SWDnovel Chapter 26 Impeaching Liu Bowen?
Chapter 26 Impeaching Liu Bowen?
Lunch was served quickly, and the four of them sat around the table in a warm and harmonious atmosphere.
During the meal, Zhu Biao was in high spirits. He raised his glass to Zhu Mu and said:
"Second brother, you really made your elder brother proud again today at the Wenhua Hall!"
Chang Meirong asked curiously:
"Your Highness, has the Second Prince offered another brilliant plan?"
Zhu Biao deliberately kept everyone in suspense:
"The strategy has been presented, but as for what it is, we cannot say yet."
"I'll just tell you that Father was overjoyed upon hearing this, praising my second brother for his extraordinary talent and entrusting us two with a crucial matter concerning the foundation of the nation!"
He said these words ostensibly to Chang Meirong, but his eyes kept glancing at Liu Wanyan out of the corner of his eye.
As expected, Liu Wanyan's gaze toward Zhu Mu now held not only the original admiration, but also a layer of heartfelt respect and pride.
She knew her fiancé was talented, but she never imagined he was such a great statesman who could be praised so highly by both the Emperor and the Crown Prince.
Zhu Mu was a little embarrassed by his elder brother's praise. He just smiled, picked up a piece of osmanthus cake made by Liu Wanyan, put it in his mouth, savored it, and then nodded to her:
"Sweet but not cloying, very delicious."
A simple compliment was worth more than a thousand words, making Liu Wanyan feel as sweet as if she had eaten honey.
After lunch, Zhu Biao considerately took Chang Meirong to the study to taste the new tea, creating an opportunity for Zhu Mu and Liu Wanyan to be alone.
Zhu Mu then suggested:
"The crabapple trees in the Imperial Garden are in full bloom. Shall I accompany you for a walk?"
"it is good."
Liu Wanyan responded softly.
The two walked along the path in the Imperial Garden, one in front of the other and half a step apart.
On a warm spring afternoon, the breeze was gentle and the fragrance of flowers was intoxicating.
Neither of them spoke, but a hazy, sweet atmosphere quietly flowed between them.
Zhu Mu would subconsciously slow down his pace to match her rhythm.
Liu Wanyan's gaze would always inadvertently fall on his broad back, her heart filled with peace.
Walking past a cluster of blooming peonies, Zhu Mu stopped, turned to the side, pointed to the most vibrant Yao Huang peony, and asked softly:
Do you like this color?
Liu Wanyan's gaze, however, was fixed on his profile, softened by the sunlight, and she answered softly:
"I like anything I watch with you."
Zhu Mu was slightly taken aback. He turned his head and met her clear, bright eyes, which were filled with the pure affection of a young girl.
A thought struck him, and he was about to say something when a cheerful voice came from not far away.
"Second Brother! Sister Wanyan!"
Princess Zhu Jingjing of Fuqing came running over, lifting her skirt like a happy butterfly.
"Mirror still."
Zhu Mu's face broke into a smile befitting an elder brother.
"Jingjing, my little sister."
Liu Wanyan smiled and went to greet her, taking her hand.
Why are you so happy?
The two of them were close friends and had a very good relationship.
Zhu Jingjing winked playfully, glancing at her second brother and then at her friend, her face beaming with undisguised joy.
"Of course I'm here to congratulate you! Today is the day the palace officially announces your engagement! I couldn't sit still when I heard the news, and I knew I had to tell you my congratulations in person!"
The girl's sincere and fervent blessing made Liu Wanyan's cheeks burn even hotter, but her heart was as sweet as honey.
The three chatted and laughed for a while longer, and seeing that it was getting late, Zhu Mu said:
"I'll escort you out of the palace."
He first escorted Zhu Jingjing to the Shenwu Gate, watched his sister board the princess's carriage, and then carefully instructed the accompanying guard commander:
"Make sure the princess is safely returned to the manor; there must be no mishaps."
