allonlinenovel Chapter 131 He is so ungrateful
Chapter 131 He is so ungrateful
"and then?"
"Bai Liu submitted a petition, stating that he would return to the capital to plead guilty once the disaster situation stabilized. However, His Majesty not only did not punish Bai Liu, but instead rejected all the impeachment petitions against him. He also ordered the court officials who impeached Bai Liu to raise funds for the ten affected states. The Ministry of Revenue would report the amount, and 10% would be contributed from the Imperial Treasury's private treasury. The remaining 90% would be raised by court officials. The sources of the funds would be clearly stated, and monuments of merit would be erected in the ten states."
When it comes to forcing donations, Your Majesty is the most ruthless.
Tang Ling couldn't help but laugh out loud: "If you shoot yourself in the foot, won't that make those people feel really bad?"
"That's right. There are ten merit tablets in ten states. I should go and see them when I have the chance."
"What does this have to do with Ning Wanxiao? Is it just because you admire Bai Liu?"
"Ning Wanxiao was brought to Yuanxing Monastery by Taoist Tianwei to practice Taoism the moment he was born, but he wasn't born out of thin air. Bai Liu was providing disaster relief in Chuanyang, and among the refugees were Ning Wanxiao's biological parents and younger brother. Your Majesty originally intended to reward Bai Liu, but Bai Liu felt he had overstepped his bounds and refused to accept the award, believing he had committed no merit. Ning Wanxiao then suggested that Your Majesty engrave Bai Liu's name on the stele of merit, thanking him on behalf of the people of the world for his righteousness."
The entire court knew Bai Liu had done Ning Wanxiao's family a favor, but Bai Xiqiao was the only one who was completely unaware. Ning Wanxiao had never had the chance to repay Bai Liu for that favor, and now he was intent on repaying Bai Xiqiao.
"This kind of fate is indeed very interesting. Then how did Ning Wanxiao know that Bai Xiqiao is Bai Liu's son?"
"That's a good question. I guess I'll have to ask Ning Wanxiao to find out. But if Ning Wanxiao wants to know something, or find the whereabouts of Bai Liu's orphan, it shouldn't be difficult."
"You don't plan to hide Bai Xiqiao's identity?"
Qi Xiao shook his head and laughed, "Bai Liu was never convicted before or after his death, and Bai Xiqiao is not shameful. It's just more convenient for him to be a guard by my side, but it's actually unfair to him. When the time comes, he will inherit his father's business."
Tang Ling was stunned for a moment, then suddenly sighed softly, "I hope I won't meet him on the battlefield in the future."
"Are you afraid of meeting me on the battlefield?"
Tang Ling was still smiling. It would be a lie to say that he was not worried. He had always been afraid of the situation where they would be at odds with each other in the future and he would be at a loss. But for some reason, when Qi Xiao looked at him infatuatedly, he was not so scared anymore.
"If you stand by my side, you will have nothing to fear."
"it is good."
As the two were talking, the carriage was about to reach the palace gate, but Qi Xiao still had to avoid it.
"I'll get off here."
Tang Ling nodded, and Ye Huai parked the car in the alley. Tang Ling's carriage followed behind, picked up Qi Xiao at the entrance of the alley and left.
***
Zhang Suian went to do the work of Concubine Lin, so he was not working in Chengming Palace. Tang Ling had met the two young eunuchs serving in front of the palace twice. They were both familiar faces. One was called Gao Mo and the other was called Wang Changxing.
"Mr. Tang, please wait a moment. I will go and inform you."
"Thank you, Eunuch Gao."
Tang Ling only waited for a moment, and before he could get distracted, Gao Mo came back and invited him in.
"Tang Ling pays respect to His Majesty."
"Come, play chess with me."
Tang Ling happily agreed. The chessboard had already been prepared in the ear room. As soon as Tang Ling sat down, Wang Changxing brought her hot tea and snacks, and then he and Gao Mo retreated together.
As usual, His Majesty played the black pieces first, and Tang Ling played the white pieces, responding one by one. His Majesty didn't say anything, so Tang Ling just treated it as a game of chess and remained silent.
When the game reached the middle stage, Gao Mo came in and announced that the fifteenth princess had come to pay her respects to His Majesty.
"Ming'er pays his respects to the Emperor. My mother personally prepared a white fungus and jade pear soup and ordered me to bring it to the Emperor for him to taste."
Tang Ling stood up and saluted the Fifteenth Princess.
"Put it aside." His Majesty glanced at the Fifteenth Princess and nodded slightly. He quickly retracted his gaze and returned it to the chessboard. He waved at Tang Ling, indicating that he should sit down and continue playing chess.
Tang Ling saw that His Majesty's expression was normal, but the Fifteenth Princess's expression was not too good. She had been very happy when she came, but now although she was still smiling, her smile was a little stiff, probably because His Majesty's reaction was a little cold.
Fifteenth Princess Qi Ming, also known as Princess Xuanning, was the youngest daughter of Concubine Zhao. She had been doted on by both His Majesty and Concubine Zhao since childhood. When Qi Xiao mentioned His Majesty's idea of marrying the Fifteenth Princess off to a foreign power, Tang Ling felt a little puzzled. How could the Fifteenth Princess, so favored, be willing to be used as a tool to contain the two nations? Would Concubine Zhao agree?
But at the moment, Tang Ling couldn't tell how much His Majesty liked the Fifteenth Princess.
Maybe it’s not because she is not favored, but because she is spoiled.
Gao Mo wanted to take the sweet soup from the Fifteenth Princess, but the Tenth Princess refused to let go and said, "Don't bother Eunuch Gao. I'll serve you."
His Majesty looked up at the Fifteenth Princess, who smiled sweetly and said, "Although Ming'er isn't as obsessed with chess as my cousin, I also enjoy it very much. Today, it's a rare opportunity for you to play chess with me, father. Will you allow Ming'er to serve by your side and watch a game?"
"Yeah. Just watch then."
In this way, the fifteenth princess stood there with a bowl of sweet soup. She stood there for nearly an hour and watched the entire game of chess. During this time, His Majesty seemed to have forgotten that there was someone beside him. He was completely immersed in the game and naturally forgot to use the sweet soup.
After a game of chess, Tang Ling lost half a point and took his leave. His Majesty did not keep him, and the Fifteenth Princess followed him out.
"Mr. Tang, please stay." Princess Fifteen rubbed her sore and numb arms and trotted two steps to catch up with Tang Ling.
"I wonder what the Fifteenth Princess wants to do."
"There are several things I'm confused about regarding the chess game just now. Could you please advise me, Master Tang?"
"As a foreign minister, I cannot remain in the palace without an imperial decree. I beg the Fifteenth Princess to forgive me. I take my leave."
The Fifteenth Princess was beautiful, radiant and captivating in her pomegranate-red dress. Her smile was charming and lively, and she was a princess herself. She had never heard such a blunt and blunt rejection before. She was furious and at a loss for words. She watched Tang Ling leave without a backward glance, gnashing her teeth and beating her chest. She had received a letter saying His Majesty had summoned Tang Ling, so she had calculated the time and come, only to displease Him. She had also just spent so long carrying the sweet soup that her arms felt almost broken. All just to see Tang Ling a few more times, and yet he was so ungrateful!
Gao Mo followed behind him and said, "Fifteenth Princess, His Majesty has ordered me to escort you back to the palace."
"Hmph!" Princess Fifteen snorted and could only turn around and leave.