Chapter 53
Luo Sanrong didn't react, so Li Yin just told her, "Go and invite the imperial physician and the chief physician over."
Luo Sanrong wanted to say something, but Li Yin had already hurried away. Luo Sanrong took the snack that Li Yin fed her and chewed it slowly with a look of disappointment.
In the west courtyard of the Prime Minister's Mansion, Xu Jiang avoided others and was listening to his subordinates reporting the news.
A man in black knelt on one knee, his posture respectful, his head bowed very low, and his voice was soft and steady: "I have found someone who was with Hong Jinxiu more than ten years ago. I will investigate whether he knows the whereabouts of Hong Jinxiu's family."
Xu Jiang ordered: "You must investigate as soon as possible, before those people do."
The man in black kowtowed, replied "yes", and then retreated quietly.
Xu Jiang stood in front of the window, twirling a cold jade chess piece between his fingertips, gazing intently at the dark night outside. Before he turned around, he heard a slight creaking sound from the bookshelf behind him.
Sun Xing slowly walked out from behind the rosewood bookshelf. He walked to Xu Jiang's side, followed his gaze, and looked into the distance. After a long while, he let out a sigh, his tone carrying a subtle sigh of regret: "You heard what that subordinate said just now. After more than ten years, I'm still hoping that those people can come back alive..."
He turned to look at Xu Jiang, his eyebrows slightly raised, and the emotion in his eyes was unclear: "That's what I mean!"
Xu Jiang slowly turned around and placed the jade chess piece on the chessboard on the table, making a light "click" sound.
The corners of his mouth curled up in an ambiguous arc, and his voice was low: "Now everyone wants to find his daughter, it's really chaotic."
Upon hearing this, Sun Xing nodded silently.
At this moment, there was a sudden commotion outside. Xu Jiang and Sun Xing looked at each other and walked out one after another.
I saw a group of people surrounding a carriage, and standing next to the carriage was Crown Prince Li Yin.
Xu Jiang and Sun Xing paid a visit to Li Yin, then watched him coldly, wondering what this guy was up to.
Li Yin stood beside the carriage, looked around, and then said, "I was worried about when all the medicine would be delivered, but I didn't expect everyone to gather together. It's such a blessing."
It seemed that the minister's absence from court due to illness had no impact on him, and he was genuinely happy that everyone was together.
But anyone with a discerning eye knew that Li Yin was telling everyone that he already knew they were pretending to be sick, but he did not expose it in public, still leaving everyone a little face.
The ministers pretended not to understand and laughed it off.
Li Yin turned around and took out some digestive medicine from the carriage and handed it to the Minister of Personnel. He said in a gentle voice, "I heard that you have indigestion, so I specially prepared some digestive medicine for you."
The Minister of Personnel bowed and took it, thanking Li Yin awkwardly.
Li Yin approached the Minister of Rites and whispered, "All of this needs to be effective!"
Although he had a smile on his face, the Minister of Rites felt a chill and accidentally spilled the Chinese medicine all over the floor. He knelt down tremblingly.
Li Yin's face was expressionless. He patted the kneeling Minister of Rites on the face and said, "Isn't that right?"
The Minister of Rites was sweating profusely. Just as he was about to say something, the Prime Minister in the main hall rushed over and shouted, "Your Highness—"
Li Yin paused and turned his gaze to Ji Ke. The other ministers all breathed a sigh of relief.
In fact, Li Yin had already found out that the ministers who were sick were hiding in the prime minister's residence. Li Yin came to this place with a purpose, but he didn't expect that Ji Ke would jump out impatiently before he did anything.
The Prime Minister bowed and said, "Your Highness, please come in."
Li Yin did not go in immediately. He just ordered the palace servants to distribute the medicinal herbs he brought to the ministers, and "kindly" reminded the ministers to take the medicine until they recovered. After all this was done, Li Yin entered the inner room under the guidance of the prime minister.
After Li Yin sat down, he looked around and said to the prime minister who was pouring tea for him, "It seems that the feng shui here is good, because the ministers who were unable to attend the court meeting due to illness have recovered so quickly."
The prime minister did not speak, and his mind seemed to be focused on the cup of tea in front of him. When the prime minister pushed the tea in front of Li Yin, he made a "please" gesture.
Li Yin took a sip of tea and continued, "I would like to take this opportunity to move the administration from the palace to the prime minister's home. What do you think?"
At this time, the Prime Minister finally stopped being silent and looked up at Li Yin and said, "Your Highness, you should know that the ministers who discuss politics alone are loyal to you and this country. Our dynasty has survived to this day because of the power of loyalty.
