Wenyuanzhai, Imperial Study Room.
Prince Su Hui stopped in front of the door, waiting for Su Hanlin's summons.
In fact, Su Hanlin had long given him privileges, allowing him to enter and leave the imperial study freely without informing anyone.
But Su Hui has never used his privileges so far. Every time he comes here, he still stops in front of the door in a polite manner. He will only enter with Su Hanlin's permission. Otherwise, he will wait in front of the door, not daring to go beyond half a step. .
As the prince, Su Hui knew that he had many privileges and could ignore many rules. However, some rules could be violated, while some rules could not be exceeded, even if they were authorized by the emperor.
The imperial study was a place of imperial power and the emperor's private forbidden area. Free access to the imperial study was a symbol of the emperor's supreme power and status.
He is the prince, not the emperor, so even if he gets Su Hanlin's permission, he cannot be arrogant and self-indulgent, otherwise it will definitely be true.
From the words spoken by some people, they must be coveting the throne and seeking power to usurp the throne.
Over the years, Su Hui has been subjected to countless slanders and verbal criticisms, and those gangsters who covet his position as prince are using all possible means.
To put it bluntly, if he farts while standing on the roadside, someone will report him in a memorial, saying that his farts have smelled of flowers and grass on the roadside, which is unbenevolent to the prince.
Fortunately, Su Hanlin was wise and wise, could distinguish right from wrong, and was not deceived by slanderous words. He always had great favor and trust in him. Otherwise, he, the prince, would have been deposed long ago.
Therefore, Su Hui was full of gratitude to his father.
However, Su Hui was not arrogant because of favors and relied too much on Su Hanlin's favor and trust. On the contrary, the more favored and trusted Su Hanlin was, the more strictly he disciplined himself and did not allow himself to make the slightest mistake. Villains with ill intentions towards him in the dark would not be able to find an opportunity to attack him, which would also make his father less troublesome.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, with your permission, declares your presence." The guard who went to report came back and bowed to Su Hui.
The guard had a smile on his lips, spoke briskly, and his joy was beyond words. He must have been infected by the hearty laughter coming from the imperial study room.
Su Hanlin's laughter in the imperial study room was louder than the other, and could be heard far away through the doors and windows. The joy and excitement in the laughter made people know that he was in a great mood at the moment.
Listening to his father's long-lost hearty laughter, Su Hui couldn't help but be infected by it. His frown gradually relaxed, he raised the corners of his mouth, smiled at the guards and nodded, then stepped across the courtyard door to the imperial study.
Su Hui hadn't heard his father smile so happily for a long time. He couldn't remember whether it was three years or five years.
Especially in the past two years, there have been constant natural disasters and wars in the empire, and the people are in dire straits. The smile on Su Hanlin's face has disappeared. His heavy heart has shrouded the entire palace under a cloud, and the atmosphere is extremely depressing.
So when Su Hanlin heard Su Hanlin's hearty laughter, Su Hui felt as if the sky had cleared after the rain, and the dark clouds hanging over the palace were finally dissipating.
Accompanying Su Hanlin's laughter, there was also a woman's laughter that sounded from time to time. Listening to the voice, Su Hui vaguely recognized it as the voice of the eldest princess Su Rou.
In the entire territory of Dayu, the eldest princess who married far away was probably the only one who could make Su Hanlin so happy right now.
Many people felt that Su Rou was very unpopular with Su Hanlin, because the other princes and princesses were all in the imperial capital, enjoying endless honors. Only Su Rou was married away, or to a powerless family. How could it be possible? She has not the slightest bit of status and honor that an eldest princess should have.
Therefore, in the eyes of many people, Su Rou did not marry far away, but was not favored by Su Hanlin and was expelled by Su Hanlin.
But Su Hui knew clearly that among the many princes and princesses, the one Su Hanlin loved most was Su Rou.
If you don't love her, how can you give her the title of eldest princess as an exception?
If he didn't love her, how could he ask Mr. Yun Luo for her words? Even though Mr. Yun Luo scolded him as a dog, he still grinned silly and happily.
If he didn't love her, why did he just send her away from the imperial capital, a place of right and wrong? Let her live a peaceful and happy life.
Su Hui also knew that whenever there was a thunderstorm, Su Hanlin would frown and look in the direction of Shepherd City, with worry and concern in his eyes.
Su Hui knew that he was thinking about Su Rou who was far away in Shepherd City, because Su Rou had been most afraid of thunder since she was a child.
Thinking of Su Rou, Su Hui couldn't help but feel dazed, because the Su Rou that came to his mind was still as beautiful as when she was in her twenties, but now Su Rou is already a woman in her thirties, and she has changed. What it looks like.
As his thoughts flowed, Su Hui had already crossed the courtyard and arrived in front of the imperial study room. He paused for a moment, adjusted his appearance, and then stepped across the threshold.
In the room, Su Hanlin was sitting in front of the dragon case, reviewing the memorials. Su Rou stood aside, telling interesting stories that made Su Hanlin happy, while squeezing Su Hanlin's shoulders.
The two of them laughed constantly and were obviously having a very happy chat.
Su Hui stepped forward quickly, knelt down and saluted Su Hanlin: "My son, I bow to my father."
"No courtesy." Su Hanlin waved his hand to Su Hui.
"Brother Chen has met eldest sister." Su Hui stood up and saluted Su Rou again.
"Tianxi pays homage to His Highness the Crown Prince." Su Rou returned the greeting at the same time.
