Jiang Yun picked up the box with both hands, opened it, dug a small hole with a spoon, and put it into his mouth.
The sweet aroma of glutinous rice mixed with the fragrance of osmanthus immediately spread between his lips and teeth.
He couldn’t help but gently raise the corner of his mouth again.
At the entrance of the palace, Jiang Yun got out of the carriage and deliberately fell behind Sui Heng by a distance to draw a clear line between the two. Sui Heng walked with his hands behind his back for a while, then suddenly stopped, turned around, and said displeasedly, “Come here, what are you doing behind?”
Jiang Yun kindly reminded him, “Wasn’t it was Your Highness who said that you won’t be with me and to keep me away from Your Highness?”
“That was on the way.”
He spoke confidently, “If Empress Dowager sees us having a ‘strained relationship’ later, she will inevitably criticize Gu. But this matter has been your fault from beginning to end. Gu was already generous enough to not punish and only kept a distance from you. Do you still want Gu to get scolded for your mistake?”
Jiang Yun said, “Then what does Your Highness need me to do?”
“Come over first.”
Jiang Yun fell silent and walked over.
Immediately, Sui Heng held his hand.
He clenched his grip a bit tightly, his eyes cold as before: “Entangled with Gu, please Gu, like a normal concubine, does Gu have to teach you this too?”
The Empress Dowager naturally didn’t have any free time to hold a family banquet, but took the opportunity of the banquet to verify the news she heard two days ago and see if Sui Heng had mistreated Jiang Yun.
Due to their excellent disguise, the Empress Dowager did not notice any abnormalities. As usual, she held Jiang Yun’s hand and asked for warmth, then took off a jade ring and handed it to Jiang Yun.
After leaving the palace, Sui Heng deliberately sneered, “You did a good job. Do you usually act like this in front of Gu?”
Jiang Yun said, “I cannot be compared to Your Highness.”
Sui Heng was dissatisfied and said, “Why are you always carrying a gun and a stick when you talk these days? It’s clearly you who did the wrong thing.”
Jiang Yun said, “You were the one who mocked me first.”
As the two of them were approaching the entrance, suddenly a palace attendant came over and said that Emperor Sui had summoned them.
Sui Heng frowned, and at this moment, his father must be summoning him to do something very important.
He asked Jiang Yun to return to the carriage and wait, but to his surprise, the palace attendant said, “His Majesty said, let Young Master Chu come along.”
He asked, “Who else is there?”
The palace attendant quickly replied, “The three Zaizhi and a few officials from the Imperial Censorate.”
The palace where Emperor Sui was located was indeed brightly lit, and Jiang Yun and Sui Heng went in together. After bowing, they stood up and saw the Left Prime Minister, namely Jimo Qingyu, the Right Prime Minister, Yan Bing, and Han Xiao, who had just finished the reception of the envoys, standing at the heads of the left and right sides, respectively.
There are still several civil service officials standing in the hall.
Emperor Sui sat behind the imperial table in his regular Yan Mansion’s clothes, without anger.
His gaze fell on Jiang Yun first before shifting to Sui Heng and asking; “Zhen heard that you killed the Qi Kingdom’s General, Tian Meng? And you had him shaken to a pulp?”
Sui Heng said yes.
Emperor Sui naturally didn’t just know about this.
Sui Heng looked at Yan Bing, and the corner of his mouth coldly tugged, saying, “It was Prime Minister Yan who reported this in front of Emperor Father, right?”
Yan Bing lowered his eyes without any movement and said, “Your Highness misunderstood. This old minister has also been summoned to discuss other matters with His Majesty.”
“What matters?”
“Regarding Young Master Chu beside Your Highness.”
A civil service official dressed in a red official robe looked at Jiang Yun sharply and spoke with a resounding tone, “This minister has received news that he has a close relationship with the deceased General of Qi, Tian Meng. It seems that they have an extraordinary relationship. Can Your Highness carefully investigate his identity? As the Crown Prince, if someone of unknown origin infiltrates your side, it will not only harm Your Highness’s own safety but also endanger the country.”
