Chapter 274 Not only was he without fault, but he was actually meritorious!
"Thirteen large chests of silver were buried in the cellar!"
The Prefect of Jingzhao's voice carried a hint of excitement.
"If it weren't for Your Highness and Miss's visit today, I'm afraid no one would have discovered that so much silver was hidden in this small house!"
Xiao Lin's eyes lit up instantly.
He proudly raised his chin, like a victorious rooster.
"I will speak then!"
His clear voice echoed in the hall.
"Look, those houses along the Feng River are inhabited by the rich and powerful!"
"If the silver were truly of legitimate origin, wouldn't everyone keep it properly in a bank? Why would anyone secretly hide it in a cellar?"
"Now that this house is burned to the ground like this, the owner hasn't come out to claim it yet. There must be something fishy going on here!"
He became more and more smug as he spoke, waving his little hand with an air of commanding authority.
"Hmph! If I hadn't been playing around here today and accidentally discovered something, you stupid officials would probably never have caught such a corrupt official!"
His words transformed the crime of arson into a meritorious act of cracking down on corruption.
The Prefect of Jingzhao repeatedly agreed, showering the young prince with compliments, as if he wanted to elevate him to the heavens.
Meng Shilan simply watched coldly.
Without saying a word, she took Fu'er's hand and curtsied to the Prefect of Jingzhao.
"I will have the steward of the manor contact you regarding the subsequent compensation matters."
"My daughter was frightened, so I took her back to the manor first."
After saying that, she took Fu'er's hand, turned around and walked out without looking at Xiao Lin again.
That resolute back view was like an invisible wall, keeping him out.
Xiao Lin's smug expression gradually froze.
Even though he was just a nine-year-old child, he could roughly understand that Meng Shilan was really angry.
But he couldn't understand why she was angry.
What did she do wrong? She didn't kill anyone, and she even did something good, so why is she still acting the same way?
My chest felt like it was stuffed with cotton, both stuffy and bloated.
He plopped back down in the armchair, his legs dangling in the air.
How could he not know the dangers of illicit drugs?
Of course he knows!
So when he lit the fuse, he made sure Zhou Jiafu stood far away and hid behind the artificial hill!
If not...
If it weren't for wanting to create something novel for the New Year's banquet to make my elder brother happy...
Why would he go to such great lengths, sneaking out to do something so dangerous?
He has already...
It has been a very, very long time since I last saw my mother.
He just wanted to please his elder brother, hoping that he might be granted permission to see his mother.
Even just a glimpse from afar would be enough.
This thought, like a tiny needle, gently pricked his heart.
The surroundings were filled with cautious officials, and the air was warm as spring.
But he only felt a chill and loneliness that ran deep in his bones.
No one dared to rebuke him.
No one dared to come forward and give him a comforting hug.
"His Majesty has decreed that the Seventh Prince be summoned to the palace for an audience immediately."
As Xiao Lin stepped out of the gates of the Jingzhao Prefecture, the wind and snow intensified under the leaden sky.
Eunuch Tian wore his usual gentle smile, indicating that he had been waiting at the gate of the Jingzhao Prefecture for quite some time.
Yuanbao's face turned pale instantly.
Xiao Lin's grip on the hot water bottle tightened slightly.
In the end, it still alarmed the emperor.
...
Inside the Imperial Study, a warm fragrance wafted through the air.
On the golden nanmu wood imperial desk, there was a mountain of memorials piled up.
His Majesty was holding a vermilion brush, meticulously reviewing the documents.
Xiao Lin knelt on the cold, hard gold bricks. The hall was burning with fine silver charcoal, but he felt the chill creeping up his knees and slowly seeping into his bones.
His Majesty did not look at him.
He didn't even lift his eyelids.
In the imperial study, only the soft scratching of the vermilion brush across the paper and Xiao Lin's own clearly audible breathing could be heard.
Time seemed to stand still.
Grandpa Tian stood to the side with his hands hanging down, not daring to even breathe loudly.
Having served His Majesty for many years, he knew that the more silent the young emperor was, the more intense the anger burning within him.
His Majesty has always been lenient with the Seventh Prince.
Let alone burning down a few houses, even if the Grand Tutor's beard had been singed in the past, His Majesty would have just laughed and scolded him, and punished him by making him copy a few scriptures.
But today, His Majesty's anger is real.
His Majesty finished reviewing the last memorial at hand.
He gently placed the vermilion brush on the brush washer, making a crisp, light sound.
The sound wasn't loud, but it made Xiao Lin's shoulders tremble uncontrollably.
His Majesty finally raised his eyes.
"Xiao Lin".
He spoke, his voice so flat that it betrayed no emotion.
Do you know your mistake?
Xiao Lin stubbornly raised his head to meet his brother's gaze.
His neck was held straight, like a little animal that refused to admit defeat.
"Your Majesty, I do not know."
He grunted in a muffled voice.
"Your Majesty, not only is your brother without fault, but he has also rendered meritorious service!"
"Have rendered meritorious service?"
His Majesty's voice suddenly rose, filled with barely suppressed anger.
"You used illegal drugs, burned down houses, and nearly injured innocent people. Is that what you call meritorious service?"
"If it weren't for the heavy snowfall today, which brought deep moisture and prevented the fire from spreading, do you know how serious the consequences would have been!"
"Xiao Lin! Is this how I've always taught you?!"
The wrath of an emperor is like a thunderbolt.
Grandpa Tian knelt down with a "plop," his forehead pressed tightly against the ground.
"Your Majesty, please calm your anger! Your health is of utmost importance!"
Xiao Lin was also startled by this sudden outburst of anger.
My brother has never...never been so angry with me before.
His eyes immediately reddened, but he still bit his lip, refusing to back down.
"I...I calculated the dosage! It won't hurt anyone at all!"
"You still dare to argue!"
His Majesty was so angry that his chest heaved and his hand trembled as he pointed at him.
Seeing this, Eunuch Tian quickly crawled a few steps to Xiao Lin's side, lowered his voice, and earnestly advised him.
"My little prince! Please say less!"
"Quickly apologize to His Majesty, he's furious right now!"
"Please don't make His Majesty worry about you anymore."
As he spoke, he subtly winked at Xiao Lin.
"Recently, the border war has become intense, and disasters continue in the southwest. Your Majesty has not slept for several days and nights for the sake of the country, and is already physically and mentally exhausted."
"Now that I hear that you actually went to play with such dangerous black drugs and almost hurt yourself, how can His Majesty not be angry and how can he not be afraid?"
Eunuch Tian's words extinguished the flame of resentment in Xiao Lin's heart.
He looked at his elder brother's tired face behind the imperial desk, the dark circles clearly visible under his eyes, and his bloodshot eyes...
The grievances and stubbornness in my heart suddenly dissipated.
He lowered his head, a barely perceptible sob in his voice.
"Brother... I didn't go there to play."
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