Chapter 56: Questioning
Rong Bo knew that he couldn't get anything out of them, so he just followed them. When he passed by the Honglu Temple, he saw a group of soldiers heading towards King Jing's office.
After arriving at the meeting hall and paying their respects, before Rong Bo could ask any more questions, Emperor Rong spoke in a shocking tone, "Today, your father-in-law Wen Renbiao sent people to pierce the ship of the Xuanyuan Kingdom's envoys. Fortunately, the Xuanyuan Kingdom's military officials discovered it, so it did not affect the meeting between the two countries."
"Do you know about this?"
Rong Bo looked up in shock, unable to believe what he had just heard. It took him a long time to react, "Father, I don't know about this, and I didn't do it. Is someone trying to harm me? I am now in charge of the six ministries, and my fourth brother is taking over the envoy's affairs. Even if I am envious, I will never do anything to damage the friendship between the two countries. Moreover, if this provokes a war between the two countries, my death is not a pity."
The emperor carefully looked at the expression on his face.
The emperor's power was like a tiger rushing towards him. Rong Bo was terrified and in great pain. He didn't know who wanted to harm him.
Emperor Rong secretly breathed a sigh of relief when he saw his expression. After all, he still had some humanity. If this was really done by Rong Bo, he would ruthlessly exile this evildoer who only cared about seizing the throne, not caring about the lives of the people, and provoking discord between the two countries.
Rong Bo was flustered when he saw that Emperor Rong didn't say anything. He thought that maybe it was Prince Jing who put the blame on him, "Father..."
"Retreat to the side hall first."
Rong Bo, "...Yes."
Sure enough, as soon as he stepped into the door of the side hall, he turned around and saw the Royal Guards and Prince Jing rushing from the other end of the corridor to the conference room.
Duan Wenxiu of Prince Rui's Mansion had already informed Rong Zhuo of the news that the two princes had been taken away.
Rong Zhuo thought that all the officials under the Honglu Temple were rushing to the Envoys' Inn, and he guessed a little.
The eunuch who announced the decree first went to the Second Prince's Mansion to let the Second Prince's wife bring the Imperial Grandson into the Fengyi Palace, and then immediately came to the Prince Rui's Mansion to summon the Third Prince.
Rong Zhuo asked the eunuch in the front yard to sit for a while and drink tea, then he changed his clothes and followed the eunuch into the palace.
Prince Jing was still dazed when he was brought here. If his father wanted to reward him, he would not be so anxious. Could something have happened? But today, all the envoys from foreign vassal states have left Jin Xiaochen, and he has done a good job on this task.
The peaceful and elegant fragrance of the meeting room came over him. Emperor Rong's eyes remained calm as he spoke word by word, "Today, someone sent someone to pierce the ship of the Xuanyuan Kingdom's envoys. The thieves were also caught. Do you know about this?"
King Jing was confused at first, then surprised, and finally angry. Which bastard put the blame on him? "Father, please understand. I have not slept well day and night, fearing that I would mess up this task. How could I shoot myself in the foot? Someone must be trying to put the blame on me."
"This person must be narrow-minded. He cannot bear to see me get the job I have now. Father, please conduct a thorough investigation. I will also make sure that the person who framed me clears my name."
Emperor Rong looked at Rong Yu. He knew what his third son was thinking. It was normal for the crown prince to have such thoughts. As long as he did not kill or burn people or endanger the country, he would turn a blind eye.
I originally thought that he would host a great reception for the foreign vassal this time, but I didn't expect that he was a person who only cared about face and not substance.
"I asked the Honglu Temple today, and you paid for the envoy's return gift money out of your own pocket."
King Jing immediately followed the change of topic and realized that what happened just now was his father testing him. Fortunately, he did not do it.
He quickly put away his panic and calmed down, "Yes, I thought that the foreign envoys came from afar, and since we are brothers, we must let them return with all their heart. So I made up for this expense privately."
