noveltune Chapter 5477 Taking the Blame
Chapter 5477 Taking the Blame
Chapter 5477 Taking the Blame
Inside the imperial study, Li Chengqian was furious.
Upon seeing Fang Jun enter and bow, he not only did not tell him to rise, but instead stepped out from behind the desk, pointed at Fang Jun's forehead, and began to curse.
"How dare you commit such a shameless act? I've tolerated your affairs with this and that, but why did you have to touch Jinyang? Is my Tang princess just for you to enjoy and defile? Do you even have any respect for me, for Emperor Taizong?"
Li Chengqian's face was flushed red, his eyes were wide with anger, and he even sprayed saliva onto Fang Jun's face.
What else could Fang Jun say? He could only bow and sigh, "Your Majesty, please calm your anger. It's all my fault..."
"Do you think admitting your mistake is enough? Even if I don't care about the royal family's reputation or other people's gossip, what about Jinyang? After this incident, who in the court, the country, or the Tang Dynasty would dare to marry her? What are you going to do with a young woman of marriageable age?"
Li Chengqian's questions came one after another, his words sharp and his expression fierce, his hair standing on end in anger.
The chief eunuch, Wang De, stared blankly at His Majesty, for in his memory His Majesty had never been so distraught before.
Is it truly unacceptable that Princess Jinyang would submit to Fang Jun?
Or is it to use this as an excuse to completely vent the resentment that has been building up over the years?
Wang De wasn't sure, but he knew that His Majesty was like a volcano at this moment, seemingly bursting with flames and billowing smoke, but not yet fully erupting.
They couldn't help but feel apprehensive, fearing that Fang Jun might suddenly lose his temper and start arguing with His Majesty.
That would completely ruin all pretense of civility, leaving no room for reconciliation...
However, to his surprise, Fang Jun, who was usually willful, arrogant and unruly, bowed his head and endured the Emperor's scolding and cursing for a full quarter of an hour, with a smile on his face, accepting his fate and turning a blind eye to insults, without the slightest bit of arrogance.
After His Majesty finished scolding and returned to his desk, he sat down and took a big gulp of tea. Fang Jun then said gently, "This is my fault, and it has nothing to do with Prince Jinyang. I am willing to accept His Majesty's punishment."
Li Chengqian, still furious, slammed his hand on the desk: "You rely on my favor and think I can't do anything to you, so you're so shameless, despicable, and lawless, aren't you!"
Fang Jun remained polite and gentle: "Your Majesty is the ruler of the world, with the power of life and death. Who dares to disobey? Your humble servant sincerely admits his mistake and will willingly accept any punishment without complaint."
Wang De, who was watching with his head down, suddenly understood that Fang Jun's willingness to compromise and swallow his pride was not out of fear of the Emperor's might, but rather to take on the responsibility as much as possible to reduce the pressure on Princess Jinyang.
Although doing such a thing with Princess Jinyang was really excessive, he still took responsibility in the face of the king's thunderous wrath, which makes him a true man.
After all, Wang De knew that although Fang Jun was largely to blame, Princess Jinyang was probably the one who took the initiative throughout the whole process...
Li Chengqian took another big gulp of tea and asked in return, "Then tell me yourself, how should I punish you?"
Fang Jun thought for a moment and said, "How about... a year's salary deduction?"
Wang De lowered his head as much as possible, afraid that he would laugh out loud.
Li Chengqian, his anger boiling over, actually managed to laugh out loud, pointing at Fang Jun and saying, "Are you truly shameless, or are you just making fun of me?"
A year's salary deduction?
How dare you say that!
Even if you are punished by being unable to receive a salary for the rest of your life, what difference is there between that and scratching an itch through a boot?
Fang Jun said helplessly, "How about I go out and receive thirty lashes myself?"
At this point, his expression turned somewhat wistful: "Speaking of which, it has been a long time since I was flogged by the army since Emperor Taizong passed away. The feeling of being strictly disciplined by the emperor yet treated like a son or nephew is something I truly miss."
