A few days later, Xiahou Mahuang, the Commander-in-Chief of the Western Capital and the Military Governor of Guanzhong arrived in Luoyang.
As he was recalled to Luoyang in the capacity of a 'suspect,' the imperial edict did not specify who would take over Xiahou Mahuang's duties. Xiahou Mahuang, aware of the situation, did not press further questions and instead set off directly on his journey the second day after receiving the edict.
There is a touch of decisiveness in it.
For Xiahou Mahuang, whose family is a powerful one and who is a heavyweight minister in one region, it is an absolute taboo to air family shame. If nothing serious happens, he can just resign his office and go home. Can there be any more severe punishment than execution? I have heard that even Sima Fu, who dared to contradict the emperor's orders, was promoted to a position of assistant to the riding officials. Can Xiahou Mahuang's son have less face than Sima Fu?
Xiahou Mahuang has a somewhat weak character. When his wife, the Princess Qinghe, reported him, Xiahou Mahuang simply attributed it to bad luck on his part.
Chang'an was the former capital of the Former Han Dynasty and holds a crucial position in the history of two dynasties, the Han and the Tang, for more than four hundred years. As a result, there are inns available for travelers along the official road from Chang'an to Luoyang every day.
Although Xiahou Mahuang and Princess Qinghe traveled together in the same carriage, they barely spoke to each other during the few days on the road. In the inns every day, they also didn't stay together.
In modern terms, this falls under the category of 'marital discord'. Princess Qinghe harbored resentment towards her husband due to his multiple concubines, while Xiahou Mahuang was reluctant to openly confront him out of a sense of face.
The carriage slowly entered the city of Luoyang. Xiahou Mahuang looked at Princess Qinghe, "Should we go back to the mansion first?"
Of course, Xiahou Mahuang had a mansion in Luoyang. Although he had not been in Luoyang for nearly seven years, there were still people in charge of managing and cleaning it. The arrangement and display of all the furniture and articles inside the mansion were still the same as when Xiahou Mahuang had not left Luoyang seven years ago.
Princess Qinghe gave Xiahou Mahuang a cold look and replied: "What mansion to return to? How many women are kept in your mansion in Luoyang? Why are you so eager?"
Xiahou Mahuang sighed and shook his head, and had to order the carriage to go directly to the Ministry of Punishment.
The Ministry of Punishment is a department in the court responsible for judicial affairs. Its responsibilities include revising laws and regulations, managing the Imperial Palace prison, and reviewing all cases in the country.
At that time, the Minister of Punishment of Wei was Gao Ruan, who was well-versed in legal and ethical matters.
In the Ministry of Punishment, Gao Ruan listened to Princess Qinghe's accusations against her husband with a pleasant expression. Gao Ruan even thoughtfully sent away the scribe in charge of taking notes and began recording the statements himself with a pen.
Gao Ruan said: "Princess, the matters you have accused General Anxi of, the official has recorded them truthfully. Can the princess add anything else?"
Princess Qinghe said with a face full of anger, "I've said everything that needs to be said. There's nothing else to add."
Gao Ruan turned to look at Xiahou Mahuang: "General Anxi, the princess has accused you of certain matters. Do you wish to defend yourself?"
"I accept the charges, I will admit to everything," Xiahou Mahuang sighed helplessly, and then turned to look at Princess Qinghe: "Is the princess satisfied now?"
However, Princess Qinghe did not bother to respond to her husband but instead turned to the Minister of Punishment Gao Ruan and asked, "Gao Prefect, according to the law, how should the punishment be imposed for this matter?"
Gao Ruan replied, "Princess, the matter of the General of the Western Command defaming the emperor is a first of its kind since the current emperor came to the throne. The case could be handled either leniently or severely. If it provokes the anger of the emperor, it could even result in a death sentence."
Upon hearing Gao Ruan's words, Princess Qinghe was so shocked that she temporarily lost her composure. As a woman, Princess Qinghe had originally thought that Xiahou Mahuang would at most be demoted or relieved of his position and return to Luoyang, where he would naturally be far away from the concubines he had in Chang'an.
She had no intention of killing Xiahou Mahuang at all!
