Chapter 956 - 950: Audience with the Emperor
Su Jin, who was pregnant, only brought her maid Xingxing with her and went to the border by herself.
Although they repeatedly concealed the news of her departure from the Capital, in order to find someone, they had to show her portrait for identification.
No one knew if the recognition process would expose her and bring danger to her.
Since Su Jin’s disappearance after leaving the Capital, the Emperor had been in a foul mood.
Now knowing she was safe, how could they not urgently bring this good news to the Emperor to put him at ease?
Moreover, the matter of the grain and grass was of great importance.
If it weren’t for Su Jin’s letter, who would have anticipated this would be a case of a thief crying "catch the thief"?
The border between Su State and Lizhou was several days’ journey from Tongzhou.
Leading people to Su State would make it impossible to find Prince Qi’s people.
Old Duke Chong rode directly to the Imperial Palace, with Mr. Lin following closely behind.
Mr. Lin followed Old Duke Chong into the palace, while their servant stayed outside.
Facing the majestic and imposing palace gates, the servant was nervous.
Their young master wanted to give the room to Princess Jin Ning and her maid, but he wasn’t happy. He had glared at that maid a dozen times.
To avoid exposing her identity, the maid endured it, and the servant feared Xingxing would settle accounts with him later.
Imperial Study.
The Emperor was sitting on the Dragon Chair, absentmindedly reading memorials.
Xie Jingchen had been missing for a while, and no one had found him yet.
Su Jin left the Capital without a trace.
The grain had been burned.
Nothing was going smoothly.
Compared to these major issues, the matters addressed in the memorials seemed trivial.
The Emperor threw the memorials onto the Dragon Desk.
With a loud crash, the little eunuch walking over was so scared he shrank his neck, "Your, Your Majesty, Old Duke Chong requests an audience."
"Announce," the Emperor said.
The little eunuch withdrew.
Soon, Old Duke Chong stepped forward.
Mr. Lin did not enter the Imperial Study.
The Emperor hadn’t said to see him, meaning he wasn’t allowed to bring people before him.
Seeing the faint anger on Old Duke Chong’s face, the Emperor asked, "What has happened?"
After greeting the Emperor, Old Duke Chong presented a letter, "This is a letter from Princess Jin Ning."
"Jinjim?" The Emperor was overjoyed.
"Quickly, quickly present it."
Eunuch Fu was just serving tea to the Emperor.
He quickly put the tea down, took the letter from Old Duke Chong, and handed it to the Emperor.
The Emperor opened the letter, glanced at the signature, and it was indeed written by his daughter.
The handwriting was somewhat familiar. After all, the Emperor had seen many fine scripts, and compared to those officials, Su Jin’s writing could be deemed unrefined.
Su Jin first reported her safety, then mentioned someone loading sand and stones onto a ship at Tongzhou Prefecture.
The Emperor was first delighted, then furious, bursting into rage.
Old Duke Chong advised the Emperor to calm down, "The Princess has great fortune, leaving the Capital not only without encountering danger but also earning merit for the court. Since there wasn’t much grain on the ships, the grain should still be somewhere. I request the order to set out and retrieve the grain and grass."
The Emperor was concerned about whether Old Duke Chong’s health could withstand it.
The grain and grass needed to be recovered, the thieves eradicated, but Old Duke Chong’s health was also of great importance.
The Emperor did not agree and continued reading the letter.
At the end of the letter, Su Jin narrated the situation in Su State, where Sun Prefect first coerced marriage, then reneged. He also used threats and inducements on a servant she sent to congratulate the Wei Family, oppressing the people, extorting them of their fat and grease, the people dared to be angry but dared not speak...
Especially the fact that the people of Su State dared to curse the Emperor but not Sun Prefect. These words directly infuriated the Emperor to the point of internal injury.
After impeaching Sun Prefect, Su Jin wrote about the people’s praise for Lin Prefect.
Three years had passed, and the Emperor no longer remembered Lin Prefect of Su State, asking, "Who is this Lin Prefect?"
Old Duke Chong briefly introduced Lin Prefect and then said, "The Princess, through her secret investigation, found Lin Prefect to be quite reputable among the people, surely a good official. His demotion was most likely orchestrated by my rebellious son to eliminate dissent, causing the court to lose a virtuous official."
