Jackie Chan's Son-in-Law

Chapter 139 Delivering a Message

The emperor raised an eyebrow, looked at Chen Qing, and then turned to look at Jiang Chu.

Jiang Chu thought for a moment and then said, "Your Majesty, Chen Qing and his father are not on good terms. This marriage should have taken place at the end of last year, but it has been delayed until today."

The emperor then nodded and said with a smile, "Please stand up and speak."

Chen Qing stood up and remained standing before the emperor, his hands at his sides.

The emperor stroked his chin and said, "I saw your father Chen Huan's name on the list submitted by the Ministry of Personnel. Logically speaking, the date the Ministry of Personnel gives him should not be far off. Has he arrived in the capital yet?"

“Today, my father came to the Zhenfu Division to see me.”

Chen Qing lowered his head slightly and said, "Your Majesty, my father is a local official. If he might have some connections or influence, it should be in Huzhou or Yanzhou where he is serving. He is in the capital, so it is impossible for him to have any connections or influence, let alone any informants."

"But now, he knows that I have entered the capital, and even knows that I am working in the Zhenfu Division."

Chen Qing said in a low voice, "I am certain that someone must have told him this."

"I fear I offended several ministers in the Imperial Study that day. If it was those ministers who sent him to see me, then for Your Majesty's sake, I will most likely have to clash with him again."

"Now, with Your Majesty's protection, I am no longer so afraid of my father, but this marriage is the only thing that is subject to ethical principles and moral norms, which I cannot transgress."

Chen Qing said with a serious expression, "I should not have any concerns about being loyal to His Majesty, but Miss Gu and I have a deep affection for each other, and I still have selfish motives and do not want to let her down."

As soon as Chen Qing said this, while His Majesty the Emperor was still pondering the meaning, the chubby boy beside him stared at Chen Qing with wide eyes, his words consisting of only two words.

admire!

In just a few words, Chen Qing not only aligned himself with the emperor, but also portrayed himself as a loyal and righteous official who was devoted to the emperor and willing to fight against the powerful civil officials!
In order to be loyal to the emperor, he even severed ties with his own father and stood on the opposite side of his biological father!
Even His Majesty the Emperor was stunned by Chen Qing's words. He was stunned for a few breaths before turning to look at Jiang Chu and asking, "Did you tell him when you were in the Zhenfu Division that you came here to see me?"

Jiang Chu repeatedly protested his innocence: "Your Majesty, I didn't utter a single word until I entered the room just now!"

The emperor's expression was strange.

"What this guy said didn't sound like something he came up with in a hurry."

Chen Qing coughed, lowered his head slightly, and did not reply.

The emperor glanced at him and understood that either Chen Qing was quick-witted and had a fast reaction time, or he had already guessed back in the Zhenfu Division that Chen Qing had come here to see him.

Otherwise, most people wouldn't speak so eloquently.

The emperor glanced at Chen Qing, and after a long while, he chuckled: "Among my personal guards, there are many who are capable, but not many who can speak as well as you. In the Zhenfu Division, you might actually be able to hold your own against them."

At this point, the emperor said calmly, "This marriage is easy. You don't need to do anything special; I will agree to it."

At this point, the emperor thought for a moment, then smiled and said, "You haven't met your father yet, have you? One of these days, you should meet him and see what he really means, and what those who gave him the information mean."

"As for the matter of the bestowed marriage, once you and your son have met, whenever you want, just have Jiang Chu come to the palace to ask me for it. Then just say that Jiang Chu got it for you."

Upon hearing this, the chubby boy blinked before saying helplessly, "Then, my brother, you really have quite the nerve."

At this point, Chen Qing had successfully steered the conflict between father and son in the Chen family into a struggle between ruler and subject. The emperor's decision to involve Prince Jiang was naturally intended to draw him into this conflict.

Otherwise, the emperor could have simply granted the marriage directly; there was no need to make the chubby boy bear this burden.

Chen Qing bowed and said, "Your Majesty, I am deeply grateful for your great kindness!"

The emperor waved his hand and said, "It's rare for us to be out today, so let's have a meal together. Also, you can tell me in detail about the investigation into the White Lotus Sect during this period."

"And what your secret agents found out."

Chen Qing quickly bowed his head in agreement, and then carefully sat down below the Emperor and Prince Jiang.

This was the first time he had met the emperor in such a private setting, and it was also the first time he had dined with the emperor.

Therefore, he was extremely careful in his words and actions. He barely ate any food during the meal, but he did manage to give a fairly comprehensive report on his work.

As evening approached, Prince Jiang glanced at the sky and said, "Your Majesty, I will take Chen Qing with me to avoid arousing suspicion."

The emperor nodded, glanced at the sky outside the window, and said quietly, "You may go. I will stay a little longer before returning to the palace."

He stood up, stretched his body, looked out the window, and let his thoughts wander.

The chubby boy, along with Chen Qing, bowed respectfully and then carefully left the private room.

After leaving Manxianglou, the chubby boy breathed a sigh of relief and looked at Chen Qing with admiration: "I used to think that your greatest skill was writing vernacular novels, but now it seems that writing vernacular novels is probably your least remarkable skill!"

