Chapter 31
Waking up early in the morning, Xiao Chuchu, who had been entertaining her brother by playing a handheld drum, twisted her little neck from the bed to see Wei Zheng with a wooden splint on his right arm.
"Princess, Fifth Prince, the Emperor says you should avoid leaving the palace for the next few days if possible, as it's very chaotic outside."
Xiao Chuchu blinked her eyes, [What happened that made the Emperor think it's so chaotic recently?]
"Oh, Master Liu just finished a meeting with the Emperor at the Chonghua Palace. The Emperor wants you to take the Fifth Prince and the little princess to have a meal there."
Concubine Liu immediately expressed her gratitude, "How is Sergeant Wei's arm injury? Would you like to have some tea here before we go?"
"I'm honored to serve you," Wei Zheng smiled. "No need for tea. Just get ready quickly, Princess, and go to the Emperor. Don't keep him waiting."
So urgent?
Wei Zheng excused himself first, exchanging a glance with the Fifth Prince.
Most likely, the Emperor wanted to hear the little princess's thoughts.
They were also eager to know what Concubine Liu's father had discussed with the Emperor during his visit to the palace.
Did the Emperor find out about the Liao King's affairs?
Without hesitation, Concubine Liu swiftly instructed Zhang Jia Wet Nurse, "Check the little princess's diaper and feed her some milk, then we'll head over."
In just the time it took to burn one incense stick, Xiao Chuchu had finished eating and drinking, and was burped by the wet nurse.
Energetic and lively, she was carried by Concubine Liu, accompanied by the Fifth Prince, to the Chonghua Palace.
As soon as they entered the main hall, they were greeted by Wei Zheng and led to a side room.
A dining table had already been set up there, and Wei Zheng smiled, about to take Xiao Chuchu away.
"The Emperor misses the little princess, so he wants to see her before the meal."
Concubine Liu and the Fifth Prince felt a sudden pang in their hearts.
Something big must have happened.
The Emperor was so impatient that he used the excuse of having a meal with them, but couldn't even wait until lunchtime to hear the little princess's thoughts.
"Don't worry, Princess, I'll take good care of the little princess," Wei Zheng said carefully as he took Xiao Chuchu away.
The side room was just two chambers away from the main hall of the Chonghua Palace.
The little princess's voice soon carried over clearly.
[Did my grandfather suddenly gain the Emperor's favor?]
[Wow, is my grandfather well-suited to be an Imperial Censor and offer advice?]
Concubine Liu and the Fifth Prince exchanged a glance, both finding seats near the door in the side room.
They silently picked up their tea cups and held their breaths, listening intently.
In the main hall, when Xiao Yunzhou saw his daughter arriving and heard her soft, tender voice, he beamed with delight.
Not only was the little princess incredibly talented, but she was also adorable and blessed, making him happier than his sons.
[I didn't expect that after my Emperor father restored his power, he would recognize and utilize talents so well.]
[He's put my grandfather in the perfect position! Wonderful!]
His daughter had just arrived and already praised him profusely.
The smile on Xiao Yunzhou's face was almost impossible to conceal.
Seeing this smile, Master Liu, seated opposite the dragon throne, felt his beard quiver.
It seemed the Emperor could... also hear his granddaughter's thoughts!
No wonder he wanted to hold the little princess!
Master Liu's back was sweating. He definitely couldn't let anything slip and allow the Emperor to notice anything unusual.
But his granddaughter was so well-behaved, praising her grandfather as soon as she arrived.
Master Liu lowered his head, concealing the corners of his mouth and pretending not to dare to look directly at the Emperor.
However, Xiao Yunzhou soon cleared his throat lightly, "Master Liu, please continue. How did you discover the abnormality of the Nine-Colored Peony?"
The eunuch who had brought the little princess, Wei Zheng, guarded the palace doors himself.
The maids and young eunuchs who served tea were all dismissed.
The guards also stood in the corridors, out of earshot of the Emperor's conversation.
Master Liu pretended not to know the reason why the Emperor was holding the little princess and explained in an orderly manner.
"Your Majesty, after I received the Nine-Colored Peony, I was overjoyed and admired it day and night. Who would have thought I would discover something amiss?"
The Emperor raised his eyebrow, "Oh?"
"This Nine-Colored Peony is not a heavenly blessing at all. Its nine petals and nine colors were created by artificial dyes."
The Emperor's mouth twitched. The Liao King was actually a fraud?
Fooling him, the Emperor, like this!
"So Master Liu suspected that the Liao King, who presented the flower, had some ulterior motive?"
Of course, Master Liu couldn't reveal that it was his granddaughter who had given him the insight.
He had already prepared his explanation at home. "Last year, one of my servants gave me three baskets of extra large and salty salted duck eggs from my hometown."
"Ahem." The Emperor almost laughed.
Concubine Liu's father always used trivial examples from his own family whenever he offered advice.
It was evident he wasn't from a scholarly family.
But that's what made it genuine!
The Emperor even wanted to treat Master Liu like a member of his own family.
"At first, I thought he had given them to me unconditionally, but the next day, he scolded me."
"He said that since he had served in the Liu household for many years, he should get a raise in his monthly allowance."
Master Liu had discussed with his wife the previous day on how to persuade the Emperor, and now he spoke fluently.
