First-rank palace maid Su Jixiang

Chapter 421 What's in mind

At that time, His Majesty had just entered the palace and had not yet ascended the throne. In order to avoid suspicion, he was unwilling to even glance at the palace maids and concubines left behind by the deposed emperor.

At that time, Emperor Longchang was afraid that he would have a bad reputation in the hands of the deposed emperor's old ministers, which would hinder his ascension to the throne.

As for the civil officials, some were really too pedantic and always liked to talk nonsense. At that time, it was also for the sake of grand ambitions, so everything else could be put aside.

Although His Majesty did not care much about what Su Jixiang looked like, Li Dequan saw it clearly.

Firstly, he is the eunuch beside the current emperor, so he always has to pay more attention to the people around him for His Majesty. Secondly, he also observes more, thinks more, and guesses the emperor's mind. If His Majesty really has any thoughts about the old palace people, he, as a close attendant, naturally has to do more planning.

So he remembered what Su Jixiang was like in his heart.

Although Su Jixiang was dressed simply and plainly at the time, and his face seemed to be painted with dust, making him look a little dirty, the beauty between his eyebrows could not be hidden.

If Su Jixiang was really groomed properly, I'm afraid she would definitely not be inferior to the concubines in the palace.

Emperor Longchang became interested and looked at Li Dequan, "Do you still remember what she looked like? How is it?"

"Very good!" Li Dequan spoke the truth, and even felt that he was still a little reserved.

"Haha." The emperor laughed. "My sister was very angry today. The wife of the Marquis of Zhenbei really embarrassed my sister. But I have heard that if my sister hadn't arranged so many people to ridicule the wife of the Marquis of Zhenbei, she probably wouldn't have been so rude."

"Your Majesty, are you not angry with the wife of the Marquis of Zhenbei?" Li Dequan saw that the emperor was very angry before, with an annoyed look on his face, but turned around and smiled again. He couldn't help but stepped forward and asked with a smile.

"I remember her cooking was delicious." The emperor reminisced. "I've tasted all the dishes in the imperial kitchen over the years in the palace, but I still remember the taste of the banquet she prepared personally. It was unique and delicious."

Li Dequan quickly said, "I remember that meal. The Marquis of Zhenbei even used a knife..."

"Yes, yes. Wei Ling is also a bad-tempered guy. He doesn't give anyone any face." The emperor nodded. "So don't you think Wei Ling's behavior today is a bit strange? He didn't stand up for the wife of the Marquis of Zhenbei." He only heard about what Wei Ling was like in the capital before, but ever since he knew Wei Ling, Wei Ling was a guy who would not suffer any loss!

If he really suffered a loss, he would definitely make up for it. Even if Su Jixiang was not favored by him, as long as Su Jixiang was still the wife of the Marquis of Zhenbei, Wei Ling would not let others ridicule Su Jixiang and just sit back and do nothing.

If such a thing really happened, it can only be said that Wei Ling was either holding back a big one or was just pretending!

"Isn't it rumored that the couple has a bad relationship?" Li Dequan followed the emperor and knew a lot about the news coming from the north.

The emperor sneered, "Do you think Wei Ling will let me know the true situation in the North? It's all fake! I'm afraid that all the spies I sent to the North have been thoroughly understood by Wei Ling. He will only let me know what he wants me to know. I'm afraid even I can hardly imagine the true state of the North!"

Thousands of miles of fertile fields, bumper harvests year after year, and people living and working in peace and contentment. The north is no longer the north it used to be!

Li Dequan's back stiffened. "Your Majesty, this Zhenbei Marquis is deceiving the king!"

"He's deceiving the emperor?" The emperor sighed and shook his head slowly. "If I could really find evidence of him deceiving the emperor, I could certainly hold him accountable. However, all this information was relayed to me by my spies. How can I pin it on him? The memorials he submitted were always filled with promises of peace and prosperity. Apart from asking for military pay, rations, and weapons, he rarely mentioned anything else! I can't find any mistakes on his part!"

"Why not send a governor to the north to take over Xie Yingfeng's position?" Li Dequan asked tentatively.

"Didn't that so-called nephew really go and test the waters? Aside from the Foundry, what other issues in the North could he possibly interfere with?" His Majesty sighed as he gazed at the towering palace roofs in the distance. "If I were to easily strip him of his position as prefect, I would be truly pushing Wei Ling away! With Prince Chenliu still entrenched in Jiangnan, I cannot shake anything in the North! We've endured all these years, all for the sake of the people's safety. If war breaks out again, all that we've worked so hard to build up will crumble in an instant."

Li Dequan could only bow, "Your Majesty is wise!"

"Do you know why I asked the eldest princess to test Wei Ling on my behalf?" asked the emperor.

Li Dequan quickly said, "I am a foolish servant and do not understand the Holy Spirit! Doesn't Your Majesty want to make the wife of the Marquis of Zhenbei his own? If the current wife of the Marquis of Zhenbei is deposed and replaced by Princess Anle, then the Marquis of Zhenbei will become Your Majesty's nephew-in-law."

Emperor Longchang glanced back at Li Dequan, who was following behind him, with an ambiguous expression, and laughed, "So, you all don't understand me! My sister certainly doesn't understand, and neither do you."

"I am stupid." Li Dequan quickly bowed again.

"Just wait and see, the outcome will be clear in a few days." Emperor Longchang said slowly.

Emperor Longchang kept the secret, and Li Dequan could not continue to ask questions. He could only respond and continue to follow the emperor for a walk to relax.

The princess felt uncomfortable after returning home. A maid from the deposed emperor's era dared to be so presumptuous at her hairpin banquet! She couldn't swallow this humiliation.

So she summoned the wife of Duke Cheng'en.

The wife of Duke Cheng'en was the empress's sister-in-law. After Emperor Longchang ascended the throne, he rewarded many of his own relatives and the empress's relatives, and the emperor's uncle was named Duke Cheng'en.

The eldest princess asked the wife of Duke Cheng'en to invite Su Jixiang to the Daxiangguo Temple in the suburbs to burn incense and pray together in her name.

Little did they know that the wife of Duke Cheng'en would send a message back the next day, saying that the Marquis of Zhenbei had rejected her invitation on his behalf, and only said that the wife of Duke Zhenbei would not have to flatter them in the future. They only came to the capital to attend the Queen Mother's birthday party, and they would return to the north after the birthday party.

This made the princess even more angry, and she asked the wife of Duke Cheng'en, "What does Wei Ling mean by this? Are we going to eat his wife?"

The wife of Duke Cheng'en smiled and said no, but deep down she was disdainful. Who didn't know what the princess had been doing these past few days? She had asked Princess Anle to frequently visit the Marquis of Zhenbei, only to be turned away by him. If she were to actually ask her to invite the Marquis' wife, she would be acting as if she was planning to eat him up.

Fortunately, the Marquis of Zhenbei did not allow his wife to go, otherwise he would have to worry about whether the princess would do something weird!

Although they are a family, the eldest princess can't use the Cheng'en Mansion as a stepping stone!