Jiang Yun’s heart sank.
He had anticipated that Emperor Sui would suddenly summon him; he is afraid that he would not be separated from the matter of Tian Meng.
But unexpectedly, there were others involved.
His current identity is just a white shirt, and it is not worth these civil officials targeting him specifically. They clearly see him as a pawn that can attack Sui Heng.
The civil service official who spoke name Zhao Qing, a censor of the Imperial Censorate known for his loyalty, straightforwardness, and courage to advise.
Zhao Qing continued, “On the first day that the envoy of Qi entered the capital of Sui, Tian Meng suddenly passed over a group of guests at a palace banquet and headed straight for Young Master Chu. He grabbed his hand and said many strange things to him. Many guests in the palace saw it at that time, and on the day Tian Meng died, he also entered the dense forest with Young Master Chu. Doesn’t Your Highness think that these things are too coincidental?”
After calmly listening, Sui Heng asked in a leisurely tone, “So, does Imperial Censor Zhao suspect that Gu’s little concubine has an affair with Tian Meng?”
“Of course not.”
Zhao Qing’s face turned pale with anger. He didn’t expect such a serious topic could make his Highness pull over personal feelings.
He solemnly said, “This minister is doubting. This Young Master Chu is a spy from another country, and that’s why this minister dares to ask His Majesty and the three prime ministers to judge together.”
The atmosphere in the hall was suddenly cold and solemn.
If the Crown Prince is surrounded by a spy, the consequences can be imagined, and these suspicions raised by Zhao Qing are indeed reasonable, with witnesses and eyewitnesses.
Even Han Xiao, who has always been good at being gentle, looked solemn.
Jiang Yun’s heart was still calm.
He rarely felt the pressure and crisis.
This is the first time since entering the capital of Sui that he has faced such a sudden crisis so clearly.
Jiang Yun instinctively turned his head to look at Sui Heng.
He looked pale, with little expression and even a sense of carelessness.
Jiang Yun withdrew his eyes.
The current situation is somewhat bad for him.
Because for Sui Heng, the Crown Prince, the decisive way to solve the crisis was to abandon him, who was a nuisance, not to preserve it.
He could even use his status as someone from the Qinggue Terrace to turn the tables on these civil service officials as well.
In the silence, Emperor Sui first spoke up, “Crown Prince, what do you think?”
Sui Heng didn’t answer but asked Zhao Qing, “What does Imperial Censor Zhao mean?”
Zhao Qing naturally came prepared, he said loudly, “This minister thinks that this Young Master Chu should be immediately arrested and handed over to the judicial authorities for interrogation. Whether it is true or not, it will be known in the first instance.”
Emperor Sui nodded and looked at Jimo Qingyu, Yan Bing, and Han Xiao, saying, “What do the three Zaizhi think?”
“There’s no need for Emperor Father to ask anymore.”
Sui Heng suddenly spoke up.
“Erchen can explain this matter to Emperor Father.”
So everyone looked at him, and Sui Heng said, “It was Erchen who wanted to obtain military information from the Qi Kingdom, so Erchen sent his little concubine to seduce Tian Meng using his beauty. Erchen didn’t realize that Tian Meng was really interested in his beauty and wanted s*x. Not only did he refuse to tell us about the Qi army’s defense, but he also tried to seize Erchen’s concubine. In a fit of anger, Erchen killed him. That’s all.”
Zhao Qing showed a surprised expression.
Jimo Qingyu frowned deeply, and upon hearing this, he was so angry that his beard trembled, revealing a dirty expression in his eyes.
Zhao Qing still wants to say something.
Sui Heng cut him off and said in a cold voice, “If Imperial Censor Zhao still wants to interrogate, let’s just arrest and interrogate Gu ba. No one knows more about the matter of Gu’s concubine than Gu does.”
Although Zhao Qing was unwilling, he could only bow down and say, “This minister dares not.”
“Dare not?”
