Chapter 28 Nothing but good looks
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 has implicated Madam Xie, so Lord Xu is in a difficult position."
Xu Ping asked someone to give some silver to Eunuch Li. Eunuch Li accepted the bribe and said a few good words for Xu Ping.
Xiao She raised his head, his sharp eyes cast on Eunuch Li.
Eunuch Li's legs went limp, and he immediately knelt on the ground, 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?"
Being the chief eunuch was a job that was lucrative.
It’s not that Xiao She is intolerant, otherwise he wouldn’t have tolerated 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 Mr. Xie?"
As a favorite of the new emperor, Eunuch Li was a sweet talker who often entertained the emperor.
Xiao She closed the memorial, rubbed his brow and said, "Eunuch Li, what do you think Yuanhe thinks?"
Yuanhe is 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 in the academy.
Both of them were scholars, their goal was to bring welfare to the people of the world, and they regarded each other as close friends.
Later, Xie Zhao passed the imperial examination and became the top scorer. He rose rapidly in career and within a few years he became the third-rank prefect of Jingzhao.
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 he knew without asking that Xie Zhao seldom returned home and often stayed in the yamen.
Whenever there were difficult and complicated cases in the counties surrounding the capital, Xie Zhao would go there to handle the errands.
"Your Majesty, you should be relieved that 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 and graceful as Yuan He 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 palace, 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 options but to complain.
Jiang Yuzhu ignored him and took half a step back from Xie Zhao, being extremely well behaved.
Everyone knelt down to salute, Xiao She waved his hand and said, "Everyone stand up."
After saying this, Xiao She swept through the crowd, fixed his sight on Jiang Yuzhu in the back row, and asked lazily, "Madam Xie, how come I heard that you led 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 wanted 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 suffer from the trauma, and thus he lost interest in women.
"Your Majesty, I know it's wrong to lead others to take 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.
In order to avoid getting herself into trouble, Jiang Yuzhu was very 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. The prince Jia was too bullying, and I had no choice but to resort to this desperate measure at the time."
"oh?"
Xiao She raised his voice gently, with a look of surprise on his face. He had always thought that Jiang Yuzhu was a brainless idiot, but she didn't seem like that from what she said.
"It was wrong for Master Jia to bully Xie Xuan, but that's not a reason for you to act so overbearingly."
Xiao She didn't notice that he had already started to target Jiang Yuzhu.
Xie Zhao noticed it and defended 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, and Xiao She knew about it.
Then why would Xie Zhao openly defend Jiang Yuzhu? Don't be fooled by this witch!
Apart from good looks, there is nothing good about him!
Xiao She's expressionless face darkened, and he turned to Jia Xinglin and said, "You speak."
"Your Majesty, I am being rude!"
Jia Xinglin repeated his old trick and took off his clothes again, revealing the bruises all over his body. "I have no other request, I just hope you will treat me equally and give Madam Xie twenty strokes of the cane."
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 little sister, I will overturn the Duke's Mansion!
The new emperor Xiao She's eyes flashed with interest: "Madam Xie, what do you have to say?"
Jia Xinglin, this unlucky guy, just after his father died, 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 in the court, and now he is guilty of deceiving the emperor!"
Jiang Yuzhu's words caused the imperial study to fall into complete silence.
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 walked slowly to Jia Xinglin's side. Jia Xinglin shrank his head and said, "Jiang Yuzhu, do you want to make a dirty move in front of the emperor?"
"Haha, stop flattering yourself. You are far less pretty than my husband."
Jiang Yuzhu retorted.
The two of them didn't speak loudly, so everyone heard what they should have heard.
Xie Zhao shook his head, his lips slightly curved. Jiang Yuzhu really wasn't willing to be taken advantage of by him, and immediately found a chance to return the favor.
Xiao She looked inquiringly, 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 are talking nonsense!"
"Jia Xinglin, you used such a childish trick to deceive Lord Xu first, and then you came to the emperor to act so presumptuously. You really don't want your life to be long enough!"
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