On the first day of the second month, all the officials came to court. Ning Wang was relieved of his duties as regent. Prince Jing, Liu Tan, claimed to be ill and did not attend. The court meeting was jointly presided over by Prime Minister Xue and Prime Minister Yin, with the Grand Supervisor supervising from the side. This was a clear and sunny morning, without the slightest sign of an impending rain. However, just as the sun rose from the east and the first rays of the morning sun sprinkled into the palace, the Hall of Supreme Harmony splashed with a scarlet red light.
The Imperial Censor Wang Jiao had committed suicide on the matter of appointing the Crown Prince and died on the spot.
An imperial censor had died, and he had committed suicide at court. This was a major event. The words "appointing the Crown Prince" were pushed to the surface by this wave and could no longer be suppressed.
Wang Jiao's body was carried away. The officials mourned for a moment before exploding. Someone took the lead and the others followed suit. Half of the officials took off their hats and asked for the Crown Prince to be appointed. Emperor Zhao Qing was not present. Who were they acting for? The first to bear the brunt was the powerful Grand Supervisor.
Zhu Muzhao knew that today would not be a good day. His gaze swept across the people in the hall, pausing only on Xue Lingnan and Yin TianHou. He nodded and said in a low voice: "Imperial Censor Wang is loyal, but he was too unyielding. I believe that if His Majesty knew of his ambition, he would be very grieved. If not for the fact that His Majesty is ill, we should have discussed the matter of appointing the Crown Prince long ago. As officials, we should be worried for the Emperor. Why don't you all go back and think carefully before recommending a candidate for the Crown Prince. I will gather the memorials and head to Huazhen Garden as soon as possible to ask His Majesty to make a decision."
At this point, Zhu Muzhao finally relented. The officials all agreed and began to whisper to each other about the conduct of the princes under Emperor Zhao Qing and who was more suitable to be the Crown Prince. They completely forgot that someone had just died here.
Yu Shu stood in a corner and watched all of this coldly, as if she was watching a joke. Xue Lingnan added fuel to the fire, Minister Yin looked on with folded arms, and the Great Tiandao toyed with the civil and military officials in the palm of his hand. No one mentioned Prince Ning who had killed his own brother, no one mentioned Xue Rui whose whereabouts were unknown, and no one mentioned the long delayed Dong Ying Subjugation War. She looked up at the empty dragon throne on the jade steps, and as she breathed, she could smell the decay of this court.
.....
After the court session ended, Yu Shu returned to the Kun Ling Bureau. She first gathered a few of her subordinates and told them what had happened in the morning court session. "During the court session, a censor died during the appointment of the heir apparent. Even though His Majesty was not present, this was the first death remonstrance in the Zhaoqing era. I believe that it will spread soon. Let me say the ugly words first. No matter how noisy it is outside, the people of our Earth Feather Bureau are not allowed to get involved. If anyone dares to form a clique for personal gain for the sake of wealth and riches, not only will they implicate their family and friends in the future, no one will be able to save them when they die. "
She looked at everyone's faces and saw one or two disapproving faces. She sneered and said, "That's all I have to say. Take care of yourselves."
Then she left them behind and turned to enter the eastern pavilion. Wen Shao 'an silently followed and closed the curtains. As usual, he first poured tea for Yu Shu. Then he stood by the window and quietly observed the situation outside for a while. He saw people pulling and pulling and hiding in the opposite room. He turned his head and said to Yu Shu, "I'm afraid that some people will not understand daren's good intentions."
Yu Shu said, "Who cares about them. It's fine as long as my conscience is clear."
Riches and riches were found in danger. She had once been like the people in court today. She had the intention to help the ruler fight for the throne and had been greedy for the merit of her son ascending to the throne. But this kind of greed, after she discovered the abnormality of the entire court, completely disappeared. The Great Tidian did not have a single soldier in his hands, but he controlled the aristocratic families of the world. This was tantamount to controlling the hearts of the people. He was the spokesperson of the Emperor. No one in court could shake his position. Even the Emperor himself had to be restrained by him.
Then what difference did it make who was the Emperor? They were all puppets.
