Zhao Zhen understands the thoughts of Kou Ji and Liu Heng.
It was precisely because Zhao Zhen understood that he was unwilling to continue to cause problems for the two of them.
He suppressed the discomfort in his heart and said the words to kill Zhao Yuanyan.
Kou Ji solemnly raised his hands and said, "I obey your decree..."
Kou Ji withdrew his hand and looked at Kou Zhun.
Kou Zhun said with a smile: "Don't worry..."
Kou Ji nodded and said to Chen Lin, who was standing beside Zhao Zhen without saying a word, "Thank you, Eunuch Chen, for protecting the official family and my grandfather."
Chen Lin bowed slightly and whispered: "The Ministry of Industry and Commerce will only do important things, and our family will take good care of the officials and grand masters."
Kou Ji said no more and took Liu Heng out of Zishi Hall.
As soon as Kou Ji left.
Chen Lin said loudly: "Follow the imperial guard and station at Zishitang."
Following Chen Lin's order.
All the royal guards in the palace gathered in front of Shishi Hall.
All of them were wearing armor and holding swords, and had a killing aura.
Zhao Zhen sat on the dragon chair, staring at the imperial guard outside Zishi Hall, gritting his teeth and said: "She knew clearly that the Eighth Emperor wanted to usurp the throne, but she didn't tell me. I felt very unhappy.
But if you are not happy, you are not happy.
I still have to keep her safe.
Chen Lin, divided into 80% of the imperial guard, went to the palace of the Queen Mother, Concubine Li, and Concubine Yang."
Chen Lin was startled and hurriedly warned: "Officials, you must not do this. If there is a thief hiding in the palace, the 20% of the imperial guards will not be able to protect you."
Zhao Zhen said in a deep voice: "Do as I tell you."
"Official!"
"Are you a slave, or am I a slave..."
Chen Lin lowered her head with a grimace and said plaintively: "Slave... I obey the order..."
Just when Chen Lin was about to leave, Kou Zhun patted the beauty's couch where she was sitting and shouted, "I'll stop by the imperial dining room and ask the chef in the imperial dining room to make some of my favorite food and send it over."
Chen Lin paused, faced Kou Zhun, agreed, and then exited Zishi Hall.
After Chen Lin left.
Zhao Zhen stared at Kou Zhun and said sadly: "Grand Master, please tell me, what should I do?"
Kou Zhun was stunned for a moment, then faced Zhao Zhen and said doubtfully: "Kou Ji will do whatever you need to do for you, just sit down and wait for the news."
Zhao Zhen looked at the location of Liu E's palace and said helplessly: "I mean... what should I do if the Queen Mother appears in Zishi Hall today?"
Kou Zhun was stunned again, pretending to be casual and said: "Then it depends on whether the officials are willing to hand over their power. This matter depends entirely on the officials' wishes. If you ask the veteran, I don't know how to answer."
Zhao Zhen said with a somewhat anxious tone: "The Grand Master is always very wise, can't you give me some advice?"
Kou Zhun patted his forehead and curled his lips and said: "The old minister has resigned. The old minister should not interfere with the matters in the court. This time he came to the court again because Wang Zeng and Li Di begged so hard that the old minister had no choice but to do so.
Don't come out to take charge of the overall situation.
Once the world is at peace, I will return to Ruian Town and continue to open a school."
Zhao Zhen said with an ugly face: "I don't want to hand over the power. Grand Master, you have worked tirelessly to train me for many years and taught me step by step for many years. Now is the time for me to confirm the knowledge imparted by Grand Master, and I don't want to be behind the scenes.
But there is nothing I can do to stop the Queen Mother from reaching into the court."
Kou Zhun curled his lips and said calmly: "There is nothing I can do about it..."
Zhao Zhen said stubbornly: "I don't believe that the grand master can't help it."
Kou Zhun said quietly: "I am living my life on my fingers now, and every day I live is less and less. I will spend the rest of my life cultivating more talented people for our Song Dynasty. How can I have time to interfere with your family affairs."
Zhao Zhen said in a deep voice: "I heard that the Grand Master is running a school outside the city and there is still a plaque missing. I can write a plaque in my own hand and give it to the school."
Kou Zhun muttered: "The old minister's school only recruits children from poor families. The imperial pen of the official family is dispensable..."
Zhao Zhen continued: "How about I allocate 10,000 taels of gold from our internal treasury every year to help poor students study?"
Kou Zhun groped the beard on his chin and whispered: "The old minister intends to arrange for those students to go to various government offices to serve as petty officials to gain experience before joining the officialdom. I wonder if the officials can help the old minister?"
Zhao Zhen solemnly said: "I will let the people from the Imperial City Department handle this matter."
Hearing this, Kou Zhun nodded, "That's good... I have something to say to the officials."
Zhao Zhen quickly asked: "What are you talking about?"
"The harem is not allowed to interfere in politics!"
Kou Zhun said six words calmly.
Zhao Zhen said in shock: "The harem is not allowed to interfere in politics?!"
