Pan Hai entered and announced, “Your Majesty, the Minister of Justice requests an audience.”
Upon hearing this, Emperor Jingming immediately felt relieved.
A visit from the Minister of Justice usually didn’t indicate major problems. At least it meant his good-for-nothing sons weren’t involved with the Ministry of Justice, and there were no issues with the Ministry of Revenue or Ministry of Works demanding money.
During today’s court session, the ministers from the Ministry of Works and Ministry of Revenue had nearly come to blows over financial matters.
Recalling that scene made Emperor Jingming’s head throb. Being an emperor wasn’t easy.
“Summon Minister Gao,” Emperor Jingming calmly ordered.
His eyelid twitched, surely a sign of impending trouble, but he felt it wouldn’t be too serious.
Autumn was approaching, and as customary, it was time for another round of executions. However, the Great Zhou Dynasty had always been cautious about capital punishment, with the final decision requiring the emperor’s approval.
Perhaps they had encountered a difficult case and were unsure how to proceed.
As Emperor Jingming pondered this, the Minister of Justice entered.
“Minister Gao, what brings you to the palace at this hour?” Emperor Jingming asked leisurely.
The Minister of Justice bowed deeply and said, “Your Majesty, I have committed a grave error!”
Emperor Jingming sat up straight and reassured him, “Minister Gao, please speak freely.”
Who was he trying to frighten by immediately claiming to have committed an error?
The Minister of Justice glanced at Emperor Jingming, noticing that the emperor seemed relatively calm, and relaxed slightly. Of course, he didn’t dare show any relaxation on his face.
“Today at the Treasure Pavilion, a scandalous act drew a crowd of onlookers. In the ensuing chaos, many people fell down the stairs, resulting in a severe stampede. Three people died, and over a dozen were injured…”
Emperor Jingming’s face showed a hint of anger. “How could such a thing happen? Where are the two culprits, and how have they been dealt with?”
Regardless of how open-minded society might be, illicit affairs have always been unavoidable throughout history. However, incidents where such affairs led to multiple casualties were extremely rare.
Moreover, were those two people out of their minds to engage in such behavior at the Treasure Pavilion?
Although he had never been there, judging by its name, it must be a shop selling precious items.
Were they deliberately trying to get caught?
The Minister of Justice remained silent.
“Minister Gao, why don’t you answer?” The minister’s silence suddenly gave Emperor Jingming an ominous feeling.
The Minister of Justice took a deep breath and reluctantly continued, “Your Majesty, the two individuals involved in the scandalous act at the Treasure Pavilion were… the Crown Prince and his eunuch attendant…”
Emperor Jingming’s mind went blank, and he knocked over the teacup beside him.
The cup fell onto the polished golden brick floor, shattering into pieces.
“Minister Gao, repeat that. What are the identities of those two individuals?”
The Minister of Justice looked at Emperor Jingming intently before lowering his head.
The emperor truly loved to deceive himself. Did this need to be repeated?
However, the emperor’s orders couldn’t be disobeyed. The Minister of Justice sighed inwardly and began to speak, “It was the Crown Prince and—”
“Enough!” Emperor Jingming shouted, closing his eyes and falling silent.
He feared that if he spoke again, he might order the Crown Prince’s execution on the spot.
A suffocating silence filled the imperial study.
The Minister of Justice, no longer young, felt as if his old bones couldn’t endure much more.
Having such an heir apparent made being a minister difficult.
However—glancing at Emperor Jingming’s ashen face and silence—the Minister of Justice felt he could endure a bit longer.
Tsk, tsk. Having such a son and heir made things even more difficult for the emperor.
After what seemed like an eternity, Emperor Jingming finally spoke, “Where is the Crown Prince?”
“The Crown Prince… should have returned to the palace by now,” the Minister of Justice replied uncertainly.
Emperor Jingming immediately ordered Pan Hai, “Tell the Crown Prince to get over here immediately!”
The Crown Prince had slipped back to the Eastern Palace, sighing in relief.
He had managed to return safely despite the close call.
After just a few sips of tea, an attendant came to inform him that the emperor had summoned him.
The Crown Prince went to the imperial study with trepidation. Upon seeing Emperor Jingming’s slightly gloomy expression, his legs weakened.
“Son greets Father Emperor. May I ask why Father Emperor has summoned me?”
“Where did you go today?”
The Crown Prince’s heart raced. Resisting the urge to confess everything while weeping, he forced himself to say, “Son went to observe affairs at the Ministry of Revenue…”
“And after that?”
“After that?” The Crown Prince continued to stubbornly resist, “After that, son returned to the palace—”
Emperor Jingming grabbed the white jade paperweight from his desk and hurled it.