Chapter 260 Signal
When Zhao Youchen returned after arranging everything, he saw this bizarre scene.
On one side, there was the enthusiastic Lord Zheng and the accountant.
On the other side were the drowsy young emperor and Prince Yan.
No, Prince Yan is still quite lucid.
The only one who was drowsy was his young emperor.
This was definitely because I couldn't hold on any longer and was really sleepy.
Based on his keen intuition honed over the past three years of accompanying the emperor, Zhao Youchen analyzed the truth of the matter.
Although I feel a little reluctant, but...
Zhao Youchen tiptoed over.
"Your Majesty. Your Majesty?" His voice trailed off, each syllable lower than the last.
Zheng Fangxiu peeked over.
There was no way around it; he was a high-ranking official in the Court of Judicial Review with excellent overall qualities, and multitasking was an essential skill for him.
Xiao Qing answered seriously, "Yes!"
Then, quite naturally, he raised his hand and touched his forehead, his sleeve conveniently covering his eyes.
My body straightened up without me even realizing it.
Zheng Fangxiu's pen tip unconsciously tilted slightly.
This routine was so fluid and natural, it was as if she had practiced it a thousand times.
The saying goes, "One minute on stage requires ten years of practice off stage."
That makes perfect sense.
Zhao Youchen was already used to it and pretended not to know, but he felt a little sorry for his emperor who couldn't sleep.
After he catches these snakes, rats, insects, and ants...
He was about to leave His Majesty for the distant Yingzhou.
But His Majesty is not yet grown up.
Zhao Youchen was somewhat depressed.
Xiao Yan stared intently at Jin Suanzi, seemingly oblivious to everything happening around him.
Xiao Qing glanced at the scene inside the room, then quickly got up and walked out with Zhao Youchen.
The two spoke in hushed tones.
Wang Xiang could not remain indifferent.
After he returned, he met with the Sun and Li families, and they stayed together for about half an hour.
There has been no movement from the Hu family for the time being, but some people on Madam Sun's side have finally lost their composure.
A palace maid brought water inside, and shortly afterward, the sound of a cup being smashed could be heard from inside.
Lady Sun rushed out of the room in a panic, shouting for help, but she called for the imperial physician.
Zhao Youchen's men entered from the outer courtyard and summoned the imperial physician, but Madam Sun refused to use him and insisted on having a female physician.
The young palace maid knelt down in a panic, saying that she had only come to deliver water and knew nothing about it.
Madam Sun shouted at her to get out, and her emotions briefly spiraled out of control.
Although Madam Sun was a woman and was under investigation because of Sun Cheng, Xiao Qing intentionally arranged for her to live closer to the women's quarters in the garden and ordered her to be closely guarded.
After Zhao Youchen followed instructions to change the situation from a relaxed exterior to a tighter interior, all the people in the outer courtyard withdrew, but there were still people watching inside the house.
Reportedly, the palace maid was indeed only handing out water, and upon inspection, the water was found to be fine.
But there must be something wrong here.
Zhao Youchen had his men keep a close eye on the young palace maid, and they saw her enter Wang Yu's courtyard.
Upon hearing this, Xiao touched his chin, his eyes holding a somewhat unfathomable expression.
Zhao Youchen then brought up another matter.
"Madam Sun's side made quite a commotion, which alarmed some of the women. However, they were all persuaded to go back by Princess Fu and Miss Chu Qingzhou."
Xiao Qing smiled but didn't say anything.
Zhao Ziyuan's men were all in place. The men his deputy brought back were all Zhao Ziyuan's confidants, the foundation of the Zhao family army. They had followed Zhao Ziyuan since he joined the army, training every day, and were all skilled fighters capable of taking on ten men each.
Wang Xiang was in charge of security at Mengshan Villa. Of the people Zhao Youchen brought in the open, only about half were trustworthy. However, he and Zhao Ziyuan had secretly planted many people in the background.
He is now worried that these people will not be able to cope with the mutation, and he is also worried that the mutation will actually happen.
He couldn't hold back in the end.
Is Your Majesty worried about a mutiny on the Prime Minister's side?
