Huh? The Tyrant Cries After My Inner Thoughts Were Exposed!-Chapter 23: The Old Emperor’s Embarrassment

When the people from the palace came, Ah Juan was busy munching on the duck leg that Song Qianhang had the servant buy, with several wooden cards scattered in front of them, each displaying different designs.

After Ah Juan played the last card in her hand, Song Qianhang exclaimed, "One more game, one more game!"

He, Song Qianhang, who had navigated all sorts of gambling dens and never lost to anything novel, yet kept losing to Ah Juan in this leaf card game. The worst part was that even when Ah Juan made her strategies obvious, he still lost, which was utterly embarrassing.

Ah Juan, gnawing on the duck leg, squinted her eyes, "Alright, let’s play another round."

[Even if we play a hundred more rounds, this old lady will definitely win them all.]

[This leaf card game is basically poker. I’ve been playing it since I was young, and Song Qianhang is still too green.]

Upon hearing the word ’green’, Song Qianhang was immediately deflated. He flung his cards aside, losing all interest, "Forget it, not playing, it’s no fun."

Ah Juan chuckled and put away the cards, "Then let’s not play."

Song Qianhang raised his brow and winked at Ah Juan, "Sister-in-law, how about a stroll later, to Baihua Building?"

After one incident at Baihua Building, Song Qianhang had to write passages about women’s virtues many times over for Ah Juan, so now they could be considered confidants.

In this household, his elder brother was irritating, his father too strict, and his mother always restrained him. Ah Juan was the only one he could converse with freely.

Ah Juan curled her lips, "I’ll think about it."

Beside them, Dongdong’s eyes widened, "Second Young Master, how can you take our mistress to such a place!?"

What kind of place is Baihua Building?

Song Qianhang picked up a fan from the ground and waved it, playfully asking the young maid, "What’s wrong with Baihua Building, why can’t we go?"

"That kind of place..." Dongdong’s face turned red, "Our mistress is a lady; how could she go to such a place?"

Song Qianhang laughed heartily and then asked Ah Juan, "Sister-in-law, those ghostly things you had me copy last night, where did you put them?"

Ah Juan blinked, "At your elder brother’s place."

[The things Song Qianfan had me copy, they are naturally with him.]

"Huh?" Song Qianhang’s paper fan slapped onto the ground again, "But, those are what I copied, all in my handwriting, aren’t you afraid that elder brother might recognize it and come looking for you later?!"

Ah Juan looked innocently at Song Qianhang, "I didn’t expect that he wouldn’t recognize it."

[If he recognizes it, so be it; it’s not a big deal.]

[That Song fellow just said to copy it a hundred times, didn’t say I couldn’t have someone else do it.]

[Giving it to him is already good enough; it’s unreasonable to demand so much from a man, that would be too immature.]

Song Qianhang was at a loss, wondering about all these nonsensical matters. Fortunately, his elder brother didn’t usually care about his studies, because if he recognized the handwriting, it’d be over for him.

While the two chatted, a messenger came from outside, asking Ah Juan to go to the palace, as a carriage was already waiting outside.

Watching the carriage depart, Princess Jing felt anxious, "Why does the palace keep summoning Ah Juan, could there be something serious going on?"

Ah Juan’s mind was filled with thoughts, many of which shouldn’t be known by outsiders. Such frequent palace visits were indeed dangerous!

Prince Jing comforted her, "Don’t worry; there shouldn’t be any big issues, maybe it’s even something good."

Actually, he had some guesses; recently, he hadn’t been forwarding his daughter-in-law’s trivial thoughts to the palace, as they were mostly insignificant chatter anyway. The Emperor might think that, as a minister, he wasn’t diligent enough and might be looking for an opportunity to keep Su Juan within his sights to occasionally hear her thoughts.

These things, Prince Jing didn’t tell Princess Jing, fearing she would worry.

...

Meanwhile, Song Qianfan returned to the study and flipped through the stack of papers Li An had retrieved, his face growing darker. So Ah Juan had dared to have someone else copy for her, so perfunctory, showing no respect for him, the Young Master!

"Go and call the Heir Consort for me."

Li An guessed immediately, thinking the Heir Consort was in for trouble again, "Young Master, the Heir Consort is currently not at the estate."

Song Qianfan’s face turned even harsher; not only did she skip out on the copying, but she even dared to leave the house. If he didn’t give her a lesson today, he’d never be able to show his face properly again.

"Then hurry and send someone to catch her back for me?"

Li An was silent for a moment, "It was His Majesty who sent someone to bring the Heir Consort into the palace..."

"Sir, should we send someone into the palace to fetch her?"

Song Qianfan’s expression changed drastically. Why had the Emperor brought Su Juan to the palace? Was he investigating the Crown Prince candidates again?

Darn it, he shouldn’t have left the palace so quickly earlier; if he had stayed, he could keep an eye on Su Juan.

His heart was anxious, fearing that Su Juan might reveal something before the Emperor.

...

In the palace, after dismounting from the carriage, Su Juan was led directly to the Imperial Study, where besides the familiar Old Emperor, were two elderly men, one of whom was Liu Miaoying’s father, Chief Secretary Liu Ze.

The other was Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, Mei He, who was kneeling.

Su Juan squinted her eyes,[What’s with Minister Mei? He’s supposed to be one of Song Qianfan’s men, yet here he is kneeling?]

She certainly remembered Minister Mei as one of Song Qianfan’s trusted allies, a future tyrant of many innocent virtuous officials, notorious for accepting bribes in appointments...

Mei He’s body trembled as he lay prostrate, cold sweat dripping from his forehead onto the ground in large beads.

The Old Emperor frowned; he had known that Mei He’s private associations were not so simple, even suspecting that his recent recommendations into the Ministry of Revenue were for personal gain. Yet, how could this connection be with Prince Jing’s heir?

He had initially suspected either Prince Han or Prince Heng’s men.

Ah Juan’s words wouldn’t be wrong.

Could it be...his seemingly humble and compliant brother secretly coveted his throne, after all?

A cold gleam flashed in the Old Emperor’s eyes, realizing his brother had hidden his ambitions so well.

No wonder he hadn’t seen any reports from Prince Jing recently regarding Su Juan!

The Chief Secretary, as if not having heard these words, lamented internally; being the Emperor’s brother, with Prince Jing’s heir so well-concealed, he only noticed Song Qianfan’s clandestine alliances due to his repeated pursuit of marrying Miaoyin. Song Qianfan indeed had intentions for the Crown Prince position with many private schemes afoot.

Yet he was ultimately Prince Jing’s son, the Emperor’s most trusted brother; hence, having hesitated a year or two without knowing how to advise the Emperor, the Su family resolved it with mere words so simply.

The Chief Secretary couldn’t help but think, if the Su family could accompany the Emperor frequently, even the most cunning corrupt officials and ambitious people wouldn’t escape her grasp.

Yet in the Old Emperor’s mind, he reckoned Mei He was related to his good brother–Prince Jing.

The Old Emperor wore a smile on his face, "Heir Consort, today I’ve summoned you here because I’ve heard of your excellent mathematical skills and want to test you. Do you object?"

Ah Juan obediently curtseyed, "Your Majesty, to have you test me is my honor."

The Old Emperor nodded in satisfaction; he was very content with the Heir Consort, who always appeared so compliant and agreeable without objection...

[Is the Old Emperor bored? Testing my math for no reason?]

The Old Emperor: "..."

The nearby Chief Secretary and Minister of Personnel heard it all clearly.

The Old Emperor’s face twitched in embarrassment.