Chapter 445: Empress Jia’s Older Brother Had Fallen Too

Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation

“The descendants of the Song family shall inherit the Marquis title. In addition, 1 observed that Song Que has shown the inherited attributes of the late Marquis Anding. From now on, Song Que will be promoted to the position of Assistant Minister in the Ministry of Appointments.”

Many people looked at Song Que enviously when they heard this decree.

Even Qin Xiaoyao turned to look at Song Que.

Well, this was just great. She had accomplished so many great things at the border before she was granted the title of Marquis Xiaoyao. Moreover, the title was not hereditary.

Yet now, her husband had earned a hereditary marquis position for the Song family.

Furthermore, he was also promoted.

It hasn’t even been three months since her husband took up an official position in court, but he has already risen several ranks. He had probably broken the record in this dynasty.

Song Que smiled at Qin Xiaoyao.

Thereafter, he bowed to the Emperor.

“Thank you, Your Majesty!” he said with a calm attitude. He did not show any joy on hearing the Emperor’s decree at all.

When the Emperor saw this, he looked at Song Que with admiration.

Previously, he didn’t know that Song Que was Song Hong’s grandson. Now that he knew all of this, he realized that in terms of bearing and aura, this person was quite similar to Song Hong.

The Emperor smiled at Song Que.

Thereafter, he also cleared the Liu family’s name and gave Liu Yun and Liu Ling some compensation.

After Liu Yun and Liu Ling thanked him, the Emperor then looked at Qin Xiaoyao.

“What does Marquis Xiaoyao think of this arrangement 1 have made?”

The decrees had already been issued, yet the Emperor only asked at this juncture.

No doubt he felt that his reward was already very appropriate. He was confident that Qin Xiaoyao would be satisfied.

Qin Xiaoyao was naturally satisfied.

She cupped her hands and bowed to the Emperor.

“Your Majesty is wise,” she said with a smile.

The Emperor also smiled.

Then, he looked at Jia Kun.

At this moment, there was no more smile on his face, only a layer of iciness.

Jia Kun subconsciously avoided the Emperor’s gaze.

“Marquis Xiaoyao, what do you mean by this? We had an agreement before!” Jia Kun looked at Qin Xiaoyao angrily.

Qin Xiaoyao’s eyes had a hint of a smile.

“What did we agree on? How come I… am not aware?” As she spoke, she looked at Song Que quizzically.

Song Que also smiled before looking at Jia Kun.

“The two of us only agreed to help Lord Jia overthrow Minister Shen.”

Jia Kun’s face turned pale.

“You…” He finally realized that he had been deceived.

Then he saw that everyone in all directions was looking at him.

Some people were angry, some were sympathetic.

Various emotions kept crisscrossing in Jia Kun’s mind.

Following that, he knelt down in front of the Emperor and Empress.

“Your official is guilty!” he uttered loudly at the Emperor before kowtowing.

“Please spare this official’s life on the Empress’s account!”

Empress Jia’s expression flickered.

The Emperor was still infuriated. He did not look at Empress Jia.

At this moment, Song Que suddenly laughed again.

“Lord Jia is indeed guilty,” he said.

Everyone was shocked.

Song Que turned around and bowed to the Emperor.

“Your Majesty, Lord Jia took bribes and perverted the law, hiring people to commit murders. Today, he still wanted to rebel. Your Majesty, please punish him!”

As soon as Song Que said that, Jia Kun’s body trembled.

Empress Jia’s eyelids also twitched.

Sure enough, even though Minister Shen did not expose the Jia family, Song Que was not prepared to let them off.

“What does Minister Song mean by this? Lord Jia might have been muddle-headed and had the brazen audacity to bring his troops into the Imperial Garden. But to say that he intended to rebel, this… is not exactly true, is it?” Empress Jia finally spoke.

She had no choice but to speak up.

Once her elder brother died, the other members of the Jia family would soon land in trouble.

The Jia family might be finished as a result.

Once the Jia family was done for, Empress Jia would probably be done for as well.

Song Que looked at Empress Jia.

