Chapter 45 Should he be happy or not?

At the beginning of Emperor Jingyuan's reign, the Northern Desert invaded, and he and Princess Yuanyang went to the battlefield to quell the rebellion. It was then that he met Chen Wangshi.

No wonder it looks familiar.

Chen Wangshi's face was filled with gratitude. "Your Majesty, thank you for remembering this. It is my great honor."

Emperor Jingyuan said, "Madam Wang, please stand up and take a seat!"

He has always respected meritorious officials.

Mrs. Wang looked embarrassed and knelt on the ground, as if she had something to hide. She glanced at Zhou Bing who was kneeling upright beside her, and couldn't help but lower her head and bowed again.

Emperor Jingyuan frowned, "Madam, what's going on?"

Madam Wang's face was filled with sorrow as she said word by word, "I am guilty!"

Zhou Bing, who was standing by, felt a little uneasy, but unexpectedly, Mrs. Wang's next words caused an uproar.

"I am guilty. My husband was killed by... bandits. I shouldn't have slandered General Liu. I deserve death. Your Majesty, please punish me!"

Mrs. Wang’s words were like a thunderclap that landed in Qianyuan Hall, leaving everyone bewildered.

What happened? Why did Zhou Bing's witness turn against him?

Zhou Bing was horrified. "Madam Wang? What are you talking about? You clearly didn't say that. Why is that?"

Madam Wang's face was filled with pain as she bowed to Zhou Bing. "It is my fault. I lied to you, Your Excellency. I am willing to die to end this matter!"

Liu Ming took advantage of the opportunity to sneer and said sarcastically, "You can say it nicely. It was Censor Zhou who started it, and it was Censor Zhou who brought the people here. But now you're trying to distance yourself from it."

Liu Ming implicitly accused Zhou Bing and Madam Wang of colluding with each other to murder court officials.

"No!" Xihe suddenly said, her fair face full of determination, "Lord Zhou is very fair! He won't talk nonsense!"

Liu Ming sneered and retorted rudely, "Censor Zhou is an outsider. Your Highness has lived in the palace for a long time. It's better for you to listen less to other people's nonsense."

The little girl sucked her fingers curiously: "But... this is what Daddy said! I saw a case judged by Lord Zhou at Daddy's place. It was very fair. Daddy, what do you think is right?"

Emperor Jingyuan pinched Xihe's little nose with a smile and said "hmm" neither lightly nor heavily.

I asked my little daughter to read the memorial with me, just to listen to it, but unexpectedly the little girl actually remembered it.

His kid is really smart.

Zhou Bing looked up into the little girl's clear eyes, which were full of trust, as if saying, "Don't be afraid, I believe you!"

For a moment, Zhou Bing felt mixed emotions.

He was appointed Imperial Censor, in charge of the responsibilities of a censor, and he paid no heed to insults and slander. But when someone truly trusted his judgment, his original pure heart for being an official finally took shape.

The censor has no regrets in doing what he has done.

Liu Ming was choked and said nothing.

Could he still refute what Emperor Jingyuan said?

"I would never slander anyone!" Zhou Bing shouted. "I don't know why Madam claims General Chen was murdered by bandits, but I've personally sent someone to examine the body. They found no trace of the bandit's sword, but rather traces left by our dynasty's unique weapons!"

Although Zhou Bing was upright, he was not a fool. Although he saved Lady Wang, he did not fully believe her words. He sent people to the Northern Desert to investigate carefully before bringing her into the palace.

Liu Ming's expression changed, and his eyes were full of resentment.

Zhou Bing actually had a trick up his sleeve!

His shrewd eyes met Mrs. Wang's, and he played with the jade pendant around his waist with one hand. Mrs. Wang's expression suddenly changed.

"Your Majesty! My husband was indeed murdered by bandits. It had nothing to do with... General Liu. I was possessed by a demon and wanted to go to the capital to extort money. That's why I deceived Lord Zhou. This was all my fault. It has nothing to do with you two. Your Majesty, please punish me!"

Mrs. Wang had stayed in the inner house for too long. No matter how strong she was, she was terrified at this moment and her body was shaking constantly.

Xihe sat at the head of the table and asked with pursed lips, "Has Aunt Madam thought about Uncle General?"

If Zhou Bing's inspection results are correct, then there must be something fishy about Mrs. Wang.

Madam Wang's body trembled, tears streaming down her cheeks, but she still said with all her might, "Princess, there's no need to say more. This is all my fault. I'm willing to die as an apology!"

She had already lost her husband and could not lose the only child left by her husband.

Mrs. Wang obviously had something to hide. Xihe pulled at Emperor Jingyuan's sleeve and whispered, "Daddy."

Emperor Jingyuan patted his little daughter's hand and glanced at Liu Ming, who was standing aside as if he was sure of victory, with a half-smile.

Threatening family members, this method has been used for eight hundred years, and you're not tired of it yet.

Emperor Jingyuan said nothing, as if he was indifferent. Hidden under the table, he held Xihe's small hand and wrote on its palm, stroke by stroke.

The little girl's eyes lit up, and when she met her father's meaningful gaze, she immediately acted sleepy and said, "Daddy, I'm sleepy. I want to go back to sleep!"

Emperor Jingyuan raised the corners of his lips slightly and caressed the top of his little daughter's head lovingly. "Go back to sleep if you're tired. Sanping, take the princess back!"

"I obey your order!"

Sanping stepped forward and took the little princess away.

As soon as they walked out of the palace, the sleepiness on Xihe's little face disappeared at all.

"Sanping Susu! Let's go find someone!"

Sanping followed behind with a smile, "Don't worry, little princess, I've brought people with me."

Sanping gestured and several figures emerged from the darkness. If you looked closely, you would find that these people had no shadows.

"Your Majesty has ordered that Madam Wang's son be found and brought back safely!"

The group of people disappeared again, leaving no trace on the snow, as if they had never appeared. Only the slightly swaying branches of the plum tree proved their existence.

"Susu, you are so awesome!" The little girl's eyes were full of envy, and she stared at Sanping with blinking eyes.

Sanping raised the corner of his mouth, but said nothing, his heart was in turmoil.

Emperor Jingyuan's move was a disguised way of letting the little princess know the existence of the shadow guards. Was it because the little princess was young and didn't understand, or... was it intentional to let the little princess get in touch with the core?

In the Qianyuan Hall, Emperor Jingyuan said nothing, as if he had forgotten about the matter. He drank by himself, and when he was in a good mood, he even asked Zhao Zhinan a few questions about his homework.

Zhao Zhinan, who was asked about his homework on New Year's Eve, said: "..."

Did he not check the almanac before going out?

To avoid any further complications, Liu Ming bravely stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, today is New Year's Eve, a day for the emperor and his subjects to celebrate together. It's truly a shame to be disturbed by such trivial matters. To avoid disturbing Your Majesty's mood, it's best to make a decision as soon as possible."

Emperor Jingyuan drank a glass of wine and said, "I am very happy. Why are you so anxious?"

Then he asked with interest: "Why? Is the Prime Minister unhappy?"

Liu Ming swallowed, unsure of Emperor Jingyuan's attitude, "No... Your Majesty, Your Majesty is quite happy."

Perhaps Liu Ming's appearance was too funny, so Emperor Jingyuan smiled and asked, "Your son has been sued, and you're quite happy? His biological son?"

Liu Ming: "..."

Should he be happy or not?

Here are a few short pictures to pave the way for what's to come! Soon, the trip to Jiangnan will be sweet!