Chapter 250: The Emperor is Confused
After Zhang Ruohua left, she went to find Chang Ding.
She waited for Chang Ding at the corner, pretending to have a chance encounter with him.
Chang Ding walked through the corridor holding a stack of information wrapped in black paper. As he turned a corner, he saw Zhang Ruohua also turning the corner.
Zhang Ruohua smiled and said, “Greetings, Senior Martial Brother.”
Her gaze fell on the black package in Chang Ding’s hand, and she smiled casually, “Is this the Crown Princess’s information? Why did Master want to investigate her?”
There were many rumors about the Crown Princess in the capital recently, but some people already knew that Xingnong was the Crown Princess because the team that delivered the imperial decree had returned.
However, Zhang Ruohua had been too heartbroken recently. People in the Admiral’s Military Headquarters saw her with red and swollen eyes, so no one dared to mention a single word about the Crown Princess in front of this little princess of the Admiral’s Military Headquarters, lest they make her sad.
Chang Ding shook his head, indicating he didn’t know, then walked past her and continued forward.
Master was still waiting for him to deliver the information.
Zhang Ruohua pursed her lips. Senior Martial Brother was always like this, tight-lipped. If it were other senior brothers, they would at least reveal a little to her. They wouldn’t guard against her like a thief!
Who exactly was that Marquis Shen?
Zhang Ruohua was very curious, but the more important thing now was the Youth Formation Master Competition. She had to achieve a ranking in the competition, and only then would she have the opportunity to marry the Crown Prince as his consort.
She heard from other senior brothers that news had come from the Jin Kingdom that the Youth Formation Master Competition was scheduled for May. The Emperor had declared that whoever could achieve a ranking in the competition would have one reasonable request granted.
She only had one request, which was to marry the Crown Prince. She didn’t care about any other rewards!
Zhang Ruohua turned around and went back to study her formations!
~
Chang Ding quickly placed all the information about Xingnong in front of Chu Yuehou.
Chu Yuehou found Shen Chongshan’s information and carefully read it again.
Shen Chongshan died in battle during a war with the Zhao Kingdom. That battle was in Hanyang City. The Zhao army launched a surprise attack on Hanyang City, and Shen Chongshan was a soldier under the command of a lieutenant general under Marquis Changping. The lieutenant general was ordered to defend the city. Although they successfully defended Hanyang City in that battle, many Changping soldiers were sacrificed, and Shen Chongshan was one of them.
But he was rescued by his adoptive father near the Snow Mountain in the Zhao Kingdom!
At that time, Marquis Changping led the Changping army to pursue the enemy’s main force into the Snow Mountain.
Chu Yuehou knew everything about the Changping army.
He compared the information.
He had an idea in his mind. Perhaps Shen Chongshan didn’t participate in the battle under the command of that lieutenant general, but was selected to participate in the battle at Snow Mountain.
He might really be Shen Chongshan.
However, without memories or evidence, relying only on feelings and one-sided words was impractical.
Chang Ding stood by the side and saw Master’s hand tapping lightly on the table. He lowered his eyes, not knowing what he was thinking.
He thought of that valiant, intelligent, and quick-witted woman, and he felt puzzled.
Was there something wrong with the Crown Princess?
Probably not!
While Chang Ding was lost in thought, Chu Yuehou said, “Go and investigate the daily activities of the Minister of Rites’ wife, as well as the reason for the Crown Princess’s visit to the capital this time.”
Chang Ding: The daily activities of the Minister of Rites’ wife?
Chang Ding had a big question mark in his head, but he quickly came back to his senses and replied, “Yes, sir!”
~
Half an hour later, Chang Ding had found out the reason for Xingnong’s group’s visit to the capital. As for Shen Ruolan’s daily activities, he said, “The Minister of Rites’ wife rarely leaves the residence. She stays in the residence and hardly interacts with other madams in the capital.”
Chu Yuehou fell silent upon hearing this.
He wanted to have a chance encounter with Shen Ruolan to see her reaction when she saw him.
