It's not that she doesn't believe in the ability of her ministers, but she doesn't believe in the emperor's capriciousness.
He was prone to go back on his word once he had promised something, so she would not feel at ease until she received the imperial edict pardoning the people of Chu.
Sure enough, when all the civil and military officials of the court came to the Yangxin Palace, the emperor was a little surprised.
When they explained their purpose, the emperor not only did not give in, but became even more angry.
He raised his hand and pointed at Leng Yu and Liu Dechang, shouting angrily:
"Have you convinced everyone to come and force me? Do you think I will compromise just because you outnumber me? That's unrealistic. Leave now, or I will order you to be arrested."
Seeing the emperor's resolute words, Liu Dechang immediately became disheartened and loudly questioned:
"Your Majesty, can't you please be more lenient with my family for all the years of my loyalty?"
The emperor waved his hand without hesitation.
"Tolerance? When has the Chu people ever been tolerant of our people from Daning? I suspect those two women are spies planted by the Chu people in Daning."
Seeing that the emperor did not give these people any face, Leng Yu simply clasped his fists and said:
"Your Majesty, the Daning Kingdom has already reached a truce with the Chu Kingdom, and there will be no further fighting in the future. How could they possibly be spies from the Chu Kingdom? They have been in Prince Yu's mansion for so long, and I know them well. They are merely General Liu's wife and daughter, with no other identities. Please be discerning."
"Stop talking."
The emperor seemed to have lost his patience. He glared and waved his hands again.
"Everyone, get out! Anyone who dares to mention this matter again will be punished with the same crime as the people of Chu."
Seeing this, everyone shut up and dared not say anything more. Leng Yu looked at Liu Dechang, who was gasping for breath due to anger, winked at him, and left the Yangxin Palace.
Even when he arrived at the gate of the Palace of Tranquil Longevity, Liu Dechang still looked extremely angry.
He swung his sleeves and cursed loudly:
"No wonder the people say the royal family is ruthless. Now I understand that the emperor is ruthless to the extreme."
"General Liu, stop talking. Let's go back first and slowly figure out a solution."
"What else can we do? We've found everyone we need to find. What else can we do?"
"And Lan'er, maybe she can convince Father."
Leng Yu's words made Liu Dechang pause for a moment, then he nodded helplessly.
"Go back. If Lan'er still refuses to persuade me, I will have no choice but to resign and find another way out with my wife and children."
Liu Dechang's words were both angry and true.
He has lived alone for so many years, and now he has finally found his wife and children, but the emperor wants to separate them abruptly. This is something he absolutely cannot accept. Before coming here, he had already decided that even if he did not become an official, he would still be with his wife and children.
…
Luo Lan entered the palace after noon. She was holding Lele's hand, and followed by Acai and Ahong, walking in a hurry.
The reason why she brought Lele with her was that she wanted Lele to play a few games of chess with the emperor to make him happy, and perhaps she could get his imperial decree.
"Le Le, remember this later, don't make your grandfather angry. Whether your aunt and grandmother can stay depends entirely on you."
Lele patted his chest and replied confidently:
"Mom, don't worry, Lele has a way to convince Grandpa Huang."
"Really?"
"Of course. If you don't believe me, just wait for me outside. I can convince Grandpa Huang in just one game of chess."
Although Luo Lan felt that Lele's words were a bit exaggerated, he still smiled and nodded.
"Okay, then I'll go see your grandfather first. If I can't convince you, you can go later."
Lele raised his head high, looking very confident.
"Okay, then it's a deal. If I can convince Grandpa Huang, Mom will give us a day off and let my uncle take us out to play."
"If you can really convince your grandfather, let alone one day off, even ten days will be fine."
Hearing his mother say this, Lele's eyes narrowed into slits and his heart was filled with joy.
After the two of them arrived at the Yangxin Palace, Luo Lan bowed and saluted, while Lele knelt on the ground.
"Grandpa Huang, I heard that you have recovered. Lele came to play chess with you."
The emperor glanced at Luo Lan and waved his hand.
"You go down first, and let Lele accompany me."
"Father, I have something to tell you."
"Stop talking."
The emperor seemed to know what she was going to say, and before she could open her mouth, he simply waved his hand and refused.
"No need to say more. I have made up my mind. There is no point in saying more. Please go down."
The emperor's decisiveness made Luo Lan feel a little disappointed, but she still bowed and saluted, then snorted at Lele and turned to walk outside.
Seeing his mother leave, Lele stood up and walked to the emperor, and Liu Xi hurriedly set up the chessboard.
"Grandpa Huang, Lele is a child. You should give Lele the advantage and let him play first with black."
"Okay, Grandpa Huang hasn't played chess for a long time, and his eyesight is a little blurry. You can't lie to him."
Lele grinned and smiled happily.
"Grandpa Emperor is very shrewd. How dare Lele lie to you?"
As he spoke, he placed a black chess piece in the middle of the chessboard. The emperor also picked up the chess piece in front of him, thought for a moment, and then put it down...
They played this game of chess for a long time, and Luo Lan, who was waiting outside, felt a little anxious.
She knew that Lele was a smart child, but the emperor was a stubborn man. He didn't even listen to the ministers in the court on this matter. How could he possibly listen to a little kid like Lele?
But what could she do now? She lay alone on the railing not far from the Yangxin Palace, thinking quietly.
After the game of chess ended, Lele unexpectedly lost to the emperor. The emperor grinned and laughed:
"Le Le, are you the one who gave in to Grandpa Huang this time?"
Lele stood up directly from the couch, shaking his clothes, kneeling on the ground, clasping his hands together and saying:
"Grandpa Huang, Lele didn't give in to you. It's because Grandpa Huang is such a skilled chess player that Lele is convinced of his defeat."
The emperor looked at him with puzzled eyes.
"Then why are you kneeling? If you have something to say, stand up and speak."
Lele shook his head vigorously.
"Grandpa Emperor, you are the ruler of a country. Lele respects you. Lele has something unclear, and I hope Grandpa Emperor can explain it to me."
"Oh? If there's anything you don't understand, please tell me. Grandpa Huang will definitely tell you."
Lele lowered his head and thought for a while, then blinked his cunning eyes and asked:
"Grandpa Emperor, the people in the streets are saying that you are an emperor who keeps his word and always keeps his word. Is this true?"
"Of course, I am the king, and a king's words are not jokes. What I say is the king's words, and I must keep my word."
Hearing this, Lele nodded seriously, then took out a jade pendant from his arms.
"Grandpa Emperor, this jade pendant was given to Lele by you last time. You said that this jade pendant is equivalent to a wordless imperial edict. Now Lele asks you to give Lele an imperial edict. You won't say anything wrong to Lele, right?"
"Oh? What kind of imperial edict do you want?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
