Chapter 279: Stabilize First
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
Su Ying came to Xiao Jinâs side and walked along the long, bluestone path of the palace. The vermilion palace walls were solemn and oppressive.
Su Ying didnât like this feeling and subconsciously frowned.
When he sensed her emotions, Xiao Jin gently held her hand.
The moment she felt the warmth of his palm, Su Yingâs anxiety was quelled.
Emperor Kangze was waiting for them in the side hall.
When they arrived, the eunuch immediately went into the hall to announce their arrival. A moment later, the eunuchâs sharp voice rang out.
âHis Majesty invites you into the hall.â
The side hall wasnât large, and the moment Su Ying entered, she saw Emperor Kangze sitting on the dragon throne.
He was dressed in a purple-gold dragon robe that proclaimed his Emperorâs status. He was very thin, and his eyes were chilly with a hint of sullenness. His eagle-like sharp eyes seemed to be forever filled with suspicion and oppression, making people very uneasy.
At least, Su Ying didnât like being sized up like that. It was as if the other party was evaluating the value of a commodity.
Emperor Kangze looked at Xiao Jin with an expression full of conflicting emotions as he walked in.
This was the son he should be proud of, but he was displeased with the sonâs arrogant and obstinate nature. A capable but unruly child always made him feel that the child was difficult to control.
Therefore, Emperor Kangze truly loved and hated Xiao Jin.
While his thoughts were running wild, Xiao Jin and the rest had already arrived in front of him. After the group paid their respects, Emperor Kangze did not say a word for a long time.
After an unknown period of time, Emperor Kangze let out a deep sigh like an elderly father. He personally went forward to help Xiao Jin up.
âThank you for your hard work.â
Xiao Jin straightened up, his eyes showing that he felt touched. âItâs my honor to serve you, Emperor Father.â
Su Yingâs eyelids twitched as she looked at the emotional expressions on the faces of the father and son. She had to admit that they were all good actors.
Emperor Kangze patted Xiao Jin on the shoulder before turning to look at Su Ying.
The instant his eyes met Su Yingâs, Emperor Kangze was astounded.
If it werenât for the fact that she looked the same, he wouldnât have been able to recognize the woman in front of him. Wasnât this his shameless and contemptible daughter-in-law who was as stupid as a pig?
Su Ying wasnât afraid of Emperor Kangzeâs scrutiny at all. The aura of an Emperor was indeed intimidating, but she wasnât an ordinary person.
âAll of you must be worn out from the long journey. Go back first and have a good rest. As for the earlier case, Iâve already asked the Minister of Justice to review it again. When the time comes, Iâll give you a satisfactory answer.â
âThank you, Your Majesty.â
âI have already gotten people to tidy up your Princeâs Manor. The servants have also been arranged for you. In three days, 1 will hold a celebratory banquet in the palace. Go back now.â
âYes, Your Majesty. 1 will take my leave.â
Su Ying and Xiao Jin left the palace. For a while, Su Ying couldnât figure out what Emperor Kangzeâs intentions were.
âDo you know what he is thinking?â
Xiao Jin came back to his senses. âWe just came back, so naturally, he has to stabilize things first.â After all, the tiger tally was still in his hands.
Xiao Jin held Su Yingâs hand. âLetâs go back to the Princeâs Manor first.â
âMm-hmm.â
Prince Qiâs estate was located on the most prosperous corner of the Imperial Cityâs main street and occupied a large area.
Before they returned, Emperor Kangze had already instructed people to send the items that had been confiscated earlier back to Prince Qiâs Manor. The confiscation seals had also been removed.
As soon as Su Ying and her group arrived outside the manor, a person who looked like a caretaker led a group of servants to welcome them.
When Prince Qiâs Manor was searched for the purpose of confiscation, even a chicken was captured, much less a person. Therefore, these people were arranged by Emperor Kangze.
The horse carriage stopped outside Prince Qiâs Manor. As soon as Su Ying and the rest alighted, all the servants knelt down in front of them.
âYour servant respectfully welcomes Prince Qi and Princess Consort Qi back.â
Xiao Jinâs gaze swept over them indifferently and ask them to rise.
âYour humble servant, Wei Xi, is temporarily managing the affairs of Prince Qiâs Manor for Your Highness. The manor has already been tidied up. Your Highnesses must be tired from the long journey. Please come into the manor to rest.â Wei Xi bowed and moved to the side.
Xiao Jin stood outside the entrance. The two stone lions outside Prince Qiâs Manor still stood tall like before, and the signboard spelling out âPrince Qiâs Manorâ in pure gold characters on a black background was still bright.
