Chapter 64: A Turning Point
Kong Dezhao slapped the messenger in the face with his horseshoe, causing him to roll several meters away and lose a tooth on the spot.
"You bastard, you really ruined the fun. I was just about to go to the palace to ask for permission to marry you, why are you yelling?"
The messenger didn't even dare to wipe the blood off his face, and knelt on the ground: "My Lord, there's a fire at the manor on the outskirts of the city, and 70% of the food in the warehouse has been burned."
"What?!" Kong Dezhao's eyes widened, "Go to the manor!"
That manor was the property of the Kong family, but it was registered under the name of a distant cousin of his maternal grandfather's family. It was an important place for the Kong family to gather wealth in the capital.
Burning the property was important, but if the fire was too big and attracted attention, and the emperor discovered something, it would be even more fatal.
It must be dealt with quickly and suppressed.
Kong Dezhao had almost no hesitation, immediately turned around and headed straight for the manor.
Inside the palace.
The emperor was reviewing memorials when the crown prince came to ask for an audience and met the left prime minister who was about to leave outside the door.
The left prime minister bowed and said, "Your Highness the Crown Prince."
The prince held out his hand and said, "Old Prime Minister, there is no need to be so polite."
He smiled and said, "When you are free, go to the academy to teach the students. I will also go with you to share my knowledge. I heard that your classes are always full."
The left prime minister stroked his beard and smiled: "This old minister is not giving a lecture, I am just talking nonsense."
Eunuch Wei beside the emperor smiled and said, "Your Highness, the Emperor is still waiting for you."
The prince bowed and said goodbye to the left prime minister, then hurried into the hall.
The emperor kept writing: "Why are you here now?"
"Father, I have met Kong Dezhao."
The emperor said "hmm" lightly, and didn't stop writing and look up until he finished writing.
"Where are the others?"
The prince gave a general account of the Su family’s affairs: “Just as he was about to enter the palace, he hurried to the manor outside the city.”
"I know about that manor. Qingyin has already reported it to me," the emperor said thoughtfully. "However, I have never asked him to investigate it in detail. The Kong family is far away in Nanshun. Even if there is something in the manor, they can just pass it off. This will only make them more cautious."
The prince whispered, "Now that Kong Dezhao has entered the capital, the Kong family cannot help but be cautious. I am willing to personally check the manor to see if there is anything fishy going on."
The prince was of course dissatisfied. Fu Qingyin had actually reported the matter of the manor a long time ago, and the emperor had never mentioned it.
In the past two years, Fu Qingyin has been arrogant because of his favor and almost ignored him. This time, in the game with King Nanshun, he must take the first credit.
The emperor paused for a moment and said, "Just now, the left prime minister came and mentioned his granddaughter. She has been waiting for you for two years. What do you say? Your mother is also looking forward to your early marriage."
The prince clenched his fingers silently and said, "Father, I haven't learned enough knowledge yet. I want to study hard with you and don't want to be distracted."
The emperor smiled and said, "Marrying a wife means you have your own personality. She will take better care of you, so how can you be distracted? When I was your age, I was already married to your mother. If you don't want to marry, you can be engaged first."
The prince lowered his eyes and said, "I will consider it carefully."
"That's fine, but please do it as soon as possible so that I can reply to them."
"Well, go and pay your respects to your mother. I guess she will also blame you for this matter."
"……yes."
The prince withdrew, his eyes filled with anger.
Marry a wife! If he doesn’t marry a wife, he can’t do great things. If he doesn’t marry a wife, he can’t be the emperor?
As the crown prince, the future king of a country, you can't even make the decision on such matters!
Thinking of Kong Dezhao, he suddenly felt that he was not as good as Kong Dezhao. At least he could marry the one he loved.
But what about him? Never.
…
Until night fell, the Su family still hadn't received the imperial decree granting the marriage.
The Su family was worried again. Fortunately, Su Yanshu found out that it was not that Kong Dezhao had changed his mind, but that Kong Dezhao had to leave the city for urgent matters.
Whatever the reason, Yu Shengsheng breathed a sigh of relief.
After a quick dinner, she asked Jin Baobao and Nanny Zhou to go and rest. She left only one light on in the room and waited with her heart pounding.
The ice in the ice basin melted little by little, with an occasional dripping sound, and Yu Shengsheng's whole body was damp.
Finally, there was a tap on the back window. She immediately stood up, almost ran to the window and opened it.
Hao Mengye came in from the window.
Yu Shengsheng was slightly surprised. She thought Hao Mengye would send someone, but unexpectedly, he came in person.
Hao Mengye's eyes swept across the wound on her face, and he threw a box of medicine on the table without further explanation.
He opened the box he brought with him, took out a scroll from it, and slowly unfolded it.
"Miss Yu, whether this painting can be repaired determines whether your marriage can be successfully delayed. You must be careful."
Yu Shengsheng wiped the sweat from his palms and looked carefully.
This is a portrait of a woman, but unfortunately her features are unclear because the painting was damaged.
"Can it be fixed?"
"Yes," Yu Shengsheng said firmly, "Yes."
Hao Mengye looked at the determined light in her eyes, and then glanced at the dark night outside the window: "In two days, two days later, at Hongyuan Temple outside the city, the students participating in the imperial examination will go to listen to the abbot's lecture on Buddhism and Zen. You can go to burn incense on that day and give me the painting, and I can let you meet him."
Yu Shengsheng bowed deeply to him: "Thank you very much, Commander-in-Chief. I have no way to repay you for your kindness..."
"This is not a favor. I owe you one. I promised before that I would not let Kong Dezhao enter the capital so soon. It was my negligence."
"Also," Hao Mengye reminded, "you have to be careful. Princess Rongyang already knows about your relationship with Qi Mubai and is trying to bribe him."
Yu Shengsheng's whole body was tense and her eyes were wide open.
"He refused," Hao Mengye said in a gentle voice, "However, since Princess Rongyang knows about it, there is no guarantee that it won't happen again. That's why I want you to meet once so that you can both feel at ease."
It wasn't until Hao Mengye left that Yu Shengsheng came to her senses.
Su Zhiyi has actually met Qi Mubai?
No wonder Su Zhiyi was not there when the show just started today. It was said that she went back to the hospital to treat her wounds and take a short rest.
It turned out that he had sneaked out of the house to meet Qi Mubai.
She felt a little scared.
But when she thought about Hao Mengye saying that Qi Mubai refused, she felt bitter and sweet in her heart, mixed with joy and sorrow.
Of course she was happy that she didn't make a mistake, but she was worried that Su Zhiyi would not let it go.
She really should meet with Qi Mubai and remind him to be careful.
She sat in front of the mirror, tears that she had been suppressing all day rolling down her cheeks - she finally realized that she was not fighting alone, and the person she loved was also working hard with her.
She wiped away her tears and looked down, only to notice a cloth bag on the small table. She opened it and saw the tools and paints she had used when she restored the paintings in Zhenqiao Tower last time.
Brought by Hao Mengye.
She clutched the bag, grateful.
No matter how cold and ruthless Hao Mengye's words were, it was undeniable that he had always been helping her.
She must seize the opportunity.
Turn on the light and start painting.
At the same time, a black shadow passed over the sky above the Su Mansion, blended into the darkness, and quickly disappeared.
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