Chapter 4 Chapter 4 Xu Qingan slowly stroked it, tongue...

The slap was so powerful that Xu Qing'an's head was knocked off balance, and the pool water remaining on his hair was thrown out.

Xu Qing'an slowly stroked it, pressed his tongue inside, and a barely perceptible smile appeared at the corner of his lips.

After a moment, he turned around, his eyes innocent yet filled with apology: "My Lady, what are you doing?"

Shangguan Xu shouted angrily with a trembling voice: "Who told you to bring me here!"

It was the Lantern Festival, the weather had not yet fully warmed up, and it was night time. After soaking in water like this, Shangguan Xu couldn't stop shivering all over.

There were a few strands of hair stuck to her forehead in a messy manner, and there were still water droplets hanging on her long eyelashes.

However, her eyes were red like this. Although she was angry, she no longer had the sharpness she usually had. Instead, she looked more like the way she was when she was in the harem.

Just like the girl brushing the willow trees on the Shangsi Festival that year.

Xu Qing'an's heart suddenly trembled as he looked at her like this. However, after his eyelashes trembled, he said with an increasingly aggrieved look, "Your Majesty fell into the water just now. I was worried about your safety, so I could only swim to the nearest shore."

Although Kunming Lake was artificially dug, its area is not small. Now their location is outside the control range of the imperial guards, and even the place where the cruise ship is docked is some distance away from them.

However, the Yulin Guards who were guarding the cruise ship reacted quickly. When they saw the two people coming out of the water, they immediately jumped off the boat and ran over.

Xu Qing'an glanced at the Imperial Guards charging down the road, then bowed his head and said, "Just now, when we were in the water, I noticed that Your Majesty didn't seem to be able to swim, so I took the initiative and brought Her Majesty here. I hope Your Majesty will forgive me."

She slapped him and scolded him, which showed that she was just annoyed by his behavior under the water.

Just at this time, the Yulin Guards also arrived.

The leader first bowed and apologized, and then asked if Shangguan Xu was safe.

Shangguan Xu's expression was no longer as excited as before, but his voice was still a little weak: "I'm fine, how is Your Majesty?"

"Your Majesty is fine, and there are people guarding him now, so don't worry, Your Majesty."

Qinghe's steps were not as fast as those of the Yulin Guards, and she just arrived. She had a fur-collared cloak in her hand, and when she got to Shangguan Xu, she put it on her.

"Your Majesty..."

Qinghe's eyes and tone were filled with worry. When her hand reached in front of her, Shangguan Xu grabbed her wrist and looked up at her.

The two looked at each other and understood each other.

Shangguan Xu forced a smile and said, "I'm fine, don't worry, I'm just a little cold now."

Qing He nodded, helped the person up, and instructed the two palace maids who followed her, "The water in the pool is cold. Go and help the queen change her clothes. Have someone prepare the ginger soup."

The palace maid took the order and helped Shangguan Xu from her hands.

Xu Qing'an also stood up at the same time. His eyes fell on the few of them, watching their movements.

After they left, Qing He turned around and said to him, "Your Majesty is afraid of water. Thank you, Lord Xu, for your help tonight."

She glanced at his cheeks, which were obviously red, and said, "The ointment will be delivered shortly. However, the night wind is very cold, and Master Xu is soaked. You should change into clean clothes as soon as possible."

After saying that, Qinghe bowed slightly and took his leave.

Xu Qing'an bowed in return and stayed where he was, thinking about what Qinghe had just said, his thoughts still not coming back to him.

He lowered his eyes for a moment and looked at Shangguan Xu's back in the distance.

Is she afraid of water?

When did it happen?

"Master Xu, the wind is picking up on the shore. Let's go back to the ceremonial platform. There should be extra clothes there for you to keep warm."

Only after the Yulin Guard beside him spoke up to remind him did Xu Qing'an come back to his senses. He retracted his gaze and turned his head to smile at him: "Okay, thank you for your company."

——

"The cabin is leaking! The bottom of the boat is broken!"

Shangguan Xu and the young emperor beside him stood in the chaos, the boat swaying under their feet.

"Xu'er!"

The young emperor put one arm around her waist and the other around her wrist, holding her tightly in his arms.

"Don't be afraid, it'll be okay." His voice came from above her.

The sudden violent shaking made Shangguan Xu feel a little dizzy, but when she was held in his arms like this, feeling the warmth and sense of security that came with it, she felt that everything was not so scary anymore.

He pulled her over, burying her face in his shoulder and hugging her tighter. His gentle and soothing touch from behind helped her recover and she slowly raised her eyes to look outside.

On the deck, everyone was panicked by this sudden change; even the imperial guards below the stage were unable to react immediately.

