Chapter 40 Promotion
Early morning.
After discussing political affairs, the king issued two decrees.
First, the long-standing case of corruption involving the Shen family has been formally handed over to the Ministry of Justice and the Dali Temple for public investigation, and no one involved in the case can be left out.
Second, the cabinet members Song Da Xianggong, Runan Hou, and Minister of Rites Su Yan were ordered to assist in drafting the edict, promoting Yan Zhaoyi to the rank of Xianfei, Song Zhaoyi to the rank of Liangfei, and Su Zhaorong to the rank of Shufei.
There are spies everywhere in the palace. People in the court have heard about the Queen and the eldest prince being under house arrest a few days ago. However, since it concerns the reputation of the royal family and they don't know the details, no one dares to speculate or criticize.
Your Majesty is now officially investigating the Shen family case, which means he is completely cracking down on the Queen's family. I wonder if this is related to the Queen's house arrest...
As for the second decree, Yan Zhaoyi, the daughter of Marquis of Runan, and Song Zhaoyi, the daughter of Prime Minister Song, were of noble birth. It was only a matter of time before they were granted the title of concubine after entering the palace for two years.
But what surprised people the most was the illegitimate daughter, Miss Su Si.
Entering the palace as a Zhaorong was already enough to bring honor to the family. Not long after entering the palace, she was promoted to one of the four first-rank concubines. Her future is so bright that it cannot be simply described by the word "favored".
Could it be that she is pregnant with a dragon heir?
Many second- and third-rank officials had daughters in the harem. Although they were dissatisfied, they did not dare to show any expression and only speculated secretly.
Su Yan was even more dazed. He walked out of the hall as if he was walking on cotton, and was invited to the imperial study.
“Daddy!”
"Porcelain!"
Su Yan looked at his radiant daughter with great joy, and then quickly raised his hand to salute: "Your Majesty, I greet Su Zhaorong."
"Dad, please don't be like this. There are no outsiders here."
Su Ci pouted and pulled his sleeve coquettishly: "Daughter misses Daddy so much, why have you lost so much weight?"
“…”
Su Yan glanced at the king who was reading the memorial behind the desk, coughed awkwardly, and stepped forward to salute.
"Your Majesty, please forgive me. I haven't seen Zhaorong for a long time. I am really rude."
"No problem."
Xuan Yi picked up his teacup and took a sip. "The weather is nice today. You and your daughter haven't seen each other for a long time. Let's go for a walk in the Imperial Garden."
Su Yan was slightly stunned and quickly bowed deeply.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
Su Ci flirted with him and knelt down: "Thank you, Your Majesty~"
Xuan Yi's gaze returned to the memorial, and the corners of his mouth lifted slightly inadvertently.
The little girl said he was not an outsider.
Well, not bad.
…
In the imperial garden, the father and daughter chatted for a while. Su Yan looked around before carefully examining his daughter's rosy face.
"That Ci'er, are you..."
Su Ci laughed and shook her head: "Father, are you confused? I have only been in the palace for a short time."
She had been in the palace for just over two months, so even if she was pregnant, it would be impossible to tell her pulse.
"Yeah, that's right..."
Su Yan touched his nose awkwardly, then looked a little worried: "You have won the emperor's favor, and father is naturally happy for you. However, the matter between the queen and the Shen family is still unclear. You must be more careful and cautious in the palace and must not be involved in those disputes."
"I know."
Su Ci glanced at the palace servants standing in the distance and lowered her voice slightly, "Father, Fulu brought back the message that day, and I have been thinking about it. But now the harem is under the control of the Queen Mother, and I didn't dare let Fulu leave the palace for fear of bad things happening. That's why I begged Your Majesty to let me see you today."
"Yes, yes, that's what I want to say too."
Su Yan nodded quickly. "According to what you said, Dad sent two trusted followers to investigate. Prime Minister Song is indeed very close to Master Lingyun, but there are also many officials in the capital who are close to Master Lingyun, such as Minister Liu of the Ministry of War, the prince of Xuanhou Mansion, the eldest son of Ningwenhou Mansion..."
