Going to Beijing to save his father, all the powerful officials in the city are vying to be his fath

The emperor looked at Zhao Liangchen puzzledly and asked, "What do you mean?"

Zhao Liangchen said something inexplicable: "Your Majesty, my father has been treating me much better recently than before. He has given me many good things. Even my mother has sent many gifts to my courtyard."

The Emperor: "Isn't this a good thing? But what does this have to do with my promotion?"

Zhang Liangchen: "Your Majesty, what I mean is that there are people who would like me to be promoted more than you do. You don't need to mention it; someone will."

The emperor asked in confusion, "Your father? How could a minister like him have the power to decide your promotion?"

Zhao Liangchen: "He doesn't have it, but others do."

The emperor narrowed his eyes instantly, scrutinizing Zhao Liangchen. "What do you mean? Who else can influence my subjects better than I?"

Zhao Liangchen shook his head: "I don't know, but my intuition tells me that my father has defected to someone else. This time, my father used me to tell the emperor about Zhao Kuo's incident, which led to Lord Su being wrongly accused.

"I have been used by my father. There is no grudge between my father and Lord Su. He must have been instructed to do this, but I don't know who it was. My father supported me in serving the Emperor. I suspect someone is trying to use me to influence the Emperor's judgment."

Zhao Liangchen's words made the emperor feel a chill on his back. The person he trusted was also planted by others. So, is there anyone else he can trust?

At the same time, a sense of sadness rose in his heart. As an emperor who was high above everyone else, he didn't even have someone he could trust.

He stared at Zhao Liangchen with a sullen face. Zhao Liangchen saw that the emperor's face was not right and knelt on the ground with his head touching the ground in fear: "Your Majesty, I am loyal to you. You know that I was not liked by my father and mother since I was a child. I lived a very difficult life at home. It is your appreciation that gave me the opportunity to live a decent life.

I don't care why my father wants me to be close to the emperor, but my heart is always with you."

The emperor's face was so gloomy that it seemed as if water could drip out of it. He asked sternly, "Can I still trust you?"

Zhao Liangchen replied indignantly, "Yes, Your Majesty. Father has always used me like a tool. He used me to frame Lord Su, never considering the devastating situation I would face if the truth were revealed. He doesn't even consider me a son. How could I serve such a father so faithfully?"

The emperor frowned and asked, "Didn't you say your father still wanted to be promoted?"

Zhao Liangchen said, "Your Majesty, the higher my position climbs, the more he can use me to do. I don't have the ability to completely break with them yet, so I can only submit for the time being. At first, he simply used me, but recently, perhaps my actions have disrupted their plans and hindered their progress. However, not only did my father not get angry, but he even sent me many good things. This undoubtedly shows that my performance is outstanding, and the person behind him has seen my ability. That person is trying to win me over.

If I disobey them, my life will be in danger. But if I pretend to obey them and join them, I will not only know who is behind them, but also understand how they will deal with the emperor. If someone takes the initiative to promote me this time, I am afraid that they are in cahoots with the people behind my father.

The Emperor's lips curled into an icy smile as he said in a cold voice, "Do you mean to be a spy who can get along with everyone? How can I trust you? After all, blood is thicker than water, and you two are birds of the same feather."

Zhao Liangchen quickly knelt and kowtowed, saying earnestly, "Your Majesty, as a member of the royal family, you should understand that blood ties are like fleeting smoke and clouds, the most insignificant things. The closer the relationship, the more likely they are to be like the sharpest poisonous blade, the easiest to pierce your heart."

You need not trust me, nor should you trust anyone. Since they can use me to influence the Emperor's judgment, you can use me to disrupt their plans. I am but a mere insignificant member of the Imperial Guard, like a rootless duckweed, helpless and helpless. You can hold me firmly in your hands and command me as if I were your own arm.

The emperor looked down at the top of Zhao Liangchen's head, rubbing his fingers unconsciously. If the emperor didn't speak, Zhao Liangchen wouldn't move. After a long while, the emperor finally said, "I understand. You can go down."

Zhao Liangchen breathed a sigh of relief: "Yes."

He stood up and stumbled slightly because he had been kneeling for a long time. The emperor saw this and suddenly said, "Although you are afraid of being envied, you have made great contributions. If I don't reward you, it will probably discourage the ministers. I will reward you. Tell me what reward you would like."

