novelraw Chapter 289: Roasted Over the Fire
Chapter 289: Roasted Over the Fire
"Receiving a decree?"
Mrs. Cui was taken aback.
Qin Yuan quickly reassured her, "Mother, I think Marquis must have submitted a petition before opening the mansion, and now the Emperor has issued a decree."
Mrs. Cui exhaled a long breath, laughing as she said, "This is a good thing. Marquis petitioned to seal the mansion for the safety of the Capital City, and now that the epidemic is gone, the Emperor should indeed reward the Marquis Mansion."
Old Madam Gu and Qin Yuan, both dressed in formal garb that matched their status and rank, accompanied Gu Shiliu to the front hall to join Marquis Gu and Sixth Master Gu.
The one delivering the decree was the Chief Eunuch beside the Emperor, whom Qin Yuan had seen several times in her past life.
This person appeared to be in his prime, tall with a fair complexion, and his long phoenix eyes slightly upturned at the corners, giving an indescribable air of frivolity.
However, he was extremely steady, being the person who had followed the Emperor the longest, aside from his godfather, Mr. Wang.
Seeing that everyone from the Gu Mansion was present, Chief Eunuch Yu put down his teacup, stood up, and said, "Old Madam Gu, Marquis Gu, since everyone from your esteemed mansion is here, I shall issue the decree."
The people of the Gu Mansion knelt according to rank to listen to the decree.
Chief Eunuch Yu reached out and took the scroll from the little eunuch’s hands, and began to read.
"By the mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees, Dingbei Marquis Gu Jinghui’s actions greatly please me. He is a pillar of the nation, capable of great responsibility, appointed to oversee this year’s Capital Inspection. All officials below First Rank are included."
Gu Jinghui: "..."
Qin Yuan: "..."
Although they had received news from various places, Gu Jinghui truly hadn’t expected the Emperor to issue such a decree.
Qin Yuan also felt uncertainty in her heart.
The Capital Inspection had always been a mere formality, and only civil servants of third rank and below underwent inspections every few years. Those of third rank and above, as well as Imperial Ministers, received direct evaluations from the Emperor.
If the Emperor was pleased, the inspection results were favorable.
Officials in the capital only faced trouble if their actions were too outrageous, inciting public anger or dislike from colleagues.
The Emperor’s appointment of Gu Jinghui, a recently returned military general, to oversee the Capital Inspection was strange in every aspect.
Furthermore, now even the assessment of officials below First Rank has been entrusted to Marquis Gu.
This... this is bound to cause upheaval in the Capital’s political scene.
Qin Yuan looked worriedly at the stunned Marquis Gu.
Chief Eunuch Yu’s gentle voice, laced with a smile, rang out, implicitly urging.
"Why is Marquis Gu not rising to accept the decree?"
Only then did Gu Jinghui get up to accept the imperial decree, respectfully placing it on the prepared incense table. Everyone else rose and stood beside him.
Chief Eunuch Yu offered his congratulations with cupped hands, "Congratulations to Marquis Gu, best wishes to Marquis Gu; we shall take our leave now."
Gu Jinghui hurried to escort them to the mansion’s gate.
After bidding farewell once more, Gu Jinghui accepted the silver bag prepared by Housekeeper Han and handed it to Chief Eunuch Yu, saying, "Eunuch Yu, thank you for coming all this way. I cannot host you for drinks today as we have guests at the mansion, so please accept this wine money with a smile."
Chief Eunuch Yu accepted without hesitation, handed it to the little eunuch beside him to be kept, and smiled as he said, "Marquis Gu, remember to go thank the Emperor in the palace earlier; since this task is assigned by the Emperor, understanding his intent before proceeding would be prudent."
In this way, he was doing Marquis Gu a favor.
It was like plainly telling him that the Emperor was concerned others might not align with his wishes, so he specifically chose Marquis Gu for the task.
Gu Jinghui felt inexplicably blocked in his heart and said with a smile, "Thank you, Eunuch Yu, for the reminder. I’m just worried about never having handled such a task before, failing to meet the Emperor’s expectations."
"All in good time," Chief Eunuch Yu replied.
