Chapter 48: The Emperor’s Reward

Empress Dowager Lu inhaled slowly and said, “But since the Emperor has decided to hold off on disposing of Shi En, we are not in that much of a hurry time-wise. What we need to do right now is to first investigate Shi En’s case clearly, so that we have a bottom in our hearts.”

“Then how is the investigation going?”

“Half a month ago the guards came into contact with the core witnesses, and this is what they passed back. When they interrogated the witnesses, the Emperor’s men were probably still on their way to check the Imperial Medicine Division.

“He’s too confident, thinking that since the Palace is investigating, he can pick up the ready-made ones for nothing when the time comes, but how could the Palace let him take advantage of it?”

Zhao Su gave a heartfelt thumbs up, “Chief Lu is awesome!”

Empress Dowager Lu squinted over, “If you fail to complete the task, you will be given in marriage to Xu Chong!”

Zhao Su was shocked, her own people, do you want to be so hard on them?

She said, “Empress Dowager do you want to eat something?”

“Go and make a Goryeo barbecue to eat, the stove and baking tray are all ready. Let’s talk while we eat.”

“Can we eat something light?” She was afraid of growing sores again.

Empress Dowager Lu looked over askance, “The meals made by the imperial chef aren’t light enough? If you want to eat light, why did I call you here?”

“……”

……

The folders on the Emperor’s desk regarding Shi En were already as thick as a foot high, and there was no shortage of them requesting a decree to fill the vacancy.

But these folders without exception did not even have a trace of being turned over.

On the contrary, the courtyard outside the Imperial Study Room was filled with the sound of weapons clashing, the sun was shining, and the Emperor was practicing sword fighting with a few of the generals of his own military guards.

Yu Qingping walked to the corridor, only to see that the Emperor was as imposing as a rainbow under the tense battle of one against four, a sharp and well-fitting armament wrapped around his erect and long body, and his decisive moves made him look like a proud dragon swimming in the cloud gap in an athletic manner.

“Your Majesty, General Han is here!”

Four Happiness’ suddenly raised voice interrupted Yu Qingping’s gaze, she turned her head to look towards the place where the voice came from, Han Jun, the Commanding General of the Pro-Army Guards, was standing at the opposite side of the corridor.

Looking at the emperor’s stance again, even when he heard the rumor, he had not been affected in the slightest and slowed down, until he stabbed the situation of a four-man siege hard out of the way, he leaped and jumped out of the battle circle, pulling a sword flower and then closing his stance.

“Come here.”

It was but a low and calm summons, but it seemed to have the power to suppress the four seas, and Han Jun bowed and quickly stepped in front of him.

“Your Majesty, Zheng Fu lives in the capital, it has been found that there are people who come to his door almost every day, and he also maintains contacts with some palace officials in the court. Su Kwai did go to Zheng Fu before she left the capital to collect goods.

“The little ones have checked Su Kwai and Zheng Fu’s estate again, and did not find any major additions. However, on a gift book in Zheng Fu’s mansion, we found a pair of jade rudders sent by the imperial historian, OCT, China.”

The Emperor took the handkerchief and wiped his forehead, looked at him and said, “Then follow the clues and keep an eye on OCT to investigate. In particular, we need to know if Zheng Fu Su Kwai’s party is related to Shi En’s case. Also investigate in detail the drug dealers that the Imperial Medicine Division’s procurement office has contacted, and find out the exact whereabouts of the price difference.” After he finished speaking, he paused slightly and then said, “Pay attention to the whereabouts, and try to get some key evidence in front of the empress dowager.”

“Yes.”

Han Jun bowed to receive the order.

The emperor tossed the sword to Si Xi, then untied his outer robe and prepared to change on the spot. As soon as he raised his eyes to see Yu Qingping under the corridor, he tied the belt of his robe tightly again, “What’s the matter?”

Yu Qingping’s heart panicked, put the hot face down, came over: “Your Majesty, Mrs. Chen’s side earlier sent a word.”