Prince Jiang looked Chen Qing up and down, his tone full of admiration: "During this time in the capital, I have seen many people meet His Majesty. Even a provincial governor, a high-ranking official, is trembling with fear in front of His Majesty, and sometimes he even stammers when he speaks."

"You're quite the schemer, all cunning and shrewd, and you speak with such perfect tact!"

Chen Qing reached up and touched his back, then stretched it out in front of Prince Jiang, revealing that his hands were covered in sweat.

"It's just a forced act."

Chen Qing exhaled a breath of stale air and said with a wry smile, "I'm human too, how can I not be afraid?"

"I'm terrified." In his personal opinion, Chen Qing did not believe that the emperor was necessarily superior, nor did he believe that imperial power was supreme, but this did not prevent Chen Qing from feeling fear when facing imperial power.

This is a sentence that, if answered incorrectly, could cost you your life!
It's true that murder goes unpunished!

Moreover, just because you answered correctly and well today doesn't mean you can answer correctly and well tomorrow!

The emperor may smile at you today, but that doesn't mean he won't kill you tomorrow.

Let us drink from the golden cup together, for the blades of the sword will not spare us.

In particular, at this time, Chen Qing had no foundation of his own, and all his authority was built on the branches of imperial power.

Of course he would be afraid in front of the emperor. Anyone in his position would be afraid and respectful.

The chubby boy gave Chen Qing a thumbs up.

"A man who possesses the power of thunder in his heart yet remains calm on the surface is worthy of being appointed a general."

Prince Jiang said with a smile, "Zizheng, you have the makings of a great general."

"I think Your Majesty has a deep impression of you. As long as you do your job well in the future, the Zhenfu Siyi Luan Si will definitely not be able to keep you in check."

Chen Qing shook his head: "Your Highness, please don't make fun of me. With my background, it's already quite an achievement that I can work in the Zhenfu Division."

Prince Jiang said seriously, "I was not joking with you."

He looked Chen Qing up and down, then shook his head and sighed, "It's a pity you're already engaged. Otherwise, I would really like to introduce you to my two older sisters from Bianzhou and make you the son-in-law of our Prince Zhou's mansion."

By this point, Jiang Chu had mentioned his two older sisters many times, and Chen Qing, intrigued, asked with a smile, "How old are the young master's two older sisters this year? Why does the young master keep thinking about marrying them off?"

"One is two years older than me, and the other is two and a half years older than me."

The chubby boy sighed: "If they don't get married, going back to Bianzhou will be no different from going to jail."

Chen Qing said with a smile, "Isn't the young master trying to push me into a fire pit?"

"You're different; you have so many ideas."

The chubby boy shook his head and said, "Maybe we can subdue them."

The two talked as they walked, and soon they arrived at the main gate of the Zhenfu Division. Chen Qing bowed to Prince Jiang at the gate to say goodbye.

After they parted ways, Chen Qing returned to his own centurion's office. By this time, Yan Cong had basically finished questioning those who had been suppressing the bandits. Next, Chen Qing would need to review their confessions and then write a report for his superiors.

That is, writing reports.

However, some of these testimonies were contradictory, and Chen Qing needed to compare them one by one, and re-examine any discrepancies.

After briefly asking Yan Cong about the situation, Chen Qing patted Yan Cong on the shoulder and said, "Alright, leave the rest to me. Brother Yan, you should go to sleep."

"If we tire you out, Lord Yan won't let us brothers off the hook."

Yan Cong clasped his hands in a salute and said with a smile, "Your subordinate obeys. I will return to the station first thing tomorrow morning to continue compiling the testimonies."

Chen Qing thought for a moment and then said, "You'll have to pass by my house on your way home, right?"

Yan Cong thought for a moment and then answered.

"Yes, it's about on the way."

"Then go and give me a message to Uncle Gu and the others. Tell them that I'm busy these days and I'm sleeping at the Zhenfu Division. I won't be going back until I finish what I'm doing."

"Go back and rest."

Yan Cong didn't think much of it, responded, turned around to pack his things, said goodbye to his father, and then left the Zhenfu Division.

After leaving the Zhenfu Division, he quickly entered Dashiyongfang. After walking through a few alleys, he arrived at Chen Qing's residence in Dashiyongfang.

Yan Cong had worked as a shop assistant at the Gu family's bookstore for quite some time and was quite familiar with the Gu family. He walked to the door and knocked, and the door was quickly opened.

Xiaoyue opened the door; Yan Cong recognized her.

"Miss Xiaoyue, is Master Gu here? I've come to deliver a message for Brother Zizheng."

"To relay a message for the young master?"

Xiaoyue turned her head to look in the direction of the main hall and whispered, "Xiaoyan...Master Xiaoyan, my master is receiving guests right now. If you have anything to say, just tell me and I will pass it on to the master and young lady."

Yan Cong nodded and repeated Chen Qing's words. Xiao Yue nodded first, then looked around and lowered her voice.

"Young Master Yan, please go and tell the young master..."

"Just say, just say that Mr. Chen is at our house right now..."

(End of this chapter)