Chapter 222 Face Face
If it were modern times, someone would probably ask directly why the police would be needed if apologies were useful. However, it was different in ancient times. Those in power could make mistakes, and if they could sincerely repent after making mistakes, they could even achieve unexpected results.
However, for the scholars of that era, admitting one's mistakes to someone of lower status than oneself was a very shameful thing, and Su Fengzhang was not sure whether Prince Cheng was willing to lose face.
In particular, his targets were those students who had not yet entered officialdom.
It was like an emperor in the palace, a person who never wanted to lose face. In order to quickly end the farce at the palace gate, he did not hesitate to open his own inner treasury, and later, in order to calm things down, he directly deposed the prince.
As members of the royal family, no matter whether he was the former crown prince or the fourth prince, they all care about face very much.
Prince Cheng's eyes flickered, but he quickly nodded and said, "Okay, I'll listen to you."
Su Fengzhang raised an eyebrow. He didn't expect him to agree so quickly. Prince Cheng laughed and said, "Why, can't this prince truly repent?"
Su Fengzhang laughed and said, "It's not that I can't, it's just that I don't look like it!"
Prince Cheng sighed and said calmly, "I truly don't feel I did anything wrong. Although I intentionally used them as a raft, I didn't kill them, and I also made them more aware of the hardships of the people."
"But since you've brought it up and you think it's necessary, I'm willing to do it."
Su Fengzhang smiled and said, "Your Highness trusts me so much, I am flattered."
Prince Cheng glanced at him coldly and said with a smile, "I'm flattered. I thought you were used to it."
Without waiting for Su Fengzhang to speak, she added, "I am always willing to listen to what Master Su says."
Su Fengzhang couldn't help but glance at him again, and then said, "In that case, Your Highness, please show some respect to us when the time comes, so that we don't waste this trip in the middle of winter."
Prince Cheng smiled and said, "Since we have to do this, I will naturally do my best."
After that, he continued, "I need to talk to my father. He may not agree to my leaving the capital."
Su Fengzhang said, "Don't worry, Your Majesty. His Majesty Prince Rong will surely help."
Prince Cheng then nodded and said, "Apart from the Emperor's uncle, there is probably no one else Your Majesty can trust."
Su Fengzhang looked at Prince Cheng seriously and said, "When the prince returns from Qingzhou Prefecture, the situation in the capital will probably change again. I wonder if the Fourth Prince will be anxious by then."
Prince Cheng laughed and said, "It's no use for him to be anxious. Minister Xu is almost undermined by you."
Su Fengzhang shook his head and said, "If they concentrate on dealing with the prince, they will also have endless troubles."
Prince Cheng also said: "That's the truth, so I have to think of a way to make my fourth brother not bother to care about me."
"Or, in other words, the Fourth Prince has something he likes and values more than the prince," Su Fengzhang reminded.
The two looked at each other again, and came up with the same idea at the same time. The deposed prince was still living in the palace, but had actually been deposed. Recently, the emperor had no idea why he often remembered him and even started to reward him with things!
Who could be more useful than the deposed crown prince who has been a thorn in the side of the Fourth Prince for more than twenty years?
What's even more coincidental is that their Majesty's recent ambiguous attitude has begun to irritate the Fourth Prince's sensitive nerves.
Prince Cheng laughed heartily and asked, "By the way, is Lord Su's third brother in Qingzhou Prefecture? How about I bring him back for you on my way there?"
Su Fengzhang shook his head and refused, "No need. That kid has been taken care of too well since he was a child. He just needs to be out there and experience some hardships. It would be best if he could suffer more."
Prince Cheng agreed and said with a smile, "If that's the case, I won't get involved."
Before coming, Su Fengzhang thought that it would take a lot of effort to convince Prince Cheng, but he didn't expect that the prince was very smart and understood immediately, which saved him a lot of trouble.
After solving this big problem, Su Fengzhang's appetite was even better, and he ate a whole table of venison and vegetables.
Prince Cheng was so surprised that he asked curiously, "Master Su, why didn't I realize you have such a big appetite before?"
Su Fengzhang continued eating. He was never one to treat himself badly. "I eat this much at home too. I guess the venison suits my taste today, so I ate a little more."
"Why, Your Majesty, are you feeling distressed?"
Prince Cheng also took a few more bites. Her appetite was usually not very good, and it was rare for her to have such a big appetite. "I really feel bad. I feel bad that Lord Su always only ate half full every time he came to eat."
As he spoke, Prince Cheng stuffed venison into his bowl and said, "Come on, eat more and make up for what you didn't eat before."
Seeing Su Fengzhang eating with relish, Prince Cheng continued to eat as well, but he couldn't help but think of Yunshan from more than a year ago.
It was freezing cold at that time, and they didn't find much food. Every time, Su Fengzhang would give him food first. Maybe Su Fengzhang didn't care about his status as a prince, or maybe he was sincere, but Prince Cheng always kept this sincerity in his heart.
