Chapter 553: The Jiang Family, Divine Assistants
Chapter 553: The Jiang Family, Divine Assistants
The Liang Emperor doted on his grandson, Lu Qi. After Lu Yuan ascended as the State Guardian Qilin, to prevent the officials from thinking that Lu Qi was being neglected, the Emperor specially declared a three-day holiday for his grand wedding.
The officials were delighted by the unexpected break.
Only Gongsun Yanming arrived early in the palace.
To his surprise, there was someone even earlier than him.
As soon as he reached the Imperial Garden, he heard the laughter of children, which turned out to be Baozhuzhu and Nie'er playing on the lawn.
The two little ones were having a great time, innocent and carefree.
The Liang Emperor's eyes were filled with warmth.
Jiang Huifei was also there.
However, she wasn't there to seek attention from the Emperor; it was just a coincidence.
Jiang Huifei moved to the side.
Had she known he was coming, she wouldn't have come herself.
"Your Majesty, Lady Hui."
Gongsun Yanming approached, bowing respectfully.
The Liang Emperor nodded. "Be seated."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Gongsun Yanming sat down on a stone bench nearby.
Jiang Huifei asked coldly, "What wind blew the Imperial Tutor here?"
Eunuch Yu detected the tension in Jiang Huifei's words and glanced at her and Gongsun Yanming without showing any emotion.
Jiang Huifei and Empress Hu had a falling out, and as a member of Prince Jin's lineage, the Thousand Mechanisms Pavilion was also despised by Jiang Huifei.
Gongsun Yanming maintained his usual tone. "I have come to the palace today to report important matters."
Jiang Huifei retorted, "Why not report it during the court session? You're taking a break for two days, and you can't even let the Emperor have some peace."
The Liang Emperor: Was he being concerned by Jiang Huifei?
Jiang Huifei had been in the palace for many years, and this was only the second time she had spoken in his favor.
The first time was when he was young and drunk, babbling that life was meaningless and he might as well die.
Jiang Huifei had immediately handed him a knife.
The Liang Emperor collected his thoughts and cleared his throat. "If the Imperial Tutor has come personally to report, it must be something serious. Speak up."
Jiang Huifei snorted and rolled her eyes.
Gongsun Yanming stood up, bowing to the Liang Emperor. "Your Majesty, last night my younger brother acted rashly in the matter of capturing a traitor, offending the Crown Prince. As his tutor, I failed to discipline him properly and have come to apologize to Your Majesty."
The Liang Emperor replied, "I've already heard about last night's incident. Yuan is young and impulsive, and he wasn't very polite to you and your brother. He also isn't well-versed in court etiquette, causing you both to suffer."
Gongsun Yanming quickly bowed. "Your subject is deeply ashamed!"
His eyes flickered, clearly surprised that someone had beaten him to the punch.
Jiang Huifei said slowly, "Imperial Tutor, not that I'm prying, but capturing a traitor is your business. Charging into the Crown Prince's mansion without warning might seem like you're concerned for the Crown Prince's safety, but it could also be interpreted as suspecting the Crown Prince's mansion of harboring your traitor. The Crown Prince wouldn't be happy, and if I were in his shoes, I'd probably chase you all out with a shovel!"
Gongsun Yanming remained composed. "Your Majesty, Lady Hui is right. It was a lack of foresight on our part."
The Liang Emperor sighed. "Enough, I trust the Imperial Tutor did not mean to cause trouble for the Crown Prince's mansion."
Jiang Huifei snorted.
The Liang Emperor: "…"
The Liang Emperor turned to Gongsun Yanming. "Who is the traitor?"
Gongsun Yanming replied solemnly, "Yan Xiaojiu."
The Liang Emperor's expression darkened.
Jiang Huifei laughed coldly. "I always knew you and your Thousand Mechanisms Pavilion would eventually target her."
What should have been a straightforward report was now fragmented by Jiang Huifei's interruptions.
The Liang Emperor frowned and asked, "Do you have any evidence?"
