kvmb Chapter 557: Eating the Emperor's Salary and Adding Trouble to Him
Chapter 557: Eating the Emperor's Salary and Adding Trouble to Him
Prince Guo took in every subtle reaction of the emperor. With a smile as gentle as jade on his face, he savored the rose pastry in his hand.
The emperor did not value Zhen as much as he expected.
What exactly went wrong?
Why did Zhen send him a signal for help so quickly?
Prince Guo's understanding of the affairs of the harem is limited to the surface, so it is better to consult his mother on related matters.
"Brother, this rose pastry is a perfect match with tea. Only here can I taste such a delicious pastry."
The emperor looked straight at him, with an elusive light flashing in his eyes.
"If you like, I will reward you with a chef who is good at making pastries, how about that?"
"Thank you for your kindness, my Royal Highness. Unfortunately, I've been traveling a lot. It would be a waste of talent for a good chef to follow me. If I want some snacks in the future, I can just ask you directly."
You must not think about any plant or tree in the palace, especially the things of the imperial brother in front of you.
Prince Guo had long been accustomed to the emperor's occasional verbal tests.
He has been able to cope with it well under the guidance of his mother.
"Well, since you want to eat the palace snacks, why not try this lotus root powder and osmanthus cake?"
The emperor pushed the plate in front of him towards him.
Prince Guo took it with a smile, "My royal brother still loves me."
With his deliberate flattery, the emperor spent a pleasant afternoon.
Playing chess requires brainpower, so when the emperor looked out for the second time, Su Peisheng cleverly ordered someone to bring dinner.
When Prince Guo saw the radish meal on the table, he stopped in his tracks.
He heard from his subordinates that the emperor liked to eat radish.
But he has to stay overnight in the palace today, and these dishes are obviously not suitable for him.
Prince Guo only took a few symbolic bites of the cakes on the pretext that he was full.
As usual, Su Peisheng brought a bowl of pitch-black medicinal juice after the meal.
The emperor took it and drank it all in one gulp.
Prince Guo quickly handed over the honey water placed aside and asked with concern.
"Brother, you drank a bowl of medicine after dinner, but are you feeling unwell?"
The emperor rubbed his temples.
"I'm not seriously ill, I'm just a little irritated. Those ministers from the previous dynasty brought up the matter of the empress again, and I'm just upset."
This was fueled by Prince Guo.
But he still pretended to be surprised.
"Empress? Brother, to be honest, in my heart, no one can surpass Sister Chunyuan."
Prince Guo always remembered the scene when he first met Empress Chunyuan at a banquet in his childhood. The emperor's sister-in-law danced lightly, like a goddess who had ascended to heaven, and everyone present couldn't help but look at her.
After his mother brought him back to the palace, she said something in fear that he could hardly understand at the time.
"Fortunately, the fourth brother is stubborn, otherwise if this woman..."
As he got to know the emperor's sister-in-law better, that beautiful figure left a mark in his heart.
Therefore, when he saw the small portrait of Zhen, ripples of emotion arose in his heart.
Of course, these are all things that I keep deep in my heart and cannot tell others.
Mother seemed to have noticed her little thoughts and urged her to send Zhen back to the palace as soon as possible.
Upon hearing this, the emperor's expression softened considerably.
"Rou Ze's talent and virtue are first-rate. No one in my harem can compare to her."
One of the emperor's greatest regrets was that Rouze was unable to stay with him forever.
"This matter of establishing a queen is my family affair, what are they doing staring at my harem?"
What the emperor hated most was the oppression of his court officials.
"Royal brother, the previous dynasty requested the conferment of the title of Empress. Do they have any recommended candidates?"
When this was mentioned, the emperor sneered.
"From the two imperial concubines to the Mongolian concubines filling the harem, everyone has been nominated. This is absolutely ridiculous!"
The emperor privately believed that the minister must be trying to use the earth dragon's resurgence to influence him.
Prince Guo did not expect such a mistake to happen.
He didn't give up and continued to ask.
"Royal brother, are there any of these people who have been nominated multiple times?"
"They are not asking me to establish a queen, they are targeting me."
The emperor placed the teacup heavily on the small table.
"After Empress Xiaoyiren passed away, didn't the Emperor appoint another empress?"
"Old Seventeen, I think someone is stirring up trouble behind the scenes. What do you think?"
Prince Guo muttered to himself: Here it comes! Here it comes again!
The emperor is so suspicious!
When the emperor was alive, his mother asked him to act well.
After his brother ascended the throne, he had to restrain his temper.
Prince Guo thought to himself, but pretended to understand nothing.
"Brother Emperor, you know me well. I'm good at eating, drinking and having fun. I really can't understand the affairs of the court."
He added with a smile.
"Brother, you are the Son of Heaven. Who dares to go against you? If we find out, I will be the first to forgive him!"
His words slightly reduced the anger on the emperor's face. "Old Seventeen, if everyone had a pure heart like you, it would be wonderful. It's a pity..."
The emperor didn't say anything else.
Those ministers eat the emperor's salary but make things difficult for him, which is really annoying.
"Brother Your Majesty, it is all due to your incompetence that I am unable to help you share your worries."
The first thing Prince Guo did when he came into contact with the court was to tour Yunnan and Tibet. Apart from fleeing all the way, he didn't gain any benefits.
Secondly, after Dilong turned the tables, he used his status as a clan member to appease the people in the capital. The old man Zhang Tingyu was very wary of people and did not relax the power in his hands at all.
Judging from the emperor's intention, he has no intention of letting him continue to be involved in political affairs.
"I can't blame you for this. It's human nature to have different preferences."
The emperor patted his shoulder and said, "When you travel abroad and report to me what you see and hear, you can be regarded as inspecting the people for me."
If Old Seventeen had not headed west, he would have had no way of knowing that the people in Shaanxi and Gansu respected Nian Gengyao and regarded him, the ruler of the world, as nothing.
Prince Guo took advantage of the situation and responded accordingly.
"Brother Emperor, I am willing to serve as your eyes and ears for the rest of my life."
"Well, you are worthy of being my seventeenth brother."
The emperor gave a compliment and did not continue the topic.
This disappointed Prince Guo, who thought he would gain real power.
The gongs and drums of the second watch sounded, and the emperor looked at the situation on the chessboard and teased with a smile.
"Old Seventeen, why haven't your chess skills improved over the years?"
"Hongzhan has some good chess manuals. Would you like me to borrow them for you?"
Prince Guo opened his eyes wide in fear.
"Brother Emperor, please spare me. If it weren't for Sister-in-law Chunyuan's words that as a royal child, I must master the six arts, I probably would never have touched chess in my life."
"Look how scared you are. I won't mention learning chess anymore."
The emperor placed a white piece on the chessboard and said, "It's late, you should go back and rest early."
"I will obey my royal brother. I will take my leave now."
Half a minute after Prince Guo left, the emperor suddenly asked a question.
"Su Peisheng, how genuine do you think Prince Guo is?"
Su Peisheng took a few careful breaths to consider.
"My Lord, this servant...this servant feels like the prince has always been like this."
"You're getting more cunning as you get older. Send someone to keep an eye on him."
Old Seventeen seemed to be extremely interested in the affairs of his harem today, and mentioned Rou Ze frequently, which made him suspicious.