But Shangguan Xu saw an eunuch staggering and rushing towards them with a vicious look in his eyes.

He took his hand out of his sleeve and a white light flashed.

Shangguan Xu was startled for a moment and put her arms around the waist of the person in front of her. However, just as she was about to switch their positions, before she could even shout "Be careful", she heard a muffled "Hmm" from above, and the boat suddenly capsized.

My whole body was thrown into the water, and I lost consciousness instantly...

…

"My lady, a hand warmer."

Qinghe's voice brought Shangguan Xu back to his senses, and at the same time, he handed over the hand warmer.

After what happened at the blessing ceremony, Shangguan Xu returned to the palace and has just finished washing and changing his clothes.

Although there was an underground heating system in the hall, Shangguan Xu still felt cold after being soaked in the cold water.

She closed her eyes and slowed down, then said, "Is everyone here?"

Qing He nodded: "They are already waiting in the side hall."

Shangguan Xu said softly: "Let them come over."

On the night of the Lantern Festival, at the important moment when the Empress Dowager and the Emperor were praying together on the same boat, the cabin suddenly leaked, and even the Empress Dowager fell into the water because of it. So regardless of whether there were casualties or not, whether it was an accident or man-made, this matter would not be a trivial matter.

All regulations for praying for blessings are managed by the Ministry of Rites, while the instruments used for praying, such as cruise ships, are under the responsibility of the Ministry of Works.

Shangguan Xu summoned officials from the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Works to the palace for questioning overnight, and Xu Qing'an, as the censor responsible for assisting and supervising the matter, naturally had to be present.

As for Su Wang, as the regent prime minister, he would come even without being invited.

The people who came from the Ministry of Rites were the Minister of Rites and the Doctor of the Ministry of Shrines who was in charge of sacrificial affairs. The Minister of the Ministry of Works had just retired not long ago and the position of Minister was still vacant, so the people who came were the two Vice Ministers and the Doctor of the Ministry of Water Resources.

After returning to the palace, Shangguan Xu washed up, changed into new clothes, and his demeanor and bearing returned to normal.

Xu Qing'an had a palace maid deliver a new set of official uniform to him beforehand, and they also found a side hall for him to wipe his hair and tie it up in a new bun so as not to lose his manners in front of the palace.

But his face was still a little red.

After Shangguan Xu came out, he invited Su Wang to sit down, but his eyes inadvertently swept over Xu Qing'an who was standing at the back.

He had just finished performing the ceremony and lowered his head like everyone else. This ordinary posture inexplicably made Shangguan Xu feel a sense of desolation from him.

It was as if the scene of slapping him was replayed before her eyes.

Shangguan Xu took a deep breath, looked away, and said to everyone, "What are your plans for today's matter?"

After these words were spoken, the officials from the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Rites looked at each other, knowing that the Empress Dowager was coming to give instructions.

Su Wang didn't even raise his head, picked up the teacup and took a sip of tea.

Shangguan Xu caught a glimpse of it, his eyes moved, he raised his chin and continued to look at everyone.

The officials from the Ministry of Rites spoke first. What they meant was that all the blessing processes were carried out according to the original plan. Apart from the final finishing problem caused by the cabin leak today, there were no mistakes in the middle. However, the cabin leak was indeed not something that their Ministry of Rites could control.

So the spearhead turned to the Ministry of Industry.

The Ministry of Industry is fully responsible for the construction of the hull, and what happened tonight was all due to the leakage in the cabin.

The people from the Ministry of Works had no excuse.

The Ministry of Works doctor came out and said, "When the cruise ship was completed, I sent someone to inspect it, and I didn't find anything unusual..."

"So you mean to say that this is a punishment from heaven? It was a good boat, but it broke down as soon as your Majesty and I got on it?" Shangguan Xu said coldly.

Upon hearing this, the Ministry of Works doctor felt a chill down his spine and knelt down hurriedly: "Your Majesty...that's not what I meant..."

Shangguan Xu squinted at him, snorted, and continued, "What a coincidence! Chang'an hasn't held such a water festival for almost four years. And yet, this is the first year it's been held again, and something like this has happened. And the last time, it was also due to a cabin leak, which was also an accident..."

As he spoke, a trace of melancholy flashed across Shangguan Xu's eyes. He then raised his eyes, his gaze suddenly tinged with frost. "So the project is fine, the inspection and acceptance are fine, but my family is in trouble? I can't take the boat ride, and I can't hold the water sacrifice?"

"Last time, the late emperor died because of this. Is God going to kill me this time? Or is he going to kill His Majesty, who is traveling with me?"

With a few "thumps", all the officials standing in the hall knelt down.