Gongsun Yanming replied, "A disciple of the Thousand Mechanisms Pavilion witnessed it firsthand. She broke into the dungeons, and when Elder Qiu tried to stop her, she stabbed him to death. Then she fled the pavilion with Yan Hanshuang."
Jiang Huifei sneered, "Of course, the disciples of the Thousand Mechanisms Pavilion would say whatever their Pavilion Master tells them to."
"Your Majesty."
At that moment, Meng Qianqian entered the Imperial Garden with a basket of flower petals.
Gongsun Yanming furrowed his brow, a hint of suspicion in his eyes.
Jiang Huifei smiled, "Finished picking them?"
Meng Qianqian whispered, "These should be enough for a snack."
Jiang Huifei continued, "You came at the right time. The Grand Sorcerer said you killed an Elder Qiu at the Thousand Mechanisms Pavilion last night and rescued your master, Yan Hanshuang."
Meng Qianqian's face was full of surprise. "Elder Qiu was killed? My master was taken away? But last night... I didn't return to the Thousand Mechanisms Pavilion. After the wedding banquet at Prince Jin's residence, I went to the market to buy some herbs. This can be verified by Huang Changsun and the shop owner!
After buying the herbs, I planned to return to the pavilion, but on the way, I met Miss Zhaozhao. She had overeaten at the banquet and was suffering from indigestion. So, I went to the Crown Prince's Mansion with her. I stayed in Miss Zhaozhao's room the whole night without leaving."
Jiang Huifei realized, "No wonder you brought Zhaozhao to the palace this morning."
Meng Qianqian whispered, "Miss Zhaozhao cried for her great-grandfather as soon as she woke up..."
The Liang Emperor found this last sentence quite comforting.
However, the Liang Emperor was not one to act without evidence.
He summoned the two guards he had assigned to Meng Qianqian.
The guards testified that after leaving Prince Jin's residence, Miss Yan indeed went to the herb shop with Lord Changsun, and they did encounter the crying Miss Zhaozhao on the way. They then went to the Crown Prince's Mansion together. They stood guard outside the courtyard all night, and Miss Yan only came out just before dawn.
Jiang Huifei said bluntly, "Grand Sorcerer, did you know that Yan Xiaojiu was at the Crown Prince's Mansion, so you deliberately sent people to catch her at her residence? That way, you could catch her red-handed."
Gongsun Yanming looked at Meng Qianqian with a piercing gaze.
Meng Qianqian looked at him with a face full of injustice, but her calm eyes betrayed a hint of challenge.
Gongsun Yanming's eyes darkened with anger, his fingers tightening. He spoke calmly, "It seems I misunderstood. Yan Xiaojiu, since you are innocent, please come with me to the Thousand Mechanisms Pavilion and explain to the elders."
The request was reasonable.
So, the Liang Emperor did not intervene.
However, what no one expected was that Baozhuzhu pounced and hugged Meng Qianqian's leg. "Teacher, don't go! Don't go! Play with Baby!"
Nier also hugged Meng Qianqian. "Play with Nier!"
The two little bundles clung to her as if they were glued, impossible to pry off.
The palace attendants looked helplessly at Jiang Huifei and the Liang Emperor.
Jiang Huifei, feeling sorry for her great-grandniece, said, "What's the big deal? You are the Pavilion Master. Can't you just go back and explain? Are your words no longer effective? If so, you shouldn't be the Pavilion Master anymore!"
Meng Qianqian smiled faintly. "I'll trouble you, Pavilion Master."
Gongsun Yanming clenched his fists.
After leaving the Imperial Garden.
A small eunuch approached, whispering, "Grand Sorcerer."
Gongsun Yanming handed him a brocade box.
The eunuch understood and tucked the box into his robe, avoiding the others' gazes as he made his way to the Imperial Study.
He opened the box.
Inside was a piece of ink.
He replaced the ink on the desk and left the Imperial Study without a word.
(End of Chapter)
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