116: Has the prince consort gone mad?

"That may be so, but given the current situation... tsk..."

Military suppression is always the most effective method, but why not do it? In times of war, whatever you do is justifiable, but in such a peaceful and prosperous age, such actions would inevitably cause panic among the people.

Furthermore, today's Imperial Examination Candidates could be tomorrow's officials. No one knows if these people will become high-ranking officials in the future. If they were just ordinary clerks, it would be fine, but if Zhou Chutian does not back down, Ning Wuya is unsure where their futures will lead.

More importantly, it is hard to say whether these people might be the sons of some official. Even though Mo Yingqi has the protection of The Emperor and The Two Highnesses, it is always better to be cautious.

But upon reflection, Ning Wuya suddenly felt that his own thoughts were quite laughable. With The Emperor and the protection of Luo Yongan and Luo Yongning, that really seems to be enough. However, can The Emperor accept Mo Yingqi causing such a scene?

"It does not matter, Grand Chancellor. I never regret what I have already done." Mo Yingqi turned back and instructed the Flying Fish Guard behind him. "Drag the bodies away and throw them directly into the mass grave on the outskirts of the city to feed the wild dogs. I offered them dignity, but since they did not want it, then they shall have none."

"I say, by killing people like this, I am afraid that tomorrow... no, today, there will be Censor Officials entering the palace to report you, right?" Tang Jingzhong nudged Mo Yingqi's arm. "Scaring them would have been enough. If you really wanted to kill, you shouldn't have done it at this time. It is not as if our Pacification Bureau cannot handle this."

"That is what you say, but that is not how things are done." Mo Yingqi shrugged. "If it is not blown out of proportion, this matter will not be fun."

"Tsk, are you alright?" Tang Jingzhong was a bit unable to understand. "What do you mean it is not fun if it is not blown out of proportion? Are you really planning on making a huge scene?"

"Otherwise?" Mo Yingqi tugged at his clothes. "This Old Scoundrel just wants to corner The Emperor and all of us. If this matter cannot be resolved immediately, The Emperor will not be able to spare the energy to focus on countering Zhou Chutian's other schemes."

"Furthermore, even if I do not kill anyone and try to persuade them with kind words, do you think this matter could be resolved so easily? If we do not allow their delusional fantasies, these people will keep causing trouble, and they might even threaten The Emperor by refusing to take the Special Imperial Examination later."

It sounds like not taking the Special Imperial Examination would be disadvantageous to them, but the New Emperor has only been on the throne for a year. If a cheating scandal occurs during the first Special Imperial Examination, and the candidates go on strike again, where would The Emperor's dignity be? Would we have to select from the provincial examinations all over again and wait another year to hold the Special Imperial Examination?

Mo Yingqi understands this logic, and how could Zhou Chutian not understand it? It is precisely because he understands it that he dares to do this. Therefore, without using some methods to suppress them directly, I fear this matter will not be able to come to an easy conclusion.

Almost at the same time, inside the imperial palace, The Emperor leaned back with a memorial in his hand and suddenly sneered, throwing the memorial directly onto the floor.

"Very good, very good. The officials of the various provinces have all learned how to play tai chi with me, have they?" The Emperor said while lightly tapping the imperial desk. "Now that such a major incident has occurred with the Special Imperial Examination, every one of the Six Ministries, except for the Ministry of War, is delaying official business with me. Now, these officials in the outer provinces have also started to imitate them, feigning compliance while acting in opposition. Do they really think I dare not mobilize the army?"

"Father, this matter is of great importance, and we must deliberate carefully." Luo Yongfu bent down and picked up the memorial from the floor. "The rumors from the Jiangsu and Zhejiang region spread a long time ago. Now, the officials in the outer provinces are all in a panic, fearing that they will suffer the same fate as the officials in the Jiangsu and Zhejiang region."

"Oh, so because they are afraid of ending up in such a state, they have started playing mind games with me, wanting me to compromise, right?" The Emperor was so angry he laughed. "Instead of thinking about serving as officials and doing their duty for the people in the imperial court, they are thinking about gathering together to go on strike, thinking that I have no one else to use at this moment and have no choice but to compromise, right?"

"Dream on! Damn it, do they really take me for a clay bodhisattva? Second son, I say, you draft the imperial decree. I want to see if their bones are harder or if the hooves of the Daxing Dynasty's iron cavalry are harder!"

The Emperor was truly angered this time. In terms of actual damage, it was not that severe. But this move by Zhou Chutian was purely like shoving a fly into his mouth; it was disgusting whether he spat it out or swallowed it.

The Special Imperial Examination was already becoming a laughingstock, and every official in the capital who had been promoted by Zhou Chutian was now using these tactics to try to save their official positions and lives.

