bullyxtreme Chapter 56 Men Are Boys Until They Die
Chapter 56 Men Are Boys Until They Die
Princess Xincheng slept soundly in Empress Zhangsun's arms, her little fists clenched tightly, completely unaware that her parents were pondering over her elder sister's marriage.
"Second Prince," Empress Zhangsun spoke again, her tone more composed and calculating, "Instead of getting caught up in this, it would be better to put this matter aside for now."
Chang Le is still young, so there's no need to rush into a marriage. As for Wang Zhihuan, we've only met him once, so we need to observe him more closely.
After all, time reveals true character. After spending a long time together, it will become clear whether someone is sincere or just acting on a whim.
A decision can be made at that time, so as not to delay the daughter's life nor offend the old minister's feelings; this would be the best solution for both.
Li Shimin leaned back in his chair, his fingertips tapping lightly on his knees repeatedly. After a long silence, he finally let out a long sigh, a bittersweet smile of relief playing on his lips.
"You're right. Marriages for our children can't be rushed. Let everything take its natural course. I won't push or stop it. As for Fuji, let's postpone it for now. When it's too late to delay, I'll speak to him personally."
Empress Zhangsun nodded gently and said no more. The hall returned to calm, filled only with warmth.
The next morning, Cheng Yaojin was summoned to the palace by imperial decree.
The palace attendant conveyed the imperial decree in a polite tone, only saying that His Majesty invited Duke Lu to the Imperial Study for tea.
Upon hearing this, Cheng Yaojin understood perfectly and immediately became somewhat deflated.
Enjoying tea? What a joke! He's just a roughneck who only knows how to brandish knives and guns, what does he know about the elegance of tea appreciation?
His Majesty never acts so politely when there's nothing wrong. It's highly likely that His Majesty has caught him red-handed for secretly watching the princess's carriage and hiding wine, and is now going to settle scores with him separately.
After all, what could possibly escape His Majesty's notice, inside or outside Chang'an?
He dawdled at home, changing his clothes three times in a row.
The first outfit was too formal, making one appear nervous and flustered; the second outfit was too casual, like someone who had given up and was unrepentant; the third outfit was neither too plain nor too extravagant, just right.
He repeatedly adjusted his expression in front of the bronze mirror, feigning an innocent and magnanimous look, while in his mind he had already prepared several sets of excuses, thinking he could get away with it.
But to his utter surprise, as soon as he stepped into the imperial study, before he had even finished the formalities, Li Shimin completely disregarded the rules of the court and, in the casual, playful manner of old friends, kicked him squarely in the buttocks.
The force of that kick was quite interesting; it didn't hurt anyone's bones, but it was painful and embarrassing enough, carrying a touch of childishness in privately teasing and disciplining an old friend.
Cheng Yaojin stumbled forward two steps, then hurriedly grabbed the imperial desk to steady himself.
Before he could even catch his breath and try to explain, Li Shimin's second kick landed on his thigh, carrying a hint of pent-up anger.
"Your Majesty! Your Majesty, this is unfair! Let's talk this out!"
Cheng Yaojin clutched his backside and staggered backward, looking utterly aggrieved, like a rough man being bullied by his elder brother for no reason. "What wrong have I done? At least state the crime clearly! You just kicked me like this! I'm so wronged, I won't die in peace!"
"Still dare to cry foul?" Li Shimin pointed at his nose, his face taut with imperial majesty, but his eyes held a deep mockery, like an old friend exposing another's petty schemes. "I ask you, where did you get that jar of top-grade liquor in your residence last time? And you dare to tell me about traveling merchants and foreign merchants?"
Cheng Yaojin's composure crumbled instantly, his lips twitching violently. He thought to himself, "Just as I suspected, His Majesty knows. It's all over, I can't hide this anymore."
"I...I really didn't lie back then..." He still wanted to stick to his guns and stubbornly argue his way out of it.
"Cheng Zhijie!" Li Shimin slammed his hand on the imperial desk, raising his voice several notches. It carried a hint of deliberately putting on airs, but was actually full of the seriousness between acquaintances. After all, a man is a boy until the end.
"You still dare to fool me! I drank the wine brewed by Wang Zhihuan last night. The wine jar, the sealing mud, even the glutinous rice base in the aroma of the wine are exactly the same!"
Do you think I'm senile? Can't you see you're trying to cheat me? Where in the East and West Markets can you find such capable traveling merchants who supply you with the finest wines?
Cheng Yaojin opened his mouth, choked and unable to speak for a long time. His expression changed several times: astonishment, guilt, embarrassment. Finally, he simply gave up and put on a fawning smile.
He eagerly stepped forward: "Hehe, Your Majesty has such discerning eyes, you saw right through me, so I won't pretend anymore."
"If I hadn't figured it out, how long were you planning to keep it from me, you old scoundrel?"
Li Shimin walked up to him with his hands behind his back, looking down at him with a hint of jealousy between old friends, "You're something else, secretly hiding the good wine and making up lies to fool me. I even considered you my old brother."
Cheng Yaojin was embarrassed and scratched his head.
"You old bastard, confess honestly! When did you start watching Wang Zhihuan? Did you specifically send your son to secretly follow my daughter's carriage?"
Li Shimin stared at him with a scrutinizing look in his eyes, but without a trace of real killing intent.
Cheng Yaojin immediately dropped his playful grin and hurriedly waved his hands to explain, his tone sincere yet tinged with grievance: "Your Majesty, please don't wrong me! Even if I had a hundred lives, I wouldn't dare to spy on the princess's whereabouts!"
It was that kid Chu Mo who bumped into Chen Laosan driving a carriage in the East Market that day. He recognized him as a member of the Thousand Bull Guard and saw that there were two princesses in the carriage. He was so curious that he took a few more glances.
When I returned and told my minister, he immediately guessed that it was Princess Chang Le and Princess Jin Yang.
Who doesn't know that Princess Jinyang got lost after leaving the palace and was searched for all over the city?
"I was just worried she might encounter some thugs or ruffians outside, so I had my servant follow her from a distance to protect her. I had no intention of spying on her at all; I was simply concerned for protecting my junior!"
Li Shimin squinted at him for a moment, already seeing through him in his heart.
He knew Cheng Yaojin all too well. He was indeed rough and cunning, but his loyalty to him and the royal family was absolutely genuine.
The so-called surveillance was nothing more than the old man's kind heart; he was afraid something might happen to the young girl, so he secretly covered for her.
This is just against the rules. If we don't teach this old man a lesson, he'll become even more reckless.
"Zhijie, Zhijie, what can I say to you?"
Li Shimin softened his tone, losing the majesty of an emperor and adopting the tone of an old friend admonishing him, "I know you mean well in protecting the child, and I appreciate your kindness."
"But if you allow a junior to secretly monitor the princess's carriage, and word gets out, the officials in the Censorate will pile up a mountain of memorials against you. If I were to punish you severely, you would have no one to complain to."
Cheng Yaojin immediately stood up straight, looking like he was obediently accepting punishment and would never talk back: "Your subject knows he was wrong, and is willing to accept the punishment without uttering a single complaint."
Li Shimin pondered for a moment, then slowly said, "There is a vacancy in the position of Junior Supervisor of the Imperial Treasury. You will be required to pay two bolts of silk each month to the Imperial Treasury for a period of six months. This will serve as a lesson for you."