Ch. 59 - Jia Yucun is Annoyed by the Public and Private Royal Gift of Bullfighting Outfit
The Famous Detective of the Red MansionThis chapter is broken. Please report this on discord.
This chapter is broken. Please report this on discord.
In the Yangxin Hall, the white-haired Superior Emperor sat in the middle, with the Empress Dowager and Emperor Guangde sitting at his sides. Another place down, the Imperial Princess Consort and Prince Zhongshun were sitting side-by-side.
They spread their wings like geese and occupied the main position due north, while countless bead curtains hung between the columns on both sides, which were shadowy, and he didn't know how many concubines and maids were hidden behind.
He has to say that sometimes it was not a good thing to feel too sensitive.
For example, Sun Shaozong felt that there was a pair of hungry eyes peeping at him through the bead curtain just now. In between these eyes, there were some sights that seemed to have been lingering between his legs for a long time!
Well, the Emperor and the Supreme Emperor were getting older and older. He didn’t know how long the women in the Palace hadn't gotten to see a young, energetic man. Now, they were all hiding behind the bead curtain and were not afraid to be seen. Naturally, they were desperate to look!
It was okay if there were some young and beautiful concubines in it, but if they were all like the Empress Dowager, having white hair and wrinkled skin...
With just a little thought of this possibility, Sun Shaozong felt like there was a mountain on his back!
Fortunately, he was used to making reports and speeches at the beginning. Even if he was nervous, he could still keep his face in order, telling the case of the "Heavenly Hound eating heart.”
The Supreme Emperor listened very attentively, and from time to time, he had to ask a few questions. The Imperial Princess Consort and Prince Zhongshun also occasionally raised some questions. Only Emperor Guangde and Empress Dowager Niu didn't say a word; they were like two clay-bodied wood sculptures.
At the end of the case, the shocking un-rightful relationship between Vice President Ge and his son broke out. Although the audience around them had known this for a long time, they still could not help but sigh.
Sigh~
The Supreme Emperor also sighed a few times with regret and praise, "You can solve such a tortuous and absurd case in half a day. No wonder you have earned such a great reputation in a short time. I hope that you can work hard in the future and live up to the name of “Divine Judgement” given to you by the people."
Sun Shaozong hurriedly knelt and said respectfully, "I will follow the instructions of the Supreme Emperor, and I will never dare to slack off!"
"That's good, that's good."
After listening to this story for a long time, the Supreme Emperor was a little tired, leaned back loosely, waved his hand to Guangde Emperor, and said with a smile, "Reward with a banquet. It's rare to see this intrepid body, don't starve him."
Emperor Guangde nodded slightly and was ready to send a message to set up the banquet.
But Sun Shaozong had been watched for a long time, and even the “object” under his crotch was starting to have a layer of goosebumps. He was eager to get off his feet immediately. How would he be willing to stay and eat at any Royal banquet?
He quickly arched his hand and interjected, "Your Majesty and the Supreme Emperor, before I entered the Palace, I met a civilian woman who stood in the way and shouted injustice. It seemed that there was a hidden truth in her words, so I promised to rush to Daxing County as soon as possible to review the case. Because this case consists of threatened lives, I don’t dare to delay in the Palace for too long."
After hearing this, there was no other reaction from others. The Guangde Emperor even nodded with satisfaction, but the Empress Dowager Niu's old face sank, her hoarse voice sneered, and she said, "If it was a major case that involved human life, you should have reported it long ago. Why do you wait until this time?"
Tch!
This old woman must have been dissatisfied with her nephew's death, so she deliberately picked on him!
Fortunately, she was unable to have children and was very unhappy with the Emperor because of the Imperial Princess Consort. Otherwise, Sun Shaozong would have been a tragedy long ago.
As for now...
Since Sun Shaozong wanted to get away with this reason, he naturally could cope with doubts.
He bowed calmly and said, "Returning to Emperor Dowager, reporting the case of the “Heavenly Hound eating heart” was an official business, so was reporting this case of life-threatening injustice to His Majesty. So, I don't think there's anything wrong with it. Also, although it's a great honor for His Majesty to hold a banquet for me, it's considered a private affair. Since I have just received the instruction from the Supreme Emperor, how dare I abolish my responsibility for private reasons?"
"What a good debate, not daring to abolish his official responsibilities for personal reasons!"
As soon as Sun Shaozong finished speaking, he heard Emperor Guangde loudly praise, "In that case, I'll keep this banquet for you first."
With that, he waved his hand and said, "Come, take a bullfighting suit and change it for him."
He then said, "This bullfighting suit is not for your credit but for your wholehearted attitude towards the public!"
This bullfighting suit was bright yellow, similar to the color of the Emperor's robe, and was embroidered with a red ox horn dragon, which was a symbol of honor given by the Imperial court to meritorious officials of more than three grades. Now Sun Shaozong has been given a bullfighting suit at a mere six grades, which was even more commendable!
