Chapter 577: The Imperial Harem’s Palace Is Too Empty
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
Su Yulun was summoned to the palace in the night and he only left when the sky was about to turn bright.
However, after leaving the palace, Su Yulun did not return to the residence. Instead, he left the capital city right away.
This action made all the civil and military officials extremely surprised. The Emperor had been giving the Prime Minister the cold shoulder for so long. Why did he suddenly allow him to leave the city?
After Si Chen’s murder was obstructed, Chu Min panicked.
In the study of Duke Jingguo’s Residence, Duke Jingguo was going through the official documents. He still had to enter the palace the next day to report these matters to the Emperor, so he had to come up with the appropriate proposals today.
“Lord Duke, Eldest Master requests a meeting.”
Duke Jingguo didn’t even raise his head. “Send him in. I also have something to tell him.”
Chu Min was Duke Jingguo’s eldest son. In Duke Jingguo’s eyes, he was the most reliable of all his sons. Sometimes, when his physical condition wasn’t up to the task, he would hand over some official matters to Chu Min to handle. Chu Min could just let Duke Jingguo review the documents after he was done.
“Father.” Chu Min walked into the study and bowed respectfully to Duke Jingguo.
Duke Jingguo put down the document in his hand and gestured to him to sit down.
“Previously, I told you to supervise the reconstruction of Kun City. How’s the progress? Have the food supplies and houses been settled? When spring comes, remember to send some grain seeds there so that the people can resume farming.”
“Father, don’t worry. I’ve already passed on the instructions.”
Duke Jingguo nodded in satisfaction. “You’re still the most reliable one. With you around, my old bones can take a breather.”
Chu Min looked at Duke Jingguo and repeatedly wanted to speak, but eventually he pursed his lips and swallowed the words that were about to come out of his mouth.
“Father, I heard that the Emperor urgently summoned Su Yulun into the palace last night. Su Yulun left the city early this morning. Could… it be that he was asked to do something big? Wasn’t the Emperor always wary of Su Yulun? Then why did he assign him important tasks time and again?”
Duke Jingguo’s expression froze for a moment. His turbid eyes landed casually on Chu Min.
“His Majesty knows the rules of being a ruler. Su Yulun has been in the Imperial Court for many years. How many people standing in that great hall are part of the faction that Su Yulun has built up over the years? The Emperor has just ascended to the throne. If he were to uproot the Prime Minister’s faction at this juncture, it would only cause turmoil in the Imperial Court and be detrimental to the Chu State.”
“Also, Su Yulun is greedy and crafty, but he’s capable. With a blade like him, whom His Majesty also has a hold over, it is the best tool. But you… although you’re reliable, sometimes, you get too obstinate and self-opinionated easily. You still need to settle your temperament down.”
Chu Min narrowed his eyes. “Father, under normal circumstances, you should be the one sitting in the Prime Minister’s seat…”
“Impudent!” Duke Jingguo roared angrily and Chu Min immediately shut up. However, his tightly pursed lips revealed his displeasure inwardly.
Duke Jingguo glared at him angrily. “How can you make wanton comments on the Emperor’s decision? Go back and reflect on your mistakes. If you don’t understand, you don’t have to attend the court sessions anymore!”
“I’m just feeling it’s unfair for you, Father.”
Duke Jingguo’s tone became even harsher. “What’s so unfair? Your father is already at such an old age. If it wasn’t for the Empress, I would have already met the King of Hell during that palace coup. Whether in your capacity as a human or an official, if you lose your conscience, it will be difficult to avoid calamity. You’d better control your temper. Leave now.”
Chu Min didn’t dare to say another word. He could only bow and leave the study.
Duke Jingguo watched him leave and let out a deep breath.
It was not a bad thing to have ambition, but some ambitions could only be satisfied with one’s own ability while taking the right path. If one’s thoughts deviated for a moment, it would only push oneself into a state of eternal damnation!
Chu Min returned to his courtyard. The moment the house door closed, his face turned frosty.
The trusted aide knew that things were not going well when he saw this.
“Eldest Master, could Prime Minister Su have left the capital city because of the gold mine? Why not get Ma Zhi to make the necessary arrangements as soon as possible and hand the gold mine over to the Imperial Court?”
They had already dug out some of the gold and their wallets were full. There was no need to take all the gold. It would be easy for them to get into trouble if they did that.
How could Chu Min feel good when he saw that riches that were about to drop on his lap get snatched away?
Moreover, what he had wanted for so many years was not just the position of minister in the central Imperial Court.
Chu Min didn’t say anything, but the trusted aide felt that something was wrong.
“Eldest Master, please think twice…” he said somewhat worriedly.
“Even if Su Yulun goes to Kun City, he won’t be able to reach it in a short period of time. Tell Ma Zhi to speed up and dig as much as he can.”
“Yes, I understand.”
“As for Su Yulun…” Chu Min narrowed his eyes. It would be best if he did not return!
“Who intercepted Si Chen’s matter?” The person who failed to kill Si Chen the first time had already been dealt with by him. However, that fellow was already locked up in the prison of the Capital Governor’s Office, yet the assailant still failed. This was really infuriating.
“Eldest Master, I heard them say that the Empress took him away.”
“The Empress again? There’s no place she can’t reach. Since she’s so capable, why doesn’t she become the Emperor?”
The trusted aide was so frightened that he knelt on the ground. If anyone heard this, they could forget about staying alive.
“Eldest Master, the Emperor dotes on the Empress and turns a blind eye to many things. No one can say anything about it, so it’s better for us not to offend her wantonly.”
Chu Min laughed icily. “She’s just a woman. Look at how all of them behave when they meet her. It’s like a mouse that has seen a cat. She dares to be so arrogant because the Emperor dotes on her. If she doesn’t have his favor, who would still take her seriously?”
The trusted aide really did not quite agree with these words. No matter how much the Emperor doted on her, no one would go out personally to block the crack in the dam like her. She could even survive after falling into the floodwaters. This Empress was definitely not an Empress that an ordinary person could match.
“Eldest Master, it’s best not to involve the Empress in this matter.”
Chu Min frowned. “I won’t find trouble with her. I just feel that the Emperor’s Imperial harem is empty. The Empress doesn’t even have anyone to talk to. She’s really too lonely. It’s time for a talent selection. Go and make some arrangements. I don’t believe that those people don’t want to send their daughters into the palace.”
Getting the Emperor to expand the Imperial harem was a reasonable matter. The trusted aide did not object and bowed to leave and follow up with the preparation.
Si Chen was taken out of prison the day after he met Xiao Jin. However, he could not leave the capital city before things were cleared up. Since he was the informant, the Imperial Court had to ensure his safety. Jiang Yang took him to a secret private house in the capital city to let Si Chen recuperate there temporarily.
After Bai Shuang was punished, Su Ying allowed her to stay in her room to recuperate.
Perhaps it was on Aunt Zhao’s account that the person who punished her went easy on her. The pole looked heavy, but it didn’t hurt as much when it landed on her. After going back and lying down for two days, Bai Shuang was able to get out of bed on her own.
At night, after Zhou Qing washed up and went back to her room, she saw Bai Shuang standing at the door, looking at her with a pitiful gaze like a puppy waiting for its owner to love her.
Zhou Qing pretended not to see her expression and entered the house without saying a word.
Undeterred, Bai Shuang followed her eagerly..
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