Inlaid With Jade - Chapter 90

Chapter 90
Imprisonment

Zhu Xi came to Wuying Palace today as if he genuinely wanted to plead for Zhu Ming. As Zhu Ming left, he looked at his back and told Emperor Chong’an: “Not long ago, Father was not in the palace. The Sixth Brother worked day and night to handle state affairs. This is a great achievement. Why not offset the merits and demerits? Why put him under house arrest in Zhongcui Palace?”

“Great merit?” Emperor Chong’an snorted coldly and snarled: “You haven’t read the memorials he reviewed in the past few months. The old thieves who followed him to fight took advantage of this and proposed to increase food and replace armor. He approved it without hesitation. However, the Ministry of Rites asked for money to prepare for the Nuo opera shortly, but he kept delaying and refusing to agree. If the Ministry of Revenue had not held back the money, I’m afraid the treasury would be empty when I returned to the palace.”

Zhu Xi wanted to laugh when he heard it, but he didn’t show it on his face. He said, “Sixth Brother has been in the army for many years and understands the soldiers well. He will naturally be more considerate of them, which is not a big mistake. “

Emperor Chong’an repeatedly shook his head: “How can state affairs allow repeated mistakes? I have given him a chance, but everyone has their strengths. He may be a fierce general, but he is not a benevolent monarch, and his political ability is far inferior to yours.”

Emperor Chong’an said, looking at Zhu Xi’s legs under his python robe: “I went to the temple this time and heard from the abbot that there is a famous doctor in the north who is good at treating bones and leg diseases. I have sent someone to invite him, Xi’er. You must try again.”

Zhu Xi said: “Thank you, Father, but I know how my legs were, so you don’t have to worry about it anymore.”

Emperor Chong’an insisted: “Try it. It won’t hurt.”

Zhu Xi had to agree: “Yes.”

Emperor Chong’an sat back in the dragon chair, looking at the empty brick surface, and suddenly remembered the old things. He slowly said to Zhu Xi: “Do you remember that when your sixth brother was young, he was naughty and broke a white-glazed monk’s hat pot in my palace? Because he feared being punished by me, he lied that a palace maid did it.”

Emperor Chong’an would not bring up old things for no reason. Zhu Xi slightly raised his eyes, glanced at the confused Emperor Chong’an behind the table, and replied cautiously, “I vaguely remember it.”

Emperor Chong’an raised his hand and pointed to where Zhu Ming had knelt: “He has been arrogant and stubborn since he was young. Initially, he knelt on the ground with his shoulders straightened like earlier. No matter how I asked, he denied it flatly and put all the faults on the palace maid, refusing to admit a word.”

Zhu Ming evidently did something wrong, but his tone was blameless when he mentioned this matter. Instead, he was like an ordinary father, with an uncontrollable love for his youngest and most naughty son.

“But he was so young then, not even as tall as my sword, so he would always reveal his true colors. He was as hard-mouthed as iron but kept his right hand behind his back, thinking he had concealed it well. No one knows his son better than his father. After so many years, he would unconsciously put his right hand behind his back every time he lied to me, and it has never changed.”

At this point, Zhu Xi understood what Emperor Chong’an wanted to say. He lowered his eyes and did not respond, waiting for Emperor Chong’an to forgive Zhu Ming as always.

Emperor Chong’an had many brothers and did not receive much fatherly love when he was young, so he attached great importance to the relationship between father and sons. He not only grieved for Zhu Xi, who had outstanding talents but also had disabled legs, but he also loved his youngest son, Zhu Ming, who made many mistakes and had many military exploits.

Emperor Chong’an looked down at Zhu Xi, who was sitting quietly in a wheelchair at the bottom of the stairs, and asked solemnly, “I didn’t notice it just now. When your sixth brother said he didn’t do it, was his hand behind his back or in front of him?”

How could a minister or a son see clearly what the Emperor didn’t see clearly? Zhu Xi was quiet for a moment, then raised the corner of his lips, smiled, and said to the soft-hearted Emperor before him, “I didn’t notice it either.”

Emperor Chong’an nodded and slowly closed his eyes: “Okay, I’m tired today. You can go back and rest.”

Zhu Xi lowered his eyebrows and looked at his legs, which would never be able to walk again under his robe. He suddenly thought of that cold winter. He bowed and said, “Father, take care of your health. I will take my leave.”

Xu Wen, who had been waiting in Jinghe Palace for a long time, saw Zhu Xi return to the palace from afar and hurriedly took the wheelchair from the guards. He pushed Zhu Xi to a deserted place and asked, “Your Highness, how is it?”

On the way back, Zhu Xi pulled a handful of grass from somewhere. His long fingers flexibly twisted a few slender leaves, concentrating on making crickets. He casually replied to Xu Wen, “Just like before, treating important matters as small. My sixth brother is so lawless because of my father’s behavior.”

Xu Wen sighed and shook his head: “The Emperor is too sentimental.”

Zhu Xi casually placed the crickets he had woven in the flowers along the road and said: “It doesn’t matter if he is sentimental. Since my father can’t do it, force him to be cruel.”

Xu Wen frowned: “The Emperor is the supreme ruler. Who in the world can force him?”

After he said that, he seemed to have come up with an answer. He lowered his head and looked at Zhu Xi’s calm eyebrows: “Your Highness, are you talking about…”

Zhu Xi calmly took over his words: “The world is full of rumors.”

Emperor Chong’an ordered Wei Lin to imprison Li Heming, but Li Heming did nothing wrong; he was unlucky because of the Sixth Prince. Emperor Chong’an didn’t want to make this matter public and arouse suspicion, so he ordered Wei Lin to act quietly. Wei Lin deliberately waited until nightfall to act.

This afternoon plus half a night was enough for Li Heming to get the news. He, who used to rush home after work, stayed at the office that night.

Li Heming had a resting place in the office. When Wei Lin led a dozen Imperial Guards to open his door, it was the middle of the night, and the lights were dim, but Li Heming was sitting in a chair, neatly dressed and drinking tea. Obviously, he was waiting for someone to come.

Catching your superior in your territory was a strange scene. Wei Lin was the first to enter the room. He glanced at the embroidered sword that Li Heming had placed on the table, raised his hand to signal his men to hand over the clean prison uniform to Li Heming, and then asked casually, “Why didn’t Lord Li go home today?”

Li Heming was very familiar with this process. He stood up, took off his hat, and said calmly, “I have a family, unlike Lord Wei, who is still alone at his age. Naturally, I fear my wife will cry when she sees this scene.”

Wei Lin smiled, “Lord Li is about to go to jail, but he is still so harsh.”

Wei Lin and Li Heming had no grudges against each other. It was better to say that they had a sense of sympathy because of the Sixth Prince. He dealt with Li Heming only because there were many things he could only touch if he sat in Li Heming’s position. Therefore, Wei Lin did not embarrass him at the moment and asked people to wait outside.

After Li Heming had changed into the prison uniform and exited the room, he extended his hand in cooperation. The Imperial Guard holding the shackles stepped forward, and seeing Li Heming like this, he frowned and felt sorry for him. Before putting the shackles on Li Heming’s hands and feet, he whispered: “Leader, I’m sorry.”

Wei Lin heard it but didn’t say anything. He glanced at shackled Li Heming and retracted his gaze: “Let’s go.”