When Zhao Hongrun met with Queen Wang in the Zen Room of Fengyi Palace in the palace, his younger brother Huan Wang Zhao Hongxuan had returned to the residence of the eldest prince Zhao Hongli.
After returning to Zhao Hongli's study, Zhao Hongli, Luo Yao, and Zhou Min were still in the study. Looking at the worried looks on their faces, Zhao Hongxuan guessed that the process of discussing countermeasures among these three people was not going well.
It's no wonder, after all, the matter of "Sima Song, the Marquis of Quliang" was the key that restricted them from even taking the opportunity to move to King Yong. It was even related to whether they could persuade Queen Wang to come forward to help them. But now, Quliang
Hou Sima Song's family was killed and silenced, which was equivalent to ending their hope.
It is undeniable that even without the incident of Sima Song, Marquis of Quliang, it would not have affected the eldest prince Zhao Hongli's comeback. However, the problem is that a comeback cannot bring down King Yong Hongyu, and Zhao Hongli is destined to miss the throne.
Therefore, when Zhao Hongxuan walked in from outside the study, the eldest prince Zhao Hongli was actually very concerned about whether his younger brother had gained anything.
Noticing the inquiring looks of Zhao Hongli, Luo Yao, and Zhou Min, Zhao Hongxuan sighed, shook his head with some disappointment, and said: "My brother and I chatted for a while, but the Green Crows under my brother didn't find out anything.
Useful information." At this point, he paused and added: "As for my brother's attitude... He also doesn't think it was the murderous hand of Yong Wang Hongyu, as Luo Yao and Zhou Min said."
With that said, he told the three of them in detail the conversation he had with his brother Zhao Hongrun.
After listening carefully, Zhao Hongli, Luo Yao, and Zhou Min nodded slowly. After all, Zhao Hongrun's ideas were indeed clear and convincing.
"Hongrun is right. Just relying on a secret letter of unknown origin to have any actual impact on King Yong is indeed overthinking." Zhao Hongli shook his head mockingly.
"You can't say that." Luo Yao heard this and said: "It is indeed difficult to overthrow King Yong with that secret letter, but it can make King Yong fall into public controversy and make those who were originally preparing to defect to King Yong
The officials in the DPRK and the country and the nobles in the country are keeping a wait-and-see attitude... As long as the growing power of King Yong can be curbed, His Highness will still have a chance."
On the side, Zhou Min also nodded and added: "It seems that the key lies with the Queen..."
Now that Quliang Hou Sima Song has been murdered, if Zhao Hongli wants to get attention when he comes back, he has to get the support of the Queen. Otherwise, if no one pays attention to him when he comes back, it is no different from being eliminated early.
Taking this into consideration, Zhao Hongli decided to enter the palace again and ask to see Queen Wang after thinking for a moment.
After a while, Zhao Hongli left Luo Yao in the palace to continue discussing countermeasures with Zhou Min, while he took Feng Shu, the chief of the imperial guards, to Fengyi Hall in the palace again.
When arriving at the gate of the palace, Zhao Hongli happened to see Zhao Hongrun coming out of the palace with Que'er, Wei Jiao, Lu Mu and Mu Qing.
"Why did Hongrun come to the palace today?"
Zhao Hongli was a little surprised. After all, he also knew that Zhao Hongrun was going to get married in three days. This should be the busiest time.
Seeing that Zhao Hongrun didn't seem to see him and got on the carriage of Prince Su's Palace with the maid and Zong Wei, Zhao Hongli gave up his original idea of going over to say hello and walked to the palace on his own.
But when he walked into the palace, he couldn't help but regret in his heart: If he hadn't been pretentious back then, and had always tried to act like the eldest brother and prince, how could he have offended his younger brother, and how could he have ended up like this?
This situation?
As Luo Yao bluntly said, Zhao Hongli was indeed not broad-minded enough back then. If he had been a little more broad-minded when he saw Yong Wang Hongyu and his eighth brother Zhao Hongrun walking together in the palace, he would not have relied on his eldest brother, the prince.
How could the eighth brother spoil his good deeds of "making a promise" at the subsequent Duanyang family banquet?
And if Zhao Hongrun had not undermined the major event he had promised that day, even if Yong Wang Hongyu and Xiang Wang Hongjing teamed up to deal with him, how would they have had any chance?
Of course, this was just one of the many conflicts between Zhao Hongli and Zhao Hongrun back then, but it is undeniable that when it comes to treating his younger brother Zhao Hongrun, Zhao Hongli is indeed not as discerning as Yong Wang Hongyu, who has long seen their eighth brother.
It was extraordinary that he started to win over his feelings in advance, but he didn't see this.
"You don't know someone...?"
Shaking his head, Zhao Hongli left with a self-deprecating expression.
At this time, Zhao Hongrun was on the carriage of Prince Su's Mansion that was slowly driving away, watching the eldest prince Zhao Hongli walking towards the palace from a distance.
The purpose of Zhao Hongli's entry into the palace at this time was very clear to Zhao Hongrun. It was simply that after his brother Zhao Hongxuan left Prince Su's palace, he told Zhao Hongli that "Qingya could not find out any information", forcing Zhao Hongli to enter the palace again and report to the Queen.
Ask for help.
Yes, in fact, Zhao Hongrun actually saw Zhao Hongli just now, but he just pretended not to.
It's not because he still has any resentment towards the eldest prince Zhao Hongli, but because he doesn't know what to say to Zhao Hongli.
You must know that the key to Zhao Hongli's comeback - the key figure "Quliang Hou Sima Song" - was the one who was secretly ordered to be eradicated by the elder brother's mother, Queen Wang.