Princess Qinghe, her lips trembling slightly, said, "Mr. Gao... Is this matter really so serious? Can't I withdraw my complaint? Mr. Gao, can't you show some leniency?"
Gao Ruan replied sternly, "The laws of the country are strict, and cannot be tolerated. Both of you are high-ranking aristocrats, yet how can you not understand the facts?"
"I have recorded all the contents as instructed, and they will be submitted to His Majesty for review. Princess, General, you may depart now."
Upon seeing his wife crying with her mouth covered, Xiahou Mahuang quickly pulled Princess Qinghe out of the Ministry of Punishment.
In terms of military command and tactics, Xiahou Mahuang was merely of average talent. As early as when Cao Pi used him to guard Chang'an, he had made it clear to Xiahou Mahuang that the reason he was using him was to have him watch over the garrison and the various generals stationed in Chang'an.
As for leading troops in battle, there was no need for Xiahou Mahuang to take on that role. During the rebellion of the Qiang people in the second year of the Huangchu era, Cao Zhen went to Yong and Liang, leading Generals Zhang He, Guo Hui, and Yang Qiu to quell the rebellion.
At that time, Xiahou Mahuang was still sitting in the city of Chang'an.
Xiahou Mahuang knew that he was of average ability, and his position as the Military Governor of Guanzhong was largely due to his close relationship with the late emperor. However, Xiahou Mahuang also understood that while a person could be mediocre, they should not be ignorant.
Xiahou Mahuang had been in Chang'an for many years, and had always kept a close eye on the affairs of state. Xiahou Mahuang naturally knew that the court and the Ministry of Punishment no longer paid much attention to matters of reporting defamation. In fact, sometimes they would even punish those who reported or denounced others.
But why bother telling his wife about it? Let her vent her anger. Once a king, always a new minister. He has no personal ties with the current emperor, and it's about time to return to Luoyang.
At this moment, Gao Ruan, the Minister of Punishment, was writing a report to the emperor regarding this matter.
In the document, Gao Ruan recorded the details of what both individuals said in a clear and precise manner, and also transcribed their conversation with him word for word.
At the end of the document, Gao Ruan also included his own thoughts. Gao Ruan believed that while Princess Qinghe accused her husband of defamation, she could not provide specific examples of how he had defamed the emperor.
Combining Xiahou Mahuang's willingness to admit guilt, along with the fact that both were high-ranking members of the imperial family, Gao Ruan judged that this was a result of household disagreements between the two. He suggested that the emperor reprimand both of them.
On the same afternoon, Cao Rui received a report from Gao Ruan, the Minister of Punishment, in his study.
The one presenting the confidential document today was Liu Fang, the Master of the Board.
Cao Rui, while reading Gao Ruan's report, sighed and said, "The Minister of Punishment is indeed well-versed in matters of justice. Where did Xiahou Mahuang get the nerve to defamed the emperor?"
"One is my own aunt, and the other is her husband, a high-ranking official who governs a region. How can I punish them?"
Cao Rui looked at Liu Fang and said, "I'm not very familiar with Princess Qinghe. Can you tell me more about her?"
Liu Fang spoke slowly: "This is the matter of the imperial family, and the subject is beyond my comprehension. However, according to the report from the Inspectorate of Camps and Markets, Princess Qinghe has shown signs of dissatisfaction with her marriage recently and has expressed some grievances."
Cao Rui realized that there had been long-standing grievances between the two, which had only recently come to a head. He did not pursue the matter further, instead turning his attention to the Minister of Punishment, Gao Ruan.
Cao Rui asked, "How long has Gao Ruan been serving as the Minister of Punishment?"
Liu Fang, after some thought, replied, "The Minister of Punishment, Gao Ruan, has held the position since the fourth year of Huangchu. That makes it more than three years."
Cao Rui said, "More than three years? I remember that the previous Minister of Punishment was Zhong Taiwei, right?"
Liu Fang nodded, "Yes, it was Zhong Taiwei. Before he was promoted to the position of Minister of Punishment, Gao Ruan was in charge of handling doubtful cases as a supervisor of the Revenue Service."
Cao Rui thought for a moment and then said, "I find Gao Ruan's handling of affairs to be appropriate. Have there been any difficult cases that he has handled before this?"
