The Yong King was so enraged he was about to jump for joy, and the Xie father and son were even more detestable than each other!
Despicable and shameless! Insane!
Not only did Xie Taihong bite him back fiercely, slandering that these disciples were maliciously instructed by him, but he also spoke in veiled terms, accusing him of framing and harassing Xie Jiang as a mere pretense, and that the real intention was to maliciously obstruct the submission of the Four Southern Continents!
Upon hearing this, Xun Geng's expression turned grim.
Xie Taihong intended to escalate the matter!
But could Xie Taihong be blamed? It was the Yong King who initially wanted to blow things out of proportion and bring it before the Emperor!
Xun Geng felt that the Yong King, at his age, was utterly muddled. He didn't even consider what they had to confront Xie Jiang head-on.
The Four Southern Continents were voluntarily offered by the Xie clan, not conquered by Da Yu's armies. The Xie clan were honored guests of Da Yu and even the Emperor, not vanquished slaves to be bound at will.
Let alone merely injuring a Prince and several royal descendants, even if Xie Jiang had accidentally killed them all, what of it?
The Xie clan only needed to concede a bit more in terms of benefits, and they would find a way to absolve Xie Jiang of blame.
His Majesty would not mind the death of a few distant relatives he disliked, and no one in the court would care about the death of a few pampered royal scions.
As the young master of the Xie clan, Xie Jiang would not even lose a single strand of hair.
The Yong King had underestimated the Xie clan.
The Yong King's face turned purple, his hands and feet began to tremble. He tried to interrupt Xie Taihong's continued slander several times, but his voice was drowned out by Xie Taihong's booming tone.
With the mere movement of his lips, Xie Taihong spoke words that killed without drawing blood, portraying himself as a grieving family member with full emotion and passion.
The royal descendants lying on the ground, previously so pitiful to behold, now appeared so detestable. The Yong King's initial righteous indignation now seemed so malicious.
The officials waiting to be summoned in the side hall couldn't help but whisper amongst themselves.
Who in the capital hadn't heard of Xie Jiang's ill repute? The Prince of Yong'an and a group of royal descendants insisted on colliding with Xie Jiang. This matter seemed incredibly strange.
It was just unknown who was backing the Yong King.
His Majesty's emphasis on the submission of the Four Southern Continents was well-known.
It wasn't just His Majesty who valued it; the court also attached great importance to it.
Expanding territory was a matter of national attention in any dynasty.
There could never be only one voice in court. Regarding the submission of the Four Southern Continents, doubt and opposition had never ceased.
The most frequent concern was suspicion of the Xie clan's intentions.
As the de facto rulers of the Four Southern Continents, primarily Lan Yong, wasn't it better for the Xie clan to live freely overseas as their own rulers? Why would they submit to Da Yu, which was thousands of miles away across the vast ocean?
It was even said that the prosperity and stability of the Four Southern Continents, including their national strength and military power, were not inferior to Da Yu.
Even across thousands of miles of vast ocean, they were a force that Da Yu could not ignore.
Even if the Four Continents were all barren lands, Da Yu could not treat them lightly.
Was it simply because the Xie clan was a former prominent family of the Central Plains, wanting to return to their roots? This explanation did not convince everyone.
Therefore, some believed that the Xie clan's actions were solely for the pursuit of greater benefits.
Another opposing view was that the Four Southern Continents were too distant from Da Yu, and even if incorporated into Da Yu's territory, they would be isolated overseas, making stability extremely difficult.
However, the Four Southern Continents were offered by the Xie clan with their own hands, requiring no post-war reconstruction, and the dissenting voices from the Four Continents had no impact on Da Yu whatsoever.
The Xie clan would suppress these voices themselves, but the worry of this faction was precisely that the Four Southern Continents would still be under the control of the Xie clan.
His Majesty and the court officials who supported the submission did not consider this a major problem.
Let's bring the Four Southern Continents into the fold first, and any issues can be resolved slowly.
Although there were many voices of doubt in the court, there was little opposition, almost negligible.
