Chapter Two Hundred and Thirty
"Qingshi!"
"Qingshi!"
"Xu Qingshi!"
Several voices called out.
Some were cheerful, others gloating.
Hearing the familiar voices, Xu Qingshi quickly sat up and looked outside the room.
"How did you all get here?" Seeing the several figures enter, Xu Qingshi asked with a touch of delight.
"My heavens, Qingshi, what's wrong with you?" Xie Yanzhi was startled by Xu Qingshi's pale complexion.
"Hold on, Xu Qingshi, you're not seriously ill, are you?" Jiang Yu was also alarmed by Xu Qingshi's state.
"Xu Qingshi, you're not... dying, are you?" Wei Herui thought it and thus asked it.
"Young Masters, my Young Lord is merely suffering from seasickness. He'll be fine in a few days," Moyu explained hastily upon hearing Wei Herui's words, his mouth twitching.
Otherwise, he feared they might agitate his young master, and that would truly be disastrous.
"What is seasickness?" Xie Yanzhi asked, puzzled. Having grown up in the capital and never been on a boat, he didn't understand the feeling.
"It's when some people feel unwell while on a ship," Moyu explained.
"Xu Qingshi, you're so useless. You actually get seasick." Upon hearing that some people suffer from it, Wei Herui immediately mocked Xu Qingshi.
"You!" Xu Qingshi wanted to challenge Wei Herui then and there, but he was simply too weak at the moment.
He couldn't even muster the energy to speak forcefully; his words came out soft. He truly lacked the strength to retort to Wei Herui.
But he genuinely did not want to see him in his current state.
"Wei Herui, say less," Xie Yanzhi, noticing Xu Qingshi's displeasure, quickly intervened.
"I wasn't wrong," Wei Herui brushed off Xie Yanzhi's words but didn't continue further.
Wei Herui thought to himself that winning against Xu Qingshi in this state would be an unfair victory.
How boring would that be?
At the Imperial Court.
Both Li Tianyou and Xu Heming were taken aback upon seeing the newcomer.
Huo Yunxuan?
A mocking curve lifted the corner of Xu Heming's mouth. Did this man think his previous punishment was too light?
Zhu Jingchen also regarded Huo Yunxuan with a hint of amusement.
Why was it him?
"Your Majesty, the matter this humble official spoke of today was witnessed personally by Young Master Huo," Censor Cao said, looking at Li Tianyou with a smug expression.
Seeing Huo Yunxuan, Li Tianyou was both angry and amused.
This Huo Yunxuan really dared to say anything.
"Young Master Huo, did you see Miss Li getting married in Li'an County?" Zhu Jingchen asked, looking at Huo Yunxuan.
He thought to himself that this Huo Yunxuan was quite a character.
Last time, when Li Tianyou recommended him to review the account books, he could basically tell if there were any problems after just one look.
He actually lacked such talents himself.
However, if this person was a troublemaker... Zhu Jingchen felt the court didn't need such a figure.
"Replying to Your Majesty, this commoner said no such thing," Huo Yunxuan stated with absolute certainty.
"Didn't you tell me you personally saw Miss Li acting intimately with a man?" Censor Cao said, his face full of dissatisfaction.
"That's correct!" After saying this, Huo Yunxuan looked towards Xu Heming, his eyes filled with nothing but provocation.
Prince An forcing him to drink poisoned wine was one thing; after all, he had provoked him first.
But he should never, ever have ruined his sisters.
The reason Huo Yunxuan had Censor Cao speak this way was precisely to gain an audience with the Emperor.
Since he wanted to make an enemy of Xu Heming, he needed to climb higher.
If Li Tianyou could obtain the official post of Vice Minister of Revenue simply by having his daughter donate her dowry, why couldn't he try something similar?
The Li family had considerable wealth, but his Huo family was not lacking either.
Seeing the hatred in Huo Yunxuan's eyes as he looked at Xu Heming, Zhu Jingchen secretly chuckled to himself.
He thought, these two were actually locking horns.
"Young Master Huo, His Majesty is present. You must mind your words," Censor Cao said with a dark expression, not understanding why this man's story kept changing.
"Your Majesty, every word this commoner speaks is true. I did indeed see that Miss Li with a man, acting intimately. There was also a child by her side, always calling her 'mother'," Huo Yunxuan said, then glanced in Xu Heming's direction and added, "It's just that the man bore some resemblance to this... Prince An."
"Your Majesty, some time ago, this humble official specifically went to Li'an County to bring my mother-in-law and others back to the capital. It is understandable that Young Master Huo misunderstood my relationship with Zhiwei."
Xu Heming stepped forward and stated.
Upon hearing this, the officials began whispering amongst themselves.
"How can Censor Cao impeach others so casually, without presenting any solid evidence?"
"This isn't strange. Perhaps the censors have nothing left to impeach, so they fabricate such matters out of thin air."
"Exactly. Since Miss Li could marry someone like Prince An, why would she seek out those who are inferior to him in every way?"
"Precisely. But what is the background of this Young Master Huo?"
Some became curious about Huo Yunxuan's identity.
Officials from the Six Ministries did recognize Huo Yunxuan, as they had met him during his previous visit.
Li Tianyou looked at Huo Yunxuan with great confusion. He didn't understand why he would say such things to create misunderstandings about him.
In the past, their conflicts were merely commercial rivalries, each relying on their own abilities.
But now, what grudge did they have?
Why was he still clinging to him relentlessly?
"Young Master Huo, please clarify the matter clearly before His Majesty," Censor Cao emphasized the words 'before His Majesty'.
He was reminding Huo Yunxuan that if he had any tricks up his sleeve, the Emperor was still present.
Huo Yunxuan ignored Censor Cao and instead looked at Zhu Jingchen, raising his voice, "Your Majesty, this commoner has a request."
Seeing Huo Yunxuan's posture, clearly ready to stir up trouble, Zhu Jingchen felt both excited and somewhat apprehensive. This fellow, calling on him first... could he have some scheme?
Considering they had just been discussing Li Tianyou's daughter,
he thought, no matter what, he would not revoke his imperial decree. Li Zhiwei could only marry Xu Heming.
However, Zhu Jingchen was still very curious about what request he would make.
"Speak," Zhu Jingcen said, wanting to see what matter the Jiyun Manor could possibly have to ask of him.
After all, Jiyun Manor lacked many things, but it was exceedingly wealthy.
If he could gain the support of Jiyun Manor, Zhu Jingchen felt that in the future, their kingdom of Lannuo could become a force to be reckoned with.
Huo Yunxuan glanced at the crowd in the grand hall, a sly smile curling at the corner of his mouth.
He knew it. The Emperor would not hesitate regarding his request.
After all, his Jiyun Manor was renowned for its wealth.
He didn't believe the court wouldn't covet the silver of Jiyun Manor.
Now, with him personally making a request before the Emperor, the Emperor surely could not refuse.
