Raiders of the Duke and Duchess

Chapter 916 Which granddaughter

Everyone understood the emperor's confusing and confusing words at this point - if you, Ji Wuyan, hand over the magic medicine and cure the emperor's illness, then Shangguan Shou's so-called deceiving the emperor was just a joke. If not... then the crime of deceiving the emperor will be confirmed.

At this time, anyone with a bit of brains, even if they really didn't have the magic medicine, would either boldly agree to it with a bluff and then make plans, or avoid the question and take a roundabout approach. In short, no one would honestly tell the emperor that they didn't have the magic medicine.

Ji Wuyan is not just a person with some brains.

She was a woman with a keen mind, smart, clever, and able to judge the situation. However, when everyone thought so, she seemed completely unmoved, without even a word of explanation, and even had a bit of indifference, as if it had nothing to do with her.

The old man didn't seem to care, and even agreed with a smile, "Yes, Your Majesty. I have deceived you, Your Majesty, please punish me."

The emperor wanted to offer them a staircase that was not too difficult, but the grandfather and grandson refused to take it. They were like two stubborn donkeys, determined to run towards that dead end.

Not to mention Ji Wuyan's life-saving grace, Shangguan Shou held the treasures and the army that had never been used. The emperor could not really do anything to him at this critical moment... Wait! The emperor suddenly shuddered, and belatedly realized why Shangguan Shou had the courage to kneel here...

army.

At first, the emperor thought that the reason Shangguan Shou dared to kneel here and speak these treasonous words with confidence was not because of Ji Wuyan's rescue - but soon he realized that Ji Wuyan's rescue was only a matter of today, and this old man couldn't get here even if he got the news immediately. Shangguan Shou actually relied on the army that even the emperor himself had never seen, and only knew a little about it from the secret reports sent by Shangguan Shou regularly, and which Shangguan Shou had controlled so far.

At this moment, the emperor had completely understood that this was the bargaining chip that allowed Shangguan Shou to stand up straight in front of him and say that he had deceived the emperor.

As long as the treasures were still in Shangguan Shou's hands, the emperor would always be a little afraid. As long as the army was still in Shangguan Shou's hands, the emperor would always be cautious. Even... maybe the army was stationed in an unknown place outside the city, waiting for Shangguan Shou's order to break into the city. By then, with his sick body, it would not be difficult for the throne to change hands.

It’s just… the fire in the East Palace happened so long ago, and this old man only came now… It’s inevitable that people will think too much.

The emperor stroked the bed with his fingertips, trying to look at the ministers and sons who were standing in front of him but he could not see through them. He lowered his eyebrows for a long time before saying "Oh?" and then laughed, "To be honest, this matter cannot be considered as deception. At most, it is a mistake of concealment. To be honest, Miss Ji saved my life. I should not repay her with evil for her contribution... But, it is true that you entered the city without being summoned. If those pedantic and stubborn old guys knew about this, I am afraid they would jointly report it again."

After saying this, he shook his head, his helplessness was mixed with some sincerity, and it was obvious that he had been troubled by this for the past few years. Then he said earnestly, "Old man, I am not against you staying here, but the criticism from these censors is really a headache, so I am persuading you to leave... Listen to my advice, and if there is nothing else, then set off back to Jiangnan."

Only when Shangguan Shou left, those troops that might be stationed outside the city would leave together. In this way, the emperor could start to deal with the remaining people without any scruples.

In terms of power, only the Bian family can compete with the Ning family in the court. In terms of reputation, the Bian family can hardly compare with them. Everyone said that the Ning family had long been overshadowed by the emperor, but they didn't know that the only one the suspicious emperor was willing to trust was the Duke's Mansion... Firstly, the Duke's Mansion has always avoided suspicion and remained neutral and loyal to the royal family. Secondly, he really believed that Ning Xiuyuan was his confidant.

But now...the word "confidant" has become a joke!
As for Yi'er... Did he really think that since he was the only prince of marriageable age left, the throne would definitely be his? The boy was too naive to act so hastily. The emperor leaned against the soft pillow, slowly breathed a sigh of relief, and then he slowed down his voice and said earnestly, "Old man... what do you think?"

His words were mild, and he seemed to be worried about the old minister from the past. However, he talked for a long time without asking the old arms and legs, which had been kneeling for so long, to stand up.

Shangguan Shou lowered his eyes and smiled bitterly, knowing that those were just stopgap measures taken by the emperor out of helplessness.

Shangguan Shou knelt there and bowed again. He did not respond nor refuse. He just said, "Your Majesty is right. I was not thoughtful enough. Now that the herbs have been delivered, there is really no need for me to stay any longer. I will take my granddaughter and leave now."

The emperor paused and immediately looked up.

As the cool breeze blew and thunder roared, the emperor gritted his teeth and asked word by word, "Which granddaughter are you talking about?"

Which granddaughter? Today I learned that Shangguan Shou has two granddaughters. One is in the imperial mausoleum, receiving incense and offerings from the royal family, and the other has just made a contribution to saving the emperor. Anyone with a discerning eye knows that the emperor will never let her go until he recovers from his illness.

So no matter which granddaughter it is, the old man can't take her away today.

Shangguan Shou was not a fool, so he must have known this. What was beyond everyone's expectation was that he knelt there without even lowering his neck, and did not look away, "Your Majesty, please be considerate. I only have two granddaughters. One married into the royal family and died in a fire. Now this one is the only one left. I don't ask her to bring honor to the family, I just hope she lives in peace and has no worries about food and clothing."

The emperor kept silent for a while, then asked in a low voice, "What if I... don't agree?"

In an instant, the situation became tense.

The old man smiled suddenly, but his smile was very faint, with his slightly raised jaw showing his stubbornness and obstinacy. He said, "If Your Majesty does not agree, then I will have no choice but to stay in Yanjing City... to bother Your Majesty."

After saying that, he pulled the corners of his mouth and smiled.

The smile is weird and evil.

Just like a lion squinting its eyes and licking its paws in the sun on a winter afternoon, it slowly raised its eyelids and looked over...