Grand Tutor Deng knelt down and picked up the docunt from the ground.
Recognizing the familiar handwriting, a surge of hatred welled up inside him: Chu Heng again!
Seeing the accusations against him of corruption and abuse of power, he was both scared and angry, frantically kowtowing until his forehead swelled.
He appeared extrely disheveled.
"Your Majesty, I deserve to die. I can explain; the evidence here is false. That shop was agreed upon with the Luo Family from the start. The Luo Family voluntarily lowered the price, and I was unaware that Lord Chu had sent soone to buy the shop, let alone threaten him." Grand Tutor Deng did not forget to drag Chu Heng into the mud.
He truly hadn’t expected that such a trivial matter would keep Chu Heng constantly watching him!
Yet, this wasn’t all; he was unexpectedly summoned to the palace by Emperor Xuanming for a reprimand.
If this happens frequently, the Emperor will eventually grow tired of him!
"I will leave the palace imdiately and return the shop. I would never dare to commit illegal acts of this kind." Grand Tutor Deng kowtowed so hard his heart nearly turned cold.
Emperor Xuanming then spoke: "Since the Grand Tutor knows such acts are intolerable, do not disrupt market prices in the future. Trade at market value, and if this happens again, I will show no rcy!"
With this decision by Emperor Xuanming, Grand Tutor Deng felt a bit relieved, but his mood remained heavy; the Emperor’s words revealed too much!
Yet he dared not oppose the Emperor at such a critical mont.
"Minister Chu may be sowhat stern, but it is for the good of Great Chu. The Grand Tutor should not lead the way in breaking laws either, even in trivial matters. The Grand Tutor should go back and reflect on how today’s actions will impact Great Chu." Emperor Xuanming concluded.
Grand Tutor Deng exited the Imperial Study trembling.
Only upon leaving did he feel cold sweat pouring down his back.
He was even more puzzled about why the Emperor said such things today.
In the past, hasn’t the capital seen instances of buying properties cheaply, with the Emperor never intervening?
Grand Tutor Deng left the palace in a state of disarray and returned to the residence, gritting his teeth, instructing the housekeeper to send the shop back to the Chu family.
Just as he finished giving orders, Young Master Deng sohow got wind of the news, hurried over, his eyes overcast.
"Father, what on earth happened in the palace today? What did the Emperor say?"
Seeing his eldest son arrive, Grand Tutor Deng was so furious he nearly threw an inkstone at his head.
If Young Master Deng hadn’t dodged quickly, he might have been disfigured.
Young Master Deng was horrified: "Father, what are you doing?"
"Useless!" Grand Tutor Deng ground his teeth, angrily scolding, "It’s all because you didn’t think it through and insisted on opposing the Chu family. We don’t even need the Luo Family’s shop, yet you had to seize it. As a result, Chu Heng reported to the Emperor!"
"Do you know what the Emperor said to today?" Grand Tutor Deng recalled Emperor Xuanming’s deanor and felt fearful: "The Emperor warned not to disturb the market and to purchase shops only at their original price."
"If things get even slightly more serious, our entire family will be thrown into prison."
Young Master Deng hadn’t anticipated Chu Heng would exploit this issue: "Damn, this person is truly despicable. Father, are we really letting this go? As long as Chu Heng is around, we won’t be at ease. Look, since Chu Heng arrived, so many officials have gotten into trouble this year. If we allow Chu Heng to continue to develop, where will the Deng family have a place in the future?"
"Fool, the Emperor also warned not to oppose Chu Heng."
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