Empress with no Virtue Chapter 43

h.e.l.lo… I know it has only been a day but… did you miss me? hahahahahaaha. Gonna end this week with this chapter. I think most of the questions you guys asked in the previous chapters would finally be answered here. See you next week. ;)

December 28th, 2 days from Xi He second year, today is a very memorable day, because on this day, Ji Wu Jiu did a lot of brutal things.

First, he went to Ci Ning Palace to greet the empress dowager, and then infront of her he called out 2 eunuchs from her palace, scolded them, and then ordered them to be flogged to death.

The empress dowager got angry right there “the year is coming to an end soon, not only you did not do any good deeds, but you came here to kill at my place. I have been a vegetarian and praying for so many years, how do you expect me to face the G.o.ds now”

Ji Wu Jiu said with a straight face “they partnered with Ren Er Xi, falsified an edict and tried to accuse the innocent, they should be sentenced to death.”

“Where is the evidence? Based on your one sentence, you have sentenced them to death, is it not too rushed?”

“What mother means is that, you want me to continue the investigation? Until the very end, and to find out that the mastermind behind this was you?” Ji Wu Jiu looked at her calmly, with no signs of contemplation on his face.

The empress dowager’s lips started to quiver from her rising anger “You.. You” in the end she slammed the table and said “You unfillial son”

“There is something more unfillial” Ji Wu Jiu stood up, fold his hands and said “ Minister Xu Shang Yong, s.n.a.t.c.hing a woman in broad daylight, and the case was brought to the magistrate, I have already ordered for him to be suspended from his post to aid the investigation.”

Xu Shang Yong is Xu Wei Rong’s father. Has no outstanding talent, a pervert, with lots of concubines in his house, and when he sees pretty ladies he will want to obtain them no matter what methods, he will use. This time he bullied a married lady, with a strong personality, who went home and committed suicide. Her husband carried her corpse and kneeled in front of the magistrate court, he did not request for money and was not afraid of power, and was only aiming for an explanation. Magistrate Shun already felt that the citizen was bullied, but because Xu Shang Yong is the uncle of the emperor, he pushed the case back, and wrote a report to ask for Ji Wu Jiu’s opinion.

Ji Wu Jiu’s answer back to him was only two words “Punish Accordingly”

“He is your uncle!” The empress dowager’s voice also changed.

“So what, if the king went against the law, he will be punished accordingly as well. If he wasn’t my uncle, most probably he wouldn’t have dared to do such vicious acts”

“you…You…”

“Mother” Ji Wu Jiu’s voice was gentler now, he added “I know you are worried about me, but things that happens in the court, I think I am still capable of handling them. If you really want to share my worries, why don’t you sincerely pray and eat your vegetables every day, to pray that our Da Qi will have a smooth road ahead, that way it will help lessen my workload. If not, if anything were to happen, you are still my mother, I would obviously not do anything to you, but towards the rest of the people, I would not be too constricted with my actions”

That was an obvious blackmail. The empress dowager although angry, she also knows that she can’t do much. This son of hers.. his wings is getting larger, no one would be able to control him soon.

“If so, about your uncle, please do not punish him too harsh” The empress dowager said.

“Too late, my edict has been pa.s.sed down, a king will not back out of his words”

After coming out from Ci Ning Palace, the next place Ji Wu Jiu went to was Tian Xiang Lou.

In the inner palace, only the ladies with a consort t.i.tle and above can have their own palace, those below that ranking can only stay in the side court of any of the other consort’s palace, but this Tian Xiang Lou was a small independent court, not big like a palace, previously the empress dowager made the decision to place Xu Wei Rong to stay here alone.

Seeing Ji Wu Jiu, Xu Xuan s.h.i.+ thought that she was dreaming, “cousin, cousin brother? Are you finally visiting me?” While saying her eyes has started to turn red, tears streaming down her face.

“Yes, cousin sister” Ji Wu Jiu walked towards her, and helped her wipe her tears.

Xu Xuan s.h.i.+ immediately fell into Ji Wu Jiu’s arms, sobbing non stop.

Ji Wu Jiu held on to her shoulders and said “Wei Rong, you are my cousin sister, so seeing that we have that type of relations.h.i.+p, I will not take your life for making Su Jie Yu commit such a treason act against me” Using his most gentle voice tone, to say the most cruel words.

Xu Xuan s.h.i.+’s body turned stiff, looked up at him unbelievingly.

“There is no need to look at me that way, since you have done it previously, you should have known what type of sacrifice you would be facing. I can act foolish, but do not treat me as a fool.”

