Chapter 101 The Old Scoundrel
After all the officials had left the court, Wei Cha turned and left without hesitation.
However, it was as if a natural barrier had appeared around them, with a large empty space around Wei Cha completely deserted.
Wei Cha snorted coldly, just then a voice came from behind him.
"Lord Wei! Wait a minute!"
Wei Cha turned around and saw Eunuch Hong running towards him.
After finally reaching Wei Cha, Eunuch Hong hurriedly said, "Lord Wei, His Majesty requests your presence."
To everyone's surprise, Wei Cha turned and left, saying, "Go back and tell His Majesty that I have matters to attend to at home and do not have time to see him."
Eunuch Hong broke out in a cold sweat; His Majesty was right after all.
He quickly added, "Her Majesty the Empress has been waiting for a long time. She instructed me to make sure to invite Lord Wei over."
Upon hearing this, Wei Cha stood still and snorted, "I'm doing this to give the Empress face!"
Eunuch Hong finally breathed a sigh of relief; His Majesty truly understood Lord Wei.
As long as you bring it up to Her Majesty the Empress, Lord Wei will not refuse.
"Lord Wei, this way please."
The emperor and empress had prepared a banquet in the imperial garden.
As soon as Wei Cha arrived, the Empress rose to greet him.
"Mr. Wei, it's been twenty years since we last met. How are you?"
Wei Cha quickly said, "Your Majesty, please sit down. I am a lowly old man, but I am very resilient."
The Empress was delighted to see that Wei Cha looked just as he had in the past. “Please sit down. These are all dishes I prepared myself. They are all your favorite dishes from when we were in Yongzhou.”
Wei Cha couldn't help but shed tears.
As soon as they sat down and saw the emperor, the two old men snorted coldly and turned their heads away, refusing to look at each other.
The emperor, his neck stiff, thought, "That old geezer, so petty!"
He was severely reprimanded in the main hall back then, but the old man didn't punish him. Now, this old geezer has turned around and quit his post!
Over the years, he has invited him three, four, five, or even six times.
That old man just won't come back!
The Empress chuckled at their expressions. "Alright, Wei Cha is back. You two have a drink, and let bygones be bygones."
When the emperor heard the empress speak, he glanced back at Wei Cha, but when he saw that Wei Cha did not move, he turned his head away again.
Wei Cha glanced at the Empress, sighed heavily, and then raised the wine cup in front of him.
When the emperor saw this out of the corner of his eye, he puffed out his chest in a pretentious manner and said, "I am the Son of Heaven, with a heart as vast as the ocean. Since you old codger have bowed your head, I will not hold it against you."
Wei Cha immediately scoffed, "If it weren't for that bastard from the Qin family causing me so much trouble, do you think I would have wanted to come back?"
The emperor immediately slammed his fist on the table, “What Qin family? That’s my family’s scoundrel! No! What scoundrel? I think you’re just jealous that I have such a well-behaved grandson!”
Wei Cha looked disgusted. "That little brat? Me, jealous? What am I jealous of?"
That little bastard could drive him crazy in three days!
The emperor's eyes widened as he recounted the story with obvious delight, "My Jinzhi is stunningly beautiful, skilled in both literature and martial arts, considerate, and filial. If you ask around the entire capital, who else could raise such an outstanding granddaughter! Who wouldn't envy me!"
Wei Cha looked into the emperor's eyes. "Have you lost your mind?"
That little rascal's reputation is enough to stop children from crying at night, how dare he say such a thing?
The emperor looked at Wei Cha and said, "Your house, your money, your maids—everything has been prepared for you. Do you dare say that this isn't thoughtful or filial?"
Wei Cha showed no sense of obligation whatsoever, saying, "I've known her grandfather for decades, what's wrong with her showing some filial piety to me!"
Besides! He even dragged his son into it!
The emperor was so angry at Wei Cha's arrogant attitude that he laughed.
