Chapter 496.3: End of Matter, The Cause and Effect Becoming Clear

Luo Pei Shan fumed in anger, also finally understanding the servants’ meaning. Lifting his hand, he just smacked Luo Jing Bo’s skull, “Bastard thing what are you saying? That’s the Rouge Pavilion’s boss, what do you mean the woman I raised? The woman I raised would even work together with your younger sister to sell rouge and powder? She came to me for something important, official matters, understand?”

Luo Jing Bo also felt wronged, “Grandfather, a gentleman uses his mouth and not his fist. If you’d just said it, would we not understand? Besides, a woman coming to the door, who would think of official business? That’s why, this matter can’t be blamed on us either.”

“Before fully understanding the situation, just following what everyone else say, speaking without thinking, do you not deserve to be hit? What’s wrong with women? If it’s a woman, it can’t be official business? You all even look down on women? If you have the ability, go before your grandmother and your wife, and say a few words, see what they will do?”

“Grandfather, we know that you’re impressive, but you can’t distort the truth like this either. What do you mean we look down on women?”

Luo Pei Shan coldly sneered, “You all also know what distorting the truth means, huh? I thought that you all didn’t know.”

Luo Jing Bo wanted to continue, but got pulled back by Luo Jing De, “Grandfather, please quell your anger, don’t listen to third brother’s nonsense. We were just curious, so came over for a look.”

Luo Pei Shan’s complexion didn’t improve by much either, coldly smiling, “Curious? Fine, do you know the Princess Heyang that went to North Xiongnu for a political marriage back then? It’s precisely that one just now. It’s always just her raising men, which man is able to raise her? Go before her and say a few words, see how many layers of skin will get peeled by her.”

The greatly renowned Princess Heyang, they these scholars definitely were familiar with. In their impression, that was just a rather eccentric yet also formidable woman. Although from the start, they just suspected that she was still alive, but they never thought that she was actually in the capital, and from the looks of it, even old acquaintances with their grandfather. Face her? They couldn’t help but tremble. However, recalling that princess’s reputation, their gaze towards their grandfather was a bit strange again. Grandfather, are you sure you two didn’t once roll together before?

That gaze couldn’t be more obvious. Luo Pei Shan nearly fainted in anger, lifting the booklet in hand and just smacked the three of them, not a single one spared. “All go wait in the study for me. I’m going to enter the palace, and afterwards, come back to test you all. If you don’t pass, hehehe………..”

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This time, the three brothers thoroughly wilted. Their grandfather back then was already the flower snatcher (third place in imperial exam), and now, his academic attainments was comparable to their great scholar great uncle. They’d witnessed their discussions before. That was like blades crossing, back and forth. For people like them, they didn’t even have the room to interject. That’s why, if they really get tested by their grandfather seriously, they will probably die very miserably. If they’d long known, would there be such regrets now?

Luo Jing De and Luo Jing Ming’s gaze towards Luo Jing Bo was somewhat ‘bitter’. Third brother, say, what to do now?

? ? ? ? ?

Luo Pei Shan directly looked for Le Cheng Emperor, having the booklet submitted up. Hearing Luo Pei Shan speak of its origins, Le Cheng Emperor’s expression was a bit surprised, “Beloved Minister Luo is acquainted with imperial aunt?”

“Replying to your Majesty, in the past when still waiting to take a post, had the honor of meeting her Highness a few times.”

Towards that little aunt’s style, Le Cheng Emperor naturally was well aware of. He didn’t believe that merely having just ‘met a few times’, when encountering something, that little aunt would directly look for Luo Pei Shan. It was obvious it wasn’t that simple.

It goes without saying, Le Cheng Emperor’s thoughts also went astray like Luo Jing Bo and them.

His own grandsons, he can lecture as he pleased, but Le Cheng Emperor obviously was out of the question. That’s why, Sir Luo just lowered his head, pretending to not know.

Anyways, jokes aside, the official matter was more important.

Le Cheng Emperor flipped through the booklet, his complexion growing increasingly cold, “This emperor didn’t know that after wasting that much salary, actually raised a bunch of vermins. Never mind this, they even made this emperor lose face before imperial aunt. Imperial aunt has long ignored politics for many years, yet these last two years, she has successively made moves. What face does this emperor still have!”

In other words, the main point wasn’t even on the booklet, but your face?

Luo Pei Shan already didn’t want to say anything. In any case, towards the current emperor, he was already thoroughly disappointed.

Fortunately, Le Cheng Emperor didn’t have the booklet pressed down, instead passing it on to the Ministry of Justice and the Judicial Court, letting them handle it as how it should be handled.

However, based on Luo Pei Shan’s thoughts, probably because it involved Princess Heyang, thus his Majesty had no choice but to act. His Majesty didn’t necessarily not think of wanting to press it down.

As a result, in the Ministry of Revenue, the Right Assistant Minister also got fired, and below the assistant ministers, the middle ranks for the most part got cut in half, and a little under a half of the lower ranks got removed.

