Chapter 1114: Meng Yunzheng's Request
.png)
Chapter 1114: Meng Yunzheng's Request
In the grand hall, the civil and military officials stood with solemn expressions, their eyes focused on Meng Yunzheng as he spoke.
Despite the intense scrutiny from so many people, Meng Yunzheng remained calm and composed.
His expression unchanged, he first expressed his gratitude and then said, "Your Majesty, this humble subject asks for nothing but to return to my hometown and reunite with my father."
With these words, everyone in the hall was stunned.
Is that it? Just this??
After achieving such a great feat, he didn't ask for an official position or any rewards? Is he out of his mind?
Even the emperor was surprised, "Meng Yunzheng, have you considered this carefully?"
"Yes, this humble subject has carefully considered it. For all these years, due to Gong Qiu's surveillance, my father has been unable to return to his hometown and show himself in public, unable to acknowledge me as his son and reunite with me. This has been the biggest regret for both my father and me. Now that the family enmity has been resolved and I have already reached adulthood, it is time to repay my father's kindness and spend time together with him in his twilight years."
The emperor frowned, "I remember you said that your father used to run a caravan business. Are you planning to go back and inherit the family business as a caravan leader?"
With these words, a low murmur spread through the grand hall.
Become a caravan leader? Has he gone mad?
Meng Yunzheng seemed to be a talented and capable young man. How could he willingly choose such a risky and dangerous livelihood?
Among the officials who had previously viewed him favorably and even considered him as a potential son-in-law, their thoughts quickly dissipated after hearing his decision.
However, there were also those who regretted that such a talented individual would be buried in obscurity, just like Qi Chan.
Qi Chan stepped forward from the ranks of officials and said in a solemn voice, "Your Majesty, I have heard that Master Meng was exceptionally intelligent when he was young. If it weren't for Gong Qiu killing his mother, with Master Meng's talent and knowledge, he would surely be an outstanding figure by now. Your Majesty has always cherished and valued talents. How about testing him on the spot? If Master Meng's knowledge is broad and his talent remarkable, it would be a great pity to let him be buried like this."
The emperor seemed to be deep in thought, and Meng Yunzheng felt somewhat helpless.
Qi Chan had a good impression of him and had even helped him during the Gong Qiu incident. He appreciated Meng Yunzheng's resilience and endurance, thinking that he had the potential to achieve great things in the future. He didn't want to see Meng Yunzheng really go back to become a caravan leader.
However, before the emperor could respond, the Fifth Prince stepped forward from the crowd.
He clasped his hands and said, "Father, everyone has their own aspirations. Master Meng has been living in fear under Gong Qiu's surveillance for many years, and life hasn't been easy for him. Now that everything has settled down, it is natural for him to want to enjoy family happiness. If he has no intention of pursuing a career, why not grant his wish?"
The Fifth Prince used to be low-profile and didn't attract much attention.
But this time, his handling of Gong Qiu's case had allowed many people to witness his capabilities, and his words now carried significant weight.
However, no one expected that he would actually be the one supporting Meng Yunzheng's departure.
Could it be that the Fifth Prince didn't like Meng Yunzheng? Did he belong to the faction that looked down on him, thinking him selfish and self-serving?
The emperor hesitated, and after a moment, he asked again, "Meng Yunzheng, have you really decided?"
Comments
Post a Comment