"Yes, Your Highness!"
After watching the carriage disappear into the distance, he turned back to Liu Wanyan's carriage.
"I'm very happy today."
Before getting on the bus, Liu Wanyan mustered her courage and said softly.
Zhu Mu gazed at her, his eyes filled with a gentle smile:
"Me too. Be careful on your way back. The pastries were delicious; I'd like to have them again next time."
The simple conversation brought the two of them closer together.
Zhu Mu personally helped her into the carriage and carefully arranged for the royal guards to escort her. He stood there until the carriage disappeared around the street corner before turning back to the East Palace.
……
The next day, at Fengtian Hall.
The civil and military officials stood in order, and the morning light shone through the tall palace gates, illuminating the huge golden dragon pillars with an incomparably majestic appearance.
The morning court session proceeded according to plan, discussing several routine matters such as canal transport and military preparedness.
Zhu Yuanzhang sat high on the dragon throne, his expression unchanged.
Crown Prince Zhu Biao and Prince Zhu Mu of Chu sat on either side of the throne, both exuding composure.
However, right after the end of a few agenda items, the atmosphere inside the hall suddenly changed.
Just after several routine items were finished, a censor suddenly stepped forward from the queue, holding an ivory tablet, and loudly proclaimed:
"Your Majesty, Wang Min, the Supervising Secretary, has a memorial to present!"
Upon hearing this, many people's eyelids twitched.
The Censors were in charge of reviewing and refuting documents, and had the power to make recommendations. When they spoke, it was often a serious matter.
Zhu Yuanzhang raised his eyelids slightly:
"speak."
Wang Min took a deep breath, his gaze fixed on Liu Bowen, who stood at the head of the civil officials' ranks, and said loudly:
"Your Majesty, I wish to impeach Liu Ji, the Imperial Censor and concurrently Grand Astrologer, for deceiving the Emperor and jeopardizing the foundation of the state!"
"boom!"
These words struck like a thunderclap within the solemn and dignified Fengtian Hall.
The entire court was instantly in uproar!
Impeach Liu Bowen?
Moreover, it was a crime worthy of confiscation of property and extermination of the entire clan, such as deceiving the emperor and disrupting the foundation of the state.
All eyes were on Liu Bowen.
Liu Bowen slowly stepped forward, dressed in the official robes of the Imperial Censor, his figure slender yet upright like a pine tree.
He didn't look at Wang Min, but first bowed to the dragon throne, then turned around and calmly looked at the other person:
"Wang, the Censor, is guilty of deceiving the Emperor and disrupting the foundation of the state, a crime I, Liu, cannot bear. Please clarify how I have deceived the Emperor and disrupted the foundation of the state?"
Wang Min seemed to have been waiting for these words; he raised his voice, making sure it echoed throughout the hall:
"Your Majesty! The marriage between His Highness the Prince of Chu and Liu Ji's daughter is common knowledge. However, during my recent investigation in the capital, I heard rumors circulating that Liu's daughter is destined to be a cursed widow, destined to bring misfortune to her husband!"
He paused, his tone becoming increasingly impassioned:
"As the Grand Astrologer, Liu Ji was in charge of astronomy, calendar, divination, and fortune-telling. How could he not know his own daughter's fate? He knew full well that his daughter's fate was inauspicious, yet he still agreed to this marriage, marrying his widowed daughter to His Highness the Prince of Chu. What is this if not deceiving the emperor?"
"His Highness the Prince of Chu is the heir apparent, and his health is of paramount importance. If anything were to happen to him, wouldn't it shake the very foundation of our Great Ming Dynasty? What else could this be but a calamity that threatens the very foundation of the nation?!"
These words are a series of interconnected charges that hit the nail on the head!
Zhu Yuanzhang's face suddenly darkened, like the sky before a storm.
A chilling, bone-chilling aura emanated from the dragon throne, causing the temperature in the entire hall to drop several degrees.