CH 153

Vi6-7 minutes 23.08.2021

Early the next morning, Jiang Suizhou got into the carriage and went straight to the palace to attend the Grand Court Assembly.

He did not sleep well the night before. He didn’t fall asleep until the second watch, and got up again at dawn.

Still, he had to attend the Grand Court Assembly.

If he claimed to be sick and didn’t go, the palace would definitely send the imperial doctors to diagnose and treat him. Huo Wujiu’s presence in his courtyard was a matter of public knowledge. If outsiders entered the residence, everything would be exposed if they spotted some clues.

He could only bite the bullet and get into the carriage.

The rocky carriage ride made him dizzy. When he got off at the Kaiyang Gate, the early morning sunlight made him dizzy again.

He frowned and gathered up his robe and walked towards the palace.

According to the approximate speed, Huo Wujiu should have reached Nan’an in the Chang River in the past two days. But Jiang Suizhou hadn’t received any news, so he had no idea if things were progressing well on Huo Wujiu’s side…

He walked all the way through the vast white marble square in Kaiyang Gate and entered the Guangyuan Palace Hall.

He came very early, but Pang Shao, who was always late, was already waiting in the hall. Several officials around him were chatting nearby, but he seemed to be lacking in interest, as if something else was on his mind.

Jiang Suizhou raised an eyebrow. He could guess what it was.

Pang Shao is acting abnormally. He must have done or is about to do something evil. I wonder if I can hear any clues at the court session later. If not, I must ask Xu Du to investigate again…

He was thinking to himself when he noticed Pang Shao looking at him.

It was a fleeting glance, which swept past him, but that gloomy and cold gaze sent forth an unfathomable meaning that left Jiang Suizhou with goosebumps.

He withdrew his gaze, and an ominous premonition sprouted within him.

Could it be that he had already sniffed out Huo Wujiu’s affairs? But why was there no movement in the manor, and none of his people came to investigate?

Jiang Suizhou glanced at Pang Shao, then turned around and looked out of the hall.

Strict imperial guards were stationed around several palace gates, while ministers scattered in the square full of daylight were slowly approaching the Guangyuan Palace Hall.

Presently, he had entered the palace, and naturally he could not leave before the court assembly was over. He would have to wait for a while until the morning court session ended. He needed to go back as soon as possible to see what had happened.

In half a tea’s time, the ministers had already arrived and were waiting quietly in the hall. If they were to consider the Hou Zhu’s habit, they would wait for at least another quarter of an hour before he would arrive late.

But just then, a eunuch’s voice rang out.

The ministers knelt down to pay their respects, and then the Hou Zhu sat on the imperial throne.

The uneasiness in Jiang Suizhou’s heart grew stronger.

When unusual things happened, something had to be amiss, not to mention that Pang Shao and the Hou Zhu were acting oddly today.

Jiang Suizhou forced down the uneasiness down, but his mind kept straying back to Huo Wujiu.

Although these two people were acting strangely, they were safe and predictable. They weren’t worth worrying at all. Could it be that Huo Wujiu was unlucky and was exposed? Jiang Suizhou knew he shouldn’t mistrust Huo Wujiu like this, but he couldn’t help but be concerned.

Unease gnawed at his heart, but he finally made it through the court session.

He reluctantly breathed a sigh of relief and bowed along with the civil and military officials. Seeing that many courtiers were already withdrawing, he turned around as well and joined them.

But at that moment, the Hou Zhu on the throne spoke.

“Fifth Brother,” he called, “Wait for a moment.”

The expression on his face was as usual, but Jiang Suizhou inexplicably felt uneasy. After a brief contemplation, he took advantage of his ghastly pale complexion due to lack of sleep, coughed a few times, and said with a hoarse voice and forced smile, “Imperial Brother… I’ve just suffered from a cold these last two days, so I am afraid of passing my illness to you. I’d better rush back home to take medicine.”

However, the Hou Zhu moved and leaned forward on his throne.

“We have some important matters to discuss,” he said. “This matter needs to be done by you. No one else can.”

Jiang Suizhou’s eyebrows twitched invisibly, but he asked, “I wonder what the matter the Imperial Brother is talking about?”

The Hou Zhu surveyed him meaningfully for a spell.

“In a month or so, it will be the death anniversary of our Imperial Father.” He looked cold, quietly looking at Jiang Suizhou. His tone also sounded stiff. “I want the Ministry of Rites to hold a memorial ceremony for our Imperial Father’s death anniversary. Fifth Brother, Imperial Father only has two sons left now, you and I. Are you unwilling to perform these things?”

Jiang Suizhou coughed. At this time, his face was dreadfully pale and flushed abnormally. His complexion was quite sickly.

But he was quickly weighing things deep inside.

The biggest rift between the Hou Zhu and the original owner was probably due to the partiality of the former emperor. Because of this, the Hou Zhu treated him indifferently, but also insisted on keeping him. Did Pang Shao somehow persuade him?

No wonder Pang Shao’s expression this morning was so strange.

It made sense to think so.

But Jiang Suizhou still had doubts in his heart. He hesitated and glanced at the Hou Zhu, then turned around and looked outside the hall.