The emperor said, "These people wrote to me because this person is, after all, an aide to Min'er, and they are using his power to commit evil. They wrote to me that Min'er is unable to control his subordinates, which is why he has allowed his aide to commit evil. They want me to punish Min'er as well as him."
The emperor shook his head and sighed, "Most importantly, I hope this incident will serve as a deterrent and warning to the other princes, forcing them to manage their own people properly. Otherwise, if these dirty tricks are stirred up every other day, the people's resentment will only deepen."
After hearing this, Huo Wuyou seemed to have learned his lesson and patted his knees in shame. "But after all, it's not Cousin Prince Cheng's fault. Uncle, please don't blame him too much. Talk to him privately and ask him to be more careful in the future."
The emperor glanced at him and asked, "When did your relationship become so good?"
Huo Wuyou smiled and said, "Uncle, what you said is true. I am not familiar with those court officials who implicated my cousin, but my cousin and I are real relatives. I know who I should support."
Huo Wuyou was not familiar with those court officials, but the emperor knew them all very well. Among those who wrote the letter, eight out of ten were officials who had close contacts with Gu Shichong.
He also knew that the relationship between his two sons was as hostile as fire and water. Otherwise, why would such a small matter involve his son Min?
He looked at Huo Wuyou and smiled, his eagle eyes perceiving people's hearts. "Min'er is your cousin, and so is Chong'er. What do you think of Chong'er?"
Huo Wuyou lowered his eyes and thought for a moment: "We are all cousins, what's the difference? It's just..."
He pondered for a moment, lowered his voice, and said, "It's just his temper. Every day he either misunderstands that this young lady has fallen in love with him, or that that palace maid is deeply in love with him. It seems like half of the women in Huajing are already unable to control their feelings for him... It's really annoying."
The emperor thought Huo Wuyou was going to say something serious, but after listening carefully, he was so amused that he fell backwards, and even Peng Hui, who was serving beside him, couldn't help but laugh softly.
The emperor pointed at him and said, "If this gets out, Chong'er will fight you to the death!"
Huo Wuyou said jokingly, "Uncle, you have to keep your mouth shut for me."
After a burst of laughter, the topic was over.
The emperor then turned serious and said, "This case is currently under investigation by the Dali Temple, but I am a little worried. If someone is trying to harm Min'er, I have no way of knowing."
Huo Wuyou slapped his thigh and said, "Uncle, why don't you send someone to keep an eye on them?"
The emperor agreed and said, "That's why I summoned you here today."
Huo Wuyou belatedly pointed at himself and said, "Me?"
The emperor nodded and said, "Work with Tu Yuxian to investigate this matter for me."
Huo Wuyou asked him stealthily, "Is the result of this investigation what you want, uncle, or..."
The emperor grabbed the memorial and threw it at him: "Where did you learn the filthy behavior of these corrupt officials? Don't even mention that you don't want to enter the court. Even if you did, I wouldn't dare!"
Huo Wuyou looked embarrassed: "Uncle, you know I don't have any ability. I'm just a noble who lives on and waits for death. You want me to do such a serious job? I can't do it."
The emperor was furious: "What's wrong with you just keeping an eye on it for me?"
He knew very well that this case was an attempt by Gu Shichong to trip up Gu Shimin. He did not object to his two sons fighting each other, but regardless of the outcome, he had to keep the result within the range he wanted.
Before those forces in the court that may endanger the foundation of Dayong disappear, he cannot allow either of these two people to be completely defeated, and cannot allow either of them to become the undisputed crown prince.
Therefore, he needed someone who was independent of these two parties, and preferably independent of the court, to monitor the investigation process for him with legitimate reasons.
Hearing this, Huo Wuyou smiled and said, "But others have to listen to me. If I go there like this, who would believe that I was personally appointed by His Majesty?"
The emperor thought it made sense, so he grabbed a jade pendant from the table and threw it to him: "Take this jade cicada. Tu Yuxian will recognize it and will not dare to disobey you."
Huo Wuyou looked at it and saw that it was a piece of mutton-fat jade carved into the shape of a cicada, the size of a palm.
The emperor said, "Please inform me of any progress in the case. With this gift, you can enter and leave the palace for the next few days."
Huo Wuyou then bowed and said, "I obey your command!"
"That's enough." The emperor was also angry with him today, so he said, "If there's nothing else, please leave."
But Huo Wuyou hesitated to speak.
Seeing this, the emperor asked him, "Anything else?"
Huo Wuyou just smiled and said, "Uncle, what reward will I get if I succeed in doing this?"
The emperor laughed in anger: "Why don't you tell me? If I mess up, how should I punish you?"
Huo Wuyou said, "It won't go wrong, don't worry, uncle!"
The emperor scoffed lightly, "Then let's do it first. Don't be like Chong'er, who dares to come and ask for a reward without any composure."
Not only was he restless, the Ge family was even more restless.
"Prince Gong's cousin?"
The emperor only snorted: "He came to me to ask for a palace maid as a concubine, saying that the palace maid admired him."
Huo Wuyou felt a surge of uneasiness in his heart: "Who... is it?"
The emperor sighed helplessly: "Jianzhang Palace, Xue Zhiyi."
Huo Wuyou's eyes trembled calmly, and he almost blurted out: "No!"
After saying this, he suppressed his panic and said, "It's rare for my grandmother to have someone close to her. If she's taken away, what will she do?"
The emperor said angrily, "He is so troublesome. Why should I reward him? He can dream on!"
Huo Wuyou also echoed: "That's right, everyone he sees wants to admire him."
When coming out of the Hall of Eternal Life, Huo Wuyou almost crushed the jade cicada.
Gu Shichong, right?
This time he is determined to make this guy lose his temper!
…
Jianzhang Palace.
Not long after Huo Wuyou left, Gu Shichong arrived.
Outside the main hall, Xue Zhiyi saluted him and said, "Welcome, His Royal Highness Prince Gong."
Gu Shichong stopped and his eyes lingered on her for a moment: "No need to be polite."
Behind Xue Zhiyi, Lan Ying was practically glaring in anger: Sure enough, some people with bad intentions came into the palace just to flirt with other women, and not only that, they were still greedy! Sooner or later, she would have to tell His Royal Highness Prince Gong and the Marquis of Lin'an, so that they would both be disgusted with her and not be deceived by this vixen!
But right now, her own affairs are more urgent.
Lan Ying was about to ask His Royal Highness to move aside to speak, but Xue Zhiyi seemed to have seen through her thoughts and said, "Lan Ying, go to the tea room and prepare tea for His Royal Highness."
Lan Ying looked indignant, and Xue Zhiyi reminded her again: "Go."
Gu Shichong also said: "Go if I tell you to."
Lan Ying then responded: "Yes..."
Before leaving, he did not forget to glare at Xue Zhiyi fiercely.
Seeing this, Gu Shichong could only smile helplessly and shook his head: He is really a troublemaker. Look, two women are jealous of him and are vying for his favor and neither of them is willing to give in.
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