Jackie Chan's Son-in-Law

Chapter 159 Mouthpiece and Reinstatement

The emperor himself has come, so whatever he says goes, and Chen Qing has no room to resist.

When Miss Gu brought the tea, the emperor took a sip, then looked at Chen Qing and praised, "Your tea is just as good as the one in the palace."

Chen Qing coughed and said, "It is my father-in-law..."

"I know."

The emperor smiled and said, "Jiangnan is prosperous."

He chatted casually with Chen Qing, and asked about Zhao Shilang, but he didn't get any useful information. In the end, he even talked to Chen Qing about the Chronicles of the Swordsman.

Chen Qing knew that the emperor wanted to stay at his home a little longer.

What he does here is not important; as long as he sits here a little longer, that's enough for him to make a public statement.

After chatting for a while, the emperor stroked his chin and said, "Are you planning to continue this chivalrous tale?"

Chen Qing nodded and said, "Your Majesty, Gu's Bookstore receives many submissions every day. If I have time, I will write some myself. If I don't have time, these submissions alone are enough to keep Xia Ji running."

The emperor glanced at Gu Pan and asked, "Is it your fiancée who is reviewing the manuscript?"

Chen Qing nodded and said with a smile, "She's probably the one interrogating me."

The emperor grunted in acknowledgment and did not continue speaking.

Chen Qing's eyes flickered, and he lowered his head slightly, saying, "Your Majesty, if the court needs it, I can incorporate Xia Ji into the Zhenfu Division or the Yiluan Division. In the future, this publication will not only be a publication, but can also become Your Majesty's mouthpiece."

The emperor thought for a moment and asked, "What kind of mouthpiece are we talking about?"

Chen Qing bowed his head and said, "Your Majesty, please wait a moment."

He turned around, went back to his room, took out a manuscript, handed it to the emperor with both hands, and said with his head bowed, "Your Majesty, please take a look. This is a manuscript that I have written over the past few days."

The emperor reached out and took it, looking it over from head to toe.

This is a short article, similar to a news report, about the scandalous story of the Zhejiang governor sending more than a dozen beauties to the second son of the prime minister.

The only problem was that the specific name of the person involved was not written down.

Chen Qingwen was a skilled writer, and since he had indeed learned some of the details, he embellished the story and wrote it vividly.

The emperor quickly glanced through it, then looked at Chen Qing: "You plan to print it in the Chronicle of Heroes?"

"It hasn't been decided yet."

Chen Qing smiled and said, "If Your Majesty agrees to let me print it, I will proceed with the printing. If Your Majesty does not agree, this is just something to write for amusement. When I get old, I will collect these miscellaneous drafts and compile them into a notebook."

The printing and publishing industry was already quite developed in this era; otherwise, the vernacular novel industry would not have been able to rise. It was also because of the developed printing industry that the handwritten notes of literati were popular in this era.

Some accomplished scholars may rewrite their works in middle age and then have them printed by a bookstore, which is one of the main sources of income for bookstores.

After all, these accomplished scholars have a formidable spending power; they can self-publish without having to worry about the market.

The emperor carefully read the manuscript without saying a word.

Chen Qing thought for a moment and continued, "Also, the case of Zhou Pan, the Prefect of Jingzhao, which His Majesty assigned to us, can be handled in the same way..."

The emperor frowned and said, "I need to think about this matter carefully. Let's not do it for now."

Chen Qing felt a pang of regret upon hearing this.

He almost became the spokesperson for the Forbidden City!

This power is not much different from that of the Zhenfu Division.

Unfortunately, the emperor was cautious and did not agree.

After pondering for a moment, the emperor checked the time and said, "It's about time. Go change your clothes, and we'll go to the Zhenfu Division."

Chen Qing looked down at his clothes, somewhat taken aback: "Your Majesty, I just changed into these clothes when I greeted you..."

At this point, Chen Qing stopped abruptly. He understood the emperor's meaning, immediately stood up, bowed, and said, "Your subject will go immediately."

After leaving the main hall, he took Miss Gu with him and left. After returning to his room, he took out the Qilin robe that he had only worn once.

This imperial robe was a bit troublesome to put on, but fortunately Miss Gu helped Chen Qing, and he quickly got dressed. After he was dressed, Chen Qing whispered to Miss Gu with a smile, "Now you can see what His Majesty looks like, right?"

Gu Pan shook her head nervously, "I...I didn't dare to look up..."

Chen Qing was speechless: "Then there's nothing we can do."

After changing his clothes, Chen Qing returned to the main hall. The emperor got up and left, and Chen Qing followed behind him into the imperial procession.

The emperor's ceremonial procession was mostly made up of people wearing flying fish robes, but Chen Qing's qilin robe blended in without looking out of place. And so, under the watchful eyes of everyone, he walked alongside the emperor's carriage towards the Zhenfu Division.

