Looking at Shangguan Ya's expression, Su Ronghua felt both angry and amused.
How could he not know how bad Shangguan Ya's gambling skills were? If she wanted to gamble, she would leave the outcome to him.
Seeing that he did not speak, Shangguan Ya handed over the cards and said, "Why don't you have a bet?"
Su Ronghua sat up and turned to look at the person in front of the cell. Shangguan Ya stretched out her hand, and her eyes were full of flattery. She pushed the cards forward and asked, "Do you want it?"
Su Ronghua hesitated for a long time before he finally stood up and took Shangguan Ya's cards.
"Do you think your cards are bigger or mine?" Shangguan Ya asked him with a smile. Su Ronghua rubbed the cards and looked at the person in front of him. After a long time, he lowered his eyes and said slowly, "Yours is bigger."
"Then let's see how lucky we are."
As Shangguan Ya spoke, she flipped her cards and revealed the face of a tiger on her cards.
Su Ronghua flipped his cards and revealed the face of a dog on his cards.
"Ah," Shangguan Ya said happily. "This seems to be the first time I've won against you."
Su Ronghua did not say anything. He sat down calmly and leaned back against the wall. He bent one of his legs and placed his hand on his knee. He said slowly, "Okay, I'm not angry anymore. You can go back."
Shangguan Ya thought for a moment. She took a small stool from the side, brushed away the dust on it, and sat on it. "Let's have a chat."
"I don't dare to."
Su Ronghua rejected her decisively. Shangguan Ya laughed. "Why? Are you afraid that I'll trick you?"
"Shouldn't I be afraid?" Su Ronghua glanced at her coldly. "Haven't I been tricked by you enough?"
"No, didn't I apologize?" Shangguan Ya said shamelessly. "Actually, I'm not that bad of a person. I'm just very bad to my enemies. Since we're not enemies, I won't cheat you in the future. "
"You believe me just because I said I'm not your enemy?" Su Ronghua looked at her coldly and used her own words to reply, "Do you think I'm a fool?"
"You are a little silly." Shangguan Ya smiled embarrassedly. Su Ronghua was so angry that he stood up and was about to leave. Shangguan Ya grabbed his sleeve and said anxiously, "Wait for me to finish. It's not easy for us to have such a deep conversation. Don't leave so easily."
When Su Ronghua heard this, he paused for a moment. In the end, he took a deep breath and sat back down.
Shangguan Ya leaned forward, placed his hands on his knees, propped up his chin, and looked at Su Ronghua in front of him. "Actually, don't blame me. I've never seen someone like you before. You see, you come from a big family, you're smart, and you have so many identities, so I can only be suspicious of you. Ever since I was young, my family told me that the first thing you can't trust in this world is politicians, and the second thing you can't trust is men. You have both of them. "
"You're blaming me for this?" Su Ronghua sneered. "You learned a bunch of fallacious reasoning yourself."
"It's because you're different." Shangguan Ya immediately replied. Su Ronghua ignored him. Shangguan Ya thought for a moment, then carefully said, "Speaking of which, from what I heard, you don't seem like someone who chases after fame and fortune. Why did you become Prince Su's teacher and come to the Department of Inspection?"
"His Imperial Majesty appointed me. How could I refuse?" Su Ronghua looked at him as if her brain was damaged.
Shangguan Ya was even more curious. "But if you become his teacher, you'll be tied to him. Aren't you worried about your future?"
"Future?" Su Ronghua laughed. "Do I look like I have a future? If I wanted a future, I would have studied hard in the past, like my younger brother, and received the family's careful nurturing. Then I would have taken on the responsibility of the family and entered the imperial court. Why did I become Prince Su's teacher? Because His Imperial Majesty needed someone from the Su Family to be Prince Su's teacher. The Su Family couldn't refuse, and they didn't want to have too much to do with Prince Su, so they threw me, this abandoned child, out. I'm a fanatic, and I never represent the Su Family's attitude. Can't you see? "
"I used to understand," Shangguan Ya leaned against the prison door. "But after you entered the Department of Inspection, I didn't understand. Why did you come to the Department of Inspection? "
Su Ronghua didn't speak. He raised his head and looked at the sky. After a long time, he slowly said, "My younger brother told me to come, so I came. But in fact, deep down, I also wanted to see what you and His Highness, "Su Ronghua turned to look at Shangguan Ya." In the end, what do you want to do? "
"Since I was young, everyone said that I was different, that I didn't have any responsibility. But I often thought, what is responsibility? The family is responsibility, but aren't the common people in the official position? The common people are responsibility, but wives, children, friends, their friendship, aren't they a responsibility on one's shoulders? I've seen countless people. When they were young, they had a clear distinction between black and white, frivolous and wanton. But slowly, they seemed to become different people, always talking about status, responsibility, and then doing dark and filthy things. If a person can live well, they have to take care of themselves, take care of their parents, raise their children, be righteous for their friends, be loyal to their subjects, abide by the laws of the imperial court, abide by propriety, righteousness, benevolence, and trust. Above these, they can do whatever they want. What's wrong with that? "
"I hate those hypocrites. I don't want to live in this city and become a monster like them. I want to live like a person. I want the freedom to like who I like, the freedom to choose what I like. "
"But there are too few people like me. It wasn't until last year's Qixi Palace banquet that I smelled a scent of incense at the banquet. "As she spoke, Su Ronghua laughed," That incense had a smell that I was familiar with, so I voted for it. Later, I wanted to find the incense maker, but I found that the incense was made by the Qin Clan's Second Miss. But when I continued to investigate, I found that Second Miss Qin wasn't good at making incense. In the end, I found out that there was a girl who didn't want to enter the palace. It turned out that Her Highness Ping L E was helping the Crown Prince delay his marriage. "
"You see," Su Ronghua spread out her hands, "It turns out that everyone in the palace is struggling bitterly. So I really wanted to see what you and Her Highness were thinking about. "
When Shanghai Ya heard Su Ronghua's words, she hugged her knees. Su Ronghua turned to look at her, "Why did you enter the Inspection Department?"