“Cousin brother..”

“Go stay at the cold palace for a while, when you decide you can finally throw away your “smartness”, then that is when you can come out”

After saying that Ji Wu Jiu pushed her away, turned and left.

Xu Xuan s.h.i.+ wanted to chase him, but was held on by some people. Crying she shouted “Cousin brother, cousin brother, I am know I am wrong, do not make me go to the cold palace, I will change, I will change…”

Ji Wu Jiu’s steps has never decreased, he did not look back either.

Do not blame the cold hearted-ness of an emperor. In this entire inner palace, is there any woman who treats him with sincerity?

The crying voice slowly fades behind him. Ji Wu Jiu took a deep breath, feeling that the anger in his heart subsided a lot. Actually he does not mind woman acting cunning in front of him, but to be clever to this point really makes people detest them.

After that, Ji Wu Jiu went to Wu Ying Hall, there Ye Mu Fang was waiting to meet the emperor.

Earlier on, it was mentioned, Ye Mu Fang is Ye Zhen Zhen’s second brother, minister of works. This year, he was in charge of the water reservoir project, and was at Shan Dong all this time, he just returned yesterday, rested a bit at home, and then received orders from Ji Wu Jiu to enter the palace.

Ye Mu Fang, now appears to be thinner than when he left from the capital, much more tanned as well. On his face, although he is considered still young, his face is full of beard now, making him look more wise and mature. Although he has suffered but his eyes were still full of vigor, seems like he is still in a good condition.

Ji Wu Jiu cares about the water reservoir project very much, and has been overlooking it all along, there is someone at Shan Dong that will report to him solely. Therefore there was no need for Ye Mu Fang to report, also he will know what happened there, but he still wanted to hear it from Ye Mu Fang directly.

The heavens have really given face to this project this time. Last year during the winter, the northern lands would surely be frozed up for two to three months, so if they were to work during that time, it would be very strength consuming, and they would be forced to stop their work. But this year, it was a warm winter, the lands only froze up in December, and it was estimated that the flowers will bloom in early spring, so the project would only require to be halted for one month plus. The local government there also did a very good job in pleasing the citizens, so their work was progressing very well. Therefore the project speed was much faster than what Ye Mu Fang has estimated, and if all goes well, the water reservoir would be ready before the expected drought season next year.

Ji Wu Jiu was very happy after hearing this, and continuously said “good” three times.

Ye Mu Fang did spend a long time in the court, seeing that Ji Wu Jiu was happy, he took the chance to praise all the ministers involved, if there is any rewards, all of them will share them together, this way when he returns will they be fully loyal to him.

Ji Wu Jiu then sends down his orders, all the people that Ye Mu Fang mentioned, was rewarded. As for Ye Mu Fang, he still wanted to award him something personally. He awarded him a “Jue” t.i.tle. (Jue can also mean ultimate in Chinese)

Da Qi’s “Jue” t.i.tle is given only to those that contributed a lot to the country, and most of the time it is awarded to the generals. Now there are very little wars, that is why the generals that have the “Jue’ t.i.tle is very little, not to mention to the court ministers. Even Ye Xiu Ming, who has many sorts of t.i.tle, still did not manage to obtain the “Jue” t.i.tle.

That is why when Ji Wu Jiu awarded this t.i.tle to Ye Mu Fang, albeit a third rank Jue, it still made him very happy and shocked.

Ji Wu Jiu also personally added another t.i.tle for him, called n.o.ble He Qing. To be honest, this t.i.tle is a little big, the term He Qing was used to describe those related by blood to the emperor, and he was just a river repairman, so how can he accept this t.i.tle. That is why Ye Mu Fang tried to reject this offer.

“Minister Ye, you do not need to reject, although now we are at a peaceful era, so the citizens life is much more important. Since the Yellow River was so calm ever since you took on the project, it means that is also approves of your capabilities, if you are not worthy of this t.i.tle, then who is?”

Ye Mu Fang was so touched that he nearly cried. He was doing his best in Shan Dong, at first it was so hectic that he did not even managed to sleep properly, and all he wanted was to properly complete this project, so that the citizens can live better. But if to say he does not have any personal intentions, that is not true, but his efforts really did benefit the lives of the common citizens.  Ji Wu Jiu is currently praising him non-stop making him feel that he needs to take up full responsibility of the project.

