Chapter 227 Punishment (Second Update)
There was a reason why the emperor and Marquis Xuanping went out of the palace incognito. It was not surprising that they would run into the old marquis. The three of them had already arranged a place to secretly do something together.
We just happened to run into each other earlier than planned.
The emperor and his two companions went to a nearby theater...
That's right, it's a theater.
Everyone knows that Marquis Xuanping is a romantic and unrestrained man who loves beautiful women and operas. He often visits this place, but no one knows that it was originally his property.
The three entered the side room, and the servant outside closed the door.
The emperor, writhing in pain from a head injury, sat down and said impatiently, "Make a long story short! How did things go?"
The old marquis dared not be negligent, cupped his hands in a salute, and said, "Your Majesty, ever since the news of my return to the capital spread, my whereabouts have been monitored."
"The Zhuang family?" the emperor asked.
Marquis Xuanping grabbed a handful of melon seeds.
The emperor glared at him.
"Sigh." Even the melon seeds won't be allowed. His Majesty's temper is really bad. Marquis Xuanping had no choice but to put the melon seeds back.
The old Marquis nodded: "That's right. Today, this old minister went to the temple, and Prince An secretly followed me."
The emperor frowned: "He actually followed you himself?"
The old marquis didn't find it strange: "His guards and old ministers all know him, so he had no choice but to take the risk himself."
It wasn't easy to spot Prince An. The old Marquis barely noticed him on the way there, but on the way back, Prince An got into the carriage a little early, and that's when the old Marquis discovered him.
As for why he lost his composure, the old Marquis had no idea.
When the matter was brought up, the emperor's expression became more serious: "What about the Empress Dowager's whereabouts? Is there any progress?"
The old marquis speculated, "I believe... the Empress Dowager may have already entered the capital."
The emperor frowned even more deeply: "What makes you say that?"
The old Marquis pondered for a moment and said, “Although the Zhuang family is still pretending to search for the Empress Dowager, their search has slowed down considerably. Moreover, when Prince An left the capital, ostensibly to accompany his sister on a sightseeing trip, he was actually inquiring about the Empress Dowager along the way. Afterwards, Prince An returned to the capital under the pretext of the provincial examination… Forgive my bluntness, but Prince An is still young; he shouldn’t abandon the search for the Empress Dowager for the sake of an imperial examination.”
The emperor pondered for a moment, then realized that the old marquis's words made sense: "So you think he returned to the capital because he found the Empress Dowager? But if he did, why not let the Empress Dowager return to the palace?"
When the Empress Dowager returned to the capital, she should have been more wary of the Emperor's side. The Zhuang family held a winning hand but didn't play it. What kind of strategy is this?
The old Marquis pondered, "This... I'm also completely baffled. Perhaps... the Empress Dowager's leprosy wasn't cured, and they're secretly treating her?"
A leprosy empress dowager would be looked down upon and despised. When Empress Dowager Zhuang contracted leprosy, everyone thought that the opportunity to bring her down had come, but who would have thought that the empress dowager would escape on her own.
If they dared to say that Empress Dowager Zhuang had left the palace without permission, Grand Tutor Zhuang would dare to publicly question whether they had murdered her.
They dared not gamble on the outcome, so they resorted to a roundabout tactic, claiming that the Empress Dowager had suddenly fallen ill and was going to the imperial palace to recuperate.
They then intentionally or unintentionally let the Zhuang family find out the news—that Empress Dowager Zhuang had escaped with leprosy.
The Zhuang family also feared that the illness would ruin the Empress Dowager's reputation, so they kept it quiet and secretly sought out the Empress Dowager.
A delicate balance was achieved between the two sides in a short period of time.
But this balance will eventually be broken.
If Grand Tutor Zhuang truly finds and cures Empress Dowager Zhuang, then the day when the balance between the two sides is broken will not be far off.
The journey from the clinic to the nunnery was already long, and the delay on the way meant that by the time Gu Jiao returned to Biyue Hutong, dusk had already fallen.
A vibrant ray of sunset light fell upon a cluster of red walls and green tiles, casting a warm orange glow.
As Gu Jiao walked into the alley, she truly felt like she was coming home.
She had never experienced this feeling in her previous life.
In her past life, she spent very few days living with her parents, and those days were empty and cold, devoid of any warmth of home.
What we call home is simply a place to live.
