Fourteen went around toasting each of the brothers present, and finally wandered back to Thirteen's side, taking the opportunity to toast him and chat.
Thirteen was dressed very festively today, and looked very energetic. The banquet was arranged by Consort Tongjia, but many of the details were handled by Consort De. However, she did not take credit for it, as she did not want people to say that she was stealing the limelight from Consort Tongjia.
But the Thirteenth Prince understood this sentiment. He drank the Fourteenth Prince's toast in one gulp. The wine prepared today was not spicy, but the Thirteenth Prince still choked and his face turned red.
Fourteen laughed and patted Thirteen on the back: "I just went around toasting everyone and didn't notice anything unusual. They all looked genuinely happy."
He spoke in a volume that only the two of them could hear.
Thirteen raised his hand, clenched his fist, and placed it to his lips. He coughed lightly twice and said, "Someone will inevitably slip up eventually. Let's not rush things. We'll wait for Fourth Brother to come back before we talk about anything else."
Fourteenth hummed in response, displaying a composure he rarely showed, but his tone when speaking to Thirteenth still betrayed his gritted teeth: "You all know how to use underhanded tricks behind people's backs. You couldn't stand that Fourth Brother did a good job this time, so you tried again after failing once. It's really despicable..."
Fourteen was not a delicate flower raised in a greenhouse; he had long understood the infighting among his brothers.
The two brothers wanted to say something more, but Ninth Master was beckoning Fourteenth to play a drinking game. Fourteenth immediately put on a cynical smile, patted Thirteenth on the shoulder to comfort him, and continued to test the crowd's reactions.
Thirteen's eyes showed concern. Today was his big day, and he had to go to his father, the Emperor, to express his gratitude. He wondered what the Emperor's attitude would be.
What is the Emperor's attitude?
His Majesty knew that today was the thirteenth prince's wedding day. When the thirteenth prince went to the Qianqing Palace, His Majesty only had time to see him once and didn't even exchange a few words with him before Liang Jiugong came in.
This means seeing the guest off.
The thirteenth prince couldn't get any information out of him, and he didn't dare to say anything, so he could only leave.
It was past noon when Liang Jiugong came to His Majesty's side and said that lunch had been prepared in the warm pavilion.
Upon hearing this, His Majesty suddenly let out a muffled chuckle, his expression enigmatic: "Lunch? How's the seasoning?"
Liang Jiugong remained unmoved: "When the imperial physician came to take your pulse the other day, he said that you should eat a light diet now, so I suppose today's meal will be light and low in salt."
The Emperor looked up from the memorials on the table, pointed at Liang Jiugong, and said, "Old fox..."
Liang Jiugong didn't dare to laugh, but simply bowed and said, "Your Majesty flatters me."
These words made the Emperor laugh again. He closed the memorial in his hand and said, "Everyone is crying poverty to me, and the Ministry of Revenue is also crying poverty to me. In this vast country, there are only those who line their own pockets, prey on the people, and have no ambition!"
"The officials involved this time will all be dismissed from their posts! Their homes will be confiscated, the women will be exiled, and the men will be executed in the autumn."
Liang Jiugong waited a moment before asking, "What about the merchants involved and the pirates?"
The officials were involved, but the merchants and pirates were implicated in the case.
The Emperor snorted: "Recruit all the pirates... This matter was handled by the Fourth Prince, so this task is also entrusted to him. As for the merchants..."
He snorted again, and after a while said, "The punishment will be determined by the number of heads. If you want to redeem a few heads, then bring as many chests of silver as you need."
Merchants are of different value; once their property is confiscated by officials, it becomes utterly useless. After all, how many candidates aspire to enter officialdom and serve the court during the autumn and spring imperial examinations...
If a merchant's property is confiscated, then its value will be gone forever...
His Majesty is leaving people with some hope, but he also needs to bleed some money to replenish the national treasury, which is also a warning to the court and the public.
As for pirates, they are nothing but a front for officials and merchants, a bunch of fools, and should be punished as they are.
Liang Jiugong agreed, and then said, "I heard that Fourth Master was injured. If he takes on the task..."
The Emperor chuckled upon hearing this: "Fourth Prince... he's just not the type to stay idle. He just returned from his errand, and I'm telling him to recuperate?"
Doesn't that mean the fourth brother didn't do his job well, getting injured while fighting pirates...?
The Emperor still gave his son face, and this time it was the fourth son who took the initiative to ask for it.
only……
Speaking of the fourth prince's injury, His Majesty was reminded of how the injury came about...
The Emperor snorted again, "None of them are easy to deal with..." Then, as if remembering something, he suddenly said, "I remember that Baoqing's Hongyu will be three years old in a month or two?"
Liang Jiugong said that he was pondering His Majesty's intentions.
His Majesty changed the subject: "Hongyu's health is not good, and it's hot in August. It's my fault as the imperial grandfather to make that child run back and forth. Let's wait until next spring."
Liang Jiugong hesitated for half a second before agreeing, and he replied with a "Yes".
His Majesty is perfectly aware of this.
As for the Fourth Prince killing one of the minor officials on his way back to the capital, His Majesty didn't care at all. He knew that it was the Fourth Prince's resentment, and he would just reduce the reward slightly later.
That same day, Liang Jiugong went to convey the Emperor's decree.
Three days later, on the first day of the seventh lunar month, it was another sunny day.
Those who should pay their respects at the Fourth Prince's residence should go to the main courtyard to do so, while Consort De in the palace is also wondering why the Fourth Prince hasn't returned to the capital yet.
"They should have returned by now. Could they have been delayed on the way?" Consort De sat at the entrance of the main hall, her posture upright, showing a rare hint of anxiety.
He Zhongyi jogged in from outside: "Your Majesty, the Fourth Prince has entered the palace. He went to the Qianqing Palace to report to His Majesty first... He just summoned Su Peisheng and said he would come to pay his respects to Your Majesty later."
Upon hearing this, Consort De couldn't stand still. A smile appeared on her face, tinged with barely suppressed concern: "Tell the kitchen to prepare some light snacks. Oh, and find all those ointments from the storeroom..."
Later, Consort De was still worried, so she went to the storeroom herself to find some ointments and herbs.
Inside the Qianqing Palace, the Fourth Prince had already been invited in by Liang Jiugong to speak with His Majesty.
The morning court session had just ended, and His Majesty was having breakfast when he saw the Fourth Prince arrive. He then had someone bring more bowls and chopsticks for the Fourth Prince to sit down.
After declining several times, the Fourth Master still took a seat.
The Emperor glanced at his son from afar and remarked, "He looks much thinner and darker..."
Upon hearing the question, Fourth Master stood up and said, "Yes, Guangdong is hot and humid with a lot of rain. When my son first arrived, he even developed some rashes, which frightened the servants."
These words sounded like an attempt to gain sympathy, but Fourth Master, with his stern and serious face, spoke as if he were stating official business.
Upon hearing this, His Majesty thought for a moment and realized that what the fourth prince had just said was not official business... He hesitated for two seconds before clapping his hands and laughing.
"Then I shall reward you handsomely..."
Before the Fourth Master could even sit down, upon hearing this, he apologized again, naturally because of that minor official.
This time, they're really speaking in a businesslike tone.
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