Chuxiu Palace
Sun Miaoqing sat by the window, stretching out her small hand and placing it on the table, while Liuli painted her nails.
Hearing the contents of the report, I was somewhat surprised, but not much.
After all, according to the original plot, Zhang Tingyu had advised the eldest son, Da Pang Ju, on the matter of choosing an heir. To prevent a repeat of the Empress Lü incident, where the mother was too strong and the son was too young, he advised Da Pang Ju to kill Zhen Huan.
Now that it's her turn, Zhang Tingyu still pulled the same stunt. Without her watching over him, Hongzhou is only a few years old, and he'll probably be manipulated by them for the next ten years or so.
If the people around Hongzhou are bribed again, and the teachers who give him lessons start to smirk...
Who knows, it might grow into the kind of thing they like, and then they can rule by doing nothing.
Sun Miaoqing said, "It seems that Lord Zhang harbors deep resentment towards me and is determined to kill me."
Xiao Yuanzi said, "Everyone has seen what Your Highness has done for the Emperor and the people. Zhang Tingyu and the others want to frame Your Highness for their own selfish interests, and this servant will be the first to object."
"In my humble opinion, it's better to strike first. If it's an accident, no one will be able to find out."
Xiao Yuanzi, with a cold face and fierce eyes, made a knife-wielding gesture. Then, she stood there respectfully, shoulders slung, waiting for orders.
Sun Miaoqing remained silent, but Linglan, who was standing beside her, said, "Your Majesty, what Xiaoyuanzi said makes some sense, but Zhang Tingyu is, after all, the Minister of Revenue."
"After having spoken so much with the Emperor, if something unexpected happens at this crucial moment, even without evidence, it will inevitably be brought up by others."
"His Majesty hates corruption the most. After serving as an official for so many years, I don't believe that Zhang Tingyu is truly as incorruptible as water."
"As long as we catch him by the tail, we can follow the clues and investigate further. Or we can find a way to bury two chests of gold and silver jewelry in his house, and he won't be able to explain himself even if he has ten mouths."
Sun Miaoqing gave Linglan an approving look, "You've gotten smarter with the charge of possessing a huge amount of unexplained wealth."
Linglan smiled shyly, "I learned it all from Your Majesty. You taught me so well."
Sun Miaoqing said, "Zhang Tingyu is still useful; he shouldn't be dying now."
"As for killing the mother after establishing the son?"
Sun Miaoqing looked at her freshly painted bright red nails and said with a light laugh, "How could the Emperor bear to do that?"
Big Fat Orange is a very pragmatic person. As long as it is useful to him, he can endure even the angrier he gets. Emotion always comes after reason.
Xiao Yuanzi said, "Your Majesty is right. The Emperor is so affectionate towards you, how could he bear to let you go down to keep him company so early?"
"I'm really worried about letting them run around outside. What if some ignorant fools are misled by them? Wouldn't that cause trouble for Your Majesty?"
Liuli and Linglan nodded in unison, indicating their agreement with Xiaoyuanzi. This was a matter of life and death, and they couldn't afford to make a mistake.
Linglan said, "Your Majesty, we can't guess what the Emperor is thinking until the very end."
"If Zhang Tingyu and his men succeed, even if the Fifth Prince is filial, it will still be a storm in the end."
"Your Majesty, please make preparations as soon as possible, just in case."
Sun Miaoqing said with a smile, "This concerns life and death. How could I ignore it and leave everything to others to decide?"
Xiao Yuanzi smiled and said, "So Your Majesty was prepared all along. In that case, this servant is relieved."
"If there is anything Your Majesty needs, please give the order, and I will be willing to go through fire and water for Your Majesty."
Sun Miaoqing said, "You've worked hard these past few years. Although there are many people serving in the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Su Peisheng is very capable and manages things like an iron barrel."
"You've taken such a great risk to work for me, I won't treat you unfairly. When the time is right, you will come and serve me."
Xiao Yuanzi was overjoyed and hurriedly knelt down to express her gratitude. "This servant thanks Your Majesty for your grace. To be able to serve Your Majesty is a blessing that this servant could never have obtained in several lifetimes!"
As the son of Su Peisheng's apprentice, although he was not as favored as Xia Xiazi, he still served the emperor closely.
A new emperor brings a new court, and the same applies to eunuchs. Once the emperor is gone, their status plummets.
Because he knows too many secrets, if he fails to catch the eye of the new emperor, he might have to follow the late emperor at any time.
The fact that the Imperial Concubine allowed him to serve her meant that his life was saved, and he would enjoy wealth and honor for the rest of his life.
How could I not be overjoyed!
After sending Xiao Yuanzi away, Sun Miaoqing thought about what to do next.
Even if she doesn't really go all out with Zhang Tingyu, she still has to teach him a lesson, otherwise it wouldn't fit her persona in front of Da Pang Ju.
After thinking for a while, Sun Miaoqing said, "Although we can't send Zhang Tingyu to the beach to swim right now, we can collect some interest first."
Linglan asked, "What does Your Highness intend to do?"
Sun Miaoqing said, "I remember that he had many children, and he paid great attention to the education of his first few sons, disciplining them strictly."
He probably felt that with his eldest son to support the family business, his younger son, whom he had later, didn't need to amount to much. So he became a doting father and spoiled him rotten.
Liuli said, "That's true. This young master Zhang is only one year older than the Fifth Prince, but he's been spoiled rotten."
"At home, he's a little tyrant who not only humiliates the servants but also bullies his older siblings. But in front of the elders, he's very good at putting on an act."
"Does Your Highness intend to start with him, to teach Zhang Tingyu what he should and shouldn't say?"
Sun Miaoqing said, "Zhang Tingyu is an important official of the court, and he probably doesn't have time to educate his child. Since that's the case, I will do him a favor. Let this young master Zhang enter the palace to be Hongzhou's study companion."
"The palace has strict rules, and the tutors who teach the princes are all well-versed in ancient and modern knowledge. How could they be afraid of not teaching a child well?"
Liuli frowned, looking clearly displeased.
"Your Majesty, Zhang Tingyu has tried to kill you. You could have just broken his son's leg and taught him a lesson, but why did you have to grant him such a great favor?"
"You're offering me something that others would beg for."
Sun Miaoqing said, "A blessing? You really think it's a good thing?"
Liuli asked, puzzled, "Isn't that right?"
Linglan said, "That young master Zhang is spoiled rotten and probably not a studious person. He will likely be punished quite severely."
"He used to be a tyrant at home, but now that he's in the palace, everyone is more noble than him. Can he endure this kind of suffering?"
“After he goes home, he will surely cause a great disturbance. However, if we can teach him a lesson, even if Zhang Tingyu is unhappy, he will have to say that Your Majesty is kind.”
Sun Miaoqing said, "Not only that, I will secretly have someone tell Zhang Tingyu that if the Emperor is ever in any trouble, I will be there to accompany him."
"The new emperor will also be worried about the late emperor and want someone close to him to go down and serve the late emperor in his place. Young Master Zhang is clever and quick-witted, and is the most suitable candidate."
"He has been in and out of office for so many years, he must be able to withstand this shock. I just don't know if Madam Zhang has the same magnanimity as him."
She'll scare him to death or torture him to death. If Zhang Tingyu ever has a good day, Sun Miaoqing will take his surname.
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