Zhao Liangchen thought about it and remembered that he had promised to give Su Qin perfume, so he said: "Your Majesty, I don't want other rewards. I want some perfume, rouge and other things for women."

The emperor was surprised: "What do you want these for? But which girl do you like?"

Zhao Liangchen said shyly, "No, I just said that my teacher met a goddaughter outside the city, and I wanted to give her some gifts. But Your Majesty, you also know that I have sent silver notes to the Ministry of Justice and the city, and I don't have money to buy a decent gift, so I shamelessly asked Your Majesty for some."

The emperor laughed and said, "If you want to give someone to ask me for it, then it will be considered as your gift or mine?"

Zhao Liangchen said very honestly, "It's a gift from the emperor and me together."

The emperor laughed and scolded, "You are so cunning, boy. Well, they are just some small things. I have no use for them. Go to the Shangfu Bureau and pick out more. Pick out some jewelry and fabrics. It is really stingy for me to reward people with only some rouge and powder."

Zhao Liangchen bowed again hurriedly: "I thank the emperor for the reward."

The emperor waved his hand and called out to the outside: "Someone come."

Soon a young eunuch came in. This was the eunuch who had gone to the Zhao residence to deliver the imperial edict. The emperor ordered, "Take him to the Shangfu Bureau to claim the reward. Tell the people in the Internal Affairs Department that Lord Zhao can take whatever he wants."

Young eunuch: "Yes, Your Majesty."

Zhao Liangchen was about to retreat when the emperor suddenly called out to him, "Wait."

Zhao Liangchen: "Your Majesty, do you have any other instructions?"

The emperor looked at him meaningfully and asked, "Zou family?"

Zhao Liangchen was shocked, but he remained calm and replied, "The emperor doesn't allow just anyone to have access to the army. If the army is unstable, the court would have been in chaos long ago."

The emperor nodded and said, "That makes sense. Since your injury has healed, you should start your duty from tomorrow. Don't be lazy anymore."

Zhao Liangchen: "Yes."

The emperor waved his hand and said, "Go ahead."

Zhao Liangchen left the hall as if relieved. Standing on the steps, the autumn wind was like an icy sword, mercilessly piercing his body and bringing a biting chill. Only then did he realize that his inner clothes had been soaked with sweat.

Confessing to the Emperor was a decision he had carefully considered. Hiding the truth would be like trying to cover up one's mistake. Sooner or later, the Emperor would discover it, and by then, the consequences would be disastrous, perhaps even life-threatening. Confessing now might cause the Emperor to lose his trust, but at least he could save his own life.

He knew perfectly well that Prince Liang was definitely trying to win him over; otherwise, how could his father's attitude towards him have changed so drastically? Without those unforgettable memories and heartbreaking experiences from his past life, he might have joined Prince Liang, just as his father had. However, due to the grudges from their past life, their relationship was like fire and water, irreconcilable. How could he have joined Prince Liang, his sworn enemy?

If he didn't surrender to Prince Liang, he would have no choice but to rely on the Emperor. To do so, there must be no estrangement or suspicion between them. Now, if he revealed the truth, the Emperor might temporarily harbor doubts, but he firmly believed that, with time, the Emperor would regain his trust. Sometimes, honesty, rather than concealment, is more effective in earning someone's trust.

However, he didn't reveal everything, not even a single mention of Prince Liang being the mastermind. The Emperor and Prince Liang held a deep bond. He had grown up with Prince Liang, viewing him as a father figure and a source of support. If he had rashly told the Emperor that Prince Liang harbored rebellious intentions, the Emperor would undoubtedly have disbelieved him, instead mistakenly believing he was being manipulated by others to sow discord. Today, he confessed his own actions to make the Emperor understand that even those he trusted might be manipulated by others, making him suspicious of everyone. Suspicion naturally leads to defensiveness.

After Zhao Liangchen left, the emperor called out, "Someone come here."

A man walked out from the darkness and knelt respectfully before the emperor: "Your Majesty."

The emperor stared at him for a while before ordering, "Investigate Zhao Liangchen, the Zhao family, and everyone who has had contact with them, including Zeng Xian and his newly adopted granddaughter."

After a pause, he added, "Send someone to check on the Zou family."

The man took the order and left. The emperor stared at the gate for a while and said slowly, "Liangchen, I hope you will not let me down."