Chapter 516: Chapter 184 White Lotus Dew_2
"I’ve already said, it was just that the incident happened so suddenly, there were too many people present..."
The madness of Qi Yutai had already spread, Rouge Lane was filled with drinkers and passers-by. Many had left to other places, like fish entering a broader stream, indistinguishable in the sea, yet spreading the news everywhere.
The Qi Family could silence one mouth, ten mouths, but not a hundred mouths, let alone those hundred would quickly become a thousand, ten thousand, endlessly.
This matter was troublesome.
Qi Qing closed his eyes.
The blade of a warrior, the pen of a scholar, both are tools for killing. And the pen kills faster and more furiously than the blade by a hundredfold.
The screaming of Qi Yutai gradually subsided in Qi Qing’s ears, finally exhausted from struggling. The newly prepared medicinal soup had not yet arrived, and Qi Qing sat quietly, his eyes filled with fatigue, like an aged father.
Qi Yutai turned his head, facing Qi Qing directly.
His expression was confused, his gaze vacant like a newborn child, a thin layer of tears veiling his eyes, the red marks on his face not yet dry, lacking his usual impatience and feigned respect, appearing like a harmless, bewildered child.
"Father." He suddenly called out.
Both people in the room were shocked.
Had he come to his senses?
Qi Qing leaned forward, softening his voice, "Yutai, do you recognize me?"
"Father, save me." Qi Yutai looked at him fearfully and said, "Someone wants to kill me."
The old steward raised his head in surprise.
Qi Qing clasped Qi Yutai’s hand tightly without changing his expression, "Who wants to harm you?"
Qi Yutai swallowed.
"A man."
He shivered, "A man... I don’t know."
...
The Qi Family was shrouded in gloom, but the Imperial Court was bustling with activity.
The rumors from Rouge Lane quickly spread throughout the Imperial City.
The Grand Preceptor held high power and influence, with students scattered throughout the government. Lower-ranking officials dared not discuss the affairs of the Qi Family openly, but the faction of the Third Prince seized the opportunity to kick them while they were down.
In the court assembly, the Crown Prince said indifferently, "Rumors are rampant, and the truth is not yet known. Grand Preceptor Qi has always been upright and benevolent, promoting the virtuous for the nation. Officials should remain clear and cautious. How can you behave like gossipy women, not discerning right from wrong?"
The Third Prince, Yuan Yao, spoke with a smile, "The Crown Prince’s words are quite right. The matter is simple: just let the young master of the Qi Family appear. If he can prove that his mind is clear and his behavior normal, the rumors will naturally fall apart." After saying this, he looked around the assembly of officials with a sudden look of realization, "Ah, I almost forgot, Grand Preceptor Qi requested leave today."
Grand Preceptor Qi indeed called in sick and did not attend the assembly.
The Crown Prince’s face grew dark.
Yuan Yao reveled in the misfortune.
Prince Ning, standing nearby, blinked and yawned languorously.
Emperor Liang Ming had yet to speak when another Imperial Censor stepped forward, claiming that early this morning en route to the assembly, someone stopped his palanquin to announce that the previous night a fire had broken out in the Fengle Building. Someone had accused Qi Yutai of secretly consuming Cold Food Powder there.
As these words came out, the ministers were in an uproar.
The late Emperor had strictly prohibited the consumption of such substances throughout the nation. Anyone caught using it would be immediately charged with a crime.
And this Imperial Censor was known throughout the court for his integrity.
On the Dragon Throne, Emperor Liang Ming listened calmly, his expression inscrutable.
"Upright and benevolent, promoting the virtuous for the nation?"
Yuan Yao caught the Crown Prince’s embarrassed look and sneered.
"Indeed, Grand Preceptor Qi has kept the nation safe and governed with tranquility. But... perhaps the court affairs are too cumbersome, and he has no time left to teach his own son?"
"If this is how he manages his household, how can he manage the country? Or perhaps, Grand Preceptor Qi is now past his prime, no longer up to the task!"
He stepped forward, looking up at the monarch on the high seat.
"It is said in the ’Book of Filial Piety’: ’When the ruler disregards the laws and relies solely on his own judgment, awarding or punishing differently for the same deeds, this breeds resentment.’ Yuan Yao bowed, "I implore Father Emperor to be impartial, let not kinship affect justice, let not love hinder the law."
"...Thoroughly investigate this matter."
...
A court assembly full of hidden agendas.
Those who argued, those who spread slander, and those who enjoyed the show without saying a word—though there were many yawns.
As for whether Qi Yutai really consumed Cold Food Powder, Emperor Liang Ming had already dispatched someone for a swift investigation. But putting aside the matter of the powder, Qi Yutai’s public breakdown at the Fengle Building was already a well-known fact to all.
In a dimly lit room, the flame flickered on a bronze eagle stand.
Xiao Zhufeng followed closely behind Pei Yunmeng, descending the long stone steps, all the way to a low table in the corner.
A person sat in front of the low table. Xiao Zhufeng stepped forward and greeted, "Teacher."
Yan Xu lifted his gaze.
The court assembly had ended, and each department returned to its place, but the great fire at Fengle Building had burned away not only the Qi Family’s once immaculate reputation but also the long-stable situation in the Imperial Court.