Xiao Jin clenched his two fists in his sleeves. Thereafter, he walked in with the two children in his arms.
Not only did Prince Qiâs Manor look very big from the outside, but the area inside was much bigger than it appeared externally.
As she walked on the path paved with bluestone, Su Ying felt that this manor was very similar to Xiao Jinâs temperament. It looked chilly, but perhaps because it was too big, or perhaps because no one had lived in it for too long. In fact, the entire manor exuded an eerie chill.
After passing through a few small gardens that had become bleak and desolate, they finally arrived at the main hall in the front courtyard.
âYour servant has already gotten people to clean up the courtyard that Your Highnesses lived in previously. Please have a look to see if thereâs anything missing. Your servant will immediately get people to prepare it.â
âMm-hmm.â
After the caretaker Wei Xi explained the situation in the manor, he tactfully excused himself.
The courtyard was completely filled with new faces. Su Ying felt that everything she did was being monitored by countless cameras.
âAll of you, leave. Donât come to me for no reason in the future,â Su Ying said to the maidservants.
The maidservants looked at each other, but they didnât leave immediately. They all knew very well that Su Ying wasnât their true master.
Su Ying frowned slightly, but Aunt Zhao pressed down on Su Yingâs shoulders and said, âYour Highness, let this old servant handle this matter. Itâs just some servants, itâs not worth it for you to get angry.â
Over the past year, Aunt Zhao had been in charge of the internal affairs of the palace in Sky Alpha City, and she had managed everything flawlessly. Thus, Su Ying didnât say anything else.
Aunt Zhao came to the front of the maidservants. Her face became stern and her bearing was immediately displayed.
âWho sent all these creatures that are born without ears? We do not permit people with incomplete facial features to work in Prince Qiâs Manor. If you canât undertake this job, get lost immediately.â
Those maidservants were a little afraid when they heard this. They didnât know what would happen if they were really chased away. After repeatedly pleading for mercy, they obediently excused themselves.
Aunt Zhao turned her head and received Su Yingâs look of approval. This made Aunt Zhao feel even more confident.
âAre you two hungry?â Xiao Jin asked the two little ones. Earlier, he didnât bring his children into the palace, and Emperor Kangze didnât ask any questions at all. His attitude couldnât be more obvious. It was obvious that he didnât take his two grandchildren seriously.
The older toddler Ji nodded. âIâm a little hungry.â
âI want to eat Grandpa Heaâs egg noodles.â Ling did not look very energetic either.
From the moment they returned to Prince Qiâs Manor, the two little fellows had been listless and looked extremely pitiful.
Hea Shouyi had already brought his assistants to the main kitchen in the manor. He would never trust anyone else to prepare the food that Su Ying and the rest were going to eat.
When Xiao Jin returned this time, he left behind many of his trusted aides. Hea Shouyi brought two people to the main kitchen, but the kitchen was already bustling with activity with the fires in full blaze.
Wei Xi stood at the entrance of the main kitchen and was talking to a fat chef. Judging from his looks, this person was probably the supervisor of the main kitchen.
âEunuch Wei, donât worry. I know what to do.â The supervisor nodded and bowed. If it wasnât for Wei Xi, this fat chef wouldnât have been able to come to Prince Qiâs Manor to take on the post of a supervisor. Not surprisingly, he had to suck up to Wei Xi.
Upon seeing this, Hea Shouyi walked over. âEunuch Wei.â
Wei Xi turned his head and narrowed his eyes as he sized up Hea Shouyi. He remembered that Hea Shouyi had followed Xiao Jin and the rest into the manor.
âYou areâŠâ
âI am Old Hea, the chef responsible for His Highness and Her Highnessâs daily meals. Now that they have returned to the manor, this rule will not change. From now on, the chef in the big kitchen will take care of other peopleâs meals while I take care of the meals for His Highnessâs family.â
Wei Xi was the caretaker sent by Emperor Kangze himself. Now, he was in charge of all the general affairs of Prince Qiâs Manor. How could he allow anyone to challenge his authority?
Wei Xi had a smile on his face, but it was superficial and pretentious.
âOld Hea? Where did you come from? Do you know the rules of the Imperial familyâs meals? Do you know how many dishes the nobles eat every day? Previously, it was fine if His Highness and Her Highness were outside and were not fussy.. But now that they are back in the manor, how can this main kitchen be controlled by some untrained chefs? What if the masters eat something that disagreed with them? Can you shoulder the responsibility?â
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