Chapter 146: Meaning Good Luck
That child.
Although the Emperor only said these three words, although Duke Ding’an was distraught, he immediately knew who it referred to.
The Emperor knows!
The Emperor knows!
Duke Ding’an knelt prostrate on the ground, the words echoing in his mind.
The Emperor lowered his gaze to look at the meal before him.
“I didn’t know at first either.” He seemed to be talking to himself, “I really thought it was Zan Jie’s daughter from Second Uncle’s family. Zan Jie died, the child was mistreated by the family, how could just picking her up be enough? I had to do something about it…”
At this point, he chuckled.
“Once I looked into it, I found that the child had long been married off by her father.”
Back in the countryside, Yang Shixing had divided the family early with his brothers, and due to the chaos of war, after Second Uncle’s family married off their children, they rarely kept in touch. Duke Ding’an had only seen Second Uncle’s son-in-law twice, and after entering the capital and receiving his enfeoffment as noble, they had no contact at all; he couldn’t even remember where the family lived.
With his personal testimony, plus Marquis Yichun stepping forward, it was already enough to prove her identity.
He hadn’t expected the Emperor to truly believe it, but instead of stopping there, he even wanted to go teach Yang Family’s son-in-law a lesson…
A relative he himself didn’t care about—who would have thought the Emperor would actually want to go discipline him?
Duke Ding’an didn’t know whether to be excited that the Emperor was treating them differently or to cry out that he was unlucky.
“Indeed.” The Emperor snorted with laughter again, his gaze turning to Duke Ding’an on the ground, “I forgot too, Yang Bin, what kind of personality you have. You’ve been harsh and ungracious since childhood, selfish and self-serving, outwardly strong but inwardly weak. Matters and people unrelated to you—why would you care?”
Duke Ding’an let out a sob: “This minister has sinned.” He then raised his head and hurriedly said, “Your Majesty, this minister, this minister did it all for, for Your Majesty. This minister doesn’t dare, and doesn’t want people to have any discussions…”
After speaking, he prostrated himself and kowtowed again.
The Emperor picked up some food with his chopsticks and ate it.
“Mm.” He said, “I know why you did this, and I also know why Ji Ying did what he did…”
At this point, he gave a self-mocking smile.
“Compared to Ji Ying, you didn’t harm the civilians or insult official authority. You have no sin. Get up.”
Duke Ding’an didn’t dare believe it and didn’t dare get up, listening to the Emperor’s voice coming from above.
“As for White Horse Town, I will have Dali Temple and the Ministry of Justice jointly investigate thoroughly.”
“Officials from top to bottom who ignored the grievances of the victims and focused only on covering it up—their crimes are unavoidable.”
“Those mountain bandits who committed the crimes must also be exterminated and brought to justice.”
“You don’t need to concern yourself with this matter.”
Duke Ding’an’s mind was in turmoil, and hearing this, he hurriedly answered yes.
Then he heard the light clink of bowl and chopsticks, and from the corner of his eye, he saw the Emperor with his head lowered, eating.
“This minister… kowtows in thanks for Your Majesty’s great kindness.” He tentatively said, then prostrated himself in salute again, “This minister takes leave.”
The Emperor hummed in acknowledgment. Duke Ding’an carefully stood up, carefully retreated out, and the hall recovered its quiet.
Actually, there was still one thing he hadn’t said.
The Emperor thought to himself.
He had sent someone to White Horse Town and seen Yang Tong’s grave.
The secret guard reported back that the grave was built very well.
However, he had only let the secret guard look from afar, not daring to get too close, and not offering incense to pay respects.
He was also afraid she would discover it and get angry.
He just hadn’t expected that the culprit hadn’t been caught at all, and had been brushed off by Ji Ying and his group.
She must be mocking him from the underworld, those grand ambitions he spoke of as a child, and in the end, he had raised such a group of officials.
How could he have the face to eat.
The Emperor raised his hand and flipped over the desk.
……
…….
Hearing the clattering sounds from inside, the eunuch outside the hall and Princess Pingcheng who had just walked over were both startled.
The eunuch didn’t go in to clean up, nervously blocking Princess Pingcheng.
“Princess, please don’t go in.” He advised in a low voice, “His Majesty hasn’t called for anyone; no one can enter.”
Of course, in the past, the princess could enter at any time, but now…
Princess Pingcheng looked at the hall door, listening to the silence inside, her hands clenched in front of her.
