NOVEL WEB
Chapter 116
Leng Jingyan sighed calmly, the scholar met the soldier, it was hard to make sense when you’re right.
“Since His Majesty has already decreed to summon Princess Chu into the palace, and did not summon Princess Qi, it seems that His Majesty does not care who was right or wrong between the two princesses. His Majesty surely will not bother with such idle matters.”
“That makes some sense, go on, what is His Majesty's reason for summoning Princess Chu?” Emperor Ming Yuan drank tea leisurely.
“There is no reason. Once Princess Chu arrives in the imperial presence, she will be extremely guilty, unable to defend herself at all. Your Majesty will determine her guilt.”
“This was your idea?”
“This was my guess.”
“This was your idea!”
“...This was my idea.”
Why was this despicable idea his? It was clearly thought up by His Majesty.
Emperor Ming Yuan praised endlessly, “Minister, this idea is excellent. Ask her about her crimes first, then offset achievements against crimes. She can only go to treat Prince Huai's illness to atone. If she cures him, it will atone for her crimes. If not, I will exceptionally grant mercy and temporarily pardon her. In the future if anything comes up, I will investigate again. Minister, this idea is really good!”
“Your Majesty overpraises, I only anxiously attend to Your Majesty's concerns.” Leng Jingyan set up a chessboard, “Shall we play another round?”
Emperor Ming Yuan waved his hand, “What else to play for? Do you Minister have so much free time? Every day neglecting your duties to come idle here, more work and less play young man, go back and focus on your studies, train talent for me!”
Leng Jingyan could only rise and withdraw. Being a favorite by the emperor's side, it was truly hard to get along.
Two hours later, Yuan Qingling knelt in the imperial study.
The Emperor berated harshly from the start, “As a princess, your every action and behavior represents the dignity of the imperial family. When you went to visit Prince Huai, you did not think to care for his illness, but instead fought violently with Princess Qi over personal grudges, even attempting to murder her. Do you know your grave crimes?”
Yuan Qingling’s voice was almost horrified, “Your daughter knows her crimes, Father Emperor please show mercy!”
If it was just a scolding, she felt His Majesty was serious.
But mentioning violently fighting and attempted murder, she knew His Majesty had some plot.
However, as usual she still had to shout for mercy.
Emperor Ming Yuan raged, “Show mercy? How can I show mercy? This is not the first time you have recklessly committed such deeds. If not for the Retired Emperor pleading for you, I would have taken your head. Do not shout injustice, I must hold someone accountable for the people, for this falling into water incident. Either you, or Princess Qi, one of you must take the blame.”
Yuan Qingling unwillingly asked, “Why not Princess Qi?”
Emperor Ming Yuan coldly laughed and asked, “Yes, why not Princess Qi, you tell me?”
Don’t you have any self-awareness? You and the Chu family are like ants shaking a tree.
Yuan Qingling complained inwardly, Your Majesty bullies the weak and fears the strong, fearing the Chu family. After moving against Marquis Huiding you don’t yet dare to move against the Chu family again.
She could not say these things, and still had to find a very good excuse for His Majesty.
“Princess Qi and I fell into the water, everyone says I pushed her. The Chu family people will also believe it true. Father Emperor, by questioning my crimes first, whether willing or not, the Chu family cannot privately seek vengeance against your daughter for this matter. Father Emperor's concerned efforts protect your daughter, I’m extremely moved. I will definitely do my utmost to cure Prince Huai’s illness.”
Emperor Ming Yuan earnestly said, “Since you guarantee you can cure Prince Huai, I will give you a chance for now. Go, prepare your medicine box immediately.”
Cure him? Yuan Qingling was struck dumb.
“Go!” Emperor Ming Yuan warned with his eyes, no more unnecessary talk.
Yuan Qingling slowly got up, how unfair the world was!
After leaving the palace, Yuan Qingling breathed a sigh of relief.
On the issue of whether or not to treat Prince Huai, she had always wavered.
Although she finally decided not to take the risk, she was always uneasy, constantly fretting over it, tortured very much.
Now without a way out, it was good.
She believed if she could not cure him, His Majesty would also not truly do anything to her, it was just, she would likely have to endure Princess Lü's anger.
Princess Lü... Yuan Qingling's head ached badly, don't provoke Princess Lü!
Yuan Qingling went to Qian Kun Palace.
The old man was very spirited today, doing carpentry in the palace.
When Yuan Qingling went in, Eunuch Chang was holding a saw, while the Retired Emperor held a ruler measuring a thumb-sized piece of wood.
“Retired Emperor, what are you making?” Yuan Qingling curiously asked.
The Retired Emperor looked up, his forehead actually had sweat, his complexion was ruddy, quite smug as he said, “Guess!”
“Is this to make a clothes drying rack?” It was just a long piece of wood, planed round, still a good clothes rack.
“What clothes drying rack nonsense?” The Retired Emperor asked, unaware of mundane things.
“What is it then?” Yuan Qingling examined the piece of wood, which even had a fork on it. Was it not a clothes drying rack?
“Don’t know? This is to reward you.” The Retired Emperor said.
Yuan Qingling was greatly surprised, “To reward me?”
Reward her with some jewels or anything would be fine, gold and silver too, making a piece of wood, what was the meaning?
“This is called the Royal Husband's Staff. Later if Old Five bullies you, just take the Royal Husband's Staff and beat him, do you like it?”
He put down the ruler, took the saw from Eunuch Chang and started sawing it shorter, “Too long is improper, three chi three is most suitable.”
Yuan Qingling's eyes lit up, “Like it, like it so much.”
What compared to this bit of gold and silver?
Eunuch Chang laughed, “And it can beat those unreasonably troublesome, readily dragging people into lakes shrews.”
Yuan Qingling exclaimed, “Eunuch Chang, what you say...”
Eunuch Chang shrugged, “These were the Retired Emperor's original words, I do not dare speak this way.”
Yuan Qingling was moved, watching the old man sawing the little piece of wood, panting heavily, was sawing a small piece of wood so tiring?
“You know I was bullied?”
“What in this world can still be hidden from me? In this matter you were useless, I’m ashamed for you.” The Retired Emperor shortened the wood and sat down, taking a small planer to round it.
Yuan Qingling sat beside him, holding the wood steady for him, “It was unavoidable.”
“Then why don't you just kill her?”
“Not good right? After all it is a human life, always yelling to beat and kill, too uncivilized.” In the imperial study her grievances instantly dissolved, Yuan Qingling felt she was truly easily pleased, a little favor easily made her willingly continue working hard for the imperial household.
“The world is just so, if you don't kill people, people kill you.” The Retired Emperor looked up at her for a moment, “However, you did well with the matter of Marquis Huiding.”
“I dare not take credit, it was the Prince's ingenious plan.”
“Take it seriously,” the Retired Emperor snorted, “This matter should not have been handled this way. This time was a narrow victory, relying on some luck. If not for that luck, dead without knowing how you died.”
Yuan Qingling was curious, “Not doing it this way, how should it have been handled?”