Gu Moran had just returned to the Prince's mansion, her boots still dusty from the palace path, when Uncle Fu came up from behind the screen wall, clutching a palace waist token in his hand.
"Your Highness, someone from the Hall of Supreme Ultimate has arrived."
Gu Moran raised his hand to unbutton his cloak, but stopped when his fingertips touched the collar.
Having just finished inquiring about his background at the Hanzhang Hall, a summons from Hall of Supreme Ultimate arrived at the door.
They didn't even give us a chance to catch our breath.
He pulled his cloak back over his shoulders, suppressing the unease in his chest.
"What's up?"
Uncle Fu lowered his voice.
"A eunuch from Gao Fu's side came to deliver a message, saying that His Majesty summoned His Highness to the palace for questioning."
"Questioning?"
Uncle Fu glanced at him, but didn't respond, instead lowering his voice even further.
"Your Highness, His Majesty has likely already read Yuan Shen's memorial."
Gu Moran didn't stop walking; he had already re-examined the map of the south of the city in his mind.
Yuan Shen, Cao Jin, Dragon Abyss Martial Arts School, Free Clinic, Ye Qingyun, Chu Tianxing, Crown Prince's Residence, Second Prince's Residence.
Lines were laid out on the emperor's desk.
" Uncle Fu."
"This old servant is here."
I wonder what Father Emperor wants to discuss with me this time.
"Don't cause any trouble at the Prince's residence. If the Six Courts ask, just say I went to the palace to get a scolding, and I'll be back soon."
Uncle Fu followed half a step behind him, his back bent low.
"This old servant understands."
Gu Moran got into the car, and as soon as the curtain fell, the noise outside was immediately cut off by more than half.
The wheels rolled over the bluestone road, and the palace walls drew ever closer.
He closed his eyes for a moment, but his mind was still racing.
Outside the Hall of Supreme Ultimate, the Grand Eunuch Gao Fu was already standing there waiting.
Gu Moran deliberately yawned, his shoulders relaxed, and he even dragged his steps a little.
"Eunuch Gao, is Father missing me again?"
Gao Fu looked up at him, his voice very low.
"Your Highness, once you go inside, please refrain from making jokes. Chen Dehai is on duty today."
Gu Moran took half a step forward.
"I only speak the truth."
Gao Fu's eyelid twitched.
"Don't be too honest, lest you anger His Majesty and worry the Consort."
Gu Moran softly.
"I understand. When the royal family speaks, they only tell three parts truth and leave the other seven parts for people to figure out, right?"
Gao Fu didn't answer again, and turned to lead the way.
As soon as the palace door was pushed open, the scent of sandalwood and cinnabar wafted out.
Gu Moran's nose twitched, and her stomach sank.
The scent of the longevity pill hasn't completely dissipated yet.
This guy is addicted to drugs.
The emperor sat behind his desk, and Yuan Shen's memorial lay open, with his imperial comments already written in vermilion ink.
Several urgent letters from the south of the city were pressed against the corner of the desk, the seals not yet completely dry.
Gu Moran glanced over, then immediately lowered his gaze.
He walked into the hall, lifted his robe, knelt down, and bowed his head deeply.
Your son greets Your Majesty.
The emperor did not wake him.
"Are you awake?"
Gu Moran lowered her forehead even further.
"Your Majesty, I am only half awake; the other half is still in bed."
Chen Dehai coughed lightly beside him.
The emperor turned a page of the memorial.
"Stand up."
Gu Moran stood up, casually straightening his cuffs, deliberately moving a little slowly.
The emperor looked at him and asked directly.
"Was the South City Martial Workshop your idea?"
Gu Moran looked completely innocent.
"Father, I know nothing about martial arts. I only know how to spend money."
"Spend twenty thousand taels?"
"No, Father, I was just having fun and fooling around. Now I can only accept my bad luck and pay 20,000 taels for peace. It's worth it."
The emperor's fingertip rested on the edge of the folded document, but he didn't move.
"You're really willing to do that."
Gu Moran looked up, putting on her usual aggrieved expression.