"Hey, you old scoundrel."
Wei Cha refused to back down, saying, "You old idiot."
I don't know who laughed first, but the knot in their hearts that had been tied up for decades was finally untied at that moment.
When Wei Cha left the palace, a carriage was already waiting in front of the palace gate.
Li Jin jogged over and said, "Elder Wei, the princess asked me to escort you back to your residence."
Wei Cha looked at Li Jin, who was beaming with health, and thought highly of him.
Li Jin suffered a lot of harassment at his home.
He, on the other hand, was completely unaffected.
"Let's go."
Upon hearing this, Li Jin's eyes widened instantly. This was the first time Old Wei had spoken to him so kindly without resorting to insults, and he was quite flattered!
Upon arriving at the new house, Wei Cha got out of the car, but Li Jin did not leave immediately.
Wei Cha was somewhat puzzled, "Did that bastard ask you to pass on a message to me?"
Li Jin was taken aback, then realized that the scoundrel was referring to the princess.
He shook his head and said with a smile, "The princess asked me to pick up Young Master Wei on the way."
Wei Cha scoffed, guessing that this scoundrel's unsolicited kindness was either a trick or a theft!
Wei Cha entered the house, and after a while a young man with a somewhat otherworldly air came out and got into a carriage.
Li Jin had a very good impression of this Young Master Wei.
Gentle and smooth as jade, like a spring breeze.
It's nothing like Old Wei's sharp tongue.
Li Jin returned to the Prince's Mansion and led his men to Qin Jinzhi's courtyard.
"Princess, I have brought Young Master Wei."
Qin Jinzhi came out of the room and saw a gentleman standing in the courtyard with a bundle on his back.
"This humble subject, Wei Lin, pays his respects to the Princess."
Qin Jinzhi walked to the table and said, "Sit down."
Wei Lin didn't stand on ceremony and sat down opposite Qin Jinzhi.
"The Chu delegation will be arriving in the capital soon. I'd like you to join the Court of State Ceremonial. What are your thoughts?"
Wei Lin smiled, but there was a hint of doubt between his brows. "The Court of State Ceremonial needs to receive envoys and handle foreign affairs. My father should be more adept at these matters. I wonder why the princess has chosen me."
The journey of the Chu delegation to the capital to sign a peace treaty is bound to be fraught with difficulties.
Wei Cha is better suited to the negotiating table.
After all, it was with his words that Wei Cha managed to secure the support of various armies for His Majesty back then!
Qin Jinzhi smiled and said, "Old Wei's words were too harsh. I'm afraid that if I let him go, it will provoke another war between the two countries. My grandfather is old, so let's leave this old man alone."
Wei Lin chuckled after hearing this, "The princess is quite straightforward. In that case, Wei Lin will listen to the princess."
He thought that when Qin Jinzhi said she was working for her, she meant working only for her.
Unexpectedly, he ended up serving as an official in the imperial court.
"However, you have to prove that you have this ability first."
Wei Lin's smile remained unchanged. "I wonder how the princess wishes to prove this?"
Qin Jinzhi raised an eyebrow. "Three days from now, Yong'an Tower will host a literary debate. The participants are the most renowned scholars in the capital. You must defeat everyone in this debate."
"May I ask, Your Highness, what is the topic of this debate?"
Qin Jinzhi smiled, "Qin, Jin, Zhi!"
Wei Cha's memorial requesting the establishment of a special bodyguard organization to protect His Majesty was originally a good thing.
However, the leader of the organization he proposed was none other than Qin Jinzhi, the little tyrant of the capital!
How can such a dissolute and corrupt official protect the emperor?
The so-called debate was about whether Qin Jinzhi was qualified to hold such an important position!
This was originally just a denunciation meeting, but surprisingly, some people actually supported Qin Jinzhi.
He also left his name card, inviting students from all over the capital to come and debate!
My name is Wei Lin!
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