Chapter 2239: Chapter 2239: Meticulous Scheming
"Your humble servant pays respects to Your Majesty."
Long Rui only clasped his hands in salute and did not perform the kneeling rite.
At this moment, The Emperor was in an exceptionally good mood, not as stifled as usual. Clearly, he hated Long Rui to the bone in his heart, yet still had to pretend that ruler and subject were in perfect harmony on the surface—truly a painful act.
The Emperor’s eyes curved into slits from smiling, crow’s feet all coming out, practically able to crush an elephant to death.
"Beloved Minister Long, no need for excessive ceremony." The Emperor was grinning from ear to ear.
In the end, he turned his head and said to Eunuch Li, "Eunuch Li, grant the Prince a seat."
"Yes!"
Eunuch Li quickly moved over a stool, placed it behind Long Rui, and said with a smile, "Prince, please sit."
As the saying goes, when someone fawns on you for no reason, they’re either a traitor or a thief.
Long Rui grew wary in his heart and decided that later, no matter if it was tea or food, he would touch none of it.
The last incident with the Gu Poison was already a lesson learned. Fortunately it was discovered in time, and the Gu Insect was transferred onto a wild wolf, so it didn’t end up poisoning him.
Before Long Rui could speak and state his purpose in coming,
The Emperor preemptively praised Long Rui for a while—nothing more than complimenting him on handling matters steadily, and even bringing up several examples of his repeated military merits.
In the past, The Emperor never brought up his achievements unless forced to. Now he was talking about them so calmly, with an inexplicable smile on his face—Long Rui had a bad feeling about this.
Sure enough, after a round of praise, The Emperor said, "Beloved Minister Long, I’ve always trusted your abilities. Now, the case of the killing Demon has dragged on without being solved, the common people are in a panic, and I too am unable to eat or sleep in peace. Tell me, if I let you handle this case, what do you think?"
So after circling around for half a day, it turned out The Emperor wanted him to solve the killing Demon case—Long Rui now had his answer.
"Your Majesty’s grace is boundless. This minister obeys the decree."
The Emperor hadn’t expected Long Rui to agree so easily. He froze for a moment, then smiled and said, "Beloved Minister Long! It’s not that I wish to force you, it’s truly that the people are pressing too hard. I am also left with no choice."
Long Rui: "What exactly does Your Majesty wish to say?"
The Emperor: "Let’s set a deadline, just to give the people an account."
The Emperor’s Sima Zhao’s heart was already laid bare.
Long Rui’s voice carried a hint of a smile. "Since that’s the case, then Your Majesty should set the deadline."
Hearing this, The Emperor’s eyes lit up. He hurriedly said, "Then let’s make it ten days. If by then Beloved Minister Long has not solved the case, then, in the name of fairness, you can only be treated the same as the county magistrate. What does Beloved Minister Long think of that?"
After going round and round, The Emperor’s goal was to throw him into the death cell. Truly painstaking scheming.
Long Rui said indifferently, "Everything shall be done according to Your Majesty’s wishes."
The Emperor quickly explained, "Beloved Minister Long, you’re mistaken. This is not my intention. I’m thinking of your reputation. I don’t want the people to say in the future that Beloved Minister Long only managed to cling to life by relying on my protection."
See, this was The Emperor—obviously trying to frame him, yet dressing it up to sound so noble and righteous. Long Rui was simply speechless at him.
"Your Majesty, this humble minister has something to enter the palace and report to you about today."
As the saying goes, courtesy demands reciprocity.
Since The Emperor wanted to make things difficult for him, he wasn’t going to be polite either.
The Emperor was extremely pleased, laughing from the bottom of his heart as he asked, "Beloved Minister Long, what matter brings you into the palace today?"
Long Rui recounted to The Emperor everything that had happened today at Pan Family Bay.
At the end, he even deliberately emphasized, "Your Majesty, this matter strikes at the very foundation of the nation. I hope Your Majesty will take it seriously. If it is not promptly stopped, in another year or so, I fear there may be no more Moli Country left."
