The Smiling, Proud Wanderer, becoming a disciple of Yue Buqun

Page 316

After saying that, he left directly, heading towards a secluded courtyard within the mansion.

Seeing the direction Lord Zhang left in, the lady's eyes turned cold.

She knew perfectly well which vixen Lord Zhang had gone to this time.

"Humph!"

The lady snorted coldly and got up to leave.

……

"Ah!"

Chen Qingyuan sneezed as he headed towards the inn where he was staying in Jiangning.

Why did you suddenly start sneezing? Did you catch a cold?

Chen Qingyuan frowned, checked his body and found no cold symptoms. He was puzzled, but he didn't pay much attention to it and hurried on his way.

He had originally planned to visit Jiangning yesterday, but was delayed by official business and only now has he been able to find the time.

"I wonder if Young Master Jiang is at the inn."

As Chen Qingyuan walked, he pondered, getting closer and closer to the inn.

"Brother Jiang, it's getting late today."

Zhu Shou and Jiang Ning were outside the inn preparing to say goodbye.

Jiang Ning smiled and cupped his hands in thanks: "Thank you, Brother Zhu, for showing me around the capital these past few days."

Zhu Shou laughed heartily and said, "Brother Jiang, you're too kind. I hit it off with you the moment we met. I only regret that I didn't get to know you sooner. There's no need for you to trouble me. Don't you consider me a friend?"

Jiang Ning smiled.

After two days of contact, Jiang Ning still didn't know Zhu Shou's purpose, but at least he ruled out the possibility that the other party was there to cause him trouble.

If he knew more about Zhu Shou's background, he would have thought Zhu Shou was a decent person.

Zhu Shou is still unclear about Jiang Ning's background. Although he has sent people to investigate, the investigation is not going to be quick.

However, he also thought Jiang Ning was a good person.

He should be considered a true friend of his.

Just as Zhu Shou was about to say something, his eyes glanced over and he suddenly noticed a figure not far behind Jiang Ning. Zhu Shou's gaze sharpened, and he knew something was wrong.

"Brother Jiang, it's getting late, so I'll head back now and come see you again tomorrow."

Zhu Shou spoke very quickly, and after finishing, he turned and left without waiting for Jiang Ning to speak, his steps hurried.

Jiang Ning was surprised by Zhu Shou's behavior at this moment, and just then a voice sounded behind him.

"Mr. Jiang."

The tone was quite high and somewhat familiar.

Jiang Ning turned around and saw that it was Chen Qingyuan.

"What brings Mr. Chen here?"

When Chen Qingyuan arrived in Jiangning, he asked him questions.

Upon hearing Jiang Ning's words, Chen Qingyuan chuckled and said, "I originally intended to visit Young Master Jiang yesterday, but I was tied up with official business and was a little late."

Jiang Ning couldn't help but ask curiously, "Mr. Chen, is there something you need from me?"

Chen Qingyuan chuckled and said, "There is something I want to tell Young Master Jiang, which I think Young Master Jiang will find interesting."

Jiang Ning raised an eyebrow: "What is it?"

Just as Chen Qingyuan was about to speak, his stomach suddenly growled.

Seeing this, Jiang Ning smiled and said, "Mr. Chen, have you eaten yet? Why don't we eat together?"

Chen Qingyuan chuckled and said, "That's exactly what I was thinking."

The two then entered the inn.

"Young Master Jiang, was that person your friend from the capital?"

Chen Qingyuan suddenly asked, he had also seen Zhu Shou, but he was far away. By the time he got closer, Zhu Shou had already gone far away and he hadn't seen Zhu Shou's appearance clearly.

Jiang Ning nodded.

"That's it."

Jiang Ning didn't explain that it was Zhu Shou, whom he had met in the last two days. Instead, he remembered something and asked Chen Qingyuan.

Do you know Zhu Shou?

Chapter 421: The Emperor and the Empress Dowager

"Zhu Shou?"

Chen Qingyuan was taken aback, thought about it carefully, and shook his head.

"Have not heard."

Never heard of it?

Jiang Ning said nothing more after hearing this.

Chen Qingyuan asked curiously, "Does Young Master Jiang have any grudge against this person?"

Jiang Ning smiled and said, "It's nothing, I was just asking."

Seeing this, Chen Qingyuan didn't ask any more questions. After the two entered the lobby of the inn and sat down, Chen Qingyuan said, "Young Master Jiang, do you still remember the Marquis you met a few days ago?"

Jiang Ning nodded.

"remember."

Chen Qingyuan laughed and said, "He was reprimanded by His Majesty when he attended the morning court session yesterday."

Jiang Ning was surprised.

Chen Qingyuan then explained what had happened.

"His Majesty learned that the marquis was riding his horse recklessly in the street, so he reprimanded the marquis in the morning court and even wanted to strip him of his title."

Chen Qingyuan laughed heartily.