"The prince of Xuanhou Mansion?"
Su Ci frowned slightly in thought.
Yes, in the original novel, Chu Yunzhou and the heroine met again in Lingyun Mountain, so naturally he should know Master Lingyun.
"But Ci'er, why do you want to investigate Prime Minister Song?"
Su Yan lowered his voice: "Is there any conflict between you and Song Zhaoyi?"
"Not really. I just happened to hear something that seemed amiss, so I wanted to investigate privately."
Su Ci thought for a moment and waved her hand. "How about this, it's almost New Year's Day, Dad, don't investigate for now, so as not to alert the enemy. Wait until I find out something and then have Fulu take the message back."
"Okay, don't worry. I've set up a secret courtyard behind the palace wall. It's more convenient for Fulu to go there directly to pass on messages."
Su Yan breathed a sigh of relief, looking at his increasingly charming daughter with relief: "As long as you are safe and sound in the palace, your mother and I will be relieved."
"I will."
Su Ci smiled: "After Dad got promoted, he became very busy and lost a lot of weight. You should also take care of your health."
"Haha, your mother always feels sorry for me because I'm busy, so she makes tonic medicine for me every day."
Su Yan said with a tender look on his face: "By the way, I have discussed it with your mother. The court is busy with political affairs now, and I really can't leave. I am also worried about her going back to the countryside alone, so we decided to send someone to bring the two elders to the capital to live for a while in the spring of next year, so that your mother can be by her side and fulfill her filial duties."
"That would be great. I'm also worried about my mother going back alone."
The father and daughter chatted for a while before reluctantly parting.
Su Yan watched his daughter walk away, then turned around and saw Zhuang Yu walking towards him with a smile.
"Sir Su, His Majesty has summoned you to the Imperial Study for a meeting."
…
Su Mansion.
Zhao Yu glared at the servant with a gloomy expression.
"What do you mean? How dare his Earl's Mansion openly imprison the official's wife?"
"Well, the Countess said our eldest daughter is sick. It's the end of the year and the weather is cold, so it's not good for her to go out and get exposed to the wind..."
Bang!
"How dare Zheng! My Su family is now the Shangshu Mansion, and we are very popular with His Majesty. Yet she openly locked up my daughter and wouldn't let her go out. Is there any law in the world?"
"Husband, Madam, calm down..."
Zhao Yu stood up in a rage, "Get me a car! I don't believe Zheng Shi would dare to prevent me from seeing my own daughter!"
"Madam, the eldest son is here."
"Mother."
Zhao Yu paused, then sat down with a sullen expression. "What are you doing here?"
Su Li frowned and dismissed the servants. He looked at Zhao Yu with a serious expression, "Has mother known about my uncle's affairs for a long time?"
"...What's your uncle's business? My two daughters are in dire straits right now, so I don't have time to worry about your uncle's family affairs..."
"Mother, are you going to watch our Su family perish forever?"
Su Li closed his eyes and took a deep breath to suppress his anger. "My grandfather was a noble man with a clean and upright reputation. But he's only been gone for less than three years, and what has become of the Zhao family now?"
"The Zhao family has been a family of scholars for generations, and has produced two imperial tutors. However, my eldest uncle and two cousins failed the imperial examinations and achieved nothing. My youngest uncle is even more dissolute, often frequenting brothels. Now, they dare to sell illegal salt under the emperor's nose and run a bank that charges high interest. Do they have any respect for the law?"
“…”
Zhao Yu pursed his lips and said, "It's not your uncle's title. I just work with others privately to earn some extra money..."
"Mother is confused!"
Su Li stood up angrily. "Since Your Majesty ascended the throne, he has been strictly investigating illegal salt activities in recent years. If it weren't for the Shen family case in recent months, these things about my uncle would have been uncovered long ago. Is it possible that the censors in the court are blind?"
…
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