“To report to Your Majesty, the Marchioness Anle brought the Third Miss to the palace regarding the matter of the young master of the second branch of the Marquis of Ningguo’s household sending someone to call off the engagement,” said Nanny Qi.
Nanny Qi had watched Ye Su grow up since she was a child, and she felt it was a pity that the girl had been rejected in marriage.
“Calling off the engagement? What happened?” Jiang Zhaoyi, who had been leaning back in his chair, suddenly straightened his back.
Eunuch Dehai was also startled and turned to look at His Majesty, only to see that his originally indifferent expression, tinged with an unshakable air of illness, had suddenly become animated, with a hint of relish for the drama in his eyes.
Suppressing a sigh, Eunuch Dehai lowered his head as was his habit, but his ears perked up high.
The Third Miss had been rejected in marriage again? Let him hear what this was all about.
Nanny Qi had not raised her head since entering the hall, so naturally she could not see His Majesty’s expression. She was not surprised to hear his shocked voice either.
She only replied, “I heard that the young master sent his subordinate to the front of the marquis’s residence early this morning to call off the engagement publicly, saying that he already had a sweetheart in Chenzhou and would soon be marrying her.”
“What did the Marchioness and Ye Su say?” Jiang Zhaoyi could barely stop himself from laughing out loud in schadenfreude, pressing his fist against his lips to suppress it.
He laughed too hastily, his throat itched, and he coughed a couple of times, a flush rising on his pale face.
“The Marquis and the Marchioness naturally intend to call it off, but they cannot swallow this indignity. They are asking the Empress Dowager and Your Majesty to help them seek justice.”
“Very well, I understand. Go back to Renshou Palace and report to Mother. I will follow shortly.” Jiang Zhaoyi dismissed Nanny Qi.
“Yes.” Nanny Qi slowly withdrew from Tongxin Hall.
After she was gone, Jiang Zhaoyi laughed, “Dehai, you heard that too, didn’t you? Ye Su’s marriage has fallen through again. Isn’t this just what goes around comes around?”
Eunuch Dehai, however, dared not join His Majesty in mocking her. He only brought over some hot tea and placed it by his hand: “Your Majesty, what do you plan to do about it now?”
Jiang Zhaoyi spread his hands: “What can I do? This is after all a private matter. The man hasn’t broken any state laws. Having Mother issue an edict of reprimand should suffice.”
“But…” Eunuch Dehai wanted to say that a mere reprimand would certainly not satisfy the marquis’s household. What if the Third Miss made a scene?
“The most pressing matter is still to find Ye Su a husband first. She’s already of a certain age and still unmarried. The Marquisate of Anle is unreliable. Considering we are relatives, it’s better that Mother and I handle it.”
Jiang Zhaoyi wore a self-satisfied expression, as if he were the world’s finest relative. Eunuch Dehai could only offer a fawning smile in response.
“Let’s go. Set out for Renshou Palace first.”
Eunuch Dehai hurried out to summon the imperial carriage. Jiang Zhaoyi rose from the dragon throne, flicked his sleeves, held one hand in front and placed the other behind his back, his tall figure rounding the dragon desk and walking toward the hall entrance.
After giving all the orders, Eunuch Dehai turned to follow, but Jiang Zhaoyi, who had just stepped out of the hall, didn’t even look back as he gave another instruction: “Dehai, you stay behind. Make a trip to the Assessment Bureau of the Ministry of Personnel while you’re at it.”
Eunuch Dehai halted in his steps, standing in place and answering softly, “Yes.” He pondered His Majesty’s meaning and quickly understood.
Only after the imperial carriage had traveled far away did Eunuch Dehai straighten his back. He beckoned to a young eunuch nearby and said, “His Majesty has ordered me to go to the Ministry of Personnel to retrieve some records. You all guard Tongxin Hall well. If anything comes up, send someone to fetch me immediately.”
The Assessment Bureau under the Ministry of Personnel was quite far from Tongxin Hall, and the round trip would take at least a quarter of an hour. Fearing that His Majesty might need him later, he naturally had to give proper instructions.
The young eunuch was clearly familiar with Eunuch Dehai and asked, “Eunuch, what does His Majesty mean by this?”
He had been standing guard outside the door and had heard everything clearly. Wasn’t His Majesty not going to get involved? And what was the Assessment Bureau of the Ministry of Personnel? That was the place in charge of evaluating the performance of local officials every year.
Eunuch Dehai shot him a sharp glare, nearly kicking him: “Do you think you can guess at His Majesty’s thoughts? You reckless fool.”
His voice was cold and harsh, startling the young eunuch into a shiver: “This one was wrong. Please spare me, Eunuch.”
“Guard the hall door properly. Ears that work too well can cost you your life.” He warned, only letting the matter go when he saw the young eunuch’s face turn pale.
With a cold snort, Eunuch Dehai turned and headed toward the Ministry of Personnel.
As he walked, he thought to himself: the man had only been remembered by His Majesty because he was betrothed to the Third Miss, and now he had made a foolish mistake in a moment of folly. Who was there to blame?
After all, the Third Miss and His Majesty had known each other since childhood. That Meng Zixu was probably in for some bad luck.
Over the years, he had come to understand His Majesty’s temperament somewhat. He was fastidious and harsh. When he truly wanted to go after someone, even if that person had done everything perfectly in the past, it would never be enough.