Chapter 37 Teahouse 2 Your Xie Family Also Has a Scandal
Xie Wuhen hurriedly stood up and asked Wu Sheng to check this "De Shun", and unexpectedly met Liu Qinian who suddenly entered the room.
Liu Qinian, the Minister of Dali Temple, is Xie Wuhen's superior.
Liu Qinian ordered: "I will take over this case, you can go and do other things."
Xie Wuhen: “…”
Liu Qinian said helplessly, "Don't look at me like that. This is the emperor's order."
Xie Wuhen tried to explain: "Sir, if you give me a few more days, I will definitely find the murderer."
Liu Qinian snatched the coupon from his hand and smiled. "I wanted to give you time to find the murderer, but it's no use. The Emperor has already said that he will immediately release you from the complicated affairs of the Dali Temple. He has a more important task for you."
He glanced at the bills in his hand and said with disdain, "This is just a case of a merchant being murdered. It's not as important as the emperor's affairs."
Xie Wuhen didn't want to argue anymore, so he clasped his fists, bowed, turned around and walked out of the public housing.
As he reached the door, he saw Zhao Fu coming to deliver the imperial edict. "Thank you, sir. The emperor has summoned you to the palace."
He asked tentatively, "Is there something urgent, Your Majesty?"
Zhao Fu smiled and said, "It's nothing urgent. Maybe he got some new tea and wanted to ask Master Xie to go to Weiyang Palace to taste it."
Xie Wuhen couldn't help but wonder: "Just tasting tea?"
If it's just about tasting tea, why should he be freed from the "complicated affairs"?
Zhao Fu lowered his voice and said, "I think it's still about the matter of Empress Duofu. The Emperor seems to be getting more and more impatient. He even called out the Empress' name in his dream last night."
He took a deep breath and understood what was going on.
After saying "thank you", he followed Zhao Fu into the sedan chair to the palace.
In the Weiyang Palace, the emperor had just made tea when he saw Xie Wuhen walking into the hall.
He smiled and said, "Just in time for this. Come and taste my new tea."
Xie Wuhen bowed and then sat down below the emperor.
The emperor personally poured tea for him, and he took two sips.
"How does it taste?" asked the emperor.
"Refreshing sweetness with a hint of bitterness, great tea."
"Look, Ziyu is really amazing. He can accurately describe the taste after just two sips. He's much better than that old man Zhao Fu."
Zhao Fu bent his waist and smiled: "How can this old slave compare with Master Xie? Master Xie is the top scholar who won the top three prizes in the imperial examination. This old slave is just a lowly servant."
The emperor waved his hand at him and said, "Everyone, please leave first."
Zhao Fu lowered his head and replied "yes", then led a group of palace servants to retreat.
The emperor raised an eyebrow and exhaled, "Yesterday I summoned the Second Prince, and he brought this tea." He paused, then added, "Thank you for taking the trouble."
Xie Wuhen echoed, "It is said that the Second Prince personally took care of all the disaster relief work this time, and settled many starving people, which earned him great gratitude from the local people."
The emperor scoffed and patted the armrest of the throne. "Who among those who set their sights on this throne of mine would be such a pushover?"
Xie Wuhen paused and didn't dare to respond.
The emperor took a few sips of tea and continued, "Thankfully, the disaster situation has been stabilized. This is a blessing for both the country and the people."
Xie Wuhen replied: "Your Majesty is wise and powerful, and the people are loyal to him. Liang will surely usher in another era of peace and prosperity."
"Zi Yu has also started to say these clichés in front of me?"
"I dare not."
The emperor sighed and looked at him gravely: "I am now old and my time is running out. The only thing I regret is that I was not able to find Duofu."
Xie Wuhen knelt on the ground: "It is my incompetence."
"Stand up, there's no need for all this formality."
Xie Wuhen said "Thank you, Your Majesty", then stood up and sat back in his original seat.
The emperor picked up the teapot and filled it for him. "I have already instructed Liu Qinian not to confine you to the complicated affairs of the Dali Temple. You must free up your hands so that you can concentrate on my work."
He replied: "Lord Liu has already told me."
The emperor said "Yes" and asked, "Have you made any progress in recent days?"
"Your Majesty, there has been some progress. The eunuch Shunzi did not return to his hometown after leaving the palace, so we have not been able to find any relevant clues in Fuzhou. However, I have also thought that Empress Duofu's tea art is extremely exquisite and perfect. She must have studied under a master before entering the palace. Therefore, I am currently searching for a tea master from twenty years ago. Perhaps they can provide some clues about the Empress."
