Jiu Zhang Ji: The Daily Life of the Reborn Daughter

Chapter 51: City Gate Captain

Two days later, at the morning court session, memorials impeaching the Sixth Prince were delivered to the Emperor's desk like snowflakes.

"Tell me what you mean in front of all the civil and military ministers." The emperor laid out the ministers' memorials one by one. Most of these memorials came from the supporters of the eldest prince and the second prince.

He opened a book and said, "The Sixth Prince is of divine appearance, how can he discuss marriage with someone who has broken off an engagement?" He threw the book to the person who wrote it. When the emperor began to read his letter, the person knelt down and threw the emperor's letter on the ground in front of him.

"Tell me, do you have no mouth or ears?" Seeing that he just put his head on the ground without saying a word, the emperor was furious. "I said it myself at the grand court meeting that day that Bai Junzhe is not worthy of the girl, so let their marriage be annulled."

"I cancelled their engagement, not the engagement."

"Take him away and beat him with ten boards, and reward him with one pound of gentian and two pounds of magnetite. After eating them, his ears and eyes will be sharp, and he can come to court again. Also, reward him with three pounds of calamus to replenish his brain. He will not be good without brains." After the emperor finished speaking, two inner court guards came forward and dragged him out, one on each side.

The emperor opened another book. "Duke Dingguo's mansion married his legitimate daughter into the royal family. I'm afraid they have some ulterior motives and will cause chaos in the world." Who wrote this? "Minister of Rites."

Wang Zhi, the Minister of Rites, lifted his robe and knelt on the ground.

"You are a Minister of Rites. When the prince is planning a marriage, you don't think about how to go through the three letters and six ceremonies, how to send the betrothal gift, and when the wedding will be held. Instead, you sit at home and make groundless speculations. How can you be so unreasonable? You don't care about matters that are not your responsibility. You don't care about what you should be in charge of, and you interfere in things that you shouldn't be in charge of. Are you dissatisfied with your current position?" The emperor threw the memorial in front of him.

"Wang Zhi, the Minister of Rites, has been in office but has done nothing. He is dismissed from his post and transferred to the Ministry of Clan Affairs to be appointed as a sixth-rank experiencer. Don't you like to meddle in the affairs of the princes? Go ahead, or I'll take your head if you don't do well." From a third-rank minister to a sixth-rank experiencer, this is a good memorial.

The emperor knew that beating and demoting were both severe punishments, but could he dare not punish them? If he did not deal with those who had submitted memorials to criticize his son and the girl, he would be the one to be dealt with. Even if he dealt with them now, it was hard to predict whether they would live or die, so he had to rely on himself for the best.

"Big brother, second brother," the eldest and second princes were called and quickly knelt down, "You two, one principal wife and two concubines, I have matched you up, all of them are noble ladies from aristocratic families, and even the concubines are from families of officials of the third rank or above."

"Why are all the people in your nests phoenixes, but the sixth brother can only have a quail? As a prince, he can't marry a daughter of a noble family, but can only marry the daughter of a peddler? Otherwise, he would have evil intentions and ulterior motives. Did anyone say so when you got married?"

"The world is not in your pocket yet. Any evil intentions are against me, and any ulterior motives are against me. What does it have to do with you? Don't act like someone has eaten your candy and is stepping on your tail, jumping out to make trouble for every little thing. You don't do your business every day and just worry about other people's business." The emperor looked at the two brothers sarcastically, thinking who doesn't know what you are thinking.

The emperor threw a pile of memorials in front of them and said, "Just take care of your own little piece of land and don't overreach. This has nothing to do with you. Go down." The two princes collapsed to the ground. What did their father mean by saying this? It had nothing to do with them. Was he going to completely cut off their path to becoming the crown prince?

In fact, the emperor did not mean this. What he meant was that the throne is still mine. If there are any ulterior motives, it is my responsibility to take care of them. It is not your business. Don’t act like you are taking the meat out of the pot.

The two princes did not wait for the inner court guards to come and invite them, as that would be even more embarrassing. Instead, they just swiped at the memorial in front of them, held it in their arms, and quickly bowed and took their leave.

The two brothers appeared to be terribly scared, but in their hearts they were thinking, without the sixth brother, who can you give the throne to?

