In the palace, the emperor sat behind the imperial desk and reviewed the memorials.
Under him, stood an official. Even though it was cold in winter, there were many beads of sweat on his temples.
He didn't dare to wipe the sweat with his sleeves, he just stood there with a slight bow, not daring to move.
Outside the door, the chief eunuch beside the emperor came in and called out respectfully, "Your Majesty. The third young master is waiting for the summons outside."
The emperor, who had been sitting behind the imperial desk without speaking for a long time, put down the cinnabar pen in his hand, rubbed his brows, and said, "Let him come in."
Not waiting for a moment, a young man wearing a purple brocade robe came in from outside the hall. He handed the cloak to the chamberlain beside him, stamped his feet, and then walked towards the imperial case.
When the emperor saw him, his originally solemn face slowly broke into a smile.
"There is charcoal in the house, why are you afraid of the cold on your body?"
After Pei Jinting saluted, he put one hand behind his back and took two leisurely steps.
As if he discovered something new and strange, he said, "The Prime Minister is here too."
His face was expressionless, his dark eyes staring at Prime Minister Ming who was standing to one side.
Prime Minister Ming's motionless body then moved, cupped his hands and said, "I've met Mr. Pei."
Pei Jinting did not return the gift to him, but looked down at Prime Minister Ming from a high position.
"Jing Heng, you happened to be here. Yesterday Ming Aiqing told me about the missing child in his house."
"I originally thought I should recognize him anyway."
The emperor sat behind the imperial desk, took a sip of fragrant tea, and spoke slowly.
Pei Jinting chuckled.
He had already discussed this matter with Gu Qingyuan last night.
"Jing Heng. This matter has something to do with you. Why don't you listen to Ming Ai Qing?"
Pei Jinting turned his head to look at Prime Minister Ming, unable to tell whether he was happy or angry.
"Master Pei." Prime Minister Ming's posture looked a little humble. "That child was once your family member."
As he spoke, he raised his eyes to look at Pei Jinting. Seeing that he still had the same mixed expression, he continued.
"When my eldest daughter-in-law gave birth, she met a woman who harbored evil intentions and actually said that one of the twins was a stillborn baby..."
"My eldest daughter-in-law has always been resentful over the years. That time Mingwei met a bad guy on the street, it was thanks to the child that he saved her."
"Master Pei, the Ming family wants to recognize the child. After all, she was once your wife. I wonder what her temperament is like. Will she be willing to return to the Ming family?"
Pei Jinting turned her head and glanced at the emperor, who was leaning on the dragon chair.
His gaze slowly returned to Prime Minister Ming.
"What if you want to go back to the Ming family? What if you don't want to?"
Prime Minister Ming confessed this matter to the emperor yesterday, and blamed the assassinations on Gu Qingyuan as someone in the family who did not want her to return home, so he hired a killer.
"The Ming family is not a wealthy family. It doesn't matter if the child is unwilling. I can also adopt her as my adopted daughter."
Pei Jinting sneered, his eyes were cold, thinking of how Gu Qingyuan cried so uncomfortably last night, her eyes were swollen when she woke up this morning.
"You also said that your family is not a wealthy family, so why would she go to your house?"
"What are you thinking about your family? Are you thinking that your family is not a wealthy family? Are you thinking that someone in your family is killing her again and again?"
He took a few steps closer to Prime Minister Ming.
Suddenly, he raised his foot and kicked Prime Minister Ming hard on the knee, causing him to take a few steps back and fall to the ground in embarrassment.
He slowly walked up to Prime Minister Ming, bent down slightly, with a sarcastic smile on his lips.
"The eldest girl of the Gu family, my wife, her surname is Gu, who do you think you are? How dare you open your mouth to acknowledge her?"
Pei Jinting was so rude in front of the emperor. If he had been other courtiers, they would have been kicked out long ago.
But at this moment, the emperor just picked up the tea cup and brushed off the foam on it.
He suddenly remembered that many years ago, the young man in front of him was still a young man wearing bright clothes and angry horses.
One early morning, Zhongma came galloping all the way to the palace. He looked at him angrily and wanted to question him, but he kept it hidden between his lips.
Since then, he has lost his former energy and become the lawless and dissolute person he is now.
The emperor frowned.
It seems that for so many years, only one girl from the Gu family can affect his emotions.
In front of the court, the sarcastic young man said word by word, "Everything the Ming family owes her should be paid back in full."
Such a plain tone, but it seems to contain some subtle coldness.
Even though Prime Minister Ming was kicked to the ground at this moment, he did not turn cold. Instead, he knelt on the ground in shame and said to the emperor, "Your Majesty, Mr. Pei is absolutely right. The Ming family has indeed made a mistake in this matter."
"I licked my face and begged your majesty because I wanted to ask for a reward for the child. The Gu family has never treated her well, especially after the reputation of the orphan girl spread."
"I want to retire and return to my hometown in exchange for a share of honor for that child."
As if being hit by a strong wind, his words, which sounded confusing and illogical, echoed in the ears of those in the hall.
"Young Jingheng, with a bit of youthful frivolity, has wronged my beloved."
The emperor seemed to be talking to Prime Minister Ming, but in fact the commander's eyes fell on Pei Jinting.
Prime Minister Ming stood there with his head lowered and said, "Your Majesty, I don't blame Mr. Pei. It's really the people in my house who are reckless and small-minded."
"I will definitely clean up the family tradition and welcome the child back home."
"It's all my fault for not having a good family. It's a big mistake."
What he said was interesting. It seemed that the interpreter was at fault, but every word of his words showed a hint of good intentions that were not rewarded.
The emperor put the tea cup on the table and said with a smile, "I love you with sincerity and for the sake of my family. This child Jingheng, even I, sometimes feel embarrassed in front of him."
He said and sighed.
When the emperor opened his mouth, he said that he felt ashamed in front of Pei Jinting. Even if Prime Minister Ming wanted to care about Pei Jinting's move, he could not say anything.
Before he even found the words to impeach Pei Jinting for being frivolous and shameless, he was blocked by the emperor.
Moreover, the emperor's ultimate goal was to have the emperor issue a decree to return the children from the Gu family to the Ming family. This road was also blocked.
Prime Minister Ming looked at the young man in front of him, whose face was exactly the same as the queen's. He didn't know why the emperor tolerated him so favorably.
At the Zhenguo Palace, Gu Shao has not yet been released from prison, and the case is still being tried in an orderly manner.
Gu Qingyuan was sitting in front of Princess Rongchang's bed with a smile on her face.
Whether a person is in a happy or unhappy mood can be known by looking at the other person.
Princess Rongchang had a pale face. Seeing Gu Qingyuan come in, her eyes rolled dully and her lips moved slightly, "Don't come to me. I had no choice but to stop crying back then."
Gu Qingyuan sat beside the couch and held Princess Rongchang's hand outside the quilt.
"Princess, you must get better."
She patted the back of Princess Rongchang's hand, and Princess Rongchang immediately shrank back like a frightened child.