"In the end, perhaps it's the same as you." Shanghai Ya laughed, "I want to live like a human."
"I also don't want to change, but I know that I'm not a saint. If I enter the palace, I'm afraid that I'll be no different from the elders I see now. For the sake of the family's interests, they'll do anything and everything. But I don't want to be like this. "
"So I have to be useful." Shanghai Ya looked at Su Ronghua seriously, "I have to provide irreplaceable value to the family. Value that's more important than marrying someone to form an alliance through marriage. Only in this way, "Shanghai Ya laughed," I'll always be Shanghai Ya. "
"In the future, I can gamble with you, drink a little wine, and quarrel with you." Shanghai Ya smiled as she talked about the future she imagined, "I won't marry for the rest of my life, I'll have my own manor, and I'll adopt a few boys or girls from the family. I'll be an old aunt for the rest of my life and raise many girls like me. "
"You can even think of gambling with me and drinking a little wine." Su Ronghua raised his eyebrows, "It seems that you have a good impression of me."
"Probably." Shanghai Ya shrugged, "We're both different kinds of people?"
"Su Ronghua." Shanghai Ya thought for a moment, then reached out her hand, "Let's make a pinky promise."
"Hmm?"
"In the future, I won't take advantage of your kindness to me to dig a hole for you." Shanghai Ya looked at him, "Don't lie to me, okay?"
"Okay."
Su Ronghua reached out his hand and hooked his pinky finger with hers.
When their skin touched, Shanghai Ya couldn't help but tremble. She didn't know what this feeling was, but she heard a commotion outside. Shanghai Ya hurriedly stood up and said nervously, "I'll leave first. I'll treat you to a meal another day."
As she spoke, Shanghai Ya hurriedly left through another path.
Not long after, a row of imperial bodyguards came in. They were obviously from the palace. Su Ronghua glanced at them and said indifferently, "What are you doing? Find a few dancers. If you want to lock them up or punish them, then punish them. Don't interrogate them, it's annoying. "
"Take them away."
The imperial bodyguards directly said and entered the cell. They pulled Su Ronghua out and began to interrogate him.
Su Ronghua openly admitted that he had invited Xia Wensi to a meal and called a few dancers. He only said that he wasn't looking for prostitutes and nothing else.
After the imperial bodyguards interrogated his and Xia Wensi's confessions, they sent the confessions to the palace. Li Ming carefully read the confessions and placed them on the table.
Fu Lai came in with the calming soup that Consort Rou had sent. Seeing Li Ming's brows furrowed, he couldn't help but say, "Your Highness, it's already late. Consort Rou just sent someone to deliver the calming soup. You should drink it and rest early."
Li Ming raised his eyes and shifted his gaze to the calming soup. He frowned. Fu Lai saw his displeased expression and asked nervously, "Your Majesty?"
"Don't you think that Consort Rou went too far?"
"Your Majesty is referring to?"
Fu Lai hesitated and didn't say anything. Li Ming threw the confessions to the ground, closed his eyes, and leaned back in his chair. He said irritably, "Look at it yourself."
Fu Lai placed the calming soup on the table and bent down to take the confessions. He carefully read them and asked puzzledly, "Your Majesty, this Eldest Young Master Su … … why would he do such a thing?"
"Why would he do such a thing?" Li Ming sneered, "He's a young master of an aristocratic family. Doesn't he care about his reputation? I'm afraid that it's fake that he's looking for prostitutes and his real motive is for personal gain. "
Fu Lai didn't dare to say anything. Li Ming went through everything in his mind.
Someone deliberately promoted Pei Wenxuan to the position of Assistant Minister of Personnel in order to make him suspicious of Li Rong. After he became suspicious of Li Rong, he didn't feel at ease with the Inspectorate in Li Rong's hands. Who would benefit the most?
If Li Rong wanted to make Pei Wenxuan the Assistant Minister of Personnel, it was impossible not to alert him. Li Rong could have directly asked him for such a big position. Why did he have to be so secretive?
And now, Su Ronghua had met with Xia Wensi. What kind of person was Su Ronghua? He had been in the imperial court for so many years. Who had he invited to a private banquet?
It would be strange if he didn't have a secret plan to meet with Xia Wensi alone!
