The Comeback of the Cannon-Fodder Supporting Actress

Chapter 847: Chapter 826: The Struggle for the Throne (8)

On this Imperial Court day, all officials of the fourth rank and above in the Capital gathered at the Imperial Gate to listen to the governance.

Apart from the officials, all the Princesses who had established offices and mansions were also present.

Emperor Feng Jing was discussing the recent retirement of the Salt Inspection Imperial Censor from Jiangnan, asking for recommendations for a new Salt Inspection Imperial Censor.

Though the position of Salt Inspection Imperial Censor was not high, it was a lucrative post, yet also particularly dangerous.

During Emperor Feng Jing’s reign of several decades, the Salt Inspection Imperial Censor had been replaced numerous times, typically every few years. The current Imperial Censor Li had held the position for the longest, serving six full years. But now, with the murky waters in the Capital and unrest in Jiangnan, she, being a shrewd person, realized that continuing might tarnish her late reputation, so she submitted her resignation to retire.

The Eldest Princess, newly liberated, was eager to prove herself. She stepped forward and cupped her hands: ”Mother, I believe Liu Ying would be suitable.”

Liu Ying was the first cousin of the Eldest Princess’s biological father’s family; the Eldest Princess had directly pulled her out.

The Princess sneered coldly: ”Elder Sister really doesn’t shy away from nepotism when recommending talent.”

The Eldest Princess chuckled: ”Can’t personal matters be set aside for the public good?”

While the two were arguing, over there, a disciple of Prime Minister Shen stepped forward: ”Your Majesty, I recommend Wang Kemin.”

This Wang Kemin had aligned herself with the Seventh Princess. Some people were aware, others were not.

Prime Minister Shen glared at her disciple, cursing the Seventh Princess internally for her cunning, as she even managed to win over her disciple.

Just as she was about to say something, suddenly the sound of the Wendeng Drum beating outside was heard.

”What’s happening?”

Emperor Feng Jing was also startled: ”Go and see who is beating the Wendeng Drum.”

The Wendeng Drum is placed just outside the Imperial Gate for someone to bring grievances directly to the emperor. Only during Emperor Feng Jing’s many years of reign, it had never been beaten before. The fact that it was now resounded was truly astonishing.

Many ministers felt a jolt in their hearts, thinking to themselves who might be in trouble.

In contrast, the Princesses all appeared indifferent.

They were unafraid and confident.

After all, being Princesses, even if grievances were to be filed, they would not be directed at them.

Quickly, a guard came over and presented the charge to the emperor: ”Your Majesty, it was a woman who beat the Wendeng Drum, she said...”

The guard did not dare continue, stumbling over his words with a troubled expression.

Emperor Feng Jing raised an eyebrow: ”What did she say, whom does she accuse?”

The guard summoned the courage to speak: ”She accuses the Seventh Princess of abducting her fiancé and accuses Lord Shi, the Seventh Princess’s husband, of causing her fiancé’s death.”

The Seventh Princess, who had been bowing her head with her eyes lowered, raised her eyelids at this moment, a flash of anger passing through her eyes.

Emperor Feng Jing let out a series of cold laughs: ”Very well, give her thirty lashes, once the punishment is completed, let the three departments conduct a joint trial. I want to see how my daughter abducted someone’s husband.”

The Tenth Princess and the Eleventh Princess stood together, the Tenth Princess whispered: ”Who do you think did this?”

The Eleventh Princess secretly pointed at the Eldest Princess: ”I suspect it was her.”

The Tenth Princess thought the same.

The Twelfth Princess tugged at the Tenth Princess’s sleeve: ”Maybe, it could be the Princess.”

Speaking of which, both could be possible.

When Prime Minister Yuan fell, the Seventh Princess took the opportunity to win over many of the Eldest Prince’s disciples, she was quite pleased with her gains, naturally, the Eldest Princess resented her greatly.

Additionally, earlier on the court, even Prime Minister Shen’s disciple was swayed by the Seventh Princess, the Princess likely knew some things before and might bear grudges against her too.

This time, it might well be one of those two targeting the Seventh Princess.

Outside the Imperial Gate, the accuser was whipped, thirty strokes, leaving her half-dead.

She was carried away, covered in blood.

The officials of the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Justice, and the Yingtian Prefecture Government, started investigating the case after the court session.

Within two days, the case was clarified.

Emperor Feng Jing received the joint report from the three departments, reading it, he couldn’t help but let out a series of cold laughs.

Speaking of it, this matter began with the beauty who died in the Seventh Princess’s mansion.

This beauty was surnamed Yuan, offered by one of the Seventh Princess’s followers, and she was very likable to the Seventh Princess with her charming and obedient nature.

The Seventh Princess kept him for a while, afterward, Lord Shi took him into the mansion, neither of these two paid much attention, merely considering him just a beauty.

Lord Shi even thought he was a slender horse from Yangzhou offered by some official, never knew, that this Yuan was from the Capital and had been betrothed early on.

