Huh? The Tyrant Cries After My Inner Thoughts Were Exposed!-Chapter 163: Lending Without Return
After the court assembly the next day, Su Juan was left behind. When the Old Emperor’s verbal edict came down, she immediately became agitated and fiercely glared at Minister Mo of the Ministry of Revenue.
This sort of temporary assignment of an official wouldn’t be suddenly decided by the Old Emperor. He must have already discussed it with both parties involved, meaning that Mo Youqian agreed to it!
[Such a blatant poaching! How can you tolerate this!?]
Minister Mo feigned wiping away a tear, What else can I do if I can’t tolerate it? The imperial decree has been issued, am I supposed to take up a sword against him?
It’s not worth it, absolutely not worth it.
Su Juan’s temple throbbed, [The Honglu Temple is notoriously known for borrowing but never returning!]
Everyone: !!!
The Minister of the Ministry of Rites deeply understood this, sniffling and tearing up, feeling sorry for himself at the thought.
The Minister of the Ministry of Rites chuckled, Oh, it’s not that bad, it’s all a misunderstanding, rumors can’t be trusted, they just lead to misconceptions, don’t they?
Besides, staying at Honglu Temple is great, you eat well, drink well, everything is good, isn’t it better than being at the Ministry of Revenue?
Su Juan’s head started to ache, [Let me deal with those diplomatic missions, doesn’t the Old Emperor worry that I might anger them all into leaving, sparking a war?]
The Old Emperor didn’t care at all, If you really have that ability, I might as well call you my dad.
Even though Su Juan was unwilling, she still had to follow the Minister of the Ministry of Rites.
For three days straight, she wined and dined with those missions, toured the entire Capital City, and was exhausted from all the walking.
Every day she’d come back to the Duke Mansion, her head barely hitting the pillow before falling asleep, missing the days at the Ministry of Revenue being exploited by Mo Youqian, at least she wasn’t overfed or walking until she got blisters.
Whether she ran to the Ministry of Revenue, returned to the Duke Mansion, or even fled to the Su Mansion, the people from Honglu Temple could always find her precisely.
It felt like they had caught some bitter grass tea and were intent on wearing her out.
Eventually, Su Juan hid at the Empress’ place, as the people from Honglu Temple dared not go there, allowing her a moment of rest.
When the Empress learned that Su Juan had blisters on her feet, she was immensely distressed, ordering palace maids to summon someone from the Imperial Hospital to examine her, and also had her own day bed brought out for Su Juan to rest on.
Su Juan couldn’t care about anything else, but she didn’t have the audacity to really lie there, so she lay prone on the couch, recounting the past few days’ events to the Empress.
The Empress liked Su Juan, just looking at her granddaughter brought her joy, and listening to her chatter made the Empress feel more spirited.
Su Juan spoke about each nation’s delegation, with the Chu Kingdom residing over mines and leading a well-off life, thus demanding the best in food, lodging, and transportation, constantly complaining about their current accommodations and wanting to move elsewhere.
The delegation from Qi Country was overly focused on etiquette, needing to bathe and apply incense before a meal, as well as reciting sutras and prayers.
Particularly the Eldest Prince of Southern Country, Chu Guang, was the most annoying, constantly asking questions and talking about his various interests, including a knife forged from Mystic Iron and a Divine Bow, and his daily schedule.
Su Juan’s head ached at the thought, "I even know that he has a big yellow dog kept at the Prince Mansion named ’Heavenly Dog’."
[This man, once he starts talking, is really irritating.]
The Empress smiled kindly, "When you’re tired, just come and rest here at my palace, I’ll have food and drink prepared for you."
Su Juan’s eyes lit up, touched, "Your Majesty, you’re so good to me, no one has ever treated me so well."
On hearing this, the Empress felt a pang of heartbreak and even more compassion for Su Juan. If her daughter hadn’t disappeared back then, so many things wouldn’t have happened later, and this granddaughter should have grown up by her side, instead of being bullied outside, having to stand on her own so young.