Xiao Qing was silent for a while, "Not necessarily. Wang Xiang cherishes his reputation. Although he relies on a powerful family, he acts more like a scholar. It's possible that he hired someone to silence him, but it's unlikely that he raised a private army."
She gathered her thoughts. "However, the Grand Tutor also said that Wang Xiang was being held hostage by powerful families and could hardly protect himself."
It's not just the Wang, Sun, and Li families.
There are also people who have made moves against the He family and Mingxiu.
There were also people in Yingzhou who attacked her and Fu Mingyi.
"I don't need to arrange anyone around me; Ma Hong is enough. Make the worst-case scenario plan and be fully prepared. I also want to see who will step forward at this time."
Zhao Youchen was somewhat worried.
"Your Majesty should prioritize your own well-being."
Xiao Qing shook her head.
She is bait, waiting for the fish to bite.
Anyway, the Grand Tutor is there to keep an eye on things; he's there as a safety net!
Xiao Qing remained completely calm.
Jin Suan shouted from inside, "The investigation is complete!"
Xiao Qing turned around; this was just the beginning of the battle.
Zheng Fangxiu stood up and looked at the young, still thin emperor across the table.
"As long as there is evidence, Lord Zheng can arrest people according to his authority."
Xiao Qing paused for a moment, then said, "Regardless of rank, Commander Zhao will assist in the arrangements within the Mengshan Villa."
Zheng Fangxiu walked to the side and bowed deeply, a surge of passion welling up inside her.
After years of ups and downs in officialdom, he had almost forgotten the impetuous young man who once had a burning passion to right all injustices in the world.
"I will obey Your Majesty's command."
Xiao Yan also looked at Xiao Qing.
A strange, unspoken longing suddenly arose in his heart, one he was unwilling to admit.
Xiao Qing looked at Xiao Yan: "Brother Yan, I am going to send you to the Grand Tutor. You can stay by the Grand Tutor's side."
That's the safest place.
Xiao Yan sat up straight: "I want to stay by my brother's side."
Xiao Qing shook his head, his expression serious.
"Your Majesty has important matters to attend to right now."
Xiao Yan glanced at her, but didn't insist, and got up to leave.
Zhao Youchen arranged for someone to secretly send Xiao Yan over.
At this moment, Fu Mingyi had just finished "receiving" a group of people.
The visitor did not reveal himself, but left behind a piece of white jade.
A piece of white jade of excellent quality and exquisite carving.
The sight was so familiar that it instantly chilled his blood.
He stared intently at the piece of white jade, his memory suddenly drifting away.
Emperor Tianhe personally went to the Fu family to invite him to be the tutor of Prince Xiao Qing.
For the Fu family, being a teacher is an easy job.
The Fu family has always had this tradition.
The Fu family was not afraid to become imperial tutors.
Moreover, Xiao Qing was just a young prince.
But he initially didn't want to take this disciple.
When Old Master Fu took him to a banquet in the palace, he saw the siblings Xiao Qing and Xiao Yan.
Their mother was a favored concubine, so they naturally received a lot of the emperor's favor.
Perhaps because they were sickly from a young age and were spoiled, the two siblings had completely different personalities in public and in private.
They were timid and weak in front of the emperor and their mothers.
But in front of the palace servants who attended to them, they were arrogant and cruel.
Compared to Xiao Yan, Xiao Qing's characteristics are clearly more pronounced.
He didn't want to teach such a prince.
However, neither Emperor Tianhe nor the Fu family gave him any other options.
The day he became Xiao Qing's teacher, the gift he gave to Prince Xiao Qing was this piece of white jade.
This was acquired during his travels. The jade is carved with the image of mountains and flowing water, and it was carved by a famous artist from a previous dynasty.
Because he disliked this disciple, he didn't carefully choose a gift for their first meeting; he simply thought this piece of jade was suitable, so he gave it to him.
On the one hand, this jade is worthy of Xiao Qing's status.
On the other hand, he hoped that Xiao Qing could have a broad mind and a sense of the world.
Now, this piece of jade is placed right in front of him.
He suddenly remembered the Martial Soul Tomb from three years ago.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
