Chapter 41: The Proclamation of Her Brother in the Imperial Court
In the morning Court the officials brought up incident in the Spring Banquet and the Minister of Justice explained how the culprits were the Dong family and they had arrested everyone in the morning.
The Dong family head was brought up and he claimed he was innocent but there was no proof of it. But there were eyewitness accounts who had seen Lord Dong meeting with the ’fake Lord Táng’ previously and so everyone agreed he was lying.
Everyone looked at the Emperor to mete appropriate punishment. Usually the punishment for such crimes was the execution of the entire family. But the Emperor just exiled them from the capital city and issued orders for none of their generations to enter the court in the future.
The Emperor noticed the slight displeasure in the eyes of Lord Ran but soon he composed himself. He knew Lord Ran was worried that his secret will be revealed if they were left alive. It was the Emperor’s plan too as over time the Dong family members can come out with the truth against the Ran family as they would feel wronged.
But they received news on the third day of the Dong family’s exilement that they were attacked by ’bandits’ and not even a child from their family was spared. Only then they realised how vicious and meticulous the Ran family was and it is not easy to deal with them.
After the punishment was given by the Emperor someone spoke on how harmonious the court is with the seemingly opposing Ran and Huang families help each other for the sake of the welfare of the kingdom and various others joined him in singing praises of Lord Ran who had caught the criminals who tried to spoil the peace of the nation.
Rijun who was silently observing the Court smirked by all the drama unfolding in front of him as he was already informed of all the plots by his father early in the morning after paying respects to Xing’s mother’s memorial tablet. He knew his father stayed back home after he had heard of the Emperor’s summon for Lord Táng was only because even if something unexpected happens in the court today, him being outside the palace would help them more. His father had also told him to do just anything for the safety of his sister.
Rijun rolled his eyes when everyone spoke as if Lord Ran did a big favour and had saved the Huang family from ruins.
After everyone of his supporters had spoken, Lord Ran who was ’embarrassed’ by all the compliments given by his peers stood in front of the Emperor and spoke politely,
"This official had done what any other official would have done for the sake of the kingdom. I would never agree if anyone think that I had saved the Huang family but I am honoured I get to be of help to find those criminals. Also this official had heard many good things about Lord Táng. Many of the nobles here would have encountered him too one way or another. Who doesn’t know how much he had helped the people in the Western Province over the years. How could anyone accuse him of treason? Even some days back my daughter encountered some problems with her carriage and it was him who saved her. I am grateful for Lord Táng. The Prime Minister’s son was with him that day too", he smirked at Rijun and continued, " That day my daughter’s carriage was tampered with and she’d have lost her life if not for Lord Táng. Upon investigation, I had found out it was Lord Dong who did it and that’s why I kept a close eye on him and was able to uncover this issue. Anyhow I thank the Emperor for punishing the Dong family for their evil deeds", he spoke and strode back to his place.
Everyone in the court started murmuring about this mysterious Lord Táng and Rijun balled his hands to fists.
What does that damn Lord Ran trying to do? Is he trying to say he had found out the identity of Lord Táng? Also by speaking good about Lord Táng, he is trying to make others to have a bad feeling about Lord Táng. Or is he trying to insinuate jealousy of the Emperor by saying Lord Táng had done more good deeds? Also if the Nobles had encountered Lord Táng before, it could only mean they were doing dubious deeds before stopped by him. Also wasn’t Lord Ran the one who tried to kill his daughter? Rijun looked at Lord Ran smirking and wanted to punch that smug face of Lord Ran.