The emperor thought for a moment and said "OK".
Then his tone became solemn: "I will give you another six months. If you still can't find any news about Duofu after six months, you will be the only one I will hold responsible."
Xie Wuhen bowed his head and replied, "I obey your command."
When I came out of Weiyang Palace, the sky was a little gloomy.
The weather in early summer changes suddenly, and it is about to rain.
Zhao Fu took out an umbrella and said, "Thank you, sir, take it with you so you don't get wet in the rain."
He shook his head: "No, thank you, sir."
Zhao Fu smiled and said, "Then I will see you off, sir."
The two of them walked down the steps in front of the hall one after the other.
As soon as I passed through the archway of the front hall, I saw a boy kneeling in the corridor.
The boy was thin, with a slightly drooping head, and even his hair was combed crookedly.
An old palace maid was scolding the boy, "Fifth Prince, I've long told you not to run around in the palace, especially not in this front hall, where the Emperor and his ministers hold meetings. Why didn't you listen? Why did you just run around here? Luckily, only the Empress caught you today. If the Emperor caught you tomorrow, you'd be punished for more than just kneeling."
The boy bowed his head deeply and remained silent.
Xie Wuhen recognized the old palace maid as Nanny Qing who served the Queen, and could not help but walk over.
However, Zhao Fu cleverly dodged and hid behind the archway.
Nanny Qing bowed to Xie Wuhen.
He clasped his fists in return and asked casually, "What happened?"
Nanny Qing smiled awkwardly, "The Fifth Prince is very naughty. He runs around everywhere all day long, and today he even came to the front hall. I am disciplining him on behalf of the Empress."
Xie Wuhen paused, and said meaningfully: "Madame Qing is from the harem, didn't she also come to the front hall?"
Nanny Qing said confidently, "This old servant has come with the Empress to replace the flowers and plants in the palace. This is something the Emperor has allowed, not something you can just run around with."
The queen was good at taking care of flowers and plants, and often placed the flowers and plants she tended to in various places in the palace. This was something known to both the previous and the harem.
Xie Wuhen smiled and said, "I am worrying too much."
He then looked at the kneeling Fifth Prince, and the Fifth Prince also looked up at him.
Their eyes met, and the Fifth Prince quickly lowered his head.
The little person, with his thin shoulders hunched, looked like a helpless baby bird.
"Even if he made a mistake, he is still a prince of noble birth and should not be punished to kneel in front of others." Xie Wuhen stepped forward and helped the fifth prince up.
Nanny Qing's face fell. "This is the Empress's intention. Your Excellency's intervention... isn't it a bit too lenient?"
He replied calmly, "If Madam is dissatisfied, we can go to Weiyang Palace and ask the Emperor to judge the case."
Nanny Qing choked and was speechless for a moment. She didn't dare to argue in front of the emperor.
"Thank you, sir, you are so imposing. Are you trying to use the emperor to pressure me?" The queen suddenly walked out of the palace beside the corridor, dressed in gorgeous clothes, looking superior.
Xie Wuhen hurriedly clasped his fists and saluted: "I dare not."
Nanny Qing and the Fifth Prince also quickly bowed and saluted.
The queen is over fifty years old, but she still has charm. Her face looks elegant and kind, but in fact she is scheming and has a dagger hidden behind her smile.
She glanced at Xie Wuhen, then glanced at the Fifth Prince: "If I hadn't seen Zhi'er lose his mother at a young age, I wouldn't have bothered to discipline him. Now it's a thankless task, isn't it, Master Xie?"
The fifth prince was named Zhao Zhi, and was born to a palace maid whom the emperor visited after drinking.
Not long after giving birth, the palace maid fell seriously ill and died, and Zhao Zhi was then fostered under the name of the queen.
Xie Wuhen replied: "I dare not comment."
"I dare not say anything." The Queen smiled and said, "Didn't Master Xie just make a convincing argument?"
Xie Wuhen replied: "Disciplining children is a family matter, and the dignity of the prince is a state matter."
"It seems that right and wrong all depend on Master Xie's words?" The Queen said with disdain, "Never mind, I am just a concubine in the harem. My verbal skills cannot compare to those of you important officials in the court. Today, for Master Xie's sake, Zhi'er's punishment will be waived."
