In the imperial study, Xiao She was reading memorials, and from time to time he looked up to pay attention to the movement at the door.
Eunuch Li guessed the emperor's intention and said, "The Duke's son has gone to the Dali Temple and Madam Xie is involved. Master Xu is also in a difficult position."
Xu Ping asked someone to give some silver to Eunuch Li. Eunuch Li accepted the benefit and said a few good words for Xu Ping.
Xiao She raised his head, his sharp eyes cast around Eunuch Li.
Eunuch Li's legs went limp, and he immediately fell to his knees, confessing in panic, "I accepted fifty taels of silver from Lord Xu."
Xiao She pursed his lips and said nonchalantly, "Eunuch Li, did you receive less benefits?"
The eunuch chief steward was a lucrative job.
It’s not that Xiao She is intolerant, otherwise he wouldn’t tolerate Jiang Fulu’s behavior.
No one is perfect, as long as the benefits outweigh the disadvantages.
Eunuch Li nodded and bowed, smiling flatteringly, "Did the Emperor think of Lord Xie?"
As a favorite of the new emperor, Eunuch Li is a sweet talker who often entertains the emperor.
Xiao She closed the memorial, rubbed his brow and said, "Eunuch Li, what do you think Yuanhe thinks?"
Yuanhe was Xie Zhao's courtesy name, and only people close to him would call him that.
Many years ago, Xiao She was still the crown prince. He concealed his identity and went to Jiangnan to study, where he made friends with Xie Zhao who was studying in the academy.
Both of them were scholars, aiming to benefit the people of the world, and regarded each other as close friends.
Later, Xie Zhao passed the imperial examination and became the top scorer. He rose rapidly in career and became the third-rank prefect of Jingzhao within a few years.
The relationship between Xiao She and Xie Zhao is not only that of monarch and subject, but also that of brothers and close friends. He has long looked down upon Jiang Yuzhu.
Eunuch Li knew the hidden truth and complained, "Master Xie is different from ordinary men. He has lofty ambitions and is not bound by the constraints of love between men and women."
Eunuch Li was in the palace and knew without asking that Xie Zhao rarely returned home and often stayed in the yamen.
Whenever there were difficult cases in the counties surrounding the capital, Xie Zhao would go there to handle the case.
"Your Majesty, you should be relieved. Lord Xie is a good official who is dedicated to benefiting the people!"
After Eunuch Li's flattery, Xiao She became even more depressed.
"Tell me, how could a man as elegant as Yuanhe be..."
A flower stuck in cow dung.
Jiang Yuzhu is still poor cow dung, not even nutrient.
When his cousin Princess Yutan returned to Beijing, Xiao She had a bold idea to separate Xie Zhao and Jiang Yuzhu, and then arrange a marriage for him to Princess Yutan.
Eunuch Li curled his lips and thought: If I marry Princess Yutan to Lord Xie, she will still be a widow!
Although Jiang Yuzhu has a bad reputation, she is beautiful.
Xie Zhao has been indifferent and cold towards the beauty for three years, and his health might be damaged.
Eunuch Li thought that Jiang Yuzhu was unlucky not to have a strong husband.
But as a servant, he didn't dare to tell the truth, after all, the emperor was very partial.
Outside the hall, footsteps were heard.
When they were almost at the door of the imperial study, Jia Xinglin suddenly rushed out from the crowd and walked in front.
"Your Majesty, please help me!"
The commotion broke out and Jia Xinglin was pinned down, with no other recourse but to complain.
Jiang Yuzhu ignored him and took half a step back from Xie Zhao, being extremely polite.
Everyone knelt down and saluted. Xiao She waved his hand and said, "Everyone stand up."
After saying this, Xiao She scanned the crowd, his gaze fixed on Jiang Yuzhu in the back row, and asked lazily, "Madam Xie, why did I hear that you led some people to beat up the prince of the Duke's Mansion?"
The tone was very calm, with a slight hint of sarcasm.
After Jiang Yuzhu tasted it carefully, her heart skipped a beat.