Now, it was even worse; the officials in the outer provinces were following suit and imitating them. The officials of the Two Jiangs had been completely replaced, and with Shen Xian personally in charge, other provinces were worried that this wind would blow onto their own heads. Combined with Zhou Chutian's instigation, the officials in the capital started the trouble first, and the other provincial officials naturally followed along.

To put it plainly, in the hearts of these people, things like imperial court systems, the livelihood of the people, and even official positions and lives could not be preserved, so talking about those things was all empty.

"Father, I can help you draft the imperial decree, but you must understand that this matter cannot be handled this way, right?" Luo Yongze sighed, shaking his head to dissuade him. "If we really do this, wouldn't our Daxing Dynasty be turned upside down?"

"Damn it, I cannot swallow this anger!" The Emperor sat in his chair and then slammed the table heavily. "This Old Scoundrel is holding me by the throat. It felt so good to beat him back then, but now I am being held so uncomfortably!"

"But fortunately, Imperial Grandfather was not truly without any preparation." Luo Yongfu thought for a moment before speaking. "Also, Father, the news that the spy just sent, Brother-in-law... killed someone outside the Imperial Academy."

"Killed someone? Who did he kill?"

"Ten of the Imperial Examination Candidates who were causing trouble were shot and killed by the Flying Fish Guard that Brother-in-law brought over."

The Emperor did not have much of a reaction upon hearing this, only saying with slight impatience: "There is no need to specifically tell me this. Without even thinking, your Brother-in-law must have definitely been dealing with people arranged by that Old Scoundrel. If they are dead, then they are dead! What did the other candidates do after seeing this?"

"What else could they do? Brother-in-law really dared to kill. These Imperial Examination Candidates are just like those Censor Officials in the Censorate; the only tough part about them is their mouths." Luo Yongze couldn't help but curl his lip. "However, quite a few people were discussing, saying that Brother-in-law himself was also a scholar, and was once a young genius who passed the imperial examination in his teens, and so on..."

Speaking of this, Luo Yongze suddenly stopped his voice, looked at his father and elder brother, and hesitated for a moment before continuing: "They also said that Brother-in-law has degenerated himself. He could have followed a proper official career path, yet he insisted on going to the Pacification Bureau to be... to be a lackey of the imperial court..."

"Damn it... who said that!" The tea cup in The Emperor's hand was thrown fiercely. "According to his statement, all the civil and military officials throughout the Daxing Dynasty are afraid they are all lackeys of the imperial court. What? They are officials, so they are not eating the imperial court's salary, and they are not doing the imperial court's business?"

Actually, if one were to insist, The Emperor's words were not without reason. Although the things the Pacification Bureau does make officials deeply loathe them, this is inherently a matter of each department performing its own duties.

They say the Pacification Bureau is the imperial court's eagle and hounds, its lackeys, but everyone is working for the imperial court; it really cannot be said that anyone is nobler than anyone else.

These officials hate the Pacification Bureau simply because the Pacification Bureau monitors all officials and uses ruthless methods, so these people view the Pacification Bureau as a thorn in their side.

To put it plainly, if the Pacification Bureau did not infringe upon their interests, but instead patrolled and arrested common people every day, I am afraid these officials not only would not curse a single word, but would be as happy as eating dumplings during the New Year!

"Father, at any rate, you are now the supreme ruler..." Luo Yongfu's tone carried a hint of disdain. "It is fine that there are only us father and sons in the Imperial Study now, but do not let it be that one day in the imperial court, you are also full of foul language; that would truly be very unrefined!"

"Oh, so now it is your turn to lecture your father?" The Emperor was so angry he laughed out loud. "I am afraid these bastards said other things too, right?"

"Yes, but perhaps you should not listen, Father?" Luo Yongze scratched his head and smiled awkwardly. "You can guess it too; it is nothing more than matters related to the two younger sisters..."

"Tsk, alright, I have probably guessed it." The Emperor waved his hand. "It is nothing more than that child Yingqi, relying on that handsome face, being favored by Yongan and Yongning, eating soft rice and so on... Heh, ptooey, disgusting!"

"Our dynasty does not forbid Imperial Son-in-Laws from serving as officials... of course, except for that disgraceful fellow. My late Father also had good intentions that led to bad results back then. Each of them spoke so nicely, but before Yongan and Yongning were married, how many candidates who boasted of being romantic talents... tsk, forget it, better not to mention it."

Back then, there really were some blind guys who, in order to rise to power, relied on their own talent and competed in poetry and lyrics at the pavilion, praising Luo Yongan and Luo Yongning in various ways.

The Emperor had just ascended the throne at that time, and Luo Yongan and Luo Yongning's status was noble, and their beauty was unrivaled in the capital. It is possible that among those who cursed Mo Yingqi for eating soft rice, there were those who had joined in writing poems back then.

However, the few who shouted the loudest... well, anyway, The Emperor does not know where they are. In any case, Dali Temple still has several missing person cases pending, and their whereabouts have never been found; their lives or deaths are unknown.

