Although full of suspicion, after seeing the abdication decree and the token representing the identity of the Prince of Zhennan, the Minister of Works, Zhu Heng, had to accept the shocking fact that the young man before him was Yan Xiuping's son.
After a long while, he slightly bowed, "Your subordinate Zhu Heng, pays respects to the Prince of Zhennan."
Yan Tinghao, who was being addressed and paid such a grand禮 for the first time, immediately stood up from his seat and awkwardly returned the salute:
"Greetings, Minister Zhu!"
"Your Highness, this subordinate has failed to discipline his son. I hope Your Highness will grant my son leniency on my behalf, and I will forever remember Your Highness's great kindness."
As expected of someone who could reach the position of Minister, he was both flexible and adaptable.
Even when facing a young man like Yan Tinghao, he could remain composed, humble himself, and speak all the right words.
However, Minister Zhu underestimated the simplemindedness of a certain naive young man.
Upon hearing this, Yan Tinghao did not reply to Minister Zhu, but instead turned to look at his own superior and asked without reservation, "Sir, he is asking me to spare that brat. What do you think?"
"Since Minister Zhu has spoken, this favor must be granted.
However—
Your dignity as the Prince of Zhennan has been trampled upon by the other party.
If you, Constable Yan, do not teach them a small lesson, anyone will be able to insult you freely in the future, and then offer an apology afterward.
Will you, Constable Yan, still magnanimously forgive everyone?"
Yan Tinghao shook his head repeatedly after hearing this:
"Of course not!
My mother said that the title 'Prince of Zhennan' was earned by my maternal grandfather with his sweat and blood!
It is the glory of the Duan family!
If I do anything that tarnishes the reputation of the Prince of Zhennan, my mother will be the first to not spare me!"
"Since the Prince of Zhennan's reputation cannot be compromised, will Constable Yan still forgive Minister Zhu's young master?"
"Of course not!
Not only will I not forgive him, but he must be severely punished! Severely punished!"
Minister Zhu, who had been in the officialdom for many years, finally understood the situation in the room. It turned out that Yan Xiuping's son was a fool. Lord Lin had sold him, and he was still helping him count the money!
But he had to admit that Lord Lin, who had risen to the position of Prefect of Shuntian in just half a year, was indeed no ordinary person.
With a few casual words, seemingly saying nothing, he had subtly made Yan Xiuping's son express his stance.
Thinking of this, his gaze could not help but turn cold, "Lord Lin, it wasn't a big deal in the first place. Aren't you going a bit too far with this?"
Lin Qingge heard this and innocently spread his hands, "Minister, you are mistaken.
How can you say that I am going too far?
It was your son who offended the Prince of Zhennan, not me. Everyone present can testify.
Oh, by the way, I haven't had the chance to introduce him to you, Minister. This exceptionally talented young man is the adopted son of the Prince of Wucheng, Lian Chengyi, the young General Lian.
This young General Lian was also present when the incident occurred. If you don't believe me, you can ask him for confirmation."
...
Lian Chengyi, who had intended to quietly watch the show but was suddenly called upon, reluctantly stood up and symbolically cupped his fists:
"Your subordinate Lian Chengyi, pays respects to Minister Zhu."
???
It was already shocking enough to have a Prince of Zhennan appear, but the Minister of Works, Zhu Heng, who was now faced with the adopted son of the Prince of Wucheng, opened his mouth in disbelief.
Even if he racked his brains, he couldn't understand why the descendants of Yan Xiuping and the Prince of Wucheng, who were at odds with each other twenty years ago, would be together.
And their relationship seemed to be quite good?
Before Minister Zhu Heng could figure anything out, he heard Lord Lin speak again, his voice lingering, "The Prince of Zhennan is the current Emperor's cousin and the Empress Dowager's nephew. Your son and his friend comparing the Prince of Zhennan to a beggar asking for alms is akin to implying that the Emperor and the Empress Dowager are also beggars, isn't it?"
"Lord Lin, speak cautiously, speak cautiously!"
Minister Zhu Heng, who was almost scared to his knees, looked extremely startled, the flesh on his fat face even trembling.
At this point, he understood that the other party had no intention of letting this matter go easily.
But thinking of the Prince of Zhennan's parents, and then the news he had just heard about the Empress Dowager's return to the palace, he knew that given the close relationship between the Empress Dowager and Princess Pingyang, which was like sisters, coupled with the testimony of the adopted son of the Prince of Wucheng...
If this matter escalated, it would definitely be their father and son who would suffer!
After analyzing the pros and cons, Minister Zhu Heng, pressing his tongue against the roof of his mouth, squeezed out a sentence with great difficulty from between his teeth:
"Lord Lin, what exactly do you want from this official?"
"As the saying goes, a father is responsible for his son's faults.
Your son's current predicament is inextricably linked to your negligence in his upbringing.
I also know that Minister, you hold an important position and are dedicated to the court and the people of Great Xia, working tirelessly until your death. You have no time to manage your household, let alone discipline your son.
However—
Since Minister, you have no time to teach your son, allowing him to develop such arrogant and overbearing behavior, he will eventually be taught by others.
Therefore, I hope that Minister can take leave for a period of time and patiently guide your son at home, so as to prevent him from being 'taught' by more people.
Although it is not good to entrust the important responsibilities on Minister's shoulders to others, I believe that the wise Emperor will gladly approve, considering Minister's past meritorious service of seeking no credit but avoiding blame."
"You—"
"Constable Yan, have those ruffians who offended the Prince of Zhennan directly imprisoned. We will release them when Minister Zhu Heng changes his mind.
Oh, and Clerk Lin, haven't the murderers we brought from Fengtian Prefecture together also been held in the Shuntian Prefecture prison?"
Facing the question suddenly thrown by Lin Qingge, Lin Yan replied with a gentle and courteous tone:
"Yes, sir. That murderer is notorious for killing without batting an eye, and he particularly despises people from prominent families."
"Sir, are you referring to Ling Han?
But Ling Han hasn't killed anyone in prison, except for castrating those young masters?"
Upon hearing Yan Tinghao's unintentional remark, Minister Zhu Heng's expression immediately changed.
Seeing this, Lin Qingge smilingly instructed Lin Yan to prepare paper and ink.
Glancing at his son, whom he felt like kicking, Minister Zhu Heng resentfully wrote the so-called leave request.
Seizing the opportunity.
Lin Qingge simply dispatched Yan Tinghao to deliver the leave request to the residence of the Left Prime Minister, Feng Qingchen.
Coincidentally, the new Emperor, who had been chased and beaten with a broom by the Empress Dowager after the morning court, ran to the Prime Minister's residence for refuge. Upon seeing the leave request presented by a attendant, he agreed and immediately assigned the Ministry of Works' duties to the capable Prime Minister before him.
Feng Qingchen, who was already so busy that he only slept for an hour a day, now had to take on the affairs of the Ministry of Works: ...