Chen Mo’s punishment, for Wu Yanqing, was just like scratching an itch.
Merit?
Wu Yanqing did not expect any merit from this expedition. He was already a First-class Duke, and held the position of Minister of War, almost at the peak.
Unless this merit could elevate him to the rank of King, otherwise, it made no difference whether it was there or not.
As for a year’s salary?
The annual salary of the Minister of War was just several hundred taels of silver. Wu Yanqing, as the Patriarch of the Wu Family, could sometimes spend several thousand to tens of thousands of taels of silver in a day. This one-year salary deduction was nothing but a drizzle.
Wu Mi knew this was a minor punishment from Your Majesty to his father, or in other words, it was made to be seen by Yang Qingqing.
"Thank Your Majesty for your grace." Wu Mi thanked on behalf of his father.
...
After Wu Mi left, Chen Mo asked Jia Yin to summon Yang Qingqing.
When Yang Qingqing arrived at the Imperial Study, Chen Mo said to her, "Consort Zhao, I have told the Empress what you said..."
Yang Qingqing’s heart skipped a beat, but Chen Mo’s next words surprised her.
"But the Empress not only didn’t blame you, but instead disregarded past grievances, pleaded for your brother and them, asking me to pardon them. Moreover, the Empress also said that even if your father truly committed suicide due to guilt, her father also bears responsibility for failing to discover it, and asked me to punish her father." Chen Mo said.
Yang Qingqing’s eyes flickered, somewhat incredulous.
Wu Mi did not resent her, and moreover, took the initiative to ask Your Majesty to punish her father?
Yang Qingqing was silent for a moment, feeling a tinge of guilt in her heart.
Chen Mo saw her not speaking, stepped forward to hold her jade-like hand, sighed, and said, "After all, you are my Consort Zhao, my woman. No matter what your father does, I won’t implicate you..."
Chen Mo squeezed her jade hand and said, "For the sake of you and the Empress, even if your brothers were involved in your father’s affair, I have pardoned them."
After speaking, Chen Mo reached out to pull her slender waist, holding her in his arms.
Yang Qingqing also embraced Chen Mo, but her expression was quite complex.
Chen Mo looked at her like this, while stroking her beautiful hair, having another thought in his mind.
He looked down into Yang Qingqing’s eyes, changing to a more intimate address, softly said, "Qingqing, aren’t you suspicious that Duke Wu secretly orchestrated, leading to your father’s death? Later, I will summon him, let him explain this matter, you just hide in the dark, listen to what he says, I think, in front of me, he wouldn’t dare to conceal it."
Yang Qingqing gazed at the young man, knowing this was the greatest compromise he could make, slightly nodding her head.
Chen Mo turned his glance to the outside of the study, urgently calling, "Jia Yin."
"Here I am, Your Majesty." Jia Yin heard the call and quickly came in.
"Go and summon Duke Wu." Chen Mo instructed.
"Yes."
"Qingqing, aggrieve yourself to hide behind the desk for now, I will shield your presence, so he won’t sense you." Chen Mo said.
Yang Qingqing accepted the instruction and hid behind the desk.
After a while, Jia Yin came into the Imperial Study from outside, and announced loudly, "Your Majesty, Duke Wu has arrived."
Chen Mo nodded.
Shortly, Wu Yanqing, still in armor, came in from outside, his aged and aged face, serene and resolute.
"This subject, pays respects to Your Majesty." Wu Yanqing said.
"Duke Wu has come, no need for formalities, sit down." Chen Mo smiled.
Wu Yanqing not only did not move but also knelt on one knee solemnly said, "This subject, especially to plead guilty to Your Majesty..."
Then, Wu Yanqing explained in detail the matter of giving poison to Yang Xian, who then committed suicide by poison.
"According to your statement, Marquis of Hongdu County committed suicide by poison?" Chen Mo lowered his gaze, glancing at the hiding Yang Qingqing, noticing her red lips lightly biting, a face full of apparent sorrow.
Wu Yanqing nodded his head.
"Since the Marquis of Hongdu County committed suicide by poison, what crime does Duke Wu have?"
"This subject has the responsibility of negligence, knowing that the Marquis of Hongdu County was an important prisoner of the Court, yet failed to ensure good custody, leading to such an occurrence, betraying Your Majesty’s trust, this subject cannot shirk the responsibility." Wu Yanqing displayed a guilty expression, and said.
"..."
Yang Qingqing pressed her lips, feeling a bit odd within her heart.
Chen Mo gazed at Wu Yanqing, feigning surprise for a moment, then furrowed his brow, "Such a matter."
Wu Yanqing said, "The two guards keeping watch over the Marquis of Hongdu County, have been escorted back to the capital by this subject, awaiting Your Majesty’s decision, but this subject has more to say, the death of the Marquis of Hongdu County is this subject’s fault alone, and has nothing to do with them. If Your Majesty wants to punish, punish only this subject, this subject will have no regrets."
Chen Mo: "..."
He thought Wu Yanqing would choose to sacrifice those two soldiers, but was surprised that he actually shielded them, pleading on their behalf.
Chen Mo deliberated for a moment, then said, "If that’s the case, I shall strip you of this sortie’s merit, retain your title and position, keep you under observation for a year, and deduct your salary for a year. Do you have any objections?"
"This subject... thanks for Your grace."
Wu Yanqing was slightly stunned, not knowing if this so-called observation was what he thought it meant.
"Hmm, you may leave now." Chen Mo said.
"This subject takes his leave."
After Wu Yanqing left, Chen Mo looked at the already risen Yang Qingqing, and said, "Qingqing, are you satisfied with this now?"
"Satisfied?"
Truth be told, Yang Qingqing was definitely not satisfied in her heart, but she also knew, this matter could only end here, any further commotion, all three parties would find it embarrassing.
Yang Qingqing nodded her head.
...
After dealing with Yang Qingqing’s matter, Chen Mo learned that Nalan Yiren went to the Observatory after entering the palace, so he changed into a white casual robe and headed to the Observatory.
Observatory, third floor.
Behind a bamboo and wooden screen, Nalan Yiren had just finished bathing, changed into an azure coat and skirt, her expression distant, her pale and delicate face, under the light in the room, appeared rosy and tender.