The Red Mansion Big Liar.

Chapter 656 Duke of Wei

The eighth day of September.

In the Jinluan Palace.

Emperor Wanlong sat upright, with a look of enjoyment on his face, listening to the ministers' praises of his achievements.

"The construction of water conservancy projects has made immortal contributions, irrigating thousands of hectares of farmland for the people."

"Your Majesty has been on the throne for only a year, but you have already eradicated corruption, clarified laws, and implemented benevolent policies to benefit all people. Now, auspicious signs have been sent from heaven, and water pumps have been sent to assist with irrigation. This is truly a blessing for Your Majesty and a blessing for all people!"

……

After the ministers had boasted for a while.

He looked around at his ministers and said in a deep voice: "Since I ascended the throne, I have worked diligently day and night, and have not dared to slack off for the slightest. Today's achievements are not my own, but also the result of the efforts of all of you, my dear ministers, in assisting the country."

"Your Majesty, Holy Might!"

All the ministers spoke in unison and sang praises of the emperor.

When he ran out of words, Emperor Wanlong waved his hand and said, "Disband! Minister Zhang, follow me to the Imperial Study!"

"Yes!"

Zhang Yun逸 hurriedly agreed, and under the envious gazes of the ministers, he hunched his back and followed the emperor all the way to the imperial study.

Emperor Wanlong sat down on the dragon throne and said with a smile: "Your Excellency has made great contributions this time. What reward do you want?"

Zhang Yunyi said modestly: "It is all thanks to your majesty's blessing. I am just doing my job and dare not take credit for it!"

"Okay! There's no outsider here, so stop being so modest!"

Emperor Wanlong smiled and said, "I am worried about leaving the Immortal Academy and the Tiangong Academy to others. I remember that my father once promised you a Duke. I will fulfill this promise on behalf of my father!"

Zhang Yunyi quickly thanked him and said, "How could I be so worthy of your majesty's love? I will do my best to repay your majesty's kindness!"

"Alright! Get up! I will discuss this with the cabinet later. The decree will arrive tomorrow. You can go back and wait!"

In order to make a complete show, Emperor Wanlong did not ask the cabinet to draft the reward decree in advance.

"Yes!" Zhang Yunyi responded, and then said, "It has been one year since your Majesty ascended the throne, and the auspicious sign of the water pump has fallen from the sky. It can be said that it is a double happiness. I have also joined in the fun and have taken in a new concubine. The date is set for the day after tomorrow..."

At this point, he turned to Xia Shouzhong and said, "Eunuch Xia, if you have time, please do me the honor of drinking a glass of wedding wine."

I originally thought that by asking the imperial physician to examine Xue Pan, I could then convey the news to the emperor.

Unexpectedly, the emperor's absence from court has increased recently.

Zhang Yunyi thought that the Xue family was just an ordinary royal merchant family after all. Even if the imperial physician knew about it, he might not take it seriously, let alone say anything in front of the emperor. He had no choice but to take action himself under the pretext of taking a concubine.

Emperor Wanlong was slightly stunned, then smiled and said, "What a double happiness! I will grant your wish. The day after tomorrow I will let Shouzhong go to your house to convey my order!"

Then he looked at Xia Shouzhong and said, "Since your kindness is hard to refuse, you don't have to rush back to report."

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your kindness!"

"Go!"

After Zhang Yunyi left, Xia Shouzhong asked, "The Emperor gave the Ningguo Mansion built by imperial decree to Zhang. Your Majesty, do you intend to continue to use the title of Duke of Ningguo, or..."

"Father is Father!" Emperor Wanlong blurted out, then pondered for a moment, with a hint of amusement on his face, "It's just a matter of changing the plaque, and you're conferring the title of Duke of Wei on him. Go to the Ministry of Revenue immediately and speed up the production!"

"This... the title of Duke of Wei..." Xia Shouzhong said hesitantly. "Why? Do you have anything else to say?"

