The Wife is First - 90 Chapter 90 Questioning

Outside the study room of Tingfeng Pavilion, a group of guards and maids were guarding, but no one dared to enter.

“Do you think doing business with other countries is a good thing for Dachen?” Emperor Hongzheng sat behind his desk, playing with the crystal cup in his hand.

“I think that the overseas Fan people are coveting Dachen’s products now, but they are suffering from lack of access.” Mu Hanzhang stood in front of the desk, lowered his eyebrows, and spoke in a calm tone, neither humble nor overbearing, “I saw the tribute paid by Fan countries. When I was in the southeast, I also asked maritime merchants about commodity prices. It is said that overseas, one foot of silk can be exchanged for ten gold coins, which is two taels of gold.”

“Hanzhang, why are you still calling me a minister now?” Emperor Hongzheng smiled and did not respond to what he just said, “From the day you married into the royal family, you should be called a son-in-law.”

Mu Hanzhang pursed his lips and said with some embarrassment, “My son, please bear this in mind.”

What Jing Shao saw when he came in was this scene. It was not as tense as he imagined, but rather a happy one, and he couldn’t help but be a little dumbfounded.

“Where have you been?” Emperor Hongzheng suddenly stopped smiling when he saw Jing Shao coming in.

“My son, I’m going to see a friend off.” Jing Shao replied honestly, thinking to himself that he was his father’s biological son, so why did he feel embarrassed when he saw him?

Emperor Hongzheng looked at him deeply for a long time, then lowered his eyes and picked up the military book on the side to read: “King Huainan has appeared in the capital recently, do you know?”

“King Huainan?” Jing Shao glanced at his princess secretly, “I don’t know.

“You don’t know?” Emperor Hongzheng closed the densely annotated book in his hand, stood up and walked to Jing Shao, “Who are you sending today?”

Jing Shao’s heart skipped a beat, but he didn’t show it on his face. His father must have known that Gu Huaiqing had left the capital by questioning him like this, but he wasn’t sure if he had sent him away. I guess that idiot Jing Yu wouldn’t dare to do it before he got the stolen goods. Just talking nonsense to my father: “A friend from the world.”

“Friends from the world that I met in Zuixian Tower?” Emperor Hongzheng looked at him coldly.

Zuixian Tower! Jing Shao felt a bang in his head. When he mentioned Zuixianlou, his father must have known that that person was Gu Huaiqing! After a moment of blankness in his mind, he suddenly remembered Duofu Chuan’s words. Jun Qing asked him to bite him to death because he didn’t know Gu Huaiqing. He was just a friend in the world, and his father never sent anyone to intercept him even though he knew that Gu Huaiqing was about to escape. That was He said that his father intended to let Gu Huaiqing escape, and that he came here today to test whether he had colluded with King Huainan.

The thought in his mind only lasted a moment. Jing Shao looked up at his father and said calmly: “I met him in Jiangnan. He came to Beijing to visit. Today he learned that his mother was seriously ill and was in a hurry to leave the city, so he asked me for help.”

“Pah!” As soon as he finished speaking, a firm slap fell on Jing Shao’s face, and Jing Shao was immediately staggered.

“You are quite a temperamental person. Did you know that that person is Gu Huaiqing, the King of Huainan!” Emperor Hongzheng looked at him with hatred. This son is capable, but he was raised wild. He does not look like a prince or grandson at all. On the contrary, he looks like a knight-errant, not only has a bad temper, but also pays attention to the loyalty of the knights and lakes, which is really irritating.

Jing Shao was beaten until blood oozed from the corner of his mouth, but he didn’t bother to cover his face. He was stunned for a moment and knelt on the ground with a plop: “I really don’t know. He only said that his name is Gu Qing. I met him by chance in Jiangnan. I have always kept it secret.” Because of my identity, my son…” Jing Shao’s voice sounded very flustered, as if he was stunned when he heard such shocking news.

“Father, I also met that man in Jiangnan. Your Majesty really doesn’t know his identity.” Mu Hanzhang also knelt beside Jing Shao.