She knew that even if she went in now, Father Emperor wouldn’t blame her.
But while she could usually joke to relieve Father Emperor’s worries, now she probably couldn’t.
She couldn’t resolve court affairs or state matters, nor was it something she could inquire about.
Forget it. Princess Pingcheng turned and left.
“Did Duke Ding’an anger His Majesty?” Her personal palace maid asked softly, her eyes somewhat gleeful.
They had seen Duke Ding’an retreating as they arrived.
Just now, the Emperor had been busy, receiving ministers one after another and rebuking them, but he hadn’t lost his temper and had even summoned his meal on time.
Moreover, the Emperor had always been frugal and never wasted food; this was the first time he flipped over the desk.
It was clear he was extremely angry.
Princess Pingcheng shook her head: “No, Duke Ding’an’s younger sister was a victim in White Horse Town; Father Emperor wants to console him a bit.”
Although she didn’t participate in court affairs, she knew about everything that happened in the Imperial Court.
She had just learned that among the White Horse Town victims was Duke Ding’an’s younger sister from his early marriage, his own younger sister.
She had never heard of Duke Ding’an’s own younger sister before.
But it wasn’t strange. Duke Ding’an’s ancestors weren’t from a populous prominent family; the family was simple, with men and women marrying early and scattering in chaotic times.
Moreover, with the new dynasty and new nobles, some rose to wealth and glory with their whole family, while many others, after becoming wealthy, forbade relatives from coming to cling.
“Then maybe Duke Ding’an got greedy and caused a fuss over something.” The palace maid said in a low voice.
Otherwise, why would the Emperor get so angry as to flip the table.
“Father Emperor isn’t the type to get angry over a few words from a minister.” Princess Pingcheng said, glancing at the palace maid, “Don’t make these pointless guesses.”
The palace maid lowered her head and didn’t dare speak.
Moreover, Father Emperor wouldn’t get angry over Duke Ding’an causing a fuss. Princess Pingcheng thought, amid all his busyness, he had immediately summoned Duke Ding’an in, showing Father Emperor’s concern for him.
With Duke Ding’an’s own younger sister among the victims, that made her Yang Luo’s aunt as well.
With such a matter occurring, Father Emperor should feel pity for Yang Luo and wouldn’t pursue her insolent words against Mother Empress anymore.
The literary gathering that Grandfather had originally wanted to hold targeting Yang Luo couldn’t proceed either.
It really was as Wei Jiao said; compared to these matters, Yang Luo’s issue was a negligible trifle.
This Yang Luo. Princess Pingcheng looked toward the direction outside the Imperial City. She had good luck.
……
…….
Night was deep, and the lights were bright in Duke Ding’an’s room.
“Then what does this mean?” Duke Ding’an’s Wife murmured.
She lay on the bed; ever since hearing Duke Ding’an say that His Majesty knows, Duke Ding’an’s Wife had fainted directly. Now she was awake but had no strength to get up.
“It means His Majesty knows this child is Yang Tong’s.”
Duke Ding’an leaned back in his chair; he was still dizzy now, and after returning, he had thought for a long time before vaguely figuring out the Emperor’s meaning.
“But he didn’t have us correct and declare her identity.”
Duke Ding’an’s Wife grabbed the bed curtain and sat up: “So he knows, but doesn’t acknowledge it?”
Duke Ding’an nodded: “That should be the meaning.”
Duke Ding’an’s Wife clapped her hands and stood up.
“This is good news.” She said, excitedly grabbing Duke Ding’an, “This way, we haven’t hidden it from His Majesty, nor offended Marquis Yichun, and we no longer have to live in fear.”
Duke Ding’an nodded thoughtfully; indeed, this way he offended no one, and moreover, to console him, both the Emperor and Marquis Yichun would treat him a bit better.
“My luck is really good.” He couldn’t help stroking his beard and said, then instructed Duke Ding’an’s Wife, “But we still can’t let our guard down. Keep a close eye on Yang Luo; she can’t cause any more trouble.”
Duke Ding’an’s Wife nodded: “Rest assured. With the Ji Ying matter, we can use this to lock her in the house!”
At this point, she couldn’t help laughing again.
“Oh my, thinking of it this way, our luck is really good.”
……
……
“Miss Yang, your luck isn’t good.”
On the rooftop shrouded in night, Wei Jiao pulled the bamboo tube out from the lifted tile and grinned happily at Mo Zheng, who was eavesdropping next to him on the tiles.
