Xiao An’s frown eased as he listened to Bai Han’s report. “It seems this Chen Xiaobei has some capability after all.”
“It was not in vain that I bestowed a marriage upon him.”
Bai Han bowed again. “Your Majesty, shall we issue the decree now?”
Xiao An shook his head. “No hurry. Not too soon. We’ll issue it closer to noon.”
Just then, a guard hurried to the study door and knelt on one knee.
According to the rules of the Da Cang Kingdom, ordinary guards were not allowed into the imperial study without the Emperor’s permission, thus he could only kneel at the door.
“Reporting to Your Majesty, the Crown Prince and the old Chancellor Fang Zheng are here again, awaiting your summons.”
Xiao An looked at Bai Han, his eyes full of inquiry. Bai Han understood immediately, rose, and left with the guard who had delivered the message.
Xiao Jingyun entering the imperial harem was not an issue, but bringing Fang Zheng was different. Therefore, he stopped about an arrow’s shot away from the imperial study.
Without his father Emperor’s permission, Fang Zheng could not enter the imperial study.
Bai Han approached and bowed to Xiao Jingyun. “Greetings, Your Highness. His Majesty is not in the best of moods. Are you…”
Xiao Jingyun nodded slightly. “I know, but this time I bring good news for Father Emperor.”
Hearing this, Bai Han felt at ease. He turned and led the way, escorting Xiao Jingyun all the way to the entrance of the imperial study, where he stopped, stepped aside, and made a respectful gesture for him to enter.
Xiao Jingyun nodded and walked in first, followed by the old Chancellor Fang Zheng.
Xiao Jingyun did not kneel this time, but merely bowed. Fang Zheng, however, respectfully knelt and kowtowed three times.
“This old servant Fang Zheng greets Your Majesty. May you live ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten thousand times ten thousand years.”
Xiao An nodded and waved his hand. “Old minister, please rise. Someone, fetch a cushion.”
Bai Han stepped forward again, brought a brocade stool, and placed it beside Fang Zheng. Fang Zheng bowed his thanks again before sitting down.
Xiao An looked at Xiao Jingyun, then at Fang Zheng, and asked, “Why are you two in such a hurry to see me? Is there something important?”
Xiao Jingyun took a memorial that he had written beforehand from his sleeve. “Reporting to Father Emperor, yesterday the old Chancellor found someone, Gao Xing, Gao Shuang’s steward. Gao Xing has written down all the dealings between Gao Shuang and Feng Pengju. Please review it.”
Xiao An’s heart skipped a beat, and his expression instantly turned grim. He thought, ‘My son, my foolish son, you truly are clueless. I had already reminded you to handle this matter after your succession to buy people’s hearts. How could you be so impatient!’
However, since things had come to this, he had to put on a show and could not indefinitely postpone it any further. He took the memorial written by Xiao Jingyun, placed it on the table, spread it open, and read through it cursorially.
Gao Xing’s account was very detailed, stating that he had never had any contact with Feng Pengju. The few times they had met were in formal settings, with many people present.
Furthermore, during Gao Shuang’s rebellion, he had never met Feng Pengju in private.
All of this proved that Feng Pengju had been wrongly accused. To be honest, Xiao An had already known that he was wrongly accused.
After reading the memorial, Xiao An put on a troubled expression, stroked his beard, and pondered for a long time before looking up at Fang Zheng. “Is this the confession of Gao Shuang’s steward, Gao Xing?”
Fang Zheng nodded and cupped his fists again. “Replying to Your Majesty, this Gao Xing is waiting outside the palace. You can summon him in for further questioning.”
Upon hearing this, Xiao An waved his hand. “There is no need. If I cannot even trust you, whom can I trust?”
After saying this, he turned to look at his son, Xiao Jingyun.
“I will entrust this matter to you to handle.”
Xiao Jingyun quickly bowed in agreement. He understood that his father was giving him this task to establish his prestige and build a basic network of influence.
After expressing his gratitude again, Xiao Jingyun left the palace with Fang Zheng. Both of them wore relieved expressions, a rare sense of ease after tension.
Neither of them had expected Xiao An to agree so readily and entrust the matter directly to the Crown Prince to handle.
Upon returning to his Crown Prince’s mansion, Xiao Jingyun immediately dispatched people to the border.
Xiao Jingyun also personally wrote an imperial decree and specifically instructed Zhou Quan to ensure that Feng Pengju was brought back safely, no matter what.
Zhou Quan nodded and cupped his fists, saying in a deep voice, “Your Highness, please rest assured. I will send more men to bring Feng Pengju back.”
Xiao Jingyun nodded in approval at Zhou Quan’s words. “There is no time to lose. Send people to the border today. Ensure Feng Pengju is brought back within ten days.”
Zhou Quan bowed and withdrew. Xiao Jingyun felt much more relaxed. He leaned back in his chair and rested for a while. The more he thought about it, the more excited he became, a smile finally appearing at the corners of his lips.
At this moment, the one even more excited than him was Fang Zheng. A major matter he had been thinking about day and night was finally resolved. Could there be anything more gratifying than this?
Seeing his grandfather practically dancing with joy, Fang Jun couldn’t help but be a little surprised. He bowed and asked cautiously, “Grandfather, you seem so happy after returning from the palace. Has there been progress on the matter?”
Fang Zheng nodded, looking at his grandson with a face full of smiles.
“Yes, there has been great progress. His Majesty has ordered the Crown Prince to be fully responsible for handling the matter of Feng Pengju’s rebellion. The Crown Prince said he will immediately send people to the border to bring Minister Fang back and restore him to his official position.”
Upon hearing this, Fang Jun’s eyes also began to shine, and he couldn’t help but clench his right fist and wave it in the air twice.
“Excellent, this is truly excellent! Now Xiao Yue can rest easy too.”
Fang Jun’s words reminded Fang Zheng.
He slapped his forehead. He had been so caught up in his joy that he had forgotten the most important thing – to quickly inform Feng Xiao Yue! Her father was about to be exonerated and reinstated.
Thinking of this, he looked at Fang Jun and said in a deep voice, “Go find Feng Xiao Yue immediately and tell her this news. Tell her not to leave the capital anytime soon, but to await the reunion with her parents.”
Fang Jun agreed and left in high spirits. Although this was the capital, it did not prevent Fang Zheng from galloping his horse. He soon arrived at the inn.
At this moment, Feng Xiao Yue was looking dispirited. She guarded Huang Ying’s memorial tablet, tears streaming down her face.
She was crying for Huang Ying, and also lamenting her own fate, feeling that heaven had been so unfair to her. Even when Fang Jun arrived, she was listless, only nodding slightly to acknowledge his greeting.
Fang Jun hurried to Feng Xiao Yue and held her by the shoulders.