Chapter 564: The Record Keeper of the Hanlin Academy

A low posture.

The Empress personally coming out to welcome the Longyang Princess, and in such a manner of trying to build rapport, truly counts as a low posture.

What "haven't seen each other in years"?

Have you ever met?

What "Aunt"?

Back then, weren't you and Zhai Qing'er at each other's throats?

However, regardless of that, the humbleness Zheng Fu displayed at this moment was obvious. Seeing Xie Chan frozen on the spot, she walked over directly, affectionately grabbed Xie Chan's hand, and said with a beaming smile, "Look, Chan'er is truly naturally beautiful; she is cut from the same cloth as Sister Qing'er was back then!"

Others followed along with hollow laughter.

"Yes, yes, exactly!"

"She really looks just like the Zhai Imperial Concubine from back then..."

"Naturally beautiful indeed!"

Xie Chan was startled by Zheng Fu's sudden enthusiasm, then gave a coy smile: "The Empress is too kind with her praise; my humble appearance is not worth mentioning."

"Who made this attire for the Princess? Hmm?"

But immediately afterward, Zheng Fu's expression turned gloomy.

She swept her gaze around and scolded angrily, "Where is the Wang Shangyi? Come out here!"

A concubine from the inner palace immediately knelt on the ground, trembling all over: "Your Majesty, it was me..."

Zheng Fu tugged at Xie Chan's sleeve and said angrily, "What is the meaning of this? How can there be a loose thread? When did the needlework in our inner palace become so poor? Is this smearing the reputation of our inner palace, or is it looking down on the Longyang Princess? Hmm?"

Everyone watched, dumbfounded.

A loose thread?

Can a loose thread the size of a fingernail even be used as an excuse to make a scene?

However...

Imperial etiquette is indeed that strict; such a loose thread really can be used to make a scene. It is just that most of the time, people turn a blind eye; after all, even machines make mistakes, let alone people.

But clearly, Zheng Fu did not want to let this matter pass at this moment. It was all because she had truly had enough of the cold shoulders and humiliation from these people in the inner palace recently! At this time, on such an occasion, how could she not take the opportunity to vent her anger?

"Wang Shangyi, did you do this on purpose to humiliate the Longyang Princess?"

"To show contempt for the Imperial family?"

"What immense audacity!"

Zheng Fu coldly commanded, "Someone, drag Wang Shangyi away for me, give her eighty strokes of the cane, and we shall deal with the law later!"

"Ah!"

Wang Shangyi's vision went black.

Eighty strokes of the cane? With a woman's physique, wouldn't that just beat her to death? This Empress is simply settling a private grudge under the guise of public duty!

"Drag her away!"

But on an occasion like this, it is likely no one could save her; soon, the Imperial Guards dragged her away to the side to administer the caning.

Screams arose.

No one else dared to utter a single word.

Only then did Zheng Fu feel incredibly satisfied; she turned her face and affectionately pulled Xie Chan along, asking after her well-being in every way, appearing exactly like a kind elder.

Liu Zheng and the Prince of Yong looked at each other, speechless.

The Empress is indeed the Empress.

She is too good at utilizing the situation... She deliberately steered this conflict toward Xie Chan to achieve her goal of venting her hatred. Invisibly, she counted on the influence of Liu Zheng and Xie Chan to teach that Zhai Imperial Concubine a lesson. With this small tactic, she could also shorten the distance with Xie Chan's side, effectively forcing them onto the same boat.

A master!

Someone who has been able to serve as the mother of the nation for so many years is truly extraordinary.

In this way, even if Xie Chan is unwilling to be Zheng Fu's stepdaughter, Zheng Fu has shown the world that she will firmly stand on Liu Zheng's side.

And what many people did not notice was this.

Since Zheng Fu appeared here to welcome Xie Chan, she did not ask a single word about where Xie Ling's remains were, nor did she mention the death of Xie Ling.

Forbearance, humbleness!

Defeat is defeat.

She is someone who can recognize the situation.

