Red Mansion and Crimson Pearl

Chapter 197 I will bully the king

Lin Daiyu opened her eyes wide: What does this have to do with me? !

Dai Quan looked at her and smiled: "I'll have someone take you there first."

What else could Lin Daiyu say? She forced a smile and agreed gently, then lowered her head and followed the eunuch straight to Ganlu Palace.

The status of this palace in Taiji Palace is equivalent to that of Xuanzheng Hall in Daming Palace, so it is particularly spacious and grand.

Lin Daiyu stood in the corner of the hall and felt that the person on the throne would not be able to detect her existence unless he had good eyesight.

Slowly walking to the seat designated by the eunuch, Daiyu slowly sat down, a little dazed.

Everyone said that Lin Ruhai walked before the emperor in the past, was it here? In particular, the emperor loved to live in Ganlu Palace in his later years, and he would move everything here...

Daiyu looked around and saw that next to the throne at the top, there was an empty space that could accommodate at least a dozen people.

Perhaps that's where my father was when he served the Supreme?

His Majesty, who was the crown prince at the time, was also standing there. Perhaps the two former classmates would have talked and joked about something lighthearted and interesting?

No, no.

With my father's personality, which seems gentle but actually keeps people at a distance, once he finds out that the prince had forged his identity to associate with him, he may not treat him the same way as before.

What's more, his father, who passed the imperial examination and became a Jinshi, was nearly thirty years old and had to abide by the etiquette and etiquette of an official. Plus, as a scholar himself, he must have been extremely reserved.

And the current emperor, who has restored his status as a prince from a student of the Imperial College, is only seventeen or eighteen years old, and is full of weird and sinister things. I'm afraid he will also pretend to be mature and serious at that time, right?

Otherwise, in front of the emperor and the ministers, Lin Ruhai, who had a deep friendship with the prince and talked and laughed with him casually, would never have been appointed as the Imperial Censor of the Salt Inspection in Jiangnan...

Lin Daiyu was in a daze when the Emperor came back. Looking at her, he guessed that she was probably thinking of Lin Ruhai. He sighed and pointed to the right side of the throne:

"At that time, Ru Hai stood there. He stood there for a year. Later, he was sent to another post. When he came back, I asked him to stand there again, but he refused.

“A lifetime of old-fashionedness.

"If he had been a little more flexible, he wouldn't have fought alone in Jiangnan. If he had used some skill to draw the Jia family to his side, wouldn't Wang, Shi, Xue, and Zhen all be able to help him?

"If the water is too clear, there will be no fish. I have never said that the salt policy must be clean and thorough. As long as everyone can live decently, the people do not suffer, and there is enough money in the treasury, everything else can be discussed."

Daiyu lowered her head and listened, and closed her eyes involuntarily.

It is because of the Supreme Lord’s lenient attitude that corrupt officials are rampant and officialdom is corrupt in Jiangnan, Lianghuai, Sichuan and Shaanxi, and even in the whole world!

My father, more or less, died because of Tai Shang’s attitude!

——I guess Tai Shang also understands this in his heart, which is why he feels a little guilty about himself.

Seeing Daiyu lowering her head and saying nothing, the somewhat embarrassed Taishang had to change the subject, first asking Daiyu how she was doing recently, and then asking about her life: "Does Ru Hai have any plans?"

Daiyu shook her head: "I am still young and have no intention of doing this for the time being."

The Supreme nodded, sighed, and asked her to sit near him, then he said in a leisurely voice: "I originally thought that Ru Haiqing is capable and close to the emperor, so it is a good opportunity for him to gain experience and assist the emperor.

"I never expected that he would die young, leaving behind only a daughter like you.

"I'm old now, and I'm afraid to hear these things. So in the past few years, I haven't asked anyone how Ru Hai's funeral was handled.

"I happened to meet you today. You know the most. Please tell me in detail."

Daiyu couldn't help but be surprised: The Supreme Lord didn't even know the details of his father's funeral?

I could only tell them slowly, one by one. When I got to the emotional part, I lowered my head and shed tears, without saying anything, and continued after a while.

Gradually they talked until it was almost noon.

Taishang was actually very interested when he heard the end: "Did Ruhai leave any land in Gusu? Did he leave all his books behind as well?"

"Yes. At that time, my cousin from the Jia family was in a hurry to return to the capital to congratulate the queen on her becoming a consort, so he requested to travel light.

"My father has too many books. I don't know what will happen after I return to Beijing. What if I have to return to my hometown to spend the rest of my life? So I didn't take them with me."

Daiyu spoke carefully.

When the Emperor heard the word "conferring a concubine", he frowned, and after she finished speaking, he smiled as if nothing had happened:

"Everyone in the world knows that I like Jiangnan. When Emperor Taizu was young, he followed Emperor Shun's example and went to Huguang. During my six southern tours, I mainly went to Jiangnan."

After a pause, he smiled and pointed in the direction of the Yanjia Palace, "During my last southern tour, she was still just a concubine, stuck in the boat, the palace, and the carriage.

"Now is the perfect time. The emperor is handling government affairs more and more easily, so there is no need for me to stay in the capital.

"She still has some strength in her legs. You can go back to your hometown to look after the fields and bring back the books your father left behind.

"Why don't we go to Jiangnan together?"

Daiyu was speechless for a moment, then she responded with a smile and agreed: "If there is such an honor, I will be honored to help His Majesty to go out of the capital incognito!

"I just want to ask, Your Majesty, which master and which ministers are you traveling with? When are you leaving and when are you expected to return? You have been to Jiangnan six times, which route are you planning to take this time?

"Although I am from there, I have only been there for a few days. If I really want to go, I have to send someone there in advance to prepare for the trip."

The Supreme laughed and pointed his finger at Dai Quan's nose: "Look at her! Zhaoqing is still a little girl, but she is so courageous!

"I told you I wanted to go out and play, but you tried to stop me, as if there were people outside the palace waiting to eat me!

"Humph! If I want to go to Jiangnan next time, I will take your Queen Mother with me, leave the palace and go to the Lin Mansion to pick up Zhaoqing and Yimin, and then we will leave directly!

"No one will take you with them!"

Dai Quan laughed: "Princess Zhaoqing is a young and brave woman who is not afraid of tigers!"

"I was just saying that." Daiyu blinked and smiled playfully, "If I really dare to take the emperor and the queen mother away quietly, the emperor will skin me alive, right?

"I don't have the guts! I just want to bully you and make you smile, that's enough!"

The Supreme was stunned by what she said, then he laughed and shook his head repeatedly: "It's a wonder that a man as old-fashioned as Ru Hai has a daughter as smart as you!"

As he was talking, Cheng Qian came over with a smile, bowed and said, "The Queen Mother said it's noon, time to eat.

"If you don't have anything serious to do, please let Zhaoqing go to the Queen Mother. Princess, please have dinner before you leave."

Daiyu knew that he was here to save her, so she stood up with a smile, bowed and took her leave.

The Supreme Master had no choice but to smile and wave her hand to let her leave: "Old Dai, give her some of the pomegranates from the other day."

Dai Quan's eyebrows jumped and he bowed in agreement.