Chapter 10: Mount RenoChapter 1129: Shut the Door
"What can we do!"
Xú Chángqīng was furious and got up, pulling Xú Jūn lóu towards the exit. “Come with me to the East Palace immediately.”
The uncle and nephew ran all the way to the East Palace, but they were turned away at the door.
"Halt! This is the Eastern Palace grounds, entry forbidden!"
Hearing the shouts of the guards, Xu Changqing lowered his posture and clasped his fists, saying, "I am Xu Changqing, minister of household affairs. I have urgent business to see Your Highness. Please, officer, let me through."
The guard walked closer and saw that it was indeed Xu Changqing. His face softened considerably as he said, "Your Highness has already rested at this hour. Sir Xu, if you have something to attend to, please see him tomorrow"
Xu Changqing chuckled wryly: "It's really quite important, please do let me know if it's ready."
The guard knew that Xu Changqing was a favorite of the East Palace, so he didn't make things difficult for him and nodded. "Wait a moment, I'll go report."
"Thank you," Xu Changqing bowed again.
The guard turned and went into the room. A short while later, he came out followed by Wan Jiaojiao.
Wan Jiaojiao stood in the doorway, her smiling eyes appraising Xu Changqing, and said, "Sir Xu, coming to the East Palace so late, is there something the matter"
Xu Changqing became even more polite to Wan Jiajiao, bowing and saying: "There are indeed some important matters, please inform Miss Wan."
But Ke Wanjiao shook her head and said, "Your Highness said earlier that no one would be seen tonight."
Xu Changqing was taken aback.
Before, he had been late more than this and the Crown Prince would have summoned him immediately, but never like today.
Seeing Xu Changqing was about to speak, Wan Jiaojiao glanced at Xu Junlou who stood timidly behind Xu Changqing and said, "Lord Xu is here about the Master of Administration's matter, isn't he"
"Seeing that Wan Jiajiao had exposed it, Xu Changqing didn't deny it either, and said bitterly: 'I only have this one nephew. I treated him like a son and raised him. He is young and inexperienced, doesn't know the long-term plan, so as his uncle, I always have to teach him.'"
Wan Jiaojiao nodded and said, "That's right, Your Highness is indeed capable, but has Mr. Xu ever considered that children have their own fortune"
"Your Highness did not greet you directly and instead made a choice for the Prefect. That was to ascertain the Prefect's true intentions. Now that the Prefect has made his choice, Lord Xu, why persist"
Faced with these relentless questions, Xu Changqing unexpectedly found himself speechless.
Wan Jiaojiao continued, "Master Xu, His Highness has made arrangements for many things. Master Xu doesn't need to worry too much. You can help him once or twice, but can you help him for a long time What's more, His Highness may not harm him. Perhaps this choice is better"
Xu Changqing sighed and said, "Miss Wan is right. My concern has made me confused."
Wan Jiaojiao smiled faintly, performed a graceful curtsy, and said with respect, "It's late, the dew is heavy. I beg the two esteemed Masters Xu to return home earlier for some rest, lest you be delayed from tomorrow's court."
After that, Wan Jiaojiao took her lantern and turned back home.
Seeing that even the gate to the East Palace was impenetrable, Xu Junlou panicked, "Uncle, what shall we do now"
"What should I do"
Xu Changqing had surprisingly become nonchalant. He said, “Miss Wan speaks with reason. Since you have already made your choice and His Highness approves, to go back on your word now would be to treat state affairs as a child's play. So be it.”
Xu Changqing said, then turned and walked towards home.
Xu Junlou chased after him, anxiously saying, "Didn't Uncle say that my nephew should continue to stay by the Prince's side now"ighness, please make it clear."Li Chen looked at Wu Ban Shan and said, "In General Wu's view, Yueya Pass is a strategic pass that can block the Liao army's southward advance, right"Wu BanShan thought...