Chapter 62

When Emperor Huizong gave the order in person, Yang Jian did not dare to be negligent. Within two days, the Jiangning Prefecture responded, but it was a very poor response.

When the people from Jiangning Prefecture rushed to Guangde Army, they found that Yang Kaishan had already left more than a day ago, as if he knew something would happen to him.

Regardless of how Yang Kaishan got the news, he had escaped, which further confirmed the charges in the letter. Yang Kaishan was wanted, which terrified Liang Shicheng.

In the fifth year of Zhenghe, Liang Shicheng recommended Yang Kaishan. Now that Yang Kaishan had committed such a heinous act, Liang Shicheng, as the recommender, could not escape responsibility. No wonder the emperor did not discuss such a big matter with him. His mind was in chaos, and his head buzzed. At this moment, Liang Shicheng could not even think about how to trip up Zhao Yougong; he had to find a way to get through this crisis first.

For some reason, Liang Shicheng thought of the story of Lian Po carrying thorns to apologize, and he smiled slightly.

Just after the hour of Si, Emperor Zhaogong was worrying about the Huashigang issue when he heard a deafening wailing from outside. Soon, Liang Shicheng crawled in.

Seeing Liang Shicheng's appearance, Emperor Zhaogong was first stunned, then almost burst out laughing. At that moment, Liang Shicheng was prostrate on the ground, naked from the waist up, with a vine hanging on his back. If it were another emperor, seeing Liang Shicheng in such a state would have made him furious, but Emperor Zhaogong was different. He found it curious, as if he had found a sense of drama.

"Good Lian Po, carrying thorns, will I forgive you?"

"Wah, Prime Minister, a great hero, forgive this coarse man!"

Liang Shicheng, speaking from the heart, crawled forward on all fours, "If the Prime Minister does not forgive me, I can only die to atone for my sins!"

Emperor Zhaogong kept a straight face, staring intently. Suddenly, he burst into a hearty laugh, "You rascal, get up. If I wanted to punish you, I would have done it long ago. Sigh, in the future, be more careful. If this happens again, I will not be lenient!"

"Yes, yes, thank the emperor for your care!" Liang Shicheng hurriedly kowtowed, so happy that he didn't even wipe his tears.

The emperor and the minister, in the imperial study, acted out the story of Lian Po and Lin Xiangru like a pair of actors. This was something that would never have happened in previous dynasties, but it did happen to Emperor Zhaogong.

Prince Duan was frivolous and unsuitable to be an emperor!

The cunning Zhang Dun saw through Emperor Zhaogong at a glance. He was so frivolous that the story of Lian Po and Lin Xiangru was still mild. When he first secretly met Li Shishi, he climbed over the wall. Back then, Wang Fu and Zhaogong acted out the story of Sima Guang and Emperor Shenzong at the foot of the wall.

Zhaogong, trying to climb the wall, couldn't quite reach the top, so he shouted down, "Sima Guang, stand higher!"

Wang Fu, also frivolous, replied, "Emperor Shenzong, stand steady!"

Zhaogong could joke about his deceased father, showing how frivolous he was. So, it was not surprising that he would act out a play with Liang Shicheng.

With such a ruler and minister, how could the Song Dynasty not fall?

In the past two days, Zhao Yougong had been much more relaxed. Shifting all the blame to Yang Kaishan reduced his pressure. Most importantly, it gave Liang Shicheng a taste of his own medicine, so he wouldn't keep targeting Zhao Yougong.

If you think the Genyue Garden is just an imperial garden for appreciation, you are greatly mistaken. In the Genyue Garden, besides the exotic flowers, birds, and beasts, there is a small street called "Kuaihuo Street." This street is the most special market in the Song Dynasty, as Emperor Huizong often comes here to pretend to be a vendor, perhaps a tavern owner one day and a bun seller the next. Never underestimate Emperor Zhaogong; he is a great artist who understands life. There is nothing he won't do if you can imagine it.

With nothing to do, Zhao Yougong entered the Genyue Garden with his waist badge, intending to see Emperor Huizong, but unfortunately, the emperor was not there.

The scenery in the Genyue Garden is beautiful, with exquisite Taihu stones everywhere, some large and some small, the largest being several zhang high. When this large stone was brought to the capital, to keep it intact, Zhaogong had the eastern city gate dismantled. Looking at this stone, Zhao Yougong felt a deep unease. How many people died and how many houses were demolished for this stone? But Zhaogong didn't know; he only saw the beautiful Genyue Garden and his so-called artistic beauty.

The best time to visit the Genyue Garden is on a rainy day, as the furnace stone in the garden will emit thick green smoke, making the garden misty and ethereal, like a fairyland.

Leaving Kuaihuo Street, Zhao Yougong did not leave the garden directly but went deeper. The garden houses many precious animals, including hundreds of deer. Zhao Yougong's goal was to catch a deer to try its meat. After being tormented by Zhaogong and his cronies for so long, he needed to vent. He couldn't touch Zhaogong, but catching a deer wouldn't be a problem.

Xiao San was a bit nervous, looking around and whispering, "Master, are we really going to catch a deer?"

