Soetu glanced smugly at Suhetai, wanting to see what else Suhetai had to say this time.
Suhetai noticed that Songgotu was looking at him with a smile, and thought to himself, "Did I beat him until he went crazy?"
"Your Majesty, this servant has something to say!" Soetu bowed and said to Kangxi.
Kangxi was now exhausted; these two arguing were no less intense than the women in the harem. "Speak!"
"Your Majesty, Suhetai should have been ordered to train troops in the suburbs of the capital, but he has returned to the capital without permission. This is tantamount to desertion in the face of battle. Please punish him so as not to break military regulations!" Soetu spoke with righteous indignation, if one ignored the smugness in his eyes.
Tong Guowei looked at Su Hetai with concern. Su Hetai was indeed at fault, and he wondered how the Emperor would deal with him. He quickly thought of a way to deal with the situation.
"Hmph!" Suhetai walked up to Suo'etu.
Soetu retreated repeatedly, "What are you trying to do? I'm telling you, the Emperor is here! Are you so angry that you're going to hit me? Let me tell you, this is disrespectful to the Emperor, a grave breach of decorum!"
"Song'etu, let me tell you, nothing you say will do, except say that I deserted the battlefield. Even if I die in battle, I would never do such a thing!" Suhetai said, glaring at Suhetu.
"Besides, where did you see that I returned to the capital without permission? The Emperor knows about it!"
"How did I know?" Kangxi would not show favoritism towards Suhetai.
“Your Majesty, you just said you wouldn’t pursue the matter! A monarch’s word is law!” Su Hetai said.
Kangxi nodded reluctantly, gritting his teeth as he said, "I know!"
Seeing that Kangxi was clearly biased towards Suhetai, Suo'etu was dissatisfied but could not say anything: "Your Majesty is wise, the assassination of Suhetai's daughter really has nothing to do with this servant!"
“I never said it had anything to do with you! If you really did it, do you think you would still be standing here talking to me?” Suhetai said with a sneer.
Looking at Suhetai's expression, Suo'etu knew that Suhetai was not joking. He felt a chill of fear. Fortunately, He Xue was alright, otherwise who knew what that madman Suhetai might do.
Although Suo'etu was somewhat apprehensive, he couldn't afford to lose face. "Your Majesty, how should we settle the score for Suhetai destroying this servant's courtyard?"
"What do you suggest we do?" Kangxi asked Suhetai.
"Your Majesty, this cannot be entirely blamed on me!" Suhetai was now full of grievances. "Your Majesty, does Suo'etu simply want me to pay compensation?"
Kangxi looked at Suhetai with surprise. It was rare for Suhetai to be so sensible. Suhetai had paid compensation, and this matter should be over.
Kangxi was too happy too soon. Suhetai's subsequent words made Kangxi realize that Suhetai was still the same Suhetai.
"Your Majesty, you know my family's situation. The whole family depends on my salary. Jingshu and Shuyi are both getting married, which will be a huge expense."
Besides, Xue is a girl, so she definitely can't be raised like a son! Girls need to be pampered so they won't be easily deceived when they grow up!
So this servant really doesn't have any extra money. Although there is a dowry from the lady, what man can use a lady's dowry? It's meant to be left to the children!
A servant shouldn't ask his father-in-law for money, should he? He's already tricked the girl away; how could he possibly ask for money again?
"Your Majesty, my family is truly poor. Fortunately, I am training troops in the suburbs of the capital, which saves the household some money!"
Tong Guowei rubbed his forehead, looking at Su Hetai, "Isn't this acting a bit over the top?"
Jing Shu was too ashamed to look at Su Hetai now. "Father, this has gone too far!"
“Your Majesty, I am but a military officer, far inferior to Minister Suo. Minister Suo must have many people offering him tribute!” Suhetai said, looking at Suo’etu.
Upon hearing this, Songgotu immediately knelt down, "Your Majesty, please be wise! Suhetai is talking nonsense; nothing good can come out of a dog's mouth!"
"Of course you can't expect anything good to come out of your mouth! Otherwise, you'd be rich!"
“You…” Soetu pointed at Suhetai and said, “You scoundrel!”
"Your Majesty, why don't you lend me some silver? Please consider our childhood friendship, and you are also my brother-in-law! Please help me!"
“Suhetai, I’ll help you!” the eldest prince stepped forward and said, “Father, Suhetai is a general of the Qing Dynasty who has risked his life for the Qing. You should increase their salaries so that they can support their families and go to the battlefield without any worries!”
Emperor Kangxi found it hard to believe that the eldest prince could say such a thing. Normally, he would have praised him, but now was the time when Suhetai was clearly feigning poverty!
Kangxi looked at his eldest son, wondering who the eldest son took after. Since he had such a stupid son, he must have taken after Consort Hui.
"Get out of my sight!" Kangxi roared.
"On behalf of the soldiers, I thank the First Prince for his kindness. His Majesty has already treated us very well!" Suhetai was truly grateful to the First Prince.
"Your Majesty, this servant did not expect the Suhetai family to be in such dire straits. Since that is the case, this servant will not pursue the matter further. This is merely a small contribution to the soldiers of the Great Qing!"
Seeing that Suhetai was grateful to the First Prince, Suo'etu could not allow Suhetai to stand with the First Prince, so he could only suppress his hatred and say...
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