In the original book, the new emperor Xiao She and Xie Zhao were friends for life and death. Xiao She tried to break up the marriage arranged by the previous emperor more than once.
After the original owner died of a heart disease, Xiao She felt particularly guilty towards Xie Zhao, believing that it was his father's fault that caused Xie Zhao to be traumatized, and thus lost interest in women.
"Your Majesty, I know it's wrong to lead others into action. It's against the rules."
Jiang Yuzhu took a step forward and spoke cautiously.
She didn't offend the emperor, but the new emperor didn't like her.
To avoid getting herself into trouble, Jiang Yuzhu was extremely careful with her words and explained the truth in a few words: "As the mistress of the Xie family, I must protect my husband's cousin. Prince Jia was too bullying. I had no choice but to resort to this desperate measure."
"oh?"
Xiao She raised his voice softly, a look of surprise on his face. He had always thought Jiang Yuzhu was a brainless fool, but her words and actions did not suggest otherwise.
"It was wrong for Prince Jia to bully Xie Xuan, but that's no excuse for you to act so overbearingly."
Xiao She didn't notice that he was already targeting Jiang Yuzhu.
Xie Zhao noticed it and spoke up to defend him, "Your Majesty, it was my fault that I didn't arrive in time, and that caused trouble for Yuzhu."
Xiao She: “…”
What's going on?
There were outrageous rumors in the capital, including the fact that Xie Zhao went to Songzhu Tower to investigate a case of child trafficking, which Xiao She knew about.
Then why would Xie Zhao openly defend Jiang Yuzhu? Don't be fooled by this witch!
Apart from good looks, he has absolutely no other advantages!
Xiao She's expressionless face darkened. He turned to Jia Xinglin and said, "You go ahead."
"Your Majesty, I am rude!"
Jia Xinglin repeated his old trick, stripping off his clothes again to reveal the bruises all over his body. "I have no other request, except that you treat me equally and give Madam Xie twenty lashes."
In the imperial study, Jiang Huaiqing couldn't act presumptuously and could only stare at Jia Xinglin with murderous eyes. If you dare to bite his younger sister, I will turn the Duke's Mansion upside down!
The new emperor Xiao She's eyes flashed with interest: "Madam Xie, what do you have to say?"
Jia Xinglin, this unlucky guy, just lost his father and now he was beaten so badly.
If Jiang Yuzhu is not dealt with, the nobles will jointly write a letter to cause trouble tomorrow.
Jiang Yuzhu remained calm because she had a big handle on Jia Xinglin.
"Your Majesty, Jia Xinglin first slandered the imperial concubines, and now he has committed the crime of deceiving the emperor!"
Jiang Yuzhu's words brought complete silence to the imperial study.
Except for Xie Zhao, everyone was shocked and speechless for a moment.
Xiao She sat up straight and asked seriously, "Madam Xie, where did you get this from?"
Jiang Yuzhu slowly walked to Jia Xinglin's side. Jia Xinglin shrank his head and said, "Jiang Yuzhu, are you going to make a dirty move in front of the emperor?"
"Haha, stop flattering yourself. You're nowhere near as pretty as my husband."
Jiang Yuzhu retorted.
The two of them spoke in a low voice, and everyone heard what they should have heard.
Xie Zhao shook his head, his lips slightly curved. Jiang Yuzhu really didn't want to be taken advantage of by him, and immediately found a chance to get back at him.
Xiao She looked at him with curiosity. Could the news be wrong?
Looking at the couple, they dared to flirt with each other in the imperial study, which clearly showed that they had a very good relationship.
"Your Majesty, please understand that the purple scars on Prince Jia's body are all fake!"
Jiang Yuzhu's words were like thunder, and Jia Xinglin's lackeys were all stunned.
Jia Xinglin's heart trembled, and he stammered, "You...you're talking nonsense!"
"Jia Xinglin, you used such childish tricks to deceive Lord Xu first, and now you come to the emperor and act so presumptuously. You really don't want your life to be long!"
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