noffsinger Chapter 239 Punished
Chapter 239 Punished
The court was in chaos for several days. In the end, Emperor Jingping did not order an investigation, but instead punished all the princes.
Either salary deduction or house arrest.
Be impartial and don't let anyone off the hook.
Even Xiao Jingyi received a few verbal reprimands.
The court officials were stunned and for a moment could not figure out what Emperor Jingping's intention was.
Duke Cheng'en was also caught making a small mistake in his job and was charged with incompetence. He was fined half a year's salary and demoted one level.
Since Your Majesty ascended the throne, you have been very filial and respectful to your adoptive mother, Queen Mother Cui.
As a result, he also showed favors to the Cheng'en Mansion one after another, and it enjoyed continuous honors and favors.
This was the first time that Duke Cheng'en was punished.
Lord Cheng'en didn't care at all about being fined half a year's salary.
The Cheng'en family is wealthy and powerful, and it is impossible for them to be supported by just that little salary.
That little salary is not even worth looking into by Lord Cheng'en.
What made him feel uncomfortable was that he was demoted to a lower rank.
Don’t underestimate this small level. Many officials may not be able to cross this level even after working hard for half their entire lives.
When Lord Cheng'en came out of the Third Prince's Mansion, he learned that everything they had encountered recently was done by Xiao Jingyi against them.
The cause of the incident was simply because Cui Yajing insulted Princess Yi.
Duke Cheng'en was immediately furious.
He was angry that Cui Yajing didn't know how to behave and actually went to provoke Princess Yi and bring trouble to his own family.
He was also angry at Xiao Jingyi for being so narrow-minded that he started a big fight over a small quarrel between women.
If you are dissatisfied with Cui Yajing, you can just come to her house and teach her a lesson in person, or let her as her father teach her a lesson. Why do you have to make such a big deal out of it?
Duke Cheng'en returned to his mansion angrily.
The main courtyard, which was very lively in the past, was now extremely deserted.
Because the wife of Duke Cheng'en lent money at high interest rates and forced several people to death, the Jingzhao Yin came to arrest her. The Duke Cheng'en's mansion could not let the mistress of the house go to jail, and they could not afford to lose face in front of her.
In the end, the wife of Duke Cheng'en was sent to Longcui Temple, as an explanation to the Jingzhao Yin.
Longcui Temple is a temple on Longcui Mountain. It was built by Empress Huiren of the previous dynasty. Later, it became a place to accommodate women from various families who had committed crimes.
Once you enter Longcui Temple, you are not allowed to leave for the rest of your life.
Moreover, in Longcui Temple, one has to do all kinds of work and be self-sufficient and self-reliant.
It can be said that life is very hard.
Whenever Duke Cheng'en thought of his wife falling into this state, he felt hatred and anger.
At this time, the main courtyard was empty, and the wife of Duke Cheng'en was no longer there.
Lord Cheng'en stood in the yard, looking at the deserted main courtyard. He thought of Lord Cheng'en's wife who was sent to Longcui Temple, and then of the eldest young lady who had returned to her parents' home and had not returned yet. His heart was filled with emotions.
Just at this moment, Cui Yajing bumped into him.
When Cui Yajing learned that her father had returned, she immediately came to plead for her mother, wanting her father to take her mother back from Longcui Temple.
It would have been better if she didn't say anything. As soon as she opened her mouth, Lord Cheng'en remembered that everything that had happened in recent days was caused by her. Their originally happy family was now in shambles, and he immediately became furious.
He slapped Cui Yajing hard on the face.
"You still have the nerve to say it?"
"If it weren't for you, how could your brother and sister-in-law have fallen out?"
"Why was your mother forced to go to Longcui Temple?"
"Even I was implicated and fined half a year's salary and demoted one rank!"
"If I had known you were such a disaster, I should never have given birth to you!"
Cui Yajing covered her face with a look of disbelief.
Not long ago, she was slapped by Princess Pingle, and today her father also slapped her?
If it weren't for the burning pain on her face, the pain was so real that she would have thought she was having a nightmare.
After hearing what Lord Cheng'en said, Cui Yajing collapsed even more.
"Father, what do you mean?"
"What does all this have to do with me?"
"Why was my father implicated and fined and demoted?"
Lord Cheng En glared at her, his eyes still filled with anger, "If you hadn't offended Princess Yi, why would Prince Yi target us and attack us one after another?"
"Not to mention Duke Cheng'en's Mansion, even the Third Prince has been implicated."
"Do you know how much the Third Prince lost because of you, an idiot?"
The Third Prince was deeply distressed just by the fact that a few profitable businesses had been cut off and his wallet had shrunk by half.
If it weren't for the favor of Duke Cheng'en, the Third Prince would have killed Cui Yajing to vent his anger.
Cui Yajing widened her eyes in shock.
How could this be?
She just said a few words to Yun Fuling, but was slapped by Princess Pingle for it, and was humiliated in front of everyone.
Yun Fuling even threatened that she would never visit Cheng'en Mansion again.
She originally wanted to find an opportunity to retaliate, but she didn't expect Xiao Jingyi to directly attack Cheng'en Mansion and the Third Prince just for such a small matter.
He is so cruel!
Or is it that he loves Yun Fuling so deeply that he won't allow anyone to bully her in the slightest?
For Yun Fuling, are you not afraid at all even if you have to face the Cheng'en Mansion and the Third Prince?
Tears rolled down Cui Yajing's eyes.
For a moment, she felt very complicated and couldn't describe how she felt.
As much as Duke Cheng'en doted on his daughter in the past, he now hates her.
If she could understand her position and follow her family's arrangements for marriage, he would naturally not treat his daughter unfairly and would find a good husband for her.
But her mind was not clear and she was only thinking about Xiao Jingyi.
He knew clearly that they were not on the same path, but he still refused to change his mind.
The root cause of the misfortunes that the Cheng'en Mansion has encountered recently is this.
At this time, a servant came over to report: "Duke, the old lady wants you to come over."
"I know, I'll be there right away."
Lord Cheng En looked at Cui Yajing with disgust and ordered, "Come here, take the young lady back. Without my order, she is not allowed to leave the room!"
A servant immediately responded and took Cui Yajing back to her residence.
Lord Cheng'en flicked his sleeves and turned to go to Yutang Courtyard where Old Madam Cui lived.
Mrs. Cui had originally handed over the household finances and just wanted to enjoy her retirement without worrying about worldly affairs.
Unexpectedly, a series of accidents happened at home recently, and she had to step in and take over the household chores again.
With her stepping in to stabilize the situation, things in Duke Cheng'en's mansion were relatively peaceful and there was no trouble.
As soon as Lord Cheng'en entered the Yutang Courtyard, he bowed and paid his respects.
Mrs. Cui is nearly sixty years old. Although she has taken good care of herself, her face still bears the traces of time.
Even though her face was full of wrinkles, she looked in good spirits and her hair was combed neatly.
Seeing Lord Cheng'en coming over, Old Madam Cui immediately glanced over.
Although her eyes are full of vicissitudes of life, they are still sharp.
Just from these eyes, you can tell that its owner is someone who has experienced many storms and seen the ups and downs of the tide.
Even though Duke Cheng'en now holds the title of Duke and holds the third-rank official rank, he still feels enormous pressure under the gaze of Old Madam Cui and can't help but sweat on his forehead.