His fiancée is surnamed Yang, and he is a scholar.

Being used to the bullying behavior of the Seventh Princess’ disciples in the market, they coveted the beauty of Yuan and noticed that Scholar Yang’s family was poor and had no relatives to rely on, so they seized Yuan.

Actually, Yuan didn’t think highly of Scholar Yang either.

He was proud of his looks and wanted to find a wife with a family background, dismissing the idea of a plain-looking Scholar Yang with an impoverished family.

After being taken, Yuan didn’t make a fuss and obediently followed the Seventh Princess.

But Scholar Yang felt this was a great humiliation.

Originally, when Yuan was placed outside the manor, Scholar Yang had gone to see him, but Yuan, dazzled by wealth and prosperity, begged Scholar Yang to let go.

Yang and Yuan’s families had been friends for generations; they grew up together, sharing sentiments from childhood. Scholar Yang wasn’t seeking anything in return, only remembering Yuan’s family’s assistance to him after his parents passed away, he intentionally wished the best for Yuan.

Scholar Yang was kind-hearted, only wanting Yuan to live better, believing being with him, a poor scholar, would ultimately be worse.

But who could have known, after visiting him, Yong was discovered by the Seventh Princess’ disciples, who sent people to break her legs.

Later, she heard that Yuan entered the Imperial Princess Mansion, only to die of illness shortly after.

She couldn’t be unaware that Yuan was killed by the Seventh Princess and Lord Shi.

Scholar Yang was extremely resentful, and coupled with her broken legs, she couldn’t participate in the imperial examinations anymore, burning all prospects. Enraged, she filed a complaint at the imperial gate.

Emperor Feng Jing took the memo and tapped the desk while laughing, ”Ah, my wonderful daughters, each of them truly impressive.”

Emperor Feng Jing didn’t assign anyone to investigate.

He also believed it was orchestrated by the Eldest Princess or the Princess to disgrace the Seventh Princess, and to drag down several of her disciples.

The Ministry of Justice dared not declare it was the Seventh Princess’s fault.

No matter how wrong the Seventh Princess was, she was still a princess, leaving no room for the ministers to comment on right or wrong.

They simply reported the situation truthfully, leaving the judgment to Emperor Feng Jing.

Emperor Feng Jing chuckled, ”Someone, draft an edict. Gurong Le unlawfully seized a citizen, beat a scholar of merit without reason; strip her of her title and investigate. The Seventh Princess failed to oversee, commanding her to reflect behind closed doors for a month and withhold her salary for a year.”

The decree was issued; apart from Gurong Le, two other disciples of the Seventh Princess were ousted.

After accepting the edict, the Seventh Princess was extremely displeased.

This incident truly caused her to lose face, leaving her utterly disgraced.

When Xiao Yuan learned of this matter, it was nearly concluded.

It was Stone Prince who complained to Xiao Yuan after running to the Fifth Princess Mansion about it.

”Can I be blamed for this? She, without verifying the cause, took that male favorite for herself. It was her own lust clouding her judgment, blaming it on me instead.”

At that time, this was what Stone Prince told Xiao Yuan.

Xiao Yuan smiled and comforted him, ”Keep calm, Seventh Sister is losing face and is very upset, be gentle with her, say nice things, and care for her more. After all, you are the primary couple, she won’t stay mad at you forever.”

Stone Prince sighed, ”If I had known earlier, why would I have brought Yuan into the manor? I could have simply let her release him instead.”

Stone Prince sighed only because this matter caused them to lose face as a couple. As for Yuan’s life, he didn’t care in the slightest.

Xiao Yuan advised him a bit more, and after Stone Prince left, Xiao Yuan laughed.

Currently, many in court speculate this was orchestrated by the Eldest Princess, the Seventh Princess and Eldest Princess’ factions are confronting each other, and Emperor Feng Jing likely believes this was the Eldest Princess’s doing.

But how could they guess the real orchestrator was Anning, currently at the manor tending to the fields with Miss?

This winter continued to be unsettling, with Sun Zhengjun’s family members within the Eleventh Princess Mansion being impeached, and the Tenth Princess nearly breaking her leg in a horseback accident.

Additionally, several incidents occurred at the rear of various princess manors.

Xiao Yuan, despite being on maternity leave at home, found it far from peaceful, frequently hearing such stories, providing him quite a lot of amusement.

After he finished his confinement period, some days passed before Anning returned with Miss.

Miss, after spending some time at the hot spring manor, had become much more lively, her spirits particularly high, gaining some weight, no longer as thin and weak as before. Her complexion was rosy, and indoors she enjoyed running about, sounding just like a little horse.

Anning brought Miss to Xiao Yuan’s room, sat for a while, and then had someone take her to see Wang Cejun.

Once the room was quiet, Xiao Yuan asked Anning, ”Was it you?”

Anning nodded, ”Just stirring the pot.”

She spoke nonchalantly, but Xiao Yuan knew she had put considerable thought into it.