Chapter 58 Husband, What More Do You Want? Diamond, Add More Sparkle

  Hu Chang was taken aback and subconsciously glanced at the screen behind him. There was no movement inside, and the cold sweat on his back also came down.

  "Your servant... your servant does not know what crime he has committed?"

  The emperor scowled, and the eunuch again handed out the memorial from behind the screen.

  "The assassins at the Empress Dowager's banquet were all people from within the palace. After investigation by Minister Gu, it was found that many of them were under your jurisdiction."

  Hu Chang knelt down, his eyes darting around: "I have many people under my jurisdiction, and it's inevitable that there are some oversights. If someone commits a crime of rebellion, I... I admit to the guilt of not having educated them properly."

  "Is it just a case of improper discipline?" The emperor smiled lightly: "Take a look at this file."

  With a wave of his hand, the eunuch beside him presented the case files to Hu Chang. Hu Chang took them and looked through them, the front part detailing the identity of the assassin, verifying their appearance, origin, and everything else, all of which were people from the Forbidden Palace. The latter part pointed the finger at him, stating that since the actions of the people from the Forbidden Palace were improper, it was his fault as the one in charge at the time.

  Hu Chang looked somewhat angry and was about to retort when he saw a letter stuck on the last one.

  That was a secret letter to him, with no indication of the sender, only the time and place of the appointment and the person's arrangement. It should have been something he kept close to his body, so why was it here?

  Sweat dripped from his forehead as Hu Chang held up the documents and looked up at the emperor on the throne: "Your Majesty, this..."

  "Is someone framing you?" The emperor asked in a soft voice.

  Hu Chang was so nervous that he couldn't speak, the letter is here, and his name is on it. If he still denies it now, will the Emperor believe him?

  "It seems that Vice Commander Hu is not good at lying, with an expression so flustered. I don't even need to ask you whether it's true or not. Just tell me, who wrote this letter?"

  "I am guilty!" Hu Chang put down the volume and kowtowed to the emperor, he didn't want to die yet, this was just following orders, who knew that thing not only didn't succeed, but also someone dared to investigate him?

  Everyone knows that he represents the Queen, and no one in the imperial court is unaware of this. The letter doesn't need to be asked who wrote it, the Emperor should also know it in his heart, but he must let him say it himself, so as to have a reason to convict the Queen?

  If he speaks out, his family's life and property will be gone. If he doesn't speak out, the empress dowager may still be able to spare his family's lives.

  He gritted his teeth and used all his strength to knock his head on the ground, blood splattered everywhere, and he took advantage of the opportunity to faint.

  The emperor's face showed no surprise, but the courtiers were frightened and scrambled to lift the man, lest they pollute the imperial eyes.

  Gu Zhaobei had long expected this outcome for him, and he just lowered his head to look at the tip of his shoes, without a word.

  "Now that Hu Fu has confessed, it's better to deal with him." The empress behind the screen spoke softly: "What does Your Majesty think?"

  The emperor smiled lightly and rubbed the jade seal in his hand, without immediately responding to her.

  Yuwen Changqing cursed inwardly, Gu Zhaobei was really too treacherous!

  Originally, it was the emperor's problem for him to see whether he would investigate the empress or not. As a result, this guy only investigated up to Hu Chang and took out a confidential letter like this, and then threw the problem back to the emperor.

  Hu Chang is not the real culprit behind the scenes, everyone knows that. The question is, with this letter, will the Emperor continue to investigate or take the opportunity given by the Empress and stop here?

  With a hint of admiration in his eyes, the Emperor looked at Gu Zhaobei and sighed: "Gu Aiqing is young and promising, this case can be considered closed."

  The military power is still in the hands of the empress dowager, he can kill a chicken to scare the monkeys, but he also cannot force it too tightly.

  "Before leaving for Beijing in the morning, listen to Feng's letter."

  All the courtiers bowed their heads, and one of them, Gu, stepped forward on his knees: "I am here."

  "Gu Aiqing has done a good job in investigating the case, sharing my worries and winning the bet made that day. Therefore, from today on, he will officially take up the post of Vice Minister of Justice."

  "Thank you, Your Majesty." Gu Zhaobei knelt down steadily and sincerely.

  He's just taking advantage of the situation and playing a trick, but if he really wants to compete with the most noble couple in the world, he'll be foolish. It's better to give him some balance points, so everyone can be happy, isn't it?

  Gu Zhounan tied up the Minister of Justice's sash without a hint of guilt, and smiled at the golden dragon chair with eight white teeth.

  "Hey, Shuixian, I heard your old regular customer has gone to jail!"

  In the intoxicating flower shade, Welcoming Mother cracked melon seeds with her tongue and said: "What a big official, yet they say he's the red man in front of the empress, how can it be that he just disappeared?"

  The woman called Lily stretched her waist and leaned against the door, saying: "Who wants to care about him? He's better off dead. That lecherous man has messed up my house and ruined many of my maids."

  "Mom spat out the melon seed skin and smiled: 'You've been coming here often these past few days, tsk tsk. You're looking more and more like a treasure, go find another precious one.'"

  "Yes." Lily smiled, glancing at the empty table in the hall that had been vacant for a long time: "Things have come to this, and yet he still doesn't come. It's really like what they say - those who shouldn't come do, while those you want to don't. Fate is just so cruel."

  Gu Zhāo Běi was formally appointed as an official, and the emperor's reward was not small. There were several tens of taels of gold and silver alone. However, when Shen Gui Yan checked the list, she found that the gold and silver had disappeared.