Su Hui stared at Su Rou and looked up and down, and found that her body and appearance were well maintained. Apart from becoming a little richer and losing the youthfulness and tenderness of her teenage years, there had been almost no major changes in the past ten years.
Seeing Su Rou's rosy complexion and clear and bright eyes, thinking that her life in her husband's family has been pretty good these past years, Su Hui couldn't help but feel happy. She looked at Su Rou and said, "I haven't seen you for more than ten years. The eldest sister is still radiant, which makes my brother feel happy." Peace and joy."
When Su Hui looked at Su Rou, Su Rou was also looking at Su Hui, and she couldn't help but be surprised when she saw that Su Hui's face was pale, with black eye circles, a thin face, and chapped lips.
Su Hanlin had told her before that the princes and princesses were being punished by starvation, but she never imagined that Su Hui had been starved into such a pitiful state. If she had known about such a situation, she would have told Zhang Xiaozu and others not to do anything. Grab them all and leave some food for Su Hui.
However, when she thought that her father punished Su Hui and all the princes and princesses in this way, it was certainly justified. The guilt that had just arisen in Su Rou's heart immediately disappeared. Instead, she raised the corner of her mouth and teased Su Hui, holding back a smile and said: "Prince This appearance of hunger and pain makes my sister worried and worried, making it difficult for her to feel at ease."
When Su Hui heard this, he immediately cast a resentful look at Su Rou and said in his heart, if you hadn't ordered someone to snatch my food and drinks, I, the prince, would be eating and drinking happily right now, how could he appear in front of you like a hungry beggar.
He glanced at Su Hanlin, then returned to Su Rou, and asked directly: "I don't know why the eldest sister sent people to rob me and all the brothers and sisters of life-saving food, and even sent people to smash the ninth brother's The restaurant has cut off our food source? Ninth sister and fifteenth brother can't bear the pain of hunger and thirst. They fainted yesterday and their lives are in danger now. Please help us, eldest sister."
Su Hui became more and more anxious as he spoke. The corners of his dry mouth cracked due to violent opening and closing, and blood flowed out from the corners of his mouth.
"Ah? Ninth sister and fifteenth brother have fainted?!" Su Rou was shocked when she heard this, and then she realized that the seriousness of the situation was far beyond her imagination.
She hurriedly looked at Su Hanlin and opened her mouth to plead for Su Hui and others, but Su Hanlin stopped her with his eyes.
Su Hanlin took out the bottom letter from a pile of memorials, banged it twice on the desk, then looked sideways at Su Hui and asked coldly: "You said that your eldest sister robbed your food, and also smashed Lao Jiu Do you have any evidence in the restaurant? If you dare to slander my eldest princess with your lies, I will never let you off lightly even if you are the prince! Of course -"
Su Hanlin's tone suddenly softened, and he added: "If you have enough evidence, I will naturally make the decision for you, and it is not impossible to lift your ban."
Su Hui opened his mouth to speak when he heard this, but when the words reached his lips, he swallowed them back with a wry smile.
He wanted to say that there was a witness, and his little eunuch could prove that Su Rou sent someone to do it, but then he thought about it. It was not only impossible to convict the princess of the empire based on the little eunuch's words alone, but it would also be possible. Let the little eunuch fall into one of the following sins, which is a serious crime of contempt for the royal majesty, and may even lead to death, so he had to swallow the words that came to his lips.
He didn't need to look at the beaten memorial in Su Hanlin's hand to know Su Hanlin's intention.
At the moment, he plays Zhao Quan and Zhang Xiaozu of Yancheng. The princes and princesses are the people in the southern border who are suffering from the disaster and are crying for food. The people who snatch food and destroy shops are water thieves. Su Rou is the instigator behind the scenes, Tuozhou Jiedushi Guang Jingshuohe. Your father and son.
When he reviewed the memorial, he said that Zhang Xiaozu and Zhao Quan could not convict Guang Jingshuo and Ru family and his son based solely on the water thief's words. They should not use cruel methods and disregard human life. They should abide by the laws of the empire and act in accordance with the law.
And Su Hanlin has made it very clear. If he wants the princes and princesses to eat, he, Su Hui, must follow what he said when reviewing the memorial and find enough evidence to prove that Su Rou is the instigator behind the scenes. Otherwise, the princes and princesses will Then I went hungry.
Su Hui smiled bitterly in his heart. At this moment, he understood the helplessness and anxiety of Zhang Xiaozu, Zhao Quan and others. The people in the southern border were crying for food. If they were delayed for a moment, they would starve to death. How could they have time to follow the imperial laws and act step by step? The lost food supplies must be retrieved as quickly as possible with the toughest means, otherwise the lives of tens of millions of disaster-stricken people in the southern border will be taken for granted.
Su Hui knew he was wrong, but perhaps because of his pride, or because he wanted to challenge Su Hanlin's authority, he gritted his teeth and did not admit his mistake. Instead, he looked at Su Hanlin and said resolutely: "Presumably the evil thief has not escaped from the imperial capital yet. As long as I send someone to arrest him and bring him to justice, the matter will be concluded."
"Ha—" Su Hanlin sneered, waved his hand towards Su Hui, and said, "Catch him."
"My dear, please retire!" Su Hanlin's sneer further aroused Su Hui's arrogance, so he resigned, turned around and left.
He vowed to catch the thief and show it to Su Hanlin, not only to catch him, but also to catch him at an extremely fast speed.
