Jackie Chan's Son-in-Law

Chapter 165 Asking for a Son is worse than Asking for Help
Zhao Mengjing's words were quite subtle.

Simply put, he meant that Chen Qing would neither be a renowned minister nor a treacherous official.

But it's not a good thing either.

The "good things" here refer to those judged by Confucian standards of propriety and morality. According to Confucian ethics, Chen Qing's actions certainly don't qualify him as a good person.
Zhao Mengjing's assessment was quite fair and effective.

He could accurately read the emperor's mind; he knew what kind of people the emperor needed and what kind of response the emperor wanted to hear.

"A capable minister and an efficient official."

The emperor pondered the four words for a moment, then slowly nodded and said, "I understand."

After saying this, he looked at Zhao Mengjing and slowly said, "Be mindful of your words."

If the case were only in the hands of the Zhenfu Division, then the emperor would have to decide the appropriate course of action. But since the outer court also handled the case, what would ultimately happen would be beyond the emperor's control.

What the emperor needs to do now is clearly not to wipe out the entire "Yang Party" in one fell swoop. What he needs to do is to cut off Prime Minister Yang's wings and make this prime minister, who has held power for more than ten years, become honest and obedient.

Then, the complete transfer of power was completed smoothly and peacefully.

This is also the kind of "stability" that the highest rulers pursue, especially the emperors who inherit the throne from their fathers and maintain the status quo. What they want to see most is stability. They lack confidence and are unwilling to see any major upheavals in the court, lest they fall into an uncontrollable situation.

This young Emperor Jiang was clearly like that; he had only just begun to grasp power, and everything seemed so cautious.

Otherwise, Yang Yuanfu would have already been dismissed from his post by now.

After Zhao Zongxian left, the emperor had only been sitting in the imperial study for a short while when Tang Can from the Zhenfu Division requested an audience. When Tang Can entered the imperial study, he bowed and knelt down, saying, "Your Majesty, you previously instructed the Zhenfu Division to send people to Huzhou to investigate the case of Chen Qing's filial impiety and disobedience. Now, the Zhenfu Division's agents have returned."

Tang Can knelt on the ground, holding the document high in both hands. The emperor glanced at the eunuch beside him, and the eunuch immediately took small steps and presented the document from the Zhenfu Division to His Majesty the emperor. The emperor took it and looked it over.

The Imperial Guards of the Zhenfu Division were quite professional, and given the previous conflict between Chen Qing and his father, which wasn't exactly a secret, most of the details were directly presented to His Majesty the Emperor.

After carefully reading it, the emperor also showed anger and grumbled, "A scholar, so driven by profit!"

"What a bastard!"

The emperor was indeed somewhat angry at this moment, because legally speaking, he and Chen Qing were of the same status.

They were all eldest sons.

However, several of his elder brothers had died young before him.

If the Jiang family had followed Chen Huan's example, then the one on the throne now would not be him, but his brothers.

The emperor's expression turned sour, but recalling what he had said to Chen Huan earlier and Chen Huan's usefulness, his expression softened slightly.

Since Xie Guan is still in the cabinet, Chen Huan cannot be dealt with for the time being. He should be kept in the capital as a hidden agent who can be used at any time to deliver a crucial blow in the future to bring down Xie Guan.

The emperor took a deep breath, looked at Tang Can, and said, "Have you read this document?"

Tang Can lowered his head and said, "Your Majesty, I have read it."

“Then Chen Qing is innocent. Arrange for him to return to his post in the Zhenfu Division immediately.”

At this point, the emperor suddenly glanced at Tang Can and said, "Tang Can, Chen Qingyuan's original job has been taken over by Yan Hu's son, hasn't it?"

Tang Can, being in the position of Garrison Commander, was naturally astute. He immediately understood the emperor's meaning in those words and bowed slightly, saying, "Yes, Yan Cong has been doing a... decent job as a probationary centurion..."

The emperor frowned and said, "Since it's still acceptable, it might not be good if Chen Qing takes Yan Cong's place after he goes back."

As the emperor, it would be very beneath him to concern himself with the affairs of the hundred or thousand households in the Zhenfu Division, and the emperor usually didn't bother with such matters.

Now that he has inquired about it, he must have his reasons.

Tang Can knew perfectly well what was going on and lowered his head, saying, "Yes, with Chen Qing's help, Yan Cong has done a very good job during this time, especially with the White Lotus Sect. Now, the White Lotus Sect has almost disappeared in the capital and the surrounding area."

The emperor raised an eyebrow.

"Then let Yan Cong take on the role of centurion."

"As for Chen Qing, you can arrange another job for him."