Seeing that he was busy all the time, Su Fengzhang smiled and picked up some food for him: "You eat too."
Prince Cheng looked down and saw that what Su Fengzhang had picked up was her favorite dish. At this moment, she couldn't help but feel something else in her heart, and the smile on her face became more genuine.
After taking a bite, Prince Cheng couldn't help but ask, "Master Su, those people outside have misunderstood our relationship and slandered you. Do you really not mind?"
Su Fengzhang paused for a moment, and when he looked up, he happened to fall into Prince Cheng's gaze.
Perhaps it was because he had eaten too much venison, but at that moment he felt a fever all over. To hide it, he lowered his head and drank a sip of tea before saying, "Your Highness, if I were the kind of person who cared about gossip, I should have kept my distance from you years ago."
Prince Cheng was very happy to hear this and said, "That's good. I was just worried that you would be unhappy."
There was something ambiguous about what he said, and Su Fengzhang couldn't help but look up at her a few more times.
The pot was hot, and Prince Cheng's cheeks were also bright red, but he couldn't tell why.
That day, Su Fengzhang ate his fill and took some food with him when he left. For some reason, the palace steward packed enough venison for him that would last their family for a while. If Su Arong hadn't come with a carriage, it wouldn't have been able to hold all the food.
As he left, he didn't know that the palace steward had returned to Prince Cheng and reported in person: "Your Highness, we have sent Lord Su back, and the venison has also been delivered. I personally watched him go through the door before I came back."
Prince Cheng nodded and said with satisfaction, "You are very careful. It snowed a few days ago, and I am worried that he might get bumped on the way back."
The housekeeper smiled and said, "Don't worry, Your Majesty."
Prince Cheng sighed for some reason. She felt relieved, as Su Fengzhang had always been a reassuring person. However, the closer they got to him and the longer they spent together, the more inappropriate thoughts began to arise in her mind.
Sometimes, Prince Cheng would even think that it would be great if the rumors outside were true. Unfortunately, Su Fengzhang was a dignified person. Although he was close to him, he was polite and never overstepped the line.
On the other side, Su Fengzhang returned home and saw Su Zhaoshi still waiting. He smiled and said, "Prince Cheng sent venison, so we can have another dish at home tomorrow."
Su Zhao took a look and asked Su Arong to send him to the kitchen first. Then she grabbed her son and asked, "Erlang, what is your relationship with Prince Cheng? Why is he so nice to you?"
Su Fengzhang explained helplessly: "Mom, I've told you many times that we are innocent."
Su Zhaoshi asked with a troubled expression, "If there's nothing between us, why is he so nice to you?"
"Let's not talk about today's venison. The palace sends food and drinks to our house every few days. They've even sent us aged ginseng and deer antlers several times. Why haven't we seen anything sent here from Prince Rong's palace?"
Su Fengzhang could only say, "Mother, that's just because the prince thinks highly of me. Besides, these are all done by the palace's housekeeper. Prince Cheng is also a very busy man, so how could he give orders personally?"
Su Zhaoshi felt a little relieved after hearing this and said, "That's right, Erlang, you didn't lie to me, did you?"
After thinking for a while, Su Zhaoshi said, "Erlang, if you like men, I won't stop you. But if you like men, don't delay the continuation of the family line."
Su Fengzhang was even more speechless. It was not until he returned to ancient times that he discovered that homosexuality was not uncommon these days, especially in the southern region where there were many cases of sworn brothers.
But generally speaking, as long as two people love each other, no one will say anything, but most people will not delay getting married and having children. If you don’t have offspring, it will be something people will talk about.
Considering Su Zhao's status, she could say these words out of her deep love for her son.
Su Fengzhang didn't argue with her, nor did he say how unfair it would be to marry a woman if he really liked men. He just leaned on Su Zhaoshi's shoulder and said, "Mom, you are the best mother in the world."
"But I, your son, have not done well and have been causing you worry all this time."
Hearing this, Su Zhaoshi's motherly love melted away. She hugged him and said, "Erlang, don't say that. There aren't many sons in the world who are as good as you."
Su Fengzhang laughed: "It sounds like we, mother and son, are just bragging about ourselves."
Su Zhao touched his shoulder and saw that there were dark circles under his eyes these past few days, which showed that he was really exhausted. She couldn't bear to say those words anymore, so she sighed and said, "Forget it, you should go to bed early."
"Children and grandchildren will have their own blessings. If you want to marry a wife, then marry her. If you don't want to marry her, then don't marry her. It's up to you."
Although these words were half spoken in anger, they were also a statement of Su Zhaoshi's attitude. In fact, she knew that her son had the final say and she could not make the decision.
She could also secretly pick a husband and then, when the marriage was settled, her son would probably not object. However, as a mother, Su Zhaoshi was not a cruel person, especially when she thought about how Zong Zhang had died of anger because of a woman, she didn't want to do such a thing.
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The author has something to say: New article please collect~~
Still following the imperial examination route, if you don't study, you will die [Imperial Examination]
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