Chapter 73: No one can beat Xiao Yan in understanding the emperor's mind
Xiao Yan stopped talking at that point, but Emperor An's eyebrows suddenly jumped.
His mind raced, and he already understood Xiao Yan's purpose.
Prince Cheng would be fine, but Emperor An has never been close to this younger brother. He secretly colluded with the princes and aristocratic families, so it is natural to teach him a lesson. The most important thing is the Lu family, especially Lu Chongyuan.
This person has always been a major concern for him. He has colluded with people from aristocratic families to occupy the court and repeatedly intimidate him in government affairs, which makes him feel like a thorn in his throat. If he can use this to drag others into the water, or even make Lu Chongyuan guilty...
Emperor An was instantly moved.
Xiao Yan knew the person in front of him better than he knew himself. Seeing that Emperor An's expression had relaxed, he reached out and scooped out some of the brewed tea, gently dropping it into the gold-threaded white porcelain chrysanthemum-colored cup on the table.
The tea soup in the cup is clear and has a fragrant smell.
Xiao Yan stretched out his hand and pushed him in front of Emperor An: "Actually, I also have my own selfish motives."
"Your Majesty, you are aware that I have adopted Song Tangning as my adopted sister. Although there are some reasons for this, in the eyes of outsiders, Song Tangning is my person, and everyone knows to be more considerate of me. However, the Song family treats me like nothing, repeatedly provoking and bullying me."
"I am a self-righteous and proud person. If I cannot teach the Song family a lesson, who will be afraid of me in the future? Who will take my words to heart? Everyone will dare to step on my head and do whatever they want."
There was a cold look in his eyes and his voice was gloomy.
"I am a sharp sword in your majesty's hand. I am valued by your majesty and I intimidate your ministers. If my edge is blunted and I no longer inspire fear, then what use is there for your majesty to keep me around? Who would care about a dull sword?"
Xiao Yan made his ambitions and concerns clear, and he did not even try to hide his vindictiveness. He just couldn't stand the Song family bullying the people he protected, and he didn't like the Song family losing face, so he deliberately took the opportunity to attack the Duke of Song's Mansion.
The eunuch serving outside had a slightly changed expression when he heard Xiao Yan's words. Even the attendant standing next to Emperor An couldn't help but break into a cold sweat for Xiao Yan.
How could Governor Xiao speak to Your Majesty like this? Isn't he afraid of Your Majesty's anger?
"How dare you say that? Aren't you afraid of my punishment for such personal revenge?" Emperor An's face showed both joy and anger.
Xiao Yan said calmly, "Your Majesty has long known my character. It was Your Majesty who raised me from humble beginnings to where I am today. I will never lie to Your Majesty about anything. If Your Majesty blames me, I am willing to bear it."
He raised his eyes to Emperor An with a serious expression, "Everything I have now was given by Your Majesty, and I only want to be Your Majesty's most loyal servant. All the grudges in the world begin with suspicion. I would rather be punished by Your Majesty than lie to Your Majesty and make you disappointed and suspicious of me."
Emperor An felt extremely relieved when he heard Xiao Yan's extremely straightforward words.
Previously, Xiao Yan said that he would deal with the Duke of Song's Mansion for the sake of the Lu family and Prince Cheng. Although Emperor An was moved, he was still hesitant. However, he felt relieved when he directly expressed his selfish motives and revealed his arrogant and vindictive nature.
He didn't care about the arrogance and domineering behavior of the eunuch in front of him, nor did he care about his little thoughts. After all, in the court and the capital, there were many powerful officials who wanted to climb up and eliminate dissidents. Who could be without selfish motives?
As long as he can always remember where his grace comes from and that everything he has now depends only on him being the emperor, that is enough.
This man was promoted by Emperor An himself. He had no clan to rely on and no relatives or friends. All his status and power depended on the emperor's favor, and he could take back this favor at any time, leaving him with nothing.
This is why Emperor An can trust Xiao Yan and value him more than anyone else.
Emperor An looked at him while holding his tea. "You, my slave, are becoming more and more daring. You dare to say anything to me."
"Will Your Majesty punish me?"