"I dare not! It's just... those rumors in the streets..."

"He was made a duke at such a young age that it is inevitable that he will act arrogantly. I am just giving him a warning. Remember..."

"Yes! I'll do it right away!"

……

"Wei Guogong?"

The next day, Zhang Yun逸, who was receiving the imperial edict, couldn't help but shook his head helplessly when he heard the title. The emperor was trying to confirm his friendship with Cao thief!
He secretly complained in his heart, but heard Xia Shouzhong urging him: "Duke Wei, why don't you accept the order quickly!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty! Long live your Majesty..."

Zhang Yunyi took the imperial edict, but Xia Shouzhong lowered his voice and said, "The innocent are innocent. Your Majesty knows the Duke's affairs. Your Majesty knows that you are loyal to the state and will never listen to rumors outside!"

Zhang Yun逸 was startled, knowing that Xia Shouzhong would not speak without a purpose, and this was most likely a warning from the emperor.

"Thank you for the reminder, father-in-law!"

Although he understood the deep meaning in Xia Shouzhong's words, he went with the flow and said, "Oh, right! There is something I have always wanted to tell you, Grandpa. Last time, you kindly gave me three pills, but I didn't expect that the Xue brothers fell into a coma after taking them..."

He took the opportunity to give Xia Shouzhong some banknotes to explain Xue Pan's situation and the reason for taking a concubine. He then said, "It's better to be careful. Although it's not caused by the medicine, it was also a trigger. The nephew of the father-in-law should also be checked by a doctor!"

"Why didn't you say so earlier!" Xia Shouzhong blurted out, and then realized that he had lost his composure, and hurriedly explained, "To be honest with Duke Wei, people like me who have no roots also hope that a hundred years later..."

Although eunuchs cannot continue the incense, the ancients were superstitious and no one wanted to be left without anyone to pay tribute to their ancestors a hundred years later.

Therefore, in addition to being keen on yellow and white things, eunuchs are also very keen on adopting godsons.

However, even if Xia Shouzhong reached the level of a eunuch, he was not satisfied with just being a eunuch who could not leave any offspring.

There were also family members who coveted his money, and calling him a nephew was no different from calling him a son.

Therefore, when he showed such concern, he was not worried about revealing any clues and arousing Zhang Yun逸’s suspicion.

Although Zhang Yunyi knew it well, he couldn't expose it. Instead, he followed his words and said with a guilty look on his face: "Please forgive me, Eunuch Xia. I have been busy recently and didn't think of it for a while. Fortunately, it's not too late to make up for it."

Xia Shouzhong also knew that complaining all the time would only reveal his identity.

However, he was extremely anxious at the moment. Faced with Zhang Yunyi's warm greeting, how could he have the mind to stay and drink at the wedding?
He hurriedly excused himself and said, "Since the plaque has been reinstalled, I won't delay any longer!"

Zhang Yunyi deliberately tried to persuade him to stay, saying, "It's still early now. If you drink a glass of wine, it won't waste much time. You can still make it in time if you go back and ask for the imperial physician..."

Xia Shouzhong also acted along and said, "Although your majesty has shown special favor and allowed me to drink a glass of wedding wine before returning to report, I can't delay for too long. I hope Duke Wei will forgive me and allow me to take a short break and help cover up some things. I will be very grateful..."

Zhang Yunyi had done enough of the trick and no longer insisted, sighing, "Forget it! In that case, I'll put this dinner aside for now and host a banquet for you alone another day!"

"Easy to say, easy to say!"

Zhang Yun逸 escorted Xia Shouzhong all the way out of the mansion. When he saw Xia Shouzhong get on his horse, he breathed a sigh of relief and bowed slightly to Xia Shouzhong.

Xia Shouzhong did not dare to delay for a moment after leaving the Duke of Wei's Mansion, which was marked with a plaque. He immediately rode his horse at full speed and hurried back to the palace.

……

(End of this chapter)