"Father, I used to pay for criticism, and today I'm paying for peace. Doesn't that still sound like I've made a mistake?"
The hall fell silent for a moment.
Gu Moran's back was already covered in a fine layer of sweat.
Normally, the emperor would have cursed him as a scoundrel for saying this.
The fact that he didn't scold me today shows that this emperor doesn't intend to follow the old path.
The emperor looked at Chen Dehai.
Have Yuan Shen and Cao Jin arrived yet?
Chen Dehai bowed.
"Your Majesty, they are already waiting outside the palace."
"Announce."
Soon, Yuan Shen and Cao Jin entered the hall one after the other.
Yuan Shen was dressed neatly, and his face showed no superfluous expression.
Cao Jin's boots still had mud stains from the south of the city. When he entered the hall, he glanced at the ground first, as if afraid of bringing dirt into the emperor's presence.
After the two men bowed, the emperor closed the memorial.
" Yuan Shen, you go first."
Yuan Shen took a breath and tucked his hands into his sleeves before speaking.
"Your Majesty, the private feuds in the poor neighborhoods south of the city have been going on for quite some time."
The Dragon Abyss Martial Arts School had a chaotic student body, and patients were gathering at the free clinic tent in Shun'an Lane.
If we only seal it off, the teenagers will disperse, and the patients will have nowhere to go, which could easily lead to even bigger trouble.
The emperor asked, "So, you accepted money from Prince Yi?"
Yuan Shen did not look at Gu Moran.
"I am indeed short of money."
Cao Jin's eyelids twitched, but he still didn't say anything.
Yuan Shen continued, "The 20,000 taels of silver have been deposited into the charitable funds account of the Jingzhao Prefecture, with a copy kept in Chang'an County. The accounts are verifiable. The money was used for shelters, medicine, night patrols, record keeping, and emergency relief. I am willing to take responsibility for the accounts."
The emperor then asked, "Are you sure you can manage the apprentices at the Dragon Abyss Martial Arts School properly?"
Cao Jin cupped his hands in greeting.
"Your Majesty, sealing it off is the easiest thing to do. But those apprentices will be scattered into the alleys tomorrow."
When I was in charge of handling brawls in Chang'an County, what I feared most wasn't those on the roster, but those not on the roster.
The emperor looked at him.
Cao Jin paused for a moment, then continued.
"The martial arts workshops were handed over to the government. Everyone who had learned the martial arts, which alley they lived in, and how many people were in their family were all recorded in a register."
If they fight again, they can be arrested.
If someone secretly possesses weapons, it can be investigated. If someone practices unorthodox martial arts, they can be imprisoned.
The emperor neither said it was good nor bad, and turned his gaze to Gu Moran.
"Tell me about it?"
Gu Moran quickly weighed the options in her mind.
Saying too much would sound like taking credit for something.
Saying too little would seem like hiding something.
He raised his hand and scratched his eyebrow, looking rather displeased.
"Father, I originally just wanted to get rid of this mess. But then the commotion in the south of the city started, and people outside are saying that Prince Yi's Residence is raising warriors. I find that very unlucky."
The emperor asked, "So?"
"So I thought, since they insist that I raise them, why not send them to the government to be raised?"
Yuan Shen lowered his gaze slightly and remained silent.
Cao Jin almost looked up at him.
The emperor stared at Gu Moran.
"Should we give them to the government to raise?"
Gu Moran spread his hands.
"Your son provides the money, Lord Yuan manages the accounts, and Lord Cao manages the personnel. The credit goes to Father Emperor, and the infamy goes to your son."
If my eldest brother wants to scold me for being absurd, let him. If my second brother wants to call me a spendthrift, let him say so too. I'm used to it all.
Chen Dehai's palms clenched as he listened.
This statement sounds absurd at first glance, but upon closer examination, it cleverly plugs every loophole.
The emperor looked at him for a while, then suddenly asked.
Do you hold a grudge against Ye Qingyun?
Gu Moran's heart tightened, but her face only showed a hint of confusion.
"That talented scholar from Jizhou?"
The emperor said, "Can you tolerate someone with a past agreement with the Su Clan?"