The Prime Minister's Darling

Chapter 403: 204 Slapping the Face (Second Update)_3

The uninitiated would think they had seen a ghost!

“Daddy——”

After Marquis Gu got into the carriage, Jin Yu told him about the incident at the Ministry of Works: “…I really didn’t do it on purpose, I didn’t know the bellows would fail… They all said it was a problem with my design… But why was it okay at first… It only went wrong after those two showed up…”

The statement made it sound as if the bellows failure had any relation to the old blacksmith and carpenter.

Jin Yu sobbed intermittently: “They also said that it wasn’t me who made the bellows, but my sister…”

“How could that lass manage to make a bellows?” Marquis Gu looked disgusted.

Jin Yu whispered: “I don’t know if it was because my sister saw my blueprints…”

Marquis Gu furrowed his brows.

He vaguely felt that the girl didn’t seem like someone who would do such a thing, but apart from that, he had no other explanations for how she would have been able to make the bellows: “Did the old blacksmith really say it was your sister who told him?”

“Yes.” Jin Yu nodded her head.

“That’s not right…” Marquis Gu pondered, “Why would she go through your things? And she wouldn’t even know where your things are.”

Gu Jiao had been to the Marquis Residence and the villa a few times, but she had never been in Jin Yu’s courtyard.

Jin Yu didn’t expect that at this time, her father would actually believe Gu Jiao.

She was taken aback, and said: “Maybe my sister also thought of the way to make a bellows, we both thought of it…”

Marquis Gu’s intelligence only had a brief moment of clarity, he sighed: “It’s probably because you two sisters share a psychic connection. Don’t worry, I will investigate the bellows accident, it’s not necessarily because of the bellows, maybe the stove was in disrepair due to long-term use. As for whoever invented the bellows, I will also make it clear to His Majesty.”

Gu Jiao hugged his arm, cooed sweetly: “Daddy, you really are the most loving father in the world.”

Marquis Gu was much gratified, this was what a considerate and caring daughter looked like!

Unlike that girl, so aloof and inhospitable, like a piece of cold, biting armor!

Marquis Gu temporarily put aside official business and went to the palace to meet with His Majesty.

His Majesty was listening to Minister Zhao reporting on the accident, with the increasing numbers of injured and the substantial loss incurred, his mood was at rock bottom.

When he heard Marquis Gu suggest that the explosion might have been caused by the stove, not the bellows, he wished he could throw Marquis Gu out!

Marquis Gu didn’t realize he had just ignited the hidden rage within His Majesty’s heart, he continued: “Your Majesty, please rest assured, I will surely find out the truth! Besides, about the bellows, both my daughters actually thought of it…”

After Marquis Gu left, His Majesty leaned back on his chair, his hand instinctively pinching his throbbing brow.

The room fell into darkness as night fell, the substantial imperial study seemed boundless, like a beast with its gaping maw open, swallowing him whole.

After a long time, he let out a sigh: “Wei Shen.”

“Your Majesty.” Eunuch Wei stepped inside, “Shall I light the lamp?”

His Majesty nodded.

Eunuch Wei lit an oil lamp.

Under the glow of the oil lamp, His Majesty looked haggard and fatigued.

No one else could be more upset than the ruler of the country after such a disaster.

He softly said: “Your Majesty, you must take care of your health.”

His Majesty asked: “What do you think, whose merit is the bellows?”

Eunuch Wei chuckled: “Your Majesty already has the answer in your mind, why bother asking a servant like me?”

His Majesty said: “Old Marquis has fought for me all his life, and in the end, he had to shoulder the heavy crime of disrespect, his military power taken from him, retired and returned to his fields.”

Eunuch Wei turned up the wick a little: “All for the sake of the kingdom.”

His Majesty picked up a memo from the table: “Marquis Ding’an wants the credit to go to his foster daughter.”

They must separate issues accurately, the blame for the accident should be pursued, but the credit for the bellows cannot be wiped out. Punish those who should be punished, reward those who deserve rewards.

