Echoes of My Heart Throughout the Court

Xu Yanmiao, that troublemaker, finally reacted and asked him, “What are your instructions, Lord Ji?” Ji Sui stared at Xu Yanmiao expressionlessly.

Xu Yanmiao looked even more confused. “Lord Ji?”

Ji Sui chuckled dryly, “Heh.”

Xu Yanmiao: “?”

Ji Sui wiped the fake smile off his face and said flatly, “It’s nothing.”

“Understood!” Xu Yanmiao obediently refrained from asking further questions.

And then…

【Hiss! Not only a contractual marriage, but Ji Sui also had an ex-wife? Could it be an undying love for the ex-wife?!】

【Eh, wait, that’s not it either…】

Xu Yanmiao was still immersed in his gossiping frenzy.

You’re still digging!

Ji Sui gritted his molars.

Xu Yanmiao! Don’t you have anything better to do than watch other people’s drama?!

The emperor suddenly spoke up, “Marquis Jian’an! Have you caused enough trouble?!” cutting off Xu Yanmiao’s immersion in the drama. Xu Yanmiao snapped back to reality, and his heart’s voice abruptly ceased.

“No—!”

The Minister of Justice blurted out anxiously.

We haven’t heard the whole story yet! After all, it doesn’t make much of a difference for Marquis Jian’an to wear a green hat for a few decades. But what’s this about Ji Sui’s ex-wife? We want to hear about it!

And what’s the deal between him and Princess Qinghe? Why a contractual marriage? What exactly was in the contract? Your Majesty, if you don’t want to hear it, we do!

The emperor sneered coldly.

No! You don’t want to hear it!

He turned to the battlefield, now silent after his outburst, his anger pouring down like a storm: “Look at yourselves! Fighting like common ruffians in full public view! Where is the decorum and dignity expected of high-ranking officials?”

The entire court was dead silent.

Both sides of the scuffle hung their heads low, looking dejected, as they endured the emperor’s reprimand. With an outlet for his frustration, the emperor’s mood improved considerably.

Suddenly, a voice emerged in his mind: 【Huh? Wasn’t this guy just enjoying the show a moment ago? Why the sudden rage?】

【Could this be the legendary “serving the emperor is like tending a tiger”? Hm! Being an official really is hard. The boss’s mood changes faster than a chameleon.】

The emperor’s mood “crashed” again. He was utterly infuriated.

The emperor shot a fierce glare at Xu Yanmiao, who looked perplexed, wondering which unfortunate soul nearby had angered His Majesty enough for him to glare in this direction.

Taking a deep breath, the emperor muttered to himself: “This one is untouchable.”

He turned to Marquis Jian’an.

Marquis Jian’an: “?!” His expression instantly became one of pure horror.

The emperor declared, “I shall adjudicate this matter myself today.”

Glaring at Marquis Jian’an and the elegant woman, he said, “Since the two of you are so estranged, why not separate?”

The woman immediately agreed with enthusiasm.

Marquis Jian’an suspected she was eager to elope with that charming abbot and didn’t want to let her have her way so easily. However, with the emperor watching, Marquis Jian’an’s face twitched. He didn’t dare to openly show his displeasure and reluctantly replied, “As you command!”

The emperor continued, “Since you signed a contract…”

Mentioning contracts made the emperor think of Xu Yanmiao’s earlier words about contractual marriages, further souring his mood. His tone became even frostier: “This breach of contract is on you. Therefore, this lady is not guilty of adultery. Do you understand?”

The woman promptly knelt and thanked him for his immense kindness. Marquis Jian’an begrudgingly accepted the verdict.

“As for this Yulong…” The emperor paused, grinding his teeth, then skipped the subject entirely. “You monks have seduced women without shame. According to the law—”

【Eh? Are they going to be executed immediately? Or what?】

【By the way, the daughter of the Censor-in-Chief of the Metropolitan Court… ever since she chopped off her cheating ex-husband’s hand and returned home, her killing aura has been intense. She often goes hunting and can fill an entire cart with prey! Later, she accidentally ended up at Yulong Temple, where a group of charming monks fawned over her to cheer her up.】

The Censor-in-Chief’s eyes suddenly turned misty.

No wonder my daughter has been so cheerful lately. It turns out her unyielding spirit has softened!

The 69-year-old censor immediately stepped forward, trembling: “Your Majesty! This old servant… this old servant…” He racked his brain for a reason and finally stammered, “This old servant and the Wen family… Wen family… ah! That’s the one… the 75-year-old imperial attendant who still plays with young boys. We have deep ties! This old servant often visits Yulong Temple with him! That… a day of marriage, a hundred days of grace. This old servant wishes to plead for clemency…”

The officials were awestruck.

For the sake of his daughter’s reputation, he was willing to ruin his own. A true sacrifice!

The eldest Wen: “???”

You’re so noble! So virtuous! You’re pulling me into this for your daughter? Everyone had already forgotten about my 75-year-old scandal, and now you’ve brought it up again?!

【Also, the Minister of War, whose wife loves spending afternoons at Yulong Temple sipping tea and listening to the monks serenade her with music…】

【She’s stopped complaining about the minister’s refusal to bathe.】

The Minister of War: “!!!”

“Your Majesty!!!”

That roar sounded like it might tear his throat apart.

The Minister of War shouted, “Your Majesty! I believe these monks are simply running a business! It’s all consensual! If brothels like the Southern Wind Pavilion and Hundred Flowers House are not punished, then why should this fraudulent temple be?”

Now that’s a point. Because essentially, it’s a brothel with male prostitute.

“Moreover! Not everyone goes there just for… physical indulgence. Some go to enjoy the performances, like in a theater!”

The emperor: “…”

Honestly, he really wanted to ask—how hard is it to take a bath?

【And…】

Before Xu Yanmiao could finish his thought, someone suddenly stepped forward.

It was a senior academician of Huagai Hall, speaking earnestly: “Your Majesty! The Minister of War’s words are true. These monks run their temple honestly. If necessary, they can each be flogged twenty times, and Yulong Temple can be shut down. That should suffice.”

The emperor, puzzled, asked, “You neither have a sister nor a daughter. What’s your interest in this matter?”

“Well…”

【Holy crap!】

【Hahahahahaha!】

Xu Yanmiao’s laughter suddenly erupted.

【What a character! Such peculiar tastes! Whenever his wives and concubines meet their lovers, he makes it as convenient as possible!】

【He even takes joy in knowing they’re with others!】

【Hiss—he deliberately marries or takes concubines who are already in love with someone else. No wonder he doesn’t want these monks punished!】

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