Chapter 217 This is Word of Mouth
You have to know that it was the Emperor who asked the Crown Prince to investigate this matter. Shouldn't you be thanking the Emperor? Have you misplaced your priorities?
The prince was speechless. He did it on purpose! He must have done it on purpose! Otherwise, how could someone as smart as Liu Yuanji make such a mistake? This was just to sow discord between him and the emperor. Their relationship was already precarious, and Lu Chenyang was going to step on it.
The look in Emperor Qianyuan's eyes when he looked at the prince indeed became gloomy.
The prince could no longer maintain the warm smile on his face. He laughed dryly twice and drank the glass of wine with Lu Chenyang.
That's a mouthful of bitterness.
Lu Chenyang didn't care about all that. After he toasted, he sat down happily.
Lu Chenyang looked at Emperor Qianyuan again and said, "Your Majesty, I feel that the Crown Prince and I have a strong connection. This time when I come to the capital, I wonder if I could ask the Crown Prince to introduce me to the current scenery of the capital."
Everyone; “…”
Aren't you from the capital? Do you still need the crown prince?!
However, Lu Chenyang was a member of the Prince's faction, so it seemed right for him to be close to the Prince. Lu Chenyang seemed to be afraid that others didn't know this and had to remind everyone all the time.
Emperor Qianyuan glanced at Lu Chenyang with a half-smile and said, "If you, my dear Lord Lu, are willing, then of course it is possible."
Lu Chenyang was overjoyed: "Thank you, Your Majesty!" After a pause, he added: "I also brought some gifts to Your Majesty when I came to the capital this time."
Emperor Qianyuan was not interested. It was a well-known fact that Lu Chenyang was poor. What good things could he give him?
"Oh? Thank you, Lord Lu, for still thinking of me. I heard that Lord Lu almost emptied his family's wealth for the people. I..."
Lu Chenyang looked at him expectantly. "Don't you want it anymore? Just say so!" He wouldn't send it off.
Those were the Dongzhu that Dai Jitong had prepared for him. They were extremely valuable. If he didn't want them, he could sell them and buy food.
Emperor Qianyuan continued, "I am very much looking forward to the gift you will give me."
Emperor Qianyuan saw the look in Lu Chenyang's eyes, but he refused to let him have his way! He should have given him a gift! He was the emperor, and as a minister, it was his duty to please him! Why shouldn't he accept it?
Emperor Qianyuan sneered in his heart.
Lu Chenyang's eyes were slightly dim, and he was very disappointed.
He had no choice but to take out the box he had prepared and have it delivered to Emperor Qianyuan.
Lu Chenyang presented the box, and the chief eunuch beside Emperor Qianyuan hurried over to take it. No one mentioned the inspection; after all, no one doubted Lu Chenyang's reputation for loving the people like his own children and being loyal to the emperor and his country.
This is the benefit of reputation. For someone like Lu Chenyang, who is dedicated to serving the people, no one would believe him if he said he was disrespectful to Emperor Qianyuan. Even if he did tell others, the world would only think that Emperor Qianyuan was persecuting loyal officials and was afraid of Lu Chenyang's reputation and power. After all, Emperor Qianyuan had a criminal record.
The chief eunuch respectfully handed the box to Emperor Qianyuan. Emperor Qianyuan opened the box, and the civil and military officials below could not help but look at it curiously.
Everyone wants to know what Lu Chenyang gave.
After all, Lu Chenyang was known to be poor. It was said that he could only eat an egg a day, and even meat was a luxury.
Although there is a suspicion that Lu Chenyang deliberately spread this rumor, it is indeed true that Lu Chenyang is poor.
What good things can Lu Chenyang give to the emperor?
Emperor Qianyuan opened the box and saw a round, lustrous oriental pearl inside. The moment it saw the light of day, the entire hall seemed to light up.
Lu Chenyang said with a distressed look on his face, "This is a treasure I stumbled upon in Ningzhou. I shamelessly bought it from the buyer. The buyer probably feared my status, so he reluctantly parted with it. However, he seemed very distressed and offered a very high price. Your Majesty knows that I have always been short of money, but since I thought it was a gift to Your Majesty, I gritted my teeth and bought it anyway."
