HLnovel Chapter 428: Reporting to the Palace
Chapter 428: Reporting to the Palace
"Master, the scene was too chaotic, and there were soldiers and officials in the government office. It was really beyond my control." Butler Cheng felt aggrieved. Who could have known that this would happen? If he had known this, he would not have gone even if a knife was put to his neck.
"Hmph, stop talking nonsense. There's no point keeping you if you can't do your job well." The Prime Minister stood up from his seat suddenly, walked to the butler in two steps, and kicked him hard.
The butler didn't dare to dodge and had to take the kick head-on. The next moment he fell to the ground.
The prime minister was still not satisfied, and kicked him a few more times, showing no mercy at all because of his many years of dedication to the Prime Minister's Office.
After a while, the Prime Minister's anger was slightly relieved. He threw off his robe and sat down again: "Go away. If you do it again, get out of the Prime Minister's Mansion."
Butler Cheng felt as if he had been pardoned. He endured the severe pain in his body and left as quickly as possible.
Now that things have come to this point, it seems like there's no way to not speak up. After thinking of what to say, the Prime Minister's face returned to its usual calm expression the moment he opened the door.
When he arrived at the reception room, someone saw him come in and greeted him warmly.
The Prime Minister bowed to the man, with a smile on his face, and said apologetically: "I'm so sorry, something unexpected happened today, and the wedding will be postponed temporarily."
When they heard him say this, they thought they had heard it wrong. They looked at each other and then saw a positive answer in each other's eyes.
After a little embarrassment, he smiled again: "It's okay, we have nothing to do anyway, so we can just get together. The chef in the Prime Minister's Mansion is really good, and we are so happy to eat."
"Mr. Prime Minister, when Master Cheng gets married someday, we will come and ask for a glass of wedding wine."
"And me, Prime Minister, please don't forget about me when the time comes."
Everyone present was smart and they managed to smooth over the matter with a few words. The scene was still lively as everyone was chatting and laughing, and no one mentioned the word marriage again.
The table was bustling with activity, and the servants quietly removed the big red wedding characters in the room and the red silk cloth outside the yard.
Although he was depressed, the prime minister knew that he could not leave the table now, so he had to greet the guests.
He had no idea that a storm was about to come. After three rounds of drinking, the Prime Minister also drank a few glasses. He felt a little dizzy when he walked, and his mind was sometimes clear and sometimes cloudy.
Just then, a servant came running over and whispered something in the prime minister's ear with a serious expression. After hearing his words, the prime minister instantly came to his senses.
His expression changed involuntarily. Several people sitting at the same table with him also noticed his abnormality. Knowing that he might have something to do, they all stood up and said goodbye.
There was one person at the beginning, then two, three, and finally everyone left. The prime minister had something on his mind, so he just politely tried to keep them, and soon he was the only one left in the hall.
He was so angry that he overturned the table. Damn Li Xiaoxiao, she actually ran to the palace to file a complaint. She was so bold.
"Someone, go and get my official uniform." The prime minister shouted.
The eunuch who came to the Prime Minister's Mansion to deliver the message directly told him about Li Xiaoxiao's complaint to the Emperor. Since this was the Prime Minister, he must curry favor with him.
Not long after Li Xiaoxiao finished speaking, a young eunuch came to report that the Prime Minister had arrived.
"Let him in." Emperor Xuanyuan looked grim.
Soon, the prime minister in official robes came in, looked straight at the emperor, and kowtowed to him: "Your humble servant pays respect to the emperor."
"Get up, my dear." Emperor Xuanyuan waved his hand.
"Thank you, Your Majesty." The Prime Minister stood up with his head lowered, then looked at the woman in a red wedding dress beside him. When he saw her face, he was stunned.
It turned out that she was Li Xiaoxiao. She was so beautiful. No wonder her son was so obsessed with her. But so what if she was beautiful? She actually dared to sue him. She was so bold.
"Prime Minister, I remember that you asked me for an imperial decree to grant your marriage a month ago. Today, this girl came to file a complaint against you, saying that you first broke off the engagement and then beat the censor's only daughter, Zhou Lingfei, so badly that she is now in critical condition. What she said is true."
"Your Majesty, today is indeed the wedding day for my son and this girl. The reason why someone else was chosen to take his place is because my son was seriously injured and bedridden, so there is no such thing as regretting the marriage.
Also, Zhou Lingfei was just an accident. I just found out about it. The censor and I are colleagues. I feel guilty. I will personally apologize later."
The eunuch who delivered the message had already told him everything in detail, and he had already thought of his excuse on the way here.
"Mr. Prime Minister, the person in front of you is the Emperor. Since I am here to file a complaint today, it is certainly not a spur of the moment move. Are you sure that every word you say is true?" Li Xiaoxiao looked at the Prime Minister with his black eyes, his gaze was frank.
"Of course it's true. How dare you, an ignorant child, go to the emperor and spread rumors? Be careful or the emperor will punish you!" The prime minister was an important official in the court. Everyone would be polite to him. How could she, a little girl, dare to speak to him in such a tone?
"What crime have I committed, Your Majesty? As far as I know, Cheng Kun went to a brothel last night and only returned to the Prime Minister's Mansion this morning. For some reason, he has been in a coma until now, so he was unable to go to the wedding." Li Xiaoxiao turned her gaze to Emperor Xuanyuan.
When Emperor Xuanyuan heard this, he frowned and looked at the Prime Minister with a puzzled look.
How did he know that? The Prime Minister was startled. Cheng Kun was unconscious, and he had called so many doctors at once. It was inevitable that some of them would tell others. If he denied it now, the truth would be found out by sending someone to investigate. He thought quickly of a countermeasure in his mind.
"Your Majesty, I have failed to educate my son properly and he is addicted to playing. I told him a few days ago to change his bad habits after getting married, and he agreed. What happened today was indeed an accident."
"My Lord Prime Minister, didn't you just say that he was seriously injured? Why did you change your words now? The mouth is on you, you can say whatever you want." Li Xiaoxiao's mouth curled up with a hint of sarcasm.
"I remembered it wrong just now. Don't argue with me about words here." The prime minister glared at Li Xiaoxiao with a warning look.
"You are worthy of being the Prime Minister. You are so arrogant." Li Xiaoxiao would not tolerate his bad habits. But now, in front of the Emperor, she did not believe that the Emperor would obviously side with him.
"Li Xiaoxiao, be careful with your words." The prime minister now wished he could smash Li Xiaoxiao's head apart. He had drunk too much and was not in a clear mind, so he was not as cautious as usual when speaking.
"Are you threatening me, Prime Minister? The Emperor is still here. You are so bold." Li Xiaoxiao deliberately said this to provoke him.