Transmigrated as the Emperor, but Slacking Off - Chapter 22.1

On the high dais, the Emperor stared at him with great interest, and the eyes of the entire assembly were fixed upon him simultaneously.

Ning Wujie felt as if he were being pierced by countless needles, or being roasted over a slow fire.

If he said yes, everyone would naturally assume he had neutralized the aphrodisiac for this faint-hearted ruler. But if he refuted it, saying the Emperor had slept with no one, no one would believe him. After all, a scandalous rumor always travels faster than the truth.

That was precisely why this faint-hearted ruler had spoken so ambiguously. Rather than letting people speculate about what happened with Wang Yian, he’d rather they believe it was with him… In any case, their relationship was already seen as scandalous by everyone.

This Sovereign had left him with no choice at all.

Unrivaled in being… a shameless, faint-hearted ruler!

He let out a heavy breath, his clenched fists tightening and loosening repeatedly. Finally, he closed his eyes and said with utter helplessness, his voice dry and raspy: “It is so, Your Majesty.”

The moment the words left his lips, he saw Wen Xing smile with satisfaction. That smile made Ning Wujie’s teeth ache with suppressed rage.

The assembly: … Why does it feel like we just had a display of affection thrust in our faces? To admit to such a thing as neutralizing an aphrodisiac in a place as solemn as Xuanzheng Hall is that not a bit much?! Where is the imperial dignity? Where is the solemnity of the court?!

The young Emperor leaned back in his dragon throne with triumph, squinting at Wang Xuanyi, who was now as frozen as a wooden chicken. “The case is settled. What else do you have to say?”

“Oh, right. I suppose you’ll say words are no proof.”

“The Imperial Physician’s Office has the medical records of my ‘Drunken Bone Silk’ poisoning. That is the evidence.”

Hearing this, Wang Xuanyi felt there was no further room for excuse and stood dazed for a moment. He had calculated everything but never expected these two to be so utterly devoid of shame as to admit such a thing in public! All his schemes were ruined. What now?

Wang Xuanyi looked toward the Empress Dowager as if for help.

Empress Dowager Wang Fuwei’s face was as still as water as she glared coldly at Wang Xuanyi. Useless thing! Earlier, Ning Wujie was clearly about to take the blame for the sake of the Emperor’s reputation, yet the Emperor had turned it into a romantic interlude with a few words and brushed it aside! It couldn’t even be called a stain on his reputation; after all, the Emperor’s favor for Ning Wujie eating and sleeping together was already known to all.

The chance to eliminate this man had slipped through her fingers. What a pity! Wang Fuwei thought with chagrin.

Wen Xing looked at the heads of the three judicial offices. “What should the punishment be for someone who beats the Dengwen Drum only to have it proven there is no grievance?”

The three officials looked at each other, and seeing they couldn’t evade the issue, the Chief of the Court of Judicial Review said reluctantly with a bow: “Thirty strokes of the cane in open court.”

Wang Fuwei raised her voice to stop them: “Wang Xuanyi performed great service for the Late Emperor during the succession. He is now sixty years old; how could he survive thirty strokes?”

“Furthermore, his beating of the drum today was merely because an old man was forced to bury his grandson. He acted out of the unbearable pain of losing his most cherished kin. Although Wang Yian committed such evil deeds, I hope Your Majesty can show some empathy and forgive him this once.”

Without waiting for the Emperor to speak, she added with feigned sternness to Wang Xuanyi: “But since the drum was struck, it cannot simply end without consequence. Your title shall be demoted by one rank.”

Upon hearing this, Wang Xuanyi immediately followed suit: “The Empress Dowager’s rebuke is correct. Everything was my grandson’s own doing. I acted without discernment and misunderstood Lord Ning; I am willing to accept punishment.”

Wen Xing frowned, about to refute, when he saw Ning Wujie speak: “Your Majesty, the County Prince of Pingyang is over sixty. Perhaps the thirty strokes should indeed be waived.”

Everyone was stunned. Did we hear that correctly? Ning Wujie was actually speaking up for his opponent? Wang Xuanyi looked at Ning Wujie suspiciously. Would this boy truly repay enmity with kindness?

To their surprise, Ning Wujie continued solemnly in the next breath: “The case of Huanhai Tower is deeply intertwined with the County Prince. Perhaps I should first take this man into custody.”

Wang Xuanyi tried to maintain his composure. “Nonsense! What has this old man to do with Huanhai Tower?”

Ning Wujie: “The underground trade network of Huanhai Tower is extensive. The Master fled with the list of names and was nearly silenced.” He saw the guilty look on Wang Xuanyi’s face and said coldly, “Fortunately, my people intercepted him.”

