My Wife is Unbeatable in the Whole World, Touch Me If You Dare!-Chapter 63 - The Golden Hall Impeachment [Wishing Everyone a Healthy Dragon Boat Festival]

After returning to the Song Residence with his wife, Li Nuo took special care to observe Mumu.

He was worried that the scene of the assassination attempt on the street earlier that day had caused her any psychological trauma, but it turned out Li Nuo was overthinking it.

The little girl was still lively and animated, practicing her martial arts with such fervor that she voluntarily trained for an extra hour, and after finishing, she earnestly said to Li Nuo, "I need to train hard so I can protect Brother Li Nuo in the future!"

Song Mumu felt guilty; she had claimed she would protect Brother Li Nuo, yet when they were strolling the streets earlier that day, and someone attacked Brother Li Nuo with a knife, she hadn't been able to react in time. If it hadn't been for Jiaren, Brother Li Nuo would have been in danger.

This was why Li Nuo cherished Mumu even more—how could anyone not love such a Mumu?

Today, Li Nuo unusually did not read any books in the afternoon; he devoted his time to playing with Mumu.

Whether she wanted to toss beanbags, play Go, or engage in playing house, Li Nuo would accompany her to the end. Although such games were quite childish for an eighteen-year-old adult, who could resist making Mumu happy?

Song Jiaren leaned against a pillar at the doorway, arms crossed, watching the two sitting at a stone table, pretending a jade bowl was a pot, using leaves as ingredients, and playfully cooking. Their silly game, laden with joy, also had a touch of warmth.

Before their marriage, the first time he visited the Song Residence, he had played these games with Mumu.

He had changed a lot over this period, yet this aspect remained the same.

At this moment, hidden behind the moon gate, a figure watched the two from a distance, listening to Song Mumu's bell-like laughter. Amidst their regret, their heart brimmed with jealousy.

Although Brother Yu doted on her, he would never play house with her, saying that it was a game for children and that he would be embarrassed. But why wasn't Brother Li Nuo embarrassed?

Ah, if only she had played vine ball with him back then.

She had known him even before Song Mumu did.

Her hesitation to join in then had allowed Song Mumu to gain the upper hand…

…

Early in the morning, Li Nuo rose from bed and stretched lazily.

Having his wife by his side made for a comfortable sleep.

Although only a day had passed, Li Nuo's mindset had undergone a significant change.

It was already late, and in the past, he might have skipped breakfast and hurried to the County Magistrate's Office to preside over cases.

Today, after getting up, Li Nuo leisurely washed up, slowly savored his breakfast, strolled in the yard to aid digestion, bid farewell to his wife and Mumu, and then boarded the carriage bound for the County Magistrate's Office…

As his carriage leisurely made its way to Chang'an County Government,

at the Imperial Palace, atop the Golden Hall, the atmosphere was slightly tense.

Yesterday, King Chun fell ill, so the monthly court meeting, usually held on the first day of the month, was postponed by a day.

Since Your Majesty had ceased managing court affairs, he ordered the adult Princes to take turns acting as Regent.

Including King Ji, who had just come of age this year, there were eight grown Princes, each serving as Regent for one month.

The Crown Prince had passed away ten years ago, and Your Majesty had not established a new Eastern Palace since then.

In these ten years, the power struggles among the Princes had been incessant; apart from the relatively young King Ji and King Xuan, the influence of the other six Princes in the court was deeply rooted.

King Chun was the one acting as Regent this month, and just now, several Imperial Censors had jointly accused Minister of Justice Li Xuanjing of wanton behavior and valuing human life lightly, heightening the tension of the court meeting.

Although Li Xuanjing held sway in the court, the Imperial Censors cared not whether one was a clean or corrupt official; they would dare to point out any wrongdoing by the Princes in front of all the courtiers.

In Daxia, those who became Imperial Censors were typically well-versed in both Confucianism and law, with Confucian cultivation levels above the Third Realm, including some who were of the Fourth Realm, and even some Great Scholars of the Fifth Realm.