But now it seems to have taken on a new meaning.
After a busy day, she longs to return here and see the people in the house.
She wasn't never tired; she was just used to being tired. Since no one would care about her anyway, there was no point in being dramatic.
"Jiaojiao!"
Xiao Jingkong's voice interrupted Gu Jiao's thoughts.
The little guy is sitting on the doorstep waiting for her again.
He had fallen and cried his eyes out that morning, but now he was running towards her and throwing himself into her arms.
She reached out to pick him up, but he shook his head and said, "No, Jiaojiao is too tired."
He resisted the urge to hug her and instead took Gu Jiao's hand.
"Does your leg still hurt?" Gu Jiao bent down to pull at his trouser leg.
Xiao Jingkong shook his head: "It doesn't hurt anymore!"
It still hurts a little, but Xiao Jingkong's coquettishness is based on the premise of not adding burden to Gu Jiao.
"Sister!" Gu Xiaoshun heard the noise at the door, dropped the half-finished carpentry work he was doing, and darted out like a little monkey to help Gu Jiao get her little basket. "Give it to me!"
Gu Xiaoshun insisted on carrying the small basket in his hand and carefully put her small medicine box into her east room.
Gu Yan was originally working as a janitor in the courtyard, shoveling chicken droppings. He was so frustrated by the mess that he was furious. He was neither as free as the janitor nor as fast as Gu Xiaoshun. He finally saw his sister, whose pretty face was completely black with grime.
Gu Jiao was amused by his appearance.
Gu Yan awkwardly turned his back.
Gu Jiao went to coax him.
It's hard for others to coax him, but it's easy for Gu Jiao to coax him. Gu Jiao tugged at his hand, and he immediately lost all his temper.
Madam Yao brought out a plate of freshly steamed cakes from the kitchen. When she saw her daughter, her eyes were full of tenderness: "Jiaojiao is back? I just made some snacks. Jingkong, go see if Auntie is awake yet?"
"Alright!" Little Jingkong loves checking on his aunt's room the most. He always finds something and feels a great sense of accomplishment!
Xiao Jingkong ran panting to the old lady's room.
The old lady was holding a jar of candied fruit and eating it with gusto.
The old priest sat speechlessly opposite her, watching her eat all afternoon.
Can you eat that much?
How many years did the late emperor starve you?
"Grandma!" Little Jingkong came running over!
The old lady swiftly stuffed the candied fruit jar into the old libationer's arms.
The old chief priest looked at the jar that had suddenly appeared in his arms: "..."
You've kept me here all afternoon just for this moment?
The old libationer didn't want to take the blame, so he immediately returned the jar to the old lady.
The moment Xiao Jingkong entered the room, he saw the old priest holding out a jar of candied fruit to the old lady, who held it in her arms with a firm and refusal expression!
The old lady snorted and said, "I've already said I won't eat it, no amount of coercion or bribery will work!"
The old chief priest: "..."
So, was the half-jar of candied fruit eaten by a ghost?
Can't she at least have the shame and self-awareness to be a wicked empress who brought ruin to the country?
The old libationer sighed.
No wonder Ah Heng felt at ease keeping the Demon Queen by his side; given her current state, she really posed no threat.
It's tough on him.
Every day, he was either robbed or made a scapegoat, and his old age was miserable!
After bidding farewell to Gu Jiao, Prince An went to the clinic and ordered a batch of wound medicine from Miaoshoutang.
I upset her today, so I'll patronize her business to appease her.
Afterwards, Prince An returned to his residence by carriage.
Grand Tutor Zhuang was already waiting in the flower hall.
Because of the Empress Dowager's affairs, Grand Tutor Zhuang had a lot of worries, and he aged considerably.
“Grandfather.” Prince An entered the room and bowed.
Grand Tutor Zhuang gave him a calm look and said in a deep voice, "Why are you back so late? Were you following me all day?"
Prince An lowered his eyes: "No, I bought some things on the way back to the manor."
Grand Tutor Zhuang closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and slowly exhaled: "Is there anything unusual about his whereabouts?"
Prince An reported, "He went to check on the repaired suspension bridge, presumably to inspect its quality."
The suspension bridge was repaired under the supervision of Lord Gu. It is said that Lord Gu was recently severely beaten by the old lord and is recuperating at home. It is understandable that the old lord would go to check on the suspension bridge for him.