Yu Shu's warning to her subordinates in public could not be hidden from the Great Tidian's ears. He felt that she had smoothed out her edges and corners and was a person with potential. Thus, he sent someone to find her and asked her face to face, "What do you think about today's court meeting?"
Yu Shu did not know what his intention was. She lowered her head and looked at her feet, "This lowly servant has only been in court for a few days. How could I dare to casually discuss the affairs of the country? You think too highly of me."
Zhu Muzhao saw that she was pretending to be ignorant. The corner of his mouth curled up and he said, "The Imperial Censor, Wang Jiao, was the one who proposed to impeach you last year. Do you think that he is the kind of person who would use his life to remonstrate?"
Yu Shu thought for a moment and shook her head. She was quite good at reading people. Wang Jiao was just an idiot who was blinded by fame and fortune. This kind of person usually cherished his life the most. How could he run away to seek death?
"Why don't you use your 'Death Breaking Strange Technique' to see who is behind this?"
She finally understood. Other than her identity as the person who broke her life, the Great Tidian also valued her 'Death Breaking Strange Technique'. No wonder he told her so much inside information. It turned out that she had other uses for him.
Yu Shu secretly sneered, but she had no choice but to pull herself together and feign civility with him. "The Death Breaking Strange Technique consumes a lot of energy. I just performed a divination the day before yesterday. I won't be able to perform it again within thirty days."
In order to prevent the Death Breaking Strange Technique from being coveted by others, she had already made it clear at the Gentlemen's Hibiscus Banquet that the Death Breaking Strange Technique could not be abused. Otherwise, she would incur the wrath of heaven and cause endless disasters.
"Oh?" Zhu Muzhao's eyes flickered. He smiled faintly and said, "I thought you used that to coax people."
Yu Shu calmed her mind and raised her head to meet his eyes. She was not afraid that he would use the Great Insight Technique to investigate her. She said concisely, "That's the truth."
The Seven Stars in Zhuge Tong's eyes were divided into two. One was in Jing Chen's hand, and the other was in Yun Hua's hand. The Great Tidian definitely did not know that she also had a ring made from the Seven Stars on her body. She could deceive his eyes and ears.
Zhu Muzhao did not notice anything strange about her, so he could see that she was not lying. He shook his head in disappointment and said, "That's a pity."
Yu Shu quietly heaved a sigh of relief. She did not want to become a minion of the Great Tidian. "If you do not have any other instructions, I will take my leave first."
Zhu Muzhao shook his head, but he did not intend to let her go so easily. "Regarding the candidate for the Crown Prince, go back and draft a memorial to the throne. Submit it to me in two days."
Yu Shu suddenly felt a headache coming on. She had never written a memorial to the throne before. Wasn't he deliberately making things difficult for her? She did not dare to play dumb with him anymore, so she had no choice but to agree to his request. "I will remember it."
"Go."
Zhu Muzhao waved his hand and let her leave. He turned around and flipped open the document at the top of the jade table. There was a name list written in black and white on it — the Fourth Prince Liu Si, the Seventh Prince Liu Hao, the Eighth Prince Liu Du, the Ninth Prince Liu Tan, the Eleventh Prince Liu Yi, and the Twelfth Prince Liu Chan.
He dipped his brush in cinnabar and first crossed out the names of Liu Si, Liu Hao, and Liu Yi. Liu Si and Liu Yi had been personally banished by Emperor Zhao Qing. The two of them had bad conduct and were not suitable to be the Crown Prince. Ning Wang Liu Hao had originally been the Crown Prince that Emperor Zhao Qing had favored the most. However, he had lost the initiative because of the Tenth Princess's case and could also be removed.
As for the remaining three, Liu Du was stupid, Liu Tan was weak, and Liu Tan looked like the most suitable candidate. However, he had the Xue family behind him and would cause endless trouble in the future. Zhu Muzhao thought it over and over. As he crossed out another name, he muttered to himself, "It is not easy to be the Crown Prince."
*
*
*
After Yu Shu returned, she pondered over how to write the memorial. She was not sure if the Great Tidian had a candidate in mind, so she did not dare to write carelessly. After thinking carefully, if she really had to recommend a Crown Prince, disregarding everything else, just based on the conduct and talent of the princes, there was no doubt that Liu Tan was the most suitable.