Eunuch Wei cackled: “If your humble servant may speak out of turn, no matter who made the bellows, it’s ultimately the credit of the Marquis’s Residence. I heard that Miss Gu has already married in the countryside, but young lady Hui has yet to leave her maiden home.”

That was truly intriguing.

A married woman, if she had only married a countryman, wouldn’t provide much help to her maiden family.

If Gu Jinyu were to marry into a prestigious family, Your Majesty would be gaining a great ally.

From a utilitarian perspective, the honor should go to Gu Jinyu.

As for the accident, once the evidence emerges, the Marquis Residence will certainly take the blame.

His Majesty hesitated: “But wouldn’t that be too unfair to the young lady?”

Chamberlain Wei earnestly replied: “Her own father doesn’t feel it’s unfair. So why should Your Majesty worry about it? She is destined to be the discarded child of the Marquis Residence, useless to both the Residence and to you.”

With a self-deprecating smile, the Emperor asked: “And would I still be a wise ruler then?”

Chamberlain Wei replied: “Your Majesty, by sacrificing one person, you save the populace from disaster. How does that not make you wise and benevolent?”

“Your Majesty!” A young Eunuch announced from outside the door, “It’s time for your medication.”

The Emperor gestured subtly to Chamberlain Wei.

Understanding, Chamberlain Wei approached the door with his whisk in hand, extended a thin hand and said in a high pitch: “Give it to me”

“Yes.” The young Eunuch knelt on the ground, handing the brocade box to Chamberlain Wei.

Chamberlain Wei took the medication and entered the room: “Your Majesty, stop going through the petitions for now and take your medicine.”

The young Eunuch craned his neck but couldn’t see the scene inside. He could only vaguely see through the paper window that the Emperor had taken the medication.

He withdrew, satisfied.

As soon as he left, the Emperor snorted coldly. He had not taken the medication at all; he threw it back into the box and disgustedly commanded, “Dispose of it!”

“Yes.” Chamberlain Wei took the medication and stored it away.

“Your Majesty.”

His Majesty had only had a brief moment of quiet before another young Eunuch arrived, “Consort Shu has sent you tonic soup.”

It was a tonic soup made from deer meat.

Great.

Another attempt to curry favor.

The Imperial Harem was already filled with more women than the Emperor could handle; the latter had abstained for a long time. Which woman could stand it?

But the Emperor doesn’t have any choice!

Chamberlain Wei wanted to laugh but didn’t dare, the suppressed feeling was quite uncomfortable: “Your Majesty, endure a little longer. Didn’t that young doctor say that if you stay disease-free for two years, you can rest easy? It’s almost been a year.”

The Emperor’s mood softened a bit when the young doctor was mentioned.

Staying in the palace was dull, he decided to go out.

He went out incognito, only taking Chamberlain Wei with him.

The master and servant, dressed as common noblemen and steward, walked down the avenue in broad daylight.

There weren’t many people who had seen the Emperor’s real face, so they weren’t worried about being recognized.

Walking on the bustling streets, seeing the lights of homes and people well fed and clothed, the Emperor’s inner gloom subsided significantly.

“Oh no!”

While walking, a small boy tumbled over, rolling to the Emperor’s feet.

Chamberlain Wei was scared and opened his arms wide yelling:”Protect the Emperor!”

The Emperor looked at Chamberlain Wei speechlessly: “It’s a child.”

The little boy stood up pulling on the robe in front of him, brushed off his butt, looked down and said, “Oh no! My shoe!”

His tiger-head shoe was missing!

That was his favorite little shoe!

He ran around in circles but couldn’t find his shoe, he anxiously stamped his foot!

The Emperor was amused by the boy’s adorable antics and couldn’t help laughing.

Only then did the little monk notice the man in front of him. He looked up at him with his small head tilted, thought for a moment and asked, “Handsome Uncle, have you seen my shoe?”