"I have to clarify the matter of the Sixth Prince. The original engagement at the Dingguo Mansion was a lie fabricated by Bai who stole the engagement letter. Six years ago, the Imperial Concubine proposed to the wife of the Duke of Dingguo, but the reply was not received until six years later due to the mischief of a villain. So there was no engagement in the first place, and there is no such thing as canceling it. It is even more nonsense to break off the engagement." The Emperor thought, if he clarified the matter of the Sixth Prince's wife in the court, would Fei'er like him better?

"So that's how it is. There's a letter as proof." Lord Chen agreed with the emperor. If the emperor agreed with him, he should send someone to the imperial concubine to bring the letter for everyone to see.

No one will question this anymore.

"Yes, how about you go to the imperial concubine and get it and show it to everyone?" The emperor folded his arms, leaned back on the dragon throne, tilted his head and squinted at Lord Chen, you old thing, you are trying to trick me.

"I dare not." Who dares? Back then, when the Queen ordered 3,000 guards to besiege Yunxiao Palace, the Imperial Concubine moved her five fingers and sprinkled a handful of powder. The 3,000 guards could not move except their eyes and mouths. If he went, the Queen's little fingernail would kill him.

You don’t dare, you don’t dare. If you ask me to go, of course I don’t dare either.

"You dare not, I think you are very brave, old man, I have read it and you still don't believe it, you dare to question me?" Has he read it? Of course he hasn't read it, he won't read it even if he is asked to read it, he doesn't have enough time to read Fei'er, what old letter, he won't read it.

The letters from Concubine Yun and Xiao Xixi are so valuable, but the Sixth Prince didn't even show them to him. He also said he didn't have time to read them. Would anyone show them to him? He's just trying to flatter himself.

"I dare not." Lord Chen thought to himself, I guess you don't dare to ask for the letter, that's why you are so timid, huh.

"Is there anyone who wants to go to the Imperial Concubine to ask for the letter? I will send Eunuch Li to lead the way."

Eunuch Li, how can the emperor do this? My life is also a life.

Fortunately, no one said anything, and Eunuch Li breathed a sigh of relief.

"Ministry of War, demote Bai Junzhe to the position of city gate captain and let him guard the main gate of the capital." This is not worthy of an imperial decree. The Ministry of War can just send out a notice.

The official position that Bai Junzhe had been holding for a long time finally came to fruition. It was not a promotion, nor was it his original position. Instead, he was demoted three levels.

From this moment on, no one will call him General Bai anymore.

Bai Junzhe was once again implicated by the Bai family.

The captain of the city gate was of the eighth rank. Originally, he was a captain of the seventh rank when he was at the frontier. He returned to the capital with great ambition and military achievements. He hoped to be promoted to the fourth rank, or at least the fifth rank. However, the reality was so miserable.

In this capital city, a brick can kill four or five people from the eighth rank.

Qiao Lili was not very happy when she knew that Bai Junzhe was demoted to a gatekeeper. He was still alive, and he owed Qiao Lili more than just one life.

The Sixth Prince's wedding came to an end. It was supposed to be a happy event, but it turned into a bloody storm. The royal family is really different from the common people's family.

"A report has come in from Danzhou that the insect plague is showing signs of making a comeback. My dear ministers, please pool your wisdom and think of ways to prevent it before the insect plague starts this year and reduce the occurrence of disasters." Last year, the insect plague had a great impact on the south, and many grain crops had reduced or even failed to produce. Later, many useful methods were found.

The officials submitted their reports one by one, and the cabinet recorded them in detail. It would compile them into a book and send them to Danzhou and other places that were severely affected by insect infestation last year.

“Your Majesty, I have an idea, but I don’t know whether I should speak it out or not.” This is Mr. Chu from the Hanlin Academy. He comes from a farming and reading family in the south of the Yangtze River and once won the top three places in the imperial examination.

"My dear Chu, why are you so tactful today? Speak." These intellectuals are very cunning. I guess he has offended someone, so let him take the blame.

"I am thinking that more people make more fire. As for agriculture, we officials in the court have no say. After all, we are not farmers. I am thinking that if I issue a notice asking for tips on pest control, I must make sure that every farmer knows about it. There may be some tips passed down from their ancestors. Besides, there are many smart and capable people among farmers."

Look, it means that there must be an element of offending people. If he doesn't stop it, the old ministers who have a lot of things to do will kneel down and say, "I am terrified and useless."

"That makes sense, Grand Minister of Agriculture. Your Ministry of Revenue will take the lead in this matter. If you find a truly effective method to control insects, you will be rewarded with a thousand taels of silver." The emperor made the final decision.

"I accept the decree."

"Your Majesty, I have something to report."

......