Chapter 430: It’s Cold at the Top
Song Tingchen's palms were oozing with cold sweat uncontrollably. He raised his head, and for a moment, he actually looked into Emperor Qinglong's eyes with some contempt for the emperor's authority.
After realizing what he had done, he quickly lowered his head again.
He heard the emperor at the top laugh.
But there was a hint of coldness in that laughter.
Song Tingchen could only close his eyes and reiterate once again, "Your Majesty, I guarantee Su Tan with my own name and personality that she will never do anything to tarnish your Majesty's reputation."
He really didn't understand why Emperor Qinglong would say such incomprehensible words out of the blue.
Could it be because Su Tan has been too close to Prince Chen Lu Zhiheng recently?
To the extent that Emperor Qinglong felt that Su Tan might collude with Lu Zhiheng in the future and affect Emperor Qinglong's throne?
Although most emperors are suspicious.
Besides, as a prince, who wouldn’t be interested in the dragon throne?
Emperor Qinglong's speculation was not without reason.
It's just that—it's just that Song Tingchen finally kowtowed before Emperor Qinglong and once again assured Su Tan: "Your Majesty, Su Tan is the descendant of a loyal minister and a good general. You know how loyal Duke Dingguo is. She is the daughter of Duke Dingguo, so naturally she would not do anything rebellious."
Emperor Qinglong felt as if he had heard a huge joke.
So much so that the way he looked at Song Tingchen was more like he was looking at a fool.
"You said that since she is the daughter of Duke Dingguo, she would definitely not do anything that a traitor would do, but she is just meddling in other people's affairs. I think she is very ambitious and is even trying to take on the work of the Dali Temple."
"Besides, she said that she wanted me to allow her to marry freely and that she no longer wanted to be trapped in the inner chamber, but look at what she is doing now."
"I see she's very close to that Prince Chen!"
"No, she's actually smarter. She knew to attack the princess first, and she even managed to coax Princess Zhaoyang into almost calling her mother!"
In the past, most of those who tried to get close to Lu Zhiheng were too stupid, not as smart as Su Tan.
As a result, none of them knew to please the princess first, which gave Su Tan an opportunity to take advantage of the opportunity.
"You pleaded for him in front of her with your eyes wide open, and even said you would guarantee her with your life, but Song Tingchen, don't you think about whether others will accept your kindness?"
Song Tingchen was so stupid that he said that Su Tan was a loyal minister and a good general, and would never betray the king.
That also depends on who the real king is in Su Tan’s mind!
"What if the wise leader in her eyes is not me, but Prince Lu Zhiheng?"
This statement was really too serious. It was almost like pointing at Su Tan's nose and saying that she was a traitor who intended to help Lu Zhiheng seize power and usurp the throne.
Song Tingchen's face was pale.
He wanted to explain something for Su Tan, but looking at Emperor Qinglong's furious face, he swallowed back the words he was about to say.
He paused, then changed his words and said, "Your Majesty, Su Tan doesn't have that many thoughts. It's just that the princess is thoughtful that Su Tan has invested some affection in her. I have been observing her coldly these past few days. In fact, Su Tan's attitude towards His Royal Highness Prince Chen is just so-so."
This is the truth.
Su Tan's attitude towards Lu Zhiheng was just what he should have towards an ordinary member of the royal family.
If she had to say something, it was just for Sui Sui's sake that she allowed Lu Zhiheng to talk to her a few more words, and she wouldn't get angry.
After realizing that Suisui and Changle were somewhat similar, Song Tingchen suddenly understood why Su Tan had always treated Suisui better than Song Xiao.
Because when Su Tan looked at Sui Sui, he always thought of Changle.
But I don’t know who to talk to about this.
Song Tingchen couldn't suddenly tell the emperor that he and Su Tan actually had a daughter.
As for what they said about Su Tan being attentive to Lu Zhiheng, Song Tingchen now felt that it was all lies.
If Sui Sui was gone, in Su Tan's eyes, His Royal Highness Prince Lu Zhiheng would be nothing.
Sure enough, Emperor Qinglong really would not believe the nonsense Song Tingchen said.
He sneered.
