HLnovel Chapter 291 Court Debate
Chapter 291 Court Debate
Chapter 291 Court Debate
Qian Qianyi attended court today, and unlike the previous two days, he was in high spirits and very happy. This was because his spies had brought news last night that the Tian residence was surrounded by the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Eastern Depot, with a tight security on the inside but a loose one on the outside. It was said that Consort Tian had suddenly fallen seriously ill and died. Now that Consort Tian was dead, Wang Wenzhou was certainly doomed as well.
When Qian Qianyi came to court, just as he had imagined, Wang Wenzhou was not there, nor was the emperor.
An hour later, the officials were quite puzzled as to why Wang Wenzhou, that mad dog, hadn't come to court yet. Had he given in? But if he had, he should at least show his face and say something. What was the point of leaving everyone here like this?
Wen Tiren looked worried. He had also learned of Consort Tian's sudden death. Although the affair between Wang Wenzhou and Consort Tian had not spread, it was still known to a small circle of cabinet members, such as Wen Tiren.
Wen Tiren was furious. He was furious that Wang Wenzhou was such a lecher! He couldn't control himself and slept with Consort Tian. Although Wen Tiren could guess that Wang Wenzhou had been framed, if Wang Wenzhou wasn't so lustful, he wouldn't have fallen into a trap someone had set for him! Serves him right! Wen Tiren muttered to himself, "To achieve great things, one must first castrate oneself! A man whose mind is always driven by lust will eventually die at the hands of women—how true!"
"Look! What's going on?" an official said, pointing to a spot not far away.
Wen Tiren looked up and frowned. He saw several eunuchs carrying three coffins, slowly walking over.
The crowd was buzzing with discussion, none of them quite understanding what had happened.
Qian Qianyi smiled slightly, thinking to himself, "Could it be that the Emperor is so angry that he wants to publicly whip Wang Wenzhou's corpse? That shouldn't be the case. With the Emperor's intelligence, how could he still be kept in the dark? Has the Emperor really gone mad with anger? But that doesn't make sense either. Even if the Emperor wanted to whip the corpse, there should only be the corpses of Wang Wenzhou and Consort Tian. Why are there three coffins? Could it be that unlucky Tian Wan is also involved?"
Tian Wan did not attend court today. He was kneeling before the memorial tablet of Consort Tian, weeping bitterly. He was utterly heartbroken. He was no longer the Emperor's father-in-law, and both his daughters had been harmed by that madman Wang Wenzhou! Most heartbreaking of all, he had no way to express his suffering and could only swallow his bitterness. His own daughters, though clearly alive, were already dead.
The eunuchs placed the coffin on the ground.
Wang Wenzhou lay inside a coffin. He tried to push the coffin lid with all his might, but damn it, the fine sandalwood was just too heavy, and Wang Wenzhou couldn't move it.
Wang Wenzhou cursed and said, "Hurry up and help me push the coffin lid open!"
Several eunuchs rushed forward to help Wang Wenzhou push open the coffin lid.
Wang Wenzhou sat up, cupped his hands to the officials, and said with a smile, "Greetings, fellow officials! Please excuse my poor appearance. Today may very well be my death day. I've been lying in the coffin to get used to it. Overall, it's not as comfortable as being in bed!"
Qian Qianyi frowned deeply. How could this be? How come Wang Wenzhou, that mad dog, isn't dead?
"Quickly!" Wang Wenzhou pointed to the other two coffins and ordered, "Open the coffin lids immediately!"
Wang Wenzhou's two famous historical babies, Chen Yuanyuan and Wang Ying, crawled out of the coffin.
Today, both babies were dressed as flight attendants, and their hairstyles were Wang Wenzhou's favorite ponytails.
"Ah!" Qian Qianyi was so shocked that his jaw almost dropped. This... isn't this Consort Tian?
Wang Wenzhou, with one arm around Chen Yuanyuan and the other around Wang Ying, introduced them: "Let me introduce you, my colleagues. These two are my concubines, one named Chen Yuanyuan and the other Wang Ying. Hurry up and greet these idiots."