"You're the only one who can take advantage of the situation. You're really thick-skinned."
Emperor An glared at me and cursed, saying angrily, "Don't think I'll let you off the hook just because you've fooled me a few times. You trespassed into the Duke's residence without permission and captured a third-rank official. You deserve ten lashes of the board yourself. If you do it again, I'll skin you alive!"
Xiao Yan didn't take it seriously and only asked, "What about the Song family..."
"The Song family will do as you say."
Emperor An took a sip of tea from his cup, his eyes cold. "Song Hong colluded with the Crown Prince's old ministers. The Song family has deceived the emperor and their superiors. They don't deserve to keep the title of Duke. A thorough investigation will be conducted on the Xu family. If everything is true, they will be severely punished."
"As for Prince Cheng and Lu Chongyuan..."
His face was cold and stern,
"Prince Cheng has been honest for so many years. I have never treated him harshly out of consideration for our brotherly friendship. Yet, he has developed thoughts that he shouldn't have. Not only has he been secretly interacting with court officials, he has also been secretly interfering in the affairs of the aristocratic families."
"And Lu Chongyuan. The late emperor trusted him so much back then that he entrusted him with the entire case of Crown Prince Li. Yet, he made such a huge mistake and disregarded the late emperor's trust. You should thoroughly investigate the matter between Song Hong and the Xu family. If Prince Cheng and the Lu family are truly involved, I will not let them off lightly."
"yes".
Xiao Yan fiddled with the tea on the small stove, his eyes slightly lowered.
The aristocratic families are the mortal enemy of Emperor An, and Lu Chongyuan is even more of a thorn in his eyes. As long as he is related to the Lu family, let alone giving up the Duke of Song's Mansion, even if it is Prince Cheng, what can he do?
It’s a pity that neither Prince Cheng nor Song Hong could understand this.
The scenery beside Yuhua Pond is very beautiful. The breeze blows across the water, and the warm afternoon sun falls on it, creating shimmering waves.
Xiao Yan refilled Emperor An's tea before saying, "There is one more matter I would like to submit to Your Majesty."
"The third branch of the Song family has a concubine daughter. She was born to a lowly slave girl while Song Tan was drunk. Over the years, Song Tan treated her very harshly, beating and scolding her at every turn. This time, I was able to obtain evidence against the Song family thanks to this daughter."
"She and the adopted sister I brought back with me share the same suffering. My adopted sister is soft-hearted and has been pestering me to ask for mercy on behalf of that concubine's daughter, so that she won't be innocently implicated by the Song family."
Emperor An laughed when he heard him calling her his cheap sister. "You really don't know how to be gentle with women. I call you brother, yet you are so mean. Besides, it's just a small matter. You can handle it yourself. Why are you coming to me?"
Xiao Yan frowned, "The Song family is guilty of treason. Your Majesty should be the one to grant them a pardon. How can I, a humble minister, interfere in their affairs?"
"Now you know how to ask me. You are so bold when it comes to following the rules, but you follow the rules when you can be partial."
Emperor An shook his head. "Since you say she has made meritorious contributions by exposing the Song family, then grant her a special pardon. She need not be implicated in the affairs of the Song family. And as for Song Tangning, since she has left the Song family, she need not be implicated in the affairs of the Song family either."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Xiao Yan poured more tea for Emperor An and glanced at his rather overly rosy face. "Your Majesty seems to be in good spirits lately."
Emperor An's mood brightened immediately after hearing this: "You feel the same? I also feel that my body has become much looser and I feel lighter."
Thanks to the golden elixir that Xiao Yan had someone find for him, he felt as if he had returned to his youth and was less tired than before.
Emperor An thought of the elixirs that made him vigorous and powerful, and his expression softened when he looked at Xiao Yan.
Compared with those old guys in the court who only knew how to oppose him, although Xiao Yan was a eunuch, he was much more loyal to him, which was worthy of his high regard for him.
Emperor An said, "I will issue an edict to you. Since the Song family has been arrested, the Song family should be sealed off. Investigate thoroughly and make sure no one talks nonsense."
Xiao Yan said gently, "I obey your command."
…
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com