Chapter 576 - 576 Grandfather and Granddaughter Together, The Emperor's Fury (2)
576 Grandfather and Granddaughter Together, The Emperor’s Fury (2)
“Thank you,” the Emperor said gratefully.
Yu Wan smiled. “You’re welcome. I haven’t thanked you properly for what happened last time.”
Even so, Yu Wan came to thank him. She personally sent a thank you gift, but she did not even see the master. The pageboy said that Master was not around and could just hand the things to him. He would pass on the words that she had visited.
Yu Wan could feel that the pageboy’s tone was not very good. She thought that the owner of this house was most likely a proud person. Unexpectedly, when she met him, he was an old man with a kinder expression than her grandmother.!!
Grandma, who had never been kind: “…”
Yu Wan’s impression of him changed. “Did you go out by yourself? Do you need me to call a carriage for you?”
The Emperor smiled and said, “There’s no need. My butler went to buy something and will be back soon. By the way, are you here to eat Fuyuanzi? There are many customers now and the hall is full. If you don’t mind, you can eat here.”
He recalled the scene of Dabao eating and suddenly wanted to feed Xiaobao.
Xiaobao refused. “No, Daddy and Brother are waiting!”
“Ah.” A trace of disappointment flashed across the Emperor’s heart. It was not good to force her to stay. This was not something a ruler of a country should do. Hence, he said, “Then I’ll get someone to cook the Fuyuanzi for you.”
Yu Wan did not refuse his good intentions. After all, she had to queue up again after this. Who knew what time it would be after she queued?
The Emperor called the waiter over and told him about the Fuyuanzi. The waiter respectfully instructed the kitchen to cook. After it was done, he even personally sent it to Yu Wan’s restaurant opposite.
Not long after Yu Wan and Xiaobao left, Eunuch Wang returned with a box of osmanthus cake. “Your Majesty, I’ve bought osmanthus cake for Her Highness. Eh? Your leg?”
Eunuch Wang noticed the Emperor’s slightly stiff right leg. He put down the osmanthus cake and bowed to check. He exclaimed, “You’re injured!”
The Emperor said indifferently, “It’s just a small injury.”
His head steward beside him was not as calm as that girl. He knew his own body very well. That girl had cleaned the wooden thorns very well. He did not feel any pain at all.
Eunuch Wang did not dare to be negligent. The Emperor was the ruler of the world. His body was related to the country, let alone the fact that he had accompanied him out of the palace. If the Empress found out later, she would punish him for neglecting his duty.
Eunuch Wang hurriedly coaxed the Emperor into the carriage.
Unexpectedly, just as they entered the palace, before they could summon the imperial physician, the palace maid reported, “The State Preceptor requests an audience.”
The State Preceptor’s status in Nanzhao was outstanding. Although he did not interfere with the politics of the royal court, he had more qualifications to get close to the Emperor than the high-ranking minister.
The State Preceptor must have something important to do when he entered the palace at this time.
The Emperor got someone to call the State Preceptor to the imperial study.
“What is it?” The Emperor asked.
Other than the Empress, no one in the palace had ever seen the Emperor look kind. When he didn’t smile, he was very dignified, and when he smiled, he was full of schemes.
Even the State Preceptor did not dare to be careless in front of this monarch.
The State Preceptor cupped his hands and said seriously, “I heard something recently.”
The Emperor gave him a look, indicating for him to continue.
The State Preceptor said, “The Helian family found the second son of the eldest branch who had once fallen off the cliff. The second son of the first wife had another son among the commoners. The father and son moved into the Helian family with their family.”
The Emperor had been busy with the holy artifact recently and did not pay attention to the Helian family’s matters. Of course, it was mainly because he trusted Helian Beiming. If there was anything that he, the Emperor, needed to know, Helian Beiming would definitely not hide it from him.
The State Preceptor sighed. “Forgive me for being blunt, but the Grand General shouldn’t have hidden such a big matter from His Majesty and the entire court.”
“It’s just a family matter,” the Emperor said indifferently.
The State Preceptor had guessed that it would not be so easy. No matter how much His Majesty trusted him, he would only trust Helian Beiming more. Unfortunately, he had come prepared this time. “But I heard that that legitimate second son has already returned to his hometown to pay respects to his ancestors in place of the Grand General. In the future, he will inherit the Helian family.”
