Chapter 402: Chapter 402: Transcription

Throughout history, as long as corruption cases were uncovered, they have always been major incidents. If there is corruption in the imperial examinations, it is unknown how many people will lose their positions and ranks.

However, that person might not have known that the memorial contained such shocking content, right?

At the time, Grandmaster Bao dared to take it because he thought that such a matter was bound to be investigated. That person probably wanted to perform a meritorious deed before the Emperor, hence the desire to intercept the memorial in advance.

As long as the matter would be revealed to the world, who investigates it doesn’t make a difference, does it?

Grandmaster Bao arrived early, intending to take the memorial first, and then, when the Left and Right Ministers came, he would go through all the memorials, categorize them, and record them. Then, he would record these two memorials under another case, and be able to take them away when he left.

But he didn’t expect to be blocked by King Kang.

King Kang’s words were half true, after all, such “Ghost Talisman” writings are certainly not things the Emperor wants to see; the other half was to give Grandmaster Bao a way out.

If the matter of privately concealing the memorials was exposed, he as Grandmaster would not escape culpability.

After all, although the Emperor is aging, he is wise, and with many years at the top, he has a suspicious nature. The worst thing he cannot accept is people with disloyal intentions.

Even if he took away irrelevant memorials, as long as it wasn’t through the Left and Right Ministers or Imperial Tutor King Kang, it was considered private appropriation.

He never expected that in his old age, he wouldn’t be able to maintain his integrity.

But Grandmaster Bao was not someone who could be dealt with in just a couple of sentences. He neither said he had taken it nor denied it, he simply said: “So King Kang means to take it privately?”

King Kang smiled slightly, and said: “What is Grandmaster Bao saying? When I take the memorial, I will record it. Moreover, the Emperor ordered that as long as two people were present and both agreed, it wouldn’t count as private appropriation. Now that I’m here, and Grandmaster Bao is here, how could it be considered private appropriation?”

Grandmaster Bao smiled faintly, and said: “Due to Shang Jingwang bypassing the Northern County Magistrate, and directly presenting the memorial at the Capital City, there was a debate among the court ministers. Fortunately, there is precedent to follow, so there is actually no crime. But Shang Jingwang did catch the Emperor’s eye; the Emperor is quite concerned about the matter of Jiazhou Wangshan Town. Earlier, when I faced the Emperor, he specifically asked about it, so I came to look for Jiazhou’s memorial, intending to present it to the Emperor. However, unexpectedly, your honored son’s memorial still needs you, his father, to transcribe it again, which is indeed a bizarre affair!”

This was his explanation for taking the memorial, although King Kang wouldn’t believe it. Of course, Grandmaster Bao knew, but it was a reason that could pass superficially, and at this time, no one would take it seriously.

Grandmaster Bao understood people’s hearts well; although he was explaining falsely, he was openly deriding the Second Young Master of Prince Kang Mansion as uneducated, needing to transcribe even a memorial, which was an undisguised mockery.

However, in his old age, it was better to mock the younger generation a little, while simultaneously pricking King Kang’s heart, covertly criticizing his failure in teaching his son, thereby better hiding his true intentions.

King Kang said with an ugly expression: “An unfortunate family, the disobedient child was pampered by his old mother from a young age, ashamed, ashamed!”

Grandmaster Bao laughed heartily, took out the two memorials, and laughed, saying: “I just made a casual remark, who doesn’t know that the old Princess dotes on her grandson? Fortunately, the Second Young Master, though somewhat mischievous, is handsome and graceful, a young noble unparalleled!”

After ridiculing and mocking, he offered an insincere praise!

If Huangfu Jinxuan were here, he would definitely jump up and scold the old fox. King Kang, of course, wouldn’t; he just smiled.

Grandmaster Bao placed the two memorials into King Kang’s hands, even giving them a light pat. This gesture was friendly and casual, as if the previous confrontation hadn’t existed at all.

Actually, he could have kept Wen Hao’s memorial.

But, after all, Grandmaster Bao is Grandmaster Bao; since King Kang had brought up the matter of the memorial, if he still kept one, who knew what unforeseen incidents might occur, leading to a complete disaster. Being forthright in handing them over actually demonstrated his openness.

King Kang’s face showed a helpless smile, saying: “Ashamed, ashamed!”

Then, without avoiding, he found a corner, took out a blank memorial, and then took out two sheets of paper from his sleeve, combining the contents of the memorial, he began to transcribe.

Grandmaster Bao approached, curious whether King Kang could understand the “Ghost Talisman” on the memorial? Was it true that nobody knows your child better than the father?

Actually, he was interested in the two sheets of paper King Kang took out from his sleeve.

One sheet was just like the “Ghost Talisman” on the memorial.

The other had graceful, elegant, and neat handwriting.

King Kang again showed his signature harmless, broad smile: “Jinxuan is mischievous, so Rong worries that I, with my old eyes, might not see clearly!”

Grandmaster Bao, unsure whether with envy or jealousy, said: “The Princely Heir’s filial piety, Prince Kang is a blessed man!” While his own unworthy son caused him endless trouble, requiring him to owe others favors, putting his old face to the ground?

King Kang smiled without speaking, using a paperweight to press down the two sheets of paper.

This implied he wasn’t prepared to continue the conversation.

Grandmaster Bao felt embarrassed to linger here, trying to peek at the contents, so he went to organize other memorials.

He didn’t know that the two sheets of paper King Kang took from his sleeve were letters from Huangfu Jinxuan. In fact, the writings on both sheets were by the same person.

Before long, King Kang finished his “transcription,” stood up, took the transcribed memorial, along with the original “Ghost Talisman” and the letter “Ghost Talisman,” along with Wen Hao’s memorial, recorded them, and presented them for Grandmaster Bao to sign.

This memorial wouldn’t be sent along with today’s to the Emperor. Because the memorial was only a brief account, matters to be stated needed detailed explanations. Of course, that would take place when King Kang personally presented them during tomorrow’s morning audience.

Grandmaster Bao didn’t look at the transcribed memorial, nor did King Kang show any intention of allowing him to. Nonetheless, he signed it rather cheerfully.

Soon, the Left and Right Ministers came on duty as well, and together they sorted through the memorials. King Kang generously explained how Huangfu Jinxuan mentioned in the family letter that his handwriting was poor, requesting his father’s transcription, and would personally present it to the Emperor. This remark made the Left and Right Ministers laugh.

In their laughter, there was the meaning that this was not a significant affair, King Kang was just too meticulous, a gesture of goodwill towards King Kang; of course, there was also a degree of tacit understanding among them.

Prince Kang Mansion’s Second Young Master performed his first royal errand, a task requested from the Emperor by King Kang and the Princely Heir together.

But just what kind of person is Prince Kang Mansion’s Second Young Master?

Many don’t view him favorably, thinking this Second Young Master would create chaos rather than solve the epidemic issues, and most likely others will need to clean up after his mess.

There are also some concerned senior ministers who are worried; an epidemic is not like other things, sending a shrewd person is preferable, sending a spoiled and extravagant Second Generation heir would be a disaster, potentially spreading the epidemic uncontrollably, which would indeed be monumental, even shaking the foundations of the state.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep