Xiao Jingzhao looked up and saw that Sui Sui was pointing at a letter and a portrait that the Liang emperor had sent by fast horse.
The portrait depicts the scene of the first birthday celebration for the eldest prince of the Liang Kingdom.
Perhaps because the painter focused on the child's face and hands, the Emperor of Liang specially sent this portrait to Xiao Jingzhao to help him find the child.
Xiao Jingzhao casually picked up a memorial and placed it in front of his son, saying softly, "Good boy, let's not play with those paintings. Look how interesting this memorial is."
Such an important document cannot be given to a child to play with casually; it must be kept to verify a person's identity.
Sui Sui glanced down at the memorial and shook her head. "Father, this memorial is all nonsense. Water transport is a very profitable business. It's impossible that they don't have money. There's nothing interesting about this. I want to see that painting."
Upon hearing his son's comments on the memorial submitted by the Governor-General of Water Transport, he stared wide-eyed in disbelief, "How do you know that water transport is profitable?"
“My mother said that a waterway can support many, many people and allow people in the capital to eat seafood.”
Xiao Jingzhao was quite surprised, and then felt very sorry for him.
She knows so much; I wonder how much suffering she endured while wandering outside.
Xiao Jingzhao rubbed Sui Sui's head and said, "Your mother is really amazing. Many officials don't even understand how water transport can make money."
There are many places where money is needed, such as repairing wharves along the canal, maintaining them during the flood season, and building ships.
The accounts from the previous dynasty show that there were annual allocations to the water transport sector, but the water transport sector never reported any revenue to the court.
"Daddy, let me see it, just once, I promise I won't break it." Sui Sui stared at the painting, unwilling to give up.
"This painting is very important to your father. Be careful. Once Xiangyang has notified someone who recognizes this painting to come, your father can give it to you."
Xiao Jingzhao couldn't refuse his son, so he had no choice but to take the painting and hand it to Sui Sui.
Before the portrait was fully unfurled, Sui Sui looked at the jade pendant the child in the portrait was holding and said, "Father, I've seen this jade pendant before."
Xiao Jingzhao's body stiffened, and he hurriedly asked, "Where have I seen you before?"
Although Xiao Jingzhao had identified his target, he could not rashly notify the Liang Kingdom without solid evidence.
I only received the letter and portrait last night, and haven't had time to send someone to inform the Black Dragon Pool Valley Master to go to the capital for identification.
Under Xiao Jingzhao's expectant gaze, Sui Sui said with a smile, "Uncle Nangong, he has a jade pendant exactly like this one, and he wanted to give it to me, but my mother wouldn't let me accept it."
"Are you sure!" Xiao Jingzhao picked up the paperweight on the table and unfolded the portrait to flatten it.
Sui Sui nodded firmly, "It can't be wrong. The crescent moon on the jade pendant is exactly the same as this one, even the patterns on it are identical."
"My son is so good. You've solved a big problem for your father."
Xiao Jingzhao excitedly hugged Sui Sui, then shouted outside, "Someone come here!"
With Sui Sui in the Imperial Study, Xiao Jingzhao didn't leave anyone to serve her. When Eunuch Ma heard the call, he hurriedly came in.
"What are your orders, Your Majesty? This servant is here."
"Summon Xiang Song and Xiang Yang to the side hall. I will be there immediately."
After Eunuch Ma left, Xiao Jingzhao placed the brush and ink where Sui Sui couldn't reach them, then rubbed his son's head and said, "You can play with the memorials. Dad will be right back."
Xiao Jingzhao left like a whirlwind, leaving Sui Sui alone, bewildered in the wind.
What's so interesting about memorials to the throne? They're all just long-winded nonsense, either asking for money or impeaching others.
The travelogues my mother gave me are still the best.
Sui Sui was puzzled as to why Uncle Nangong's jade pendant was being held by a child.
Could this child be Uncle Nangong's lost son? No, when did this child take the jade pendant?
