Chapter 528
~ WHETHER IT’S TRUE OR FALSE ~
As soon as Mu Yunyao got off the carriage and walked into the front yard, she saw her excited grandmother and mother. She suddenly felt her eyes turn red and hurriedly stepped forward and knelt to salute. “Yunyao has seen Grandmother and Mother.”
“Get up quickly. Let Grandmother take a good look at you.” The Grand Princess Yi De helped Mu Yunyao stand and measured her up and down. “You’ve lost weight. my Yao’er has suffered.”
Mu Yunyao’s face was full of smiles: “Yeah, it’s hard outside. It’s better to be around my grandmother and mother. I’ll never go out again.”
“Well, don’t go out if you don’t need to go out.”
Grand Princess Yi De held Mu Yunyao and looked at it for a long time, then repeatedly ordered people to prepare food.
Xu Yanhan also hurriedly asked someone to bring the eight treasure rice she cooked herself.
The entire Qinfang Garden was completely lively because of Mu Yunyao’s return.
After being allowed into the Palace, Yue Wang knelt and paid his respects to the Emperor. “This Son has seen the father.”
“Get up.” The Emperor looked at Yue Wang and saw that he was safe and sound but much thinner than before, slowly pressing down on the worries in his eyes.
Yue Wang still lowered his head and did not move. “This Son failed to investigate the Jiangnan salt tax deficit case clearly. Thus, he asked Imperial Father to punish him.”
The Emperor’s eyebrows moved, thinking of the fold sent by Yu Wang, and a dark color flashed in his heart. “I have asked Yu Wanfg to investigate this matter, so you don’t have to worry about it.”
“Imperial Father, the salt tax deficit in the Jiangnan area is enormous. Before, the salt merchants in Yangzhou City privately colluded with officials to fill the salt tax deficit and forged the illusion of the sinking of the salt ship. Not long after this, another case of deficit occurred. Where is the majesty of the Imperial Court if it is not thoroughly investigated?”
The Emperor’s eyebrow frowned more tightly and wanted to open his mouth to reprimand Yue Wang. The Emperor couldn’t bear it when he thought about his suffering during this period: “Junyue, I told you to leave it alone. Do you want to resist the mandate?”
Yue Wang’s face turned pale, and he immediately shook his head: “This Son does not dare.”
The Emperor’s heart was even more guilty after seeing his expression. This time, Jiangnan suffered a disaster. In the end, he was implicated and almost died in Yishui City. If Mu Yunyao hadn’t arrived just in time, he would have passed.
The Emperor could not help but soften his voice when he thought about this matter. “Junyue, this time you went to Jiangnan to be in danger, and Yunyao went to Jiangnan to find you. This matter is spreading in the Capital and caused many uproars. Have you figured out how to deal with it?”
Yue Wang’s expression became more and more chilly. “Return to Imperial Father, this Son’s heart is pleased with Yunyao, and ask Imperial Father’s bless.”
“You… do you understand what you are talking about?”
“Yes, this Son understands.”
The Emperor stood up and walked toward Yue Wang with a deep look. “You and Mu Yunyao have a relationship between uncle and niece. Once you are together, you will be subject to countless accusations. Can you bear it?”
“This Son can bear it.”
“Once you are with her, the officials will judge you as contemptuous. This matter will become a burden in your life. Even with this alone, I’m afraid you won’t be able to get the throne. Are you willing?”
“This Son is willing.” Yue Wang looked resolute.
Hearing his definite answer, the Emperor looked complicated: “Junyue, you can bear it, and you are willing, then what about Yunyao? As a woman, if she can bear it, are you willing to give it up? Which woman does not want her husband to achieve some hegemony? You give up these for her. But after you give up, will she still choose you?”
Yue Wang looked up: “Imperial Father, this Son believes in Yunyao. She will not be flattered because of this Son’s high position, nor will she stay away because of this Son’s downfall.”
