I Write Unofficial History in the Court - Chapter 3

Chapter 3

The next day, the Vice Minister attended morning court.

He secretly slipped Unofficial History to a friend of his at court. “I’ve got something incredible for you to read.”

That friend happened to be a Censor-the sort who spoke up for justice without fear.

One moment, he had his arm around the Vice Minister’s shoulders, taking Unofficial History from him to read. The next, he stepped forward with his tablet in hand. “This subject wishes to impeach the Prince Regent! The Prince Regent murdered the sovereign! He even threw the Historiographer, who recorded the facts as they were, into prison! His heart deserves condemnation!”

Seated in the court hall were the bewildered Child Emperor and the Empress Dowager behind the curtain.

The Child Emperor did not understand a word and was still nibbling on a pastry.

The Empress Dowager’s expression shifted slightly. “How dare you! How dare you speak of the Prince Regent that way!”

As for the Prince Regent, he looked at the Censor with a smile that did not reach his eyes. “Since you are so good with words, how about I send you to prison as well so you can keep the Historiographer company?”

The Censor said, “Since ancient times, Censors cannot be executed, and Historiographers must not be executed. Prince Regent, you may have dared to murder the sovereign, but you dare not kill us! But let me tell you this: even if you do not kill us, you will still be reviled!”

The Prince Regent lowered his eyes slightly.

His fingers lightly twisted the sword tassel at his side. Having brought a sword into the palace hall, he seemed to be considering something.

If he offended the Censors, his reputation in court would be ruined.

If he offended the Historiographers, his reputation for all ages to come would be ruined.

He had murdered the sovereign because the late emperor had been muddleheaded, so the late emperor’s reputation had already been ruined first.

But if he, the man who had set things right, ended up with a reputation even worse than that muddleheaded late emperor…

He could not accept that!

So the Prince Regent spoke again. “Both you and the Historiographer have judged this prince unfairly. This prince is not a bloodthirsty man. You should not speak of this prince in such a manner!”

The Historiographer gave a cold snort, his disdain obvious.

The Prince Regent was anxious to prove himself.

But he was also petty and unwilling to restore my father, who had offended him, to his post.

So the Prince Regent asked, “I have heard the Historiographer has a young daughter at home?”

Someone answered, “Replying to the Prince Regent, the Historiographer does indeed have a young daughter at home. She knows a few characters, but she cannot compare to her father or brothers. She is rather timid.”

The Prince Regent’s eyes lit up.

Timid? Wonderful!

Wouldn’t she write whatever he told her to write after he scared her a little?

He could not deal with those stubborn old fossils, but handling one little girl-their daughter-would be more than easy enough!

Thus, the Prince Regent declared with righteous conviction, “In the Han dynasty, Ban Biao compiled history. After his death, his son Ban Gu carried on his ambition and continued the work.”

“He also had a daughter, Ban Zhao, who took part in compiling the Book of Han.”

“In my view, the Historiographer and the Historiographer’s son of this dynasty are nothing special, but perhaps that young daughter of his has inherited something of Ban Zhao’s legacy.”