Chapter 82 The Emperor's Suspicion

In the end, Zhao Tong still didn't know why his master was so happy.

He couldn't help feeling a little disappointed. Alas, his master had grown up and had his own worries that he was hiding from him. But when he looked down at his master's cheerful face, Zhao Tong felt that he must have heard the good things his wife said about him that made him smile like that.

Thinking about it this way, it’s a good thing. Maybe we can see the birth of the little master next year.

Xiao Ji was in a good mood and thought everything was good. He went to the backyard and stared at Zhu'er and Fugui, and watched Nanny Xia and others planting vegetables with great interest. He even asked Zhao Tong to push him forward to observe carefully.

Fugui'er was used to it, but the two little maids who had something to hide were terrified. At first, Xiao Ji didn't care, until he caught a glimpse of Baozhu's legs trembling slightly under her skirt, and even the movement of planting seedlings was messed up.

He lowered his head to hide his smile, intending to scare Baozhu again, but he felt that it was Baozhu, the little maid, who let the cat out of the bag and let him know the truth. In this case, it would be better not to torture her.

"Zhao Tong, push me to look somewhere else."

"yes."

As soon as the front leg of the wheelchair turned, Xiao Ji saw from the corner of his eye that Baozhu's legs had stopped shaking.

After they walked a long way and wandered somewhere else, Xiao Jicai asked Zhao Tong, "Have you ever seen the two maids beside the Madam before?"

"nature."

Zhao Tong answered subconsciously, but after he answered, he wondered why his master suddenly asked this?

"Were these two the same ones before?"

Zhao Tong pushed his wheelchair across the bluestone path and nodded when he heard this: "Master, it's these two—"

He paused before finishing his words. Zhao Tong thought carefully and continued, "But I rarely paid attention to maids before... and you didn't go to the lady at that time..."

He scratched his head, his eyes drifting to the distant scenery. "Hey? I seem to remember that the maidservant beside Madam before was called... Jinzhu? Could it be that I remembered it wrongly? It must be that I remembered it wrongly? But why are you asking these questions, Master?"

Xiao Ji tapped the wheelchair armrest with his fingertips and said with a faint smile, "Just to confirm."

The little maid was so nervous, and now her name couldn't be matched. She must be the Madam's own maid. That's good.

This time, Zhao Tong was completely certain that his master must be hiding something from him, but he wisely did not ask any further questions.

Alas, the child has grown up and has secrets.

*

At noon, Qingwu naturally invited Shanshan to have lunch together. Xiao Ji tactfully avoided her and let the two girls communicate freely. He had already wronged his wife to this extent and could no longer hinder her from making friends.

Shanshan knows how to plant flowers, so in the afternoon Qingwu asked Shanshan to go and look at the rare and precious plants left in the backyard. Qingwu didn't know how to take care of them, but Shanshan smiled and said:

"They have grown naturally for so many years and are still blooming so well, so there is no need to worry too much about them. Just take them with you when you fertilize the vegetable patch."

The two of them walked around the yard arm in arm again, which opened Shanshan's eyes. She also asked Qingwu for a few mutated flowers and plants to cultivate at home, and left reluctantly until the sun set in the west.

The spy saw the whole scene. After Shanshan's carriage went away, he drove his horse to catch up. He did not return to the palace to report until Shanshan returned home and found out who Shanshan was.

The spy knelt outside the imperial study, his forehead resting on the cold bluestone floor. From within the palace came the soft clink of teacups, followed by the emperor's deep voice: "Come in."

"Your Majesty," the spy crept in on his knees, not daring to look up, "Mrs. Lin, the wife of this year's top scholar Xu Huaiyu, entered the palace today and left two hours later."

The emperor's fingertips holding the report suddenly tightened. Dusk deepened outside the window, and the last ray of sunset shone through the carved window lattice, casting mottled light and shadow on his face.

After a long pause, he said in a cold voice, "Xu Huaiyu? How could he be related to the deposed Crown Prince?" How long had he deposed the Crown Prince? Was the deposed Crown Prince already acting recklessly?

