Jinling—
The capital city.
The young emperor was in a bad mood this morning during court, influenced by the officials.
After the court session ended, he specially sent a trusted confidant to summon his teacher, Wu Shaofu.
Wearing a vermilion court robe, Wu Qingyun exuded an extraordinary aura as he walked.
Even though he was born into royalty and had received etiquette lessons and instruction from renowned teachers since childhood, the young emperor still envied the other's overall demeanor.
"Your Majesty, this humble subject pays his respects."
"My dear minister, please excuse the formalities and have a seat."
The young emperor was not arrogant, but rather showed great respect for his teacher.
The Empress Dowager said that the teacher was her uncle's adopted son, someone whom her uncle had personally nurtured and who had protected her and her son.
He had previously feigned allegiance to the Crown Prince, acting as his strategist to gain his trust...
Wu Qingyun did not lower his guard because of the emperor's inexperience. He bowed politely and then sat down in the chair below. His expression was serious but gentle.
At this moment, Qingyun was thinking that if the young emperor hadn't sent someone to stop him from leaving court, he would be in his carriage on his way back home.
Before leaving home this morning, he promised his new wife that he would go to a shop after court and queue up to buy her some cloud cakes.
Sigh, I wonder how long I'll have to stay in this imperial study?
Will his cloud-shaped cake...?
The young emperor was oblivious to the other person's absent-mindedness and continued talking to himself—
"I summoned you here today to discuss the documents that you all presented in court."
Wu Qingyun snapped out of his daze, listened intently for a moment, and remained silent.
"The former crown prince and my brother, the Prince of Zhao, are both my elder brothers. Although they made mistakes, they have already been punished."
“They are all blood relatives, and I do not wish to kill or poison them.”
"But they caused chaos in Tianyao, displacing people, sending refugees to various places, and resulting in countless deaths and injuries..."
"Public anger is insatiable, and I do not know what to do."
"My dear minister, do you have any insightful suggestions?"
The young emperor is only ten years old, and his face is still very young.
Looking at the young tutor who was a few years older than him, his eyes were full of trust.
Wu Qingyun thought for a moment, then, instead of rushing to express his opinion, he hypothesized:
"Your Majesty, if it weren't for the late Emperor's edict, and if the current emperor were the former Crown Prince, you would probably be sent to a remote fiefdom and never be allowed to return to the capital."
The young emperor nodded, "That's true."
He had long been mentally prepared that after his father's death, his elder brother, the Crown Prince, would ascend the throne and send him to his fiefdom even if he didn't ask for it.
Wu Qingyun stood up, bowed, clasped his hands in a gesture of respect, and said gracefully:
"Your Majesty is wise. I have dared to speak out, and I beg Your Majesty's forgiveness."
"I, Your Majesty, forgive my subject's crime."
The young emperor lightly flicked his sleeve, indicating to the Junior Tutor that he could speak freely.
"The former crown prince should not be allowed to remain. The King of Zhao should be demoted to a commoner and given a new fiefdom. He shall never return to the capital for the rest of his life, as a warning to others."
For some reason, Qingyun instinctively avoided Baili Youqin and wanted to use the young emperor to eliminate him completely.
As for the King of Zhao, after his military power was restored, the forces behind him collapsed, so he was not particularly wary.
Kill the former crown prince, spare the life of the King of Zhao, and silence the public's discontent.
The young emperor was filled with mixed emotions upon hearing these words.
The mistakes made by the Crown Prince are indeed too numerous to list.
Brother King Zhao, letting him go to his fiefdom to live out his days in solitude, a fate worse than death, is a fitting punishment.
After weighing the pros and cons, the young emperor gestured for the teacher to leave; he needed to calm down...
When Wu Qingyun left the Imperial Study, the chief eunuch personally escorted him for a part of the way.
After the young man had walked quite a distance, the chief eunuch's godson, standing behind him, asked in bewilderment:
"Godfather, why are you so respectful to this person?"
"You brat, you're still young, you have a lot to learn."
The head steward smiled and lightly tapped his godson's head with his whisk.
The laughter was enigmatic.
Because he had known the woman's mother since she was a nobody.
And so I watched as she rose from a mere village head to a county princess under the late emperor's boundless grace...
Never underestimate anyone. As a eunuch, you can't flatter the powerful and belittle the weak; you must always maintain good relationships with others.
"Godfather, wait for Xiao Xiangzi~"
......
Wu Mansion —
backyard.
Grandma San had just woken up and was washing up.
At this time of day, Third Master should be back from court. Why is he so late today?
Although Yun Que was surprised, she instructed the servants to keep watch in the front yard and report to the Third Master as soon as he returned.
"Reporting to Third Madam, Second Madam sent someone with a message, saying that she invites you and Third Master to our house for dinner tomorrow, saying it's a family gathering~"
The older nanny, upon receiving the report, did not dare to delay. She went inside and, while serving her mistress her hair and makeup, reported the matter.
Xu Miaoyun was a little sleepy, but she woke up just in time after the nanny combed her hair.
She yawned and parted her lips slightly:
"Alright, I've replied to the messenger. Third Master and I will definitely go to my brother and sister-in-law's house for dinner tomorrow."
"This old servant obeys."
The old woman put down the comb and respectfully withdrew.
After leaving the room, he told the maid who had delivered the message to go and report back to the messenger.
Third Master and Third Mistress will definitely go to Second Master and Second Mistress's house on time tomorrow.
Looking at the sun high in the sky, the old woman smiled knowingly.
Master, Madam, and the Old Madam, don't worry.
The young lady is doing very well after her marriage.
There was no mother-in-law setting rules, and no trouble. The young lady and her son-in-law lived in harmony and were incredibly loving.
......
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