Chapter 316: A Man with Poor Control
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
“If Wang Er falls into their hands, then, regardless of whether there’s someone behind him, the banknotes in his possession must be returned to the palace!” “I never expected the Emperor to backtrack on his promise.”
“The Emperor has reclaimed the banknotes from Wang Er. I’m afraid he’s going to use them to reward some concubine.”
“That’s almost certain. Our Emperor is quite lecherous, isn’t he?”
When these sentiments reached the palace, the Empress Dowager scolded those responsible for trailing Wang Er once more.
“You’re all a bunch of inept fools. You can’t even handle such a simple task!”
“Not only did you lose him, but you’ve also revealed your identities!”
“You’ve trained for years and can’t even outsmart a country bumpkin!”
The chastised individuals could only hang their heads in silence, avoiding any rebuttals.
They had taken precautions to maintain secrecy, having inquired about Wang Er through his relatives, even disguising themselves as ordinary citizens. Yet, they found themselves exposed, and the circumstances were baffling.
This was a grave injustice!
Upon hearing these rumors, the Emperor seethed with anger, his heart heavy with resentment.
He was also embittered by the Empress Dowager’s clandestine operation to tail Wang Er. If not for her petty desire to reclaim the 1100 gold, the capital wouldn’t have been awash with such derogatory gossip.
The Empress Dowager, equally discontented, recognized the urgent need for a solution and decided to confer with the Emperor to formulate a plan.
“Your Majesty, I believe the mastermind behind Wang Er is Qin Zhenzhen!”
The Emperor, already irritated by the Empress Dowager’s actions, was now prepared to challenge her.
“Qin Zhenzhen is a woman, and she resides in the palace. How could she orchestrate such a scheme through Wang Er?”
“What makes you think she’d dare to deceive the royal family out of 1,100 gold coins?”
Frustrated and angered, the Empress Dowager retorted, “Your Majesty, don’t forget that she has a husband who is astute and strategic. Su Bin was originally the Marquis Mansion’s heir and possesses the intellect of a young master.” “The Old Marquis held him in high regard, even entrusting Butler Chen to him.” “Qin Zhenzhen may not be capable of such actions as a woman, but he certainly
The Emperor felt somewhat exasperated this time. “Mother, perhaps you’re unaware, but Su Bin is a scholarly and timid man. Although he ranked first in the middle three times in the Cultivated Talent examination, it’s quite a stretch to claim he’s exceptionally clever.”
“My attendants have encountered him before. He’s merely a nervous scholar who relies on his wife for everything.”
The Emperor dispatched investigators to scrutinize Su Bin’s background.
Butler Chen was merely a steward, and when the Jiang family’s rumors circulated, Su Bin and company fled to the outskirts of Beijing out of fear.
Upon deeming it safe, they returned to the capital. It was evident that Su Bin lacked worldly experience.
“Moreover, when he saw his wife, he couldn’t restrain himself from embracing her, regardless of the audience.”
“This, in many respects, suggests he’s of a narrow disposition with little self-control.
Su Bin hadn’t even dared to return to the Marquis Mansion, possibly out of fear of being bullied by his siblings who were raised in the capital.
How could a person like him have the audacity to conspire to deceive the royal family out of their gold?
However, the Emperor remained unaware of this fact.
This was a facade deliberately crafted by Su Bin.
One could say that Su Bin’s talent for acting was already flawless.
While the Empress Dowager contemplated challenging the Emperor’s assessment of Su Bin, she hesitated.
After all, the Emperor was the sovereign of the realm, and disputing his judgment regarding Su Bin might lead to an awkward situation.
Furthermore, the Empress Dowager’s knowledge of Su Bin was limited..