Chapter 279 The Way of the Ruler and His Minister

Yun Zhao carefully carried the items through the proper channels and happily returned home.

Sitting in the center of the main hall, a large group of people surrounded Yun Zhao, this little dumpling.

Jishetang delivered the herbal medicine, which she gulped down and then bent down to take out the purse from her waist.

The purse was embroidered with a chubby baby, who looked a lot like Yun Zhao eating dried fruit. He was so cute and adorable.

"Where did this dried fruit come from?"

Zhuge Yue was a little curious, wondering why she had never seen her before.

Lu Xun glanced down and his brow twitched.

Isn't this dried fruit from the clouds?

How could she have that? Could it be that she's already met the young master?

"Brother Jun from Tingyu Pavilion gave this to me~ Uncle Lu, would you like some? I think it's dried fruit from the clouds!"

She held up her purse and handed it to Lu Xun.

Lu Xun was startled and subconsciously looked at Yun Zhao.

Did she find out who he was?

But her eyes were clear, showing no sign of testing.

I guess I just really wanted him to try it.

Lu Xun thought so.

"No, I don't like dried fruit. Let Miss Ge try it."

He refused without batting an eye.

"Oh, okay~ Then, Sister Yue, would you like to give it a try?"

Yun Zhao then handed it to Zhuge Yue.

Zhuge Yue was also alarmed.

Dried fruit in the clouds?

She hadn't eaten it in a long time either.

"Zhaozhao is referring to Tingyu Pavilion?"

Isn't that the biggest shop in the clouds?

"Yes! By the way, I'd like to do business with them! I wonder if the Hu family has enough money."

Yun Zhao lowered his head in distress, then looked up at Lu Xun expectantly.

"Uncle Lu, what do you think? Will they think I don't have enough money?"

"Cough cough cough!"

Lu Xun choked on his own saliva.

Yun Zhao could barely suppress his laughter, looking completely innocent as he tried to hold it in.

"Uncle Lu, what's wrong?"

"It's nothing, maybe I just haven't been getting enough sleep."

Lu Xun made excuses.

Little brat, trying to act tough with me~

Yun Zhao chuckled to himself, lowered his head to tighten the purse, and re-tied it back onto his belt.

"Lord Yun, what are your plans for the city in the future?"

Grandpa Bai spoke up at the right moment, bringing the conversation back from the dried fruit.

"What are your opinions, Old Master Bai?"

Yun Zhao kicked the ball back.

"this……"

Old Master Bai looked at Lie Haochuan, the head of the Lie family, with a troubled expression.

"Lord Yun, I am old and perhaps I am a bit cautious in thinking about some things."

You are currently in exile and it is not convenient for you to stay in Fengyun City for a long time.

It's even more inappropriate to reveal your real name. Have you considered coming up with a pseudonym or nickname?

"Should we find someone to manage the affairs of Fengyun City, someone who comes by occasionally?"

Old Master Bai was indeed very cautious in his thinking.

The name Yun Zhao refers to an exiled criminal in official documents.

Logically speaking, one should not leave Liang Town without being summoned.

But Yun Zhao is doing well.

Not only did he leave Liang Town, but he also killed the head of the Hu family and became the lord of Fengyun City.

If this gets back to the imperial court, the entire Fengyun City will suffer.

"Then let's name him Su Xun, and change the Yun (cloud) character flag to the Taotie (gluttonous beast) flag!"

Yun Zhao waved his hand dismissively, saying, "What's the big deal?"

Her name in her previous life when she roamed the martial arts world was Su Xun!

"The Taotie Flag?"

This left even Old Master Bai bewildered.

"That's right, a gluttonous beast, embracing all things, eat as much as you want!"

Taotie is an ancient ferocious beast. With this beast guarding Fengyun City, who dares to invade!

Grandpa Bai suddenly realized.

"Lord Yun truly has discerning eyes!"

Yun Zhao nodded with a grin.

Whether she's wise or not, I don't know, but the emperor is blind.