Seeing that the emperor was about to get angry, the chief steward immediately bowed and said, "Your Majesty, calm down. Although the Xu family is quite prestigious in Jiangnan, they have no close ties with the powerful in Beijing. The spies only said that Mrs. Xu, the top scholar, went there. Perhaps it is an old friendship between the ladies?"

These words slightly eased the emperor's anger, but could not completely dispel his suspicion.

Xiao Yuancheng frowned, and then ordered, "After tomorrow's morning court session, summon Xu Huaiyu to see me."

"I'll make the arrangements right away." Bai De'an bowed and left, winking at the spy as he passed. The spy understood and quietly withdrew.

Silence returned to the palace. The emperor stood up and walked to the window, gazing at the darkening sky, his expression growing darker.

He thought that it was just his sons who couldn't hold back these days, but he didn't expect that the deposed prince had made another move.

"Xue Nu ah... Xue Nu, I hope this is really a woman's friendship."

Xu Huaiyu had anticipated the emperor's summons. From the moment he allowed his wife to visit him in the palace, he had anticipated that the emperor would take notice.

So at noon the next day, Xu Huaiyu, wearing an indigo official robe, walked steadily on the palace road, without any nervousness at all.

The imperial study was filled with the aroma of incense. Xu Huaiyu walked into the hall, lifted his robe, and knelt in obeisance: "Your Majesty, I, Xu Huaiyu, pay my respects to you."

The emperor was reviewing memorials. Hearing this, he did not even raise his head and let Xu Huaiyu kneel.

Time passed minute by minute, and the only sound in the hall was the dripping of water. A thin layer of sweat oozed from Xu Huaiyu's forehead, but he did not move.

Finally, the emperor closed the memorial and glared at him, "Lord Xu, do you know why I summoned you?"

"I am stupid, Your Majesty, please explain clearly." Xu Huaiyu said in a steady voice.

"Where did your wife go yesterday?" the emperor went straight to the point.

Xu Huaiyu thought to herself that this was indeed the case, and lowered her head and replied, "Your Majesty, I went to the temporary palace to visit the deposed Crown Prince's concubine on behalf of a good friend."

Hearing his direct admission, the emperor sneered: "You are quite courageous, actually daring to admit it... Do you know what the crime of having an affair with the deposed crown prince is?"

Xu Huaiyu touched his forehead to the ground and said, "I will die! But please, Your Majesty, please forgive me. My wife was visiting the deposed Crown Prince's concubine, a woman in seclusion, not the deposed Crown Prince. My wife was good friends with the deposed Crown Prince's concubine's twin sister, so I went to visit her on her behalf. If you accuse me of having an affair with someone close to her, it's truly unjust."

"Oh?" The emperor walked over to Xu Huaiyu. "You know this is just your side of the story. Whether your wife's visit to the imperial palace is just a gathering of women or a conspiracy depends entirely on my thoughts. Aren't you afraid?"

As soon as the words fell, the hall fell silent. Xiao Yuancheng thought the newly crowned champion would have nothing to say, but he suddenly raised his head and stood up.

Xu Huaiyu raised his head, his eyes clear. "I believe that Your Majesty is benevolent and has already deposed the couple and demoted them to commoners. My humble wife is just associating with commoners. Moreover..."

The top scholar, who was currently arguing, suddenly bowed solemnly, "Your Majesty, I dare to say this. Even if the deposed Crown Prince has a thousand faults, he is still your flesh and blood. Now that he has been demoted to a commoner and has received his punishment, does Your Majesty truly wish to see your son left alone and helpless, without any relatives or friends to visit him?"

These words hit the mark exactly what Xiao Yuancheng wanted. Thinking of what the spy had said last time, Xiao Ji muttered to himself to wild flowers and trees all day long, looking lonely... He suddenly turned his face away, his Adam's apple rolling.

He just didn't want his son to covet his throne, he didn't want to force his son into a desperate situation.

Thinking of the lively Liuzi who was once depressed all day long, Xiao Yuancheng's heart gradually softened.