"That's when I realized that if someone who had never shown you any special attention before suddenly does so, they most likely have ulterior motives."
Pfft.
The Emperor almost burst out laughing.
But then he frowned, realizing that was exactly what the Liao King had done!
Thinking that the other party might be plotting a rebellion, the Emperor couldn't laugh anymore, as it was a grave matter that kept him from eating and sleeping peacefully.
"So when I saw that the Nine-Colored Peony presented by the Liao King was not a natural phenomenon, I couldn't help but have doubts."
"Unsolicited favors often come with ill intentions!"
Master Liu put on a pensive expression.
Even Xiao Chuchu, being held by Xiao Yunzhou, was drawn into his explanation, listening intently.
[And then what happened? And then what?]
[Ah, did my grandfather then discover the Liao King's plan to rebel?]
Xiao Yunzhou's expression changed abruptly.
Master Liu's conjecture was true!
Even his daughter said so, which meant the Liao King really was plotting a rebellion!
It wasn't just Master Liu overthinking things!
Xiao Chuchu was also excited, [If we can discover the Liao King's plot in advance, we'll have a chance to reduce the casualties of over forty thousand soldiers!]
Xiao Yunzhou nearly fainted.
Forty thousand casualties?
Xiao Chuchu tilted her little neck in anticipation, looking at Master Liu, [Wow, grandfather, did you find out? You must tell my Emperor father quickly! If you inform my Emperor father, my grandfather, you'll be a great hero who saved countless innocent lives! You're so brilliant!]
Xiao Yunzhou's gaze flickered.
Indeed, the one who discovered this matter, Master Liu, would be a great hero!
He looked at Master Liu with deep respect, "Master Liu, please continue."
The Emperor was now addressing him as "you" instead of the more formal "you"?!
Master Liu could barely maintain his composure.
"Last night, I pondered in my study for a long time because I couldn't understand."
Master Liu hurried to continue, as his granddaughter was eagerly waiting to hear him speak.
"What does the Liao King seek? If there is no heavenly blessing, why would he create one?"
"If he were an ordinary official worried about evaluations and seeking Your Majesty's favor, it would be understandable."
"But he is already the prestigious Liao King bestowed by the late Emperor!"
"He enjoys the court's provisions and rules over the prosperous Xiangcheng fief."
"He lacks neither gold nor silver, nor three thousand guards, nor lands and fortresses. It is said he has also taken many beautiful women as consorts."
"The Liao King has already received the highest honors and rewards!"
"I really can't figure out what else he could possibly ask of Your Majesty!"
As a king ruling over a fief with troops and lands, what more could he desire?
Above a king, there was only the dragon throne beneath the Emperor's own bottom!
Xiao Yunzhou's blood boiled as he listened, and he nearly burst out cursing.
The Liao King was truly his good uncle!
Coveting his nephew's dragon throne, why didn't he just fight the late Emperor for it?!
Master Liu, seeing the Emperor's expression, continued, "Then I investigated further."
"And what I discovered was shocking."
"This artificially created Nine-Colored Peony miracle traveled through one hundred and three post stations and military outposts from the Liao King's fief."
"That treacherous scoundrel!"
Xiao Yunzhou couldn't help but curse despite having already known about the Liao King's rebellion.
This was a blatant attempt to survey the court's military defenses!
Master Liu finished speaking all at once, ignoring the Emperor. "Your subject has investigated this matter thoroughly and became highly alarmed. Not long after, I noticed the leader of the escort guards who accompanied the Peony to the capital, and even had an audience with the Eminent Cavalry General Zhang Chen who is residing in the capital."
He spoke up to this point and did not continue any further.
Because Xiao Chuchu had already let out a wail upon hearing the familiar name 'Zhang Chen', triggering more vivid memories.
[Ah, yes, it's him, Zhang Chen! I remember now! During the Awarding Gold Festival, after the palace banquet, Zhang Chen pretended to be drunk and went to the dressing room. He feigned vomiting on Zheng Eunuch, the Attending Secretary by the Emperor Father's side.]
[Zheng Eunuch then took Zhang Chen, who had also soiled his clothes, to Zhang Chen's residence to change.]
[In the process, they exchanged messages. They also encountered the Prefect, Provincial Governor along the way.]
[Ah, yes, their meeting place was along the small path beside the Qianqing Palace which was still undergoing renovation.]
Master Liu: "!"
Even the location was revealed!
His granddaughter's recollection this time was even more detailed than the previous time.
"Master Liu, Your Majesty is fortunate to have you!" Xiao Yunzhou listened to his daughter's words, and his back became slightly damp.
He looked at Master Liu with not only respect, but also a hint of reliance in his eyes.
Father-in-law of Concubine Liu was so wise, outperforming even the fairy's prophecy by just a little.
If it weren't for the young palace lady, Master Liu would have noticed the irregularities.
In comparison, the other officials were simply eating their fill without working!
"This empire, Master Liu, Your Majesty feels at ease with you here!"
Xiao Yunzhou wholeheartedly helped Master Liu to a seat.
Master Liu: "......"
Ah, this.
His old face even became flushed.
He truly had the ability, didn't he!
How did he give birth to such a remarkable granddaughter... No, how did his daughter give birth to such a remarkable granddaughter!