He did not hide the very obvious keen sharpness in his eyes, and Empress Jia could not help but avoid his gaze.

“Your Royal Highness, although you are the younger sister of Lord Jia, you are also the Empress of our Great Jin State.

“All the officials in the court have witnessed what Lord Jia has done today.

“Isn’t it inappropriate for Your Royal Highness to lightly brush aside the matter of rebellion by saying that Lord Jia is just muddle-headed?” Song Que said loudly.

As soon as he said this, all the civil and military officials began to discuss heatedly.

Empress Jia frowned and her face turned somewhat ashen.

However, Song Que didn’t stop there.

He continued, “Besides, I was reporting to the Emperor.

“Since ancient times, the Empress and Imperial consorts have never been allowed to interfere in the matters of the Imperial Court. Has Your Royal Highness overstepped the boundary of propriety?” When he said the last sentence, the volume of Song Que’s voice had already risen several degrees.

At this moment, the place fell silent.

The Empress had a long history of interfering in the matters of the Imperial Court and even ruling the country herself.

There were many civil and military officials in the court who strongly opposed this.

However, with the Emperor’s support and Empress Jia’s powerful tactics, everyone could only hold back their anger silently.

Some people were even used to it now.

Today, in front of all the civil and military officials and the Emperor, Song Que had reprimanded Empress Jia resoundingly.

This was something that many people wanted to do but did not dare to!

When the Emperor saw this, his face also turned ashen.

Song Que reprimanded his Empress right in front of him. This guy simply had no regard for him, the Emperor, at all.

However, when he saw Qin Xiaoyao standing guard beside Song Que and the threatening gaze Qin Xiaoyao gave him, the Emperor didn’t dare to say anything.

So what if he was the ruler above all? Right now, his fate and the fates of the Empress and all the civil and military officials were in the hands of Marquis Xiaoyao.

Song Que indeed had what it took to strut his stuff today.

Before the Emperor could react, Empress Jia turned to look at the Emperor.

When she saw the Emperor’s face had turned ashen and he was not even looking at her, she was furious inwardly.

However, it was only for a moment before she suppressed her aggrieved emotions.

Suppressing the anger in her heart, Empress Jia looked at Song Que.

“It’s… it’s my fault for making inappropriate comments,” she said.

The moment she uttered these words, everyone present was flabbergasted again.

That was Empress Jia, an extremely arrogant and despotic character.

Today, she actually conceded to Song Que on her own accord.

Faced with all the court officials who were discussing animatedly, the hands in Empress Jia’s sleeves were already clenched into fists.

She told herself that she had no choice but to concede this time.

The situation here was now under Marquis Xiaoyao’s control.

Even if the Emperor wanted to protect her, he might not be able to, much less protect her older brother.

Now that Song Que was making things difficult for her older brother, there was a very strong likelihood that he already knew that the Jia family was the instigator behind Song Hong’s matter.

As long as her brother was not dead and the Jia family did not fall, Song Que would not let things rest.

As for Empress Jia herself, if she didn’t cause trouble, on account of the Emperor’s protection, perhaps she would still have a chance of survival.

She ought to be content as long as she could survive today. As long as she was still alive, there was still a chance to turn the tables.

Song Que glanced at Empress Jia and did not continue to make things difficult for her. He quickly looked away.

He continued to bow to the Emperor.

“Your official has witnesses and material evidence to prove that Lord Jia Kun has committed countless crimes. Your Majesty, please investigate!”

The Emperor frowned.

“Your Majesty! Your Majesty, he is talking nonsense! He… he is deliberately framing me!

“Your Majesty, please don’t believe him!” Jia Kun panicked and looked anxiously at the Emperor.

At this moment, he was no longer as arrogant as he was earlier. All that was left was endless terror.

How could he be so muddle-headed? He actually believed Song Que like he was bewitched.

After that, he even helped Song Que step by step and also conveniently sent himself to hell.

The Emperor looked at Jia Kun. His face was still ashen, but he did not say anything.

When Jia Kun saw this, he quickly looked at Empress Jia.

“Your Royal Highness, Your Royal Highness, save me…” He then turned to Empress Jia for help..