Before I could examine the letter next to the portrait more closely, Fugui's voice came from outside the window.
"Greetings, Princess!"
Immediately afterwards, Fu Gui said anxiously, "The Emperor has ordered that no unauthorized persons are allowed to enter. Please, Your Highness, spare this servant."
"I'm not going in to cause trouble, I'm just going in to take a look and then I'll come out."
"Your Highness, no! If the Emperor were to punish me, I would be in grave danger!"
"Auntie!"
Upon hearing Chang Le's voice, Sui Sui jumped off the armchair and ran out.
Before she could even run across the threshold, she saw the little eunuch Fugui lying on the ground, clinging to Chang Le's ankle in a dog-face-fee-like position, his fair little face pressed against his aunt's shoe.
Upon seeing Sui Sui emerge, Fu Gui quickly released his hands and stepped back, raising his sleeve to wipe non-existent sweat from his forehead.
When Chang Le saw Sui Sui come out, she reached out her hand to greet her, "Come and play with me, it's so boring in the Imperial Study."
Chang Le had been wandering around the corridor opposite the Imperial Study for a while. When she saw the Emperor leave, she quickly ran over.
Although he spends his days in the Imperial Study, his heart has long since flown away.
He grinned and said, "Little Aunt, shall we go out of the palace to play with Xue'er?"
"Who is Xue'er? Is she your new friend?"
Sui Sui flashed her signature soft and cute smile, "Xue'er is a cat, and she's really adorable."
"Shh!"
Chang Le bent down and made a shushing gesture, then turned around and glared at Fu Gui, "Next time you try to hug my legs, watch out for your dog paws!"
Just as Fugui was about to get up, he heard Chang Le scolding him and knelt down again, saying, "This servant dares not."
Several eunuchs nearby also knelt down.
Fu Gui agreed verbally, but inwardly he was filled with bitterness.
With the Empress Dowager not in the palace, Princess Yonghe entertained noble ladies from the capital.
Princess Chang Le, who was bored out of her mind, wandered around the palace with a group of young maids.
Yesterday, she caused quite a commotion at the Imperial Household Department. When she passed by the Imperial Clothing Bureau, she went in for a look and accidentally pulled the unfinished silver thread off her sleeve.
The official in charge saw her playing with it in her hands, but dared not ask or report it to the Emperor. He only breathed a sigh of relief after sending the little princess out of the Imperial Wardrobe.
Upon learning the news, the Imperial Jewelry Office instructed the craftsmen to hide the phoenix crown that was being made.
The steward brought her a box of pearls to play with, and just as the steward was feeling smug about his own cleverness...
Chang Le felt bored and accidentally knocked over a box of pearls when she got up to leave.
In short, unexpected events always occurred wherever Princess Chang Le went.
Fu Gui thought to himself, "Your Highness, next time you come, this servant will have to kneel before you again."
Chang Le led Sui Sui outside.
"Auntie, shall we leave a message for Father when we leave the palace? He'll be worried if he doesn't see me soon."
Sui Sui herself really wanted to go home to see her mother, and last night she heard her father say that he should stay in the palace for two days.
Reaching the intersection, Chang Le looked up at the sky. The heavy snow was gradually subsiding. She stopped and turned to look at the group of palace maids behind her.
Jing'er stepped forward and asked, "Does Your Majesty wish for me to deliver a message to the Emperor?"
Chang Le gestured past Jing'er and pointed to the oldest palace maid inside, "Go back and tell Fu Gui that when the Emperor returned to the Imperial Study, he said that Sui Sui's mother had caught a cold and we should hurry out of the palace to visit her."
"Yes, ma'am."
Chang Le then pointed to two of them, "Go to Yonghe Palace and tell the Empress that I will be returning to the palace tomorrow."
The young palace maids bowed, accepted their orders, and left.
Chang Le, along with Sui Sui and several palace maids, walked towards the palace gate amidst the fluttering snowflakes.
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