The Emperor closed his eyes and sighed heavily: “Then, if that is the case, let it go your way. I am too old and will not be able to control you so much.”
Yue Wang’s eyes flashed joy, and he quickly saluted: “This Son has thanked Imperial Father.” He was ready to withstand the wrath of the Emperor, but he did not expect the matter to be resolved so smoothly. It was so easy that people couldn’t believe it.
“Your Imperial Aunt has always been thinking of you. After you leave the Palace, go to Qinfang Garden and pay your respects.”
“Yes.”
When Yue Wang went out, the Emperor couldn’t help but sink his expression: “Xu Li, go and pass on my instructions, say that I haven’t seen Mu Yunyao for a long time, let her enter the Palace to greet me. Hurry up. You’d better hurry up before Yue Wang gets to Qinfang Garden.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Mu Yunyao had just finished eating and was being rushed back to the room by Grand Princess Yi De to rest when she received an order to announce her entry into the Palace. “Grandma, why did the Emperor suddenly announce me to enter the Palace?”
Grand Princess Yi De helped her tidy up her dress, and she brought a phoenix hairpin and inserted it in her hair. “Well, go ahead. Can the Emperor still embarrass you as a younger generation?”
Mu Yunyao sighed and nodded immediately: “Yes, that Yunyao went into the Palace.”
Mu Yunyao’s carriage had just left Qinfang Garden when Yue Wang, who came to pay his respects, arrived.
Grand Princess Yi De couldn’t help but chuckle: “The Emperor is so impatient and doesn’t delay any time. The two children just returned, and he didn’t want to let them take a break.”
Xu Yanhan couldn’t help but worry: “Mother, the Emperor really not embarrassed Yao’er? After all, he doesn’t know that Yue Wang and Yao are not ….”
“Whether it’s true or false, it’s the Emperor’s place ….” Grand Princess Yi De paused for a moment and turned her head slightly. “Since he promised me that he would not embarrass Yue Wang and Yao’er, he will naturally not break his promise now. Rest assured.”
“Yes.”
Mu Yunyao entered the Palace and was led by Eunuch Li directly to the study room.
The Emperor is still the majestic appearance he used to be before. However, the gray hair on the sideburns seems to be a little more, and the face is also wearing a trace of imperceptible tiredness: “Mu Yunyao has seen the Emperor.”
The Emperor stopped writing and looked down: “Get up. How are things going in Jiangnan?”
“Thanks to the Emperor’s blessing, everything is going well.”
The Emperor looked at Mu Yunyao, who had lost weight, and a soft color flashed across his eyes: “It is hard for you. However, can you play chess?”
“I learned a little from my grandmother, but I am not proficient.” Hearing that the Emperor suddenly changed his mind, Mu Yunyao’s smile remained unchanged. Seeing that Xu Li had taken the chessboard, she stepped forward to help clean it up.
Looking at her comfortable appearance, the Emperor could not help but relax his mind. Initially, he was testing, but now he had more motivation to play chess.
“The Emperor, I am a younger generation. How about you let me take the lead?”
“Good.”
Mu Yunyao laughed suddenly and gently dropped a piece on the chessboard.
When the Emperor looked at Mu Yunyao’s black piece, he couldn’t help but smile and shook his head: “The Imperial Elder Sister taught my chess skills. In order to defeat her in chess, I have studied it for a long time. If you imitate her chess style, you will definitely not be able to beat me.”
Mu Yunyao looked at the black piece she had fallen behind and couldn’t help but put away the chess piece she had just dropped: “The Emperor asked me to take a step, and he asked me to take a step back.”
“No regrets. You are not a gentleman like this.” The Emperor shook his head quickly.
“I am a woman, not a gentleman, so I am not afraid.” Mu Yunyao moved the black piece to a position and looked at the Emperor with a smile. Finally, with the advantage of destroying the three-step chess, he lost half of the game.