However, there is bound to be resistance under harsh punishments and cruel officials. If the common people have no way out, the world will surely be in turmoil sooner or later.
Xie Yan clearly understood this too. Since bringing up this topic, his eyebrows had never relaxed. For a moment, he felt extremely vexed.
He was eager to rectify the situation, but his father had stripped him of power, leaving him rather powerless. "These corrupt officials really deserve to die!"
A long - dike may collapse because of an ant - hole.
Perhaps there were no serious consequences for the time being, but given enough time, it would surely become a great disaster.
Chen Tingfeng glanced at him. "Ruogu, don't act on impulse."
Xie Yan was intelligent and capable, but his temperament really needed more tempering.
Xie Yan let out a long sigh and rubbed his temples. "Shao Chuan, this matter must be investigated."
Not only should it be investigated, but it should also be done justifiably.
Banditry had emerged in Taiyue Mountain, which was so close to the capital. It was not hard to imagine how desolate and tragic the situation would be in the remote areas.
"How to investigate?" Chen Tingfeng sipped his tea casually. The steam from the tea blurred his face. "If you act rashly, do you think you haven't been impeached enough?"
"Those court officials don't care about state affairs all day long. They only know how to stare at me. A bunch of incompetent fools!" Xie Yan gulped down the tea in front of him angrily.
"The biggest suspicion at present is the sleeping drug. If we can find a way to get the sleeping drug and then develop an antidote, everything will be solved." Fu Zhen pondered.
Chen Tingfeng narrowed his eyes and looked at Fu Zhen, examining her slightly.
Although he had often ridiculed her because of misunderstandings before, in fact, he also knew clearly that Fu Zhen was indeed a bit clever, but this cleverness was only used in matters within the inner courtyard. However, this single sentence just now made him look at her with new respect.
He had also thought of the sleeping drug.
Whether the emperor allowed Xie Yan to investigate or not was not the key at all. He had said before, was the old emperor's words really that important?
If not allowed to investigate openly, then investigate secretly. As long as the culprits were caught, it would be a meritorious deed. Could the old emperor really dare to take action against a prince who had just made a contribution?
I'm afraid that as soon as the thought arose, there would be old court officials willing to shed their blood in the Golden Palace.
"The sleeping drug..." Xie Yan pondered for a moment. "Sleeping drugs with a floral fragrance are rare. Most of the sleeping drugs on the market nowadays are colorless and odorless. We may have to investigate carefully first."
He looked at Fu Zhen, his eyes shining.
He was truly sincere today. Without the cover of his usual laziness, he finally showed a bit of youthful spirit. Although impulsive, it was just right for his age. He looked much more pleasing to the eye than before.
Fu Zhen's ears turned slightly red. She lowered her head and didn't dare to meet his eyes.
Chen Tingfeng saw all this clearly. His previously sunny mood instantly turned gloomy. He frowned secretly. "Alright, let's stop here today."
Xie Yan was stunned. They hadn't finished talking yet. Why was it over?
Fu Zhen keenly sensed the change in his mood. She frowned. Who had annoyed him again? His mood was so unpredictable. He was really hard to serve.
As soon as the words were out, Chen Tingfeng looked at Xie Yan and said bluntly, "It's getting late. You should go back to the palace. Don't let Concubine Rou worry."
Concubine Rou's health had been poor since she was poisoned before. She would often cough and catch colds. Xie Yan would always stay in the palace to accompany her during his leisure time.
After hearing this, Xie Yan had no reason to refuse. He stood up and said, "Then I'll leave first."
Then he turned to look at Fu Zhen with a smile on his face. "I'll come again another day."
Everyone present knew who this was meant for. Different from Fu Zhen who blushed and lowered her head, Chen Tingfeng's face instantly darkened.
Xie Yan left humming a song, leaving only the two silent people in the pavilion.
Fu Zhen looked up at Chen Tingfeng who was obviously unhappy. She paused. Since Xie Yan had left, why should she stay and look at Chen Tingfeng's cold face?
So she also bid farewell. "Cousin, then I'll leave first too."
"Wait," before she could stand up, she heard Chen Tingfeng's cold voice. The bit of tenderness he had shown when pouring tea for her just now seemed to have never existed. He was still the same with a gloomy face. "A young lady from a good family should not meet strange men. Cousin should understand this principle."
This was a warning about the words Xie Yan had said when he left just now, warning her not to have private contact with Xie Yan.
Fu Zhen pursed her lips. "Cousin is over - thinking. Zhen Zhen naturally cherishes her own reputation."
Damn Chen Tingfeng.
Chen Tingfeng watched Fu Zhen, who was obviously angry and didn't want to talk to him. His hand holding the teacup tightened slightly. He was clearly thinking about her well - being. Why did they both think he was a villain now?
His mood became even worse, but he still stubbornly said, "Xie Yan is not someone you should have delusions about."
Just his family background alone was enough to prevent Fu Zhen from becoming the main consort.
The anger in Fu Zhen's heart flared up instantly. It was always the same old words. Her ears were about to get calloused!
"Cousin, I naturally know what I'm doing," Fu Zhen looked directly at Chen Tingfeng and said coldly. "I'm just curious. What exactly is your identity to discipline me? I'm sure you've never really regarded me as your younger sister in your heart, right?"
Chen Tingfeng frowned. When had he ever said such a thing? Although he had suspected her before, the misunderstanding had already been cleared up. He had already recognized her as his cousin. He had sent pastries for so long. Wasn't that enough to show his good intentions to her?
"Since you call me cousin, I naturally regard you as my younger sister," he said in a deep voice.
Fu Zhen sneered and said no more. She casually saluted him and then turned around and left.
Chen Tingfeng sat alone in the pavilion with a tight frown.
What did she mean by that?
She was really becoming bolder. Now she even dared to show him her bad temper.
He sat quietly for a while, only feeling the fire in his heart burning more and more vigorously. His eyebrows were so tightly knitted that it seemed a mosquito could be pinched to death.
Yuan Bao didn't dare to make a sound beside him, but secretly gave Fu Zhen a thumbs - up in his heart.
The Second Miss was really amazing. She could make the heir so angry that he was speechless!
"Yuan Bao!" Chen Tingfeng shouted. Yuan Bao immediately shivered. "Your servant is here!"
The words were on the tip of his tongue, but he couldn't say them. He originally wanted to ask Yuan Bao whether she had eaten the pastries in the past few days, but then he felt that if he asked, wouldn't he be losing his dignity?
She dared to show him her bad temper. Did he really have to care whether she had eaten the pastries?
It was simply absurd!
"From tomorrow on, there's no need to send them anymore," he said in a deep voice.
She didn't eat them even after he sent them. He felt quite depressed. He thought she was even more of a headache than matters in the court. How could she be so troublesome?
Yuan Bao immediately understood what Chen Tingfeng meant. He looked at him hesitantly.
They had just parted on bad terms with the Second Miss. Stopping sending the pastries now would only make the Second Miss think that he was dissatisfied with her, wouldn't it?
The Second Miss was sensitive by nature. In his opinion, instead of sending pastries, it would be better to send some gold, silver and jewelry. Although they were all common things, at least they were useful.
But looking at Chen Tingfeng's gloomy face, he silently swallowed the words in his throat.
Forget it. The heir was always confident. He'd better not talk too much, lest he do something good but end up making things worse.