Chapter 341: Turbulent Clouds and Trouble
Various auspicious signs appeared frequently, and with the help of people sent by Yin Hanzhang to fan the flames, the previous rumors were soon suppressed.
Zhao Xing also asked Yin Hanzhang to find someone to make up some short stories. For a time, people near Bianliang said that Zhao Xing was the reincarnation of a holy king who came specifically to prosper the Song Dynasty. Some also said that Zhao Xing was the reincarnation of Buddha.
Zhao Xing did not stop such remarks, but simply enshrined the auspicious tortoise shells and other items that were presented to him in the Taimiao.
As for the Buddha statue, Zhao Xing ordered the Ministry of Works to build a temple at the place where the statue was found to enshrine it.
Although it would cost some money, it would not only dispel the rumors but also increase his power. Zhao Xing was still happy to spend this money.
…………
"Snapped!"
Ruyu walked into the study, and a teacup flew over and landed at her feet, with fragments and tea splashing everywhere.
"Ah~"
Ruyu was startled, and it took her a while to recover. Looking at her clothes stained by the tea, she didn't care. She smiled slightly, stepped over the broken pieces of the teacup, and said, "Why is Lord Hu so angry?"
"I told you to act earlier, but you refused to move. Now, people are saying that the emperor is the reincarnation of Buddha. It's too late for you to act now." Hu Zhongyan said angrily.
"Master Hu blames us, but didn't Master Hu disclose the deaths of those exiled officials?"
Ruyu walked up to Hu Zhongyan, reached out her hand and gently stroked Hu Zhongyan's face, saying, "Master Hu, it's time to be honest with each other."
Hu Zhongyan knocked Ruyu's hand away, stood up, glared at her, and said, "Honest? You guys are not trustworthy. How can I trust you?"
"When have we ever gone back on our word? We were originally planning to wait for Lord Hu to expose the death of the exiled official before taking action, but Lord Hu did not take any action. I didn't expect that the little emperor had some skills and could even use the little tricks taught by our wizards." Ruyu said with a smile.
"So you're blaming me?" Hu Zhongyan sneered, "If that's the case, the cooperation ends here. Don't try to threaten me with the cooperation. If you piss me off, we'll die together. You guys are just hiding well. Once the government knows about your existence, do you think you can hide?"
"Master Hu, what are you talking about? As the saying goes, harmony brings wealth. We won't do anything that will ruin our relationship."
Ruyu smiled and said, "If Lord Hu doesn't want to cooperate, we can always find someone who is willing to cooperate. But given the little emperor's temper, no matter whether this incident has anything to do with Lord Hu or not, I'm afraid he will be suspected. Lord Hu, do you think the little emperor will let you go?"
"You talk as if you can protect me if I cooperate with you." Hu Zhongyan said sarcastically.
"One more friend means one more way." Ruyu said with a smile: "We can do something to attract the little emperor's attention, and then we can slowly think of a solution."
Hu Zhongyan pondered for a while after hearing this, and said, "Let me see your sincerity first."
"No problem." Ruyu smiled and said, "Master Hu, just wait. It won't be long before Master Hu sees our sincerity."
"I hope so. If it's the same as this time, I will never trust you again even if I die."
…………
"I pay my respects to Your Majesty!"
"No gift!"
Zhao Xing helped Minglan up, walked into the room, sat down at the top, and said, "I've been a little busy these days and haven't had much time to come over. I see you don't look very well. The child must have tormented you a lot, right?"
"Your Majesty, I have felt much better in the past few days and have basically no reaction. Old Madam He has also examined me. I will recover if I rest well for a few days." Minglan said.
"That's good."
Zhao Xing stretched out his hand and pinched Minglan's face, saying, "You need to take care of it. Your face has become thinner and I can't feel it when I pinch it."
"No way, I feel like I've gained a lot of weight." Minglan said with a slightly blushing face.
"It's better to have more meat. I like meaty ones." Zhao Xing said with a smile.
Minglan couldn't stand it anymore, so she changed the subject and asked, "Why is your majesty so free today?"
"Officials have their rest days, and as an emperor, I should at least take a break. I can't be more tired than my subjects. Otherwise, why would the court support so many officials?" Zhao Xing chatted with Minglan for a while, and then said, "By the way, do you often exchange letters with the old lady?"
Minglan was raised by Old Madam Sheng, and her biological mother was a concubine.
Given the status of Old Lady Sheng and Young Lady Wei, it is not appropriate for them to visit the palace.
After Minglan became pregnant, Zhao Xing was worried that she would miss her family, so he allowed her to communicate with the Sheng family frequently.
It’s not that the concubines in the harem cannot communicate with their families, but they just can’t do it too frequently.
"A few days ago, I received a letter from my grandmother." Minglan said with a smile.
"That's good. Write more letters when you think about it. If it doesn't work, you can summon the old lady into the palace. Your brother is still young and can be brought along." Zhao Xing said.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
"Why are you being so polite to me?" Zhao Xing smiled and said, "By the way, don't you have a fourth sister? I remember that she seemed to have married one of your father's students, right?"
"Yeah!" Minglan nodded.
"The special examination is about to begin. Your fourth brother-in-law will also participate this time, right?" Zhao Xing asked.
"Is there anything I can do for you, Your Majesty?" Minglan asked.
She was very surprised that Zhao Xing suddenly talked to her about Molan and Wen Yanjing.
It’s not that they haven’t said this before. When Zhao Xing favored her, he would hug her and chat about family matters afterward.
She told Zhao Xing some things about the sisters, but Zhao Xing never asked about it.
Ever since she became pregnant, Zhao Xing always liked to say happy things in front of her.
Zhao Xingming knew that she and Molan had a bad relationship, so he shouldn't have mentioned Molan in front of her.
"I knew I couldn't hide it from you."
Zhao Xing waved his hand at the palace maids and eunuchs standing in the room and said, "You all leave."
"Yes!" Mother Cui responded and led the servants away.
Zhao Xing told Molan about a shop that sold study tools that she often went to, but he didn't say anything else. He just said that there were some problems with that shop.
Minglan frowned after hearing this, thought for a moment and said, "Your Majesty, my fourth sister does like poetry and I'm not sure if she just went to buy the four treasures of the study or if she has any connection with that store. But my grandmother mentioned in a letter before that my fourth sister often returns to the Sheng family during this period."
"Didn't she go back often before?" Zhao Xing asked.
Minglan shook her head and said, "Not really, it's just because of her younger sister. She doesn't get along with the eldest sister, so she rarely goes back when my father is not at home. I thought she went back often because my third brother got married. But when I thought of what my grandmother said in the letter, I felt something was wrong."
"What did the old lady say?"
"Grandmother didn't specifically talk about the fourth sister, but she was saying that the eldest lady had made great progress recently. The fourth sister often came to the mansion, and she didn't bully or ridicule her. Instead, she chatted with the fourth sister privately."
"I understand the eldest lady's temper. It's possible for her not to bully or ridicule the fourth sister, but it's unlikely for her to talk to the fourth sister calmly without the presence of grandmother and father."
Zhao Xing frowned slightly. Based on his understanding of Madam Wang, he also felt that this situation was impossible.
Could it be that Molan and Madam Wang are having an affair?
If this is true, did Molan do it herself or was she instructed by someone?
If it was instructed by someone, then what was the purpose?
(End of this chapter)