This meant something different.
If it was just the second son of the first wife, then it was indeed a family matter of the Helian family. However, if he became the heir of the Divine General Manor, it would be the state affairs of the entire Nanzhao.
Since it was a state matter, he should not hide it from the Emperor.
The Emperor narrowed his eyes slightly, a cold glint flashing across them.
The State Preceptor was not worried that His Majesty would verify the news he had reported because be it the acknowledgement of family or the return of the second son to his hometown to pay respects to his ancestors, both of them had really happened. The more His Majesty investigated, the more he would prove that he was telling the truth.
What happened next was even more truthful.
“Besides, there’s another important thing about that second son.”
“What is it?” The Emperor asked.
The State Preceptor’s expression turned solemn as he said, “I’ve seen his portrait of his son, the young master of the Helian family. He’s not a member of the Helian family at all. He’s Prince Yan of the Great Zhou Dynasty!”
Crack!
The brush in the Emperor’s hand broke.
The dignified Nanzhao Divine General Manor actually recognized the son of a royal heir from a neighboring country as the heir. What were they doing? Colluding with the enemy and committing treason?
The State Preceptor stopped and did not say anything.
The Emperor’s expression became unprecedentedly ugly. If what the State Preceptor said was true, then the Helian family, who had colluded with the Great Zhou Dynasty, could be punished.
The Emperor clenched his fists. “Guards! Summon Helian Beiming for an audience!”
—-
In the dark alley, there was an inconspicuous carriage parked.
In the carriage, a slender hand lifted the curtain.
Nangong Li looked at the imperial guards who were speeding past and smiled faintly. “Yan Jiuchao, oh Yan Jiuchao, I want to see how you can stay in Nanzhao this time.”
Helian Beiming had been recuperating in the manor ever since he was seriously injured. His niece did not allow him to sleep late, so he rested early.
When the Emperor ordered someone to send him into the palace, he was slightly stunned. His first reaction was that another barbarian had attacked. He was going to fight the enemy. His second reaction was that the barbarians had long been beaten into submission by him. Could it be that there was internal strife in Nanzhao?
Since it was an urgent call late at night, Helian Beiming did not dare to be negligent. After changing into court clothes, he immediately entered the palace.
When the Emperor saw him, he was not in the imperial study. In the cold and dignified throne room, the Emperor stood under the light with his back facing the door.
Helian Beiming could not stand, so he could only sit in the wheelchair and bow. “Greetings, Your Majesty.”
The Emperor turned around indifferently, his vicious gaze sweeping across his face. “Do you know your crime?”
Helian Beiming was stunned. He was not stupid after all.
He had been open and aboveboard his entire life. He had no shame as a ruler or conscience. He had only hidden two things: one was the matter of the Helian family acknowledging their relatives, and the other was the matter of the Second Old Master privately supervising the sacrificial soldiers camp.
He had been open and aboveboard his entire life. He had no shame as a ruler or conscience. He had only hidden two things: one was the matter of the Helian family acknowledging their relatives, and the other was the matter of the Second Old Master privately supervising the sacrificial soldiers camp.
When the Emperor questioned him tonight, he knew that he was guilty. It seemed that these two things had leaked. He wondered if they had all leaked or if only one of them had leaked.
The Emperor looked at him coldly. There was no need to guess to know that he was hiding something.
The Emperor was furious. “Are you thinking of ways to fool me by not saying anything?”
“I wouldn’t dare,” Helian Beiming whispered.
The Emperor said coldly, “You don’t dare? I think you dare very much! You even dare to bring the heir of the royal family of the Great Zhou Dynasty home! What kind of place do you think the Imperial Capital of Nanzhao is! Did you think about my position? Where do you think my empire is?!”
Helian Beiming closed his eyes.
What should have come still came.
When the Emperor saw his forbearing appearance, he knew that the State Preceptor had not wronged him. He had really brought the prince of the Great Zhou Dynasty home! He had even acknowledged him as his nephew!
He could hand over the Divine General Manor to the other party now. Would he be able to hand over the entire Nanzhao Nation to the other party next time?
The Emperor was almost angered to death by him. “Guards! Prison Helian Beiming!”