  "Baoyan, where is Young Master?"

  Bao Shan still had a proud look on his face, peeling the melon seeds in his hand and saying: "As soon as I came back, I asked about Miss's situation, then changed my clothes and went out. Judging from her appearance, she must have gone to Zuihuayin."

  "What's going on in Shen Guiyan's heart? Didn't the events of today's court spread like wildfire? I heard that Hu Fu, the deputy commander, was imprisoned?"

  "It's not possible." Bao Shan said: "That commander-in-chief was never a good person, oppressing the common people and bullying palace maids. Recently he often sneaked out of the palace to visit brothels. I heard that when he fell, many prostitutes applauded and cheered."

  Bao Shan's ears heard all directions, and indeed knew everything. Shen Guiyan pointed to the list of gold and silver with her finger and asked softly: "Which... is the brothel that Hu Chang likes to go to the most?"

  "Miss, what's this place for?" Bao Shan looked at her curiously and said: "There's no need to ask, in the capital city, there is only one place called Zui Hua Yin that is loved by officials and nobles. The price of the girls inside is so high that it makes people speechless, but they are all proficient in music, chess, books, and paintings, and each has their own unique skills. It's naturally different from other places. Some people with certain identities only go to Zui Hua Yin, going to other places would be laughed at."

  Indeed it is Drunken Flower Shadow.

  Shen Guiyan seemed to understand what Gu Chaobei was going to use the money for, so after thinking for a moment, she picked up her pen and scratched out the gold and silver on the bill.

  Gu Zhaobei returned very late and felt a bit guilty. As soon as he entered the door, he saw that Shen Guiyan was already asleep, let out a soft sigh of relief, snuck in to change his clothes, and was about to get into bed.

  He is now outstanding, although he is only a servant, he was awarded by the emperor himself, and his value is naturally higher. Went to Zuihuayin for a walk, almost couldn't leave.

  Yip Man said, "You've had such good luck now, when you get back, be sure to thank your wife. She's truly a lucky charm for her husband; otherwise, relying on your family background, it would have been good enough if you could have become a minor official."

  Gu Zhongbei has recently heard this phrase so much that he's almost deaf to it, but thinking about his own daily indulgence in wine and women, with a beautiful wife waiting for him at home, not a single complaint from her, still makes him feel somewhat guilty.

  As soon as he climbed onto the bed, he saw that the list of rewards for today was still placed beside the bed. Gu Zhaobei glanced at it in the moonlight and saw a patch of ink.

  Shen Guiyan actually erased the amount of gold and silver.

  Gu Zhāo Běi was taken aback, he had been worried that she would ask him where the money went when he got back, isn't that what wives are like? Always afraid that their husbands will keep a mistress outside, and they control the purse strings tightly. But she didn't ask, and instead covered it up.

  Holding the list, Gu Chaobei lay down, gently shifted towards Shen Guiyan's side, grabbed her hand and held it tenderly in his own, then closed his eyes.

  What more could one ask for?

  The man in black was handed over to Shen Guiyan by Bao Shan, and Bao Shan had Zhu Yun change into a set of clothes from the household, then stayed in her house to recover from his injuries.

  "It's better I do it." Chui Yun frowned and said: "You're a girl, taking care of a man isn't very convenient."

  Bao Fan pushed him out of the door with one hand and slammed it shut with a cold hum.

  Auntie has a long memory for grudges!

  Chasing the clouds in vain, being locked out, looking at the closed door, touching my nose, feeling a bit helpless, I continued to persuade: "Really should let me come, open the door..."

  The north wing is fine, but the east and main wings are not so good.

  Shen Guiya eats bird's nest and shark fin every day to nourish her body, and also sends various expensive supplements to the lady. However, as a result, the expenses of the other courtyards in the mansion have to be greatly reduced. Liu Niang has some dissatisfaction, goes to find the lady to talk, but the lady closes the door and refuses to see her, saying she wants to recuperate from illness.

  That big house of antiques is gone, she has to nurse not only her physical wounds but also her emotional ones.

  Madam Liu had no choice but to go find Shen Guiya, but unfortunately Shen Guiya was having a bad temper during her menstrual period and refused to see her. Madam Liu, being the elder and having a bad temper herself, immediately stormed into the East Wing and made a big scene.

  Gu Zhaodong was so annoyed that he fell ill. Coincidentally, the exam arrived again, and he took it with his illness, not knowing what he wrote at all. When he came out, his face turned white.

  "Didn't do well?" Shen Guiya asked, looking at his expression.

  "Would I have done poorly on the exam if you weren't constantly bothering me like a plague in this courtyard? Don't appear before me, get out!"

  Shen Guiya had just gotten out of bed to ask him about the result, but didn't expect Gu Zhaodong to have this attitude. Her heart wasn't pleased: "Good intentions are met with ingratitude, I'd rather not see you!"

  Both the divorce and separation papers have been obtained, whether she wants to stay or leave is her own business. Recently, she has invested in silver and asked Yu Zhu to help her make essence oil to sell, presumably it won't be long before she reaps a harvest. Once she has a lot of money, she won't continue to stay here and suffer humiliation!

  Just out of the east wing, I was going to take a walk in the garden when I ran into Madame Guan again.

  "Oh no, this is not good." Gu Niang came up to support her and said anxiously: "I heard that the young master didn't do well on the exam, doesn't that mean all the attention will go to Beiyuan?"