mesbooks Chapter 137 Pei Xu is really confused
Chapter 137 Pei Xu is really confused
Women always put love first.
Even when they come here, in this ignorant and backward era, they are always good at trapping themselves in the backyard rather than making a name for themselves.
Pei Yunqing sneered, with a hint of disdain in his eyes.
Love is such a good thing. It can make people forget who they are and give their all to others.
He would never go this far, it would be too stupid.
Pei Yunqing stretched out his slender fingers, caught a bright red flower that flew towards him, and then crushed it hard. The bright red juice slid onto his fingertips, and then he ruthlessly wiped it off with a handkerchief and threw it on the ground, as if the flower had never been there.
"Your Highness, His Majesty has sent someone to invite you."
Fang Ming called out from outside the study, saying that they were not allowed to enter the study without the master's permission.
"understood."
Pei Yunqing responded, opened the door and came out of the study. He had expected that his father would summon him and had made preparations in advance.
Now that he is seventeen, he should have some understanding of state affairs, but the emperor has not issued any decree yet, and he is not in a hurry.
After all, having been a prince for many years, he had figured out the emperor's temper. Even though he was old, he still refused to give power to his son.
In the past, despite holding the title of Crown Prince, Pei Yunjia held little real power. Pei Yunzhao, on the other hand, even managed to enter politics and win over some court officials, but without the support of his in-laws, he held no power. As for himself, with his mother's disfavor and his in-laws powerless, he could only be an idle prince with no ambition.
Now that the emperor has summoned him while Pei Xu is in trouble, he is probably planning to let him participate in politics to check and balance his two sons.
After all, Pei Xu's life or death is uncertain, which is a good opportunity for the prince and the third brother to expand their power.
Once one side becomes strong, it will be dangerous. If the emperor wants to maintain his position, he must create another stumbling block for them.
Pei Yunqing is the best choice. He has no one to rely on, so he can only rely on his father.
"Your son pays homage to His Majesty, Father. Long live His Majesty."
Even though Pei Yunqing already knew what the emperor was planning, his attitude remained very respectful.
The emperor raised his hand and said, "Stand up."
He raised his eyes slightly and looked at his son who had grown into an adult without him knowing when, and felt that he was a little strange.
"You've been weak since you were little. Ever since I came back from the hunting grounds, I've been thinking about visiting you, but unfortunately, I've been held back by these mundane matters."
The emperor sighed when he said this.
"I am old and powerless..."
The emperor naturally refused to admit his old age, but he was still willing to say something against his will.
Pei Yunqing knew this, so he would not agree with him. Instead, he lowered his eyes and said, "May our father live forever. He is now in the prime of his life."
He did not mention anything about the hunting grounds, but just waited for the emperor to tell him.
If a person is too curious, it is not a good thing, especially in front of the emperor.
"You are quite sweet-talking, and you are better at talking than your two brothers."
The emperor smiled, seemingly doting on his son. Without waiting for Pei Yunqing to reply, he continued, "If you think carefully, you're already 17. Your two elder brothers, at your age, would have already been involved in government. Although you're frail, you're still a royal heir. You can't just sit around doing nothing. Why don't you learn how to be an official first? The Dali Temple has always been managed by Pei Xu. Although his life or death is unknown, I'm confident you can go there. Just bear with it for now and become a temple secretary."
Pei Yunqing couldn't help laughing when he heard this.
Fortunately, the old emperor was able to think of this and asked him to work as a small temple secretary in the Dali Temple.
Now Pei Xu's whereabouts are unknown. Even if he is not dead, it would not be a problem for him, a prince, to take Pei Xu's place.
"Your Majesty is very considerate. I do not feel wronged."
No matter how dissatisfied Pei Yunqing was, he would not throw a tantrum at the old emperor. He could only agree reluctantly and flatter him at the same time.
The emperor was satisfied with his attitude and took him aside to talk to him privately before letting him go. When he left, the news that he was going to be appointed as the Secretary of the Dali Temple spread like wildfire.
The one who released the news was naturally the emperor.
"Hu Dequan, which of my sons do you think is capable of shouldering this important responsibility?"
The emperor's posture was lazy, with one hand hanging on his thigh and the other hand holding a memorial and flipping through it.
"In reply to your Majesty, let me say something bold. I have watched you all grow up under my watch. I think you are all good, and I cannot say which one is better."
Hu Dequan wore a flattering smile, his tone concealing a subtle caution. Having accompanied the emperor for over 20 years, he naturally knew that the emperor's question was not a genuine desire to abdicate.
Now that the princes have grown up, and even the fifth prince can hold up the sky, His Majesty's sense of crisis is naturally getting heavier.
This high position and power are dazzling. The Crown Prince wants it, the Third Prince wants it, and why doesn’t the Fifth Prince want it too?
The emperor now had another rival and enemy.
"You are so cunning."
The emperor held the memorial and nodded with a sarcastic smile.
"Speak boldly, I will forgive you today."
Even if the emperor forgave him, Hu Dequan didn't dare to say it. Once he said it, wouldn't it be telling the emperor that even the eunuchs around him were on his side?
"Since Your Majesty has spoken so, I feel free to speak frankly. I believe that all of the princes are good and exceptional. The Crown Prince and the Third Prince are already able to share Your Majesty's worries, and in the future, the Fifth Prince will surely also reassure Your Majesty. With the assistance of these princes, Your Majesty will surely be able to sleep peacefully."
Hu Dequan spoke tactfully, praising everyone one by one, and then affirmed that the emperor's position was stable.
After going through so much trouble, what the emperor wanted to hear most was that his kingdom would last forever and his throne would be forever secure. He could not give up power, and as long as he was alive, he wanted to be the emperor, that is, the emperor.
"You always make me happy."
The emperor smiled and finally stopped making things difficult for him.
But his smile did not reach his eyes, instead there was a layer of hazy gloom.
"There's still no news on Pei Xu. The Crown Prince said he died in the hunting grounds, but I don't believe it. This kid has been practicing martial arts since he was young and has fought on the battlefield for many years. Even if he encountered a ferocious beast, he would be able to escape."
When Hu Dequan heard the emperor mention Prince Su, he didn't know what to say, so he could only say cautiously, "Perhaps it was to protect his concubine."
He paused, glanced at the emperor stealthily, and whispered, "Rumor has it that Prince Su dotes on that woman. He always hugs her whenever he goes out, and often buys her snacks. Now that she's pregnant, I'm sure Prince Su values her even more."
The emperor naturally knew Pei Xu's favorite concubine, and he had met her several times.
"Gu Jiaorong, what's your background?"
In the past, he did not take a little concubine seriously, after all, she was not of noble birth.
Hu Dequan had already found out everything and was just waiting for the emperor to ask. Now, of course, he told everything.
"Oh, she's just from a poor background. Even if she's good at flattering people, she's still just a toy. Pei Xu is really stupid!"