pdf-ebookys Chapter 570 Appeasement
Chapter 570 Appeasement
"Oh, Your Majesty, I don't have anything to eat here. There is none left." Aunt Jing spread out her empty hands.
Zhou Chang was certain that not preparing dinner was just an excuse, and Aunt Jing was trying to match Prince Yi and Yuan Yun.
So he nodded and agreed: "Okay, I understand. If you get hungry later, I will find something to eat myself."
Aunt Jing was satisfied and left.
Zhou Chang was dizzy and exhausted from working at the Ministry of Revenue just now. He had no appetite after the bumpy journey back home, so he just lay down on the rattan chair in the inner room to rest.
When I opened my eyes again, it was already time to light the lamps. Through the screen, I could see that the lights in the outer room of the study had been turned on without me noticing.
Zhou Chang was just about to ask who was outside.
Meisheng came in with a tray: "Your Highness, it's Meisheng. You haven't had dinner yet. You must be hungry, right?"
Zhou Chang sat up from the rattan chair.
Meisheng brought the noodle soup closer.
It was getting dark outside and he didn't know what time it was, but Zhou Chang was really hungry, so he took the noodle soup and started eating.
After taking a few bites, the noodles didn't taste like Wang's mother's. Then she asked, "Who made this noodles?"
Mei Sheng immediately became nervous: "Why, is this noodle not to your Highness's liking? This was made by Mei Sheng, maybe there is something wrong with the steps."
"You made this?" Zhou Chang was somewhat surprised. "You can also cook?"
"Simpler ones are always better..." Mei Sheng's eyes were full of disappointment, "Your Highness, do you think this noodle tastes bad?"
Zhou Chang didn't think the noodles were bad, but rather they were lighter and more refreshing than Wang Mama's: "No, they're delicious, light and very memorable."
"Really? Your Highness likes it?" Mei Sheng was surprised, and his big deer eyes immediately lit up.
Zhou Chang looked up at Mei Sheng and asked, "But why are you making the noodles? Is Mother Wang really sick?"
When their eyes met, Mei Sheng immediately lowered his head shyly, but he did not forget to answer: "I heard that Mother Wang did sprain her ankle this morning."
"I see..." Zhou Chang had almost finished eating and handed the bowl of noodle soup back to Mei Sheng, then ordered, "Please ask Mr. Zhong to come over."
"Yes..." Mei Sheng agreed, but he was obviously disappointed. "Your Highness still doesn't like this noodle. He only ate two bites. If Your Highness really doesn't like it, it's okay. Do you want Mei Sheng to get some more snacks for Your Highness?"
Zhou Chang quickly explained: "It's not that your noodles are not delicious, it's just that I don't have much appetite today, really."
Mei Sheng didn't know whether to believe it or not, but he just took the noodles and left. Before he even walked out of the study, Zhong Yu walked in by himself.
The two men greeted each other and Zhong Yu walked into the study.
Zhou Chang heard this from inside and came out from behind the screen: "Sir, you don't have to be so polite. I heard that Madam Wang sprained her ankle. Is it serious? Do you want to see a doctor?"
"It's okay, it's okay. Your Highness is worried about me." Zhong Yu also had some knowledge of medicine, so he gave a simple answer without saying any more words.
Zhou Chang also knew from Prince Yi's memory that Zhong Yu seldom talked about himself and his family in front of Prince Yi, so he did not ask much, but made a "please sit down" gesture.
Zhong Yu thanked him and asked immediately after he sat down, "You must have heard that the prince came to the palace today, right?"
"Sir, are you talking about the matters of Prince Duan and Prince Xian?" Zhou Chang also sought out Zhong Yulai to inform each other of the progress.
Zhong Yu nodded and then frowned: "I just got the exact news. It seems that the matter of Prince Duan embezzling the funds of the imperial mausoleum has been suppressed. I really can't find out the details. Prince Xian was confined to his house and the reason was not explained to the public. I heard that these two princes were dealt with privately by His Majesty."
Zhou Chang made a common sense inference: "I guess your majesty still cares about his reputation."
"As for Prince Duan, so many people have reported him, but His Majesty has not made any move. He only lets the Dali Temple investigate. What can the Dali Temple find out?" Zhong Yu has always had a bad impression of the Dali Temple.
Zhou Chang had the same impression of the Dali Temple.
Chu Liang, the chief judge of Dali Temple, who had already "laid down" by virtue of his ancestors' influence, had nothing to do with anything. This case also involved the prince, so what could he find out?
So he casually commented, "Yes, Chu Liang is indeed incompetent, but Prince Xian should have handed him all the evidence of Prince Duan's corruption and bribery. It's pie in the sky again, and he can just open his mouth and take it. What's so difficult about it? As for this Lord Chu, I really envy him for his good fortune. His ancestors were virtuous, and he often has people rushing to feed him. I really envy him more than I can envy him."
Zhong Yu didn't have these feelings: "Your Majesty, when you say this, do you mean that Your Majesty will definitely deal with Prince Duan's matter? And not let him off the hook?"
"Who knows?" Zhou Chang was not sure either, and relied entirely on speculation. "Just wait for news, it should be about the same in half a month."
There was obvious disappointment on Zhong Yu's face.
Zhou Chang then started the next topic: "Sir, regarding the matter mentioned last time about King Xian holding his own army and privately manufacturing weapons, we must also move forward. Haven't we found any evidence so far?"
Zhong Yu did not answer, but stayed on the previous discussion and asked again: "Your Highness, are you sure that there will be no serious consequences for Prince Xian's confinement this time?"
"It shouldn't be the case. The fact that Prince Xian caused Prince Duan to break his leg can only be said to be an intention without any actual evidence. Otherwise, Your Majesty would have issued an edict long ago." Zhou Chang made his guess based entirely on his experience from his previous life.
Since he did not have any subjective intention to do it himself, he cannot be convicted of any crime no matter where he goes.
At worst, we can only say that King Xian watched him die without helping.
The best outcome would be to morally criticize us and ruin His Majesty's impression of us.
Zhong Yu was even more disappointed: "According to the current situation, after all our efforts, His Majesty will probably be lenient with both sides and make a big deal out of a small matter, or even nothing at all."
"Well, maybe." Zhou Chang did not expect that Prince Duan's embezzlement of the imperial mausoleum funds did not cause a big stir. He was also disappointed, but fortunately he still had a card in his hand. "So, we have to follow up on Prince Xian's 'privately manufacturing weapons and intending to rebel'."
Zhong Yu was not a person who would drag his feet. If one plan didn't work, he would come up with another one: "Your Majesty is right. This is a serious crime of treason. When the time comes, Your Majesty will want to protect me, but I'm afraid it won't be possible."
Zhou Chang agreed with this deeply, so he never came up with a good solution.
Zhong Yu stroked his beard and said, "I was too cautious before and didn't dare to touch it easily. But this matter requires witnesses and evidence before we can take that step, otherwise it will definitely bring disaster upon ourselves. If it is an ordinary matter, as long as we are willing to spend money, we can ask people from the martial arts world to inquire about it, but this is a huge matter, I am afraid that people from the martial arts world will not dare to take it, and there is no one in the court who can be relied on. After thinking about it, I still have to rely on myself."