The quiet street reverberated with the sound of boots stepping on the snow. It sounded monotonous, as if someone was hitting the old bell in the palace with his palm. It was painful to hear the low hum. The crutch under Ning Que's armpit fell rhythmically on the snow with his footsteps, but did not make any sound.
After hearing what Chao Xiaoshu said, he was silent for a long time. Then he said, "The Academy does not meddle in politics. It is up to the Empress to decide whether to kill her or not."
If the Academy did not meddle in politics, the Tang Empire would have perished months ago. The Academy did not meddle in politics, so the second statement was also empty talk.
Chao Xiaoshu said, "Should I kill Hua Shanyue?"
Ning Que said, "I want to."
Chao Xiaoshu said, "The Hua family is a prominent family in Hebei. They are different from the other families in Qinghe County. They have always been loyal to the Tang Empire and have a strong foundation in the army and the court. Especially the five camps in Gushan Commandery, they have always been managed by them. In fact, they are still doing so now."
Ning Que said, "Are you telling me all this to tell me that Hua Shanyue is not easy to kill?"
Chao Xiaoshu said, "You know this too. Otherwise, you would have done it even if I had stopped you."
Ning Que said, "I am thinking, if I want to kill Hua Shanyue, should I kill the entire Hua family?"
"Although this answer is a little cruel, it is not unexpected."
Chao Xiaoshu said, "But there are so many people in the court that you cannot kill. You cannot kill all the officials who support Li Yu, because that would be equivalent to the Tang Empire's destruction. However, once the war subsides, these people will definitely worry that the Empress or the Academy will purge them. So the conflict will continue. Even if Hua Shanyue did not die tonight, similar things will happen in the future. "
Ning Que said, "I will find a suitable way to deal with it."
The two did not continue discussing this matter. After all, the matter or the way to deal with it had an indelible sense of gloom. It was not too harmonious with the snow-white clean street and the hot bloodedness of these days.
Chao Xiaoshu did not like it, and Ning Que did not want to talk about it at this moment. The two walked in silence, and it did not take long before they arrived at the Second Street of Spring Breeze Pavilion in the Eastern City.
Walking into the Chao Mansion, Ning Que greeted Old Master Chao and was then pulled to the side yard by Shangguan Yangyu. Looking at the wretched face of the governor, he slightly raised his eyebrows and said, "Why did they react so quickly?"
Shangguan Yangyu stroked his goatee. He looked calm, but his hands were shaking so hard that he almost pulled out his beard. He said, "It's not easy for us to have peace for two days. If we don't handle this well, there will be big trouble."
"What should we do?" Ning Que looked at him and asked.
Shangguan Yangyu panicked under his gaze and said, "If you say it's good, then it's good."
Ning Que smiled and said, "Who found you?"
Shangguan Yangyu said, "Neither the Grand Secretary nor the ministers dare to intervene in this matter. Who else could it be? The Chancellor of the Supreme Court is waiting at my house right now. "
Through the prefectural magistrate's explanation, Ning Que knew that the Chancellor of the Supreme Judiciary was related to the Hua family by marriage. He thought about it and asked, "What does the Empress mean?"
Shangguan Yangyu said, "The Empress asked Mr. Thirteen to handle this matter."
Then he looked around to make sure that no one was spying on them. He said in a low voice, "The young and old of the Hua family are kneeling in front of the palace gate. It seems that they will run until tomorrow morning."
"What's the point of kneeling now?" Ning Que said.
He understood the meaning of the imperial court. Hua Shanyue's behavior was obviously not approved by the family. At this moment, everyone wanted to keep calm and united.
The only place that was qualified to handle this matter and calm the storm was the Academy.
In other words, it was him.
Ning Que thought of the Northern Battlefront Army officers and soldiers who ambushed the Empress' caravan in the Northern Military Camp. He said, "Send the blood cloaks involved to General Xu Chi. Tell him that I sent them there. Do it according to the previous rule. Ten heads will atone for their crimes. Go back and tell the Chancellor of the Supreme Judiciary that if the war stops, let the Hua family be ready to hand over the military power."
"Understood."
Shangguan Yangyu was thrown out by the Empress to be the middleman, but he did not want to offend the Princess's faction too much. After hearing Ning Que's suggestion, he finally felt relieved and asked, "What about Hua Shanyue?"
Ning Que said, "Throw him over as well."
Shangguan Yangyu was finally completely relieved. He was most worried that Ning Que would insist on killing Hua Shanyue. After all, even the Empress thought that Hua Shanyue could not die at this time.
Shangguan Yangyu left the Chao Mansion. Ning Que stood alone in the side courtyard and gently stroked the rough surface of his crutch. Thinking about what happened tonight, he felt that something was wrong.
A cough sounded from behind the wintersweet bushes. Old Master Chao walked out.
Ning Que was ready to help him.
Old Master Chao waved his hand and said, "You are a dead cripple now. You still want to help me?"
Ning Que smiled and suddenly asked, "Second Uncle, what do you think of this matter?"
Old Master Chao said, "Why do you ask an old man like me for important matters in the imperial court?"
Ning Que said, "Even the Abbey Dean has to ask you, let alone me."
Old Master Chao said, "Tell me."
Ning Que said, "I always feel that it is not right to handle it this way."
Old Master Chao said, "Because you are retreating."
Ning Que said thoughtfully, "Yes, I am not used to retreating in the face of worldly affairs."
Old Master Chao looked at him and said, "If you want to ask about Heaven's Way, you should not care about worldly affairs."
Ning Que asked, "So what if worldly affairs always bother you?"
Old Master Chao said, "What did you do when the Abbey Dean was in front of you?"
…
…
There were many braziers in the parlor of the Chao Mansion. It was as warm as spring.
The disciples of the Fish-dragon Gang had suffered heavy casualties in the past few days. The atmosphere in the gang was naturally gloomy. Today, Chao Xiaoshu and Liu V had returned. Everyone gathered at the Chao Mansion but did not drink too much.
Ning Que and Qi IV finished talking about the renovation of the house by the Yanming Lake and glanced at the other side of the table.
Chen Liu was drinking hot tea. He did not like to drink because he thought that alcohol was not good for thinking.
Ning Que said that he drank too much soup and went out of the parlor to relieve himself.
Not long after, Chen Liu also came out.
"You are familiar with the military. How is your relationship with the Northern Army?"
Ning Que looked at Chen Liu and asked.
The bright yellow light shone through the window paper and fell on Chen Liu, leaving a large shadow on his face.
After the night at Spring Breeze Pavilion, the relationship between the Fish-dragon Gang and the military was very close. Chen Liu knew that he could not hide anything in this regard, so he said softly, "We can talk."
Ning Que said, "Tell them that I want Hua Shanyue dead."
Chen Liu was silent for a long time and then nodded.
His nodding movement was very small. If Ning Que had not stared at him, he would not have noticed it.
The two returned to the parlor.
Chao Xiaoshu looked at the two and said, "Eat quickly, the meat is almost rotten."
…
…
(There is something wrong with my brain today. I hope it will be better tomorrow. Two chapters tomorrow.) (To be continued. If you like this work, please come to Qidian.Com to vote for me. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
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