"It was Lin Prefect’s eldest son who delivered the Princess’s letter back to the Capital. He is now outside the Imperial Study."
"The Emperor can inquire about the Princess’s matters with him."
Su Jin mentioned in the letter that Mr. Lin offered his guest room for her to stay.
The Emperor had a good impression of this Mr. Lin, "Let him in."
The little eunuch went out to announce Mr. Lin’s entry into the Imperial Study.
Mr. Lin was somewhat anxious.
He entered the Imperial Study and saluted the Emperor.
"Rise," the Emperor said.
Mr. Lin raised his head to glance at the Emperor, then lowered it again.
The Emperor looked at him and asked, "How did you come to know the Princess?"
Mr. Lin then reported in detail the incident at the inn where Su Jin, unwell, bumped into him.
Listening to how his daughter, pregnant and almost left on the streets, while out, the Emperor felt uneasy.
If Su Jin were around, the Emperor would certainly scold her a few times. Even if she was eager to find Xie Jingchen, she didn’t need to personally go to the border.
But Su Jin’s journey wasn’t in vain, the news she sent back was too critical.
Such significant merit was enough to offset any faults.
Aside from things he couldn’t say, Mr. Lin told everything he knew without holding back.
After he finished, the Emperor looked at Mr. Lin and asked, "Is there anything else you haven’t told me?"
The Emperor was well aware of his daughter’s cleverness.
But he also knew well that she and her maid were prone to stir up trouble.
The Emperor wanted to know if Su Jin had caused any mischief in Su State.
Unfortunately, Mr. Lin was unaware of the Emperor’s thoughts, and besides, he did have something he withheld.
Upon the Emperor’s inquiry, he was flustered, "The, the Princess disguised as a man, elegant and free, my mother thought highly of her and intended to match her with my sister."
The Emperor, "..."
Eunuch Fu, "..."
Old Duke Chong’s face darkened.
Eunuch Fu recalled the Right Minister’s daughter and didn’t know what to say.
The Princess, dressed as a girl, couldn’t get married without force; disguised as a man, she gained suitors constantly.
"Wherever my daughter goes, she is well-liked," the Emperor laughed.
"Anything else?"
"No, nothing else..."
He could never confess to sharing a room with the Princess.
Mr. Lin said he and Su Jin had only met a few times and only knew this much, so the Emperor asked no more.
The Emperor might not trust others, but he certainly believed Su Jin’s words.
He immediately ordered a decree, demoting Sun Prefect and confiscating the Sun Mansion, reinstating Lord Lin to his former position and temporarily taking over Su State Prefecture.
Mr. Lin was bewildered, remaining unresponsive for some time.
Old Duke Chong smiled and said, "Hurry and express your gratitude."
Since Su Jin’s acknowledgment of her ancestral roots, this was her first recommendation of a court official.
Though temporarily taking over Su State Prefecture, leaving a favorable impression with the Emperor meant certain future advancement.
Old Duke Chong still had matters to discuss with the Emperor, not knowing how long it would take, so he had the little eunuch escort Mr. Lin out of the palace.
Outside the palace gates.
The servant had circled back and forth numerous times, not knowing how many.
If it weren’t known he came with Old Duke Chong, the gatekeeper would have already driven him far away.
Waiting left and right, he finally saw Mr. Lin come out.
The servant hurriedly ran forward and said, "Young master, you finally came out."
Seeing Mr. Lin’s bright demeanor, the servant asked, "Young master, you seem quite happy, has something fortuitous occurred?"
"The Emperor has reinstated father’s position," Mr. Lin said.
The servant was incredulous, "Really?"
"Would I lie to you?" Mr. Lin laughed.
"Then let’s quickly return to Su State and report this good news to the master and madam," the servant was overjoyed.
"They will surely be thrilled."
Mr. Lin glanced at the servant, "Weren’t you too tired to stand?"
The servant scratched his head and said, "When good things happen, one is invigorated. Never mind being tired, I could run for three days and nights without closing my eyes."
"I want to sleep," Mr. Lin yawned.
"....."