c93 (1/2)

Chapter 93: Concern

“Xiao Yu.” The low voice suddenly rang out in the big hall which made Xiao Yu, who was staring at the withered leaves outside the window, feel a moment of loss. The palace maid standing behind her pointed towards the direction of the Emperor and Xiao Yu quickly replied. “This servant is here.”

“Tonight’s dinner will be at Qing Feng Hall.” Yan Hong Tian was still looking down at the memorandums but there was a hint of pleasure in his deep voice.

Xiao Yu gave an knowing smile and replied, “Yes.”

After that it was followed but another long silence. One could only hear the rustle of the wind outside and the flipping of memorandums. Xiao Yu looked at the sky and softly reminded, “Emperor, it is almost Yous.h.i.+ (modern timing: 5 – 7 pm).”

“En.” After finis.h.i.+ng the batch of memorandums on hand, Yan Hong Tian stood up. He had not gone to see them for quite some days and according to Qing Feng’s temperament, even if her lips did not say it, her heart would not be comfortable. Thinking of the look that she would most likely give it to him, Yan Hong Tian’s mood went up.

The severe winter was almost here and soon it would be night, thus it was very cold outside. Xiao Yu brought the robe to Yan Hong Tian’s side when Gao Jing walked in quickly, “Emperor, Dan Daren request an audience.”

Yan Hong Tian’s sharp brows slightly wrinkled. The hand that was holding on his robes paused for a moment before he sat back down and replied, “Announce.”

“Greeting the Emperor. Long live the Emperor.” Dan Yu Lan had a stern expression on his face and a look of concern on his brows as he was carrying a report in his hands. Yan Hong Tian’s eyes swept to his hand with the report and asked as he drank the hot tea with a cold tone, “What is it that requires an audience?”

“Regarding… The case of the army rations.” Finis.h.i.+ng, Dan Yu Lan did not speak more and handed the report to Gao Jing, which Gao Jing then presented it to Yan Hong Tian.

“Commander Su had already did a stocktake of the military granaries and the details are indicated in the report. In the case on Lin Bo Kang conspiring with the southern merchants, the southwest area belonged to the Lin family. They have all along been earning their livelihood through trafficking cloth and food and most of the food were sold at areas with famine or to neighboring small countries. There are at least millions of silver that were entered their accounts and is considered to be quite powerful in the south.” As Dan Yu Lan spoke, he was observing the Emperor’s expression. As Yan Hong Tian flip the pages of the report, there was not any changes on his face as he stared at the report with his bottomless dark eyes.

“Leave the report and withdraw first. Tomorrow morning after the morning court, then come over with Su Ren to the Imperial Study.”

“Yes.” Dan Yu Lan’s thoughts turned, surprised that why did the Emperor not ask more about the case? That report clearly recorded the shortages and grain varieties of the various military granaries. After the inventory audit, many of the granaries had shortages and most of the newly enlisted soldiers were even supplied with rice from the lowest grade. As most of the soldiers were children of poor families, they were happy to be able to eat from the army rations and naturally would not care about the quality of rice. If it was not because of the investigation, no one would have probably noticed about it.

When Su Ren handed the report over to him, he who was usually good-natured was also jumping in rage and the Emperor actually did not raise any difficult question. This case on the army rations was instructed by the Emperor to dig deep but to dig into how deep, he was unable to guess.

Dan Yu Lan had withdrew earlier on but Yan Hong Tian sat before the case and did not get up again. Xiao Yu and Gao Jing, who wait by the Emperor’s side for many years, naturally knew that at this time the Emperor’s heart was not as calm as how he looks. Seeing as the skies grew darker, both of them looked at one another but no one dared to go up to remind.

This time Yan Hong Tian sat down for more than two s.h.i.+chen (1 s.h.i.+chen = 2 hours) and Xiao Yu had already reheating the soup for four or five time. She bit the bullet and walked to the side of the table to cautiously say, “Emperor, please have some Ginseng soup.”

Yan Hong Tian’s dark eyes slightly raise and that gaze was as sharp and cold as a knife. Xiao Yu was so scared that she s.h.i.+vered and some of the soup spilled onto the tray. The spoon fell off the bowl and onto the tray with a ‘clink’ and the sound resonated in the quiet hall. At the same time Yan Hong Tian also recovered from his thoughts.

Seeing Xiao Yu kneeling on the ground stunned, Yan Hong Tian then flung the report in his hands aside and softly spoke to Xiao Yu, “Get up.”

As he said, he also picked up the bowl of Ginseng soup to drink. Xiao Yu slightly looked up and when she saw Yan Hong Tian’s face was as per usual, she then stood up and stand by the side.

As he was drinking the warm Ginseng soup, Yan Hong Tian then remember that he said that he would be going to Qing Feng Hall for a meal tonight. He looked over and saw that the skies had already turned dark. Yan Hong Tian’s sharp brows once again frowned.

Xiao Yu thoughts were clear and when she saw the Emperor frowning as he held the bowl of soup while looking out, she understood his thoughts. She softly spoke, “This servant had earlier informed Qing Feng Hall to say that the Emperor will not be going over for the meal.”

Yan Hong Tian gave a low “En” sound as he drained the bowl of soup before he picked up that small report. The Emperor had already been in the Imperial Study for the entire day settling national affairs and if he continued on, they did not know what time it would be. Xiao Yu thought a while and said, “But… Prince Zhi seems to have caught a fever. In the afternoon Imperial Physician w.a.n.g and Imperial Physician Lin went over to provide diagnosis and treatment.”

Sure enough before Xiao Yu’s finished talking, Yan Hong Tian immediately turn around and asked her, “How was it?”

“It is not of a serious matter.”