"Even though you’re in the Ministry of Revenue, since Zhuang Peiwen is willing to teach you, learn well from it, interacting more with these delegations and understanding the matters of other countries will benefit you too."
Su Juan slightly nodded, "I understand."
The Empress couldn’t help but stroke Su Juan’s head, wishing this child could be in the palace every day.
Not long into this tender moment, a maid reported in.
"Your Majesty, Minister Zhuang from Honglu Temple is waiting outside, saying he’s here to fetch Lord Su."
Su Juan: "..."
[Save me!!!]
The Empress couldn’t help but smile and ordered some pastries to be wrapped up and given to Su Juan.
...
As Su Juan exited the Empress Palace, her eyes were full of grievance looking at the Minister of the Ministry of Rites, [That Zhuang Peiwen must hold a grudge against me, otherwise, with so many people at Honglu Temple, why is it always me getting the shaft?]
Receiving Su Juan’s grievance, the Minister of the Ministry of Rites felt wrongly accused, trying to explain, "Actually, I’m quite familiar with the Lord, we were just recently having tea and a chat."
Su Juan gave a dry laugh, "Well, isn’t that just wonderful."
Minister of the Ministry of Rites: So you see, it’s because the Lord wants you to have a bright future, so he entrusted me to borrow you from the Ministry of Revenue for some training!
[Oh, you, Zhuang Peiwen, actually using Duke Ping to pressure and threaten me!]
Minister of the Ministry of Rites: ???
[I never expected you to be this kind of person, pretending to be upright, yet racking your brain to torment me, a weak woman!]
The Minister of the Ministry of Rites was on the verge of tears: This accusation is too great! Duke Ping gave such an order, he said to train her intensively, wear her out but not to the point of death, otherwise, he wouldn’t dare to mistreat the Emperor’s favorite!
[Without a shred of pity, no wonder your daughter is infatuated with some destitute pretty face!]
The Minister of the Ministry of Rites was confused: What does infatuated mean?
[Your daughter is about to be misled by a pig, and you’re here preoccupied with hassling me, wait until she’s pregnant and the pretty face comes to ask for her hand, then you’ll regret it!]
Su Juan remembered that around the end of this year, the beloved daughter of the Minister of the Ministry of Rites was proposed to by a fair-faced scholar, which ended with Zhuang Peiwen chasing him out with a broom, causing a huge uproar. It’s said that his beloved daughter was pregnant with that scholar’s child.
By the timing, this is about the time they got involved.
Zhuang Peiwen was a stubborn character, and even with his daughter pregnant, he wouldn’t accept someone trying to climb up the social ladder using women as a son-in-law.
In the end, Miss Zhuang was sweet-talked into eloping, and the Zhuang Family even reported it to the authorities, it really was upsetting.
The face of the Minister of the Ministry of Rites turned dark: "!!!"
This is ridiculous!
Where did such a scoundrel come from, daring to have designs on his precious daughter!
Despite being furious and anxious, Zhuang Peiwen eventually threw Su Juan to the Southern Country’s delegation, then rode his horse back to the manor, vowing to chop the rascal trying to deceive his daughter to pieces for the dogs.
Su Juan: "..."
[This is madness.]
She turned her head and saw the annoying Chu Guang smiling at her, "Miss Su, we meet again. Since our parting yesterday, I have been thinking about you all the time."
"Therefore, I asked your country’s Mr. Zhuang to invite you here, hoping to have lunch with you."
Su Juan gave a couple of dry laughs, "Well, that really is my good fortune."
[Accumulated eight lifetimes’ worth of blessings!]
The two accompanying officials tried not to laugh, A mature official certainly wouldn’t show emotion.
[Ah!!! So annoying, would anyone help sew that big mouth shut!]
Everyone: We can’t help you with that.
[There’s only talk of the Eldest Prince of Southern Country being a warrior, never heard he was so talkative!]
All those who listened to Chu Guang’s heroic deeds from when he was eight: "..."
Well, I must admit, this is the first time I’ve heard of it too.
