"Fifth Prince, His Majesty summons you in," Su Peisheng said with a bow and a smile to Hongzhou, who was waiting to the side.
Hongzhou nodded, and after entering, he saw the Fourth Prince reading a memorial. He bowed and greeted the Fourth Prince.
The Fourth Prince nodded, put down the memorial, and offered Hongzhou a seat.
This meant that he had to speak with Hongzhou. Hongzhou had something on his mind when he came to see the Fourth Prince, and seeing the Fourth Prince's behavior, he felt that something was amiss. If the Fourth Prince was in a bad mood, then the matter he had come to the palace to ask for today would probably come to nothing.
"Don't rush, let's take it one step at a time." Hongzhou dared not speculate on the emperor's intentions and comforted himself inwardly.
The Fourth Prince sat on his high seat and looked at his fifth son: "Hongzhou, this time you have truly impressed your father."
Hongzhou didn't react at first. He looked at the Fourth Master with a blank expression.
The Fourth Prince burst into laughter: "You made a great contribution in procuring grain, yet you didn't even remember it? If Father hadn't asked, would you have come to ask Father for a reward?"
“It is my duty to share the burdens of Father Emperor,” Hongzhou replied without hesitation.
His reaction greatly pleased the Fourth Prince, who clapped his hands and said, "Since you have rendered meritorious service, then I should reward you. What do you want? Do you want a promotion? Or something else?"
The Fourth Prince's cheerful appearance put Hongzhou at ease, and he replied with a smile, "Father, I only did what I was supposed to do. Since it was my duty, there is no reason for me to ask for a reward."
"I am a wise ruler. I reward those who have rendered meritorious service. Do you think I don't understand such a simple principle?" The Fourth Prince pretended to be impatient and belittled Hongzhou, but suddenly he seemed to remember something, and his face turned ugly. "Don't be modest. Just wait patiently for my reward."
"Reward those who have made merits and punish those who have made mistakes. This is what a wise ruler should do." A shadow crossed the Fourth Prince's eyes, and his words fell like thunderbolts.
Hongzhou kept his eyes down, knowing that the Fourth Master was his younger brother, his fifth uncle, the Fifth Master of the Qing Dynasty.
Su Peisheng had just told him while he was waiting outside that his men had submitted a memorial, in which Fucha Argon confessed that Fifth Master had also participated in the price gouging of grain. The woman surnamed Bai was the witness; she was a woman Fucha Argon had given to Fifth Master.
Hongzhou knew that his father, the Emperor, having experienced the struggle for the throne in his youth, detested nothing more than infighting among brothers. This time, his fifth uncle had truly crossed the line with the Fourth Prince, making it unlikely that the Fourth Prince would show leniency.
However… Hongzhou was a bit baffled by Fifth Master’s actions. Fifth Master had been quiet for so many years, so why did he suddenly dare to jump out and cause trouble? He hadn’t shown any signs of wanting to oppose Fourth Master before…
After thinking for a while without figuring it out, Hongzhou wanted to ask the Fourth Prince, but when he looked up, he saw that the Fourth Prince was also deep in thought with his brows furrowed.
He paused, a thought that seemed out of step with the times flashing through his mind. He tried to suppress it, but his body spontaneously called out, "Father Emperor."
Fourth Master nodded, but his gaze still did not fall on him.
"Your Majesty, I have something to report to you," Hongzhou said, standing up.
"Um?"
Hongzhou bowed and said, "Your Majesty, I wish to speak a few words of justice for the young master of the grain merchant He family. According to my investigation, he was misled into getting involved and is truly innocent. Your Majesty, I implore you to show leniency."
Fourth Master rested his hand on the table and propped his chin up, saying, "Oh? Who is that young master of the He family that you would help him out?"
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