Meanwhile, the blind emperor was in the imperial study, enduring the wrath of his teacher.

"Your Majesty has truly grown up."

The current Grand Tutor, Yan Shuqin, sat before the emperor, looking at him with a cold smile.

Yan Shuqin was the late emperor's study companion and was practically a godfather figure to the Yun Qi brothers.

Faced with Yan Shuqin, the young emperor dared not speak out against his anger.

"Teacher, Yunxuan is my younger brother. If it weren't for the current public outcry, why would I not protect him?"

Yun Qi smiled wryly.

To everyone's surprise, Yan Shuqin burst out laughing.

"Your Majesty, we both know perfectly well what really happened."

I have returned from my inspection tour, and this is my memorial. Would Your Majesty like to take a look?

Are any of His Majesty's men inside? Or take a look at these people.

Should we protect them? Otherwise, I will deal with them all according to the law.

Yan Shuqin has always been strict, but he knows when to advance and when to retreat.

This is why Yun Qi never intended to harm him.

But his current attitude infuriated Yun Qi.

"What, Your Majesty? Are you thinking about how to deal with me? I have nothing in my pocket,"

Even if Your Majesty confiscates my property, you won't find any problems.

Or does Your Majesty intend to punish me on the grounds of insubordination?

"Teacher, why do you say that? I have always been respectful to you."

"Could it be that the teacher will hold a grudge against me because I punished my younger brother?"

Yun Qi's tone had shifted from "I" to "I, the Emperor" in his speech.

He was reminding the Grand Tutor.

Even if we are as close as father and son, our relationship is still that of ruler and subject.

Yan Shuqin completely lost faith in the young emperor before him.

No one knew better than the emperor before him what kind of person the Prince of Jin was.

Yan Shuqin didn't understand why he was targeting the Prince of Jin.

That's his own twin brother!

Yan Shuqin took a deep breath, stood up, and straightened his robes.

He then presented the report with both hands and knelt down respectfully.

"Your Majesty, I have overstepped my bounds. This is a report I have submitted on behalf of Your Majesty, based on your inspection of various regions. Please take a look!"

Seeing his obedient manner, Yun Qi felt uneasy.

Why do they all trust the Prince of Jin so much?

Was he wrong?

Which emperor was not suspicious?

Could it be because of his identity?

No! They would never know that he was the emperor of the Great Zhou!

It's innate!

"I will see it. Teacher, you must be tired from your journey back. Please stay for dinner in the palace tonight."

Only then did the chief eunuch beside the emperor dare to step forward and take Yan Shuqin's memorial back to the emperor.

"Thank you, Your Majesty, but I am old and frail..."

"Teacher, I have some questions I would like to ask you."

Before Yan Shuqin could finish speaking, Yun Qi interrupted him.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Yan Shuqin bows.

With this bow, their master-disciple relationship came to an end.

Empress Qi Ling accompanied the guests at dinner.

There was no longer any warmth between master and disciple at the banquet; all that remained was the cold interaction between ruler and subject.

"Teacher, would you like to try this refreshing winter melon soup today? Ling'er made it for you herself when she knew you were coming back!"

Qi Ling gestured to the head palace maid to ladle a bowl of cooling soup for Yan Shuqin.

Although Grand Tutor Yan hadn't taught her for many days, she had been a princess's study companion and had grown up with two princes.

From a young age, she, along with the princes and princesses, called him their teacher.

Yan Shuqin was never too harsh on this gentle and skillful empress.

They weren't particularly close, though.

"Thank you for your trouble, Your Majesty."

Qi Ling didn't mind Yan Shuqin's aloofness; she simply smiled and nodded slightly.

After a few rounds of drinks, Yun Qi finally got to the point.

"It seems the teacher has been staying on the coast for quite some time?"

Yan Shuqin knew that His Majesty was concerned about whether he had done something in Jiangnan.

"Please rest assured, Your Majesty, I am staying on the coast for matters concerning maritime trade."

"oh?"

Yun Qi put down his wine glass, looking eager to hear more.