Chapter 394 An Opportunity, A Request
The capital city.
The confidant hurriedly stepped into Prince Heng's study. Because he was walking too fast, he tripped and almost fell to the ground when he stepped over the threshold.
He staggered, not even bothering to steady himself, and shouted loudly.
"Your Highness, great news! Inspector Shen Chu... he... he was actually a woman!"
"puff!"
Prince Heng was holding a cup of tea and reviewing memorials when he heard this and immediately spat out a mouthful of tea.
He sprayed his trusted aide's face with tea.
Prince Heng frowned. "What nonsense are you spouting? Shen Chu is an imperial censor and this year's top scholar in the imperial examination. How could he possibly be a woman?"
The confidant eagerly handed the newly received secret letter to Prince Heng.
"It's true, Your Highness. This is a secret letter that our people sent to Yangzhou just sent back. They saw it with their own eyes."
That Shen Chu was not only a woman, but also a heavily pregnant woman. Our people took the portrait to the Yangzhou government office to verify this.
It is said that during the few days that Prince Rui was in Yangzhou, he spent the whole time with a woman who was heavily pregnant.
Now it seems it must be Shen Chu.
Prince Heng read the secret letter over and over again, and was so excited that he couldn't sit still.
"No wonder Lao Liu suddenly ran to Yangzhou; it turns out he already knew that Shen Chu was a woman."
Not only did they know, they'd been hooking up for a long time, and now their illegitimate child is almost born.
Prince Heng clenched his fist excitedly.
"Shen Chu disguised herself as a man to enter the court and serve as an official, which is a crime of deceiving the emperor. And Lao Liu knew that she was a woman, but he still secretly protected her."
The sixth prince also committed the crime of deceiving the emperor. Good, that's really great.
Last time we failed to expose Lao Liu's secret trip to Yangzhou. This time, we must plan carefully and absolutely not let Shen Chu and Lao Liu escape punishment.
The confidant nodded in agreement, "Your Highness is right. This time, we must ensure that nothing goes wrong. The best way is to expose Shen Chu's disguise as a man in front of His Majesty."
"No, no." Prince Heng waved his hand, a sinister smile appearing on his face.
"This time, I will not only expose him in front of my father, but also in front of the delegation from the Southern Yue Kingdom."
The emperor was a man who valued his reputation above all else, and he allowed foreign delegations to witness firsthand how he was deceived by his most favored son and ministers.
Father will surely be furious, and Shen Chu will undoubtedly die. As for the sixth prince, well, if he can bear to part with Shen Chu, Father might spare his life.
If he couldn't bear to part with Shen Chu, his father might, in a fit of rage, order the sixth prince to be executed as well.
His confidant's eyes lit up. "Your Highness is wise! His Majesty has appointed Your Highness to be in full charge of receiving the Southern Yue delegation."
"Your Highness can take advantage of this opportunity. However, Shen Chu is still in Yangzhou. Wouldn't it be better if we brought her back first before exposing her?"
Prince Heng stroked his chin, his gaze falling on the memorials on the table, a strange smile spreading across his lips.
That was the list of officials he was compiling for receiving the South Vietnamese delegation.
"There's a good opportunity right now to bring Shen Chu back."
He picked up his pen, dipped it in ink, and wrote Shen Chu's name on the list.
The following morning, after the court session, Prince Heng entered the imperial study with a list of names in his hand.
"Father, this is the list of officials I have prepared for receiving the delegation from Nanyue. Please take a look."
The Longqing Emperor took the memorial and glanced at it casually.
"Didn't I tell you to decide on the list? Why do you need me to make the decision for you?"
As soon as the last word was uttered, his gaze swept over Chen Chu's name, and his brows immediately furrowed.
"Why is Shen Chu's name on it? I have already decided to transfer him to Haizhou as a sub-prefect. Cross his name out."
Haizhou?
Prince Heng thought to himself that he couldn't let Shen Chu go to such a far place, otherwise how would the good show that followed unfold?
He smiled and bowed, requesting, "The delegation from the Southern Yue Kingdom has not only brought their best warriors, but I've also heard that they've brought quite a few scholars."
When these scholars arrive in the capital, they will surely discuss poetry and philosophy with the scholars and students of our Great Wei, and make friends through literature.
Young Master Shen is the newly appointed top scholar, personally selected by the Emperor. He is also well-versed in poetry and literature and possesses a wealth of knowledge.
"With him here, I believe we won't let the scholars of Nanyue overshadow us, nor will we lose face for our Great Wei."
Emperor Longqing frowned slightly, showing a hint of hesitation.
Prince Heng continued, "Is Father worried about the rumors circulating in the capital the other day? That there's something going on between my sixth brother and Lord Shen?"
The Longqing Emperor stroked his beard and glanced at him sideways.
What are you trying to say?
Prince Heng said, "Your subject thinks those are all nonsense. My sixth brother and Lord Shen are indeed getting close, but there is absolutely no way they could have homosexual tendencies."
Besides, receiving the South Vietnamese delegation is a major event, and Sixth Brother is no longer a child. He can naturally distinguish between what is important and what is not.
Even if there really was something between them, could it possibly be hidden from you, Father?
If something really happens, wouldn't it be easier to resolve the situation if the person is right under your nose than if they were sent to Haizhou?
Emperor Longqing's eyes flickered slightly. After a long silence, he picked up his brush and wrote a bright red "Approved" on the memorial.
"I'll leave this matter to you to handle."
Prince Heng was overjoyed, but dared not show it on his face.
"Father, rest assured, your son will do his best to complete this mission and show the might of our Great Wei in front of the Southern Yue delegation."
Prince Heng emerged from the imperial study carrying memorials and encountered Pei Yuan.
He greeted us with a big smile.
"Sixth Brother, you still look a bit pale. I have a two-hundred-year-old ginseng in my residence. I'll send someone to deliver it to you in a bit."
Pei Yuan smiled and said, "I appreciate your kindness, Fourth Brother, but the ginseng is unnecessary."
Prince Heng raised his hand and patted Pei Yuan on the shoulder.
"Why be so polite with your fourth brother? Father is still waiting for you to make a name for yourself in the competition against Nan Yue."
Sixth brother, you must take good care of yourself. I'm really looking forward to your performance that day.
Pei Yuan turned his body to the side, dodging the outstretched hand.
Prince Heng paused for a moment, then casually withdrew his hand, and walked away with a smile behind his back.
Pei Yuan frowned and stepped into the imperial study.
The Longqing Emperor beckoned to him, "You've come at the right time. Do you have any plans in mind regarding the martial arts contest with the Nanyue delegation?"
I have heard that the people that Nan Yue brought this time are all top-notch experts.
Among them is Shangguan Yi, the top martial arts expert in Nanyue, whose skills are second to none in the martial arts world.
"They've clearly come with ill intentions. You can't let me, or the Great Wei, lose face."
Pei Yuan bowed, "Father, rest assured, I am very confident in the contest and will absolutely not disgrace the name of Great Wei."
The Longqing Emperor laughed heartily, "Good, with your words, I am relieved."
"If you truly defeat Shangguan Yi and win the contest, I will reward you handsomely."
Pei Yuan knelt down to express his gratitude, "Father's words are law. If I really win the competition, please grant me a request."
The smile on Emperor Longqing's face faded slightly as he squinted at Pei Yuan.
"Sixth Prince, you don't mean to ask me to take back the marriage decree between you and Chen Jiaying, do you?"
Are you still thinking about Chen Chu?
Pei Yuan shook his head, "What I ask for is not the revocation of the imperial decree bestowing the marriage."
The Longqing Emperor's expression softened. "So what exactly do you want?"
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