Jing Zhe was in the warehouse discussing some details with several trusted confidants that Zhang Xuexian had found. During this time, he also carefully observed them. These men were all honest and reliable people. Zhang Xuexian's judgment was quite good.
"Young Master!"
Zhang Xiaoyu suddenly ran over, panting.
"What's wrong?"
"People from the palace...people from the palace have arrived!"
Upon hearing "the palace," Jing Zhe immediately thought of Su Mochen. He smiled bitterly to himself, thinking, "As expected of a princess, she sent someone to visit me the very first day I arrived in Jingzhou."
When Sui Shouren saw Jing Zhe walking out of the storeroom, he was stunned, then rubbed his eyes: I'm not mistaken! Isn't this the young master Jing Zhe who was with the princess?
He had even gone to the inn to inquire after being ordered by Emperor An, but he couldn't find him. He never expected to see him now. It was truly a case of "searching high and low without finding it, only to have it come to him without any effort!"
"General, Young Master Akun has arrived."
After Zhang Xiaoyu finished speaking, she stepped aside.
Ah Kun…
Jing Zhe…
Sui Shouren looked at Jing Zhe, completely dumbfounded once again.
Are these two the same person?
"General Sui, we meet again!"
Jing Zhe spoke first, breaking the deadlock.
Now Sui Shouren was truly certain that it was indeed the same person. Could it be that his surname was Jing, his given name was Zhe, and his courtesy name was Akun?
It's a bit strange, but it makes perfect sense...
He then cupped his hands and smiled, "Young Master Kun, you've become even more dashing than before!"
"General Sui, you flatter me!"
After exchanging a polite greeting, he asked again, "Did His Highness send General Sui here?"
In the palace, Jing Zhe only knew Su Mochen, and he also got to know Sui Shouren through her. So when she saw him for the first time, she was even more certain of her previous thoughts—women really do hold grudges, and she probably had been waiting for Jing Zhe for a long time.
"Your Highness?"
Sui Shouren was taken aback for a moment, then shook his head, "Young Master Kun is mistaken, it's not Your Highness, it's His Majesty who summoned you to the palace!"
Holy crap!
Is this the father going to seek justice for his daughter?
If we disagree, our heads could be ripped off at any moment!
He chuckled awkwardly and asked cautiously, "May I ask what brings His Majesty to this audience?"
"I am not aware of the specifics."
Seeing Jing Zhe's melancholy expression, Sui Shouren smiled and patted him on the shoulder, "But it must be good news! It's said that His Majesty liked your two poems very much, and his trip to the palace this time is probably for this!"
It turns out that it wasn't Su Mochen who complained, but rather Emperor An who coveted his poetry!
Hearing this, Jing Zhe finally felt relieved.
After saying goodbye to Zhang Xiaoyu and the others, leaving Hanhan at home, Jing Zhe went out with Sui Shouren.
In high spirits, Jing Zhe and Sui Shouren chatted and laughed all the way, and the atmosphere was quite harmonious.
As a member of the personal guard who had served Emperor An for many years, Sui Shouren had long since developed a keen eye for people.
Emperor An was very fond of poetry, and Prince Akun was quite talented in poetry, so he was sure to be appreciated. Moreover, Sui Shouren knew better than others about the close relationship between Jing Zhe and Princess Mo Chen, so he wanted to build a good relationship with Jing Zhe.
"Young Master Akun, His Majesty loves poetry. After you enter the palace, talk to His Majesty about poetry more often, and you will surely gain his favor!"
"Thank you for your guidance, General Sui!"
"If Young Master Kun becomes successful in the future, just don't forget me, haha!"
Sui Shouren joked.
"If that day ever comes, I will never forget General Sui's care! But General Sui has always served His Majesty and is His Majesty's most trusted confidant. How can an ordinary person compare?"
Jing Zhe's flattery hit Sui Shouren right in the heart, making him beam with joy and even more enthusiastic towards him. He introduced the layout of the palace to Jing Zhe along the way. For Jing Zhe, who was visiting the palace for the first time, everything was new and fascinating; he tilted his head to look around, as innocent as a child…
Seeing Jing Zhe's performance, Sui Shouren's smile widened. Far from thinking Jing Zhe was a country bumpkin, he thoroughly enjoyed the sense of accomplishment...
After leading him for a while, they arrived at the Hall of Supreme Harmony. Jing Zhe's gaze fell on the huge coiled dragon relief in the middle of the steps. He thought to himself that no matter what time or era, as long as the people who have Chinese blood flowing through their veins have a special feeling for this dragon totem...
But Sui Shouren did not stop. The morning court session had already ended, and besides, Jing Zhe had no official position, so Emperor An could not see him in the court. Instead, he took him to the council hall at the back.
Sui Shouren told him to wait outside while he went in to report.
Meanwhile, Su Mochen, accompanied by Guizhi, cautiously arrived at the council hall. However, she entered through the back door and hid in a side hall, looking radiant.
...
A short while later, Sui Shouren came out.
"Young Master Kun, His Majesty allows you to enter. I will wait for you outside and escort you out of the palace after your audience with the Emperor is over!"
Jing Zhe bowed to him to express his gratitude, and then went inside.
"This humble subject... Jing Zhe, pays his respects to Your Majesty!"
He could use the name Ah Kun to get away with it from other people, but he dared not do it to Emperor An, as that would be a crime of deceiving the emperor!
"Rise!"
Emperor An spoke casually, and Jing Zhe stood up. He looked at the middle-aged man sitting in front of him, who was wearing a dragon robe, had a plump figure, and looked somewhat similar to Su Mochen. Although the man was smiling at him, Jing Zhe could still feel an invisible pressure.
Is this the legendary aura of an emperor?
While Jing Zhe was observing Emperor An, Emperor An was also watching him.
Because of his love for poetry, Emperor An had a very good first impression of Jing Zhe, especially after meeting him in person.
He was young and handsome, and even after staring at him for a long time, he remained calm and composed, neither arrogant nor humble. Such a talented young man is truly rare!
He nodded and smiled, "I suppose you've been honest enough not to try and fool me with that fake name, Ah Kun, again!"
It turned out that Sui Shouren had already told Emperor An that Jing Zhe was A Kun when he came in. Jing Zhe was also very glad that he had not lied.
“Your Majesty, Jing Zhe is my real name, while A Kun is my pen name, used specifically for writing poems and lyrics, so it can't be considered a pseudonym…”
"snort!"
Upon hearing Jing Zhe bring up the matter of pen names again, Su Mochen, who was hiding in the side hall, let out a cold snort of dissatisfaction.
Emperor An didn't want to dwell too much on the name. Instead, he carefully examined Jing Zhe's appearance and found it increasingly similar to his father's. Considering the name, he asked, "How is your father, Jing Wenmao, doing?"
"My father—"
Jing Zhe opened his mouth to answer subconsciously, but as soon as the words left his mouth, he froze, staring at Emperor An in disbelief.
Emperor An smiled and said, "When Minister Jing left the capital, you were about five or six years old, weren't you? Although I have never met you, I have heard of your name, which is named after a solar term. In addition, you and Minister Jing looked seven or eight parts alike when you were young, so it is not surprising that I could recognize you!"
After listening to his explanation, Jing Zhe suddenly understood.
He had anticipated meeting Emperor An when he went to the capital. He was worried that Emperor An might hold a grudge against the Jing family, just like Prince Jin, since Prince Jin was his younger brother.
But upon hearing this address, he felt relieved.
If it were a matter of resentment, how could it be "my beloved minister"?
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