Chapter 77 -077 Treasure
Sang Yan had no choice but to accompany him.
The two of them visited Sang Kun at the Sang Mansion together.
Sang Kun had gone to Wuzhou to exterminate locusts, a truly exhausting endeavor. He had tanned quite a bit and, compounded with injuries, he looked haggard, and his meticulously groomed beard had also become dry and withered.
He lay on the sickbed and, upon seeing the approaching Emperor, struggled to get out of bed to show his respects.
“No need. My subject, you are injured. Please stay in bed.”
He Ying’s voice was gentle, his demeanor compassionate.
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Sang Kun was moved to tears, “Thank you for your Imperial Grace. However, I am unworthy of it, Your Majesty.”
He knew he was at fault and explained, “But I never intended to default on the payment to the merchants. It was just that I delegated the financial matters to my son who, due to his wife’s incident, had to leave in haste, hence the delay in the settlements.”
So, Sang Jue’s departure was also a reason.
That Sang Kun had been attacked was also related to Sang Jue leaving.
After all, Sang Jue was exceptional in swordsmanship. With him by Sang Kun’s side, any assassination attempt would surely fail, and they would likely be caught as well.
The person behind this had made quite the calculations!
Thinking of this, He Ying felt even more that Sang Kun was innocent, so he nodded, “I understand. Rest assured, given the circumstances, I will not pursue this matter.”
Sang Kun was again moved, “Thank you for your Imperial Grace.”
Of course, amidst the emotion, he was also concerned about his son, “I wonder how my son is now. Suxi has been married to him for many years, and now she is carrying the successor. She is a lawful wife of the Sang Family. I hope Your Majesty will see clearly.”
He Ying, feeling somewhat guilty at this, glanced at Sang Yan out of the corner of his eye and saw her looking at him expectantly, as if waiting for his response. He slowly said, “Suxi had a husband before and married your son while she had lost her memory. Everything was orderly, with past and present distinguished. I believe that matters of the heart cannot be forced; let’s wait and see what she desires.”
Does this mean he doesn’t plan to intervene?
Sang Kun was very disappointed and turned to Sang Yan, pleading, “My daughter, that is your own brother. Your sister-in-law is pregnant with the flesh and blood of the Sang Family, your little nephew.”
Sang Yan: “…”
It might also be a niece!
Such patriarchal thinking!
She disapproved and said indifferently, “The Emperor has agreed that the child will belong to the Sang Family, if she decides to give birth.”
The child’s situation was too awkward.
And too innocent.
If born, the child would be without a biological mother, which was pitiful.
Hearing that the child would belong to the Sang Family, Sang Kun was satisfied.
As for his daughter-in-law, with her tainted reputation and lowly status, it might be better to replace her sooner.
Of course, he thought this but outwardly said, “My son has been unfortunate in his youth, leading to an unhappy marriage. It pains this old man greatly.”
Sang Yan: “…”
It wasn’t necessary to use such strong words.
Was he trying to garner sympathy?
He Ying already had plans for this and reassured, “My subject, do not be saddened. I have agreed that if he finds love again, I will issue a decree to grant him marriage.”
Sang Kun was completely contented and thanked him repeatedly, “Thank you for your Imperial Grace. I swear to serve in gratitude to Your Majesty till death.”
Such words were just formalities.
He Ying knew this well, smiled, urged him to take care of himself, left some gifts, and departed with Sang Yan.
Ms. Lin, as the lady of the house, accompanied them outside the mansion. As she looked at Sang Yan, she seemed to want to say something but, in the presence of the Emperor, she held her tongue—eating, living, and traveling with the Emperor without any official status, was still not proper!
Sang Yan felt the silent worry of her mother and smiled, saying, “I’m doing well. Mother, don’t worry.”
Ms. Lin was instantly comforted and smiled with teary eyes, “Good. As long as you’re fine. Stay by the Emperor’s side and don’t upset him.”
The last remark seemed to suggest she should flatter the Emperor, her son-in-law.
Sang Yan didn’t want to hear this and quickly bid farewell, turning to board the carriage.
He Ying, following a step behind, paid his respects to Ms. Lin, which startled her into waving her hands dismissively.
Watching from the carriage through the lifted curtain, Sang Yan waited for He Ying to get in and said listlessly, “Had I known it would be like this, there was no need to come.”
He Ying, hearing this, speculated, “Why do you say that? Is it because of what your mother said? Don’t take it to heart. I know you’re different from them.”
“`
She never complied with the ideas of men.
When you teach her to comply, you’re torturing her.
He couldn’t bear that.
Sang Yan shook her head, “The Emperor misunderstood. It’s not because of my mother.”
“Why is that, then?”
“It’s just that I feel my father is always scheming for personal gain. Um… quite boring.”
Her idealism was acting up again.
He Ying chuckled lightly, “Indeed, it’s boring. Since you don’t like it, come less often in the future.”
He was longing for her to think this way, so that she might bring up leaving the palace less frequently.
The carriage progressed smoothly.
Sang Yan lifted the curtain and watched the bustle of the street out of sheer boredom.
Suddenly, she remembered someone, “Your Majesty, may I go see Xuanrao?”
He Ying actually didn’t want her to go, but facing her expectant eyes, he couldn’t bear to refuse her, so he nodded, “If you’d like to go, then go.”
The coachman, Pei Muyang, turned the carriage around, heading for the Xuan Family.
The Xuan Family
once a noble and esteemed household, with a bustling entrance, now forlorn and desolate.
The stone lions at the gate were also weathered from the sun and rain, battered and incomplete.
The hanging signboard was nearly illegible.
An old man resembling a gatekeeper sat at the threshold, dozing off.
“Old sir, I am here to see your young miss, Xuanrao.”
Sang Yan got off the carriage and approached to state her purpose.
Hearing her voice, the old man lifted his head, and noticing the finely dressed pair, he quickly stood up and replied with a smile, “Our miss hasn’t come back yet. What business might you have with her? Would you like to come in and wait?”
Sang Yan hadn’t expected Xuanrao would be out and didn’t wish to wait needlessly, so she asked, “Do you know when she’ll be back? What has she gone to do?”
The old man replied, “As mere servants, how dare we pry into the miss’s affairs? As to when she’ll return, it’s uncertain. Just yesterday, she came back at 9 p.m.”
9 p.m was quite late.
Her return was too late.
Sang Yan couldn’t wait and simply said, “When she returns, please pass on a message for me.”
The old man nodded and asked, “What message? Please instruct me, miss.”
“An old friend from the palace sends their best regards.”
She smiled faintly and amidst the old man’s bewildered gaze, returned to the carriage.
He Ying followed in, “Are you sure you don’t want to wait?”
Sang Yan nodded, “Sometimes, whether we meet or not isn’t so important.”
Knowing that Xuanrao was free and happy was enough for her.
The party returned to the Imperial Palace.
Life resumed as normal.
Sang Yan was no longer listless, spending most of her day in the Book Collection Pavilion, reading, annotating, transcribing, and writing her own reflections.
These reflections dealt with ideals, love, life, and were meant to enlighten women.
Occasionally, He Ying would pull her to review petitions.
She was no longer so averse to her role as a political advisor.
Until
someone from the Yongshou Palace sent a message.
“Miss Sang, the Empress Dowager summons you.”
The messenger was Puzhu, a trusted palace maid of the Empress Dowager.
Recognizing her, Sang Yan felt a surge of anxiety: Why would the Empress Dowager suddenly summon her?
“`