Upon hearing these words, Wang Xuanyi was horrified. Failure? Why did his spies report that the Master was dead and the list destroyed? Could it be this boy, still wet behind the ears, had played him? At that thought, he felt as if a basin of ice water had been poured over him, chilling him to the core. How could a seventeen-year-old youth possess such seasoned tactics?

As he spoke, Ning Wujie made a gesture of invitation to Wang Xuanyi: “Prince, pray follow me.”

Seeing the situation turn abruptly, Wang Fuwei frowned and said in a suppressed voice: “Huaiyu, this man is a County Prince personally titled by the Late Emperor. In my opinion, having the three judicial offices hold a joint trial is sufficient. Why must he be sent to the Bureau’s prison?”

The three judicial offices: … We don’t dare try him! We don’t dare!

However, Wen Xing said with indisputable authority: “The Bureau of Investigation monitors all officials. Naturally, that includes County Princes.”

Wang Fuwei frowned in dissatisfaction. She leaned into Wen Xing’s ear and reminded him in a low voice: “Huaiyu, Wang Xuanyi is a pillar of the Luoyang Wang clan. The Wangs have always followed Your Majesty’s lead. Pray show some mercy.”

Hearing this, Wen Xing finally seemed to understand why this County Prince had the guts to beat the drum. Since ancient times, the power of great clans has been deeply entrenched, and many emperors have been restrained by them. Having transmigrated for so long, he finally realized why the original owner was unable to change the nation’s fate. It had nothing to do with the Grand Tutor’s indecisive philosophy; it was simply because the Emperor needed the support of the Wang clan to sit securely on the throne.

Wen Xing stared at the youth below the dais and suddenly realized he had allowed the boy to slash his way straight into the untouchable zones. Previously, the embezzlement case hadn’t touched the core of the Wang clan, yet they already saw Ning Wujie as a thorn in their side and had used Wang Yian’s death to set today’s trap.

What would happen if I let Ning Wujie arrest this Prince?

Seeing the Emperor on the high throne remain as still as water, seemingly hesitating, Wang Xuanyi let out a smirk of smug satisfaction.

Ning Wujie also seemed to sense the Emperor’s hesitation. Just as he thought the faint-hearted ruler might abandon him at the crucial moment, he heard the Sovereign say: “Ning Wujie.”

“Subject is here.”

“I ask you: if a chess game reaches a stalemate, what should be done?”

Ning Wujie looked up, his gaze meeting the Emperor’s. Usually, he saw only a lazy air in the Emperor’s eyes, as if he cared for nothing. Yet today, he saw absolute seriousness and determination in that look.

Without hesitation, he said in a deep voice: “I would upend the board.”

The resonant words rang through the hall like a thunderclap, leaving everyone in shock. Silence reigned for several seconds until the young Emperor let out a laugh.

“Granted.”

Wang Fuwei was shocked and cried out, “Huaiyu!”

Wang Xuanyi’s eyes widened in rage. “What is the meaning of this, Your Majesty?!”

Before his words finished, two Jinwu Guards stepped forward and pinned his arms behind his back. Ning Wujie raised a hand. “Take him away.”

As Wang Xuanyi was dragged off, he turned back and shouted: “Your Majesty! You cannot treat an old servant like this! I am a County Prince titled by the Late Emperor! Your Majesty! I am a Wang—”

The voice vanished outside the hall. The officials and kin were so terrified they didn’t dare speak. To move against the Empress Dowager’s maternal family has the Emperor gone mad?

Wen Xing rose and walked down the high steps leisurely. Behind him, Wang Fuwei stood up abruptly and hissed, “Huaiyu, do you know what you have done?!”

Wen Xing turned his head, looking coldly at Wang Fuwei, his voice lazy and calm: “Mother, this Empire is surnamed Wen.”

Wang Fuwei was stunned, her face darkening instantly. She watched Wen Xing’s thin silhouette walk gracefully down the jade steps that figure looked like an immortal, yet more like a kite with a snapped string, never to return to her hand.

The Sovereign, clad in a light bamboo-green Daoist robe, walked through the crowd. When he passed Ning Wujie, he paused. A scent of ambergris wafted to Ning Wujie’s nose.

“I have granted you the right to upend the board. Do not disappoint me.”

With that, the green-clad figure swept out the door. Ning Wujie stood practically nailed to the spot, watching that splash of bamboo-green blend into the daylight outside.

The cold late-autumn wind whistled through the gaps in the windows and doors. Winter was approaching, and even the “wind-blades” had become much sharper. Despite the underfloor heating being lit, Wen Xing’s thin body still felt cold.

“Li Dequan…” the silkworm cocoon on the couch grumbled.

The old eunuch hurried over. “Your Majesty.”