Lu Chenyang had an expression that said, "I'm losing money for the emperor."
Everyone: “…”
They had often sent gifts to the Emperor, especially on his birthday, when everyone would rack their brains to collect rare and precious treasures. Lu Chenyang's Oriental Pearl was rare, but they had also seen fine things before. He had exaggerated so much about just one Oriental Pearl that those who didn't know would have thought he was giving a dragon egg.
Emperor Qianyuan was somewhat pleased with himself. He felt that Lu Chenyang still cared about him, the emperor. Even if he acted unruly, he was still willing to spend money on him.
Lu Chenyang is short of money, and yet he is willing to give him such an expensive gift even though he is so short of money. If this is not thoughtfulness, then what is?
Emperor Qianyuan gave Lu Chenyang a warm smile and said, "Lord Lu, you are so thoughtful. I like you very much."
Ministers: "..."
You never said that when they gave you expensive things. Isn't it just a pearl?
Emperor Qianyuan snorted. "Each of you might be richer than me, so what's wrong with giving him an expensive gift? How can Lu Chenyang be the same? He can't even afford to eat meat."
Emperor Qianyuan was dissatisfied with Lu Chenyang's dominance and was also wary of his ability, but he never doubted his character.
This is word of mouth!
After Lu Chenyang delivered the gift, Emperor Qianyuan was very happy. Lu Chenyang's first visit to the palace to see the emperor was perfect.
At least that’s what Lu Chenyang himself thinks.
Emperor Qianyuan didn't mention anything else. He just asked him to return to Beijing to report on his work, but he didn't ask any official business - Lu Chenyang's abilities were known to the whole world, so there was nothing to ask.
The inn where Lu Chenyang stayed in the capital city had two teams of imperial guards sent by Emperor Qianyuan to guard it, fearing that something might happen to Lu Chenyang.
Lu Chenyang has now arrived in the capital, and his life is in the hands of Emperor Qianyuan. If he encounters any accident at this time, even if it is a real accident, the world will blame Emperor Qianyuan.
Emperor Qianyuan believed that even though he was the emperor, he could not bear the blame. Especially before Lu Chenyang arrived in the capital, he had already received news that the Lu family army had stationed 200,000 troops in Huai'an.
Lu Chenyang and the Crown Prince left the palace together. Before getting on the carriage, Lu Chenyang looked at the Crown Prince with a smile and said, "Your Highness, I have also prepared a gift for you. I wonder if Your Highness is free tomorrow? I will go to the Crown Prince's Mansion to pay my respects to Your Highness."
The prince raised his eyebrows. Lu Chenyang gave him a gift? Of course, he would meet him in person.
The prince nodded slightly. "Master Lu is so polite. If Master Lu wants to come, I will be free. Tomorrow I will be waiting for Master Lu's arrival at the Prince's Mansion."
When Lu Chenyang returned to the post station, Zhao Xi hurried out to greet him.
Lu Chenyang saw her smile, and then saw the bowl of noodles in her hand.
Zhao Xi said, "Your Excellency has worked hard. I heard that the food at the palace banquet is not enough to satisfy your hunger. Your Excellency must be starving. I specially prepared noodles..."
Lu Chenyang was about to refuse, saying that if Zhao Xi did it well, it would be no different from making drugs.
Zhao Xi seemed to see his resistance and gave him a reproachful look: "I asked the chef at the post station to make it."
Lu Chenyang breathed a sigh of relief and said with a smile: "I'm just hungry, Zhao Xi is so considerate."
Zhao Xi was praised and said happily, "Don't worry, my lord. I won't give you the food I make unless I have someone try it and confirm that it is delicious."
Tan Feng: “!!!”
Tan Feng looked hopeless, so their life or death didn't matter, right?
Zhao Xi particularly enjoyed cooking, and she didn't know what inspired her. She had no talent for it, yet she refused to give up and kept trying. Unwilling to poison Lu Chenyang, she let the people around her taste it.
Tan Feng, Lu Ning, Tingshu, and everyone around them were deeply poisoned.
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