Seeing Wang Chun, who was stamping his foot with impatience, he hurried forward and asked with deep concern, "Eunuch Wang, what happened in the palace at this late hour? Why the rush?"
"Oh, Minister Yan, please hurry. This old servant doesn't know what happened. His Majesty is so enraged that he has already smashed five cups, and his royal palm is swollen from hitting the table."
Although Wang Chun could have revealed a little information to Minister Yan in advance, such as the Emperor flying into a rage after receiving a secret letter from the Prince of Yu, as an old eunuch who had lived in the palace for decades, he knew that his mouth must always be guarded. He couldn't say anything that wasn't his place to say.
Moreover, being outside, walls have ears, and what if someone hidden in the shadows overheard? That would be disastrous.
"My heavens! This serious?" Yan Mingkun gasped and immediately got into the carriage.
Wang Chun also climbed in.
The guards whipped the horses, and the carriage sped towards the imperial palace.
Night had enveloped the capital city. Most of the lights in the houses had been extinguished, naturally taking away most of the noise and giving the common people a sense of peace.
Although Yan Mingkun was anxious, it didn't stop him from letting out a big yawn.
After yawning, he also let out a long sigh.
He was a court official who highly valued his health. His three meals a day and his sleep schedule were very regular.
Fortunately, it was the Emperor who summoned him, and fortunately, something important had happened. If it were someone else calling, or if it were a trivial matter, anyone who dragged him out of bed in the middle of the night would be cursed by him for three days and three nights, with his ancestors invoked.
As a Censor who supervised all officials, he couldn't avoid frequent debates, bickering, and arguments with various officials. After more than ten years of practical experience and tempering, he had developed a formidable skill in cursing.
Furthermore, this skill in cursing was by no means the vulgar abuse of street shrewish women who could spew obscenities. He could curse you to the point where you couldn't lift your head and couldn't eat for three days and three nights without uttering a single vulgar word.
In the imperial court, various factions vied for power, engaging in open and secret struggles. Every time the Emperor attended court, he had to face mouths with all sorts of intentions. Whenever he was in peril, Yan Mingkun was always the first to charge forward.
With Yan Mingkun's cursing skills unleashed, no one in the court dared to contend. They could only temporarily quell their anger and wait for another battle another day.
Upon arriving outside the Hall of Political Affairs, Wang Chun raised his hand and gestured inside, signaling Minister Yan to go in. He himself had to wait outside the hall, as he was terrified of the Emperor's angry outbursts.
Although he had served the Emperor for decades, he was still afraid. Moreover, it was precisely this fear that had kept him alive until now, and he would continue to be afraid in the future.
Minister Yan straightened his clothes, took a deep breath, and stepped into the Hall of Political Affairs.
"Your humble subject pays respects to Your Majesty. Long live Your Majesty, ten thousand years, ten thousand years!"
The Emperor raised his eyes, glanced at the kneeling Minister Yan, and then breathed a sigh of relief, saying, "Rise, be seated!"
Seeing the Emperor's distressed expression, Minister Yan sat nervously to the side.
The Emperor then dismissed everyone in the hall. Wang Chun conscientiously closed the palace door.
"Take a look!" The Emperor heavily threw Prince Yu's secret letter and a pile of supporting documents onto the desk.
Minister Yan immediately got up, took them, and began to examine them.
After the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Minister Yan looked up from the secret letter, his face full of shock. "Your Majesty, this... how could His Highness the Crown Prince be so..." treasonous?!
The Emperor snorted coldly, "I have indeed misjudged him. I have already banished the Fourth Prince to the desolate frontier, yet he is still not at ease? He wants to seize power and usurp the throne so early?! What a disloyal son!"
Yan Mingkun had already felt that the Crown Prince was too power-hungry and selfish, and not a person who truly cared for the people and governed the country. However, since the Emperor had chosen him as the Crown Prince, Yan Mingkun could only follow the Emperor's wishes.
It was just that he could not show the slightest personal inclination in front of the Emperor. Therefore, he stated impartially, "Your Majesty, please do not be angry. The matter has not yet been fully investigated and verified. It is not too late to condemn the Crown Prince after the investigation is complete."
The Emperor leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temples, and said coldly, "This matter is ninety percent true. Although the Fourth Prince is usually eccentric and wild, he is fundamentally quite upright. If there were not sufficient evidence, he would never wrongly accuse anyone."
"Alas!" Minister Yan sighed worriedly, "Logically speaking, there is no reason for the Crown Prince to do this. He is already the Crown Prince, his maternal uncle is the Duke of Jiang, even Prime Minister Dong is his supporter, and Your Majesty... also favors him. Why is he so eager to secretly forge weapons and recruit soldiers?"
"Perhaps he sees that I am still in good health and cannot wait," the Emperor's face showed sadness. The common saying that royal families lack kinship is indeed true.
He valued the Crown Prince so much, yet in the end, he was the first son to wish him an early death! It was truly the sorrow of a ruler and a father.
Minister Yan suddenly felt like yawning, but in such a solemn atmosphere, yawning would certainly be inappropriate and unsuitable. He could only open his mouth as little as possible to prevent the Emperor from noticing it was a yawn.
"Your Majesty, you summoned me here because you want me to quickly investigate whether the matter of the Crown Prince is true?" Minister Yan wanted to quickly resolve the core issue and then return to his beauty sleep. Oh, he was so sleepy, he really wanted to sleep.
The Emperor nodded, "Precisely. If it is true, I will not spare this unfilial son!"
"Your command is my duty. Your humble subject will go and handle it immediately. If Your Majesty has no other matters, your humble subject will take his leave." Yan Mingkun's speaking speed doubled. He was afraid that the Emperor would suddenly start talking about other things.
As a grown man, he did not want to be a late-night companion. The Emperor had so many consorts in his harem; any one of them could be drawn into a deep conversation.
The Emperor raised his eyes, looking at his beloved Minister Yan with a face full of resentment. Was he eager to leave? Didn't he see that I am currently in a very low mood and need comfort and someone to confide in? What a heartless Yan Mingkun!
"There is no rush tonight. You do not need to attend court for the next few days; you will focus on this matter." The Emperor insisted on not letting him leave.
The atmosphere froze for a moment.
"Alas! Thank you, Your Majesty! Your humble subject will definitely do his best to handle this matter well and will not wrong any good person." Yan Mingkun immediately changed his attitude and showed enthusiasm for chatting with the Emperor. Since the unavoidable matter could not be escaped, he could only choose to face the challenge head-on.
"Minister Yan, you say... among my sons, which one is truly sincere towards me?" The Emperor leaned back in his chair, appearing ready to have a long chat with Minister Yan.
Minister Yan pretended to wipe the cold sweat from his forehead and respectfully said, "Your Majesty, the princes hold noble status. Your humble subject... dares not to speak of them lightly."
The Emperor glanced at him and said irritably, "If I tell you to speak, then speak!"
Minister Yan quickly bowed and faced the Emperor, respectfully saluting, "Your humble subject first requests Your Majesty to forgive my offense in speaking of the princes. Otherwise, your humble subject truly dares not... act presumptuously."
"I pardon your offense, so speak truthfully!" The Emperor suddenly felt that his beloved Minister Yan was also a bit fussy. Where had the crisp sharpness of his cursing in court gone?