These words concern the royal family, and the royal family's virtues are the most secretive. Whenever these words are mentioned in the court, officials will be like frightened birds and dare not say a word.

The sudden death of Emperor Zhao did shock the court and the public. Although it was finally determined to be an accident, there were quite a few people involved at the time. Shangguan Xu now put the two things together, and while intimidating, he also seemed to want to put today's events on the same level of seriousness as the events of Emperor Zhao.

However, Xu Qing'an, who was kneeling with his head buried like everyone else, silently curled the corners of his lips and sneered softly.

Accident, punishment from heaven...

You are really amazing.

They used this method to drag people into trouble four years ago, and now they are using the same trick again?

Tsk tsk, for those of you who are about to be dragged into this, I’ll prepare a glass of sake for you in advance to send you on your way.

Su Wang spoke up at this time: "Your Highness, there is no need to panic. Fortunately, no major disaster occurred today. The cabin leak may be due to a lack of attention. Let them investigate themselves and hold them accountable one by one."

Shangguan Xu sighed, "We are indeed lucky today, especially Your Majesty. You were only slightly frightened and are physically fine. But Lord Su, the bad thing about this matter is that the people saw it."

"The Water Festival was restarted, originally hoping that Your Majesty would enjoy it with the people and pray for their well-being, demonstrating Your Majesty's love and benevolence. However, the same problem occurred twice in a row, and there was even such a long time between them. It is inevitable that the people will worry—"

"Is it because my family has truly failed in their duties that Heaven has brought down disasters on the water sacrifice twice in a row?"

"Mr. Su, even though you and I both know this was an accident, we still have to give an explanation to the people."

Su Wang lowered his eyes and said calmly, "Then what does Your Highness want to do?"

Shangguan Xu was also willing to discuss the matter. "Actually, I have the same idea as Mr. Su. We need to investigate exactly where the problem occurred. However, we need to investigate thoroughly and punish those involved severely after we find out. This will explain to the people that this is a man-made disaster, not a punishment from heaven."

Su Wang pondered for a moment, then raised his eyes and asked the people kneeling on the ground: "What do you mean?"

This matter directly pointed to the Ministry of Works, so naturally the people in the Ministry of Works did not dare to say much. And it just so happened that the blessing matter was led by the Ministry of Rites. If they did not draw a clear line with the Ministry of Works, they would inevitably be in trouble. However, the officials of the Ministry of Rites could not figure out what Su Wang meant by this word - whether to investigate or not. So even if they wanted Shangguan Xu to investigate the Ministry of Works, they could not say it out loud.

Xu Qing'an, who was kneeling at the end, straightened up and bowed, saying, "I think Her Majesty the Queen Mother is absolutely right." Shangguan Xu looked over calmly.

Xu Qing'an didn't even look up and continued, "This matter concerns the safety of both Your Highness and His Majesty. Your Majesty is the ruler of a nation. If this matter is not thoroughly investigated, it may undermine the majesty of His Majesty."

"Secondly, as Your Highness mentioned—Tian De, the Chang'an Water Festival has been suspended for several years. Coincidentally, when it was held again this year, the same incident occurred. If someone with ulterior motives were to combine the two and make a fuss, it would be detrimental to both the Great Jin and Your Majesty."

"So before that happens, we must first give an explanation to the people, and also to His Majesty and His Highness."

As soon as he finished speaking, someone stood up and the officials from the Ministry of Rites quickly followed suit and echoed Xu Qing'an's statement.

Shangguan Xu lowered his eyes, raised his red lips slightly, then lowered his eyes and looked at Su Wang beside him.

He was silent for a moment, and finally heard him say, "Since everyone thinks so, then let's do as Your Highness wishes."

Shangguan Xu's expression remained calm: "Okay, then let the Censorate investigate this matter first."

Shangguan Xu had just fallen into the water and was coughing a little. After discussing the matter, he asked everyone to go back first.

Xu Qing'an walked at the end of the team with slow steps. He heard Shangguan Xu's increasingly frequent coughing and passed by the palace maid who came in with medicine.

The medicine was freshly boiled and was still steaming, but the wisps of mist seemed to be made of bitterness, blowing along the wind and invading people's mouths and noses.

When Xu Qing'an smelled it, he felt bitter on the tip of his tongue, frowned, and unconsciously tilted his head back towards Shangguan Xu.

However, in just a moment, he controlled his impulse and turned his head back.

What's there to be sad about?

Wasn't it her who protected the assassin and dragged him into this?

The water in March that year was much colder than the water on the Lantern Festival this year.

Xu Qing'an's expression returned to normal, and his eyes even became colder, and he continued to walk forward.

But the fist clenched in the sleeve became tighter.