However, the one who was the best might not be the one who had the last laugh. Didn't Yun Hua say that when the former emperor was still alive, although the Prince of Xiang and Jinshang came from the same mother, his intelligence and talent were better than his older brother's? In the end, didn't the mediocre Emperor Zhao Qing become the Emperor and the capable Prince of Xiang became an idle prince?
Yu Shu could not think of a clue and was not in a hurry. She simply put it aside and waited for the Great Tidian to ask her about it.
After a night, the next morning, the Yu Residence received an invitation from the Prince of Xiang's Estate. The heir of the Prince of Xiang, Liu Jiong, was pregnant with Lin 'er last month. On the fifth day of this month, there was a banquet at Dingbo Hall.
Yu Shu remembered that Liu Jiong had not married yet, so how did he suddenly have a son? She asked Zhou Hu to go out and inquire about it. Only then did she find out that the newborn was born from one of Liu Jiong's concubines. However, this was the eldest grandson of the Prince of Xiang, so the significance was extraordinary. Usually, it was a scandal for large families to not have a wife and children, so they had to hide it. Only the descendants of the imperial family were born noble. For example, before the incident with the Prince of Ning, didn't he also have a concubine eldest son? For this reason, he held a banquet to announce to everyone.
Originally, it was a very normal happy event, but Yu Shu became suspicious. She always felt that it was a bit unusual for the Prince of Xiang's Estate to hold a banquet at this time. Until now, she still couldn't determine who the mastermind behind Jing Chen's dangerous encounter in the capital and the murder in the Imperial Historian's Library was. Before they parted, Xue Rui had reminded her to pay attention when she returned to the capital. Whoever could monopolize the power was the traitor who obstructed the Great An Disaster from entering the capital and attempted to kill the person who destroyed his life. However, she watched coldly. The person who monopolized the power was actually the Great Tidian. Could it be that he was the one who wanted to usurp the throne? How could that be possible? If the Great Tidian wanted to kill her, he would have already done so. Why would he wait until now?
Yu Shu wasn't smart enough and she had no one to discuss it with, so she could only be careful and cautious. She didn't plan to attend the full moon banquet for the descendants of the Prince of Xiang, so she put away the invitation and asked Zhou Hu to prepare a congratulatory gift. She sent it to the Prince of Xiang's Estate one day in advance and said that she was sick.
On the fifth day of the New Year, she didn't even go out. In the middle of the afternoon, Xin Liu came looking for her. Yu Shu was feeding the birds in the garden and asked someone to bring her over.
"I heard that you are sick. Aren't you fine? Why didn't you go to the wedding banquet today?" Xin Liu was dressed delicately with a flower hairpin on her head and a jade belt on her waist. Her face was powdered and one could tell that she came straight from the banquet at Dingbo Hall.
Yu Shu looked at her and shook her head, "Don't want to go."
Xin Liu 'er rolled her eyes and consoled, "Don't be too sad. Biaoge from the Xue family is such a smart person. Nothing will happen to him." She misunderstood that Yu Shu didn't attend the banquet because of Xue Rui's disappearance.
Yu Shu sighed and hung the birdcage back. She pulled her to sit in the corridor and changed the topic, "I see that your face is rosy and happy. Did something good happen?"
"Nothing is set. Don't talk about me, talk about yourself. I just heard that you are going to marry Academician Jing and was shocked." Xin Liu blinked and wanted to bluff her over. Yu Shu pinched her waist and threatened, "Don't try this. I am asking you. You don't want to say?"
Xin Liu was ticklish and giggled. She dodged her hand and begged for mercy, "I'll say, I'll say, don't scratch me." So she told her that today at Dingbo Hall, Xiang Wang Fei was the matchmaker and told her about the marriage in front of her grandmother.
"Which family's young master?" Yu Shu asked curiously.
Xin Liu shyly said, "You should recognize him. He is the young master of the Thai Heng Chamber of Commerce."
