Although Jiang Yan was still very resistant to riding on a boat, he himself understood that in the current situation, taking the waterway was much safer than traveling by land.
On the third day of the twelfth lunar month, after traveling day and night, Han Mo finally returned to Bianliang City.
"Is that Lord Han's carriage ahead?"
As the carriage entered Donghua Gate, a young eunuch hurried to greet them.
"If you are referring to Han Mo, the pacification commissioner of the coastal areas of Liangzhe and Fujian, then it should be correct!"
Hearing the eunuch's shrill voice, Han Mo frowned and replied directly.
"It is indeed Lord Han's carriage. You all quickly return to the palace to report!"
Upon hearing this, a nearby eunuch quickly called out to his companions.
"Lord Han, His Majesty has been counting the days waiting for you. Why don't you come to the palace with us immediately!"
"Huh?"
Hearing the eunuch say this, Han Mo couldn't help but twitch the corner of his mouth. Could it be?
It was almost evening, and to enter the palace at this hour, he would likely have to stay overnight.
As an outer minister, staying in the palace would be somewhat inappropriate, wouldn't it?
Could it be that the emperor had changed his mind and wanted him to be some kind of chief eunuch?
"Lord Han, you don't know, His Majesty has been mentioning you every day these past few days, eating without taste, sleeping without peace! His Majesty specifically ordered us to wait for you here every day, and we have been waiting for seven or eight days!"
"But my traveling dust... is it too much to face His Majesty like this?"
Although these eunuchs were speaking so urgently, Han Mo still felt a headache looking at his clothes.
"His Majesty had already said that after you entered the city, you should go directly to face him. Naturally, he wouldn't mind this..."
The eunuch spoke while offering another smile.
"If that's the case, then you lead the way!"
With things said to this extent, there was no point in Han Mo insisting further, so he simply resigned himself to it.
"Yes!"
Seeing that Han Mo had agreed, the two eunuchs jumped onto the carriage shafts and led the carriage straight to the imperial palace with Han Mo.
Following the eunuchs, they arrived outside the Fu Ning Hall, and Han Mo finally saw Liang Shicheng.
"You all go down first, I'll take Lord Han in!"
"Yes!"
Although slightly displeased at being intercepted by Liang Shicheng, the eunuchs dared not argue when Liang Shicheng had already spoken.
"I only ask you one thing, did you swallow that 24 million strings of copper coins yourself?"
After the eunuchs had gone, Liang Shicheng lowered his voice and asked in a whisper.
"Your Excellency the Grand Tutor, what are you joking about? Do you think I'm that shallow? A mere amount of copper coins could satisfy me?"
After a slight pause, Han Mo immediately replied.
"As long as it wasn't you, even if it was, you'd better deny it vigorously!"
Upon hearing Han Mo's words, Liang Shicheng finally breathed a sigh of relief. This young man might not be reliable in other matters, but when it came to money, Han Mo's judgment was quite sound.
"Did someone leak this matter?"
Han Mo feigned ignorance and asked back.
"You're still playing dumb with me? Believe it or not, I'll hit you!"
Seeing the feigned shock on Han Mo's face, Liang Shicheng's heart stirred, and he glared at him.
"Your Excellency, as long as you know nothing, that's fine!"
Seeing this, Han Mo, instead of being afraid, said to Liang Shicheng with a playful grin.
"His Majesty is waiting inside. Have you thought about what to say?"
"Don't worry, Your Excellency. I'll just tell the truth! Not only will it relieve His Majesty's worries, but it will also help Your Excellency vent your anger!"
"Then I'll be counting on you!"
Seeing Han Mo speaking confidently, Liang Shicheng didn't say any more and led Han Mo into the Fu Ning Hall.
"Your subject, Han Mo, pacification commissioner of the coastal areas of Liangzhe and Fujian, pays his respects to Your Majesty!"
As soon as Han Mo entered the hall, he immediately bowed deeply to Emperor Huizong.
"From Mingzhou to Bianliang, it's more than a thousand miles. You actually reached it in only seven days. Was the journey smooth?"
Looking at Han Mo's travel-worn appearance, Zhao Ji did not immediately reprimand him but instead comforted him warmly.
"Thanks to Your Majesty's blessings, the journey was relatively smooth!"
"Come, grant him a seat!"
Seeing Han Mo's respectful demeanor, Zhao Ji nodded with satisfaction, ordered someone to grant him a seat, and then waved, signaling the palace maids and eunuchs to leave.
Casting a cautious glance at Han Mo, Liang Shicheng also cupped his hands to the Emperor and then walked out of the hall, directly closing the door from the outside.
"Do you know why I urgently summoned you back?"
Only after the emperor and minister were alone in the grand hall did Zhao Ji slowly ask.
"Replying to Your Majesty, your subject does not know!"
"You don't know? Then let me tell you. Someone has accused you. These memorials are all impeachments against you. What are your thoughts?"
As Zhao Ji spoke, he pushed the memorials on his desk towards Han Mo.
"They accused your humble subject?"
Hearing Zhao Ji's words, Han Mo immediately put on a look of extreme fear and trepidation.
"That's right. Take a look yourself. After you've read them, I'll wait for your reply!"
After saying that, Zhao Ji didn't even look at Han Mo's expression and picked up his tea cup to slowly drink his tea.
Han Mo did not delay, quickly bent down to pick up all the memorials, and began to flip through them one by one.
"Reporting to Your Majesty, your subject also has two memorials to present to Your Majesty!"
After finishing reading the memorials, Han Mo put on a sorrowful expression and took out two memorials from his sleeve.
"Oh?"
Hearing this, Zhao Ji slowly put down his tea cup and walked step by step towards Han Mo, but he did not reach out to take the memorials from his hand.
"Replying to Your Majesty, your subject did not expect that merely by doing some practical work below, I would be so slandered. I request Your Majesty to allow me to resign all my official posts and return home to farm and study!"
"Cough-cough-cough—"