The servants hurried to get a “tapestry over shoulder bullfighting suit” of the largest size and helped Sun Shaozong put it on his body, which immediately added a bit of grandeur to his majestic temperament.
Sun Shaozong has mixed feelings. It was an unexpected joy to get this bullfighting suit, but if Jia Yucun knew about it, he was afraid it would add to his jealousy.
—Dividing Line—
He thanked the Emperor for his kindness and got a few words of advice to do the job diligently. He was then released from the Palace.
At the Xihua gate, Sun Shaozong looked at his beautiful yellow and red clothes and thought it was not too late to go back to the mansion to keep his bullfighting clothes before heading over to Daxing County to investigate the case.
However, before he made his move, he heard someone loudly say, "My good brother, come here and talk!"
Sun Shaozong followed the source of the voice and saw a man jumping out of the carriage opposite. It was Jia Yucun.
Great~
It's hard to not agitate him now!
Sun Shaozong was helpless, so he had to harden his scalp and pretended to be surprised, "How did brother come here? Did you come to wait for me?"
As soon as he got close, Jia Yucun's eyes were firmly absorbed by the bullfighting suit, and he sighed loudly, "It's really a bullfighting suit! How many third-grade senior officers can't ask for grace, my dear brother, you got one as a mere sixth grade, which is enviable and envious."
This tone was much softer than that in the morning.
It seemed that Jia Yucun was waiting here to mediate the relationship between them.
Sun Shaozong hurriedly and modestly said, "I'm just lucky. It's nothing..."
"Haha, you have solved strange cases many times, and it's not just luck, right?"
Jia Yucun laughed, came forward to hold Sun Shaozong's arm, and said earnestly, "I never had the chance to meet the Emperor since I came to Beijing. I originally thought I could finally show my ability in front of Your Majesty this time, but who knows... Sigh!"
He sighed with disappointment and said, "I lost my mind for a moment, and I was so confused that I was angry with you. I hope you won't take it to heart."
Sun Shaozong really couldn't tell whether his words were sincere or whether he showed his acting skills in front of him for the sake of his interests.
However, considering the current situation in the Central Judicial Office, the two were indeed getting more benefits from sticking together and would lose it all if they separated.
So he also lowered his voice with a smile and said, "What are you talking about? You feel unhappy, and if you don't put out your anger at your family, do you still want to complain in front of others? Besides, there’s nothing to take into account with brothers, right?"
Jia Yucun changed into a smiling look again, pointed to the carriage behind him, and said undoubtedly, "In that case, how about going to Dingxiang Restaurant with me to get drunk? First, celebrate that you have got a bullfighting suit, and second, let me complain about my grievances!"
"This..."
If there was nothing important, Sun Shaozong would certainly not refuse, but he just said in front of the Emperor that he would investigate an unjustified case. How could he go to accompany Jia Yucun to get drunk now?
So he hurriedly brought the cause and effect together.
However, after hearing this, Jia Yucun's face changed greatly, and he paused and said, "How can you be so reckless, my dear brother? The Daxing County Magistrate himself just returned, but his parent-in-law in the Jiangnan Zhen family is not easy to provoke! Especially the Zhen family and the Rongguo family have been in marriage for generations. If you offend him, aren’t you even offending the Rongguo family?"
The Zhen family and the Jia family have been in marriage for generations?
Wouldn’t that be called the Zhen-Jia or Jia-Zhen?
Just realizing that the names of the two families were interesting, Jia Yucun deceived him, padded his feet, and bit his ears. "Since there is both human and material evidence, it's better for you to check it casually. Just say that there is no doubt about this case. Anyway, in your name of ”Divine Judgement,” others dare not question it casually, so as not to lose the face of the Zhen's son-in-law."
Hearing this, Sun Shaozong's face suddenly sank, and he blurted out a retort, "Are we supposed to let two innocent people get killed in vain for his face?!”
"Keep your voice down, why are you shouting?!"
Jia Yucun looked around and saw that no one was paying attention to this side. Then he said with a straight face, "I am telling you this because I treat you as my friend. In this officialdom, forget about other matters, but the most taboo thing is to offend your backer and benefactor! If you get on the bad side of the Rongguo Mansion because of several lower-status common people, in case you encounter a dilemma in the future, who else will help you…”
Sun Shaozong looked at him for a while, suddenly smiled with a rustle, and then reached out and gently dusted the bullfighting suit.
Jia Yucun was puzzled at first, but then he seemed to understand something. He frowned and said, "Are you indicating that you have the Emperor's support?"
"No."
Sun Shaozong shook his head and said with a smile, "I mean, if it's just for the face of his son-in-law, it's useless to give up two innocent lives. How can I have the face to wear this bullfighting suit in the future?"