I Can Hear Your Voice 03

Guo Hongru said respectfully, "I thank Your Majesty on behalf of the people of the Northwest!"

The courtiers echoed their agreement one after another.

That inner voice rang out inappropriately: "A bunch of idiots, all they know is how to kiss up! Reduce by thirty percent? Only thirty percent? It's simply..."

Fang Zhiyi felt a bit annoyed. Why was this Xu Jiao like a fly—neither biting nor stinging, just purely disgusting?

Unexpectedly, after just a few breaths, the Crown Prince, Fang Jingqi, suddenly stepped forward and bowed first: "Imperial Father, I have a memorial to present..."

"The handsome Crown Prince is speaking! My happiest moment every day is watching Big Brother Crown Prince speak! He's too handsome!"

The Crown Prince choked on this sudden flattery. His ears unconsciously turned red again, and he instantly forgot what he was going to say.

Fang Zhiyi frowned slightly. "If you have something to say, say it. Are you still half asleep?"

Startled by this remark, the Crown Prince hurriedly said, "I wish to impeach Lord Guo, the Attendant of the Yellow Gates. As a rank-three official, his conduct is improper, and he frequently visits the brothels..."

As soon as his voice fell, Xu Jiao's noisy inner voice began.

"That's it! Good job, Big Brother Crown Prince! That's exactly how to do it! As expected of Big Brother Crown Prince, to even know about this kind of thing! I've long found that guy surnamed Guo an eyesore. Later on, he's even going to screw my dad over..."

"You're spouting non..." Guo Hongru opened his mouth to lash out, but abruptly stopped himself. The Emperor couldn't hear it anyway, so how could he defend himself? By saying someone was slandering him with their inner voice? Besides, those things couldn't exactly be considered slander... But what official didn't go out for a little entertainment?

Following the Crown Prince's words, several of his subordinate officials stepped forward. They were originally part of the Crown Prince's faction and also served as Investigating Censors.

"I also impeach Lord Guo! As a high-ranking official of the imperial court, such actions damage the court's dignity!"

"I second the motion!"

Fang Zhiyi quietly glanced at the triumphant Xu Jiao. Although she was very stupid, she was very happy right now. He then glanced at Xu Yuanzhi, noticing a look of unease in his eyes.

"Hmm... I remember that you, Crown Prince, stay in the Eastern Palace every night, correct?"

The Crown Prince was taken aback and nodded. "Yes, Imperial Father."

Fang Zhiyi smiled. "Then tell me, since you live in the Eastern Palace, how did you find out about Guo Hongru visiting brothels? Could it be that you went as well?"

The imperial court fell silent. The Crown Prince was so agitated that he became incoherent: "No, no, I have never gone out. It was all..."

Fang Zhiyi remembered that in the original plot, the Emperor didn't look into it too deeply. He only pressed for answers a couple of times before Guo Hongru confessed on his own and was subsequently fined half a year's salary.

"This Emperor is too unreasonable! How can he treat my Big Brother Crown Prince like this!"

As soon as this inner voice came out, many people were instantly stunned. Your Big Brother Crown Prince? Little girl, do you have a death wish? The Crown Prince belongs to the imperial family! But realizing that this was Xu Jiao's inner voice, they all felt somewhat helpless. Especially those who had grudges against the Xu family, they looked as if they had eaten a giant piece of crap—unable to swallow it down or spit it out, feeling incredibly uncomfortable.

Fang Zhiyi looked at the anxious Crown Prince and spoke up before he could open his mouth again: "Or could it be that you have organized your own secret spies? Is that how you are able to know the news from the red-light districts?"

The Crown Prince was dumbfounded. No matter how foolish he was, he knew that this charge was much more severe than visiting brothels. As the Crown Prince, privately organizing secret spies—wasn't that asking for death?

He immediately fell to his knees. "May Imperial Father see clearly! I did not..." He actually wanted to mention hearing the inner voice, but how could his Imperial Father ever believe such a bizarre thing!

Fang Zhiyi stood up. "You are merely the Crown Prince, yet you dare to surveil high-ranking officials of the court?"

The Crown Prince was scared silly. He hadn't expected that by simply following Xu Jiao's inner voice to impeach Guo Hongru, his Imperial Father's counter-questions would become increasingly perilous!

But at this moment, he truly didn't know how to explain himself. Meanwhile, Guo Hongru felt somewhat awkward. He kept looking back and forth between the Crown Prince and the Emperor, unsure if this matter still involved him.

"You incompetent ruler! I'm so mad! You ignore the guy surnamed Guo messing around, so why are you making things difficult for Big Brother Crown Prince!"

Hearing this inner voice, Fang Zhiyi smiled slightly. His goal was achieved.

At this time, Xu Jiao did not notice that the way some officials were secretly looking at her had changed. Even though it was only her inner voice, it represented her true thoughts! Some people even began to wonder: could this be the stance of the Xu family?

Meanwhile, Xu Yuanzhi's face turned deathly pale. Even if beaten to death, he would never have imagined that his daughter would be so bold as to curse the Emperor in her heart!

However, it seemed there was nothing wrong with just cursing in one's heart.

Several censors from the Crown Prince's faction wanted to take the blame, but Fang Zhiyi waved them off: "I am questioning the Crown Prince right now. Do you think I am not worthy to question my own son?"

Even the censors did not dare to reply.

In the end, the Crown Prince could only tremblingly admit that he had sneaked out. He truly couldn't think of any other way.

"You are grounded for a month. Think carefully about what you should be doing." Fang Zhiyi stood up to leave, and the eunuch behind him loudly announced the end of the court session.

It wasn't until he left that Fang Zhiyi's ears finally found peace. That Xu Jiao was truly a boy-crazy idiot with a blabbering mouth.

"You did that just to make her curse you? What's the point?" Little Hei was puzzled.

Fang Zhiyi explained, "In the original plot, the Emperor still somewhat cared about his son's pride and never punished him too severely, so this boy-crazy idiot never cursed the Emperor. Even if she did, it would have been much later, right?"

"But it's different now. If she dares to curse me in her heart, what will the civil and military officials think? An inner voice? Even if it's an inner voice, it's one that so many people can hear at the same time! If nothing unexpected happens, at least a group of veteran officials are already dissatisfied with the Xu family."

Little Hei was utterly confused by this explanation but still nodded. "As expected of someone who has been an emperor."

"Thanks for the compliment."

Turning his head, Fang Zhiyi ordered, "Summon Guo Hongru to see me."

When Guo Hongru hurried over, Fang Zhiyi was eating. Not daring to disturb him, Guo Hongru could only stand to the side with his head bowed and wait. It wasn't until Fang Zhiyi had eaten his fill that he slowly looked up at him: "Oh, isn't this Lord Guo?"

"Your Majesty, I know my guilt!" Guo Hongru's legs gave out and he dropped straight to his knees. He knew this matter wouldn't be over so easily.

Fang Zhiyi rolled his eyes at him. What kind of useless thing was this? To think he was actually a rank-three official. Just one word and he confessed everything. If it weren't for the fact that in the original plot he stood by the original host until his death, his dog head would have been hung on the city gates long ago.

"A rank-three official should act like a rank-three official, right?"

Guo Hongru nodded repeatedly.

"However, I will give you a chance to make amends."

Guo Hongru hurriedly looked up.

"Last night, I dreamt of a crow. The crow opened its mouth and spoke, saying that the situation in the three northwestern provinces might not be too good. Now, I want you to keep a close eye on the situation in the Northwest at all times. It's best if you make preparations in advance. If anything goes wrong... you know what will happen."