Who could refuse the merit of expanding territory without a single soldier being dispatched? From now on, His Majesty could enter the ancestral temple with his head held high, and face the previous emperors and the founding emperor without shame.
Moreover, the significance of the submission of the Four Southern Continents was not merely the expansion of Da Yu's territory. Did the Xie clan's offering of these overseas lands not demonstrate Da Yu's might and the current Emperor's benevolent influence extending far and wide, both domestically and internationally?
His Majesty's and Da Yu's prestige would reach a new height with the submission of the Four Southern Continents!
Could His Majesty tolerate anyone obstructing the submission of the Four Southern Continents for selfish reasons?
Unlike princes with real power like the Prince of Yu, the Yong King had no influence in the court. He could only continue to enjoy his prosperity by clinging to His Majesty. Obstructing the submission was simply courting death!
Xie Taihong's words were like a fatal blow, killing without drawing blood!
Fortunately, Xun Geng did not allow the two sides to escalate the matter further. He decisively categorized it as a common case of brawling and ordered it to be punished accordingly.
The Minister of the Court of Imperial Entertainments and the Vice-Minister were hastily summoned into the palace.
The Prince of Yong'an and the group of royal descendants had initiated the trouble, and should have been immediately taken back to the Court of Imperial Entertainments for reflection. However, seeing how disfigured they were, the two principal officials of the Court of Imperial Entertainments dared not take them back.
After some consideration, Xun Geng allowed them to return to their residences to recover from their injuries first, and to report to the Court of Imperial Entertainments after ten days when their injuries had largely healed.
Xie Taihong disagreed.
Who knew if these royal descendants would report to the Court of Imperial Entertainments after ten days?
It was almost an open accusation that the Court of Imperial Entertainments would show favoritism and let the matter be dropped.
Xun Geng, with a stern face, instructed the two officials of the Court of Imperial Entertainments to ensure they were brought to the Court of Imperial Entertainments after ten days!
These royal descendants were idle and caused trouble all day long. It was only right for them to reflect properly in the Court of Imperial Entertainments.
The Minister and Vice-Minister of the Court of Imperial Entertainments were in full agreement. With these pampered youths off the streets, the public order in the capital would improve considerably.
Then let them be confined for a longer period.
The Minister of the Court of Imperial Entertainments said, "If Master Xie is still worried, he can also supervise."
With the matter having reached this point, Xie Taihong stopped nitpicking.
Xie Jiang was also reprimanded and ordered to return to his residence for ten days of self-reflection.
Xie Taihong glanced at Xie Jiang quickly.
As long as Xie Jiang showed the slightest displeasure about this, he would immediately overturn Xun Geng's judgment.
Xie Jiang merely raised his eyebrows slightly.
Confined to his residence, wasn't it as simple as walking out whenever he pleased?
As for self-reflection.
Xie Jiang simply ignored it.
Without any fault, what was there to reflect upon?
Xie Jiang was merely a bit hungry. The sun had already risen to its zenith; it was time for lunch.
Xie Taihong was momentarily unsure of his ancestor's intentions. If he hadn't immediately exploded in anger and stormed off, he probably wasn't angry, but no one would be happy about being ordered to confine themselves for reflection.
Xie Taihong reluctantly accepted Xun Geng's punishment on behalf of Xie Jiang, but he did so with a look of great grievance throughout.
His young ancestor had been accosted by a few toads while strolling in the garden, and now he had to confine himself for reflection? How absurd was this matter! Why should the royal clan let these toads hop around? The ones at fault were clearly the royal clan!
If a dog is walked without a leash and bites someone, isn't it the owner's fault?
Although they felt immensely wronged in this matter, who were they if not loyal ministers and esteemed generals of Da Yu? They would endure some grievances for the sake of Da Yu.
The Minister of the Court of Imperial Entertainments, who had maintained a poker face throughout, showed visible cracks in his composure upon receiving the sentiment expressed by Xie Taihong.
What did he mean by enduring grievances for Da Yu? What grievances had they, father and son, endured? Beating someone to that extent was enduring grievances!