Shipin Dalizheng

Cailan had Madam Wei boil some water and was about to invite Rong Tang to bathe and change clothes when the housekeeper Rong Quan suddenly came hurriedly with an announcement, "Someone's coming from the palace, summoning the young master to see the emperor."

Cailan immediately became worried and said, "What should we do? His Majesty wants to summon the young master."

Rong Tang felt strange, "Is Your Majesty hostile to me?"

Cailan looked troubled. "I don't know. His Majesty has never been interested in the affairs of the Rong family. I don't know whether it will be a blessing or a curse to summon the young master to the palace. Butler, please ask the palace attendant to wait for a moment. The young master will go after he has washed up."

Rong Tang chuckled. Someone came from the palace, so why bother to wash up?

"Uncle Quan, just tell him it's inconvenient for him to go out and ask him to wait for a while."

Rong Quan sighed, looking embarrassed, but still agreed.

"Wait a moment."

Rong Quan stopped.

Rong Tang untied the purse from his waist, pulled out a fifty-liang silver note, and handed it to him. Rong Quan's lips trembled a few times, and he wiped his face and walked out, his steps much lighter.

Rong Tang winked at Rong San and the others, "Everyone, follow me. Aunt Cailan, give us a room and don't let anyone come near."

Cailan agreed and led the five of them into a room, where she guarded the door herself.

About a quarter of an hour later, the door opened. Cailan straightened her body and was about to speak, but after looking at the expressions of several people, she stepped back several steps and couldn't recover for a long time.

I saw Rong San and several guards, who were quite energetic before, were now all injured. Some were limping, some had their arms in slings, and some were bruised. It was a miserable sight.

Their young master's condition was even worse, with a swollen nose and face, a crooked mouth and slanted eyes, and his body was in a terrible state. He was twitching and vomiting blood.

Cailan screamed, "Master, what's wrong with you?"

Rong Tang waved his hand without saying anything, and waited for Rong San to remove the door panel, then lay down on it. Four guards each held a corner, lifted him up, and walked towards the west hall where the eunuchs rested.

The one who came to announce the decree today was Eunuch Li, the eunuch on duty in the Qinzheng Palace. He knew that Concubine Rong was short of money and had no intention of making any money on this trip. He just wanted to announce the decree and bring people into the palace immediately.

Who would have thought that Rong Tang would be so negligent and even made him wait? When he was about to get angry, Rong Quan stuffed fifty taels of silver notes into his hand.

Eunuch Li was delighted. This person had really come. He immediately became amiable and said repeatedly, "I can wait. I can wait. I have to clean up before the emperor."

I heard that he had just had a fight, so the description must be a bit ugly, which is understandable.

Who would have thought that when he saw Rong Tang in person, he was stunned. These disabled people were the Young Master Rong whom he wanted to summon into the palace?

He asked tentatively, "But Master Rong?"

Rong Tang reacted slowly after a few breaths. He didn't say anything and a blood blister appeared on his face.

"Oh my, what's going on? Can I enter the palace? If not, please tell me and I'll explain to His Majesty on your behalf."

Rong Tang took a few breaths and said in a hoarse voice, "Yes, I want to go."

"Well, well, come with me. Take it easy, there are a few palace guards outside who will help you."

Rong Tang and the others all lowered their heads, not daring to look at anyone. Rong San said sadly, "Don't bother, eunuch. We failed to protect the young master, and this is a capital crime. We are about to go to the palace to apologize to Concubine Rong."

Eunuch Li sighed and walked in front, afraid that if he walked too fast, the injured people would not be able to keep up.

Rong Quan watched them walk away as if struck by lightning. He turned and asked Cai Lan, "What happened? Why is the young master like this?"

Cailan lowered her head, her shoulders and hands shaking. "I don't know. Anyway, that's it."

"You, aren't you going to serve?"

Cailan was so nervous, "I, I won't go."

She was afraid. She didn't have her lines rehearsed, and she was afraid that she would be exposed in the palace.

"Anyway, it was the Jin family who beat the young master like this. Remember this, and don't say anything."

There were only four of them in the house, and they were all loyal to Concubine Rong, so they naturally remembered her.

There were also several palace guards waiting for Eunuch Li outside the door. They were originally quite dissatisfied, but when they saw the miserable state of the five masters and servants, they immediately fell silent.

Eunuch Li mounted his horse and said to the others with a hint of apology, "I wasn't well prepared and didn't bring a sedan chair. But I'll take my time, so you don't have to worry. Commander Yu, please go ahead and tell His Majesty that we'll be here for an hour and a half in the evening."

The guard leader named Yu rode away on his horse.

The team walked on the street, attracting the attention of passers-by. Some people had heard about the fight in front of the workshop. Seeing the injured person coming out of Rong Fei's villa, they guessed that it was Rong Fei's nephew, the one who was beaten today.

Discussions arose one after another.

"Is this the son that the Rong family just found?"

"It seems so. I heard that he was beaten today. The eldest young master of the Jin family brought more than a hundred people and chased him across half of the imperial city, and he ended up in this miserable state. It was really tragic."

"That's right. Have you heard that Madam Rong left behind a lot of wealth and the title of Earl of Jian'an. As long as he is killed, all of it will belong to Young Master Jin."

Rong Tang, lying on the door panel, silently thanked the onlookers. Who is this person? The rumors hit the nail on the head.

"Speaking of Madam Rong's dowry, it's truly impressive. Twenty-eight shops in the East Market, five mansions in the South City, and over a thousand acres of fertile land in the suburbs of Beijing. Who wouldn't be jealous?"

At this moment, Rong Tang was thinking, "This Jin Shizhao is Rong Tang's biological father after all. If he is determined to lose face, it would be difficult for his son to fight with him over money. This time, I can see the emperor and get some mercy, so that the Jin family will not dare to take action again. If the money and property are not worth it, then I will just give some alms to the Jin family..."

I heard a long list of inheritances provided by the onlookers, including shops, houses, fertile fields, etc. My heart was burning when I heard it, and I meowed, "No, that's absolutely impossible."

He cheered himself up, his mind working quickly, thinking of a strategy.

The palace gate was just around the corner. Eunuch Li dismounted and asked someone to pass the message, then led the five people to the Qinzheng Hall in small steps.

At the palace gate, Concubine Rong rushed over wailing and sobbing, "Tang'er, what's wrong with you? Imperial physician, imperial physician..."

"Your Majesty, please stop blocking the way and carry Master Rong in to see the Emperor! If you want to summon the imperial physician, you have to put Master Rong down first so he can be treated!"

Concubine Rong suppressed her panic and grief, grabbed Rong Tang's hand and followed him into the Qinzheng Hall.

Emperor Xuanning, who was sitting on the throne, had been watching them since they entered the hall, and he did not say a word until the door panel was placed on the ground about ten steps away.

A man had already been kneeling under the throne, still in the posture of bowing, his shoulders trembling.

"Your Majesty, my son has been imprisoned in Jingzhao Prefecture for no reason. I went to argue with him, but the prefect was arrogant and refused to release him. I hope Your Majesty will grant me a favor and allow my son to return home to recover from his injuries."

Concubine Rong knelt and cried, "Your Majesty, my nephew is seriously injured. I beg you to summon the imperial physician to treat him. If you are late, my Rong family will be extinct!"

Minister Jin, who was standing next to him, stiffened for a moment, then slowly raised his body and turned his head to look at the door panel beside him.

Rong Tang's eyes moved and another blood bubble appeared.