Chapter 72 My dear Tang'er, please don't let your mother...
"Princess, Princess?" Having just finished dealing with the palace maids sent by Consort Hui, Zhu Xi entered the palace and found that Heng Bo had already returned.
Hengbo nodded slightly and fell into her own thoughts again. So the person who protected Ji Heng back then is still in the palace. Could it be the person who warned her last night?
But what does it mean to wait until that person goes back on their word? So, did that person not kill her last night because there was some agreement between them?
Who made the promise with him? And what does his death have to do with my mother?
While Hengbo was completely confused, he vaguely felt that all the clues were pointing in the same direction, but he couldn't connect them together for the time being.
Shaking her head to suppress the jumbled thoughts in her mind, she secretly told herself not to rush. As long as she was alive, one day, everything would come to light.
“Princess,” Zhu Huan came over to report, “I heard that His Majesty was furious at the morning court this morning. The Third Prince, who had just been released, was imprisoned for another year. The remaining supporters of the Third Prince were basically eradicated, and even Consort Shu was demoted to the rank of concubine.”
This was all within Hengbo's expectations. The Third Prince, that fool, had been imprisoned for so long that his brain must have been damaged. He was afraid that Ji Heng would forget about his son, so he thought that he could make a great contribution by solving the major threat of Shenxiao for him.
Don't they realize that Ji Heng specifically ordered them to rush back to Yujing on their days off? Was it to make it easier to welcome her? It was simply because he didn't want her to appear in the sight of the court officials.
But his outburst inadvertently benefited Hengbo.
However, Ji Heng was also foolish; after all, his sons were foolish as well, which only made the ministers more uneasy. He could discipline his own sons behind closed doors; taking them out to beat them would only fuel speculation.
In that case, we can begin the next step.
...
"Brother Zhang, would you like to join us for the literary gathering at Tinglan Pavilion tomorrow?" After class at the academy, Zhang Ran was stopped by a classmate.
He paused in packing his schoolwork, puzzled, and asked, "Huh? Wasn't the literary gathering just held the day before yesterday? Why is it being held again after only two days?"
His classmate, who had stopped him, joked, "Brother Zhang, your news came too late! Have you forgotten the scenery on Baiyu Avenue yesterday?"
"Could tomorrow's literary gathering be related to this newly returned...?"
"Brother Zhang, you'll see when you go tomorrow. I guarantee you won't be disappointed."
Zhang Ran chuckled: "Then let Brother Li keep you in suspense for another day. I will definitely arrive on time tomorrow."
Such conversations were passed around among different students. Some were puzzled, some were disdainful, but others stayed up all night writing essay after essay.
In the private room on the second floor.
"Master Cen, you've come for tea today as well?"
"While I'm still in pretty good shape, I've come to join in the fun with the young people."
"Hahaha," Grand Secretary Xie picked up his tea and took a sip, "The students' vigor is a blessing for the court and the people!"
The tables and chairs in the downstairs hall were arranged in a "回" shape. Seeing that most of the seats were already occupied, the student in charge of hosting walked to the middle and said, "Fellow students, I'm sure you all have some guesses about the topic we'll be discussing today, so I won't keep you in suspense any longer."
"Today's topic—female officials. Please speak freely." "What?" a student exclaimed, "Shouldn't we be discussing the assassination attempt on Princess Shenxiao today? Why are we bringing up female officials?"
The student in charge smiled and fanned himself with an air of refinement: "The attack on the princess in the capital is a matter for the Dali Temple, the Prefect of the Capital, and the Ministry of Justice to handle."
"As for the topic of female officials," he deliberately drew out, "I suppose this junior brother is unaware of the heroic deeds of Princess Shenxiao in controlling floods and suppressing Japanese pirates in Quzhou."
"Yes, I was ignorant." The student who had raised the first question sat down, his face flushed.
However, whispers and murmurs filled the hall, indicating that most of the students had only just learned of the news.
“In that case,” the student in charge smiled meaningfully, “please feel free to express your opinions.”
...
"What are your opinions, my esteemed ministers?"
From his high position, Ji Heng swept his gaze across the sea of official hats with a half-smile. Anyone who knew him well would know that he was on the verge of losing control in a fit of rage.
"Minister of Rites, what do you think?" He smiled and looked at the inconspicuous old man in the crowd. Sometimes, a person who is too useless is useful in another sense.
The Minister of Rites stepped forward, laughing and saying, "In my opinion, the appointment of women as officials is unprecedented in our dynasty. This is a matter of great importance and requires further discussion."
“Alright, let’s discuss this further,” Ji Heng’s eyes flickered. “What insightful opinions does the Imperial Censor have?”
The Imperial Censor, with his ears open and nose closed, knew why Ji Heng had called him out at this moment. He replied evasively, "Public sentiment is currently at a high level. I believe that it is better to guide than to suppress. However, I have no idea how to guide it."
Ji Heng listened to a bunch of nonsense but didn't force them. "Then I'll wait for you to go back and think it over carefully and come up with a solution. We'll discuss this matter later."
"Dismiss the court."
The court officials bowed and took their leave. Seeing that Ji Heng made no move, Eunuch Zheng, with great insight, dismissed his attendants.
As the palace doors slowly closed, the sound of the porcelain cup shattering was drowned out by the creaking of the wooden doors.
"Traitorous subject! Traitorous subject!" Ji Heng shouted angrily. "You've really grown some guts. You think you can threaten me with a mute who just returned to the capital?"
"They think they're worthy to see me make a fool of myself?!"