But the old Marquis was by no means a simple military general; he was a brave and resourceful old man who was always thinking ten steps ahead of him.
Grand Tutor Zhuang suspected that the old Marquis beat his son on purpose, so that he could openly investigate everywhere under the pretext of doing things for his son.
After all, the Ministry of Works has too many affairs, covering every corner of the capital. No one would suspect the old Marquis if he appeared anywhere.
Of course, that was someone else, not Grand Tutor Zhuang.
Grand Tutor Zhuang frowned suspiciously: "You only looked at the suspension bridge? Did you do anything else? For example, did you meet anyone? Did you encounter anything?"
I ran into Consort Jing... and Gu Jiao.
Prince An subtly tugged at the hem of his robe with his hand hidden beneath his wide sleeves: "He walked around the temple area but didn't run into anyone."
Grand Tutor Zhuang stroked his beard and pondered, "That's strange. Could it be that he really went to inspect the suspension bridge?"
Prince An lowered his eyes.
She remained silent.
For the first time in his life, he lied to his grandfather.
Prince An has always been shrewd. When he was eight years old, he was sent to the State of Chen as a hostage, and he never complained. In recent years, he has devoted himself to the family. For a time, Grand Tutor Zhuang did not suspect that he was lying.
Grand Tutor Zhuang waved his hand: "You may leave. Lord Gu is a very vigilant man. He has probably already discovered your surveillance of him today. Don't go next time. I will find someone else."
"yes."
Prince An bowed and walked out of the flower hall.
"elder brother!"
As they passed the hanging flower gate, Zhuang Yuexi suddenly emerged from behind a large tree.
Prince An looked at her, then back at the flower hall, and asked, "What are you doing here?"
Zhuang Yuexi's beautiful eyes were fixed on him: "I'm waiting for my brother."
"I'm tired, I'm going back to my courtyard first," said Prince An, exhausted. He then brushed past Zhuang Yuexi.
Zhuang Yuexi's gaze followed him as she stepped forward and asked, "Why don't you tell the truth, brother?"
Prince An paused, turned around, and looked at her warily.
Zhuang Yuexi said, feeling wronged and confused, "Brother clearly saw the old Marquis and..."
"Shut up!" Prince An shouted, his voice not only directed at Zhuang Yuexi.
Zhuang Yuexi was taken aback.
Prince An was a handsome young man with a gentle and refined demeanor, possessing an innate gentleness and good upbringing.
He rarely spoke so sternly.
"You were following me?" His expression was icy.
This version of Prince An is undoubtedly unfamiliar, but in fact, this is the real him, the one who survived countless conspiracies and schemes in the Chen Kingdom.
"I didn't." Zhuang Yuexi was frightened by Prince An's words and hurriedly shook her head. "There are no classes at the girls' school today. Mengdie asked me to go and offer incense. If you don't believe me, go and ask her."
"She saw it too?"
"She didn't."
Zhuang Mengdie, that good-for-nothing, only cared about worshipping Buddha and eating vegetarian food.
“If you want to tell your grandfather, then go ahead,” Prince An said wearily, and left without looking back.
Zhuang Yuexi's heart was aching.
She won't tell her grandfather.
How could she bear to let her grandfather punish her brother?
She just didn't understand why her brother was hiding it. Was he afraid of causing trouble for that woman?
It was her; she was the one who changed my brother.
Her brother started lying to their grandfather, started yelling at her, and started becoming unlike the brother he used to be.
It's all that woman's fault!
Zhuang Yuexi's fingers tightened little by little.
The old marquis was eventually punished by the emperor.
The emperor punished him quite severely. Although the old marquis hit him unintentionally, he almost hit the young divine doctor on purpose.
It was precisely because the emperor felt the pain of that whip that he was able to vividly imagine what it would be like if it were lashed on the little divine doctor.
Marquis Xuanping was also punished.
Both the old Marquis and the Marquis of Xuanping were military generals, and whipping them was like tickling them. So the emperor punished them by making them copy military books.
Punishing military officers by making them copy books is the same as punishing civil officials by beating them with a rod; both are excruciatingly painful.
The old Marquis knelt in a side hall of the Golden Palace, looking at a table full of military books and writing brushes, feeling utterly overwhelmed!
Marquis Xuanping casually tossed the brush onto the table.
Copy Dog Egg!
Go find your son!
(End of this chapter)
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