Chapter 146 - Very Kind
“Who are you?” King of South Jin repeated the question and ordered, “Look up!”
“King, this old servant… Su Ying.”
“Su Ying?” King of South Jin was stunned for a moment and then his eyes widened. He rushed down from the dragon throne and walked in front of Su Ying. He grabbed her arm and pulled her up.
“Su Ying! It's you!”
The officials were all dumbfounded. This old man from a small village was actually an old friend of the king. Crown Prince Zhao seemed to know about this matter beforehand.
“It's this old servant. In the blink of an eye, we haven't seen each other for twenty years. The king's heroic bearing is not any less than in the past!”
King of South Jin's excited expression only lasted for a while. He gradually let go of his tightly clenched hands, restrained all his emotions under his skin, turned around, and walked out of the hall. “Retreat. Su Ying, come with me.”
“Retreat…”
Crown Prince Zhao did not even raise his eyelids as he walked out of the hall. Behind him, State Duke Heng and the other ministers followed closely and asked, “Your Highness, who… who is this? How do you know that he is an old friend of the king?”
Crown Prince Zhao stopped and turned his head, “What old friend?”
“Just now…” If it wasn't for King's old friend, they wouldn't believe it even if they were beaten to death.
“That is only the villagers of Yellow Flower Village. They are older. The reason Royal Father knows them is probably because of… his former subordinates.”
Ignoring everyone's suspicions, Crown Prince Zhao continued to walk forward. After walking more than ten steps, he suddenly stopped. He turned around and said, “Lord Zhan, please have a chat with the prefecture.”
The person whose name was called trembled. His forehead was dripping with sweat. “Your… Your Highness, what do you mean by this? This official still has important matters to attend to, how about another day?”
“Important matters? I'm in a hurry to return. Should I report the outcome of today's battle to Brother Three Kings?”
“Why do you say that, Your Highness? Are you framing me and Third Prince for conspiring against each other?”
“It turns out that Lord Zhan knows the word framing.” Crown Prince Zhao nodded. “If you don't want to, I won't force you.”
When he was far away, the officials all avoided Lord Zhan. State Duke Heng even mocked him. “Young master Zhan is really mighty today. He does not put Crown Prince in his eyes. I wonder who else do you think?”
“State Duke Heng spoke up for His Highness. I wonder if he has already followed His Highness. Does State Duke still have a king in his eyes?”
“Tsk, this scholar has a glib tongue. I am willing to admit defeat.”
“State Duke really knows how to joke. You contradict me with every sentence. It is me who is willing to admit defeat.”
The two of them looked at each other. The corners of their mouths curled and they both walked away.
The official behind them sighed softly. “This Young Master's Manor is really bold. What good would it do him to offend Crown Prince?”
“Isn't it obvious? He is the third prince's father-in-law, naturally… hehe.”
“That State Duke Heng…”
Someone recalled something and exclaimed, “Ah, ah! Isn't State Duke Heng and Yueyang Marquis having a marriage meeting? From now on, State Duke Heng's relationship with the Crown Prince's Palace will be…”
“The relationship between the major families will be maintained through marriage. In this complicated relationship, only marriage was the most reliable. Therefore, they were not surprised at all when State Duke Heng and the young master's residence confronted each other.”
“Third Prince is not lying in wait, but he is still showing off his strength. It will not be good if he fights Crown Prince head on.”
“Lord Zong Zheng, don't make wild guesses. His Highness isn't someone who will be rewarded for his actions.”
“That's right, that's right. I have misspoken. I have misspoken…”
When Crown Prince Zhao returned to the manor, Tang Yue asked when he saw him. “I heard that Yellow Flower Village was burned down. When did this happen?”
Crown Prince Zhao did not plan to hide it from him. “Last night.”
Tang Yue knew what was going on with his toes. He asked worriedly, “Did they succeed?”
“If they succeeded, would my husband still be standing here?” He would have to argue with someone in the Palace.
The corner of Tang Yue's mouth twitched. He took off his cloak and felt the cold air from his body. He pushed the person into the room.
“Then tell me how you arranged it. How come I heard you brought someone into the palace? The king knows him.”
Crown Prince Zhao pointed at his face and said expressionlessly, “Reward!”
Tang Yue was speechless. He pinched his face and kissed him. “Tell me.”
Crown Prince Zhao leaned back in the soft chair, satisfied. He pulled Tang Yue to his side and told him the whole story.
It turned out that Crown Prince Zhao had arranged for people to move the villagers of Yellow Flower Village after he left yesterday. It was just an empty house. Not only that, he had also sent people to guard the place, waiting to catch them.
