CHAPTER 241: CHAPTER 241: QUANTITY

Marquis Dongxiang glanced askance at the minister.

"So many ministers have entered the palace to impeach me. If the Emperor doesn’t comply with their wishes, he can forget about resting peacefully. Moreover, my daughter saved the Emperor; if the Emperor punishes me, he will certainly feel uncomfortable about it."

"Since the matter started because of me, it’s only right that I step up to resolve it. That’s what a loyal minister does."

The officials, "...!!!"

They nearly spat blood.

He’s a bandit who occupied a mountain and has robbed the court countless times.

And yet, he has the face to call himself a loyal minister?!

Does he even know how to write the words ’loyal minister’?!

The Emperor took a deep breath and stared at Marquis Dongxiang, "How do you plan to settle this matter?"

Marquis Dongxiang sighed.

"I want to be the Great General, the Emperor is not unaware of this. But since I accidentally knocked over Mr. Chen, I have to take responsibility."

"Mr. Chen is the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice. During his recovery period, I’ll complete the tasks he should have done."

"Once he’s recovered and returns, I’ll step down from the responsibilities of the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice. At that time, let the Emperor appoint me as a general, and let me take a position in the Ministry of War," Marquis Dongxiang said in a relaxed tone.

But his words made the Emperor re-evaluate his shamelessness.

All the thick-skinned ministers kneeling couldn’t compare to him alone.

He arranged everything quite neatly for himself.

Without involving the Emperor or the ministers at all.

Apart from the Emperor, no one felt the emotional turmoil more than the Minister of the Ministry of Justice and the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice.

If Marquis Dongxiang were really to temporarily take over the duties of the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice.

Marquis Dongxiang would then be their colleague and subordinate.

A minister that even the Emperor couldn’t control.

Could he, the Minister of the Ministry of Justice, possibly control him?

Once he entered the Ministry of Justice, he, the Minister, would just become a decoration?

Even being a decoration would be a courtesy; he’s more likely to be treated as a subordinate.

The Minister of the Ministry of Justice strongly opposed.

Marquis Dongxiang looked at him and said, "Isn’t this compensation enough? What does the Minister of the Ministry of Justice deem appropriate?"

The Minister was speechless.

Steadying his thoughts, he said, "Since Marquis Dongxiang didn’t intentionally break Mr. Chen’s leg, a formal apology will suffice."

Marquis Dongxiang laughed, "Since a formal apology is enough, why did you still come to the palace asking the Emperor to punish me severely?"

"But you haven’t apologized!" Mr. Chen said.

"Too impatient. At least wait three to five days, until the Emperor has recovered from his injuries. Wait until you’ve captured me not apologizing before complaining to the Emperor," Marquis Dongxiang said calmly.

"..."

"Now, I’ve already gone to your Chen Family to apologize, yet you didn’t know, and along with this group of ministers, you’ve disturbed the Emperor’s peace."

"..."

"The Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice is injured, bedridden, unable to get up. The Emperor is in the same condition."

"Why don’t I see you concerned about the assassins, only focusing on avenging the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice? Is the Emperor so low in priority in your hearts?" Marquis Dongxiang asked.

The officials, "...!!!"

The Emperor’s face turned green.

The officials scrambled to pledge loyalty to the Emperor.

The Emperor coldly said, "During the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice’s recovery period, all his duties will fall to Marquis Dongxiang, until his leg is fully healed."

The face of the Minister of the Ministry of Justice turned pale.

Just a moment ago, he opposed Marquis Dongxiang, afraid that this newly superior subordinate would make life difficult for him.

"Emperor, the Ministry of Justice investigates cases; Marquis Dongxiang is not familiar with the Ministry of Justice," the Minister of the Ministry of Justice called out.

The Emperor frowned.

He had overlooked this.

Marquis Dongxiang entering the Ministry of Justice would only create chaos, not achieve any proper results.

The Emperor looked at Su Jin, as he didn’t want to go back on his word, hoping she would persuade Marquis Dongxiang.

Eunuch Fu noted the Emperor’s gaze.

The corners of his mouth twitched several times.

The Eldest Young Madam of Duke Zhen’s Mansion is the daughter of Marquis Dongxiang—how could she not support her own father over the Emperor?