But Madam Gu came to the capital to treat her leg? The information did show that Madam Gu’s leg was indeed inconvenient to move. That was done by Noble Consort Liang, who asked the Liang family to send someone to do it in order to please the Empress Dowager.
Chu Yuehou narrowed his eyes and said lightly, “By the way, hand over all the things that the Liang and Yao families have done to the Ministry of Justice.”
Chang Ding: “Yes, sir.”
Prime Minister Liang had already committed a capital crime. Adding more would only make him even more infamous and die more thoroughly.
โฟโฟโฟ
Chu Yuehou gave another order, “Send someone to keep an eye on the Minister of Rites’ wife. Notify me when she leaves the residence.”
Chang Ding was even more puzzled. What was there to watch about the Minister of Rites’ wife?
She was just a woman who lived under the shadow of power, not daring to raise her head or leave the residence.
But he still replied, “Yes, sir!”
“That’s all. You can go and make the arrangements,” Chu Yuehou said calmly.
Chang Ding then left.
Chu Yuehou thought about Madam Gu coming to treat her leg. Could it be that the Crown Prince personally treated her?
Had His Highness’s medical skills reached the point where he could cure lameness?
He couldn’t help but touch the back of his head. Perhaps he should ask His Highness to examine his head again, maybe he could recover his memory.
~
On the other side, after Xingnong’s group finished their meal, the family went to the residence given to Shen Ruoxi by the Jin Kingdom Emperor to settle down.
This residence was not the one given to Xingnong by Shen Hanyu.
This residence was even bigger than the one given by Shen Hanyu. The Jin Kingdom Emperor had already had people rename it Xi Garden in advance.
Chu Tiankuo escorted Xingnong to Xi Garden. Under the Jin Kingdom Emperor’s compelling gaze, he tactfully said, “See you tomorrow.”
The Jin Kingdom Emperor snorted, “Tomorrow, I will enter the palace with Xingnong together.”
Chu Tiankuo was not surprised and replied calmly, “Alright.”
Then he looked at Xingnong, “I will come to pick you up tomorrow morning. After leaving the palace, we will treat Madam’s leg.”
Xingnong nodded, “Okay.”
Then Chu Tiankuo returned to the palace.
Although he wanted to spend more time with Xingnong, the Jin Kingdom Emperor was watching them like a hawk, as if he would do something improper to Xingnong.
Was he that kind of person? Heaven knew that every night they met, he tried his best to restrain himself and maintain etiquette. Apart from the slightly inappropriate behavior at the beginning, they hadn’t even held hands since, let alone anything else!
To avoid this old man’s displeasure, he wisely left early.
As soon as Chu Tiankuo returned to the Eastern Palace, he was summoned by the Emperor.
The Emperor looked at Chu Tiankuo, “Marquis Shen has arrived in the capital?”
Chu Tiankuo nodded, “Yes, she will enter the palace to pay respects to you tomorrow. Father, please open the Gate of Heavenly Succession tomorrow!”
The Emperor was stunned. Open the Gate of Heavenly Succession?
Wasn’t that too grand?
However, the Emperor thought about Xingnong’s abilities and contributions.
Old Master Lin had already gone to sea. News came back that the navigation tool was very accurate, and they would soon be returning to the capital by sea.
This was another great achievement!
It could be said that the Chu Kingdom had opened the door to wealth.
Thinking of this, the Emperor readily agreed, “Alright, it’s her first time entering the palace as the Crown Princess. It’s not impossible to open the Gate of Heavenly Succession. Let’s open it!”
Let the world see how much he valued this Crown Princess!
Let everyone treat her with respect and not look down on her in private because of her unknown father.
After seeing him agree, Chu Tiankuo continued, “The Jin Kingdom Emperor has also arrived. He will also enter the palace tomorrow to visit you, Father.”
Emperor: “???”
The Emperor was a little confused: The Jin Kingdom Emperor had also arrived and would visit him together?
Why couldn’t he understand this!