Li Chengqian: "..."
After a moment of stunned silence, he said angrily, "Are you reminding me that without your support, Emperor Taizong would have deposed me as crown prince long ago and I would never have been able to sit on this throne?"
Fang Jun shook his head: "Your Majesty was born as the eldest son of the legitimate wife. He is the one who inherits the throne and is the one who is rightfully in charge. Whether or not I am here, I will surely succeed to the throne and rule the world."
Li Chengqian was furious.
This is also why he couldn't stand up to Fang Jun. Although Fang Jun kept saying he didn't want credit, it was a fact that Fang Jun was willing to risk his own political future to help him ascend the throne. Moreover, after ascending the throne, he relied on Fang Jun to protect him and turn the tide in two consecutive coups.
For a monarch, "great kindness turning into enmity" is hard to accept. Any other emperor would probably have tried to get rid of Fang Jun long ago.
But even if he could do it, he wouldn't do it.
His anger subsided slightly, and he asked, "Tell me, how should this matter be handled?"
Faced with a powerful minister like Fang Jun, who had both contributed to the rise of the new emperor and wielded immense influence, he was unsure how to handle the matter, so he let Fang Jun speak for himself.
Fang Jun paused slightly and said, "Your Majesty, I request that you grant me this marriage."
He certainly understood Li Chengqian's meaning. As long as he uttered words of shirking responsibility and escaping reality, Li Chengqian would readily agree and force Princess Jinyang to marry an ordinary nobleman.
As for the princess, she is no longer a virgin, so who dares to complain?
At worst, she could bring more money, silk, and land as a dowry, and then support her husband's family in the future; she would only earn their gratitude.
But he couldn't do that.
Therefore, he didn't know how to resolve this matter and could only pass the buck back to the source of the problem.
He said he was "requesting His Majesty to grant him a marriage," but Li Chengqian would rather "grant him death" than "grant him a marriage"...
As expected, Li Chengqian's anger, which had barely subsided, flared up again, and he roared, "Dream on!"
How could her own sister, the legitimate daughter of Emperor Taizong, possibly become someone else's "concubine"? Especially since that person was the emperor's son-in-law!
If he dares to do such a thing, Emperor Taizong in Jiuquan will skin him alive, dismember him, and boil him in oil...
Fang Jun shrugged: "Then this humble subject also does not know what to do."
Li Chengqian angrily said, "You don't know what to do, yet you dare to do such a disrespectful thing to the royal family?"
Fang Jun, unusually good-natured, said, "Please punish me, Your Majesty."
The conversation has come full circle.
Li Chengqian rubbed his temples, his head throbbing, and waved his hand, saying, "Let me think about this before making a decision. In any case, you're not going to get away with this!"
Fang Jun said gently, "Your Majesty is busy with countless affairs of state and exhausted. Now you are also troubled and anxious about the mistakes I have made. I am ashamed and will take my leave for now."
He bowed deeply to the ground, then rose and left the Imperial Study.
The reason he resisted Princess Jinyang was not because he was afraid of what Li Chengqian would do to him. Just like Li Chengqian's current predicament, there was nothing he could do about him. At most, he could be stripped of his position as Grand Commandant, but he couldn't even touch his title, because it was earned with countless military merits. As long as he didn't rebel, his title of Duke was as secure as Mount Tai, and the emperor wouldn't dare to defy the world.
The only concern was Princess Jinyang's reputation and her happiness for the rest of her life.
Given Princess Jinyang's temperament, since the world despises her for marrying him, there is absolutely no possibility that she will marry someone else. However, whether from the perspective of ethics and morality or the reputation of the royal family, Li Chengqian would never agree to this marriage...
We can't end up like Chang Le, can we?
Fang Jun walked out of the imperial study, looked up at the darkening sky, and sighed.