Those above the Third Realm of Confucianism were usually with little personal desire, wholly dedicated to serving the country and the people, embodying Vast Righteous Qi, and receiving the love of countless citizens.

Even if they were to scold Your Majesty, he was to accept it; in all these years, despite Li Xuanjing's expanding power, he never touched an Imperial Censor.

At the Golden Hall, the middle-aged man in a four-clawed dragon robe on the left of the Dragon Chair looked toward an official and asked, "Imperial Censor Xu, is what you just spoke of true?"

The Censor replied with neither servility nor overbearance, "Back to Your Highness, yesterday, the Minister of Justice executed an assassin who tried to murder his son at the entrance of the Chang'an County government office. Countless citizens witnessed the event—how can it be false?"

Hearing this, King Chun's expression changed. He immediately stood up and turned towards a figure in front of the crowd, asking with concern, "This has happened? Why didn't Xuanjing inform me about it? Has Nephew Li been injured, should I send an Imperial Physician?"

The figure slowly stepped forward and bowed to King Chun, saying, "Thank you for your concern, Your Highness, but my son was not injured."

King Chun breathed a sigh of relief, sat back down, and said, "That's good, that's good…"

The Imperial Censor's face could no longer hide his displeasure. He cleared his throat lightly and said, "Your Highness, though assassinating a relative of an official appointed by the court in the street is indeed a grave crime, it is not a capital offense. The actions of the Minister of Justice are clearly in disregard of the law and blatantly arbitrary. Please, Your Highness, see clearly into this matter!"

The Imperial Censors standing beside him also spoke out one after another, "Please, Your Highness, see clearly!"

The Censors were impassioned, but most courtiers maintained their usual composure, some even barely suppressing a yawn.

They were all courtiers, yet King Chun referred to one as "Imperial Censor Xu" and another as "Xuanjing"; didn't this reveal something?

Originally just a disadvantaged prince, King Chun had become what he was today, able to confront other princes as equals, all thanks to Li Xuanjing's support. To deal with Li Xuanjing would be akin to King Chun cutting off his own arms and legs—would he really do such a thing?

Above in the Golden Hall, King Chun looked towards Li Xuanjing and said, "Xuanjing, what is your explanation for this?"

Li Xuanjing lifted his head and replied, "Your Highness, the assassin wasn't just any assassin; he was also one of the masterminds behind the case of Qinghe County Magistrate Gu Wenhan trafficking in women of good families, a major criminal wanted by the court for a year. Gu Wenhan, as an official appointed by the court, colluded with bandits, knowingly breaking the law. During his three-year tenure, he trafficked countless women of good families, his crimes were heinous and too numerous to document. As one of the masterminds, not executing him would not suffice to assuage the public outrage, not executing him would not be adequate to deter the petty and evil..."

"Executed well!"

King Chun slapped his thigh and stood up, declaring, "Such monstrous villains deserve death; to be torn apart limb from limb would be fitting; being beaten to death by rods is already merciful from the Minister of Justice. Imperial Censor Xu, if you and the others wish to impeach someone, you must first thoroughly investigate the matter. To impeach rashly without investigation, isn't that wrongly accusing the innocent?"

The Censors were left without a comeback.

Li Xuanjing, also a good man?

The case involving Qinghe County Magistrate Gu Wenhan had caused quite a stir in the court a year ago.

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Of course, it wasn't because of the minor magistrate from Xuan State, but because during that time, Li Xuanjing had purged the officials of the entire Xuan State to expand King Chun's faction. Those who were demoted were demoted, those whose clans were extinguished were extinguished, and thereafter, all were replaced by King Chun's people...

The case involving Qinghe County Magistrate Gu Wenhan was merely the spark that ignited the party struggle.