Zhao Zhi quickly knelt down and kowtowed: "Thank you, Queen Mother, for your mercy."
The Queen was full of wit: "Why thank Queen Mother? You should thank Mr. Xie."
Xie Wuhen also lowered his head: "I dare not."
The Queen glanced at him sideways and said, "I am honored to meet you, Lord Xie, today. I would like to ask you something."
"Your Majesty, please feel free to speak."
"I heard that Lord Xie is helping the Emperor investigate a case?"
"Yes, Madam."
"I wonder what case you're investigating?"
"I'm sorry I can't reveal it."
A cold light flashed in the Queen's eyes: "Are you trying to dig up some old case?"
Xie Wuhen met her gaze calmly: "Could it be that Your Majesty is fully aware of the case I am investigating?"
Didn’t Empress Duofu almost die because of the queen’s plot?
The Queen took two steps closer to him, her voice growing deeper. "Master Xie, you should know that in this imperial court, you must exercise discretion and know what to investigate and what not to investigate."
"Are you warning me, Your Majesty?"
"I want to tell Master Xie that not only does the imperial court have past scandals, but your Xie family also has them. Even if the walls are high, they will not be able to contain the scandal of the Xie family. I am afraid that if we are not careful, the news will spread all over the capital."
She wasn't warning, she was threatening!
Xie Wuhen suddenly clenched his fists, his eyes filled with a chilling coldness.
The queen smiled and said, "Thank you, Lord, please think it over carefully. I am also tired and will go back to rest first." After that, she took Nanny Qing and walked towards the harem.
Only Zhao Zhi and Xie Wuhen were left in the corridor.
The wind blew, but no rain fell. The thickest dark cloud in the sky slowly drifted away.
Zhao Zhi tilted his head and looked at him: "Thank you, sir, thank you for what you did just now."
He said in a gentle tone, "Fifth Prince, there is no need to be polite to me."
Then he asked, "Why did the Fifth Prince come to the front hall?"
Zhao Zhi pouted, looking annoyed: "I want to go find my father."
"Why are you looking for the Emperor?"
"I want to wear new clothes and have my hair done in a bun, and I'm eight years old and I want to learn to read."
Xie Wuhen was startled when he heard this. He glanced at his old clothes and the crooked bun on his head, and asked doubtfully, "Isn't the Fifth Prince raised under the Queen's name? Maybe... no one is taking care of the Fifth Prince's food and daily life?"
The little guy sniffed aggrievedly: "The Queen won't care about me. Besides, she also said that my father won't care about me because I'm of humble origin."
Xie Wuhen felt pity, but he could do nothing about the royal family's affairs.
He turned and looked at the archway. After a moment, Zhao Fu slowly walked out.
He asked, "Eunuch Zhao, you saw what happened just now. Is there any solution?"
Zhao Fu never wanted to get involved: "I'm just a servant, what can I do?"
"But this is the prince after all."
"But this is also the prince under the queen's name."
The Queen now has a Crown Prince, and she will definitely not train other princes to rival the Crown Prince.
If Zhao Fu dared to speak too much in front of the emperor, he would probably die in this palace.
After all, Zhou Ping is behind the queen, but even the emperor dares not touch Zhou Ping.
Xie Wuhen thought for a moment and said, "How about this? You first find a knowledgeable eunuch to take care of the Fifth Prince. In addition to taking care of the Fifth Prince's food and daily life, he should also teach him how to read and write. I will find an opportunity to talk to the Emperor about other matters later."
Zhao Fu finally nodded: "Alright, I will go find a suitable eunuch right away."
Zhao Zhi looked grateful: "You are all good people."
Xie Wuhen smiled.
Zhao Fu also laughed.
When we came out of the palace, it was already lunch time.
Wu Sheng strode forward and said, "Boss, do you want to go back to the mansion for dinner?"
"I don't have time to go back home for the time being."
Xie Wuhen walked towards the carriage and asked as he walked, "Are there any progress in investigating the tea master?"
Wu Sheng had a bitter face: "Haven't we been investigating Du Yuting's murder these days? I haven't been able to pay attention to the tea master's matter."
He ordered in a cold voice: "Don't worry about Du Yuting's murder anymore. Focus on tracking down the tea master from twenty years ago, and then give me the list."
He only has six months left!
He would not be coerced by the Queen.
As for the scandal in the Xie family, he couldn't care less!
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