Ever since Qin Huaiyuan came to Da Zhou, he had been keeping a low profile and doing things cautiously.
Although he was put in an important position by Li Qitian, he was never ostentatious. This was the first time he had come out of class to kneel and beg for Your Majesty to uphold justice.
Not only Li Qitian, but all the civil and military officials looked at Qin Huaiyuan in confusion.
Pang Xiao and Ji Zeyu looked at each other. Both of them frowned slightly and looked at Qin Huaiyuan calmly.
Li Qitian had some guesses, but due to the situation, he could only say in a low voice, "Minister Qin, please rise. Whatever grievances you have suffered, please tell us."
Qin Huaiyuan's eyes reddened in an instant. His beard trembled, and he had to close his eyes tightly to hide the tears in his eyes.
He said in a hoarse voice, "Your Majesty, this old subject has no children, only a daughter. When she was young, something happened to her and she was stranded outside. It wasn't easy for me to find her. This old subject treats her like a treasure. My love for her is more important than my life. I really hold her in my arms for fear that she will fall and melt.
"Everything that happened in the past was out of helplessness. Between loyalty to the emperor and my daughter, this subject has wronged my daughter. This subject only thought that after coming to Da Zhou, everything would be a new opportunity. At that time, I would make it up to my beloved daughter.
"But who would have thought that not only would this subject's daughter encounter misfortune on the way here, but this subject's daughter would be forcibly taken away by Prince Zhongshun as soon as she arrived in the capital. Although my daughter has been brought back home, her reputation has been ruined. Who knows how many people outside are gossiping!"
Qin Huaiyuan pressed his forehead to the ground. Finally, tears flowed down his face. He sobbed, "This subject begs Your Majesty to uphold justice for this subject's beloved daughter! This subject's daughter is well-educated and reasonable. She is intelligent and steady. She is not a frivolous person at all. But the outside world said that she is so unbearable!
"What did this subject's daughter do wrong? Why did she have to suffer such grievances? All these mistakes were caused by Prince Zhongshun! I beg Your Majesty to punish the culprit and return justice to my daughter! "
Qin Huaiyuan's voice was choked with sobs and tears of blood flowed out of every word. In the end, he pressed his forehead to the ground and sobbed uncontrollably. He even took off his official hat and put it to the side, kowtowing repeatedly and crying out in grief,
"Your Majesty, please uphold justice for me! Punish Pang Zhixi severely! "
All the civil and military officials were stunned by this scene.
No one would have thought that Qin Huaiyuan would actually participate in Prince Zhongshun's performance. That rumor had not been circulating for a day or two. Previously, Qin Huaiyuan had held back, and some people had even mocked Qin Huaiyuan behind his back for being as cowardly as a mouse and not even daring to protect his own daughter.
But today, he suddenly submitted a memorial to the throne. It was obvious that Pang Xiao's act of flipping the table and humiliating Qin Yining had really angered him. As a father, he finally couldn't stand it anymore.
When Minister Cheng of the Ministry of War saw this, his lips curled into a smile. Since they were all impeaching Prince Zhongshun, he wouldn't fight with Qin Huaiyuan over this. Cheng Meng stood to the side and watched the show.
Li Qitian's hands gradually clenched as he held onto the dragon throne, and his brows furrowed.
He didn't think that things would develop to this point.
The Empress Dowager's Ci 'an Palace had invited the three noble daughters, Lu Heng, and Pang Xiao to the banquet. His goal was very simple. He wanted to use Qin Yining to cause discord between Lu Heng and Pang Xiao.
Li Qitian had long discovered that Lu Heng was interested in Qin Yining, and he also knew that Pang Xiao had feelings for Qin Yining. It was only because of their father's hatred that they were in the middle that they were always at odds with each other.
No man would feel good if they saw the woman they liked and had a good life marrying someone else.
Therefore, regardless of whether Qin Yining could marry Lu Heng or not, Pang Xiao and Lu Heng would become enemies.