"Are you treating me like a three-year-old kid? Song Tingchen, I don't know what kind of magic potion Su Tan has poured into you, but there is one thing you need to remember: you are my subject. No matter when or where, you should be loyal to me."
Of course, Song Tingchen kept this teaching in mind and never had any second thoughts.
"Your Majesty, I have always been loyal to you. Heaven and earth, the sun and the moon can bear witness to my loyalty."
Emperor Qinglong sneered.
"You say your sincerity towards me is clear to all, but Song Tingchen, you don't even dare to answer my questions directly. What does that mean?"
Emperor Qinglong was already a royal grandfather. He was no longer a child and had long passed the age of being jealous of others.
But at this moment, he was still looking at Song Tingchen expressionlessly, as if he was determined to compete with Su Tan.
"You haven't told me yet, if I asked you to choose between me and Su Tan, what would you choose?"
Song Tingchen: “…”
Song Tingchen felt that the question asked by Emperor Qinglong was too ridiculous.
How could there ever be a day when he had to choose between his wife and the monarch he was loyal to?
If he said this to others, they would think he was crazy.
Veins popped out on Song Tingchen's forehead, "Your Majesty, this humble servant..."
Before he could finish his sentence, Emperor Qinglong raised his hand to interrupt him.
"There's no need for you to be so defensive. I just want to get an answer from you. If you really don't want to say it, I won't force you."
"But if I am not even as important as Su Tan in your heart, then Song Qing, you have wasted my trust in you."
Song Tingchen: “…”
Song Tingchen was so upset that he had nothing to say.
Emperor Qinglong just sneered twice.
"In your eyes, Su Tan is obedient and law-abiding, but in my eyes, she may not be. Look for a while, she prefers Prince Chen sitting on my throne rather than me, the ruler of the world."
If Su Tan were standing here at this moment, she would definitely say in her heart that what she cares more about is letting Sui Sui sit on the throne.
Unfortunately, Emperor Qinglong still didn't understand Su Tan well enough.
Just like Song Tingchen doesn’t know Su Tan well enough.
Faced with Emperor Qinglong's relentless pressure, Song Tingchen had no choice but to lower his head and kneel down in compromise.
"Your Majesty, Cheng Jianxing and Su Tan are definitely not traitors, and will never do anything that would harm Your Majesty."
"But if one day she really does that, I will stand by Your Majesty unconditionally."
Emperor Qinglong seemed to be waiting for this sentence from him.
He put down the jade seal in his hand, let the eunuch support him, and walked step by step to Song Tingchen.
He suddenly put his hand on Song Tingchen's shoulder.
"Song Qing, I am proud to have a wise minister like you."
"I also hope you won't let me down."
Song Tingchen's scalp tingled and he just kept saying he didn't dare.
Emperor Qinglong smiled with an ambiguous meaning.
"It's best not to dare."
"However, even if Song Qing really did something for Su Tan, I will definitely not say anything. After all, there is a saying that goes, 'A hero cannot resist the temptation of a beautiful woman.'"
Song Tingchen: “…”
Song Tingchen inexplicably felt it was even more absurd.
But he himself couldn't explain where this inexplicable feeling of absurdity came from.
Emperor Qinglong simply said, "Okay, I won't say any more."
"Song Qing, you should know that during these years in office, I have been diligent and hardworking, never slacking off in government affairs."
Song Tingchen nodded subconsciously.
Emperor Qinglong was a good emperor who loved his people like his own children. He knew this. If there was any flaw in Emperor Qinglong, it was probably that he was always stubborn and said he didn't care about the people. But when he saw something happen to the people, he was extremely worried.
Just like Emperor Qinglong kept saying that Su Tan was meddling in other people’s affairs, and that the one who died was not their child, so he didn’t need to worry about it.
However, in a place where no one knew about it, Emperor Qinglong immediately called on his most trusted Master Ye to investigate the truth of all this.
In Song Tingchen's opinion, Emperor Qinglong was indeed a good emperor.
Emperor Qinglong had been standing in a high position for a long time, with no one by his side. Over time, he became not good at expressing himself.
Just like he used to be.
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