The next day, when Jing Shu was about to go to court, he found Su Hetai waiting for him. He guessed that Tongjia must have told Su Hetai about He Xue the night before.
Judging from the bruises under Suhetai's eyes, it seems his father didn't sleep well last night.
"Father, is there something you need?" Jing Shu asked.
"Did the Imperial Noble Consort tell you that the Emperor intends to betroth Hexue to the Crown Prince?"
"Yes, that's what my aunt said!"
“You should tell me about this, not your mother first!” Su Hetai said to Jing Shu.
"Is there any difference?" Jing Shu asked with a smile.
"Your mother actually naively believes that the Crown Prince is not getting married because he is waiting for He Xue!" Su Hetai thought that Tongjia Shi was too naive.
However, for someone of Tongjia's age to still be so naive, you can't just call her naive; you can only call her foolish.
"From now on, you must be wary of that old man, the Crown Prince, and never let him get close to Xue!"
"Father, you can't always assume the responsibilities of an elder brother just because you're in the capital. An elder brother is like a father!" Suhetai felt that the Crown Prince might try to get close to Hexue, and he wanted to prevent that from happening.
"Crown Prince, an old man?" Jing Shu asked Su Hetai, both amused and exasperated.
"How can you say she's not old? She's eight or nine years older than He Xue! It's like an old cow eating young grass!" Su Hetai said, still not satisfied.
Jing Shu now felt some sympathy for the Crown Prince.
During the morning court session, Yao Dian stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, Ling Pu, the Grand Steward of the Imperial Household Department, has abused his position to embezzle tribute items from the imperial court. I hope Your Majesty will thoroughly investigate this matter."
"What?" Kangxi asked in shock, partly because he hadn't expected Lingpu to have such audacity, and partly because he was worried that this matter would implicate the Crown Prince.
“Your Majesty, this is absolutely true. Yesterday, I happened to see Lingpu pawning a Canaanwood bracelet inlaid with gold beads at a pawnshop. This bracelet was brought to the palace from Mongolia. Moreover, the Fourth Prince and the Ninth Prince were also present at the time!” Yao Dian said.
"Fourth Prince, is the Ninth Prince as Yao Dian described?" Kangxi inquired.
The Fourth Prince and the Ninth Prince immediately stepped forward and said, "Father, it is just as Yao Dian said!"
“Your Majesty, although Lingpu is the Grand Steward of the Imperial Household Department, he probably wouldn’t dare to do such a thing even if he had ten lives. Is someone behind this? Please investigate thoroughly!” a minister stepped forward and said.
"Does Lord Zhang mean that the Crown Prince instigated this?" the Eighth Prince stepped forward and questioned.
"I dare not, I am only stating the facts!" Lord Zhang said.
“Your Majesty, we cannot implicate the Crown Prince just because Lingpu committed such a crime. Perhaps the Crown Prince has been deceived by Lingpu!” Soetu defended the Crown Prince.
“Father, the Crown Prince sent me to Lingpu’s residence yesterday to find all the tributes he had hidden! Here is the list for your review, Father! The Crown Prince has absolutely not protected Lingpu, and he is unaware of what Lingpu has done!” the Ninth Prince said.
"Has the Ninth Prince already told the Crown Prince about this?" someone asked.
"Is there anything wrong with you telling the Crown Prince?" the Ninth Prince asked in return.
"This servant is only worried that the Crown Prince might get the news in advance and make some preparations. This servant thinks it would be better to inform His Majesty of this matter as soon as possible!"
"Do I need you to tell me how to do things? You think you know what you think? Do you think you can do things just because you think? If you think you know what you know, you should go back and buy sweet potatoes! I think you're better than an official!" the Ninth Prince said bluntly.
"Moreover, the Crown Prince is upright and honest in his actions, and has no need to hide anything!"
"That's right, you're all judging others by your own petty standards!" The eldest prince also stood up to speak for the crown prince.
Emperor Kangxi simply watched the people below argue incessantly without offering any opinion.
"Your Majesty," Yao Dian said, "I believe that since Ling Pu dared to hoard tribute, and all the tribute from various places is recorded, he, as the head of the Imperial Household Department, is completely embezzling. I propose a thorough investigation of the Imperial Household Department's accounts! Perhaps we can uncover more problems!"
“Father, the Imperial Household Department is under the Crown Prince’s jurisdiction. If we investigate the Imperial Household Department, won’t it make the Crown Prince feel that you don’t trust him? Your son doesn’t want to hurt your relationship with the Crown Prince!” the Eighth Prince said.
"Only a thorough investigation of the Imperial Household Department can clear the Crown Prince's name!" Yao Dian said.
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