Yesterday, when the emperor questioned the Minister of Justice about whether the prison in the Ministry of Justice belonged to him, Marquis Zhang, and whether the officials of the Ministry of Justice were acting on his orders, the Minister of Justice was terrified. He immediately knelt down, his forehead covered in cold sweat, and insisted that the Ministry of Justice belonged to the imperial court, not to any one person. After the morning court session, the Minister of Justice was still complaining to them that Marquis Zhang had no sense of propriety in his words.

"The last Marquis Zhang was not stripped of his title, but His Majesty punished him with a three-year salary reduction and a six-month confinement."

Chen Qingyuan smiled and said, "I thought Young Master Jiang would find it interesting, so I came to tell you this news."

Jiang Ning smiled slightly upon hearing this.

It's really interesting.

However, Jiang Ning then asked, "How did the Emperor find out about this? Did you tell him?"

"I'm also wondering."

Chen Qingyuan shook his head, indicating that he did not know either. He then added, "Perhaps His Majesty found out himself. After all, there are Jinyiwei everywhere in the capital. Maybe it was someone from the Jinyiwei who saw it and reported it to His Majesty."

Jiang Ning nodded and didn't bring it up again.

The food was already on the table, and the two began to eat.

……

"That was close, we almost got spotted."

Zhu Shou secretly breathed a sigh of relief after walking a considerable distance.

He hadn't expected to see Chen Qingyuan at this time. If the other party saw him, it would be quite troublesome. If the civil officials found out that he had secretly slipped out of the palace, it wouldn't be so easy for him to come out again.

He also didn't want Jiang Ning to know his true identity.

However, Zhu Shou was also surprised by Jiang Ning's true identity, wondering why a high-ranking official like the Vice Minister of Revenue would come looking for him.

Thinking of this, Zhu Shou said without turning his head.

"Where's Mu Bin? How's the investigation he asked us to do going?"

At this moment, a eunuch who was following them hurriedly said, "Commander Mou has not yet sent any news; he must still be investigating."

Zhu Shou casually said, "Have him come to see me immediately after we return to the palace."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

The eunuch whispered.

After returning to the palace, Zhu Shou went back to the Qianqing Palace to change his clothes. Just as he was about to attend to government affairs, someone arrived from the Kunning Palace.

"Does the Empress Dowager wish to see me?"

Zhu Shou frowned.

Kunning Palace was the palace where the Empress lived, but he had only been on the throne for a short time. The former Empress, who was also his mother and was now the Empress Dowager, had not yet moved out of Kunning Palace, and he had not yet held a selection of concubines, so the Empress Dowager lived in Kunning Palace.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

The arriving eunuch knelt on the ground and said respectfully.

"I understand. Go back and tell the Empress Dowager that I will be there shortly."

Zhu Shoudao.

After the eunuch left, Zhu Shou frowned again.

Why would the Empress Dowager seek him out for no reason?

Zhu Shou thought of the morning court session yesterday.

Did his good uncle complain to the Empress Dowager?

Zhu Shou's expression was somewhat cold.

After tidying up his appearance, Zhu Shou then set off for Kunning Palace.

Kunning Palace was not far from Qianqing Palace, and Zhu Shou arrived quickly.

Upon entering Kunning Palace, Zhu Shou saw a middle-aged noblewoman sitting in the upper seat; that was his mother.

"Your subject greets Your Majesty."

Zhu Shou bowed to the Empress Dowager.

After Zhu Shou entered, the Empress Dowager remained silent until he finished his greetings, at which point she said, "Your Majesty, please rise."

Zhu Shou stood up.

The Empress Dowager looked up at Zhu Shou and said, "I haven't seen the Emperor recently. He must be very busy with state affairs, as he has lost a lot of weight."

Zhu Shou's eyes flickered.

This is to blame him for not coming to pay his respects to his parents at dawn and dusk.

"Your Majesty, I have been very busy since I ascended the throne. I am overwhelmed with state affairs. Please forgive me, Your Majesty. I will pay my respects to Your Majesty every day from now on."

Zhu Shou smiled and said.

Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager did not press the matter further; she had something to say.

"I heard that you reprimanded your uncle in court yesterday and even wanted to strip him of his title?"

Zhu Shou's smile remained unchanged upon hearing this, and he showed no panic. Instead, he asked, "Which gossipy maidservant spread this rumor to the inner palace?"

The Empress Dowager looked displeased.

Is this implying that she, as a member of the imperial harem, is interfering in state affairs?

The Empress Dowager's tone turned serious: "Who else needs to gossip about this? The lady of the house has come to the palace to complain to me. Do you think I can just pretend I didn't hear her?"

Zhu Shou chuckled upon hearing this: "Uncle is really something, having to bother Mother with something like this."

The Empress Dowager ignored his evasive answers and asked, "Did you say this in court yesterday?"

Zhu Shou couldn't avoid the topic, so he could only say, "I did say that."