Su Rong came to the capital intending to collaborate with Yan Huisheng in breaking the deadlock. Her current path is proceeding precisely as she had wished, so she is quite content.
Looking at her, Su Xingze remarked, "Wouldn’t this speed up the process?"
"Indeed, it’s just a matter of time."
Su Xingze sighed, "Considering the current circumstances, I fear it won’t be longer than half a year before you have to head to Nanchu."
Su Rong understood his sentiment; he was reluctant to part with her. She laughed, "Older brother, it’s not like I’m venturing to the ends of the earth. Nanchu, albeit far from Daliang, is merely a month or two’s journey away. It’s not as if we will never see each other again."
Su Xingze glared at her, "That may be so, but it won’t be easy to meet."
Su Rong also acknowledged this fact and quickly poured him a cup of date tea, "I still can’t depart immediately, so don’t feel unwilling about it yet. Save that sentiment for the day I leave."
Helpless, Su Xingze accepted the date tea and changed the topic.
Su Rong inquired, "How is Zhou Gu’s injury healing?"
Su Xingze glanced at her, "It’s almost healed. He should be able to go out in a couple of days."
Su Rong nodded.
Sighting that she only asked this once and did not probe any further, Su Xingze reported, "After your departure from the capital last night, Zhou Gu had Ziye fetch Sheng An’s token and sealed off the city gate. He instructed Ziye to stop anyone from exiting the city, unless they bore the emperor’s token."
Su Rong looked at him, paused, and acknowledged. "I heard about this incident. The Rui’an King’s departure from the capital was made possible by the Crown Prince’s decree. So, it was Zhou Gu’s doing?"
"Yes, he was worried that someone might follow and harm you when you left the capital at night, so he blocked everyone," Su Xingze felt it was necessary to inform Su Rong.
Su Rong nodded.
Su Xingze asked again, "The emperor stayed behind in your palace for a long chat. What exactly did he say to you?"
Su Rong briefly relayed the Emperor’s words.
Su Xingze frowned, "What is the Emperor implying? Does he not approve of your engagement to Ye Guixue?"
"It’s not necessarily disapproval. He’s testing me," Su Rong answered, "No one who can sit on that throne can be simple. Otherwise, why would it be him among the many princes who took that position? Otherwise, the Crown Prince wouldn’t have been oppressed for so many years, stuck in a predicament where he dares not easily break the deadlock, and the Duke Residence wouldn’t have maintained a low profile."
She chuckled, "From my perspective, Daliang’s Emperor is a profound strategist who artfully uses others to achieve his ends. He’s adept at governing, with an in-depth grasp of the situation and the billowing times."
Curious, Su Xingze asked, "How so?" 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚
He had not yet met the Emperor.
Elaborating, Su Rong said, "The current situation is such that all the grown princes, except for the Crown Prince, are involved in significant cases. The national treasury is depleted, and Guixue brought the decree from the Nanchu King, demanding Daliang to first recognize me. Once my identity is made public, and I proceed to Nanchu in a dignified manner, the Emperor will face enormous pressure. Even if he wants to constrain the Crown Prince again, he can only refrain, and he can only let the Duke Residence rise strongly. Clearly, I am inclined towards the Eastern Palace, and the Su Family has long been tied with it. Therefore, even if he is unwilling, he will have to go with the flow of the situation, allow the Crown Prince to wield power, and even give me a token as if he were personally present."
Su Xingze nodded.
Continuing, Su Rong said, "He probably feels that my mother’s lineage isn’t enough to keep me tied to Daliang’s ship, hence, he’s trying to add the weight of Zhou Gu. After all, for many years, Nanchu, now a vassal state, has been looking down upon Daliang. If he could control Nanchu through Zhou Gu and bring it back to its original status when the founding emperor established the dynasty, that would be ideal."
Su Xingze’s expression changed, "Does the Emperor want Zhou Gu to be your king consort?"
"Yes, there is such a notion indeed, they were trying to probe my thoughts." Su Rong said, "I rejected them decisively."
