Within the imperial palace!
"Your Majesty, although my son is a bit headstrong, his crimes do not warrant death! The Second Prince intends to tear my son apart limb from limb. I implore Your Majesty to issue an edict to spare my son from capital punishment!" With that, Wei Chenggong immediately prostrated himself and kowtowed.
Jie Qianmo, seated on the dragon throne, remained unmoved. "Lord Wei, you are inept at raising your son. Your son caused trouble at the Royal Academy, and you still have the audacity to appear before Us?"
"Your Majesty, this minister only asks for my son's safe return! As long as Your Majesty issues an edict to pardon his death sentence, this minister will surely bring my son back to the manor and discipline him properly!"
Gazing at Wei Chenggong, whose tears streamed down his face on the ground, Jie Qianmo said sternly, "If you wish for Us to issue an edict to spare Wei Maoran's death, then Lord Wei's position as a third-rank official will be demoted to a vice-third-rank Grand Scholar, and your wife's third-rank noble title will be revoked."
"Your Majesty?" Wei Chenggong was unwilling. "Your Majesty, please reconsider! This minister has served diligently and conscientiously throughout his years in office, without a single moment of slack!"
"Lord Wei, you are growing old! You cannot even manage the people within your own household. How can We dare to let you continue serving as a third-rank official? The position of Grand Scholar suits you well; it is leisurely, giving Lord Wei ample time to discipline your son properly!" Jie Qianmo's tone was gentle, but his words were devoid of emotion.
"Your Majesty, please reconsider! This minister has never made any mistakes during his years in office. If a new person takes over, they might cause trouble for Your Majesty if they are not competent!"
"You need not worry about this, Lord Wei! Effective immediately, Xue Jin will temporarily assume the position of third-rank official!"
Xue Jin?
Why would this person be appointed? If Xue Jin were to become a third-rank official, he would be a thousand times unwilling!
"Your Majesty, Xue Jin is a physician from the Imperial Hospital. He is capable of treating illnesses and saving lives, but official matters may not be within Physician Xue's grasp! How can he assume such an important post?"
Jie Qianmo frowned and said coldly, "Are you questioning Our decision? Lord Wei, do not forget that Wei Maoran is still at Blue Mountain Academy and could be torn apart limb from limb at any moment!"
Wei Chenggong wished to say more, but upon thinking of Wei Maoran, he quickly and wisely shut his mouth.
"Yes, Your Majesty. I implore Your Majesty to issue an edict to spare my son's death. Whatever Your Majesty decrees, this minister will accept!"
Seeing Wei Chenggong obediently fall silent, Jie Qianmo curled his lips into a cold smile.
He had long wanted to demote this old fox, but he had never found leverage. This time, that brat Jie Jing'an had inadvertently helped him!
On this day!
The Wei manor received two imperial edicts.
The first was to spare Wei Maoran's life. Since it was an imperial decree, Jie Jing'an could only grit his teeth. He could offend anyone, but he respected and feared this Imperial Uncle the most!
The second was the demotion of Wei Chenggong's official post and the revocation of Madam Wei's third-rank noble title.
As Eunuch Hua had been transferred to the Imperial Kitchen to manage miscellaneous tasks, the current attendant before the Emperor was Eunuch Hua's eldest disciple, Fang Jing.
After Fang Jing read out the imperial edicts!
Madam Wei fainted on the spot. At this moment, Wei Maoran was also carried back to the manor by servants.
Wei Maoran was covered in blood, barely clinging to life.
If Wei Chenggong had not arrived with the imperial edict in time, he would have been torn apart limb from limb the next moment.
On this day, everyone in the Wei manor was busy, but only Madam Fang of the second branch was inwardly delighted!
Meanwhile!
Jie Jing'an was summoned by the Emperor!
"Fang Jing, where is your master? Why have you replaced him in attending to the Imperial Uncle?" Jie Jing'an asked, confused.
"Master was summoned to the Imperial Kitchen to manage miscellaneous tasks. His Majesty then assigned this servant to attend to the Emperor." Fang Jing did not understand how he had so confusingly been assigned to attend the Emperor.