However, Li Qitian never expected that Pang Xiao, who had always respected the Empress Dowager, would flip the table on the spot and make Lu Heng so angry that he would leave in a huff.
Now that things had gotten out of hand, he actually wanted Qin Huaiyuan to participate in the memorial. This really wasn't Li Qitian's original intention. It had already exceeded the scope of his imagination.
While Li Qitian was deep in thought, Qin Huaiyuan kowtowed again and again and said in a clear voice, "I beg Your Majesty to make the decision! If Your Majesty isn't willing to severely punish Prince Zhongshun, this old official can't continue to be an official! As an official, this official has let his own daughter suffer so much injustice. This official can't even protect her, nor can I get justice for her. What's the point of this official being an official!? "
Qin Huaiyuan's voice was tearful, and he kowtowed again humbly.
Li Qitian came back to his senses from his sorrowful cries. He coughed and said, "Beloved Minister Qin, please get up first."
Severely punish Pang Xiao? How could that be possible!?
Although Li Qitian was afraid of Pang Xiao, Pang Xiao was the only person in the cabinet who could be considered his faction.
If he severely punished Pang Xiao according to Qin Huaiyuan, wouldn't Li Qitian have no one in the cabinet? When the time came, would he have to listen to the old officials and aristocratic families of Beiji?
Li Qitian shook his head in his heart. He absolutely couldn't severely punish Pang Xiao.
However, it was indeed Pang Xiao who was at fault in this matter.
Thinking of this, Li Qitian could only softly persuade Qin Huaiyuan, hoping that he could be more sensible.
"I can understand Dear Official Qin's feelings, but you are all officials of the same court, and you are all my trusted subordinates. If there is internal strife, how can you do your job well? Dear Official Qin, you must consider the overall situation! "
"Your Majesty, if you can't give this official's daughter an explanation today, this official will no longer be a minister, and I will no longer be an official of the same court as Prince Zhongshun! Prince Zhongshun is actually so presumptuous in front of Your Majesty. When the time comes, this official will record his evil deeds on paper and paste it all over the capital, so that everyone can see his evil face! "
The veins on Li Qitian's forehead throbbed when he heard this.
He had used this method to deal with Dayan's incapable ruler in the past. He didn't expect Qin Huaiyuan to use this method to arouse public opinion!
If these words really spread, how could Pang Xiao stand firm in the cabinet? The current Li Qitian absolutely wouldn't allow Pang Xiao to leave the cabinet.
Li Qitian felt that he had encountered an unprecedented problem.
After pondering for a moment, he suddenly saw the light.
"Dear Official Qin." Li Qitian stood up and slowly walked down from the throne. He went to Qin Huaiyuan and helped him up with both hands. Then, he instructed Li Guanwen to bring a handkerchief for Qin Huaiyuan to wipe his face.
Qin Huaiyuan wiped his tears.
He lowered his head and waited for Li Qitian's instructions.
Li Qitian said, "Dear Official Qin, Prince Zhongshun is Zhen's right-hand man. Back then, when we conquered Da Zhou, he also made great contributions. It can be said that Prince Zhongshun's age and talent are very compatible with your daughter. Since the two of them have the heart, why don't we help this couple? "
"Your Majesty! My daughter was forced to do so! "
"Ai, the best home for a woman in this life is nothing more than finding a reliable husband. Although Prince Zhongshun was muddle-headed in the past, Zhen believes that he lost control because he couldn't control himself. How about this, Zhen will be the Baoshan and betroth your daughter to Prince Zhongshun as the First Consort? "
Qin Huaiyuan lowered his head with an extremely aggrieved expression on his face.
Li Qitian patiently persuaded, "As the saying goes, it's better to squash enmity than to keep it alive. The grudge between Dear Official Qin and General Cheng can't be blamed on you. Their standpoints are different, and they each serve their own masters. Today, why don't you make a big deal into a small one and forget about the grudge? With Zhen's marriage, I believe that in the future, no one in the world will dare to make any trouble for your daughter. Dear Official Qin, what do you think? "
Qin Huaiyuan pursed his lips in embarrassment, as if he was unwilling.
