History always repeats itself.
Unfortunately, the Crown Prince was immensely proud of himself. He had spent so much money on these two gifts, so they must be the best.
Qi Zhen Emperor choked. His joyful smile faded as he said, "We are gratified by the Crown Prince's sincerity."
"As long as Imperial Father likes it, Son will send it to you."
Before you boast, can't you measure your own abilities first?
If Qi Zhen Emperor really f * cking asks for the moon in the sky, can you really pluck it for him?
If he asks for Qujiang and Huyi, will you really f * cking bring troops to fight them?
Don't be ridiculous!
The Crown Prince bowed arrogantly. He lifted his robe and returned to his seat. As soon as he sat down, Jing Yi stood up.
Unlike the Crown Prince, Jing Yi was much more low-key. This time, he didn't report his gift to the Ministry of Rites. He didn't want the Crown Prince to swap it out like last year.
The brocade box in his hand was very small. He held it in his arms and bowed. "Son knows that Imperial Father has been reading memorials for the past few days, so I specially went to Mount Song to find a piece of thousand-year-old beech wood. I personally ground it to make a beech pillow."
He opened the box after he finished speaking. Inside was an exquisite handmade beech pillow.
Compared to the Crown Prince's gift, Jing Yi's was much more thoughtful.
Qi Zhen Emperor nodded and smiled sincerely. "We have been reading memorials every day these past few days. We are truly exhausted. Jing Yi's gift is exactly what we need. Very good."
The eunuch delivered the gift, and Jing Yi thanked him.
Concubine Xiao naturally had to flatter her son. She said with a distressed expression, "Your Majesty, for this gift, Yi 'er searched for a long time in Mount Song. He even polished the beech wood for several days, all for the sake of letting Your Majesty sleep in peace."
"Yes, Jing Yi has good intentions. We understand."
Jing Yi said, "This is what Son should do."
He returned to his seat after he finished speaking.
At this moment, Ji Yunshu curiously leaned towards Jing Rong and whispered, "It's your turn."
"There's no rush. There's still Prince Xian."
His gaze fell on Jing Xian, who was not far away.
Jing Xian was not a conspicuous person. He was supported by a servant and presented a string of the most common spiritual beads.
Qi Zhen Emperor didn't even spare him a glance. He waved his hand and told him to sit back down.
No one was surprised. Jing Xian was sickly and inconspicuous, so it was natural that the emperor did not like him.
Finally —
Jing Rong finally arrived.
He lifted his robe and walked to the banquet. He cupped his hands and said a few words of blessing before ordering people to bring his gifts up.
That gift was even bigger than the Crown Prince's gift. It was two meters tall.
Ji Yunshu's eyes widened. What kind of gift did this bastard give her?
A few eunuchs were sweating profusely as they tore off a piece of red cloth that was shining on it. Immediately, everyone was shocked. That piece of cloth was not inlaid with gold, silver, or jade, nor was it exquisitely carved. Instead, it was a Buddha statue carved from stone.
That's right, it was a Buddha statue!
Someone rubbed his eyes and looked again. It was still a Buddha statue, so he was immediately blinded.
In the past, Prince Rong's gifts were always low-key and not exaggerated. Logically speaking, he should be doing well this year, so why did he send such an eye-catching gift?
The Crown Prince and Jing Yi secretly laughed. Even Concubine Xiao covered her mouth with a handkerchief and laughed.
Qi Zhen's hands trembled as he pointed at the Buddha statue and asked, "Jing Rong, this is …" What?
Jing Rong replied, "Imperial Father, this is a Buddha statue."
"We know it is a Buddha statue, but why did you give it …" He paused again.
"Although this Buddha statue does not have gold or jade clothing, this son thought that gold and silver can melt, jade can be crushed, but stone is not. This son carved this Buddha statue in the hope that Imperial Father will be like this Buddha statue, forever staying in our Great Lin Dynasty."
Ji Yunshu gave him full marks for this explanation.
However, a stone was a stone. No matter how good his explanation was, Qi Zhen was still not satisfied.
At this time, Ji Yunshu saw Old General Li leave his seat. Her heart was at work, but she also quietly left her seat and followed him.
Old General Li walked further and further away until he reached a small tower in the palace. Standing there, he could overlook everything in Chengqing Hall.
There, the lights were brightly lit, and the whole world was celebrating with songs and dances.
Old General Li stroked his white beard and said, "Come out."
Ji Yunshu walked out from the side and walked to his side. She followed his gaze and looked at the orange-red area illuminated by the lanterns.
After a while, Old General Li asked, "In Teacher Ji's opinion, who is the most suitable person to be the Emperor?"
Ji Yunshu was slightly startled by his sudden question. She glanced sideways at him.
Old General Li's gaze was focused in front of him. He asked again, "Can the current Emperor be called an emperor?"
Ah!
"Why does Old General Li ask this?"
"Teacher Ji only needs to answer me."
Ji Yunshu did not understand what he meant, but she thought about it for a moment before replying seriously, "Although Qi Zhen Emperor is not a good emperor – he beheaded internal officials, alienated close relatives, established private laws, and built an internal army. However, in the past twenty years, he has pacified the civil strife, expelled the barbarians, and sent troops to conquer Huyi and Qujiang. Under his rule, the Great Lin Dynasty has flourished, and the people have been living a good life.
As he spoke, Old General Li nodded his head slightly, as if he agreed with what she said.
He asked with a smile, "What if, for the sake of his own authority, an emperor did not hesitate to eliminate the weeds at the roots and kill the innocent?"
"Hmm?"
"Teacher Ji, do you know how the late emperor ascended the throne?"
Ji Yunshu shook her head.
Old General Li was silent for a long time before he slowly said, "Before the late emperor ascended the throne, he was just a sickly person. His brother, Marquis Chao, was a rare candidate for the throne. After the late emperor ascended the throne, he executed Marquis Chao on the charge of treason in order to strengthen his position."
Ji Yunshu understood what he meant.
"So, Old General Li is saying that the fire at the Imperial Duke's residence was an order from the Emperor. That is why you deliberately mentioned the matter of Prince Ning and the Eighth Prince to me."
Old General Li did not respond to her words. Instead, he sighed, "History will always repeat itself."
In other words, the Imperial Duke's death was Qi Zhen Emperor emulating the late emperor!
Ji Yunshu said, "Old General Li, everything is just your conjecture. Even if you killed the emperor with a lantern, so what? There will still be another emperor ascending the throne! "
"What if there isn't?"
"What do you mean?"
Old General Li looked at Chengqing Hall, the corners of his mouth gradually curling up.
Ji Yunshu suddenly realized something. Her nose wrinkled slightly, and she softly muttered, "Rust? The smell of rust. "
She was shocked!
Bang!
There was a loud bang, and a burst of fire burst out.
Not far from Chengqing Hall, there was a continuous explosion. The light became brighter and brighter, making Ji Yunshu's widened eyes look especially fiery red.
The thin iron wire connected to the lantern ignited like gunpowder, and the hanging lantern fell continuously …
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