Therefore, he added: "If the empress feels that something is wrong, then just pretend that I have never been here... This matter is indeed because of my abruptness."
After saying that, he stood up and gave a long salute.
Looking at the boy standing there with his head lowered and a look of regret and uneasiness on his face, the Queen smiled after a moment.
"Your Highness is a good boy, I have always known that."
After saying that, he told Aunt Jiang: "Go and prepare paper and pen."
The prince raised his head and looked at the queen with bright eyes.
"Thank you, ma'am!"
"But it cannot be written by Your Highness. I can just find someone trustworthy to write it for me."
"Yes, your Majesty is thoughtful."
…
The secret letter was sent to the Zhenguo Duke's Mansion together with the Queen's post asking Xu Mingyi to come to the palace tomorrow to speak.
Xu Mingyi opened the unsigned secret letter and went to find his grandfather.
Because he was afraid that his guesses were too subjective and not rigorous enough, the prince's letter clearly stated the conversation between Emperor Qingming and Zhan Yunzhu——
After the Duke of Zhen saw it, he sneered heavily.
really.
Even if it was confirmed that the imperial edict was not in his hands, the emperor's idea of taking away his military power would not change at all.
"How does grandfather plan to deal with this temptation?" Xu Mingyi asked seriously in a low voice.
Duke Zhen Guo held the letter in his hand and his eyes were darker than the night: "I don't care whether he tests or not, there can be no changes to what has been decided."
Regardless of the outcome of this temptation, there is no way that the Dog Emperor would let the Xu family go - can it still be called a temptation when both ends are dead ends? It is clear that he wants to ask how he plans to die.
Looking at the old man's resolute face, Xu Mingyi made up his mind.
That's right, what has been decided long ago, all that needs to be done now is that the soldiers will come to cover up the water and the earth.
But now that we have reached this point, we must seriously think about our future retreat...
Thinking of King Yan who was about to enter the capital in two or three days, Xu Mingyi fell into thinking.
…
After the morning court session the next day, Emperor Qingming left Zhen Guo Gong and Xia Tingzhen alone to go to the imperial study room to discuss matters.
"How are you doing, Duke?"
On the way to the Imperial Study Room, Xia Tingzhen said some pleasantries.
"I'm very fine, but it's Xia Shoufu who hasn't gone to court for half a month."
Xia Tingzhen replied calmly: "More than half a month."
I suddenly fell ill a few days ago, and it was only in the past few days that I got better.
"If Xia Shoufu doesn't come again, the people in this court will really be overshadowed by Minister Ji." The Duke of Zhenguo said calmly.
Xia Tingzhen looked like she was smiling but not smiling.
As expected of the Duke of Zhenguo, his methods of stimulating generals are much more direct and simple than ordinary people.
But there are some things that you know are irritating, but you still can't be calm.
Because what the other party said is the truth——
Ji Xiu is now so important to the emperor that everyone sees it...
And he encountered a series of evil debts made by a pair of evil children. Although his official position seemed to be unshakable, some things he really lost because of this were not visible on the surface.
In comparison, Ji Xiu can now be said to be very proud of himself.
First, a sorcerer and national master was placed in the Xuanqing Palace——
Nowadays, there is another so-called Zhongshushe who risked his life to save the emperor and is always by the emperor's side.
And this person from Zhongshushe was actually the son of Zhanqian who had been executed...
The son of a sinner, his parents died one after another. The emperor just used the fact that his father was a sinner to avoid having to observe the full period of filial piety for his parents, and directly sent him to the Zhongshu Province...
Is this Ji Xiu’s ability?
Xia Tingzhen sneered in her heart.
Having been in the same dynasty for many years, he knew very well that Ji Xiu had some abilities.
The one who really has the means is this young man named Zhan Yunzhu... and his most brilliant method is probably to figure out the Holy Will.
The Duke of Zhen Guo walked forward calmly with his hands behind his back.
The person he wants to get rid of, Xia Tingzhen is probably more anxious to get rid of than him -
The successive misfortunes may make the previously calm and composed chief minister lose some of his patience - being so angry that he falls ill is a good start, isn't it?
Next, let’s see who can bite whom.
The royal study room arrived soon.
"My dear friends, there is no need to be polite."
After the Long case, Emperor Qingming put down the memorial in his hand and said, "Let's all sit down and talk."
Two chairs, one on the left and one on the right, have been prepared, and Zhen Guogong and Xia Tingzhen took their seats one after another.
The door of the royal study room was closed by the eunuch from the outside. There were only three eunuchs left in the palace, including Li Ji.
Xia Tingzhen noticed something unusual, but her face remained calm.
"I wonder if you two dear friends have heard about the Li tribe in the east harassing our border?"
Xia Tingzhen lowered her eyes and said: "I have been recuperating at home recently, and the news is not available, but I have never heard of it -"
Emperor Qingming then looked at Duke Zhen Guo.
The Duke of Zhen Guo said calmly: "I have heard a little bit about this matter."
Emperor Qingming tapped his right index finger twice on the dragon table and said: "The Li people are so arrogant that they have harmed the lives of our people in Daqing. I intend to send troops to conquer——"
"Send troops to conquer?"
"That's right." Emperor Qingming looked at Duke Zhen: "Does the Duke think it shouldn't be done?"
"I believe that before a war, there is no question of whether it should be done or not, but it is necessary to adjust measures according to the current conditions." Zhenguo Zhengzheng said: "Border frictions happen from time to time, and Daqing has been experiencing constant wars in recent years. It is the time when we need to recuperate and recuperate.
In my opinion, we only need to strengthen the border defense force at the moment, and when the time is relatively suitable in the future, we can seize the Li territory in one fell swoop——"
Although he was a military commander, he did not advocate war as the solution to everything.
He never fights an unprepared battle, nor does he fight an unnecessary battle.
In his opinion, the conquest of the Li people this time would do more harm than good.
"What else?" Emperor Qingming's expression showed no joy or anger.
"In addition, the Queen Mother's birthday is approaching. Since she is celebrating her birthday this year, it will be a happy event for the whole world - I think it is not appropriate to start a war at this time, so as not to destabilize the people."
Although he had his own agenda when he said these words, he also spoke the truth.
But Emperor Qingming obviously didn't think so.
"I feel that the people from the Li clan are making trouble at this time just to ruin the birthday of our Queen Mother." Emperor Qingming's voice was slow but unmistakable: "If I don't give them some color, where is the majesty of this great country?
?And this is also damaging to the queen mother’s dignity. I can’t ruin her happiness at this time——”
The Duke of Zhen fell silent upon hearing this.
These remarks may sound quite passionate, but in reality they are just a play-acting game, nothing more.
He even couldn't tell for a moment whether the emperor really wanted to go to war to save face, or whether he simply wanted to use this war to seize the troops in his hands to achieve his own goal of centralizing power——
If it's the latter, then this emperor really can't be had.
There is nothing wrong with seeking power, but if you want to use the overall stability of the world as a means, and you can't tell which is more important -
