Chapter 824 - 827: Father and Son
Chapter 824: Chapter 827: Father and Son
Hua Shunming handed over another memorial just as the Crown Prince stood up. "Take a look at this one too."
The Crown Prince was speechless.
Le San sneaked a glance at the Crown Prince, then lowered his head, his eyes full of sympathy. The Crown Prince would probably have nightmares tonight.
Suppressing his palpitations, the Crown Prince opened the second memorial.
He looked at Hua Shunming in surprise. "This is a Ding You memorial requesting a leave of absence for mourning. Does Imperial Father want me to draft a response?"
Hua Shunming tapped the desk, somewhat dissatisfied with the Crown Prince’s rashness. "Look at whose family this memorial belongs to."
The Crown Prince heard the reprimand in his voice. He knew he had panicked and failed to check the signature clearly, making a hasty mistake. He quickly steadied his mind and looked more carefully.
"Mr. Gu? Didn’t he just arrive in Shangjing to report on his duties?" The Crown Prince had a detailed dossier on Gu Wenheng. His uncle had also specifically instructed him to build a good relationship with this man.
"It seems the people around the Crown Prince still need some training. This memorial has been sitting on my desk for several days." Hua Shunming sounded slightly disdainful; the Crown Prince’s information network was not well-informed enough!
The Crown Prince lowered his head. He couldn’t figure out what the Holy Emperor meant right now. "Speak less, err less" was the conclusion he had drawn over the past few days.
"Then, in the Crown Prince’s opinion, should I approve this memorial or not?"
With his heart in his throat, the Crown Prince made his choice. "Imperial Father, didn’t you tell me before that Mr. Gu has the talent to govern a nation, and that any place under his administration would undergo great changes?
"Such a capable minister is a blessing to our Rong Dynasty. I believe we can make an exception and reinstate him from his mourning period, allowing Mr. Gu to contribute more to the people of the world."
"Does the Crown Prince really not know?" Hua Shunming asked. "My intention in summoning Gu Wenheng to the capital this time was to appoint him as the Crown Prince’s Tutor."
Hua Shunming made his dissatisfaction with the Crown Prince’s entourage perfectly clear.
The Crown Prince revealed a look of surprise. "Imperial Father, I..."
"What? Are you unwilling?"
"That is not what I meant. Mr. Gu’s talent is what the people of the world hope for. I wouldn’t dare delay..."
Hua Shunming smiled and said, "You are the future Emperor; you are the one who needs these capable ministers by your side to assist you.
"Now tell me, since you already know my plans, how should we reply to this memorial?"
The Crown Prince was speechless. Today felt like it was meant for stepping into traps; he had just filled one pit, only to find another dug right in front of him.
Hua Shunming pressed on step by step. "What? Is it that hard to answer? Don’t forget, you are now the Crown Prince. You should have your own judgment."
The Crown Prince bowed. "I will listen to Imperial Father."
"Hmm?" Hua Shunming murmured.
Cold sweat was already dripping from the Crown Prince’s forehead onto the floor. "Imperial Father is in the prime of his long life, and Mr. Gu is full of filial piety. I still have too much to learn, so this can be temporarily postponed..."
"The prime of my long life? Does the Crown Prince really think so?" Hua Shunming asked with a smile. "I’ve noticed that ever since my royal son became the Crown Prince, you have become increasingly timid.
"I know what you all are worried about, but since I have given you the position of Crown Prince, I will not go back on my word.
"Alright, go over there and review your memorials. I already have my own ideas regarding this matter."
As for the sweat-drenched Crown Prince, he forced himself to finish reviewing the memorials before finally returning to his Central Palace. After changing out of his robes, he immediately went to his study and summoned his advisors.
Gu Benluo supported Li Cuicui as they walked along the village path. It had taken him several days to persuade the old lady to come out for a walk.
"The sun today is indeed quite nice, just as you said," Li Cuicui said, squinting. Although it felt warm and toasty on her body, it was a bit glaring as she walked into the light.
Gu Benluo shifted his position, walking over to support her from the other side. Thanks to the difference in their heights, he blocked the glare, and Li Cuicui felt that the sun in the sky was no longer blinding.
"Grandma knows you are filial." Li Cuicui looked at her eldest grandson with guilt. "It’s all because our family members are disappointing and dragged you down."
Otherwise, this child might have already achieved fame and honors in the imperial examinations by now.
Gu Benluo bent down slightly to meet the old lady’s eyes. "Grandma, please don’t say that anymore.
"Your grandson knows his own worth. Even if I had participated in the imperial examinations this time, it would only have been for practice. Failing the exam was destined anyway."
"Don’t try to comfort this old woman," Li Cuicui reached out and patted the back of his hand. "All these years, our large family and our entire clan have lived a good life under your father’s protection. But we never expected that instead of helping, we would end up dragging you down."
"You mustn’t say that," Gu Benluo said, knowing that some things shouldn’t be overly calculated. "We are all a family, so we shouldn’t draw such clear lines.
"I haven’t been back for many years, and I’m not familiar with many places in this village. I still need you to show me around..."
Bringing the old lady out was meant to distract her so she wouldn’t wallow in self-blame all day long. This was also the task given to him by his parents. Originally, they were supposed to bring Gu Ben Can along, but fearing that the brat would be too rowdy, he had to take on the mission alone.
Li Cuicui greatly enjoyed this feeling of being needed. Besides, her grandson really hadn’t spent much time at home, so she needed to make sure he knew where his roots were.
Since they were in mourning, they couldn’t go visiting from house to house. Instead, Li Cuicui walked from the village entrance inward, introducing the households to him one by one from the path.
Occasionally, Gu Benluo feigned ignorance and asked a few questions, which gradually got Li Cuicui talking more.
Watching the grandmother and grandson ahead, Jin Qianqian pursed her lips and asked, "Luo Luo must still feel a little disappointed in his heart, right?"
"Disappointment is inevitable, but living in this world, how can everything always go as one wishes?" Gu Wenheng said dismissively. "The boy has had smooth sailing since childhood. I originally planned to let the two brothers travel, experience the fickleness of human nature, and broaden their horizons, but it seems this plan will have to be delayed.
"Plans can never keep up with changes. This isn’t a bad thing. He can calm his mind and work hard for a few more years. Perhaps his exam results will look even better when the time comes."
"It’s been so many days," Jin Qianqian said. "The memorial still hasn’t been approved. Could it be...?"
"For now, all we can do is wait," Gu Wenheng said.
Although that was what they said, they both shared the same ominous premonition in their hearts.
The officials in the royal court all knew that the Gu Mansion was holding a funeral. The masters of the various households did not come to offer their condolences in person, but they all sent people to deliver funeral gifts.
Everyone thought that since Gu Wenheng had just finished reporting on his duties right at the crucial juncture of the transition of imperial power, he would probably fade into obscurity from now on.
No one expected that, right at this moment, news would spread from the palace that the Holy Emperor was withholding Gu Wenheng’s Ding You memorial.
The crowd didn’t understand, but they weren’t overly concerned either. It should be known that from the previous emperor to Emperor Shunming, there had been no precedent of making exceptions for officials in mourning; instead, these mourning ministers were all allowed to observe their Ding You according to regulations.
Withholding it now was merely a display of an attitude.
However, a small fraction of the sharper individuals sensed something different in this. They did not join the discussions, choosing instead to watch quietly.
Bai Jinglie of the Marquis Wu’an Mansion had been holding a sinecure all these years. Ever since the Old Marquis Wu’an passed away, he had had to seek out many connections just to secure a position upon his return from his Ding You mourning period, and he had been stuck in that same post for years.