"What are you still standing there for? Let's go, let's go, come into the palace with your Aunt, come into the palace!"

Zheng Fu pulled Xie Chan, refusing to let go, as if she had finally grasped a pillar of support; the smile on her face became increasingly affectionate and sincere.

Liu Zheng waved his hand, and Xie Ling's remains were indeed placed upon the Eight-Carriage Rite brought by Xie Fang.

This move made Xie Fang's tactic feel like hitting cotton with great force, extremely uncomfortable.

The look in his eyes toward Liu Zheng also became incredibly gloomy.

The procession set off again, and amidst the welcome of countless commoners along the streets, the Longyang Princess and Prefect Liu finally stepped into Jinghua City.

"Is this Jinghua?"

Liu Zheng sat on his horse, his mood still somewhat restless.

The ancient city of thousands of years, the simplicity, majesty, and prosperity rushing toward him made him feel as if he were in a dream.

At a glance, the people of Jinghua were all dressed in silks and eating fine food, their faces overflowing with the pride that had been deposited in Jinghua people since ancient times. Admittedly, as Prefect Liu entered the capital, there were still quite a few people watching, cheering, and shouting. After all, the name of Prefect Liu was not only synonymous with power, but also accompanied by the idol halo of him being only twenty-three years old this year—young, dashing, talented, and possessing great strategic ambition.

This kind of idol halo is absolutely fatal to young girls.

On the street, there were already many daughters of wealthy families and noble heiresses running along the road following Prefect Liu; some boldly shouted his name, while others, with shy faces, secretly threw the hairpins from their hands toward him...

However.

Most people in Jinghua, aside from these young girls, were still quite rational. There were even old men running teahouses in Jinghua, fanning themselves with cattail fans while toying with walnuts in their hands, watching the famous Prefect Liu enter the capital with a look of disdain.

This was the arrogance of the people of Jinghua.

Here, a single brick could hit three fifth-rank high officials.

You, a mere Prefect, do you even count?

Prosperity.

Prosperity.

Still prosperity.

Walking all the way in, this was the feeling Jinghua gave Liu Zheng. The shops and goods on the streets were dazzling, and there were even many foreigners on the street, with blonde hair and blue eyes, and all kinds of skin colors, but clearly, the people of Jinghua did not find it strange. Perspective and insight—this was where other places could not compare to Jinghua. Back when Rhodes entered Yintan City, his blonde hair and blue eyes had caused people to crowd around and watch him for a full ten days before they began to accept him.

Therefore.

Besides prosperity, there was also inclusivity.

On the way to the palace, they also encountered a pilgrimage group from a remote small country, as well as the Jiannan Military Governor who had just returned from Jiannan Circuit; the entire Jinghua was extremely lively.

"Prefect Liu, Prefect Liu!"

Just as they were halfway there, a young man wearing official robes suddenly ran up to Liu Zheng, covered in sweat. Liu Zheng looked over at the sound; it was a stranger, jogging all the way, grinning, which inexplicably gave Liu Zheng a sense of amusement.

"Who are you?"

Liu Zheng slowed down and asked.

The man then wiped away his heavy sweat and laughed heartily: "Deng Wenhui, Clerk of the Hanlin Academy, greets Prefect Liu!"

The Hanlin Academy?

Liu Zheng suddenly realized.

Of course, he was still holding the post of Reader in the Hanlin Academy! That was a proper deputy department-level official, a rank five official.

Having just entered the capital, he certainly had to report to the Hanlin Academy first!

"Are you not even going to give me a few days to rest?"

Liu Zheng asked with a bitter smile.

That Deng Wenhui chuckled, looking apologetic: "Lord Reader, it is not that I do not want to give you time, it is truly because the Grand Academician gave instructions..."

Speaking to this point, he looked left and right before saying as quietly as possible: "The Grand Academician asked me to bring you a message: Longyan is in trouble this time, and you must step forward to help!"

"What?"

Liu Zheng's expression changed drastically.