Now, this very person is standing in front of Lan Linxue, blocking his way.
"Lord Chen, why aren't you at your Censorate reviewing the petitions? What are you doing here?"
Lan Linxue felt a headache coming on just looking at Chen Kuangzheng. Even if you beat someone like that to death, he would still make a scene and cause trouble for you. In fact, there was really nothing wrong with it!
Fine, his father really went all out!
"Your Highness, where are you in such a hurry to go?"
Chen Kuangzheng wasn't in a hurry at all, and looked at Lan Linxue with a smile.
"Lord Chen, I have urgent business to attend to and must leave the palace immediately. Please get out of my way!"
Lan Linxue was now begging and pleading in her heart, hoping that this hot potato in front of her would suddenly have a brain fart and let him go.
Chen Kuangzheng smiled and then shook his head slightly.
Lan Linxue's heart sank into an ice cellar.
"Your Highness, I am here on His Majesty's orders to guard the palace gates and prevent you from leaving! Please don't put me in such a difficult position, Your Highness, and return to the palace!"
Lan Linxue jumped off his horse, and Lao Qi and the others quickly followed suit.
"Chen Kuangzheng, you're a second-rank official in the imperial court, an censor of the Censorate. Are you really so bored that you've come here to guard the Emperor's gate? Aren't you wasting your talents and the country's resources? You should be arguing with the Emperor right now, not letting him do whatever he wants! How can you loyal ministers be so incompetent?"
Chen Kuangzheng nodded in agreement upon hearing Lan Linxue's words, then sighed helplessly and said to her, "There's nothing we can do! His Majesty said that the Crown Prince is the foundation of the nation, and these are turbulent times. Keeping an eye on the Crown Prince is keeping an eye on the lifeline of our dynasty! I think His Majesty is absolutely right! The situation in Jiangnan is still unclear, and it's indeed not advisable for the Crown Prince to go out. I advise the Crown Prince to listen to His Majesty and return to the palace first! After the morning court session tomorrow, the Crown Prince can go wherever he wants; I will absolutely not stop him!"
Upon hearing Chen Kuangzheng's words, Lan Linxue immediately narrowed her eyes, slowly walked up to him, and asked in a low voice, "What will happen at the morning court tomorrow? It seems there's more to your words than meets the eye, Lord Chen!"
Although Lan Linxue disliked Chen Kuangzheng's stubbornness, he knew that Chen Kuangzheng was very loyal to him. Although he seemed extremely straightforward, he was definitely not stupid, much less ignorant of politics.
If someone were truly a fool, they would face countless obstacles in the imperial court, let alone being upright and discerning; even surviving would be extremely difficult. He, however, is not only thriving but has also risen to the second rank, occasionally causing trouble for people like Hu Tianyong and Xu Ming. Therefore, Lan Linxue knows that Chen Kuangzheng is a truly intelligent man.
This clever man didn't participate in party and government affairs; he simply and quietly maintained his loyalty to the Crown Prince. He had observed for a long time, and although he understood that the Crown Prince seemed absurd and dissolute, accomplishing nothing, after years of observation, he knew that if the world were truly to move towards a more enlightened direction, only Lan Linxue could achieve it.
Therefore, among the people Lan Linxue was protecting, Chen Kuangzheng could be considered one of the top.
Lan Shanyang knew this in his heart, and Lan Linxue knew it even more clearly.
At such a sensitive time, to hear Chen Kuangzheng say something like this must mean something is really wrong.
Chen Kuangzheng looked at Lan Linxue, smiled faintly, and lowered his voice: "The information I have received is that the Fifth Prince has brought back some things from Jiangnan and handed them over to the Prime Minister. It will be announced at the morning court tomorrow!"
Lan Linxue knew what it was as soon as she heard it. Lan Xiuyuan had prepared everything and was just waiting to deliver a fatal blow to him tomorrow morning.
Lan Linxue nodded. "I've heard about this too! But, Lord Chen, how big do you think this storm will be?"
Chen Kuangzheng looked at Lan Linxue, his eyes flickering, and after a long while he said in a deep voice, "I'm afraid the matter is serious enough to directly impeach the Crown Prince!"
Lan Linxue nodded, "Thank you for the reminder, Lord Chen! I understand!"
Chen Kuangzheng looked at Lan Linxue and said sincerely, "Your Highness, please forgive me for saying something you may not like to hear! The situation in the court is very complicated. Sometimes things are not as simple as Your Highness saying you have something and then you don't! If the Fifth Prince has too much in his hands this time, even the Emperor will not be able to protect Your Highness! At that time, Your Highness will probably be in a difficult situation!"
Lan Linxue looked at Chen Kuangzheng, then smiled slightly and asked him casually, "Lord Chen, if things really don't go well, and I end up in your hands, I wonder if you could do me a favor and let me go?"
Chen Kuangzheng looked at Lan Linxue, his expression growing increasingly grave. "Your Highness, the laws of heaven and the law of the land are inviolable by anyone! If Your Highness has truly broken the law, then don't blame me for being ruthless! However, I believe that Your Highness would never do such a heinous thing! Otherwise, I would truly have no face to face the world again!"
Lan Linxue smiled and patted Chen Kuangzheng on the shoulder. "Lord Chen, remember what you said today! I have no other requirement for you than this: to enforce the law impartially, without favoritism or compromise. Remember, only if you have this intention can I survive in the end! Do you understand?"
Chen Kuangzheng and Lan Linxue looked at each other, and slowly, Chen Kuangzheng nodded solemnly.
Lan Linxue nodded, feeling very comforted.
Fortunately, there is still one person in this world who has a sense of public duty; otherwise, who knows what would have happened if things had gone to court!
After saying this, Lan Linxue looked at Chen Kuangzheng and said with a half-smile, "However, Lord Chen, I'm afraid I still have to go out today! Do you want me to just throw you out, or whip you three times before you're gone?"
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