Although serving the Emperor was an honorable matter, it would not have been his turn if his master had not grown old. He never expected it to be his turn so soon.
Because of this matter, he had been feeling particularly joyful these past two days.
"Then do you know why Imperial Uncle summoned this prince?" Jie Jing'an felt uneasy.
He had just dealt with that short, fat fellow Wei Maoran, and moments later, his Imperial Uncle summoned him! It was terrifying to even think about.
He heard that Wei Chenggong had gone to see his Imperial Uncle. He wondered what that old man had said before the Emperor.
He must be blaming him for punishing Wei Maoran and secretly impeaching him before the Emperor!
"This servant does not know. The Second Prince will know once he meets His Majesty!"
Jie Jing'an frowned, his heart filled with apprehension. "I'm a little scared! What if Imperial Uncle intends to punish me?"
He feared nothing in the world, but he was afraid of his Imperial Uncle's punishment!
From childhood to adulthood, in Jie Jing'an's impression, his Imperial Uncle had never smiled at him!
He even suspected, for a time, whether his lofty Imperial Uncle knew how to smile.
"Second Prince, it's getting late. Shall we hasten to the palace to see His Majesty? If His Majesty waits too long, both of us will be finished."
Jie Jing'an held his forehead, constantly speculating about how his Imperial Uncle would punish him today.
Twenty lashes?
Kneeling on broken stones for a day?
A month of confinement?
Or to be thrown into a snake pit to fend for himself?
The thought of these made Jie Jing'an instantly deflate like a wilted eggplant!
"Second Prince, shall we go?" Fang Jing urged again!
Come what may!
May his Imperial Uncle show him mercy! And leave him in one piece!
Within the imperial study!
"Nephew pays respects to Imperial Uncle. May Imperial Uncle live ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten thousand thousand years!" Jie Jing'an bowed respectfully.
Only before Jie Qianmo did Jie Jing'an behave like a docile rabbit.
"Do you know why We summoned you?" Jie Qianmo asked without lifting his head from the memorial in his hands.
"It must be about my punishing Wei Maoran! Imperial Uncle... did that old man Wei speak ill of me to you?"
Recalling the words Wei Maoran had spoken, Jie Jing'an couldn't help but complain, "This matter today is not entirely my fault. If anyone is to blame, it's Wei Maoran for calling me a reckless fool with no one to care for me! I lost my temper and punished him!"
Seeing that Jie Qianmo remained silent and continued to stare at the memorial, Jie Jing'an felt guilty.
Was this the calm before the storm?
"Imperial Uncle, I know I was wrong, alright? Punish me however you wish, but at least say something!" The quieter Jie Qianmo was, the more flustered Jie Jing'an became.
"Who said We are going to punish you?" Jie Qianmo said coldly.
Not punished?
Jie Jing'an was momentarily speechless and froze in place.
"You did well today. In fact, you've been a great help to Us. Tell Us, what do you want?"
Did he hear correctly?
His Imperial Uncle not only wouldn't punish him but would also offer a reward?
Jie Jing'an pinched his thigh hard!
It hurt! It seemed he wasn't dreaming.
This was the first time he had beaten someone and not only escaped punishment but received a reward!
Thinking of this, Qin Yun's image appeared in Jie Jing'an's mind!
He muttered to himself, "I didn't expect Qin Yun to be quite capable!"
Though his voice was low, Jie Qianmo on the dragon throne heard it.
He looked up!
Jie Qianmo quietly observed Jie Jing'an, who seemed somewhat pleased with himself.
"What does Qin Yun have to do with this matter? Was he also involved?"
Seeing that his Imperial Uncle had finally deigned to look at him, Jie Jing'an said happily, "Imperial Uncle, this matter actually involves that fellow Qin Yun. That person is incredibly shrewd! I don't know what he eats to grow such a brain. For being able to expose that villain Wei Maoran today, it was all thanks to Qin Yun's excellent idea!"