Su Rong and Fen Ling depart from the Capital City. Aside from the Prince’s Residence, the news has reached the Emperor in the Imperial Palace.
The Emperor frowns, "Su Rong and Fen Ling took the Ning siblings to Nanping?"
Zhao De shakes his head, "Your humble servant is unaware, Your Majesty may need to ask the Crown Prince."
The Emperor thinks this to be true and has someone summon the Crown Prince to the palace.
Yan Huisheng enters the Imperial Palace, reaches the Imperial Study Room, and pays his respects to the Emperor.
The Emperor asks him, "I’ve heard that Su Rong has left the capital? Did she personally escort the Ning siblings to Nanping?"
Yan Huisheng responds, "The matter I discussed with the Emperor a few days ago, does the Emperor remember? She left the capital because of that matter."
The Emperor suddenly remembers, Yan Huisheng had mentioned to him that the affairs of the Pingxi General Residence in Jibei should be handled by the siblings, Su Rong and Su Xingze. He had also shown his position, advising Yan Huisheng to think carefully and act cautiously, to avoid counterproductive outcomes.
After all, Zhang Ping, who had concealed his ambitions for many years, had ensnared him and was difficult to deal with.
It seems that Su Rong is purportedly heading to Nanping, but in reality, she is heading to Jibei. This is indeed a good plan as Su Rong is quite conspicuous in the Capital City. Thus, leaving in this manner also serves as a good excuse.
The Emperor nods, "The memory is coming back to me."
He speaks to Yan Huisheng, "Su Rong’s safety cannot be compromised. Did you discuss a suitable solution before she left the capital?"
Yan Huisheng nods, "We discussed several plans. She will act according to circumstances once she arrives in Jibei."
The Emperor nods, "That’s good."
He looks at Yan Huisheng, "The affairs of Jibei are entirely entrusted to you to handle. Make sure to handle them well. Do not disappoint my trust in you."
When Yan Huisheng hears the Emperor mention trust, he maintains a calm demeanor, "If the Emperor does not trust me now, who else can he trust? As the Crown Prince, named as the heir by the Emperor from a young age, I will not joke about the inheritance of my ancestors’ rivers and mountains, and will wholeheartedly serve Great Liang’s Rivers and Mountains."
The Emperor chokes upon his words, angrily saying, "You’re deliberately provoking me!"
Yan Huisheng looks at him, "I’m telling the truth."
The Emperor is nearly explosively angry, "You’re becoming increasingly presumptuous!"
Yan Huisheng pauses momentarily, "May the Emperor take care of his health. Judging from the look on the Emperor’s face, it appears that your illness has yet to fully recover and it is detrimental to your recovery to get easily angry."
The Emperor hears his words, although they are unpleasant to listen to, but in the end, he still cares about his health. Angrily, he waves his hand, "You stop angering me, and my body will recover."
He looks at Yan Huisheng, "You’re right, if I don’t trust you now, who else can I trust? So, rest assured, I never thought of deposing you as the Crown Prince. I have never thought it before, and as long as you don’t murder your father or commit matricide in the future, there naturally won’t be any."
Yan Huisheng nods, "The Emperor can also rest assured, I’m not in a hurry to ascend the throne. I hope that the Emperor lives a long and healthy life. I hope you continue working hard for the prosperity of Great Liang’s Rivers and Mountains."
The Emperor: "..."
He suddenly laughs in anger, glaring at Yan Huisheng, "When did your tongue become so sharp? Have you learned this from Su Rong? I remember that you used to be reserved and taciturn. The teachings of Grand Tutor Qin should have made you gentle, courteous, and respectful, not as you are now with your sharp tongue."
Yan Huisheng is silent for a while, then smiles, "Yes, she taught me. She said that I can’t always let others bully me."
The Emperor: "..."
Who dares to bully the Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace? Is he referring to him? After all, in the past, Yan Li and Yan Lin could only secretly oppose the Eastern Palace, but they didn’t dare to do anything openly. Even though he has been suppressed in recent years, his skills have always been evident. The position of the Crown Prince alone makes them too fear to offend him openly. Now, one has been demoted to a commoner, and the other will be sorted out sooner or later.
The Emperor is speechless and waves his hand at him, "Enough, I won’t discuss this with you anymore, you may go!"
Yan Huisheng takes his leave and leaves the Imperial Study Room.
After he leaves, the Emperor calls Yu An to massage his forehead. With his eyes closed and enjoying Yu An’s familiar techniques, he routinely converses with him, "Yu An, do you perceive any significant changes in the Crown Prince’s attitude toward me?"
Yu An, able to return to the Emperor’s side because of the Crown Prince’s magnanimity, naturally picks up good words to say, "Your Majesty, as a humble servant, I indeed noticed, the Crown Prince and you are increasingly like a regular father and son nowadays."
"Oh?" The Emperor raises an eyebrow, "A regular father and son?"
"Yes." Yu An says, "In a regular father-son relationship, which son doesn’t defy his father? And which one after reprimand doesn’t comply? In the past, Your Majesty expected too much, and the Crown Prince’s temper was overly suppressed. Now, Your Majesty trusts the Crown Prince and the Crown Prince has full rein to act. So naturally, he treats you differently. There’s no need to be cautious like before. Instead of the orthodox relationship of the emperor with the official, we now have parental affection."
The Emperor ponders over this for a long while before nodding and acknowledging, "You make a good point."
He takes a deep breath, closing his eyes, "I’ve been somewhat unable to adapt these past few days; it’s been many years since anyone has contradicted me. I still remember his enthusiasm when he was young. He would argue with me about literature until his face turned red, and that was when he was only seven or eight years old. Then as he grew older, because I was too harsh with him, he did not show that enthusiasm anymore."
Yu An replies, "This humble servant also remembers those times. The Crown Prince would often stay by Your Majesty’s side. As soon as you were done with state affairs, and the Crown Prince got out of school, he would show you his writings or discuss it with you."
The Emperor nods, "Yes, when he was young, he was also close to me. I was too demanding these years and almost made a big mistake. Fortunately, it’s not too late."
Yu An cannot follow up on this and no longer says more.
The Emperor lays down quietly with his eyes closed, not speaking anymore, but considers in his heart. The thought is not so bad after all. From the illness of the past few days, he has realized that he’s grown old. There’s no one he can trust more with the vast rivers and mountains of Daliang than Crown Prince Yan Huisheng.
The subject of the ruler and minister and father and son indeed is a profound one.
At the Duke Residence, Princess Sheng An was surprised to hear that Su Rong had escorted the Ning siblings out of the Capital City and ask the Duchess, "Are they heading to Nanping?"
The Duchess nods, "They should be. My daughter-in-law got someone to inquire about it and they say that Su Rong personally escorted them there. They left the capital early this morning. Now everyone in the Capital City is discussing this matter."
The Duchess guesses, "Who would have thought that yesterday Su Rong would send Fen Ling to pick up the Ning siblings? Apparently, the Prince’s wife also went, only to be received with disappointment. The Ning siblings willingly left with Su Rong."
Princess Sheng An seems thoughtful, "So brother Gu also went to Nanping."
The Duchess affirms again, "Yes, brother Gu also went to Nanping to help the Crown Prince deal with the issues involving Marquis Nanping Residence and the Eighteen Villages."
Having grown up amidst palace intrigues, Princess Sheng An has a keen sense for certain matters. "This matter is not simple. A few days ago, Cheche came back and told me that the Crown Prince had a secret decree and needed to take a trip away from the military for a few days. I wonder if it has anything to do with Su Rong escorting the Ning siblings away today."
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