Su Xingze wanted to ask, what if Zhou Gu genuinely had thoughts of becoming your husband? But then he considered that her current relationship with Ye Guixue was actually rather good. Last evening, she left the city with Ye Guixue without any hesitation, letting him fuss about for a night and another day, regardless of what the future holds, he shouldn’t currently take Zhou Gu’s perspective and disrupt her plans and ideas.
So, Su Xingze set down his teacup, stood up, and cut her off: "You’re also tired, go and rest quickly! After all, it’s the actual fierce battle up next."
Su Rong nodded, "Alright."
After leaving with his umbrella, Su Xingze did not see Su Rong move from her space in front of the stove. She stared at the roaring flames for a long time before lowering her teacup and going back to her room.
The magistrates of Dali Temple, the Ministry of Justice, and the government office in the capital have been having a hard time these days. These are supposed to be places for detaining and interrogating criminals, but they have become mere decorations. Regardless of whether it’s the Duke Residence or the Rui’an King Residence, due to previous instances of deaths in prison, they don’t trust these places to keep anyone safer. Even the Emperor has stopped holding the accused in prison, but directly detained them in the palace, which has them somewhat nervous these days.
They are not sure when the guillotine above their heads will fall, and have been inspecting their subordinates these past days, waiting for the Emperor’s move.
As they expected, one day, Rui’an King obtained an imperial edict, sent the monk from the Buddha Temple to the Ministry of Justice prison, and relayed the Emperor’s oral decree.
The Minister of Justice immediately tensed up and said to Rui’an King, "Your Highness can rest assured, I will ensure the custody of the criminals."
Rui’an King courteously stated, "Promising me is frivolous, Minister. It depends on whether there are any oversights in your Ministry of Justice. If anything happens that affects my investigation, I will not plead your case before the Emperor."
The Minister of Justice hurriedly responded, "Of course."
After Rui’an King left the Ministry of Justice, he returned to his residence.
Upon hearing that Rui’an King had returned to the residence, Xie Lin immediately went to see him, "Father, how is the investigation going?"
Rui’an King briefly explained the situation and then sighed, "This case will not be closed anytime soon, we must continue the investigation."
Xie Lin widened his eyes, "There was gold hidden at Eagle Beak Cliff behind the Buddha Temple? Where is that gold now?"
"It will be transported back to the capital soon."
Xie Lin said: "Father, according to the Crown Prince’s wife, the reason she agreed to cooperate with Lipin’s father and second uncle was because they gave her a million silver taels each year. Do you think that place could be where Lipin’s father and second uncle hid their gold? After all, when investigating Lipin’s home, we didn’t find anything valuable. Otherwise, where did the money to promise the Crown Prince’s wife come from?"
Rui’an King nodded, "Possible."
Xie Lin continued, "It seems we have to start with Lipin’s family. Unfortunately, her father and second uncle are dead, and Zhao Fei and old man Zhao, who were implicated with them, have also been killed. Although we have discovered the Buddha Temple and a man named Puhui, I’m afraid we won’t be able to find his people anytime soon."
Rui’an King massaged his brow, "Let’s rest for today. Tomorrow, I will find Lady Su Qi to discuss how we should continue the investigation."
Xie Lin sighed, "Father, you’re really drawing her into this."
Rui’an King glared at him, "Tianzhen, do you think I am pulling her into this? It’s clear that her heart is with the Eastern Palace. After coming to the capital, she has been trying to disrupt the political situation, helping the Crown Prince to break the deadlock. Haven’t you noticed that ever since her arrival in the capital, the Crown Prince is no longer trapped and already seems to have the advantage?"
Xie Lin thought for a moment, scratched his head, "It seems so."
Rui’an King looked at him, "You still have a lot to learn. From tomorrow onwards, follow her and learn from her. It’s no wonder she was taught by Xie Yuan. She doesn’t play by the rules. Only in that way, can the prolonged political situation of the Crown Prince be broken."
After saying that, he sighed lightly, "If the Nanchu Princess successfully returns to Nanchu, with the support of the Nanchu King and the Ye Family, I fear the Nangong Family is really not a match."
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