20demayo Chapter 155 Tang Qing said
Chapter 155 Tang Qing said
Before dawn the next day, Qi Xiao sent Tang Ling back to the Huaxi Villa, then went straight to the palace to pay his respects to the Empress Dowager and His Majesty. His Majesty didn't say much to Qi Xiao, and told him to go back and rest. He didn't mention the Ministry of Revenue's pending case, nor did he ask whether Qi Xiao should return to Fuzhou, let alone the Tiance Camp.
Qi Xiao was not surprised by His Majesty's ambiguous attitude. Ning Wanxiao specifically asked Bai Xiqiao to pass a message to him, telling him clearly that His Majesty would not let him leave the capital easily. He just needed to be at ease. No matter how many forces in the court and the harem wanted to drive him out of Yuanjing, he didn't need to care. That was His Majesty's trouble.
If it weren't for Ning Wanxiao, Qi Xiao might have found a way to stay. He couldn't just let go of his mother's revenge, not to mention that Bai Liu's affairs hadn't been clarified yet. But once he made any move, people would inevitably think that he was trying to seize the throne, which would only make the Qin and Gongsun families target him more. It was best to do nothing now and wait and see.
In Chengming Hall, Zhang Suian served a cup of tea and quietly stepped aside to serve.
"Zhang Suian."
"His Majesty."
"Old Nine looks much more haggard and thinner."
"Yes, I heard from Doctor Fang that His Highness was in deep sorrow and had been kneeling in Concubine Lin's mourning hall, eating and drinking very little. Doctor Fang prescribed a lot of tonics and force-fed him, which was barely helping."
"You said before that he fainted from kneeling. How could this kid not take care of himself? He has no sense of propriety at all."
Zhang Suian didn't dare to respond. His Majesty was blaming him and feeling distressed at the same time. It was rare for the Ninth Prince to be so filial. It didn't seem like an act. His Majesty must be happy.
"Zhang Suian."
"The old slave is here."
"Go and make some arrangements and choose a house for Lao Jiu."
"As you wish." Zhang Suian thought silently. He had to choose a house again. He had to calculate when to choose one and when to grant the house. This news should also be revealed at the right time and in the right place so that the court and the harem could understand His Majesty's intentions.
When Qi Xiao left the palace, Tang Ling was entering the palace. The two met at the palace gate, greeted each other briefly, and passed each other.
Tang Ling now goes to the palace very frequently, playing chess with His Majesty every two days, and there is no need for His Majesty to summon her specifically.
When Tang Ling arrived at Chengming Palace, Zhang Suian had prepared tea and snacks and set out the chess pieces.
His Majesty was reading a book. Seeing Tang Ling coming, he exempted him from the formality of kneeling and pointed to the seat opposite him: "Sit down."
There was a white piece in front of Tang Ling, and the black player went first. His Majesty didn't say much, and the first move was the star position as usual.
His Majesty didn't put down his book, and he seemed nonchalant as he played against Tang Ling. A faint smile crossed Tang Ling's face. He no longer deliberately lost a point or two in every game. If His Majesty wasn't paying attention like he was now, he would win a point or two, giving His Majesty a way out. He lost because he was distracted.
His Majesty seemed to be testing Tang Ling. Sometimes he seemed to be playing very seriously and cautiously, but in fact he was deliberately making bad moves. It was not difficult for Tang Ling to lose, but it was difficult to lose only one or half a point.
Until now, it is still His Majesty who controls the chess game.
"Tang Qing's birthday is in the twelfth month?"
Tang Ling made her move, paused, and then withdrew her hand: "Yes."
His Majesty paused for a moment, then continued, "Last time, you met the Fifteenth Princess here. She has been coming to me these past few days to ask for my permission, saying she wants Tang Qing to teach her chess. If Tang Qing is free, please teach her a little, so she won't bother me so much."
When His Majesty mentioned the Fifteenth Princess, it seemed as if he was talking about another unrelated matter.
"I obey your command." Tang Ling agreed to teach chess and kept silent without saying another word.
His Majesty chuckled, holding a black piece in his hand and tapping the side of the chessboard twice.
Tang Ling put down the chess piece in her hand and looked at His Majesty. His Majesty placed the black piece in the chess box and stood up. "Let's stop here for today."
His Majesty left the side chamber, and Tang Ling followed him out. Just as she was about to take her leave, His Majesty suddenly called her over. "There's something else I want to discuss while you're here. I've just handed you this memorial. Please read it yourself."
Zhang Suian had left at some point, leaving only His Majesty and Tang Ling in Chengming Hall. Tang Ling stepped forward, took the memorial with both hands, unfolded it, glanced at it briefly, was slightly startled, and then began to read it carefully again.
The memorial had no signature or inscription at the end. The writing was neat and clear with almost no rhetoric. It was completely straightforward and not an ordinary memorial submitted by a court official. Tang Ling guessed it was a secret memorial from the Xuanji Camp after just reading the first sentence.
The report only mentioned one thing, that Tang Ling was attacked in Hukou Gorge as a result of a conspiracy by the Qi State's Zhanshi Office.
The Zhanshichu bribed Nie Guangli, the prefect of Yuanzhou, through the Qi Chamber of Commerce and purchased dozens of customs documents to sneak into the territory of Chen State.
Nie Guangli died suddenly. It is difficult to find out how many documents he had issued and in whose name they were used. In addition to this group of assassins, there was also Mr. Li.
Tang Ling had known about this matter for a long time. His Majesty suddenly gave him this secret report, probably to discuss the coalition forces.
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for helping me find out the truth." Tang Ling closed the memorial, bowed, and handed it back.
"Qi State has evil ambitions and plotted an assassination within the borders of Dachen. Thankfully, Tang Qing's life is safe, otherwise how could I explain this to the Emperor of Zhou and your father, Marquis Xun An?" His Majesty sighed and slammed the memorial on the table. "This is intolerable. The Office of the Ombudsman simply disregards Dachen and Zhou!"
Tang Ling smiled faintly and said, "Qi's despicable tactics are nothing more than an attempt to sabotage the peace talks between Zhou and Chen. As long as Great Chen and my Great Zhou can quickly reach a mutually beneficial agreement, Qi will be helpless."
"Hmm... Mr. Tang is right." His Majesty smiled faintly and added, "The Ministry of Rites recently reported that the peace talks have been somewhat delayed. The two countries should proceed with caution and not rush into this important matter."
Tang Ling lowered her eyes. What was coming would come. If there was no urgency, His Majesty wouldn't have spoken to Tang Ling alone in Chengming Hall. After all, Tang Ling was merely the heir apparent of Xun'an Marquis, holding no say in the Great Zhou court, let alone real power. He was also a hostage in Dachen, not an envoy to negotiate peace. Yet His Majesty was still insisting on arranging a marriage for him. Did he mean he wasn't in a hurry?
"What your Majesty said is true."
"However, Qi's plot to assassinate Tang Qing cannot be left unresolved. Since the incident occurred within Dachen territory, I must give Tang Qing and Zhou an explanation."
The assassins who tried to assassinate Tang Ling in Hukou Gorge are all dead, and Nie Guangli is also dead. Tang Ling is a little curious. What kind of explanation does His Majesty want to give?
"I thank you, Your Majesty."