Chapter 328 - 328 Looking for Someone
328 Looking for Someone
When Shangguan Heng heard that he had to raise a horse, his face turned pale and he said with a long face, “I think the Ministry of Rites is quite good.”
What was so good about the Ministry of Rites? They were usually free and had nothing to do.
Emperor Chong’an narrowed his eyes and looked at him for a while. He stared at Shangguan Heng until he broke out in a cold sweat. He turned to look at the sixth prince, Shangguan Ming, who was less than ten years old.
Emperor Chong’an tested the Sixth Prince on his homework with a few questions before chasing them all away, leaving them confused. Did he call them here just to ask this?
The princes came out of the imperial study together and parted ways after greeting each other. Shangguan Yao asked softly, “What did Father mean by that?”
Shangguan Pu looked at his younger brother helplessly. From the corner of his eye, he saw Eunuch Li come out of the imperial study.
He shook his head warningly, indicating that he could not spout nonsense. He slowed down and waited for Eunuch Li to come forward and bow before asking, “Eunuch Li, are you going out of the palace to visit Second Brother?”
Eunuch Li said respectfully, “His Majesty is worried about the Second Prince. I’ll go early to reassure His Majesty.”
Shangguan Pu nodded with a smile. “Then I’ll have to trouble Eunuch Li to greet Second Brother for me. Let him know I’ll visit him in a few days.”
“I’ll definitely relay the Eldest Prince’s words.”
“Hmph, Second Brother’s illness really came at a bad time.” At the mention of the Second Prince, Shangguan Yao couldn’t help but speak sarcastically.
Shangguan Pu coughed dryly. Shangguan Yao followed his gaze and saw a beautiful woman in palace clothes bowing in their direction.
Shangguan Pu nodded slightly and left the palace with Shangguan Yao.
A palace maid’s voice came from behind. “Concubine Rou, that’s the Eldest Prince and Fourth Prince…”
However, Shangguan Heng did not leave the palace. Instead, he went to the Moon Pavilion where his biological mother, Consort Shu, lived.
Consort Shu was trimming a pot of Chinese roses in the hall. When she saw her son, she quickly called the palace maids to prepare his favorite snacks.
“I heard that His Majesty summoned all of you to the imperial study? Did he mention the matter of a crown prince?” When only her own people were left in the hall, Consort Shu pulled Shangguan Heng aside and asked.
Shangguan Heng sat down on the spot where Consort Shu had been sitting. He reached out and plucked a blooming Chinese rose.
Consort Shu’s heart ached when she saw this. Her reputation was prestigious, and these flowers were her favorite. She usually handled the watering and never let the palace maids touch them.
Shangguan Heng, on the other hand, broke the flowers without a second thought. However, when she saw that it was her precious son who did it, Consort Shu couldn’t bear to blame him.
In order to prevent him from ruining the whole pot of flowers, Consort Shu quickly instructed her personal palace maid to move the flowers away.
“Mother is asking you a question.” Consort Shu walked to the other side of the soft couch and sat down.
Shangguan Heng threw the flowers away and said shamelessly, “Go and ask Father to remove me from my job, then I’ll tell you.”
Consort Shu rubbed her forehead with a headache. In the past, unless Shangguan Heng was short of money, he would only visit her once every month or two.
Ever since she tactfully asked Emperor Chong’an to arrange an errand for him, he had come over more often, but every time he opened his mouth, he would say this.
“There’s no need to talk about this. Why don’t you think about it carefully? If you don’t work hard and let the noble consort’s son sit in that position, will we be able to live well?”
In the past, the empress was in charge of the harem, and she was the kindest and easiest to talk to. She followed the rules.
Even if the Fifth Prince sat on the throne in the future, Consort Shu believed that the Empress would not treat the two of them badly. However, the Imperial Concubine was different. That woman was the most ruthless.
If the Eldest Prince really took that position, they would not be able to gain any advantages.
Additionally, she had never gotten along with the imperial consort.
It was fine when the Empress was around, but now, the imperial concubine had the final say in the harem. She really wished she could leave this palace, afraid that the imperial concubine would make a move on her.
Otherwise, she would not have let Shangguan Heng laze around for so many years before making him fight for this position.
She wondered if it was too late.
Thinking of what might happen to her in the future, Consort Shu twisted her handkerchief and sobbed.
Shangguan Heng was stunned. Why was she crying as she spoke? He reflected on himself and did not dare to say anything else. He honestly told her about what happened in the imperial study.
He didn’t say anything about his behavior in the study.
“Does this mean that His Majesty intends to appoint a crown prince?” Consort Shu continued to cry.
Shangguan Heng’s head hurt. “That’s right.”
“Then Brother Heng…”
“I’ll definitely perform well in front of Father. I won’t let Mother lose her life in her later years.”
Consort Shu retracted the handkerchief in her hand. She no longer looked like she was crying. She asked tentatively, “You said that you didn’t like any of the women in the previous selection process, so Mother didn’t force you.”
“But you’re not young anymore. You can’t stay single forever. A few days ago, your uncle entered the palace.”
“Mother!” Shangguan Heng interrupted her and stood up to leave.
Consort Shu pulled her back. “I just think that Su’e is indeed not bad. I quite like her. Why don’t I go to His Majesty to help you get engaged first? The matter of marriage will be up to you afterwards.”
The Su’e that Consort Shu was talking about was the daughter of Shangguan Heng’s uncle, his cousin.
Shangguan Heng knew that his good uncle must have run over and said something. He angrily broke free from Consort Shu’s hand. “If you think that Cousin is so good, you might as well let Father take her into the palace. The two of you will have a companion.”
After saying that, he ignored Consort Shu’s pale face and turned to leave.
Shangguan Heng did not want to get married in the first place, let alone marry Zhang Su’e, who looked like she was about to cry all day.
After walking out of the Moon Pavilion, Shangguan Heng paused. No, he was clearly here to ask for money. He turned around and wanted to go back. Thinking of what he had just said, he could only give up.
Forget it, he should go to Hidden Spirit Temple to see his second brother. If he had to say it, his second brother was the most suitable person to sit in that position. Unfortunately, his second brother lacked the help of his mother’s family, and he was not in the mood to participate in the royal court. Otherwise, his eldest brother wouldn’t even stand a chance to become the crown prince.
Shangguan Heng cursed the Eldest Prince in his heart. As for the Eldest Prince, after left the palace, he did not go to the government office on duty and directly returned to the residence.
An attendant came up and said something to him. Shangguan Pu frowned and walked towards the guest courtyard.
As soon as he stepped into the guest courtyard, he saw a slender woman sitting under the porch reading a book.
The woman looked up when she heard the commotion. Seeing that it was him, surprise flashed across her face. She closed the book and took a few steps forward to bow. “Your Highness.”
Shangguan Pu’s originally frustrated heart inexplicably calmed down. He helped her up and asked, “Are you used to living here?”
“This place is very good. Thank you, Your Highness.” The woman exuded a quiet and elegant aura.
Shangguan Pu put his hands behind his back. “That’s good.”
The woman looked up at him and asked with a frown, “Have you not brought it back?”
Shangguan Pu was about to mention this matter when he nodded. “That couple disappeared after leaving Xunyang City. My men haven’t been able to find them.”
The woman tightened her grip.