"Of course! Hey, Xiao San, are you too timid? Are you afraid the deer will bite you?"

Seeing Zhao Yougong's carefree attitude, Xiao San sighed inwardly. Who was afraid of the deer? He was afraid of the emperor's wrath. Catching a deer might be fine for the young prince, but who could guarantee that Xiao San wouldn't get into trouble?

Regardless of Xiao San's thoughts, Zhao Yougong acted as he pleased. In the northern bamboo grove, they saw a young deer grazing leisurely. Perhaps it was used to people, so it wasn't afraid and even glanced at the two men.

Zhao Yougong rubbed his hands and licked his lips. "Damn, it's you. This is the first time I'll eat deer meat in my two lives."

Roaring, Zhao Yougong pounced on the deer's neck like a hunting dog. The deer, frightened, kicked and bleated. Zhao Yougong held the deer's neck and shouted at Xiao San, "What are you waiting for? Put the prepared rope around its mouth! Hey, you idiot..."

After being scolded by Zhao Yougong, Xiao San finally came to his senses and put a leather rope around the deer's mouth. The deer could only stare helplessly.

Picking up a stone, Zhao Yougong muttered a few "Amitabha" and knocked the deer unconscious in a few strikes.

Fortunately, it was a young deer, so Xiao San could carry it without much trouble. The two of them didn't dare to leave through the main gate and finally climbed out over the wall with great effort.

In fact, this wasn't Zhao Yougong's first "hunt," but he had only hunted birds before.

Zhao Yougong's hunting in the Genyue Garden was not unknown to Zhaogong, but he turned a blind eye to it. As long as this nephew remained ignorant and dissolute, even if he ate all the deer in the Genyue Garden, it wouldn't be a problem.

Zhao Yougong walked with his hands behind his back, while Xiao San carried a bag sadly, feeling that people were looking at him strangely, as if he were carrying a dead pig.

In the Xiefang Tower, Zhao Yougong entered Nian Nu'er's room excitedly. Nian Nu'er was writing a calligraphy piece when the door opened with a loud noise, causing her to write a few crooked strokes. Annoyed, she threw down her brush and pouted, "Sir, can you be a bit quieter? I have to rewrite this!"

"Not a waste, not a waste!" Zhao Yougong, with a thick skin, went over and put his arm around her shoulder, "Nian Nu'er, I have a treat for you today!"

Hearing this, Nian Nu'er's face turned red. She looked up and pouted, "Sir, I'm not feeling well today..."

"Not feeling well? Toothache? Stomachache? Can't eat? Indigestion?" Zhao Yougong asked, his eyes full of concern.

Zhao Yougong, of course, knew what Nian Nu'er meant, but teasing her was fun.

Nian Nu'er pouted, her eyes flashing, and lightly hit Zhao Yougong's chest, "Sir, you're teasing me. It's not a toothache, it's a different kind of discomfort..."

"Oh... I see, I see. If you had said so earlier, it wouldn't be a problem. I just want you to eat something delicious!"

Nian Nu'er, torn between laughter and tears, pushed him away and sat on a chair, noticing something was off. Where was Xiao Tan? Usually, the little girl would be busy serving tea and fruit when the young prince came, but she hadn't seen her all day.

"Where's Xiao Tan?"

"That girl? I sent her to the kitchen to keep an eye on things!"

Nian Nu'er chuckled, pointing at him, "Sir, what's so precious in the kitchen that you need Xiao Tan to watch it?"

"You don't understand. For you, I just caught a deer from elsewhere. Deer meat is precious, and if no one watches it, someone might take some."

"Deer?" Nian Nu'er covered her mouth, her eyes wide. Besides the Genyue Garden, where else in the capital could there be deer? This young prince was truly dissolute, even stealing the emperor's deer. Was he trying to show how foolish he was?

Regardless of the young prince's intentions, at least they would have deer meat tonight, which was worth celebrating.

Although Nian Nu'er was no longer the top courtesan, and the Xiefang Tower had promoted Cui Ying to that position, with Zhao Yougong's relationship, Mother Wu did not dare to treat Nian Nu'er poorly and still sent her good wine every month.

Nian Nu'er was happy and brought out her long-stored deer head wine. Even without drinking, the aroma was much better than the wine they usually drank.

"Nian Nu'er, you have such good wine and didn't bring it out earlier!"

Nian Nu'er pouted, "Sooner or later, it all ends up in your stomach, doesn't it?"

"Ha, I like that. Beauty, come closer!" Pulling a cushion over, Nian Nu'er didn't act coy and leaned on Zhao Yougong's lap.

Playing with Nian Nu'er's hair, Zhao Yougong smiled thoughtfully, "Nian Nu'er, how about I redeem you in a few days?"

Zhao Yougong's words were sudden, and Nian Nu'er was stunned, her mouth slightly open, not knowing what to say. If the young prince really redeemed her, it would be the best, but was she willing? If redeemed, could she enter the Chu王府? How would the young prince treat her in the future? Everything was uncertain, and she preferred to maintain the current situation. If one day the young prince got tired of her, he wouldn't come, and she could consider her options then.

Moreover, the most important thing was that Nian Nu'er was unsure if the young prince was worth relying on.