Emperor Hongzheng glanced at him, and the expression on his face softened slightly, because Mu Hanzhang admitted from the beginning that the friend Jing Shao sent him was an acquaintance they met in Jiangnan. If he had a ulterior motive in his heart, he would not say such a thing, and turned to look at Jing Shao saw that he was no longer panicking, but was stiffening his neck, as if he was a little dissatisfied: “What, you’re still not convinced?”

“I don’t dare.” Jing Shao lowered his head and said, but his tone was a bit stiff.

“I didn’t say you colluded with the vassal king, but you are not convinced yet?” Emperor Hongzheng was almost angry.

“My father told the four emperors about the identity of King Huainan, but he didn’t tell his sons!” Jing Shao looked up at his father. Although his words were meant to trip up the fourth prince, the question at this moment was from inner heart. He had always been aware of Emperor Hongzheng’s partiality. No matter what mistakes Jing Yu made, they would never be settled in the end. On the contrary, he would always be harsh on him, and in the end he would be imprisoned on some groundless charges.

Emperor Hongzheng was stunned for a long time, and then he remembered that he had indeed not told the fourth prince. He only found out because a courtier who had been visited by King Huainan came to report to him. So how did Jing Yu know? He took a few steps back and forth in the room with his hands behind his back: “You don’t want to think about where you went wrong, but instead you blame me?”

“I don’t dare.” Jing Shao frowned, obviously still dissatisfied.

Emperor Hongzheng pointed at him, his fingertips trembling with anger: “You are shutting yourself up in the palace and thinking about your mistakes. Without my will, you are not allowed to go anywhere!”

“Father, calm down!” Mu Hanzhang hurriedly tried to persuade him and pushed Jing Shao, “Your Majesty!”

“My son, I obey.” Jing Shao seemed to have just come back to his senses, bowing his head and admitting his mistake.

“Hmph!” Emperor Hongzheng snorted coldly, tossed his sleeves and left. Before leaving, he turned around and said, “Hanzhang, write down the regulations you mentioned and show them to me another day.”

“Yes!” Mu Hanzhang responded quickly and stood up to see Emperor Hongzheng out.

Emperor Hongzheng waved his hand so that he didn’t need to send him any more. He took his guards and eunuchs with him and left with anger on his face.

After a moment of silence, Mu Hanzhang walked to Jing Shao, knelt down and looked at him: “Father has already gone out.”

Jing Shao slowly sat on the ground, wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, and breathed a long sigh of relief: “Thanks to you.”

Mu Hanzhang stretched out his hand and gently touched his red cheek, and his cool fingers soothed the burning fingerprints. Jing Shao rubbed the palm of his hand greedily. It didn’t matter no matter how partial his father was, at least this person’s heart was towards him, and that was enough.

Mu Hanzhang looked at the person rubbing his palm quietly. He didn’t pay attention to the question Emperor Hongzheng just made, but he could clearly see that there was indeed resentment in Jing Shao’s eyes. Without the protection of his mother, the prince has no room for change in front of the emperor. If there is a conflict, he can only bear it. He can’t help but feel pity in his heart. He slowly reaches out his hand and takes him into his arms: “Father, the emperor is not here.” It’s not partiality, it’s just that as an emperor, you need checks and balances.”

Emperor Hongzheng must be aware of the Hubu matter and did not severely punish the four princes. In the final analysis, it is the emperor’s mind. There needs to be checks and balances in the court, so before his bottom line is touched, as a shrewd emperor, he will choose to turn a blind eye. One eye.

Suddenly being hugged into a warm embrace exuding fragrance, Jing Shao was stunned for a moment, took a deep breath greedily, consciously arched his chest, put his arms around his flexible waist: “Jun Qing, I’m grounded again Now, don’t go to court either.”

“Why?” Mu Hanzhang looked down at him.

“This way we can sleep in and do it again in the morning!” Jing Shao said with bright eyes.