Quick Transmigration: Underdog Turns out to be Untouchable

Chapter 1222: Chapter 1132: The Female Chancellor 70

When Xu Qingjing heard the conversation between the two people, he keenly sensed there was something fishy about it. The Imperial Censors often gather information from the streets, which is then verified through investigation before proceeding with impeachment.

The local efforts to eliminate bandits are usually non-disruptive to the public. This so-called bandit eradication actually seems like a search of passing merchant caravans. It sounds more like searching for someone rather than eliminating bandits.

The key issue is that while local efforts to eliminate bandits do not require reporting, such a grand scale operation to find someone can only be undertaken following an order from the court. The local government has no authority to cause such a commotion.

Xu Qingjing, as an Imperial Censor, is well-informed, but he had never heard of the court ordering a search for anyone below.

In an instant, various conspiracies flashed through Xu Qingjing’s mind. He instinctively held his breath and continued to listen to the people talking in the adjacent room.

The conversation in the neighboring room continued. After Brother Fang complained, the person who had spoken before slightly lowered his voice and said mysteriously, ”Brother Fang may not know, but this is actually a Noble in the Capital City avenging personal grievances using official resources.”

”A Noble avenging personal grievances in the Capital City? Which Noble can cause such a stir? Is your information reliable? Isn’t it just some groundless speculation?” Brother Fang’s tone was filled with disbelief.

The person speaking previously became impatient, raising his formerly lowered voice slightly, ”You know me, when have I ever passed on groundless speculation?”

With that, the person lowered his voice again, ”You know, my brother-in-law works under a County Magistrate named Fang Yong, who is a close confidant of this magistrate. He told me about this matter.

It’s said that the Noble is the Fifth Prince from the Capital City, and he ordered people to use the pretense of eliminating bandits to capture and kill an enemy.

This enemy of the Fifth Prince is also a big figure, it’s the unlucky former Prime Minister Wang Zhongxuan. The reason supposedly is a past remark from Wang Zhongxuan that ruined the Fifth Prince’s prospects, causing the Fifth Prince to hold a grudge until now.

Originally, Wang Zhongxuan was the Prime Minister, and the Fifth Prince couldn’t do anything to him. Now that Wang Zhongxuan has fallen from grace, comparing unfavorably to commoners, the Fifth Prince is eagerly seeking revenge.”

The people in the room then said a couple more sentences before starting to talk about business matters, which Xu Qingjing could no longer pay attention to. His mind was filled with excitement at having captured the Fifth Prince’s weakness.

Xu Qingjing and the Fifth Prince indeed had a personal vendetta. Xu Qingjing had a sister who fell ill after saving Xu Qingjing from falling into icy water in the middle of winter, leaving her unable to bear children.

In this era, a woman’s inability to bear children is seen as her original sin. A woman who cannot conceive is not likely to be married as a main wife; she can only be a secondary wife from a respectable literary family.

Xu Qingjing’s parents doted on their daughter, and Xu himself had deep feelings for his sister. The family thought hard; since the daughter/sister could only be a concubine, it would be best if she could become a concubine with a status that would prevent others from daring to gossip.

And no identity is higher for a concubine than that of the Imperial Family.

The Empress’s harem was out of the question; the palace intrigues there were cruel, and they couldn’t bear to let their girl suffer such hardship.

Ambitious princes were also ruled out because these princes all aspired to contest for the throne, with their own safety constantly at risk.

If successful and they ascended to become Emperor, the daughter could not become Empress, and not even achieving the status of a High-ranking Concubine due to her inability to conceive, she would still have to contend with palace intrigues. If unsuccessful, the daughter would suffer even more.

Thus, Xu Qingjing and his father selected the Fifth Prince, who had an excellent reputation outside and remained low-key in court, never becoming involved in princely disputes.

Because the Fifth Prince was not favored, the daughter/sister came from a distinguished family of good standing, allowing her to take a high position as a concubine.

This way, the daughter would be the highest below the Princess, ensuring her future life would not be harassed by ordinary concubines. As long as she maintained a good relationship with the Princess, she would live safely for a lifetime.

Xu Qingjing and his parents thought too well of their prospects, believing their daughter was kind-hearted and considerate, presenting no threat due to her infertility.

Those who could become the main wives of the princes had undergone special training, who, even if not genuinely tolerant, had to be outwardly magnanimous. Therefore, they should ally with instead of being inimical to a non-threatening concubine.

Xu Qingjing and his father thought they had chosen a good match for their daughter/sister, not realizing they had pushed her into a fiery pit.

This Fifth Prince’s ambitions lay hidden, scheming to secure his position, he arranged to marry a main wife from a family of great standing.

This main wife was deeply beloved by her parents, and the Fifth Prince valued this aspect, believing the doting father would exert effort for him.

The main wife’s parents never intended to marry their daughter into a high-ranking family, only wishing to support her throughout her lifetime.

Yet, the Fifth Prince orchestrated a fateful encounter at a temple fair, forging ties with the maid, leading to conflict with her parents and ultimately, she successfully married the Fifth Prince.

Having never had plans for their daughter to marry a prince, who only sought her own happiness, they naturally didn’t raise her to behave as a prince’s main wife, not possessing the expected generosity and tolerance.

Once married, this main wife discovered the Fifth Prince had many concubines, including one placed above all others, and erupted, employing all manner of harsh tactics, causing great misfortune to many of the concubines and secondary wives of the Fifth Prince, who suffered dire consequences.

This main wife especially disliked Xu Qingjing’s sister, perceiving her high status, beauty, and gentle demeanor as deliberate seduction. She casually found an excuse and secretly had her beaten to death behind the Fifth Prince’s back.

For the sake of the main wife’s family standing, the Fifth Prince, though displeased, worked diligently to cover up everything for the main wife.

The sudden death of the daughter/sister could not be settled peacefully by the Xu Qingjing family, but the Fifth Prince, being a prince, could not be easily confronted by Xu Qingjing.

Xu Qingjing was patient, concealing his hatred, outwardly accepting the Fifth Prince’s assertion that his sister had slipped and drowned, secretly investigating, confirming that his sister was beaten to death, and quietly mourning alone.

Since then, Xu Qingjing had not for a moment stopped wishing to ruin the Fifth Prince to avenge his sister.

Unfortunately, the Fifth Prince was careful, and for years, Xu Qingjing was unable to catch any weaknesses of the Fifth Prince, can only watch him live freely.

Originally, Xu Qingjing was somewhat despairing until suddenly, the Fifth Prince’s weakness was unexpectedly handed to him, as if heaven showed mercy by giving him the chance for vengeance.