Zhao Zhen was a little confused about Kou Zhun's intention.
Kou Zhun explained calmly: "Since the official family wants to send a plaque to the academy run by the veteran minister, why not make an extra plaque with the words 'The harem is not allowed to interfere in politics' written on it and hang it in the Chui Gong Hall."
The expression on Zhao Zhen's face froze.
I have mixed feelings in my heart.
If Zhao Zhen really followed Kou Zhun's words, he would inscribe a plaque and hang it on the Chui Gong Hall.
That was equivalent to a hard slap on Liu E's face.
No need to ask the civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty to know who Zhao Zhen was hanging such a plaque on the Chui Gong Hall.
Although this move can solve the problem of Liu E's return to the court, it will also offend Liu E to death.
Zhao Zhen said in embarrassment: "Grand Master...is this move somewhat inappropriate?"
Kou Zhun said calmly: "The old minister just gave the official a once-and-for-all suggestion. It is up to the official to take it or not. However, the conditions promised by the official to the old minister must be fulfilled."
Zhao Zhen nodded thoughtfully.
Just when Zhao Zhen was worried about preventing Liu E from reaching out to the court.
Liu E, however, was pacing back and forth excitedly in the palace.
"Zhao Yuanyan finally took action..."
Yan Shu said with a bright smile: "Congratulations to the empress, congratulations to the empress. Today, the empress can return to the court."
However, Xia Song said calmly: "Madam, now is not the time to be happy."
Liu E paused, stared at Xia Song, frowned and asked, "What do you mean?"
Xia Song said calmly: "Just now, someone sent word to me that the officials have mobilized a group of imperial guards to protect the empress. Obviously, the officials still know about the news that Zhao Yuanyan will usurp the throne."
Liu E narrowed her eyes slightly and said in a deep voice: "Did Kou Ji tell him?"
Xia Song nodded, "I feel the same way."
Yan Shu smiled faintly and said, "So what if the officials know about it? Zhao Yuanyan is about to raise an army, and Cao Wei, Gao Chugong and others are not in Bianjing. It is impossible for the officials to come up with temporary countermeasures.
Things are still in our hands.
No one can stop the empress from returning to the court."
Liu E heard this and nodded in agreement.
Xia Song shook his head and said: "You are not afraid of ten thousand, just in case. The official family is not alone, there are Kou Zhun's ancestors and grandsons behind him. Kou Zhun is good at making decisions, and Kou Ji is good at planning. With their ancestors and grandsons taking action, it may not be impossible.
Ways to resolve Zhao Yuanyan’s rebellion.”
Liu E said in a deep voice: "Cao Wei, Gao Chugong and others were dispatched out of Beijing to Pengri and Tianwu armies. Now they are under our command. Can Kou Zhun's ancestors and grandsons still conjure troops and horses out of thin air?"
Xia Song stared at Liu E and said in a deep voice: "Have you forgotten that Zhu Neng, the defender of the imperial city, still holds the Dragon God's two guards in his hand?"
Liu E frowned and said, "Zhu Neng can still abandon the imperial city and lead his troops to suppress the rebellion."
Xia Song pondered: "It's hard to say...if the officials believed the slander of Kou Zhun's ancestors and asked Zhu Neng to send some troops to suppress the rebellion, Zhao Yuanyan might not be able to stop him.
Zhu Neng is not famous, but his ability to lead troops in battle is not weak.
If he hadn't been from a bad background, he might have become an important minister in the court.
If he leads some of the soldiers of the Second Dragon Guard to suppress the rebellion, he may not be able to withstand Zhao Yuanyan's rebels with the help of the city wall."
Liu E frowned and said in a deep voice: "The matter is now over, it's too late to make arrangements..."
Xia Song shook his head and said, "That's not true..."
Liu E stared at Xia Song and asked, "Do you have any idea?"
Xia Song stared at Liu E and said seriously: "Your Majesty, you can send someone to wait at the gate of the outer city. As soon as Zhao Yuanyan appears outside Bianjing with his troops, have someone open the gate of the outer city of Bianjing and let them in.
In this way, Zhao Yuanyan could easily break through the outer city and go straight to the inner city wall.
When the time comes, Kou Zhun's ancestors and grandsons will send Zhu Neng to lead his troops to quell the rebellion.
The empress can also use the excuse of a critical situation to appear in the court and issue an edict to hold the sun in high esteem, and the Tianwu and Wu armies will send troops to quell the rebellion."
When Liu E heard this, her expression changed and she said decisively: "No! The outer city wall is tall and thick, and there are many large ordnance on the wall, which is the best barrier to weaken Zhao Yuanyan's troops.
Without this level of consumption, the chances of Zhao Yuanyan leading his army to attack the inner city would be greatly increased.
The Ai family cannot risk the lives of the official family or the Zhao family's country and country."
Xia Song said anxiously: "But if I don't do this, what if Zhu Neng leads his army to annihilate Zhao Yuanyan's rebellion under the outer city wall. Then how can I show up in the court to turn the tide?"