"This humble woman, Chen Yuanyuan, greets all the esteemed officials." Chen Yuanyuan was already used to Wang Wenzhou's public advances, so she gracefully gave a curtsy to the officials.
Wang Ying was a little shy. Yesterday she was still Consort Tian. Many of the emperor's close ministers among the officials had seen her and knew her. In the past, when they saw her, the officials had to kneel down and pay their respects to her.
"Slap slap!" Wang Wenzhou gently patted Wang Ying's bottom and whispered, "Baby, hurry up and say hello to these idiots."
"Hehe!" Wang Ying smiled wryly, quickly gave a curtsy, and said, "This humble woman, Wang Ying, greets all of you gentlemen."
"Ah!" Qian Qianyi and several other close ministers of Emperor Chongzhen were all stunned.
"Hehe!" Wen Tiren shook his head with a wry smile. Wang Wenzhou still enjoys the Emperor's favor. His Majesty actually bestowed Consort Tian upon Wang Wenzhou! If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn't believe it even if you beat me to death!
After the initial shock, Qian Qianyi finally understood. Their plan had failed, or rather, it had succeeded only halfway. Wang Wenzhou had slept with Consort Tian, but when His Majesty found out, he actually bestowed Consort Tian upon that mad dog, Wang Wenzhou! It seemed His Majesty was determined to negotiate peace, no matter the cost!
Wang Wenzhou said coldly, "Gentlemen, we are now holding a court debate. Please vote on whether to negotiate. Before you vote, let me make this clear: if we cannot proceed with negotiations, His Majesty will kill me."
Wang Wenzhou pointed to the coffin behind him and continued, "The coffins for me and the babies are ready, made of the finest sandalwood. Of course, before I die, anyone who disagrees with the peace talks will be killed! Don't worry, I have evidence!"
Wang Wenzhou took out the signatures of all the officials and patted them with his hand.
The officials' expressions changed; it seemed Wang Wenzhou was determined to fight to the death!
Kong Zhenyun looked at Qian Qianyi and asked in a low voice, "Lord Qian, what should we do next?"
Qian Qianyi said with a wry smile, "Let's talk peace! His Majesty has already made up his mind. If we try to stop him, we will incur his wrath."
"How can this be?" Kong Zhenyun was still unwilling to give up.
"Hehe!" Qian Qianyi leaned over and whispered, "Lord Kong, His Majesty is even willing to give up Lady Tian for the sake of peace talks. Are you still not giving up? Do you really want to be accused of colluding with foreign forces by Wang Wenzhou?"
"But this is treason for personal gain, and it damages the dignity of our Great Ming Dynasty!" Kong Zhenyun said with a bitter smile.
"Pat pat!" Qian Qianyi gently patted Kong Zhenyun's back and advised, "We agree to peace talks, but we may not do our best in them, and we can also secretly trip up and hinder them."
"Hmm!" Kong Zhenyun nodded and flattered, "Lord Qian is indeed farsighted; I admire him."
Wang Wenzhou waved his hand and ordered, "Someone, bring the ballot box over."
Several eunuchs quickly brought over the ballot box.
Wang Wenzhou began, "Gentlemen, the peace talks concern the fate of our nation, therefore we will conduct a recorded vote. Any bastards who oppose the peace talks, listen up, don't blame me for slapping you!"
Everyone frowned. Was this still a court debate? It was practically Wang Wenzhou's one-man show! In the more than two hundred years of our Ming Dynasty, there had never been a court debate like this!
However, the old foxes like Qian Qianyi and Wen Tiren didn't refute him, so even though the officials were unhappy, none of them dared to offend Wang Wenzhou. Many of them had seen Consort Tian, and this mad dog Wang Wenzhou was now putting his hand inside her clothes—what did that mean? His Majesty had even bestowed his beloved concubine upon Wang Wenzhou; Wang Wenzhou's meaning was His Majesty's meaning.
His Majesty has even abandoned his beloved concubine for the sake of peace talks, so no one dares to stand up and oppose him at this time.