Perhaps Gu Wenhan was truly wronged, for Li Xuanjing might have used his case to break open the situation in Xuan State and assist King Chun in seizing power. Li Xuanjing was fully capable of such a deed.

What Gu Wenhan had truly done was now impossible to determine. Whether he truly committed heinous crimes or was framed by Li Xuanjing no longer mattered. The case had already been settled, and Xuan State had become King Chun's territory. Even if one wanted to overturn the verdict, it would require the consent of the Ministry of Justice.

They didn't even know if the assassin was genuinely connected to the case or simply had an identity pinned on him by Li Xuanjing.

Having been executed in public, there was naturally nowhere to verify the facts.

However, in their eyes, the executed assassin was more likely indeed a righteous individual. By attempting to assassinate Li Xuanjing's only son, he angered the ruthless Minister of Justice, who then had him beaten to death right at the door of the County Magistrate's Office as a warning to others...

With the assassin's silence secured, was it not now up to Li Xuanjing to dictate right and wrong? The Censors hadn't expected this minor incident to bring down Li Xuanjing, but as Imperial Censors, knowing of the incident, they could not remain silent.

Scolded by King Chun, they said no more and slowly retreated back into the ranks of the courtiers.

Thus, the impeachment against Minister of Justice Li Xuanjing ended without result, no different from every other court session in the past.

After the court session, the officials went back to their respective government offices, King Chun returned to his residence, lounging comfortably on a soft couch and remarked, "These people, it's as if they cannot speak unless they're impeaching Xuanjing every time we convene..."

The house steward of the King Mansion came forward with a wooden tray and said with a smile, "Your Highness, this is the fresh peach personally cultivated by a fourth realm expert of the Agricultural School that Lord Wei sent over early this morning. The flavor is incredibly sweet and delicious, would you like to try it?"

King Chun took a large peach from the wooden tray, casually wiped it with his sleeve, and took a bite. He immediately found the fruit to be crispy and exceedingly sweet, its juice flowing in his mouth, and he couldn't help but exclaim in appreciation, "Truly, something nurtured by the Agricultural School, the taste is indeed superb, Minister Wei is thoughtful..."

Although it was just a peach, it was far more precious than the average rare and exotic treasure. The strong cultivators of the Agricultural School, despite their official titles, never got involved in court struggles and focused solely on farming; the rare fruits they cultivated were invariably hard to come by.

Despite being a first-rank prince of the current dynasty, even if he personally requested, it would not necessarily be granted, and it was only because of Minister Wei's relationship with a fourth realm expert of the Agricultural School that he could enjoy such a delicacy.

Just as he was about to take a second bite, King Chun suddenly put the peach down and said, "Such a rare fruit should be tasted by Xuanjing. How many more do we have in the residence?"

The steward replied, "Lord Wei sent four in total. Aside from the one in Your Highness's hand, there are three left."

King Chun pondered for a moment and said, "Send two to Xuanjing, and leave the last one for the Princely Heir..."

The steward bowed and said, "As you wish."

He was about to carry out the King's orders when King Chun, as if suddenly remembering something, added, "Wait."

King Chun stroked his chin, contemplated for a moment, and then said, "Nephew Li has just married, and there is a new wife in his household. Sending only two might not be enough. In that case, send all three to Li Mansion..."

The steward looked startled and asked in a low voice, "What about the Princely Heir then?"

King Chun waved his hand dismissively and replied, "Forget about the Princely Heir, he doesn't like peaches..."

After the steward left, King Chun finished the peach in his hand, feeling thoroughly refreshed, as if he had grown years younger, thinking to himself that things cultivated by the Agricultural School were indeed exceptional.

At that moment, a noble young man dressed in luxurious robes strode into the hall. Barely as he stepped through the entrance, he eagerly spoke, "Father, I heard that someone sent over some peaches cultivated by the strong cultivators of the Agricultural School..."

King Chun surreptitiously pocketed the peach pit left from his snack, looked at the young nobleman, and feigned ignorance, "What peaches?"