Although Queen Wang's original intention was not to let Xiao Ni take the opportunity to cause trouble, in a sense, it can also be understood that the mother cut off her son's hope with her own hands.
But the son was kept in the dark and still expected to get help from his mother...
Shaking his head secretly, Zhao Hongrun ordered Lu Mu, who was driving the carriage, to drive away.
After a while, Zhao Hongli brought Zongwei Feng Shulai to Fengyi Hall and asked to see his mother, Queen Wang.
At this time, Queen Wang was preparing to take a short break in her bedroom. After all, she had not taken a lunch break in order to wait for Zhao Hongrun to arrive.
Unexpectedly, as soon as he lay down in his dormitory, he heard a notification that the eldest prince, Zhao Hongli, had come to ask for an audience.
Seeing this, when no one was around, the great eunuch Feng Lu said cryptically: "Your Majesty, since this matter has been decided, the eldest prince's side, the old slave suggested that the empress should just cut it off and put out the eldest prince's wine as soon as possible.
My thoughts...after all, it's because he failed to live up to his expectations, and the empress has done her utmost kindness and justice to him."
Upon hearing this, Queen Wang frowned and glanced at the eunuch Feng Lu, and opened her mouth to speak, but in the end, she just sighed and ordered: "Bring him to this palace."
"Yes." The great eunuch Feng Lu bowed and retreated, and after a moment, he led the eldest prince Zhao Hongli here.
When he came to the dormitory, he saw his mother lying on her side on the couch through the gauze curtain. Zhao Hongli kowtowed to the ground and said, "My child, I wish my mother the best."
"Get up." Queen Wang said calmly.
Zhao Hongli stood up as instructed, and then asked curiously: "Queen Mother, did Hongrun come here just now?"
It turned out that while waiting outside Fengyi Hall just now, he had already learned from the maids and guards outside the hall that King Su Zhao Run had just visited Fengyi Hall.
"Hmm."
Behind the gauze curtain, Queen Wang, who was lying on her side on the couch, heard this and said calmly: "Isn't he about to get married? So I sent someone to give him a congratulatory gift, and he went to the palace to thank me in person.
palace."
"I see."
Zhao Hongli suddenly understood and nodded, having no doubt that this was a reasonable thing.
Immediately, after thinking about the words, Zhao Hongli lowered his head and asked cautiously: "Mother, the child asked the queen to come forward to help me a few days ago. I wonder if the queen has thought about it?"
After hearing this, Queen Wang was silent for a moment, and then sighed: "Hongli, I have thought about it again and again, but..."
Although she didn't finish speaking, Zhao Hongli still understood what his mother meant and asked in surprise: "Queen Mother? Why is this?"
Queen Wang sighed again and said sternly: "I heard that Sima Song, Marquis of Quliang, has been killed by thieves. Although you have evidence that Marquis Quliang secretly colluded with King Yong, you are dead now without any evidence... Even if I come forward.
Even if I help you, it will be difficult for you to shake King Yong's position." At this point, she said quietly: "My son, listen to my mother's advice and let this matter end here. With my mother here, even if you don't have the opportunity to be a great king,
position, you can also be named a wealthy prince..."
"Mother?" Zhao Hongrun couldn't believe it.
"That's enough!" Queen Wang suddenly scolded, but then her tone softened and she said softly: "Hongli, it's not because of my mother that I don't give you a chance. From childhood to adulthood, among all your brothers, you are the only one who
You have the best chance, but you... are not the material to be a king after all."
If Zhao Hongli was shocked by the previous scolding, then the second half of Queen Wang's words made Zhao Hongli feel despair.
He was so confused that he couldn't remember when he left the palace.
After returning to the eldest prince's residence, Zhao Hongli looked self-deprecating and desperately told the matter to Luo Yao, Zhou Min and Zhao Hongxuan.
Perhaps because the Queen Mother's words "You are not the material to be a king after all" were too harsh, Zhao Hongli was too embarrassed to mention it in front of Zhao Hongxuan and the other three people. He just said: Sima Song, the Marquis of Quliang, is dead. There is no evidence of his death. The Queen Mother does not think that we
It can work.
After saying that, he left on his own.
He needs to get drunk and vent his anger.
Perhaps for him, losing to Yong Wang Hongyu, and not having Wang Huang's words still made him feel sad and desperate.
Seeing Brother Changhuang's dejected look, Zhao Hongxuan felt panicked and murmured: "Empress Wang...could she really just watch Brother Changhuang lose?"
Hearing this, Luo Yao and Zhou Min looked at each other. Even though they were extremely intelligent, they could not guess what the queen was thinking.
"Your Highness, what should we do now?" Zhou Min lowered his voice and asked Zhao Hongxuan.
Zhao Hongxuan thought for a while and found no good solution. He could only say: "Let the elder brother be quiet for a while. You can stay here tonight and discuss with Luo Yao to see if there is any other way..."
"What can we do now?"
Zhou Min smiled bitterly to himself. Since this was an order from His Highness, he had no choice but to nod and agree.
That night, Zhao Hongxuan returned to Prince Huan's Mansion with various thoughts in mind.
Unexpectedly, as soon as he returned to the door of the mansion, he heard someone calling him: "Hongxuan."
He subconsciously turned around and took a look, only to find that there was a carriage parked in front of his mansion. From the window of the carriage, Prince Xiang Zhao Hongjing was looking at him with a smile.
"What is he here to do?"
Zhao Hongxuan suddenly frowned.
Zhao Hongxuan also had a bad impression of King Xiang Zhao Hongjing, the third brother of the three kings.