Tang Can cautiously said, "Then, let Chen Qing be Yan Hu's deputy, and make him the deputy commander of Yan Hu's thousand-household unit."

The emperor frowned: "Was this promotion too fast?"

Tang Can lowered his head and said, "Your Majesty, Chen Qing is a man of considerable talent. It is a good thing for the Zhenfu Division to keep such a person in our division. I think he should be promoted exceptionally."

This is the moment when the pure gold Bixie in the mansion of Marquis Tangzhen will unleash its power.

This also reflects Chen Qing's good interpersonal skills.

If Tang Can pretended to be ignorant at this moment, the emperor would really have no reason or excuse to forcefully promote Chen Qing to a higher position. His Majesty the Emperor sighed and said, "In extraordinary times, this is the only way."

He looked at Yan Hu, threw down the document in his hand, and said in a deep voice, "Also, you go there yourself to find Chen Huan, show him this document, and ask him for me."

"How should I protect him?"

Tang Can immediately bowed his head, picked up the document, and said respectfully, "Yes, Your Majesty, I will go right away."

Marquis Tang carefully withdrew from the imperial study and breathed a sigh of relief.

This time, he successfully grasped the emperor's pulse and did him another favor.

However, this kind of pulse diagnosis also carries considerable risk, and it is not always successful, especially for a close advisor to the emperor like him.

Walking through the palace, Tang Zhenfu patted his chest and sighed slightly: "It seems that my job will probably change hands in a few years, but that's fine too."

Tang Zhenhou whispered, "This job in the Zhenfu Division isn't easy. If only I could go to the Yiluan Division..."

…………

At the entrance of Chen Huan's residence, Tang Can, accompanied by two centurions dressed in the uniforms of the Zhenfu Division, knocked on the door expressionlessly.

The door opened quickly, and Chen Huan respectfully invited him inside.

During this period, Lord Chen suffered a serious illness and only just recovered in the last two days. His face is still pale and bloodless.

After inviting Tang Can to sit in the main seat of the main hall, Chen Huan personally poured tea for Tang Can, forcing a smile on his face: "Lord Tang, what brings you here in person?"

Tang Can didn't drink his tea, but said coldly, "Lord Chen, you've been caught, do you know that?"

He tossed the documents in his hand in front of Chen Huan, narrowed his eyes, and said, "The people from the Zhenfu Division just returned from Huzhou. Take a look at what they found!"

Chen Huan reached out and took it, but after just one glance, his expression became visibly flustered.

He dismissed everyone, leaving only himself and Tang Can, and then lowered his voice to say, "Lord, when His Majesty asked me about this matter, I already gave a clear account. Why... why is it being brought up again?"

Tang Can narrowed his eyes and said coldly, "What did you say to His Majesty? You said you exaggerated your accusation against Chen Qing, but what was the result?"

"You favor your concubine over your wife!"

"Chen Qing is the eldest son of your family, yet you sent him to marry into a merchant family!"

"Chen Qing didn't sue you for this, which shows his filial piety. In the end, you sued him instead! What kind of behavior is this?"

"That Chen Qing is one of our Zhenfu Division's men, my subordinate! If it weren't for His Majesty's decree, I would have already taken you to the imperial prison to be questioned!"

The mere mention of the imperial edict sent Chen Huan's face to the ground. He looked up at Tang Can and said with a bitter smile, "Lord Tang, what... what should we do?"

"His Majesty has seen this document. In the next few days, His Majesty will reinstate Chen Qing."

"His Majesty's decision to reinstate Chen Qing is just a matter of a word, but this case is not yet closed. Chen Qing has returned to his post in the Zhenfu Division. If anyone asks about this case in the Zhenfu Division, the Zhenfu Division will have no choice but to make this document public."

"Then you, Lord Chen, might end up in jail."

At this point, Tang Can suddenly looked coldly at Chen Huan: "His Majesty's decree."

Chen Huan hurriedly knelt on the ground and kowtowed, saying, "Your subject respectfully listens to Your Majesty's decree."

"His Majesty said."

Tang Can stood up, clasped his hands in a fist salute towards the palace, and slowly said, "How should I protect you?"

Chen Huan knelt on the ground, bowed his head deeply, closed his eyes, and felt nothing but helplessness.

He was pushed step by step to this point, and now he has no way to solve the problem on his own.

It's highly unrealistic to expect to resolve this through Xie Xiangong.

Now, it's almost a certainty that the emperor will reinstate Chen Qing. And if the emperor wants to use Chen Qing, then Chen Huan will have to deal with the biggest problem: that previous petition.

Chen Huan looked up at Tang Can and bowed respectfully.

At this moment, he understood.

seem…

They had no choice but to go find that rebellious son.

(End of this chapter)