Originally, this was just a guess. It was just a precautionary measure. He didn't expect that someone would really come to burn and kill them at night, and actually wanted to prove his crimes.
The chief of Yellow Flower Village was also the chief of a clan. After hearing the news, he took the initiative to request to enter the palace to testify for Crown Prince Zhao.
Logically speaking, the king might not believe a nameless nobody as a witness, but the chief was very confident that the king would believe his words.
“Does His Highness know his true identity?”
“I didn't know before, but I already knew the answer on the way.”
“What is it?” Tang Yue had already imagined several emotional and rich versions of the story. For example, the loyal servant was demoted out of the mansion because of a mistake, and he had a stomach full of grievances. For example, the childhood friend who grew up together with him had left his hometown because of the king's suspicions, and lived in Yellow Flower Village under his name.
“Why are you so curious?” Crown Prince Zhao held his hand and gently stroked the back of his hand.
Tang Yue's attention was distracted by the story. He did not even realize that he was being eaten by tofu. “It's about the king's gossip. It's natural to be curious, isn't it?”
Crown Prince Zhao thought for a moment and nodded. “Indeed. In the main hall today, all the ministers are also very curious.” They just didn't dare to ask.
“Alright, don't keep me in suspense. Hurry up and tell me.”
“Didn't you say that you are going back to Yueyang Marquis's Mansion today? It's getting late now, do you still want to go?”
Tang Yue looked outside, “Aiya, it is already so late… Of course I have to go. Why don't we go to Marquis's Mansion for dinner?” He hadn't gone back for a long time and actually missed her a little.
After spending half a year together, he had developed a kinship with his family in Yueyang Marquis's Mansion. The old madam who doted on him, the cheap father who took care of him, all had different personalities but all of them were pretty and cute sisters. As for Marquis's Wife, she was not included for the time being.
“That's good. Let's talk as we walk.” Crown Prince Zhao went into the house and changed into his usual clothes. He and Tang Yue got into the car and went to Yueyang Marquis's Mansion together.
“That father-in-law is Su Ying. He was Royal Father's butler when he was young. He was also a servant who took care of him when he was young. His relationship with him was extraordinary. Later on, he did not know what happened. That butler was exempted from his servant status and became a commoner. He was even chased out of the Imperial Residence…”
“Wait a minute...” Tang Yue interrupted, “Why was he expelled from the Imperial Residence? Is this a favor or a punishment?”
Crown Prince Zhao took a sip of water. “Royal Father was a kind young man at the time. Even if he found out that the housekeeper had made a mistake, he was exempted from his servitude before he was driven away. Otherwise, the housekeeper would only be sold again after he left the house.”
“He is very kind.” Tang Yue recalled the few times he had seen King of South Jin. He did not find any kindness in King of South Jin.
However, after the fight for the throne, and the fact that he had taken the throne in the end, he was afraid that his kindness had almost been wiped out.
“That housekeeper didn't go far after leaving the manor. Instead, he used the money he accumulated to buy some fields in Yellow Flower Village and built a house. He spent 20 years in peace.”
“If that's the case, why did the king leave him alone to talk to him and reminisce about old times?” A prince and a slave from twenty years ago. What was there to talk about?
“I don't know. Perhaps there are other things that I haven't found out. But as long as it has nothing to do with us, we don't need to care about him.”
“That's true.” Tang Yue was just curious. He did not intend to get to know more about the old grudges between the master and servant. As long as Crown Prince Zhao could get out of the swamp of rumors, it would be enough.
“Your Highness, Crown Princess, we have arrived in Marquis's Mansion.” The carriage stopped. The driver's voice came from outside.
Tang Yue jumped off the carriage first and looked at the familiar door with a smile on his face.
The big family of Marquis's Mansion welcomed Tang Yue at the door. According to the etiquette, they had to bow to Tang Yue, who had married Crown Princess and became her son.
Tang Yue jumped in fright. He had no choice but to hide behind Crown Prince Zhao.
Crown Prince Zhao held his hand and said to Yueyang Marquis's family, “We are all family. We don't need to bow in the future.”
“Thank you for your kindness, Crown Prince.”
“Rise.”
Yueyang Marquis stood up and made way for Crown Prince Zhao. “Please, Your Highness.”
Crown Prince Zhao walked in front, followed by Tang Yue, and then Yueyang Marquis and the others.
Tang Yue sighed with emotion. This was the strict hierarchy of feudal society. Even if they were a family, it would be inevitable for them to split up after a long time.
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