Chapter 783: Rumors Can’t Be Trusted
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
The jade pendant in the box was temporarily kept by King Xiaoyao. After checking that there were no problems with it, he would decide if he should leave it for All Yu or use it for other purposes.
Ah Yu expressed that she did not care. She was actually not short of jade at all. She even had more.
She had many jades of better quality than this.
“Everyone, split up first and see if there are any more clues here,” King Xiaoyao said. “All Yu, stay with Zi Zhao. Tang Yuan, Chi Gou, and Chi Tu, go with them. Chi Ding is in charge of guarding the area to prevent any accidents. Chen Yi, Chen Er, you go with Chi Ding. As for City Lord Wan, do as you see fit.”
City Lord Wan nodded. “No problem.”
“Then 1’11 go with you too.” Shui Miao, who was not mentioned, immediately approached Wang Wulang and wanted to go with them.
Wang Wulang took a step back and stood behind Ah Yu. He looked at her warily. “Just speak. Don’t be so close to me. Otherwise, I’ll think that you’re interested in me.”
Shui Miao’s eyes widened. “How did you know?”
Wang Wulang:”!!!”
D*mn, it’s true!
He hurriedly went around to All Yu’s other side, his face filled with fear.
Shui Miao was unhappy when she saw this. “What are you doing? It’s as if I’m in a hurry to do something to you. Moreover, as long as I’m willing, even the surrounding tribes will have to listen to me. What’s there to despise about me?”
“You’ve misunderstood, Little Sister.” Wang Wulang waved his hand. “It’s not that 1 despise you. At least you have a family business to inherit. 1 don’t have anything. I’m just thinking that your family lives too far away. If we get married in the future, it won’t be easy for you to return even once. It’s better to forget it.”
“In your dreams. 1 won’t stay at your house!”
“See, this is our fundamental conflict, so we’re not suitable.” Wang Wulang nodded and agreed with her point of view. “It’s better to keep a distance from the beginning, lest there’s a misunderstanding.”
Beside him, All Yu:”…”
[Not to mention anything else, your brother is thinking quite far ahead.]
No one took this small episode seriously. After all, Shui Miao looked similar to Ah Yu and was younger than Wang Wulang.
However, the people in Jiangsai were much more open-minded and did not have much restrictions on girls. It was not rare for them to start talking about choosing partners when they were eight or nine years old, so City Lord Wan and the others did not think much of it.
On the other hand, Chi Gou and Chi Tu looked at Shui Miao a few times and inexplicably felt that her personality was very similar to their Young Master and Miss All Yu.
They were all at an age where they were not supposed to know anything, but they had long considered very far.
“Achoo!” Far away in Wanning City, Qin Huai was walking out of the Hanlin Academy when he suddenly sneezed loudly.
When Eunuch Xi, who happened to come over, saw this, he asked with concern, “What’s wrong, Scholar Qin? Did you catch a cold?”
It was already summer, so there was no reason for him to catch a cold.
Qin Huai: “No, I might have accidentally choked on the wind when 1 came out. Eunuch Xi, where are you going?”
As his name suggested, Eunuch Xi was in charge of reporting matters in the palace. Moreover, it was mainly joyous matters.
Therefore, the Empress Dowager gave him the name of Eunuch Xi and it was still used until now.
Eunuch Xi smiled and said, “Speaking of which, this matter has something to do with Scholar Qin.”
He waited for Qin Huai to take the initiative to ask. Unfortunately, Qin Huai was not curious and did not even give him a curious look.
On the other hand, Eunuch Xi, who had been waiting for a long time, couldn’t help but say, “It was Wang Zhizhou who made a great contribution in Chang’an County. It’s said that he single-handedly uncovered the local corruption case. Even the county governor was pulled down by him! His Majesty is overjoyed and said that he wants to give Wang Zhizhou a huge reward!
“It’s just that His Majesty is still thinking about what kind of reward should be given to Wang Zhizhou. Scholar Qin, do you think we should go to the study and discuss it with His Majesty?”
Originally, Eunuch Xi would not tell outsiders about these things, but Emperor Minghua hinted that he would walk in this direction from the Hanlin Academy and asked him to “disclose” the news to Qin Huai before letting him go over.
Emperor Minghua did not know about the existence of his son, Qin Huai, in the past. Later on, when he found out, his feelings for him were not deep. After all, the father and son did not spend much time together.
Later on, when he became a Hanlin Academy scholar, Empress Qin became much warmer to him. Emperor Minghua also bumped into Empress Qin going to the Hanlin Academy a few times. After a while, Emperor Minghua knew that if he wanted to meet his Empress more, he had to build a good relationship with his son.
Qin Huai originally did not want to go. Second Uncle had obtained such a great fortune because of his own ability. He should not interfere unnecessarily.
Moreover, he should avoid arousing suspicion.
However, when he thought about how there were still some vermin in the court who doesn’t think about improving all day and yet didn’t like others to improve, it wouldn’t be good if he didn’t go and his Second Uncle’s credit was snatched away or twisted.
Therefore, he turned around and said to Eunuch Xi, “Thank you for your reminder, Eunuch Xi. If you don’t mind, I’ll definitely treat you to tea another day.”
Eunuch Xi was a rare person in the palace who openly expressed his love for him and Ah Yu. All Yu was very happy to see him every time. Even Qin Huai liked him. During the time that Ah Yu was gone, he also trusted Eunuch Xi very much.
Eunuch Xi chuckled. “Sure, sure. 1 still have something on here. Scholar Qin can find the way to the study, right?”
“Naturally.”
After he left, Eunuch Xi carried the good news happily and headed towards the palace where the Empress and the Empress Dowager were.
If the Empress was pleased, the Emperor would be happy. If the Empress Dowager was pleased, she could suppress some old officials who spoke badly.
Actually, if Eunuch Xi were allowed to have an opinion, he would say that even Scholar Qin and the Empress Dowager could not compare to the Old Madam of the Wang Family,
A month after Ah Yu set off, the grandsons of the Wang Family jointly submitted a petition to request titles for their mothers, but unfortunately, they didn’t succeed.
On the other hand, the Empress Dowager suddenly issued an imperial decree saying that Old Madam Wang had raised a loyal family of officials and gave her the title of Respected Matron.
It was even a second-grade order, shocking everyone.
When Qin Huai arrived at the upper study, he happened to hear an old official shout at the top of his lungs, “Your Majesty, how long has it been since Wang Zhizhou went to Chang’an County? Who knows if he’s really upright? What if he sided with the corrupt party and wronged the other party? Your Majesty, rumors are not trustworthy!”
“That’s right, Your Majesty. You still have to think twice. That Wang Zhizhou was born into a small family. He was likely trembling in fear even before the Imperial Examinations. How could he become so efficient right after assuming his new position? If there isn’t something fishy going on, how could we trust this?”
Qin Huai stepped in and said gently, “According to the rumors in Wanning City, Minister Cui is the most open and honest. He has done good deeds his entire life and was quite loved.”
Minister Cui, who had been pointed out, couldn’t help but straighten his back. As he said, “No, no.” He secretly observed Emperor Minghua’s expression. His pride was written in his eyes.
Unexpectedly, Qin Huai said, “I only know now that rumors are really not trustworthy. It’s better to see it for yourself.”
Minister Cui’s face instantly turned the color of pig liver.. “You—arrogant child!”