Seeing Ji Heng slam his hand on the table, Eunuch Chen quickly brought over a tea set. Ji Heng casually took it, intending to throw it, but then realized something was wrong. He weighed it in his hand and realized there was no water inside. He didn't know whether to scoff or scold, "You're quite clever."
At that moment, Eunuch Zheng handed him a cup of tea that had been poured, and said obsequiously, "Please calm down and take care of your health."
Ji Heng took the cup and drank it all in one gulp. “Not to mention that there is no precedent for a woman to be an official, there is no precedent for a mute man to be an official either.”
Eunuch Zheng put down his teacup and massaged his back again: "This Princess Shenxiao is also a fool. She has been used as a pawn and probably doesn't even know it yet. It is His Majesty who is kind and willing to help her out of this predicament."
Speaking of Shenxiao, Ji Heng instinctively disliked her, but said hypocritically, "Who told her to have no parents to discipline her? As her uncle, I should take care of her more. Let's just let this matter drop."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Inside the Drunken Clouds Palace, Hengbo stared blankly at the ants on the ground, seemingly doing nothing.
“Princess,” Zhu Huan reported the news she had just received, “Ji Heng has suppressed the matter, and I guess he wants to let it go.”
Hengbo was not surprised by this. Seeing the anxious look on Zhuxi's face, he waved his hand to signal her to calm down.
Zhu Huan also reassured her, "The princess had already anticipated this, there's no need to be nervous."
"Then all our efforts have been wasted?" Zhu Xi muttered. Why do they all seem so nonchalant? It's like the emperor isn't worried, but the eunuchs are.
Pah! Pah! Pah! Why is she insulting me? I'm not some eunuch!
Zhu Huan glanced at Heng Bo's face and, seeing that she didn't blame her for overstepping her bounds, continued to explain to her sister, "If this matter were accomplished all at once, it would be worse, as Ji Heng would suspect that it was the county magistrate's doing. Besides, Ji Heng thinks that as long as he drags it out... then we'll let him drag it out until the very end, when he thinks he has victory in his grasp."
Zhu Xi's eyes lit up, and she couldn't help but exclaim excitedly, "Let's catch him off guard again! The old thief's expression then will be quite a sight!"
"When exactly will it be?" She was already looking forward to it!
Zhu Huan also looked at Heng Bo. Although she didn't show it as obviously as her sister, her desire to make a name for herself was clearly written on her face.
After a moment's thought, Hengbo decided to do it on the day he opened his residence. Wouldn't it be wonderful to have double happiness?
"Yes," Zhu Huan replied, "I will inform Lord Wen immediately."
Seeing Zhu Huan accept the order and leave, Zhu Xi rolled her eyes and said coquettishly, "Good princess, when will you ever order me around? You're so biased towards my sister, it makes me sad." Of the two sisters, Zhu Huan was responsible for contacting Wen Jie, while her younger sister Zhu Xi mainly received news from the pavilion.
Sigh, what on earth has their young master been up to? Now look what's happened, they still have to rely on her to secure favor. When the princess runs away with Lord Wen, the young master will have nowhere to cry.
Hengbo didn't notice her little scheme; she actually had something she needed Zhuxi to do.
Ji Heng's wet nurse died in the palace, so it's time to close the net on Yanran's side.
"I'll take care of it right away," she said, but after a moment's hesitation, she replied, "I don't know where Red Rouge has gone, but she instructed that the Spider Web people will continue to follow up on the princess before she left."
Hengbo frowned and then relaxed, suppressing her unease for the time being. Since she had given instructions before leaving, it probably wasn't anything too urgent, and Yanran should be able to handle it.
...
"What's your decision?" The woman in exotic attire played with her long, silken hair cascading down her temples, her crimson lips parting slightly.
“Master,” Yanran said, beads of sweat glistening on her forehead, “I…I cannot do it.”
The woman lifted her chin with her slender, pale fingers, leaning forward slightly. Her amber eyes gleamed with interest as she admired her disheveled appearance. "You're practically a child I raised. Do you think I don't know what you're capable of?" She suddenly raised her voice, which was already slightly sharp, now filled with ruthlessness. "Yanran, are you going to defy me?"
Seemingly sensing its master's displeasure, the evil creature with bright golden vertical pupils wrapped around the woman's snow-white arms suddenly bared its fangs and hissed.
"Your subordinate dares not," Yanran lowered her head, concealing the fear and apprehension in her eyes.
"However, Princess Shenxiao is highly skilled in martial arts, and Yanran is no match for her."
“But,” the woman said, pulling away and leaning lazily against the stone chair covered with tiger skin and fox fur, “Red Rouge was one of my four protectors not because of her martial arts skills.”
"Alright then, Yanran," she clapped her hands gently, and a masked maid appeared, holding a jade box.
“Your Aunt Nan isn’t an unreasonable person. I know you’re desperate to kill Ji Heng.” She took the jade box and tossed it to Yanran as if it were a gift. “With this to help you, there’s no man in this world you can’t kill.”
"How about it?" The woman's eyes held both mockery and ridicule. The bullying beast, relying on his power, also crept closer to Yanran's profile.
Amidst the chilling hiss, Yanran's heart gradually drew closer to the icy coldness clinging to her face. She closed her eyes, "Your subordinate obeys."
This was something she couldn't refuse, even if it meant selling her soul.
The woman sang a joyful lullaby like a mischievous child who had succeeded in her evil deeds, until a question reached her ears: "Aren't you afraid he'll hate you?"
The woman smiled and said, "Then let him kill me."
My dear Tang'er, don't keep your mother waiting too long.
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