Chapter 169 A Reprimand

He immediately knelt down and recited the words he had prepared in his mind.

"So it turns out that Father Emperor did not agree to my request because Father Emperor had already issued an edict to reward the Zhao family."

Qi Jun felt a slight sense of relief and took the initiative to grind ink for the emperor.

"If you had come an hour earlier, this grace would have been yours to ask for."

The emperor looked up, admired the large characters he had written, and said leisurely:

"You and that girl really think alike; even the methods you proposed to me are remarkably similar."

Qi Jun flicked his wrist slightly, and the ink stick made a smooth, even sound as the ink deepened, just like the dark color in his eyes.

"It is the Emperor's wisdom that matters. Even if my cousin Yuxuan and I were not here, the Emperor has always been fair in his rewards and punishments. After the Zou family incident, he will surely bestow a favor upon the Zhao family."

"How did you know I was talking about Qi Yuxuan?" the emperor asked, putting down his pen.

Qi Jun lowered his eyes:

"Initially, it was she who persuaded the Zhao family to contribute money and effort. Now that the situation has calmed down and she has been granted the title of Princess of the Royal Family, she naturally needs to appease the Zhao family in order to maintain the reputation of the court."

"You seem to know quite a lot about that girl."

The emperor waved his hand, and Qi Jun immediately understood, personally laying out new Chengxin paper.

"Now that she has your aunt's backing, she needs the royal family's help. I can grant the Zhao family's favor, but only if she continues to serve the royal family. Jun'er, do you understand what I mean?"

It is said that the royal family is ruthless and heartless. Even though Qi Yuxuan has made many contributions, the emperor can only think of her as a useful person, but cannot feel much unconditional pity for her.

This is a principle that not only Qi Jun understands, but Qi Yuxuan certainly understands as well.

"Father, rest assured, I believe she understands everything."

"He's naturally gifted... If You'er could grow up healthy, he might just be the one to shine this time..."

The emperor let out a soft sigh.

During this epidemic, many of the solutions were obtained by Qi Yuxuan "consulting" the Seventh Prince, which inspired her and prevented many people from getting infected. Few people in the palace knew about this, but it did not escape the Emperor's notice.

The emperor's tenderness lasted only a second before vanishing. His face darkened, and he wrote a large character on the paper, speaking slowly:

"The Qilin Guards are in your hands, not for you to use as a sledgehammer to crack a nut, to arrest an ignorant woman who can't even kill a chicken."

Qi Jun stopped grinding the ink and knelt down again:

"It was my recklessness."

The imperial study fell silent for a moment, with only the rustling sound of the emperor's pen moving across the paper behind the desk.

It's unclear how much time passed, but Qi Jun remained kneeling with his head bowed, motionless. Only then did the emperor seem to notice him, and with a wave of his hand, he said:

"Enough. You're just a young man full of youthful vigor. When you see injustice, how can you pretend to be deaf and dumb? You're still so young. I shouldn't be so harsh on you."

Qi Jun remained kneeling, his voice tinged with regret and guilt, yet also carrying a hidden affection for his child, as he said:

“Your Majesty was brave and wise even in your youth, far surpassing me. This matter was due to my lack of consideration. It is my good fortune to receive your guidance.”

"Haha—what are you still kneeling for? Get up quickly, my ink is all used up."

The emperor suddenly became very pleased. Although the eunuchs in the study did not understand why, they were happy because His Majesty was happy, so they also smiled.

"Yes, it is an honor for your son to grind ink for Father Emperor."

Although Qi Jun stood up, his back was still slightly hunched, like a small animal between youth and maturity, exuding an emotion of wanting to explore yet feeling very uneasy.

"Alright, I was just giving you a couple of pointers. Just be more careful in the future. It's nothing serious."

"Your subject is filled with trepidation."

The emperor's hearty laughter echoed from the imperial study once more.

This morning at court, Minister Tao and a group of censors jointly remonstrated, demanding that the Crown Prince's temporary authority over the Qilin Guard be revoked and that the Emperor himself take charge.

The reason is simple: the crown prince is still young and has not yet come of age, while the emperor is in his prime. The Qilin Guard can investigate all matters under heaven, and in special circumstances, they can act first and report later, so their power is too great.

And... his dispatch of the Qilin Guard to arrest Gu Linyan for the Princess's residence.

The emperor, unusually, did not immediately reject the matter, but instead postponed it for further discussion.

Whether out of fear of the soon-to-be-grown crown prince or to use the remonstrance to put pressure on the crown prince's power, the emperor's attitude was unclear.

After the morning court session ended, many court officials who had secretly pledged allegiance to the Crown Prince sent letters to the palace, hoping to have a conversation with the Crown Prince.

Even before the court session ended, Qi Jun had already hesitated about whether he should personally go to the emperor to ask for a reward for the Zhao family.

His retainers all suggested that he lay low for the time being, at least to stabilize the Qilin Guard under his command, before discussing anything else.

But he didn't think so.

Everyone is subject to birth, aging, sickness, and death, and so are kings. While avoiding the question may bring temporary peace, as long as the thorn remains, it will eventually fester into an even more intractable festering sore.

At that time, regardless of whether he used the Qilin Guard to harm the emperor, he would not escape his fate.

Therefore, he chose to further emphasize his image as someone who was still young and impetuous, unable to stand on his own, and in need of his father's guidance, in order to dispel the emperor's concerns.

The father and son of the Tian family had to think carefully and be extremely cautious about every word they said and every expression they made.

When I came out of the Imperial Study, it was already dark outside.

Grinding ink is a minor skill for serving others, but he once practiced by lamplight until dawn, just for this moment, so that he could receive the emperor's praise: "The ink is good."

The emperor's suspicions have been dispelled, and the rest will proceed naturally.

Qi Jun rubbed his wrist expressionlessly as he walked towards the East Palace, listening to Sun Miao quietly recount the reports from his spies outside.

"The princess went to the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion again, but on her way out, she was startled by a little beggar who was running around her."

Upon hearing Sun Miao's words, Qi Jun's subordinate paused slightly, frowned, and asked:

"Was she injured? Who ordered this?"

Seeing the anxiety in the Crown Prince's voice, Sun Miao quickly replied:

"No, no, it's just that a purse that the princess was wearing was stolen. The princess said that the item was not valuable and wanted to let it go."

"As for who ordered it... we haven't found out yet."

Qi Jun nodded, his brow remaining tightly furrowed.

“I remember that day at the temple fair, she was also bumped into by a pickpocket, who unintentionally startled my aunt’s carriage…”

Where is that purse that was thrown into my aunt's carriage now?

Sun Miao was taken aback, hesitated for a long while, and then replied:

"Your Highness, this servant does not know. Perhaps the Princess has already sent someone to collect it? This matter happened so long ago that this servant would not even remember it if you did not mention it."

He was somewhat troubled; the Crown Prince's train of thought was jumping around too fast, and he couldn't keep up.

Could it be that today's beggar and that day's pickpocket are the same person?

This is absurd. Who would hit someone twice just to steal a purse?

Unless there's something important in that purse, but that shouldn't be the case.

Sun Miao was completely baffled, but the Crown Prince's expression grew increasingly resolute.

"By my decree, the Qilin Guards are to investigate that beggar with all their might."