Chapter 210: His Majesty asks, do you think I'm easy to bully?
Chapter 210: His Majesty asks, do you think I'm easy to bully? Original and most updated translations are from volare. If read elsewhere, this chapter has been stolen. Please stop supporting theft.
When Tao Yu entered the Hall of Golden Chimes and fell on his knees to give Ning Xiaoyao a grand, formal bow, she took the chance to glance at the Imperial Censor, Tao Shidong.
Ah geez, Ning Xiaoyao quickly averted her gaze. His Excellency Tao's face has turned green. It looks like he wants to bite Tao Yu to death many times over.
"......" said Ning Xiaoyao. Just whose side is that old gramps on? Can't he stop attacking sides indiscriminately?
Ning Xiaoyao blinked. Looks like old gramps is trying to set the stage for Tao Yu, ah. But he seems like he wants to talk facts and reason with His Excellency Tao as well. Is that going to work?
In this era, people placed great importance on family and clan. A member of the family would never be banished from the clan unless they committed grievous sins of betrayal or unfilial acts. In Elder Li's eyes, the Tao Clan must have acted as they did because of Grand Preceptor Xie's instructions. Just because one of their sons is loyal to His Majesty, they banish him from the clan? Elder Li couldn't bear the thought. He was going to make Tao Shidong spit out the ugly truth today.
Lou Zigui was very clear on what kind of crimes Xie Wenyuan would have pinned on Tao Yu's head. Whether or not Tao Shidong believed them, the man had chosen Xie Wenyuan's side in the end. Thus, Tao Shidong would definitely use the accusation that Tao Yu schemed to kill his brother against them. If they gave Tao Shidong to speak those words here, they were just asking for trouble.
Elder Li gave Lou Zigui a cold glare.
"Then His Excellency Tao should just say it outright," Grand Preceptor Xie said. "I too, am curious. Just what kind of crime has General Tao committed?" If you, Li Wuqi, wants to ruin Tao Yu, why shouldn't I help you with your cause?
"How is this related to Your Majesty?" Elder Li creased his brows in disapproval at Ning Xiaoyao. Your Majesty, why do you need to get involved in these matters?
"That son," Tao Shidong tried once again to outline Tao Yu's wrongs.
The Hall of Golden Chimes was absolutely silent. The officials who were ignorant of the truth were completely floored, while those who knew what had actually happened were stunned speechless by His Majesty's audacity. Others, such as Lou Zigui, couldn't wrap their minds around Miss Ning's words, much less continue the conversation!
"W-what?" Elder Li was even stuttering.
"Oh, I took a fancy to the Tao Clan's estate," Ning Xiaoyao reiterated as she winked at Elder Li.
How could Tao Yu be anything except satisfied?
"Your Majesty!" Tao Shidong was a scholarly, urbane-looking man, but his sudden cry was shrill and high. Everyone in the hall went ( ̄△ ̄;) . Was it really Tao Shidong who screamed like a woman just then?
"How can Tao Chen's peerage be left to Tao Yu?" Grand Preceptor Xie said. Tao Shidong had never confronted Ning Xiaoyao directly before, but he was different and had experience. His Excellency Grand Preceptor knew that yelling at the girl now was useless. You had to speak up instead!
"......" said the rest of the hall. Who can explain to us why adopting a son from one's relatives sounds like such a crime in His Majesty's words?
Lou Zigui shook his head at Ning Xiaoyao as well. We're talking about peerages here. Why are you making a fuss about children instead?
Tao Shidong looked at Ning Xiaoyao with an expression of grief and indignation.
"Your Majesty!" Tao Shidong couldn't bear to hear any more.
Tao Shidong took deep breaths. He had to calm down before he tried to murder his sovereign.
The crowd exchanged glances. That really does makes sense. If His Majesty's chosen to confer a title by his own will, then the matter has nothing to do with Tao Chen at all.
"Heheh," Ning Xiaoyao grinned. "Grand Preceptor, as humans we should know to show some self-restraint." If everyone in this hall was working in the service of the country, would Yongning be in such a sorry state right now?
"......" said Grand Preceptor Xie.
"What does Your Majesty mean?" one of the senior officials from the Grand Preceptor's faction asked.
The official stiffened in response.
Kneeling on the ground, Tao Yu could only feel his mouth twitch. Did I get the peerage of a second-rank general just like that?
"T-taking it back?" Tao Shidong suffered another blow.
"Your Majesty!" Grand Preceptor Xie roared then.
Tao Shidong was rendered completely speechless. He had chosen to side with the Grand Preceptor in the end, so there was nothing absurd about how His Majesty was treating him now.
Ning Xiaoyao walked past Tao Shidong, then swept by Grand Preceptor Xie with a final parting remark.