Emperor Rong's face changed. "Ridiculous, Chitian Kingdom is a superior country, and they come here to learn and make friends. You, a prince, are paying out of your own pocket to increase the etiquette. Today you are a vassal, tomorrow you are paying tribute, and the day after tomorrow you are doing maritime trade. Are you planning to lose the entire royal property? Isn't your salary a tribute from the people?"
"You privately promoted foreign envoys. Do you want them to support and love you, or do you want to form a clique with them and work hard for you in the future?"
King Jing was completely panicked, his peach blossom eyes shrank, "Father, I don't have such thoughts. It was my fault. I only thought about the beauty outside, but I didn't think that I was also eating the salary of the people.
"Your son never intended to overstep his authority. Please forgive me, father." After saying this, he knocked his head heavily on the lapis lazuli floor tile.
Emperor Rong originally thought that he was too smooth in his dealings and did not reflect the true purpose of the money. If this money had been spent on official affairs, how much more could it benefit the people.
This time, people were wondering if he was overstepping his bounds, but he didn't look like he had the guts to do so. He had a lot of ideas, but he just couldn't put them into practice.
"Forget it. Go back and think about it for three months. Tutor Xu Youzhi will come to your house regularly. Think carefully about what you can do." After all, he is still young, so let's wait and see with some guidance.
King Jing was shocked. Not only was he not rewarded for the task he had worked so hard to complete, he was also forced to reflect on his mistakes in seclusion for three months. His Grand Tutor also had to teach him again. Even though it was hard for him to accept, he dared not show it and walked out, suppressing his bitterness.
When he walked past the side hall, he saw Rong Bo sitting there. King Jing thought of the first question his father had just asked, and he became angry.
Good, the second brother who has always been dignified and steady also has some ideas.
I thought he was still the same, but now he sent people to destroy his place. Who else could it be but him who drilled the boat?
Rong Zhuo was a cripple, so even if both he and Rong Bo died, the throne might not fall to him. It turned out that the vicious snake was hidden.
Rong Bo was very puzzled when he saw the vicious look in King Jing's eyes. Then he saw that his forehead was red and bleeding, so he wanted to show some concern for him.
Thinking about what the emperor just said, it would be impossible that the kid pierced the boat himself and put the blame on him. This will be exposed by the emperor. He will kowtow and spare his life.
Rong Bo couldn't help but snort coldly. This kid has been cunning and slippery since he was young. He has been cheated by Rong Yu since he was young.
Although it was just a fight for favor between children, they have now established their own families and careers. This kid could still come up with such a trick to harm his brothers. For a moment, Rong Bo was also cold-eyed.
When King Jing saw him like this, he was a little confused. Could it be that it wasn't him?
The arrival of the eunuch interrupted their exploration, "The two princes can go back first. His Majesty still needs to summon the third prince and the second prince's wife, so this side hall is still useful."
Rong Bo and King Jing immediately realized something and became nervous. What was their father trying to do?
The two of them didn't want to stay any longer at this time. They walked to the palace gate, but couldn't move any steps, so they simply waited outside the gate.
Wen Renyuan came to Fengyi Palace carrying the emperor's grandson Fuer. At this time, the former queen didn't know why the emperor asked her to come.
He could only pat Wen Renyuan's hand to comfort her, "I'm afraid that Your Majesty wants to enjoy his grandchildren, and he has to adjust to the busy court affairs."
Wen Renyuan calmed down and ate some snacks in Fengyi Palace.
Empress Yuan played with the child for a while, and when she saw Emperor Rong coming over, she gave the child to him, "Fu'er is growing fast, and looks more and more like Bo'er."
Emperor Rong glanced at him without revealing any expression. His eyes were as cold as a pond as he scanned Wen Renyuan and said, "The Second Prince and Prince Jing were both called in for a talk. The thief said that your father sent him to sabotage the ship of the Xuanyuan Kingdom envoy. Did you take care of this?"
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