Sui Heng sneered, “Gu see that Imperial Censor Zhao is very brave. This time he caught Gu’s person, next time he may have to ride directly to Gu’s neck to defecate.”
Zhao Qing’s face flushed red.
After a long time, he stifled his neck and said, “This minister doesn’t dare.”
Coming out of the palace, Sui Heng turned his head and saw Jiang Yun’s clear black eyes, looking at him with that seductive gaze.
He said with a stern expression, “Don’t think that Gu is doing this for you, Gu is doing this for himself. Gu doesn’t want others to laugh at Gu. You—almost ruined Gu’s reputation.”
Jiang Yun said, “I know, but…”
“But what?”
“Can I give Your Highness a kiss?”
Sui Heng lowered his eyes and said, “Can’t.”
Jiang Yun nodded and prepared to move forward.
Sui Heng suddenly said, “Wait a minute.”
Jiang Yun looked at him.
Sui Heng, “If you really can’t get enough of Gu, it’s not like Gu can’t let you take advantage a little bit.”
Jiang Yun said, “Then please close your eyes, Your Highness.”
Sui Heng was somewhat unhappy.
“Why with closed eyes?”
“Because Your Highness makes me close them every time.”
Sui Heng was speechless and could only close them with a dark face.
After a moment, he felt a cold and soft sensation, like a dragonfly skimming water, lightly tapping his lips.
So sweet.
He couldn’t help but think.
Before he could taste it carefully, the dragonfly had already flown away.
“Done.”
Jiang Yun said.
“Your Highness can open your eyes now.”
Sui Heng opened his eyes in frustration and looked at him with some dissatisfaction.
Jiang Yun said, “Your Highness doesn’t like it?”
After a while, Sui Heng became even more angry and coldly said, “Your skills are too poor.”
Jiang Yun’s eyes curved and he said, “I only know that. Your Highness, just make do with it.”
*
It was already late at night when they returned to the private courtyard.
Ji An ordered the palace attendants to prepare hot water and baths as soon as possible.
Sui Heng and Jiang Yun got out of the carriage, one in front and one at the back. Sui Heng untied his cloak, threw it to Ji An, and walked straight to the front yard. Halfway through, he suddenly thought of something and turned around to see Jiang Yun still standing in place.
He frowned and instinctively hesitated to speak, but suddenly thought of something and closed his mouth.
Jiang Yun held a book in his arms, bid farewell to him, and directly walked towards the west courtyard with Gao Gong.
Sui Heng’s eyes suddenly became increasingly gloomy.
Ji An probing, “It’s getting late today, Your Highness, why don’t Your Highness let the young gentleman sleep directly in the front yard?”
Sui Heng withdrew his gaze and coldly gouged at him.
“Is it Gu who has the final say, or is it you?”
“Gu has to beg him to sleep too?”
Ji An lowered his head and dared not speak any more.
Sui Heng walked towards the main hall with a heavy expression.
Jiang Yun returned to the room, still reading for a while, and then turned off the lights to rest.
In the middle of the night, as expected, someone pushed open the door and silently squeezed in, holding him tightly from behind.
Jiang Yun was awakened and frowned. “What are you doing again?”
Sui Heng told him not to move.
He said, “Gu has thought it over. Gu can’t indulge you like this anymore. Starting tomorrow, Gu will interrogate you carefully, you have to reveal your background, origin, and everything.”
“Gu feels like Gu is really too indulgent with you.”
“Surprisingly, Gu lost his head and defended you in front of Emperor Father, lying for you.”
He seemed to be sulking with himself, his voice cold and deep.
Jiang Yun asked, “How do you plan to… interrogate me?”
“What do you think?”
He spoke harshly, as if finding new joy: “How harsh nature is is how you will be interrogate.”
“Not only that, Gu has decided that after Gu finishes the busy schedule, Gu will go to the Wei Kingdom to visit your parents and family, and gain a deeper understanding of what kind of person you are with you.”
The author has something to say:
Doggy Sui: Gu wants to accompany you to go back home to visit your family.
Jiang Jiang: I’m afraid I’ll scare you to death.