“What words.”

“Mrs. Chen said that she checked the medical tools and that the knife was indeed sharp.”

The emperor’s hand paused for a breath, then continued smoothing out his lapel as if nothing had happened.

Yu Qingping glanced at him, her chest rising and falling slightly, “Your Majesty, that day Zhao Su broke into Madam Chen’s medical hall, it must have been a deliberate act. I don’t know if she has rushed Your Majesty? May I need my subordinates to warn her, or pass on a decree to Marquis Qing Yun?”

The emperor took the tea and drank it, facing her after a short pause, “The incident in the medical center has already passed several days. Since Mrs. Chen passed the word in ‘earlier’, why did she not pass it on to me until now?”

Yu Qingping bowed her body to the ground and bit her lip: “When Mrs. Chen passed the word in, she did not tell me that it was very important, so I did not report it in time. Please forgive me, Your Majesty!”

The Emperor fixed his eyes on her for a moment, “Servant Yu seems to be a very thoughtful person.”

Yu Qingping didn’t dare to make a sound, her lower lip had a deep indentation made by her bite.

“Is there any situation on the Empress Dowager’s side in pursuing Shi En’s case?”

The emperor suddenly asked this after a long time.

Yu Qingping was lost for words, but Si Xi arrived in front of him at some point: “The guards who were sent out of the palace a few days ago have returned four yesterday, and could not find any news. The empress dowager also did not summon the minister.”

The emperor frowned and stared: “Can you track down the guards of Ci Ning Palace?”

Four Happiness was slightly silent: “The people around the Empress Dowager are quite vigilant, it is afraid that it will not be easy to track them.”

“Just not easy, not impossible.”

Four Happiness hung her head, “Yes. I will pass down the decree.”

The emperor also turned around after he finished speaking, and as soon as he saw Yu Qingping, who was still standing in place, he frowned, “You’re still there?”

Yu Qingping tightened her teeth once again and went out with a deep bow.

“Right!” Si Xi, who had walked to the door, fell back at this time, “Your Majesty, over at Ci Ning Palace, the Empress Dowager has just summoned Miss Su to come into the palace again! Moreover, Miss Su is making lunch for the Empress Dowager again!”

The emperor’s hand with the sword stopped.

“In which dining room?”

“It’s in Ci Ning Palace!”

The emperor paused for a moment and returned the sword to the guards, “Pass the water and bathe.”

……

Ci Ning Palace’s dining room Zhao Su have all been lightly familiar with it.

And these days seems to have made some changes, for example, the original used to put meat and vegetables of the tile jar more than a few, and added two small stove eye, the original cauldron withdrawn, more than a few small steamer, the most conspicuous is the corner of a pile of copper fondue pots, copper grill and so on.

Needless to say, the hot pot, last back there, this copper grill is brand new, I can see that it is a new system. After all, after more than twenty years, Empress Dowager Lu must have forgotten a lot of details, these tools and the restaurant compared to the difference has been quite large, but also good to use, people after all, is the bully well.

Zhao Su cut some beef pork – beef do not know where Mary Sue get, anyway, should not often is. Rarely even have freshwater shrimp, although the size is not as big as sea shrimp, but also quite fat.

The imperial chefs have already tended to calm down to her operation, arranged a few palace people to play the assistant from the side, and then went about their own business. Only for these few places as assistants, everyone seems to have experienced some competition.

Outside the dining room is a piece of open space, with many unseen flowers, when preparing food can also appreciate.

But in Zhao Su’s opinion, this is a hundred square meters of open space, it’s a pity to plant flowers, it should be used to plant vegetables! Meat and dry goods sent in from outside the palace are still reasonable, fresh vegetables can have what good things? Or should be close to the whole piece of vegetable land out, the ground picked and started frying, which is called fresh vegetables ah!

The first thing you need to do is to get the carrot juice and roasted vegetables.