Imperial Husband Chapter 53

Snap. Crackle.

Ying Zhengjing had just sat down on the dragon throne when he threw several memorials to the ground. He narrowed his eyes, glaring at the officials below and erupted in fury, "Is this how you handle affairs for Us? Concealing disaster reports? You only think to tell Us now because the situation has grown so severe you can no longer cover it up?"

"Your Majesty, please calm your anger."

The court ministers and princes below all lowered their heads, not daring to speak further.

"How can We calm Our anger over such a major incident? Look at this, how many common people have died because of this?" Hearing their words, Ying Zhengjing grew even angrier. His gaze immediately fixed on Ying Ziheng, "Crown Prince, you explain. We entrusted the drought in Zhuzhou to you to handle. Why was such a major development concealed and not reported?"

As Ying Zhengjing spoke these words, his tone was filled with unconcealed rage and dissatisfaction.

Ying Zhengjing was inherently suspicious, and having recently caught a chill, Ying Ziheng and the ministers working with him concealing the news of the Zhuzhou drought spiraling out of control had precisely touched Ying Zhengjing's bottom line.

Thud.

Ying Ziheng knelt heavily on the ground, repenting, "In reply to Father Emperor, your son also handled this drought based on the circumstances of previous years. I did not expect the situation to develop like this. But Father Emperor was ill and should not be overworked, so your son presumptuously decided to conceal the worsening drought, intending to inform Father Emperor after his health improved. I beg Father Emperor to punish me." 

Ying Zhengjing sneered, "Heh, for Our illness? It seems to Us you can't wait to replace Us, don't you?"

The moment these words left Ying Zhengjing's mouth, Ying Ziheng's back immediately stiffened, "Fa... Father Emperor... You misunderstand, your son absolutely has no such intention."

The words Ying Ziheng had just spoken were taught to him by Shen Chaoyan before coming here. After all, concealing the worsening drought had already crossed Ying Zhengjing's bottom line. All Ying Ziheng could do now was act according to circumstances, counter move with move, and strive to protect his position as Crown Prince.

"Your Majesty, the Crown Prince was also worried the Zhuzhou matter would prevent Your Majesty from resting peacefully for his recovery. It was an act of filial piety. We beg Your Majesty to pardon the Crown Prince."

"We beg Your Majesty to pardon the Crown Prince."

Ministers who were not involved in this matter but had secret connections with Ying Ziheng also successively pleaded for leniency for him. Shen Chaoyan, however, from beginning to end, never spoke a single word to plead for Ying Ziheng.

Shen Chaoyan's stance was hardly surprising, as Ying Ziheng had brought this calamity entirely upon himself.

Because this time, not only did Ying Ziheng conceal it from Ying Zhengjing, he also didn't tell Shen Chaoyan, leaving Shen Chaoyan in an extremely passive position. Shen Chaoyan was certain that if he got involved in pleading for Ying Ziheng now, Ying Zhengjing would definitely not let him off easily.

Seeing this, the other implicated officials followed suit.

Seeing the ministers speaking up for Ying Ziheng, those ministers who had committed offenses alongside Ying Ziheng also knelt down one after another, each wearing an expression of shame.

Uncle, please help me.

Seeing Ying Zhengjing had not spoken in his favor for a long time, Ying Ziheng panicked. He immediately used his eyes to beg Shen Chaoyan, wanting Shen Chaoyan to put in a good word for him.

Ying Ziheng truly regretted it now. He had threatened the ministers handling the drought with him to keep Shen Chaoyan in the dark precisely because he was tired of Shen Chaoyan's constant lectures about caution and prudence. Clearly, he was now the Crown Prince whom everyone curried favor with, why should he still need to be cautious and prudent like when he was just a prince?

Unexpectedly, the disaster situation, which Ying Ziheng had assumed would be similar to previous years, evolved to become increasingly severe. The number of deaths far exceeded previous droughts, it could almost be called a once-in-a-century disaster.

