The Emperor's attitude was clear.
Consort Wei dared not say more and returned to Huayang Palace dejectedly.
On the way, she regretted it more and more. She shouldn't have pleaded or tried to probe.
The Emperor detested schemers the most. She had previously relied on her persona of being simple and kind to remain favored in the harem for years.
Thinking back carefully, it was precisely from the time Wang Qingyao was falsely accused of stealing a hairpin and the Emperor suspected she had orchestrated it, that Consort Chen began to regain favor.
Realizing this, Consort Wei regretted it even more.
Let alone relaying messages, even if the Emperor's anger subsided, she could never mention Wei Yu to him again.
The Wei family received the news from Consort Wei. Madam Wei the Second cried again, lamenting, "My ill-fated child."
The Wei family deliberated, and finally, Grand Tutor Wei brought Wei Chong to the palace. It was not to plead for mercy, but to confess their guilt.
The two knelt outside the hall. Grand Tutor Wei spoke of his failure to discipline his descendants, stating that a father's fault lay in his son's misdeeds.
He admitted that Wei Yu was wicked and malicious, having blinded the Princess of Ding'an and then attempted to murder her. He, as her grandfather, and Wei Chong, as her father, had failed in their upbringing.
The Emperor had only punished Wei Yu, not them. Feeling uneasy, they had come to request punishment.
Grand Tutor Wei was truly willing to sacrifice.
He chose to sacrifice a pawn to save the king.
He completely abandoned his granddaughter, Wei Yu, and even stepped on her, in order to lessen the Emperor's wrath towards the Wei family and gain favor.
He was squeezing the last bit of value out of Wei Yu.
"The Wei family is willing to compensate the Princess of Ding'an for her losses," Grand Tutor Wei said regretfully. "It is due to the Wei family's poor upbringing. If the Princess of Ding'an names a sum, the Wei family will satisfy her even if it means ruin. Although I know that the harm Wei Yu caused can never be fully compensated by mere material wealth, as it is a lifelong injury."
They all thought Wang Qingyao would be blind for life.
The Emperor was indeed pleased with Grand Tutor Wei's approach and did not vent his anger on the Wei family because of Wei Yu's actions.
He summoned Wang Qingyao and Xiao Yun to the palace.
Hearing Grand Tutor Wei's words, Wang Qingyao did not hold back and made an exorbitant demand. "Since the Grand Tutor has such sincerity, this Princess Consort will not be impolite. I have calculated that I am nineteen years old this year, and based on my ancestors' longevity, I will live to at least eighty. That is another fifty-nine years. Given my standard of living, a compensation of ten thousand taels of silver per year is a concession. That would be fifty-nine thousand taels of silver for fifty-nine years. May I ask if Grand Tutor Wei prefers to pay in cash or banknotes?"
Veins bulged on Grand Tutor Wei's gaunt face.
She had even calculated it?
Fifty-nine thousand taels?
Even the Emperor showed a surprised expression.
Considering the purchasing power of silver in Da Sheng, fifty-nine thousand taels would be equivalent to approximately 1.2 billion in RMB.
The Wei family would indeed be ruined, and even then, they could not afford it.
Even if they could, they would not pay it.
Wang Qingyao looked towards the Emperor with vacant eyes.
"Your Majesty, this subject's wife will be blind forever, forever losing her sight and living in darkness. I will never see my beloved husband or my two dear children again..." Wang Qingyao said with deep sorrow. "Yet the perpetrator lives well. Whenever this subject thinks of it, her heart aches."
The Emperor showed a pained expression.
"Just now, Grand Tutor Wei stated emphatically that he would compensate any amount to satisfy me, but now,呵呵..."
Wei Chong clenched his fists, wanting to lash out. His sharp, cold gaze swept over Wang Qingyao's back, as if intending to pierce her.
Grand Tutor Wei gritted his teeth. "The Wei family upholds strict principles. It is indeed difficult to produce so much money at once. If the Princess of Ding'an is willing, the Wei family will compensate the Princess one thousand taels of silver annually, until..."
Until you die!
If you want the Wei family's money, you'll have to see if you have the life to take it!
Xiao Yun sneered, "It seems Grand Tutor Wei lacks sincerity. Since there is no sincerity, do not make empty promises and cause us to make a wasted trip."
Wang Qingyao chimed in, "Exactly. The Wei family can sell their houses, shops, and estates, and their jewelry, gold, and antiques. I don't believe they can't scrape together fifty-nine thousand taels. A prefect in three years can earn ten thousand taels of silver! Grand Tutor Wei has been Grand Tutor and Minister of Personnel for so many years, and he has two sons in official positions, with a daughter as a consort. Let alone fifty-nine thousand, he probably has five hundred and ninety thousand!"
Grand Tutor Wei was so enraged that his face turned ashen, devoid of any expression. He clutched his chest as if he might faint at any moment.
Heh heh heh, he is an old man after all!
I wonder if he has heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or high blood sugar. If he were to die of anger, it would be a good deed!
Wei Chong said coolly, "Please forgive us, Princess of Ding'an. The Wei family truly cannot afford such a sum. We sincerely wish to compensate the Princess, but the amount is simply too vast! We implore the Princess of Ding'an to understand!"
Wang Qingyao shed two tears. "I understand you, but who will understand me? I will live in boundless darkness forever, while your daughter has merely been demoted to a concubine, her eyes are not blind, her ears are not deaf, and she is still living comfortably in the Eastern Palace! Now, you are unwilling to compensate me with a mere sum of money! Is this your so-called sincerity? His Majesty is still present, and you dare to deceive the Emperor?!"
Grand Tutor Wei and Wei Chong hastily kowtowed, exclaiming, "Your subject dares not!"
Finally, the Emperor made the final decision. "Fifty-nine thousand taels is indeed too much. I decree that it be halved to thirty thousand taels, to be paid over three years. Princess of Ding'an, are you satisfied with this?"
Since the Emperor had spoken, she had to be satisfied, even if she wasn't.
To continue to be unreasonable would be seen as Wang Qingyao being ignorant.
Wang Qingyao thanked the Emperor and then added, "Your Majesty, as you know, the Ding'an Prince's manor is not short of money, nor am I. Therefore, I wish to donate this thirty thousand taels from the Wei family to the state, to reward the border generals defending the country or to aid the disaster victims."
The Emperor was overjoyed. "The Princess of Ding'an indeed has great vision! I thank you on behalf of all the people of the realm!"
Grand Tutor Wei almost spat out a mouthful of blood.
This was a typical case of getting the benefits while pretending to be wronged!
Wang Qingyao had reaped all the advantages.
Grand Tutor Wei, who had navigated the officialdom for decades, was defeated by a woman.
The more Grand Tutor Wei thought about it, the angrier he became, and his face grew paler. Finally, he actually spat out a mouthful of blood.