Chapter 232 Why Not Help Him

Wenren Yuebai was sitting in a wheelchair and was pushed in front of Emperor Liang.

"Your servant Wenren Yuebai, paying your respects to--" Wenren Yuebai struggled to get up, but Emperor Liang spoke indifferently, telling him not to be polite.

Yan Xiuyun was also in the Ziyun Palace at this time, assisting Emperor Liang in dealing with memorials from court officials.

He stood very close to Wenren Yuebai, but did not offer his support. Instead, the eunuch in charge helped Wenren Yuebai sit down again.

"Is your old illness better?" Emperor Liang spoke then, but did not ask about his imperial examination.

Wenren Yuebai showed a bitter smile on his pale face, but his eyes were clear, "Your Majesty, I am feeling a little better now, but I am a little afraid of the cold."

The air in Ziyun Palace was quiet for a moment, and Wenren Yuebai finally couldn't help it, with a guilty look on his face.

"I failed in the Spring Examination and brought disgrace upon Your Majesty. I deserve death. Please, Your Majesty, punish me."

A man who was honored as "the best in the capital" only got a place on the palace list in the spring examination. The news spread throughout the capital in less than half a day. The people did not dare to say it openly, but they all wanted to watch the royal family have fun.

"Forget it. I know your old illness relapsed in the Imperial Examination Hall. It was not easy for you to hold on until you finished answering the questions.

Don't worry, I will order people to add more charcoal during the palace examination."

The favoritism in his words was so strong that even Yan Xiuyun couldn't help but glance sideways.

Afterwards, Emperor Liang asked some more questions about the left prime minister's health, and Wenren Yuebai answered them one by one.

"It is the season of change now. I have sent some supplements to the Prime Minister's residence. Well, the Qionglin Banquet is about to begin. You should go down early to prepare."

Emperor Liang ordered the eunuch in charge to personally escort Wenren Yuebai back to the prime minister's residence.

After Wenren Yuebai left, Yan Xiuyun continued to talk to Emperor Liang about the memorial.

"Father, there is a famine in Qingzhou and silver is urgently needed for disaster relief. I think the 100,000 taels saved from the military pay of the King of Zhenbei can be put to good use. I am willing to recommend..."

Yan Xiuyun said this, but when he saw Emperor Liang's expression, he swallowed the rest of his words.

Emperor Liang leaned back in his chair, his hands folded, staring at him without blinking, even with a hint of inquiry in his eyes.

"...Father?" Yan Xiuyun called out tentatively. He didn't know what Emperor Liang was thinking, but he knew that the look in his eyes definitely showed that he was not listening to what he said about the famine.

"Just now he wanted to stand up and kowtow to me. You knew that he couldn't walk because of his leg problems, so why didn't you go forward and support him?"

Emperor Liang asked, narrowing his eyes slightly.

Yan Xiuyun was stunned for a moment, then realized that the "he" Emperor Liang was referring to was Wenren Yuebai.

"This...Eunuch Zhang was here just now..."

"Is he the future crown prince, or are you the future crown prince?"

Emperor Liang's words frightened Yan Xiuyun so much that he immediately prostrated himself on the ground, "Father, calm down! I know I was wrong!"

"What's wrong?"

"My mistake is..." Yan Xiuyun thought for a moment, "I should have the heart to help the injured and the weak. I knew that Master Wenren was ill, so I should have taken care of him..."

"Dang!" Emperor Liang suddenly threw the warm hand warmer to the ground in front of Yan Xiuyun!

Then he started coughing violently.

"Father..." Yan Xiuyun's face turned pale. He stood up hurriedly and wanted to get closer to Emperor Liang.

"Kneel down!"

Emperor Liang’s voice was hoarse.

The eunuch who served him personally brought water and a handkerchief to him. Emperor Liang covered his lips with the handkerchief and coughed for a long time. After the coughing subsided, a scarlet stain appeared on the white handkerchief.

Emperor Liang threw the handkerchief aside, struggled to stand up with the help of the table, and pointed at Yan Xiuyun.

"Why did I give birth to something like you! Ahem... I want to ask you, where were you on the day when the results of the Spring Examination were posted?"

Yan Xiuyun answered truthfully that he did not leave the Eastern Palace that day.

Emperor Liang sneered, "Then do you know where the third brother went?"

Yan Xiuyun didn't say anything.

"He went to the Ministry of Rites!" Emperor Liang pointed to the direction of the door and said, "I not only have a copy of the resume of the top ten on the list, but he also went to the Ministry of Rites to ask for a copy. Did you know that?"

Yan Xiuyun hung his head, somewhat unconvinced, and muttered, "Third brother is too impatient. The palace examination hasn't even started yet. What's the point of winning people's hearts so early? It's just to show off your love for talent."

Emperor Liang laughed in anger, "He loves talents, but you don't. Do you know that the students on the list will serve as your ministers in the future? Do you think that these students from poor families will be loyal to you for no reason like your relatives after they enter the court as officials?

Why? Just because you have the title of crown prince?

Go back and copy the "Book of Zhou: Jun Chen" ten times and give it to me."

Emperor Liang seemed to still be angry after he finished speaking, and pointed at Yan Xiuyun and said, "Go back and reflect on yourself. As the crown prince, you should be courteous to others. You are so arrogant. If it weren't for your mother's last wish, I would never let you sit on the throne of crown prince!"

"I know I was wrong. I know that my father values ​​my third brother the most. No matter what I do, I will never be as good as him. In this case, I would rather abdicate and let someone else take over!"

Emperor Liang was furious. He walked up to Yan Xiuyun and slapped him hard in the face. However, even though he tried his best, there was not even a red palm print on Yan Xiuyun's face.

"roll!"

Yan Xiuyun looked up and wanted to say something, but when he saw Emperor Liang’s expression, he was frightened and held his words back.

He stood up and walked out. Behind him, he heard Emperor Liang coughing more and more violently, but Yan Xiuyun did not look back.

After he walked out of the palace gate, the eunuch from the Purple Cloud Palace followed him and asked, "Do you want to prepare a sedan chair for His Highness to go back to the East Palace?"

Yan Xiuyun glared at him unhappily, "Why go back to the Eastern Palace? I'm going to Fengyi Palace to visit my mother!"

The eunuch didn't dare to say anything more and quickly responded and retreated.

…

In Fengyi Palace, the smell of sandalwood is wafting.

Queen Dong was sitting by the window, using a pair of gold-handled scissors to trim a few peach blossoms in the vase on the table.

"Your Highness, the Crown Prince is here."

The queen hummed softly and continued to cut the flowers attentively.

Yan Xiuyun walked in, and every step seemed to be filled with emotion.

"Your son pays respects to your mother."

The queen pursed her lips slightly, and the slight wrinkles at the corners of her eyes were stained with a smile. Without looking at Yan Xiuyun, she whispered, "Look at this, have you been wronged by His Majesty?"

Yan Xiuyun moved his lips. He didn't feel aggrieved just now, but now that the Queen asked him this, he felt even more upset.

"Your son... Your son has something to ask your mother."

Queen Dong trimmed the last peach blossom that grew too far, then finally put down the scissors and looked at him with a bit of pity in her eyes.

"Although you are not my biological child, I have raised you since you were young. My most beloved cousin is also your legal wife. We are all family. If you have anything to say, you can say it here."