Yu Shu was very surprised. Of course she knew about the Thai Heng Chamber of Commerce. Pei Jing was one of the managers there. The big boss was surnamed Gu and was a fortune teller in the early years of the Da Yan Examination. That young master had also heard of his name. What surprised her was that the Gu family couldn't even be called an aristocratic family. Even if they were rich, they were much worse than the Xin family. How could Xin Ya, that old fox, betroth her precious granddaughter to such a family? There must be another reason.
"You said that Xiang Wang Fei is the matchmaker, what's going on?"
Xin Liu said, "Aiya, I forgot to say that Gu Qi is Xiang Wang's adopted son." That's why Xiang Wang Fei was the matchmaker.
"So that's how it is." Yu Shu instantly thought of other places. Xue Rui once said that the Thai Heng Chamber of Commerce had a backer behind them. It seems like this backer was Xiang Wang. Other than the Thai Heng Chamber of Commerce, the Ministry of Concubines was also under the Xiang Wang fu. Although Xiang Wang had no real power, with such a way to accumulate wealth, would he be willing to be an idle king?
She regained her senses and interrogated Xin Liu again. Only then did she find out that she and Gu Qi had met once at the House of Treasures. After that, they met a few times and for some reason, they fell in love. Gu Qi was preparing to propose and Xin Liu was afraid that her grandfather would not agree to this marriage. Gu Qi, on the other hand, had his own ideas. On one hand, he told Xin Liu not to spread the news and on the other hand, he went to ask Xiang Wang to make the decision.
Xiang Wang Fei was the matchmaker. Although Old Taitai Xin did not agree on the spot, it looked like she could not refuse. The Gu family was nothing but Xiang Wang was not someone to be trifled with. Xin Liu acting on her own like this, the elders would not be happy. When she returned home today, she would definitely be scolded.
"You said you came to visit the sick, I think you just ran to my place to seek refuge." Yu Shu first glared at her and then smiled, "If you don't dare to go back, then stay here with me. Later, I will send someone to your house to inform you. When Xin da ren's anger has subsided, then you can go back. "
"Lotus room," Xin Liu hugged one of her arms with a red face and shook it, "I knew you are the best."
Yu Shu narrowed her eyes and thought that later she would send someone to find Pei Jing and ask in detail what kind of character the young master of the Thai Heng Chamber of Commerce was. If he was a good person, then it was fine. If he was a bad person, then it would not be too late for her to send Xin Liu home.
.....
Xin Ya was so angry that his beard was crooked. Old Taitai Xin Furen could only persuade her: "This marriage is not very compatible but Xiang Wang Fei personally asked, how can I refuse. Think on the bright side, the young master of the Gu family has recognized Xiang Wang as his yifu. With such a backing, it is not bad. If Fei Fei marries into their family, she will not be mistreated in the future."
"What do you know!" Xin Ya slammed the table, "Right now is the crucial time to choose the heir apparent. How can a daughter be randomly married off? Xiang Wang is clearly in the same boat as the Xue family. If you want me to betroth Fei Fei to his adopted son, isn't that the same as telling outsiders that our Xin family supports Prince Jing as the Crown Prince? If in the end, Prince Jing does not succeed, have you thought about what will happen to our family! "
"Then, then tomorrow I will go to Xiang Wang fu to seek an audience with Wang Fei and reject this marriage."
Xin Ya furrowed his brows and nodded. Just as he was about to warn his wife, he heard a report from outside. Xiang Wang fu had sent someone to deliver a basket of red eggs, specifically for Liu Guniang. There was a newborn at home. Using red eggs in return wasn't wrong, but why was it specifically for Xin Liu? Xin Ya felt it was strange and ordered someone to bring the basket of eggs over. He saw that at the top of the basket, there was a large and round red egg with the word "Xi" pasted on it. He picked it up to take a look and felt that the weight wasn't right. After a moment of hesitation, he smashed the egg on the table. The skin of the egg immediately broke, revealing a piece of paper.
Xin Ya opened it in bewilderment. His expression immediately changed and his mouth was agape. It was as if his entire person had left his body.
"Lao ye, what happened to you?" Old Taitai Xin Furen saw that something was wrong and asked worriedly.
"Too late, too late," Xin Ya sighed as he fell back onto the chair. In his hand, he clutched the note and said to his old wife, "Don't be in a hurry to reject Fei Fei's marriage. Let me think about it."
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