Also the Jue t.i.tle, not only gave Ye Mu Fang’s work commendation, there was also another usage. Few days ago the case of the a.s.sa.s.sin was creating lots of rumors, many people thought Ji Wu Jiu wants to act upon Ye Xiu Ming, there was also some that wanted to provoke Ji Wu Jiu to act upon Ye Family. Now, Ji Wu Jiu has awarded this t.i.tle to Ye Mu Fang, it implies to those people: Ye Family’s position is still strong, you bunch of people should disperse”

After Ye Mu Fang bid his farewells, Ji Wu Jiu felt that his grudge has finally been released. Any person that likes to control others, hates to be influenced by others, Ji Wu Jiu is not any different. What he wants to do, is his decision, who ever that wants to interfere, that person should think twice.

Furthermore, Ye Family produces a lot of capable people, he will never end the entire family.

Ji Wu Jiu was in a good mood, and was taking a stroll in the imperial garden, pa.s.sing by a fake mountain, he saw Ye Zhen Zhen.

She was playing the swing in the snow, wearing a red dress, sitting on the swing, with her legs swinging. The white surroundings made her look like a fire bond.

Ji Wu Jiu walked towards her, his hand gently pressed down on her shoulders. Ye Zhen Zhen turned and saw his slender fingers, and knew it was him, she stood up and wanted to greet him, but Ji Wu Jiu used some strength to push her back down “don’t move”.

So, Ye Zhen Zhen really stopped moving, and sat on the swing.

Ji Wu Jiu then placed both his hands on her shoulders. Standing behind her, it was like he wanted to hold her in her arms. Thinking for a while he opened his mouth.

“Sorry”

“Sorry”

Two voice was heard at the same time, Ji Wu Jiu was stunned. When he returned to his senses, his heart felt much more at ease. Slowly pus.h.i.+ng her, allowing her to go up and down on the swing, but his hands never left her “Empress, why apologize?”

“Sorry, I misunderstood you” Ye Zhen Zhen said. She has thought it through earlier on, Ji Wu Jiu was stronger than what she imagined, if he really wanted to harm Ye Family, he will not need to force an accusation on to them, many other faults can be placed on them in the open.

Furthermore, if he were to kick out Ye Xiu Ming, then Fang Xiu Qing will be the only one with power, this type of scenario, as an emperor Ji Wu Jiu will surely not be willing to see. Those who really wants to get rid of Ye Family are many, but it would definitely not be Ji Wu Jiu.

Ye Zhen Zhen realized that, ever since she entered the palace, she was always in a strained mode, always afraid that Ji Wu Jiu will harm her, and to push her to the end. That is why everytime something happens, she will first think about his motive.

But then again, if he really wanted to harm her, most probably she would never be able to fight back at all.

After understanding these, Ye Zhen Zhen did not feel heavy in her heart, but instead felt more at ease. The feeling of letting another person make an important decision, and she no longer needs to be worried about it anymore.

“I also made a mistake, I should not have treated you like that” Ji Wu Jiu sighed, thinking back about his madness the other night, his heart felt pain again.

“You are not in the wrong, it is my responsibility”

Such honest words, was not pleasing to Ji Wu Jiu’s ears. He slowly bend his waist, both his hands slide down from her shoulders, linking them together, he held Ye Zhen Zhen in his arms.

Looking down, he closed his eyes and with his lips right next to Ye Zhen Zhen’s ears, he gently said “ Zhen Zhen, don’t be like this. Since you don’t like it, i will not touch you”

“Your majesty, actually the reason of why I want to vomit, is not because I hate you, but I think… I am sick” Ye Zhen Zhen said, a bit distressed about it.

Ji Wu Jiu opened his eyes, “What do you mean?”

“A type of weird disease maybe’ Ye Zhen Zhen said while looking down, not sure how she should explain to him. The first time, she was not too sure, but the second time, she felt it, as long as the thought of Ji Wu Jiu being with many other woman doing that thing before, and now to do this with her.. she will feel very disgusted, not only her heart feel it was disgusting, her stomach will feel it was disgusting as well.

But this feeling was not easy to describe, so she does not know what she should say.

“If it is a type of sickness, there should be a way to cure it, you do not have to worry too much” Ji Wu Jiu consoled her.

Ye Zhen Zhen nodded, “Your majesty.. if you…”

“No, I won’t” Ji Wu Jiu stopped her, “First, we should cure your sickness” I want you, but I also want your willingness.

He tighten his arms around her, making sure she is fully pressed to his body, his face laying on hers. The dragon robe he was wearing was wrapped around her red dress, in this snow white scenery, it was although they looked like a dual color camelia flower, blooming very beautifully.

Su Yue, who was bringing over some milk tea for Ye Zhen Zhen saw the scene, turned around and went back.