Liu E pursed her lips, frowned, and said nothing.
Xia Song continued to admonish: "Madam, we have been planning for more than half a year just for today. If we lose the opportunity because of your hesitation, then our planning for more than half a year will be in vain.
Wang Qinruo, a master of equipment supervision, was lurking next to Zhao Yuanyan.
If something changes, they will take action quickly and kill Zhao Yuanyan.
With them here, it is impossible for Zhao Yuanyan to break into the inner city."
Yan Shu listened for a long time and was gradually convinced. He immediately handed over his hand and said: "My dear, I think Xia Song's words are reasonable. We set up many secret tactics in the beginning to prevent Zhao Yuanyan from attacking the inner city.
But if Zhao Yuanyan can't even attack the outer city, then all the hidden tricks we set up will be in vain."
Liu E struggled and said: "The Ai family is not willing to take risks with the government's country and country."
Xia Song took a step closer to Liu E and said in a deep voice: "But if we lose today's good opportunity, I will never appear in the court again. Although Kou Zhun has retired, the official family and Kou Ji have still grown up.
If the empress loses this good opportunity, she will have to continue to wait if she wants to make plans again.
But the longer you wait, the faster the Guan family and Kou Ji will grow.
Once the officials were familiar with government affairs, Kou Ji took another step.
Then the two of them working together can turn the court into an iron barrel.
When the time comes, even if your Majesty has three heads and six arms, it will be difficult for you to return to the court."
Yan Shu added from the side: "If you lose this opportunity, I am afraid that you will have to hide in the palace for the rest of your life. Your strong intervention after the official election has caused the official to be alienated from you.
In order to return to the court this time and Zhao Yuanyan wanted to usurp the throne, you chose to hide it from the official family and plot it secretly.
Once the officials find out about this, the gap between you and the officials will become even greater.
After all, you are not the biological mother of the official family.
If an official is angry with you and wants to deal with you secretly, no one can stop him."
In order to admonish Liu E, Xia Song and Yan Shu said everything they should and should not say.
Every sentence pokes at Liu E's weakness.
Whether it was losing the opportunity to return to the court or being secluded in the palace, Liu E couldn't bear it.
Liu E gritted her teeth, looked at Xia Song and Yan Shu, and said in a trembling voice: "The Ai family... The Ai family will listen to you..."
A rare hint of joy flashed across Xia Song's face.
"Leave this matter to me."
Xia Song dropped these words and left Liu E's palace without waiting for Liu E to speak again.
Liu E looked at Xia Song's leaving figure and sighed.
"Why……"
On the Imperial City.
Zhu Neng also let out a long sigh, looked at Kou Ji who was waiting for him to eat barbecue under the crenel, and said quietly: "Why do you have to come to this muddy water?"
In front of Zhu Neng, there was a small stove, with silver frost charcoal burning in the stove. The burning heat of the silver frost charcoal could be felt by Kou Ji even from three feet away.
In Zhu Neng's hand, he held two copper rods about one and a half feet long, with two lamb legs tied on the copper rods.
The lamb leg has been roasted on the fire for a long time, and the face is browned, exuding a faint meaty aroma.
Zhu Neng took a knife and scratched the lamb leg twice, cutting a series of incisions, and listened to the popping sound of the drops of mutton fat falling on the silver frost charcoal.
Ko Ji stared at the lamb leg greedily, twitched his nose, and asked: "When will it be roasted?"
Zhu Neng smeared oil on the lamb leg and subconsciously replied: "It will take half an hour..."
After a pause, he raised his head and stared at Kou Ji in astonishment, "You haven't answered my question yet? Are you worried about me, Zhu Neng, and are afraid that I, Zhu Neng, won't be able to defend the imperial city, so you came here specially to supervise the battle?"
Kou Ji stared at the leg of mutton and smiled calmly: "How could I not trust you, Uncle Zhu? With you sitting in the imperial city, even if Zhao Yuanyan leads a million troops to kill him, he will not be your opponent."
Zhu Neng stared and said angrily: "That's an exaggeration! If Zhao Yuanyan really leads a million-strong army to the foot of the imperial city, I have no other choice but to surrender."
Kou Ji pointed at one of the lamb legs and said, "Hurry and grease it, or it will dry out."
"oh!"
Zhu Neng was reminded and hurriedly looked at the leg of lamb. He saw that the leg of lamb that had not been oiled was roasted and was a little dry, so he hurriedly applied oil.
After Zhu Neng greased the two lamb legs, he was suddenly stunned, stared at Kou Ji, and said angrily: "You have been talking to me for a long time, but you still haven't told me how you came to the top of the city.
what?"
Kou Ji said calmly: "I came here to sleep and eat some mutton."
"Um?"
Zhu Neng was confused.
Seeing this, Kou Ji explained: "Zhao Yuanyan's usurpation of the throne is a big deal. Officials have to send a confidant to watch over it and report news to him at any time."