When Wang Jiyang entered the palace, Wang Kuanqi was in front of the Taihe Hall.
At this moment, the gates of the Taihe Hall were tightly closed, and a guard with a knife stood in front of Wang Kuanqi with a blank expression.
Liang Yunsi's expression was serious, like a wooden sculpture, and his eyelids didn't even move.
Upon seeing Wang Jiyang, a smile suddenly appeared on Liang Yunsi's face. Liang Yunsi's eyes lit up as he respectfully went to greet him, flicking his whisk. "Lord Wang has arrived. I am here to await you by order of the Emperor. Please follow me."
Lord Wang? Wang Kuanqi instinctively wanted to answer, but Liang Yunsi didn't even glance at him and walked past him.
Turning around, she saw a man walking towards her from the corridor. His face turned ashen for a moment, and he seemed much more haggard. He could not stand steadily and staggered back a few steps.
The Wang Jiyang he had been searching for was not only alive, but had also entered the palace openly and legitimately.
The scars on his face told him that Wang Jiyang would never let him off easily; his eyes were like those of a judge who would take his life, making him tremble with fear.
However, he was able to win when Wang Jiyang was at the height of his career, so why would he be afraid of him now that he is down on his luck?
Wang Kuanqi's eyes were practically spitting fire. He glared fiercely at Wang Jiyang and stopped Liang Yunsi, "Eunuch Liang, didn't you say the Emperor was busy?"
“Lord Wang, His Majesty is indeed busy and has no time to see you.” Liang Yunsi’s attitude towards Wang Kuanqi was not so good, and his tone was icy.
"You!" He trembled with rage, pointing at Wang Jiyang, "Then why does the Emperor have time to see him but not me! Is his matter, as a seventh-rank registrar, more important than mine, as a second-rank attendant?"
“Lord Wang!” Liang Yunsi stopped and looked coldly at Wang Kuanqi. “I urge Lord Wang to be careful with his words. All the people under heaven are subjects of our Emperor. The Emperor is the Emperor of all the people, not just Lord Wang.”
After saying that, he walked ahead and led Wang Jiyang forward.
When Wang Jiyang approached Wang Kuanqi, their eyes met. If their gazes could materialize, sparks would surely fly.
"Lord Wang, how is my former uncle doing these days?" His voice was very soft, but it sounded particularly grating to Wang Kuanqi's ears.
He glared at Wang Jiyang, his nephew who should have died long ago. He had known all along that someone had secretly hidden Wang Jiyang, who should have perished in the fire and was already seriously ill.
Despite spending so many years searching with manpower and resources, we have still been unable to find any trace of it.
He never imagined that when he met his nemesis of more than ten years again, it would be in this situation.
The word "little uncle" made his heart tighten, reminding him of that night many years ago when the firelight illuminated the entire capital.
Over the years, Wang Jiyang's appearance has not changed much, except for an ugly scar on his face.
He had only said one sentence, nothing more than a casual greeting, yet he felt an overwhelming aura of disinfecting intent emanating from him.
“You should refer to yourself as ‘this humble official.’ I have no nephew as ugly as you.” Wang Kuanqi denied it outright; he would never allow Wang Jiyang to return to the Wang family.
Wang Jiyang sneered, looking at him like he was an ant. "That's right. I never intended to acknowledge you. Calling you 'uncle' is just a reminder not to forget that fire from back then."
After he finished speaking, he turned his head and never looked at Wang Kuanqi again, then strode away with Liang Yunsi.
Wang Kuanqi clenched his fists, his cold gaze remaining fixed until Wang Jiyang disappeared from sight.
Emperor Mingde was eating Jin Xi's double-skin milk pudding spoonful by spoonful when he saw Wang Jiyang enter. He gestured to the eunuch beside him and said, "It's very hot. Have some dessert first to cool down."
It was clear that he was in an exceptionally good mood at that moment.