Actually, there is no need to investigate. The Emperor can imagine it; I am afraid it is the kind where there is a leg on the east side and an arm on the right side, and one probably cannot even put the pieces together.

"These people, they do not hate that someone can eat the Legitimate Princess's soft rice; they just hate that the one eating this bowl of soft rice is not themselves." The Emperor snorted coldly. "Very well, catch a few, and do not send them to Dali Temple. Since they do not do their jobs, hand them over to the Pacification Bureau, and give each of them eighty slaps on the mouth... right, just beat them on the street for me!"

"Don't they always like to say that I insult the refined and humiliate scholars? I will make this accusation a reality. There are so many scholars in this world, why not beat others and only beat them? Every time a few are punished, they go on about how all scholars in the world are this or that. Ptooey, they have no shame left!"

Luo Yongfu heard this and spoke with some disapproval: "Um, Father, at this moment, Brother-in-law has just killed someone, if you cause such a scene again..."

"Believe me, Yongfu, if I deal with them, at least they will still have their lives." The Emperor said earnestly. "At this critical juncture, those two ancestors should be as peaceful as possible; if they can avoid causing trouble, they should avoid causing trouble."

"Uh, that seems to be the case..."

Luo Yongfu and Luo Yongze looked at each other; if their two younger sisters were to find out about this... the consequences would be unimaginable.

"Reporting to The Emperor, the two Princes."

Outside the door, the voice of Eunuch Fang suddenly sounded. Upon hearing this, The Emperor quickly said: "Old Fang, come in and speak!"

Before long, Eunuch Fang walked in, and after bowing, he said: "The Emperor, the news just arrived that the Imperial Son-in-Law led troops to break into the inn where several candidates were staying and grabbed them to beat them on the street."

The tea that The Emperor had just drunk was sprayed out in one mouthful. Luo Yongfu quickly asked: "Do you know the reason for this?"

"Reporting to the Prince, it seems that these candidates had dirty mouths and were gossiping about The Two Highnesses and the Imperial Son-in-Law..." Eunuch Fang's cold sweat couldn't help but flow out when he said this. "The Imperial Son-in-Law heard the news, asked who it was, and asked for their names and hometowns, then brought people directly to the inn, dragged them onto the street... and beat them with thorn clubs."

When the Flying Fish Guard of the Pacification Bureau performs official duties, in addition to carrying the xiuchun saber, they also carry some torture instruments when necessary.

As for this thorn club, it is forged from pure iron and covered with sharp spikes. It is not long and is not very heavy. However, if it hits the body, it tears the skin and flesh. Unless necessary, the Pacification Bureau will not use it lightly.

"It is over, it is all over!"

The tea cup that had just been handed up was accidentally knocked to the ground and broken by The Emperor. But he couldn't be bothered to care about such small matters, only beating his chest and stomping his feet as he said: "I had hoped that those two dead girls would have their wishes fulfilled and could live in peace with the Imperial Son-in-Law, but now... they are not at peace, and they have also driven the Imperial Son-in-Law mad, haven't they?"

"Father, we do not yet know the full picture. Why not send someone to the Pacification Bureau and have Commander Fang carefully interrogate the people who followed the Imperial Son-in-Law today." Luo Yongze quickly said. "Also... otherwise, why not summon the two younger sisters to the palace and ask them in detail?"

"That makes sense, second son, what you said makes a lot of sense." The Emperor said, while fiercely rolling his eyes at his second son. "Then it is up to you. Shall I and your big brother hide?"

"Hey, Father, you are not being loyal here!"

"Stop talking nonsense. Who is talking about loyalty with you? Besides, do you think I don't know that you brat are harboring bad intentions? This terrifying matter—whoever came up with the idea should do it. Don't even think about watching me make a fool of myself!"

Luo Yongan and Luo Yongning, who were at the Princesss Residence, were drinking tea and playing chess in the pavilion. Upon hearing the news sent by the maid, Luo Yongan just nodded and then said softly: "Do not pay attention to them. These gossipers, whether the Imperial Son-in-Law beats them or kills them, they deserve it."

"This, The Two Highnesses..." Ying Hong on the side hesitated for a moment, but still spoke to persuade them. "The Imperial Son-in-Law has just killed someone, and now he is beating candidates on the street like this. I am afraid..."

"What is there to fear? Censor Officials? The Censorate? Or are you afraid of those so-called rules of scholars?" Luo Yongning sneered. "If he beat them, he beat them; if he killed them, he killed them. Aunt, do not worry about these small matters."

"Yongning is right, Aunt does not need to care about these." Luo Yongan looked up at her, picked up a black chess piece, and placed it slowly. "It is just a part of the chess game. Only when this game of chess is played to the end can one glimpse the secrets of heaven, is that not so?"