scheme to disrupt Great Zhou Court—the Emperor couldn’t help but chuckle inwardly.

"Sun Kui, do you believe the Princess of Annan seeks to overthrow my Great Zhou Court?"

Sun Kui, head bowed in deference, answered, "I... I don’t know."

The Emperor shot Sun Kui a sharp look. "Answer freely when questioned; no retribution will follow."

Bolstered, Sun Kui ventured carefully, "Your Majesty, bold as the Princess of Annan may be, she wouldn’t lightly slander Great Zhou officers—it’s grave misconduct. I doubt she aims to destabilize the Great Zhou Court."

The Emperor commended him, "You show good judgment."

Flustered by the praise, Sun Kui offered a shy grin, "Your Majesty, the Empress and others surely grasp this too; their fervent pleas twist it into the Princess of Annan’s scheme to falsely target officials and unsettle Great Zhou."

The Emperor teased with a curse, "That scamp Xiao Shi sure knows how to land me in hot water."

"Eh, did His Highness Prince Han orchestrate this?" Sun Kui exclaimed in surprise, pondering if Prince Han had prompted the Princess of Annan’s accusations against former Prince Zheng and the ministers.

"Who besides him?" The Emperor scoffed. "Think the Princess of Annan dug up all that evidence solo?"

"Thus, His Highness Prince Han aided the Princess of Annan covertly," Sun Kui mused inwardly; Prince Han possessed remarkable prowess in unearthing such secrets.

"The Princess of Annan lingered in Great Zhou long enough to amass proof of that villain’s misdeeds."

Sun Kui: "!!!!"

"Your Majesty, how did His Highness Prince Han learn of Duke Zhen and the ministers’ schemes in Annan?"

"That scamp established ventures across Annan; keeping tabs there was simple." The Emperor chuckled, "That scamp’s reach is vast—nothing slips past him in Annan."

"Indeed," Sun Kui yearned to probe Prince Han’s Annan dealings but restrained himself from prying. "His Highness Prince Han is exceptionally formidable."

"That scamp threw my arrangements into disarray." The Emperor grumbled in mild frustration. "Was it deliberate?"

Sun Kui failed to grasp the Emperor’s drift.

"Sigh, spoiled is spoiled; resolution is still required."

At those words, Sun Kui’s pulse raced; inwardly, he sensed the Emperor wouldn’t absolve Duke Zhen and the ministers.

Truly, given the Emperor’s nature, forgiveness was impossible.

"Maybe I’ve grown too soft of late." The Emperor sighed, "Time they witness my true might."

Sun Kui pitied those ministers dooming themselves inwardly.

"Instruct Lao He and the rest to probe relentlessly, no holds barred; once facts emerge, act decisively." Trimming the court of a few ministers posed no problem—fresh talents from exams always filled the gaps. Great Zhou never lacked capable officials.

"Your Majesty, Prime Minister He and company would pursue it vigorously regardless."

"I need my edict delivered to rattle the right folks, got it?"

Sun Kui grasped the Emperor’s aim instantly, "I’ll head there right away."

Word spread swiftly: past officials and harem women alike learned the Emperor planned a full probe, showing no mercy.

Those ministers named by Princess of Annan despaired utterly: finished, they were goners!

Noble Princess Consort Rong refused to accept that their collective begging failed to sway the Emperor.

Was her cousin truly set on destroying Marquis Xuanping’s Mansion?