Chapter 339: Su Clan Remnants

Normally, court should have dispersed by noon, unless there were major affairs, but some important officials would still be kept.

Many who went to listen would have to leave when the time came.

After all, officials don't spend every day on morning court; they have other duties to attend to.

So, after noon had passed, the prince still hadn't returned, and the Princess Consort of Qi felt puzzled.

They waited and waited, until it was near dusk and the sky had grown dark.

After Liu He Meng and Shen Hua Tang each followed their respective grandfathers back to the residence, the prince finally came back by carriage, looking weary.

Seeing the person return, the Princess Consort of Qi simply tidied herself and hurried out to meet him.

When the Princess Consort of Qi approached, the prince had already entered the residence, walking and muttering with Sui Si: "Damn it, damn it, hurry up and make some tea, I'm dying of thirst from talking all day."

Seeing the prince so exhausted, the Princess Consort of Qi anxiously asked in a low voice: "Is there something going on today?"

One would think it was only when there were major matters that he would be this busy? The prince, while taking off his outer robe, nodded to the princess consort: "The case of the Qingzhou mountain bandits has been tried, the evidence has all been examined, and the accomplices and remnants have all been arrested. If it weren't for the Che Shi affair, it would probably have been settled by now, but the Che Shi case still needs thorough investigation, and the relevant personnel are to be arrested and executed as deserved, so the matter has been delayed. Today we discussed the final outcome, and the Da Li Si will announce the final result in the next two days."

Because it involves remnants of the Su clan from years ago, this case was initially handed over to the Da Li Si for review and investigation.

Now the result should also be announced by the Da Li Si.

The prince spoke while panting heavily.

Sui Si had already brought a cup of warm, pleasant tea, letting him drink to quench his thirst, after which the prince continued: "Today's discussion mainly concerns these matters. If it weren't for the imperial elder sister's remains, the discussion might not have been so complicated, but now that the imperial elder sister's remains have surfaced, neither the imperial elder brother, the empress dowager, nor I could treat the Su clan remnants lightly. The imperial elder brother's view is that, as descendants of traitorous officials, they must not be leniently spared, and the Ministry of Punishments shares this view. However, the Censorate believes that if even the remnants were punished severely, it would harm the imperial elder brother's reputation."

The Censorate had many considerations, especially regarding the preservation of His Majesty's reputation, which involved countless details, all grasped firmly.

Therefore, the Censorate did not agree to the emperor directly imposing severe punishment.

Since the Censorate disagreed, they needed to find a way to make them agree.

So, the discussions were extensive.

This discussion alone took a little over a day, and together with other matters, it caused a long delay.

Involving the Su family affairs of the past and the imperial elder sister, the prince could not just sit and watch the spectacle; he would occasionally interject a few remarks.

Of course, he often made the senior censor so angry that the man wanted to take off his shoe and strike him, but dared not because of his status.

Thinking of this, the prince couldn't help but laugh: "You don't know, Censor Sun and the others were made so angry by me that I feared I might provoke some disaster."

The prince's nature is straightforward, with little scheming, and he doesn't usually consider others' feelings when speaking.

Being a prince of noble birth, he fundamentally doesn't need to choose his words carefully, so causing anger happens often; the problem is that others can't really do anything to him.

That really infuriates them.

They, having been angered at the time, go to sleep, wake up in the middle of the night, and can be reduced to tears by anger again.

The Princess Consort of Qi deeply felt this, smiled silently, then softly asked: "What is the final result? And... how about the Che Shi side?"

The Princess Consort of Qi naturally knew that, half a month ago, the women of the Che Shi clan had already lost most of their number. She wanted to know how the remaining half were faring.

The prince raised his hand: "None remain. In the environment of the Da Li Si's Tianlao, could those pampered beauties endure it? It would also be cheap for them."

Thinking of how he now has to take medicine daily and occasionally needs herbal baths, with his strength diminished compared to before, the prince gritted his teeth in resentment: "It really is a bargain for them!"

The problem is, these people are still remnants of the Su clan! Just thinking about it makes him even angrier!

He had almost been killed by these people! The prince drank the tea, explained the situation, then turned his concern to the children in the residence: "How is our good child doing? How are the children from the other three mansions? If any are particularly difficult to get along with, we should find a pretext to send them back and replace them; our good child's side must not have any unsuitable or difficult individuals."

The Princess Consort of Qi laughed at his words: "Rest assured, they are all carefully selected children from the various mansions; how could they be difficult to get along with? Sui Sui and Miss Shu get along extremely well, and Miss Shu takes good care of Sui Sui."

Hearing that Ren Shu Han would still look after Sui Sui, the prince felt considerably reassured, nodded slightly, then asked: "And our good child?"

The Princess Consort of Qi pointed to the dining hall: "They are waiting for you to return to have a meal together; our Sui Sui has said that, since father king hasn't returned, no one is allowed to eat."

Hearing this, the prince only felt his heart warm and comfortable.

The prince simply washed up, changed into regular attire, then brought the princess consort together to the dining hall.

When he arrived, Sui Sui was reviewing today's lessons word for word with Ren Shu Han.

Song Kuan listened on the side, occasionally nodding, indicating that Sui Sui recited very well.

Meng Jun Dong is young, but his reading is good; he occasionally corrects Sui Sui's pronunciation.

Even though Ren Shu Han explained, Sui Sui's pronunciation is somewhat inaccurate due to his young age and not fully articulate speech.

Nevertheless, Meng Jun Dong tirelessly repeats his corrections, over and over.

He says: "The more we say it, the more Sui Sui will remember it."

Song Kuan's persuasion was to no avail, and Ren Shu Han felt helpless.

After all, scholars have their own convictions; Sui Sui didn't say he disliked it, so they didn't say anything further.

Hearing Sui Sui's pronunciation become increasingly clear, the prince couldn't help but nod: "Indeed, having more playmates helps; look, a little tutor has come to help our good child study."

The Princess Consort of Qi also thought the Meng family were decent; scholars have their own integrity, and they also have their own convictions.

Even though Meng Jun Dong is young, he possesses a strange persistence in his bones.

Such persistence is not a bad thing.

On the contrary, it easily helps the children make better progress; the Princess Consort of Qi used to worry that the Small Classroom would become a place of fame and profit, but now she feels that having more excellent playmates for the children is actually not a bad thing.

They cannot always keep the children protected within the residence, ignorant of the dangers of the outside world.

So, this arrangement is not bad either.

Second watch.