Li Rong's tearful complaints about Hua Le's mocking words were still vivid in his mind. Li Ming closed his eyes.
In reality, it wasn't that he couldn't tolerate Consort Rou's little tricks. If Consort Rou could cultivate her own power to fight against the empress, he would be happy to see it happen.
What he couldn't tolerate was that Consort Rou was out of his control.
Xiandi had already raised the Shangguan Clan. He didn't want to raise another Xiao Clan. Consort Rou could only be a tool to maintain the balance of the imperial court. If she went out of his control and schemed, then it would be unforgivable.
The more Li Ming thought about it, the more he felt that it was inappropriate. He stood up and walked directly to Ming Le Palace.
Consort Rou didn't expect Li Ming to come so late. She chatted with Hua Le out of boredom.
Li Ming was in a fit of anger. He sped all the way to Ming Le Palace. The palace servants didn't even have time to stop him before Li Ming strode in. As soon as he entered the inner courtyard, he heard Hua Le and Consort Rou laughing in the room.
When the palace servants saw Li Ming, they immediately knelt down. Li Ming raised his hand to stop them. The entire courtyard quieted down. Li Ming didn't allow anyone to make a sound or move. They could only hear the mother and daughter joking in the room. Hua Le said happily, "If I marry, I definitely won't marry someone like Pei Wenxuan. Other than being a bit good-looking, he doesn't have any abilities. He was born in a poor family and married Eldest Sister. Now, he can't even become an examiner. You said that Eldest Sister has been arrogant all her life and married such a person … "
Hua Le couldn't stop laughing. Li Ming was burning with anger. He kicked open the door and rushed in. Consort Rou saw Li Ming come in. Both Hua Le and Consort Rou paled.
"Your Majesty." Fortunately, Consort Rou reacted quickly. She stood up with a smile and said, "Why have you come?"
"You taught your good daughter." Li Ming pointed at Hua Le and stared at Consort Rou. "Is this how a princess should talk?"
"Qiong 'er was wrong." Consort Rou admitted her mistake quickly and said, "Hua Le, quickly apologize to Imperial Father."
"Apologize." Li Ming nodded. "Is she the one who should apologize? Leave! "
Li Ming looked at Hua Le. Hua Le glanced at Consort Rou. Consort Rou gave her a look. Hua Le quickly stood up and respectfully left.
When only Li Ming and Consort Rou were left in the room, Consort Rou poured tea for Li Ming and said gently, "Hua Le is young and doesn't know any better. She's been led astray by the palace servants. I was just about to scold her …"
"Were you the one who appointed Pei Wenxuan as the assistant minister of the Ministry of Personnel?"
Li Ming spoke decisively. Consort Rou looked frightened. "Your Majesty, why do you say this? This concubine has been in the imperial harem for many years. How could I make such an important decision? Where did Your Majesty hear rumors and misunderstand this concubine? "
"Rumors?" Li Ming laughed coldly. "We know your abilities very well. If it wasn't for your abilities, do you think an ant like you could be in this position?! "
Consort Rou's smile didn't fade. She only respectfully said, "Your Majesty is right. However, this matter has nothing to do with this concubine. If Your Majesty is listening to some despicable person trying to frame you, why don't you call them out and confront this concubine …"
Before she finished speaking, Li Ming raised his hand and slapped Consort Rou hard across the face.
Consort Rou stumbled from the slap. She knelt on the ground and didn't move. Li Ming stood up and looked at her coldly. "We can allow you to play tricks and we can also allow you to play tricks in the imperial harem. However, we can't allow you to lie to us. If we can lift you up with one hand, we can also drag you down with the other. "
"We don't like to lie. Today, we will give you face and won't pursue this matter." Li Ming squatted down and stared at Consort Rou. "But Xiao Rou, remember what you said to us back then. You are willing to be my knife. Don't forget your status. "
"This concubine will remember."
Consort Rou spoke softly. Seeing that she was obedient, Li Ming's anger subsided. He stood up and stared at the delicate woman sitting on the ground. Her skirt was like a blooming lotus flower. Even at this moment, she still had a kind of enchanting beauty.
Li Ming was silent for a long time before finally turning to leave.
After he left, Hua Le hurriedly rushed in. She was so anxious that she forgot her manners and directly asked, "Mother, are you okay, Mother?"
Consort Rou clenched her fists. She slowly raised her head and revealed a smile. "I'm fine."
She was a knife. She would always remember that.
Seeing Consort Rou's smile, Hua Le's heart relaxed. She hurriedly walked forward and helped Consort Rou up. "Mother, what did Imperial Father say just now?"
Consort Rou's expression didn't change. She was just about to give orders when she saw an attendant hastily walk in from the corridor.
He hurried to Consort Rou's side and whispered something into Consort Rou's ear. Consort Rou raised her head in surprise and asked somewhat anxiously, "Really?"
The attendant nodded and said softly, "It's absolutely true. He's already outside the palace."
"Excellent!" Consort Rou said happily. "I'll go find His Majesty now. Li Rong dared to do this. "Consort Rou laughed." I'm afraid he'll lose a layer of skin this time. "
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