Their hearts are in unison.

Su Jin said, "Emperor, rest assured, if my father is unqualified for the position of Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice, even if you force him into the Ministry of Justice, he will still quit."

The Emperor, "...."

Marquis Dongxiang, "...."

The Emperor looked at the Minister of the Ministry of Justice.

The Minister had nothing more to say.

Now he only hoped Marquis Dongxiang would spare the Ministry of Justice and resign quickly.

The Minister of the Ministry of Justice stepped back, and the other ministers remained silent.

The Emperor waved his hand and said, "All of you may leave now."

Kneeling for half a day, the ministers’ legs were sore.

The ministers turned to leave.

Marquis Dongxiang looked at Su Jin and asked, "Why did you enter the palace?"

Su Jin replied, "To report a grievance to the Emperor."

"What happened?" Marquis Dongxiang furrowed his brow.

Su Jin recounted truthfully, "I saved the Emperor, and the Empress rewarded me, but the pastries in the reward contained laxatives."

"I gave the pastries as a gift to the Old Madam, and now the Old Madam and Princess Nanzhang are lying in bed, barely alive, and I must investigate the laxatives to defuse their anger."

The Emperor held his forehead and said, "The Empress did not manage her subordinates strictly, allowing the drugging in the gifted pastries. She has admitted her mistake to me, and I have punished her to copy the palace rules a hundred times."

"Only a hundred times?" Su Jin asked with dissatisfaction.

The Emperor, "...."

Eunuch Fu, "...."

"The palace rules are this thick," Eunuch Fu gestured with his hands.

A hundred times the palace rules exceed the combined length of three hundred pieces of ’Women’s Precepts’ and ’Women’s Training’.

Su Jin said no more.

But Marquis Dongxiang was not satisfied. He said, "The Empress has already failed in managing her subordinates. If she spends all her time copying palace rules, who knows how her subordinates will behave without her oversight."

"My daughter narrowly escaped a grave disaster. If anything were to happen to her, I have loyal and devoted brothers in Qingyun Mountain, all of whom see Jinjim as one of their own. If they go crazy, I cannot control them."

Eunuch Fu, "...."

This was a blatant threat.

Anyone could have poor subordinate management.

The Empress could.

Marquis Dongxiang certainly could.

The Emperor looked at Marquis Dongxiang, eyes narrowed.

"What does the Marquis mean?" Eunuch Fu asked.

"Since the Empress already admitted to failing in managing her subordinates, what’s the point of keeping those untrained palace maids and eunuchs in Phoenix Palace? Demote them far away and appoint reliable palace attendants to serve instead," Marquis Dongxiang said.

"Without such concerns, the Empress can then calmly copy the palace rules."

Eunuch Fu was stunned.

He thought Marquis Dongxiang didn’t want the Empress copying palace rules to free up her time to manage the palace attendants.

Unexpectedly——

The intention of Marquis Dongxiang was to cut off the Empress’s support.

And naturally have the Emperor place people to monitor the Empress.

This is a clever tactic to achieve two goals with one stroke.

But the Empress would not agree.

Neither would the Empress Dowager.

Moreover, even if it’s known that the Empress tried to harm the Eldest Young Madam of Duke Zhen’s Mansion, without evidence, there’s nothing that can be done to her.

If relying solely on dominance, there’s little chance of success.

"Let it be done," the Emperor said.

The little eunuch went to convey the order.

Inside Phoenix Palace.

The Empress was irritated and angry from copying "Women’s Precepts."

A palace maid rushed in and said, "Your Grace, something terrible has happened!"

The Empress’s face darkened.

The palace maid approached and said, "The Emperor has punished Your Grace to copy the palace rules. Marquis Dongxiang and the Eldest Young Madam of Duke Zhen’s Mansion think the punishment is too light. To calm their anger, the Emperor wants to demote all the palace maids and eunuchs of Phoenix Palace."

The palace maid was extremely anxious.

Because she was among those to be demoted.

In this palace, aside from Yongning Palace and Taihe Palace, serving in Phoenix Palace was the most prestigious.

Once demoted, who knows what awaits them.

The Empress’s face was cold as frost.

She threw down the Jade Tube Wolf Hair Brush in her hand.

And strode out.