The Zhenfu Division and Chen Qing's family were both in Dashiyong Ward. Soon, the imperial carriage stopped at the entrance of the Zhenfu Division. Yan Hu, who was accompanying the ceremonial guard, and Tang Can, the Zhenfu Envoy of the Zhenfu Division, were already kneeling in a row with all the staff of the Zhenfu Division.

The emperor didn't even glance at them, but simply put his hands behind his back and said to Chen Qing, "Lead the way."

The Zhenfu Division was considered a royal secret service, the emperor's private army, but the emperor didn't come here often and wasn't familiar with the location of the Zhenfu Division's prison.

Chen Qing quickly turned his head to look at the Garrison Commander Tang Can and the five commanders of the Garrison Command, including Yan Hu. His mind raced, and he lowered his head and said, "Your Majesty, the Garrison Command prison is filthy. Your Majesty's health is precious, and I feel it is not appropriate for you to enter such a foul-smelling place. Why don't you let Garrison Commander Tang lead you to the Garrison Command's main hall? I will go to the prison and bring Zhao Mengjing to the main hall to see you."

The Emperor glanced at Chen Qing: "You're full of wicked thoughts. What are you planning to say to Zhao Mengjing behind my back?"

"I just want to go to the prison to see him and see what he has become in the past three or four years."

Having no other option, Chen Qing had to lead the way.

He was already very familiar with the Zhenfu Division prison, and soon he brought the emperor to the prison gate. After entering the prison, a stench hit them as expected.

The stench of decay was something the prisoners were already used to, but the emperor clearly couldn't stand it. He took out a handkerchief to cover his mouth and nose, still frowning, and entered the Zhenfu Division prison.

Inside the prison, Chen Qing had already taken the key and, with practiced ease, led the emperor to Zhao Shilang's cell. He skillfully opened the cell door, crouched down, and squatted next to Zhao Shilang, nudging him gently.

"Lord Zhao, Lord Zhao!"

Chen Qing nudged him a few times and lowered his voice: "His Majesty has come to see you!"

Zhao, the Vice Minister, was disheveled, with a beard that almost covered his entire face. After hearing Chen Qing's words, he first turned to look at Chen Qing, then looked back at the outside of the prison cell. Sure enough, he saw the Emperor, dressed in a purple robe, standing at the prison door with a frown.

As a scholar, Zhao Shilang naturally had to be respectful to the emperor, given the Confucian values ​​of Heaven, Earth, Ruler, Parents, and Teacher. Upon seeing the emperor, he quickly got up, knelt down, and bowed deeply.

"Your subject Zhao Mengjing pays his respects to Your Majesty."

The emperor covered his mouth and nose with a brocade handkerchief and stood outside the prison cell, quietly watching Minister Zhao kneeling on the ground.

"Raise your head, let me take a look at you."

Zhao Shilang looked up, revealing a messy, white beard that had grown all over his face.

The emperor squinted and asked, "It's been almost four years, hasn't it? Have you gained any insights here?"

Zhao, the Vice Minister, knelt on the ground and lowered his head: "Your Majesty, I still believe I have done nothing wrong."

The emperor grunted, "You really are incorrigible."

Three or four years ago, Zhao, the Vice Minister, submitted a memorial that made the emperor, who had just assumed power, quite fearful for a period of time.

He was the Empress Dowager's biological son, but the Empress Dowager had another son.

At that time, his brother was still in the capital and had not yet taken up his fief.

It wasn't until a year or two ago that the emperor allowed his younger brother to leave the capital and take up his fief.

At that time, Zhao Mengjing had offended both Yang Yuanfu and the Empress Dowager, so the Emperor naturally could not stand with him.

Fortunately, these dangers have gradually passed.

The emperor looked at Zhao Mengjing and asked, "Do you want to get out of here?"

Minister Zhao knelt on the ground and bowed his head without hesitation, saying, "Yes!"

The emperor grunted and said, "If you want to leave, that's good. I will find the time to grant you a pardon."

At this point, the emperor said quietly, "After you leave, I will let you rest for a while. Once you have rested, I will reserve the position of Left Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate for you."

"Consider it compensation for the hardships you've endured over the past three or four years."

Zhao, the Vice Minister, bowed deeply, his voice choked with emotion: "Your Majesty... I thank you, Your Majesty..."

Seeing Zhao Mengjing's submissive demeanor, the emperor smiled, but the smile quickly faded, and he said calmly, "There's one more thing, after we leave..."

"You are not allowed to make any moves against my maternal uncle."

Zhao, the Vice Minister, looked up at the Emperor with a hint of disappointment in his eyes. He opened his mouth to speak, but Chen Qing interrupted him.

"Yes Yes!"

Chen Qing reached out and pushed Zhao Shilang's back, pressing him to lower his head, and said in a deep voice, "Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Zhao Shilang was pressed down by Chen Qing, almost lying on the ground, and spoke in a hoarse voice.

"Your subject... obeys the imperial decree."

(End of this chapter)