However, it is our duty as humble officials to assist Your Highness, who has ignored all this and persisted in his own ideas, and to help You walk the right path."
After hearing this, Li Yin simply said, "It seems that the righteous path that I and the Prime Minister have in mind will lead to different places."
The prime minister said, "When a red flower grows in the green grass, it is natural for people to want to pick it."
The prime minister was using this red flower to mock Li Yin. Li Yin chose not to play along, but said bluntly: "If you're too conspicuous, you'll get hurt. Is that what you mean?"
Ji Ke did not deny this, but added: "In order to pick this flower, the surrounding grass must be trampled first."
What he meant was that although the grassland confined the safflower, it also invisibly protected the beauty of the safflower.
Ji Ke continued, "Ten years ago, Your Majesty and you, who lost the late Queen, felt so much regret." He paused, perhaps remembering something unpleasant, and then, with pretentious sincerity, he exhorted, "Please do not turn a deaf ear to my humble advice."
When Li Yin heard this, he instinctively wanted to fly into a rage, but out of the corner of his eye he saw the court officials who had been watching outside the door, and he told himself in his heart, 'Now is not the time', so he had to suppress his anger and sit in silence.
Ji Ke stood up and wanted to leave, then bowed and said, "If you need me, please summon me at any time!"
Before leaving, the voice said to Li Yin in a contemptuous tone: "There is a saying that goes, 'know yourself.' It's not something to be ashamed of."
“.....”
——
In a tavern outside the palace, a graceful woman wearing a veiled hat walked into the tavern and immediately attracted the attention of the drinkers. However, seeing the woman's demeanor and pomp, no one dared to approach her and talk to her.
The woman was none other than Zhao Yaner. She had quietly left the house today just to meet someone, but she hadn't expected him to meet her in such a place. Fortunately, Zhao Yaner was wearing a veil, otherwise, if others saw the disgusted expression on her face, it would surely arouse public anger.
The waiter came over to greet them, and Zhao Yan said directly: "I have an appointment, Ji Zeming."
As soon as the name came out, the waiter immediately reacted and his expression became more respectful. The reason was simple: Ji Zeming had told him in advance that this was a distinguished guest.
When Zhao Yaner entered the box, she found that Ji Zeming had been waiting there for a long time. She felt more comfortable with this man, but she would not forget the purpose of her visit.
Ji Zeming stood up and introduced himself first: "Ji Zeming." There was always a gentle smile on his face.
Zhao Yan'er bowed slightly and said softly, "My daughter Zhao Yan."
Zhao Yaner spoke first, "Isn't it too impolite to come to you so abruptly?"
Ji Zeming denied it: "Nothing."
Then he looked at Zhao Yan'er, who seemed to be hesitant to speak, smiled, and said, "There must be a reason!"
Ji Zeming: "Please sit down."
Zhao Yan'er took off her veil, sat down, and said a little embarrassedly, "There are differences between men and women, but I'm really curious about the man who will soon be my husband, so I behaved so rudely."
Ji Zeming joked, "Does that satisfy your curiosity?"
Zhao Yaner pretended to be worried and said, "Yes, but I'm a little worried."
Ji Zeming's eyes revealed doubt, waiting for Zhao Yan to continue.
Zhao Yaner said, "To become the other half of such an outstanding person, I still have too many shortcomings."
Ji Zeming asked with interest: "What do you mean?"
Zhao Yaner said, "Because I'm the only daughter in the family, I'm not very considerate of others and I don't have patience."
Ji Zeming suppressed his laughter and said, "Really, this is a big problem!"
Seeing that her words had an effect, Zhao Yaner continued to talk about her shortcomings, "Besides, I don't know how to play the piano, chess, calligraphy, or painting. I also like all kinds of storybooks..."
Finally, he concluded: "So my family is very worried."
Ji Zeming comforted him, "I'm not as upright as the rumors say, so don't worry."
Zhao Yaner felt that things were not developing in the direction she wanted, and said in a daze: "Huh?"
Seeing Zhao Yaner's distressed look, Ji Zeming finally stopped teasing her and said directly: "I know what you want, so don't worry."
Zhao Yaner: "...What?"
Ji Zeming said: "I know you don't want to marry me, but if you refuse, you will have to bear serious consequences."
Zhao Yaner: "Why are you..."
Then, Zhao Yaner seemed to react and cautiously guessed, "Could it be that you have someone else you love?"
Ji Zeming did not answer directly, but just said: "Same here!"
Zhao Yaner asked tentatively: "Then what should we do next?"
Ji Zeming paused, then said, "Let's find a way to resolve this marriage peacefully."
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