Shen Wan glanced at Xie Jingyan, then instructed Haitang, "I need to change into a different dress before I can enter the palace."
Haitang was somewhat taken aback.
Xie Jingyan's already dark face darkened even more, and he gritted his teeth and said, "You stay in the manor and don't go anywhere!"
After saying that, Xie Jingyan suddenly stood up.
Watching his departing figure, Shen Wan barely managed to suppress her laughter, while Haitang's shoulders trembled as she feared that the man would turn around and see her and be furious.
Despite her laughter, Shen Wan couldn't suppress her curiosity about why the Emperor had repeatedly summoned Xie Jingyan to the palace.
Furthermore, Xie Jingyan left the mansion almost with a belly full of rage, and immediately mounted his horse.
Entering the palace.
He went straight to the Imperial Study.
The emperor summoned him twice, and he was allowed to enter the imperial study directly without needing the gatekeeper to announce his arrival.
He stepped forward, without bowing, and asked directly, "Why do you insist on me going to the palace?"
His tone was unpleasant, filled with impatience.
Standing to the side, Eunuch Yuan listened with a trembling heart. The Emperor had summoned Prince Ling, but the Prince refused to enter the palace. The Emperor was already furious, and the Prince was still speaking so impatiently. In the past, the Emperor had been more tolerant of the Prince because of his leg problems and the fact that he could only travel in a wheelchair. But now the Prince could walk freely. If the Emperor really angered him, he would really punish him.
Eunuch Yuan cautiously glanced at the Emperor, only to see some veins bulging on the Emperor's forehead. Not content with that, the Emperor added fuel to the fire, asking, "Has Your Majesty agreed to withdraw the imperial decree of marriage?"
Eunuch Yuan, "..."
Prince Ling really dares to speak his mind.
Being injured by the emperor with a paperweight wasn't enough for him; he really wanted the emperor to have him dragged away and beaten with a board.
Yuan Gonggong was truly afraid that the emperor would be so angry that he wouldn't even call him "Father" in front of him.
Such a distant form of address caused a flicker of sorrow in the Emperor's eyes. He said, "Complete the task I have assigned you, and I will consider revoking the imperial decree of marriage."
Xie Jingyan frowned slightly. "What kind of job?"
The Emperor said, "The official in charge of building the Xizhou Dam was killed, and the construction blueprints were destroyed. There must have been embezzlement in the construction of the Xizhou Dam. You are in charge of investigating this matter."
"I don't have that ability, Your Majesty, please find someone else," Xie Jingyan refused without even thinking.
The emperor was stunned by the rejection.
Yuan Gonggong was also bewildered.
Eunuch Yuan advised Xie Jingyan, "His Majesty has finally relented. If you investigate this matter thoroughly, His Majesty will grant the annulment of the engagement between the Marquis of Pingyang's heir and the Princess of Huai'an."
Xie Jingyan said, "The heir of the Marquis of Pingyang does not need to annul the engagement."
Eunuch Yuan, "...???"
On the day the marriage was bestowed, the prince went to the palace to ask the emperor to withdraw the imperial decree. Why is it that now there is no need to annul the marriage?
Do young people these days change their minds so quickly?
The emperor picked up the teacup, opened it, glanced at it, and then put it down.
Eunuch Yuan quickly took the teacup away.
Xie Jingyan also turned and left.
The Emperor's face darkened as he said, "Halt!"
Xie Jingyan stopped and turned to look at the Emperor. "Is there anything else?"
Every single word he uttered was tantamount to provoking a beating.
If the emperor hadn't exercised his restraint, he would have ordered his men to drag this rebellious son away and beat him to death.
The Emperor, his face contorted with rage, said, "You may not investigate the Xizhou case, but you must hand over the blueprints related to the Xizhou Dam."
Xie Jingyan frowned deeply. "How did Your Majesty know that I have the construction plans for the Xizhou Dam?"
How did he know?
There is no better son than a father!
It is believed that an earthquake will indeed occur in Meizhou. By taking precautions in advance, it is impossible not to have considered that if the Xizhou Dam were to collapse, the officials involved in the Xizhou case would destroy evidence. In order to prevent this, they would definitely have backed up the construction drawings, materials, etc. required for the construction of the dam in advance, so as to check where the problem lies later.
Yan'er has always been meticulous in his work since he was a child, so it's impossible that he would become careless as he grows up.
Xie Jingyan said, "I do have the construction drawings, but I have a condition."
The Emperor's face darkened considerably. "Serving the court is your duty as a prince. Do you still want to negotiate with me?"
Xie Jingyan chuckled lightly, "Young Master Yun is asking for the hand of Princess Qinghe. Some people are even using this to negotiate with my wife. As long as the Yun family pays 400,000 taels, the matter will be settled. What's wrong with me using what I have to negotiate with the Emperor?"
"If Your Majesty thinks I am not worthy to be a prince, then demote me to a commoner."
After saying that, Xie Jingyan turned and left.
This time the emperor didn't call him back, but his face was ashen.
Xie Jingyan stepped out of the Imperial Study and saw Eunuch Yuan talking to Chen Feng. When he saw Xie Jingyan coming over, Eunuch Yuan went back to the Imperial Study.
Chen Feng stepped forward and said, "Master, Eunuch Yuan inquired with me why the heir of the Marquis of Pingyang no longer needs to annul the engagement. I told Eunuch Yuan the truth..."
"It's alright, Eunuch Yuan is one of us," Xie Jingyan said nonchalantly.
Chen Feng thought so too.
If it weren't for Eunuch Yuan, the little prince in the princess's belly would be gone. Eunuch Yuan is the benefactor of the prince and princess.
The Emperor sat on the dragon throne. Eunuch Yuan stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, the Heir Apparent of the Marquis of Pingyang truly does not need to annul the engagement..."
The Emperor glanced at Eunuch Yuan, who continued, "The heir of the Marquis of Pingyang was delayed in returning to the capital because of disaster relief efforts in Meizhou. The girl he admires is already engaged to someone else and will be getting married next month, so it's no use breaking off the engagement now."
The Emperor's brow furrowed deeply. "You're not saying this on purpose because you're afraid Yan'er will anger me by helping him annul the engagement?"
Eunuch Yuan hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but then stopped.
The Emperor said, "Speak!"
Eunuch Yuan forced a smile and said, "The heir of the Marquis of Pingyang said this after the Prince of Ling gave him poison and told him to pretend to be sick and break off the engagement, so it should be true."
Feigning illness to annul the engagement?
The Emperor was furious. "They can even cancel my bestowed marriage so easily! Would they be unable to cancel a normal engagement?!"
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