"Enough, all of you!" Ying Zhengjing scowled and rebuked the officials speaking for Ying Ziheng, "We pardon him? Then what about the lives of the people in Zhuzhou? Who will answer for the countless lives lost in Zhuzhou? And you all, how dare you brazenly help the Crown Prince conceal this from Us? What are your intentions?"

Once Ying Zhengjing said this, everyone, including Ying Ziheng, simultaneously fell silent, not daring to continue speaking.

Ying Zhengjing scanned the people below and said coldly, "The Crown Prince handled affairs incompetently and subsequently concealed the disaster, causing many innocent people in Zhuzhou to perish. We are deeply grieved. Therefore, We punish the Crown Prince to reflect on his mistakes confined within the Eastern Palace. Without Our permission, no one is allowed to visit the Crown Prince. Simultaneously, We also revoke the Crown Prince's right to participate in governance."

Hearing that Ying Zhengjing was revoking his right to participate in governance, Ying Ziheng's face instantly turned deathly pale, "Father Emperor... please don't..."

Losing the right to participate in court politics meant Ying Ziheng would be kicked out of the center of power. How could he possibly accept that?

"Enough!" Ying Zhengjing interrupted displeased, "If you say another word, you won't need to remain Crown Prince either."

If it weren't for Ying Ziheng's genuinely excellent reputation over the years, for such a major fault, Ying Zhengjing would have long ago stripped him of his Crown Prince position.

As soon as Ying Zhengjing said this, Ying Ziheng dared not speak further, afraid Ying Zhengjing would truly depose him.

"Yang Shaochuan, take him away."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Yang Shaochuan immediately had the guards escort Ying Ziheng back to the Eastern Palace.

After dealing with Ying Ziheng, Ying Zhengjing did not forget to also remove those ministers who had colluded with Ying Ziheng. "As for the others who abetted the Crown Prince in this foolish matter, strip them all of their official positions and exile them to the borderlands."

"Your Majesty, spare us... have mercy..."

"Your Majesty, it was the Crown Prince who threatened your subject. Your subject had no choice but to agree."

Having witnessed Ying Zhengjing's punishment of Ying Ziheng, the offending ministers immediately knelt down and betrayed Ying Ziheng.

"Take them away." Ying Zhengjing was well aware, his aim this time was precisely to clean out those ministers in the court who harbored hidden agendas, to see who would still dare to engage in secret schemes.

In a moment, as the offending ministers were taken away, every official in the main hall felt a sense of peril.

"Ziqi, We heard you have already sent some relief grain there. Is this true?" Ying Zhengjing unexpectedly questioned Ying Ziqi.

Ying Ziqi took a step forward, composedly cupped his hands and replied, "In reply to Father Emperor, your son happened to overhear Father Emperor's conversation with Minister Shen yesterday and learned that the Crown Prince had concealed the worsening disaster, leaving the people of Zhuzhou in deep water and scorching fire. Your son could not help but use his own silver to buy some grain and fodder to transport to Zhuzhou, to contribute his meager strength. I beg Father Emperor to punish me."

[水深火热 (shuǐ shēn huǒ rè): lit. in deep water and scorching fire; fig. to be trapped in an extreme predicament of immense suffering and hardship, such as living under tyranny or in a severe crisis.]

"You acted with the people in mind. What crime is there?"

"Thank you, Father Emperor."

Ying Ziqi appeared respectful and unyielding on the surface, but inwardly he was extremely pleased.

"But," just after praising Ying Ziqi, Ying Zhengjing added a 'but' directed at the princes present, "The Zhuzhou matter cannot be handled by Ziqi alone. Therefore, We have decided to allocate more silver for disaster relief. As Our own sons, who among you is willing to go there together?"

This announcement sent ripples of alarm through the assembled courtiers.

The current Zhuzhou was in ruins, with robbery and plunder being commonplace. No one was willing to go. Last time, Ying Ziheng handled relief efforts without going himself, merely having subordinate ministers deal with it.

"Father Emperor, your son believes this heavy responsibility is most suitable for the Heir Apparent of the Prince of Dingbei and the Seventh Imperial Brother."