Li Qitian glared at Pang Xiao again. "Zhen will betroth the Qin Clan to you as the First Consort. Are you willing?"
Li Qitian's expression was too serious, as if if Pang Xiao dared to say half a word of no, he would directly order people to drag Pang Xiao out and behead him.
Pang Xiao's heart had already exploded in front of his eyes with mountain torrents, earthquakes, tsunamis, violent storms, and resplendent fireworks!
If it weren't for his amazing willpower, he would have laughed three times and knelt down to thank Father Xie Yue for granting his wish!
This move was too practical, as expected of the wise Pan An! He actually solved the important matter of their marriage so easily, and even let Your Majesty personally grant the marriage.
But no matter how happy he was, Pang Xiao still didn't forget how he should feel.
Pang Xiao reluctantly nodded and said, "I'll listen to Your Majesty's instructions."
Li Qitian felt a bit more comfortable, and then turned to Qin Huaiyuan. "Dear Official Qin, what do you think?"
Qin Huaiyuan was silent for a while, then picked up his official hat, patted the dust off, and put it back on. He solemnly saluted Li Qitian. "This official is reckless, and has troubled Your Majesty. This official will follow Your Majesty's arrangements. "
Li Qitian heaved a long sigh, nodded, and said, "Good! Li Guanwen, write an edict, Qin Clan's Yi Ning, to grant Prince Zhongshun Pang Xiao as the first wife. The wedding date is set to be the eleventh of next month, and order the two manors to arrange it on their own. "
"Yes." Li Guanwen obeyed, and hurriedly wrote it down, and wrote the edict carefully. After letting Your Majesty seal it, he ordered someone to deliver the edict.
Qin Huaiyuan lowered his head and didn't speak, still looking dejected.
At this time, the Minister of War, Cheng Meng, stood up. He originally thought that Qin Huaiyuan would be able to skin Pang Xiao alive, but he didn't expect that in the end, even his daughter would be involved.
Cheng Meng secretly cursed Qin Huaiyuan for being an idiot, and stepped forward to righteously participate in Pang Xiao's performance, which used to indiscriminately kill innocent people.
Li Qitian's forehead twitched. Pang Xiao was causing trouble for him again. He had just settled one matter, and now there was another!
Li Qitian knew Cheng Meng's purpose. The Cabinet must let Pang Xiao have a firm foothold. Therefore, after thinking about it for a while, Li Qitian intended to refute it.
Unexpectedly, before he could speak, Qin Huaiyuan stood up and said angrily, "Minister Cheng, you are wrong! Prince Zhongshun is young and talented, and has outstanding military achievements. At that time, because of different positions, he attacked and occupied Northern Ji, and made great contributions to the establishment of the Da Zhou Dynasty. How can Minister Cheng say that Prince Zhongshun is a devil who kills people without blinking an eye? "
"You!" Minister Cheng was simply stunned by Qin Huaiyuan. "You, weren't you just participating in Pang Xiao's performance? Why did you suddenly change your mind?"
Qin Huaiyuan glanced at the Minister of War and said righteously, "When I participated in his performance, he was still my enemy. Now that Your Majesty has granted him a marriage, he is my son-in-law. As his father-in-law, if I don't speak up for my son-in-law, am I supposed to wait for an outsider?"
Minister Cheng was speechless for a while.
The ministers also began to talk about it.
Seeing that Minister Cheng was not effective, the other officials of the Lu faction also stood up to participate in the performance.
At this time, the origin of Qin Huaiyuan's "Pan An the Wise" could be seen. He spoke methodically, but he could overturn all the words of participating in Pang Xiao.
Pang Xiao stood to the side, and was shocked by Qin Huaiyuan's ability to argue with the group of scholars.
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