Last night, the little princess was so tender and shy, which made him happy, but now he is full of worries.
Why couldn't I resist?
*****
Xuanqing Temple.
A troop of cavalrymen in black horses, black helmets, and black cloaks roared along the mountain road. When they reached the mountain gate, they all reined in their horses and stood still. More than ten of them dismounted and walked towards the mountain gate, their cloaks billowing behind them like dark clouds. The rest of them stood guard outside the gate.
The leader, with his hand on the hilt of the sword at his waist, strode to the mountain gate, where he was stopped by two soldiers.
Li Jingye glared angrily: "'The Hundred Cavalry Division' is acting on orders; who dares to obstruct them?"
The two soldiers showed no fear whatsoever. Instead, they gripped their sword hilts and coldly declared, "We are here on the orders of our patriarch to protect His Highness's safety. No one is permitted to enter."
Li Jingye was furious: "I have an imperial decree on my behalf, how dare you obstruct me? Do you want to rebel?"
The two soldiers ignored them and drew their swords simultaneously: "Anyone who enters without the master's orders will be killed!"
Li Jingye was almost furious. Ever since he took office as the commander of the "Hundred Cavalry Division", he had considered himself the "Emperor's Hound". No one in the court or the country, whether civil or military, dared to be so disrespectful to him.
This is not disrespect for him, but disrespect for His Majesty!
How dare another mere retainer of Fang Jun do such a thing?!
With a clang, Li Jingye drew his sword: "Anyone who does not retreat will be killed without mercy!"
More than ten "Hundred Cavalry" soldiers behind him also drew their swords, exuding a murderous aura.
A maidservant strode out from inside the mountain gate, glanced at the tense atmosphere, and quickly said, "His Highness has ordered that General Li be invited inside to speak."
The two soldiers exchanged a glance, sheathed their swords, and stepped aside.
Li Jingye snorted, sheathed his sword, and strode into the mountain gate.
He was unwilling to confront Fang Jun directly unless absolutely necessary...
……
As Li Jingye entered the study, he saw Princess Jinyang sitting by the window drinking tea. Her moon-white Shu embroidered palace dress accentuated her beautiful features and snow-white skin. She knelt there with her slender waist straight and her long black hair was tied up in a bun with a hairpin, revealing a section of her fair and graceful neck.
He knelt on one knee and saluted: "This humble general greets Your Highness."
Princess Jinyang took a sip of tea from her white porcelain cup. Her cherry lips were moist and naturally red. Her voice was delicate and clear: "General Li, there's no need for such formalities. May I ask what brings you to my palace gates?"
Li Jingye was a little nervous, and as soon as he opened his mouth, he accused himself of "forcibly breaking into the mountain gate"...
"This humble general is acting on the Emperor's orders to request Your Highness to enter the Taiji Palace for an audience."
Princess Jinyang remained composed and unmoved, saying calmly, "Go back and tell my brother the Emperor that I am unwell today and will return to the palace tomorrow when I feel better."
Li Jingye remained kneeling on one knee: "As the imperial decree has arrived, Your Highness, please proceed."
Princess Jinyang remained unmoved: "Just go back and report as you are. Your brother the Emperor will not make things difficult for you."
Li Jingye said in a deep voice, "Please, Your Highness, move aside!"
Princess Jinyang raised an eyebrow, put down her teacup, looked at Li Jingye with her bright, watery eyes, and said softly, "If I don't go, what are you going to do?"
Li Jingye finally stood up and looked down at Princess Jinyang: "Then please don't blame this humble general for being rude."
He turned around and shouted from outside the door, "Someone come here!"
More than ten subordinates rushed into the mountain gate and arrived outside.
The two guards rushed in as well, drawing their swords at the entrance and looking at Princess Jinyang: "Your Highness?"
A fierce aura instantly filled the air; with just a word from Princess Jinyang, he was ready to step forward and kill Li Jingye and the rest of the "Hundred Cavalry" soldiers.