The Head Minister of Revenue right now became a bare pole, even more dejected than a few days ago when returning to the capital. Having reached this stage, he also just bluntly handed in his memorandum, requesting to retire. According to his explanation, for such a thing to happen in the Ministry of Revenue, he also had responsibility for failing to notice, so he has no face to continue staying in this position.

“Your Majesty, right now is precisely a time of need, although Sir Qi has the blame of oversight, the matter can’t be completely blamed on him either. The human heart is the most difficult to understand. Sir Qi, as the head of a ministry, has many duties, so having areas he didn’t notice, that also can’t be more normal. How about letting Sir Qi make up for his mistakes by having the army rations for the northwest handled properly. The remaining problems, how about waiting until after the war to discuss?” The Head of the Inner Cabinet was the first to stand to plea for leniency.

With one, there was two, and more people stood out one after another to plea.

Just, this kind of scene made the Head Minister of Revenue appear touched on the surface, while vomiting blood on the inside. He wanted to advance by retreating, yet instead need to ‘make amends’. And what will come of him even need to wait until after the war? Wasn’t it said that the Head Cabinet Minister was sly and smooth on all sides? How come right now he just didn’t understand someone else’s meaning? Exactly is he pleading for leniency or screwing him over?

If you ask Sir Ruan, he perhaps will tell you, of course it’s trying to screw you over.

The parts in the booklet crossed out by Jin Qinwang were all concerning this Head Minister of Revenue. It’s merely temporarily letting him off. Really think that one’s own tail didn’t get caught, even thinking of advancing by retreating? Heheh, not even daydreams are this beautiful.

“Beloved Minister Ruan’s words are reasonable. Beloved Minister Qi also doesn’t need to say anything. Having the matter handled well is the most important right now.” Le Cheng Emperor made the final decision.

Towards Le Cheng Emperor’s attitude, Li Hong Yuan actually grasped very accurately. If they really were to throw in a Head Minister of Revenue, then perhaps Le Cheng Emperor will have the entire matter pressed down. Using a Left Assistant Minister of Revenue to fish already made him both mentally and physically exhausted, to then also throw in a Head Minister of Revenue, he wasn’t even sure if his heart can even withstand it.

Towards officials of the fourth rank and below, the Ministry of Appointments had the authority to directly appoint. As such, Luo Pei Shan had the middle and lower ranks of the Ministry of Revenue filled first thing. Just, there was still a portion of vacancy. The people of the Ministry of Revenue were in charge of the army provisions, so ultimately was shorthanded, having no choice but to transfer people from other places. That’s why, after going in a circle, it still came to this step.

This matter finally partly came to an end. The final outcome was placed on Li Hong Yuan’s desk, completely not exceeding his expectations.

Compared to these things that were completely arranged for, Jing Wan was actually more interested in her grandfather’s gossip. Previously when learning what happened back at the Luo Manor, Jing Wan can be said to have laughed to no end. Her third brother’s guts seems to have grown.

According to Li Hong Yuan, “It’s also because there wasn’t such a thing and just a joke, thus you are able to laugh. If they really had a bit of something, just based on this temper of yours that doesn’t tolerate a single grain of sand in your eye, don’t know what it would be like.” In his view, men’s love affairs weren’t really that big of a deal. But it couldn’t be helped, his wife precisely cared very much, and avoided this as taboo the most.

Jing Wan coldly laughed, “What can I do? My father similarly has a few concubines and shu children, yet didn’t I still ignore. When it comes to my grandfather, would I even be able to cause a ruckus?”

“The problem is that you are much closer to your grandmother than your mother.”

“But my grandmother isn’t my mother either, unable to live without a man’s love.”

“Alright, alright, don’t get worked up, those are all outsiders, outsiders, I’m your only ‘insider’.”

(T/N: The phrase 内人 ‘insider’ is the exact opposite of 外人 ‘outsider’, but 内人 is also an archaic way to refer to one’s wife, so LHY basically told JW he’s her wife.)

“Insider(wife)?” Jing Wan lifted her brow, “These words, only you are able to say. If someone were to hear, don’t know what they will think.”

“At most, it’s just this prince fearing one’s wife, what can they do?”

Who was Jin Qinwang? Even he’s able to fear his wife? If said out loud, probably would all be a joke.

“Right now, things have also settled, what about the thing you plan on doing next?”

“This matter can’t be rushed, need to slowly plan for. It’ll come when it’s time.”

“I’m not in a hurry, just casually asking. After all, in the end, I will only know the outcome, that’s all.”

“This may not necessary be the case. However, before that, rather can let Wan Wan watch a play first.”

This play just began playing out the next day.

In the middle of the day, while everyone was all going about as usual, Noble Consort Su’s maiden family’s home suddenly caught on fire. Moreover, the intensity of the fire was just like having been poured with oil, burning very rapidly, the flames also quite big. If not during the day, don’t know how many people would’ve burn to death.

The entire manor was all busy putting out the fire. Those that were normally all well-groomed, at this time, were all covered in filth, their face full of black ashes.

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