Eunuch Yu mounted his horse and rode off with the little eunuch.
Leaving Marquis Gu standing at the mansion’s gate, his mind caught in a web of thoughts.
A decade has passed.
Similar circumstances have emerged again.
Yet everything has changed.
Qin Yuan stored away the decree, and when Marquis Gu returned inside, they went together to the main room.
Seeing Gu Jinghui disheartened, Qin Yuan asked, "Husband, are you worried about the Capital Inspection?"
Gu Jinghui nodded.
Qin Yuan said, "My father is also worried for you. It’s said that earlier, there were rumors in the court that the Emperor would appoint you for this task. My father has worried once before, not anticipating that you would now receive the decree."
Marquis Gu felt a sense of warmth in his heart.
Lord Father-in-law cared deeply for him, always keeping him in mind.
Thus he recounted what Eunuch Yu had said to her.
Qin Yuan responded, "Could it be that the Emperor has some disfavored individuals he wants to use you to deal with?"
"Perhaps. Yesterday, Prince Qi visited, mentioning the Emperor’s dissatisfaction with the Three Dukes and Nine Ministers over the Crown Prince’s marriage affairs, causing the court discussions to be repeatedly overturned."
Qin Yuan then understood the matter.
In her past life, the Crown Prince’s marriage also went through several twists and turns, finally selecting the Vice Minister Niu’s daughter as the Crown Princess Consort. Vice Minister Niu rose rapidly in the ensuing years, eventually becoming Prime Minister Niu.
After the Crown Prince’s demise, Prime Minister Niu fell from power. During the investigation of his household, several hundred bushels of pepper offered as bribes by various officials were found, specially stored in warehouses to prevent spoilage.
The corruption of Prime Minister Niu shocked the court, and his greed was still talked about years later.
The Emperor had suffered setbacks from the Three Dukes and Nine Ministers over the Crown Prince’s marriage and planned to teach them a lesson by using Gu Jinghui, a military general, to chasten them.
Qin Jijiu also perceived it this way, saying, "Son-in-law, this job places you directly on the fire. Though Imperial favor seems strong, it easily provokes dissatisfaction, pitting you against others."
Gu Jinghui sighed, "I don’t know how to handle it; the Emperor awaits my thanksgiving."
During thanksgiving, the Emperor will surely give instructions, and then how shall he respond?
By this time, after several rounds of drinks, the father and son-in-law spoke openly, and Qin Jijiu said, "You certainly shouldn’t be the one taking the lead on this matter. If mistakes happen, all blame will fall upon you. Furthermore, how can such matters go mistake-free? Having you, a military general, do this is setting you up for failure."
"Council me, Mount Tai." Gu Jinghui promptly said.
Qin Siyuan and Qin Heng, listening attentively with open eyes, Sixth Master Gu holding his wine cup tightly, his knuckles showing strain, appeared very worried for his third brother.
Qin Jijiu said, "Since there are no outsiders here, why don’t we call my daughter over."
Qin Siyuan nodded in agreement, "Excellent."
Gu Jinghui had no objections, immediately instructing someone to invite Qin Yuan over.
Among the women, there were only Mrs. Cui, Old Madam Gu, and Qin Yuan.
Old Madam Gu said, "Why is it that when the men talk, they need to call for the daughter-in-law?"
Mrs. Cui quickly said, "It must be that the Sacrificial Officer has drunk too much and is fooling around. The son-in-law and others are juniors, unable to stop him."
Qin Yuan laughed, "Perhaps it’s about today’s decree. Mother knows Father cares deeply for Marquis’s future. Calling me over, perhaps to discuss this."
Mrs. Cui was skeptical, "You’re busy enough with household affairs, what would you, as a woman, know about these matters?"
Old Madam Gu quickly interrupted, "In-law, let her go, let her go. Yuan’er reads extensively, understands reason, and is quite knowledgeable."
Qin Yuan then turned towards the hall and proceeded to the pavilion where the male guests were drinking.
Upon her arrival, Qin Jijiu, with a slightly drawn tongue, drunkenly said, "Daughter, let me test you. How should your husband respond to the Emperor?"