"Your Majesty! Why not wait and see how Prince Ping behaves before issuing an edict? This is far too hasty! We, your servants, are truly unsure!"
Marquis Jianping glanced at King Xuan, who had calmed down, and walked out of the ranks to give a calm suggestion.
"I second the motion!"
"I second this motion!"
With someone taking the lead, Prince Xuan and Prince Yi's faction now formed a completely united front and stood up one after another to second the motion.
Except for those staunch royalists, about half of the ministers in the court actually stood up.
Zhongli Zhou watched the situation quietly and took note of all these people.
Looking at the people who stood up, Emperor Mingde sneered: "Oh... you are really my good ministers, half of them have stood up."
Everyone who stood out lowered their heads, not daring to look around.
Looking at Cao Zhongling, Zhenguo Gong, Song Taifu, Gu Weilan and others who were standing there motionless like a mountain, Emperor Mingde felt a little better.
His expression softened and he looked at them: "What do you think, my dear ministers?"
Cao Zhongling thought about it for a moment. "Your Majesty, since they've all said so, why not give Prince Ping some time to prove himself? Besides, with such a big matter, Prince Ping also needs to go to the capital, and border affairs also need to be taken over. There's no rush."
Zhong Lizhou looked at the faces of the people around him and stood up: "Grandson thinks what Lord Cao said is absolutely right!"
Emperor Mingde glanced at him and finally said, "In that case, let's put the imperial edict aside for now."
"Zhou'er, come forward!"
Zhongli Zhou's body trembled when he heard the voice of "Zhou'er". He felt extremely uncomfortable all over, but he still moved over.
"From now on, all political matters must be reported to the Emperor's eldest grandson first. If you can't resolve it, come back to me. Let's begin now!"
After Emperor Mingde finished speaking, he actually sat on the dragon throne, supported his head with one hand and closed his eyes to rest.
Zhongli Zhou was standing at the position closest to him, facing the hundreds of pairs of eyes below, he was also confused.
····
The morning court ended in a strange atmosphere.
After the court was dismissed, Zhongli Zhou felt his body suddenly relaxed.
He felt like he was living a year in a day just now. It was as if he had been fighting with others on the battlefield for a whole day and night without closing his eyes, and he would be beheaded if he was not careful.
Just when he was anxious to go back and ask someone to investigate what had happened in the capital, Emperor Mingde called him away.
Prince Xuan and Prince Yi were just planning to have a good chat with their nephew, but when they heard Emperor Mingde's call, their faces turned sour and they turned around and left.
As soon as he left the palace, he mobilized his connections to ask people to find out what happened in the palace.
Zhongli Zhou didn't expect that Emperor Mingde would call him for a private talk. He was surprised but also gladly accepted it.
He also wanted to know why this happened today.
He originally thought that his grandfather would take him to the Yangxin Palace, but unexpectedly, Emperor Mingde took him to the Yanfu Palace.
When he saw the Empress, Zhongli Zhou was stunned for a moment and quickly bowed: "Grandson greets the Empress."
Jiang Qianruo looked at Zhonglizhou inch by inch. The kindness and regret in her eyes made Zhonglizhou freeze and he almost couldn't maintain his expression.
Emperor Mingde took a look at his expression and said directly, "You must be wondering why this happened today, right?"
Jiang Qianruo came back to his senses: "Sit down, we will tell you."
····
Gongye Hong, along with the Minister of Agriculture and Luo Chengwu, could hardly wait to visit.
Ji Changying took the potatoes and sweet potatoes he brought from his hometown and ordered people to prepare a table for them in various ways.
The portion of each plate is not too big, just right.
Because things are rare and valuable, you can't feed people too much at once.
What's more, a lot of Ji Changying brought from his hometown had already been sent to the palace, and there were not many left at home. Taking out too many at once would arouse suspicion among his family members.
After tasting them, the Minister of Agriculture's eyes lit up: "The red ones are delicious! The ones with red skin are sweet! The yellow ones have no taste without seasoning, but after adding seasoning, they have a unique flavor."
Gong Yehong understood. "Sweetness is precious, so the red one must be more expensive. I wonder how much the princess can offer? It doesn't matter if the red one is more expensive."
Ji Changying smiled and said, "I will answer you all after I discuss this with His Majesty."
····
Zhongli Zhou left the palace in a daze.
So that’s how it is! It turns out to be like this!
No wonder she didn't answer when I asked her what happened to the Lai family last time.
Thinking of Emperor Mingde and Jiang Qianruo watching him tell him everything, and Emperor Mingde looking at him seriously: "I am already old, and I won't be able to protect you for much longer. When I am gone, what will you, your father, and your aunt's family do? You should think about it carefully."
"If you really don't want to, I will find a way to leave you a secret decree. Although I can't guarantee your safety, I can protect you for a few years. But by then, your life will be in the hands of others."
"I wasn't a qualified father before, but the past cannot be reversed. I can only try my best to live a good life in the future. I will do my best to clear the obstacles for you. It depends on whether you want it or not! Do you dare to accept it?"
Zhongli Zhou asked himself, does he dare?
He is so bold!
He dared to do it before when his father was not liked. Now that his father has changed his status, why doesn't he dare?
Before, he just didn't know what the emperor was thinking and didn't dare to express it casually.
He suppressed his inner excitement and calmed himself down.
He planned to go to the princess's mansion and ask Ji Changying for confirmation.
After all, the estrangement between him and Emperor Mingde for so many years cannot be eliminated by just a few sudden words from the heart.
In his heart, he trusted Ji Changying's family more than Emperor Mingde.
——
After sending Zhonglizhou away, Emperor Mingde relaxed. "I've already told the child about this. As for Prince Ping, to be honest, I don't really want to see him."
Emperor Mingde looked at Jiang Qianruo with an awkward expression.
Her face also looked a little unnatural, and she said vaguely: "Let's talk about it later. Anyway, the people haven't arrived yet."
Both of them couldn't help but have an ostrich mentality in their hearts, and temporarily stopped thinking about the embarrassing scene of the mother and son, and father and son meeting each other.
Emperor Mingde returned to the Yangxin Palace, his face regaining its usual expression. He looked at Eunuch Liu and asked, "Is Prince Xie not back yet?"
Liu Quan lowered his head. "Yes! According to spies, Silent Hill has been destroyed. The imperial tombs of the previous dynasty have also been dug up, but Huiji has not been found inside. The valuable burial objects have all disappeared, leaving only a few scattered items. The prince is still tracking them down."
A gloomy look flashed in Emperor Mingde's eyes. "Where's the Marquis of Xuanping? Still refusing to confess?"
Liu Quan lowered his head even more. "I didn't expect this guy to be so stubborn. We've tried all kinds of torture and medicine, but he's so determined that he never gives in."
"Call Prince Xie back to me. Since he refuses to show himself, let's lure him out of his hole!"
"yes!"
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