Wang Jiyang bowed respectfully, for he could not disobey the emperor's command. He symbolically ate one spoonful, then another. Emperor Mingde watched with a smile as he ate spoonful after spoonful until the double-skin milk in the small porcelain bowl was completely empty.
In Emperor Mingde's mind, Wang Jiyang was the true scholar from a distinguished family, and he couldn't help but show off any good things he had.
"how?"
"I have never tasted such a delicious and refreshing dessert before," Wang Jiyang said truthfully.
Emperor Mingde was pleased with himself, but refused to admit it. He pulled a long face and asked, "I was asking about the guards in the Prince's residence. How are they doing?"
Wang Jiyang put down the bowl and began to report.
"All has been completed. Your Majesty, please observe the results."
After a busy day, Zhao Shu woke up a little late the next day. As soon as she woke up, seven maids, including Green Ivy, busily served her as she washed up.
These maids had not yet been assigned any responsibilities, and Zhao Shu deliberately left them hanging. Knowing that the princess was not easy to serve, they did their best to perform well and dared not make the slightest mistake.
"Princess, Xiao Zhu Zi requests an audience," Green Ivy said after washing up.
"Send him to see me."
Xiao Zhuzi came in, and Zhao Shuzheng was drinking porridge. He bowed and said, "This servant greets the princess. Princess, the person who let Lord Wang in yesterday has been found."
Zhao Shu didn't even look up, mumbling as she drank her porridge, "Who?"
He said those three words, then fell silent.
After finishing her porridge, Zhao Shu looked up and asked, "Has Young Master Jiang gotten married?"
"Not yet, it's said the date is set for the seventeenth," Xiao Zhuzi replied.
"Okay, I understand." She lazily wiped her mouth with a handkerchief. "Did Uncle Fu tell you about the garrison soldiers?"
"I told you, this servant has already selected thirteen men." This was the first time he had subordinates, and thirteen at once. He was very excited. Although he wanted to split the men equally with Xiao Guozi, many of them were really not suitable for intelligence gathering.
It's a little regrettable, but it's already very good. He used to fantasize about being favored by some concubine and becoming a minor steward in the palace. Now that he thinks about it, he was really too unambitious. What's so good about being a minor steward in the palace? You can be sacrificed at any time. It's not as prestigious as being a princess's confidant.
I am still too weak. How can someone as weak as me share the princess's burdens?
At this time, Xiao Zhu was still very troubled by the matter of Qingzhou.
"Train them well, there will be many uses for them in the future." Zhao Shu stood up, preparing to go to her father to discuss opening a shop and starting a business.
Most of the soldiers who were unable to stay chose to take their pay and return to their hometowns, with only a few willing to stay and work in the shops that the Prince's Mansion would open in the future.
With several hundred people, two hundred per person, it's a huge expense.
With those who stayed behind, the monthly silver taels will double, and their equipment will also need to be upgraded, especially for the elites who stayed behind.
The household expenses amount to hundreds or thousands of dollars every month.
Although there are still three fiefdoms, money is only sent to the manor at the end of the year.
If you do the math, once all these tasks are completed, the monthly allowances for the concubines in the household will be unaffordable. After all, they used to spend money like water, and the household never had any savings to begin with.
The Prince's Mansion, though large, had too many irrelevant people.
The group left Qionghua Courtyard in a grand procession and headed towards Chensong Courtyard. As they passed Plum Garden, Zhao Shu was captivated by the melodious singing voice, which sounded like the cries of Huang Liming and Cui Ming.
Then I heard: "Riding those four camels, swiftly and fast. How could I not long to return home? So I composed this song, to tell my mother..."
The lingering sound was like heavenly music.
However, the fact that these words were sung by a woman made her feel incredibly uneasy. "Who is here longing for their family?" Zhao Shu asked.
Everyone's expression changed drastically. Singing here so early in the morning, their purpose was self-evident.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com