Since returning to the capital, Li Yi had been staying with the Li family and had not returned to the Gyeong Of Silla Estate.
Today, the main gate of the Gyeong Of Silla Estate was opened for the first time in several years.
In front of the gate, there was an endless stream of carriages and sedan chairs. Most people put down their gifts and left in a hurry without even stepping through the gate.
In the past few years, the Gyeong Of Silla Estate had only left a few servants to clean the courtyard. This time, the officials and nobles of the capital had gathered, and the servants in the estate were somewhat overwhelmed.
Shouning simply transferred some of the maids and servants from her princess residence over just to help them carry the gifts.
Of course, not everyone put down their gifts and passed through the gate without entering.
"Where's Zuimo and Xiaomu?" This was the first thing Ceng Shichun said after seeing Li Yi.
Li Yi shook his head and said, "They're in Ruyi City. They didn't come back this time."
Seeing the anticipation and excitement on Ceng Shichun's face disappear in an instant, Li Yi glanced at Li Yi and said indifferently, "You're back."
A mere Minister of Revenue dared to speak to him like this. After not seeing each other for a few years, Lord Ceng had become a lot more arrogant.
However, for the sake of Zuimo and Xiaomu, Li Yi did not argue with him for his lack of manners for the time being.
Liu Dayou walked over quickly with an excited expression on his face and said, "Your Highness, you're back …"
Lord Liu's attitude was much better than his predecessor's by many times.
"It's been two months since Yizhong left the capital to investigate the unjust cases. I'm afraid he won't be back in a short time." Liu Dayou looked at Li Yi and said with some regret, "He must be very happy to know that Your Highness has returned to the capital."
Hearing Liu Yizhong's name, Ceng Shichun looked at him and couldn't help but say, "Your Anxi County is really full of talents."
Old Zeng was right. Liu Dayou had originally been the magistrate of Anxi County. In less than ten years, he had climbed to the position of the capital governor. He had reached the pinnacle of being a local official.
As for Liu Yiyi, he had been promoted from an insignificant constable to the current Minister of Justice. His position was the same as Ceng Shichun's. He could be called a legend in the bureaucracy.
The former magistrate of Qing 'an, Dong Wenyun, was now the minister of the right.
The former Anxi County Lieutenant was now a king.
No one would believe that there were so many big shots in a small county.
The three of them sat in the courtyard. Li Yi ordered the kitchen to prepare a few dishes and a pot of wine.
Liu Dayou couldn't let go of him because of his identity. Ceng Shichun ignored him because he didn't see Zui Mo.
After a few glasses of wine, they all started to talk.
"Your Highness …" Liu Dayou picked up a mouthful of food and said, "Back in Qing 'an Prefecture, I knew that Your Highness was not an ordinary person. The small Anxi County couldn't trap you …"
"The luckiest thing that happened to me in my life was to be the magistrate of Anxi County." He chuckled. "That's what I thought too. After being the capital governor and the Minister of Justice for so long, I actually miss the days back in Anxi County …"
Liu Dayou didn't have a high tolerance for alcohol. Even though it wasn't hard liquor, he was soon drunk. He leaned on the table and muttered to himself.
Ceng Shichun drank unhurriedly. After Liu Dayou was drunk, he took another sip of wine and said slowly, "Back then, big brother was framed. In order to protect the Zeng family, he took all the blame. His family was destroyed. At that time, my official rank was too low, and I could only watch …"
"Later, I climbed to the position of Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Revenue and repeated what that person had done to Big Brother. Later, I let him die on the road of exile …"
"Revenge was taken, but the Zeng family was no longer the Zeng family. Later, when Zuimo came to the capital, she didn't want to acknowledge me as her second uncle. She liked me so much when she was young …" Ceng Shichun took a big gulp of wine and smiled. "I still have to thank you for this, Your Highness Gyeong Of Silla …"
He picked up the wine pot and drank to his heart's content. Then, he stood up and patted his shoulder. "Don't let Zuimo be wronged — I beg of you."
Ceng Shichun walked away reeking of wine. Li Yi knew that he wasn't drunk.
In this world, there were always some people with special plots.
Princesses and empresses were considered normal.
There were also sister-con, sister-con, daughter-con, and niece-con. Some of these people had dirty thoughts, and some were pure. They really protected and loved each other from the bottom of their hearts.
Chang De walked out of the backyard. His breathing was a little chaotic.
This wasn't common for a Grandmaster like him.
Unless another Grandmaster forced his breathing to be chaotic.
MIngzhu, on the other hand, appeared calm and composed. A chrysanthemum-like smile bloomed on Chang De's old face. He bowed and said, "This old servant is no longer a match for Your Highness …"
Li Yi felt a little sad.
Even MIngzhu had broken through. When would his opportunity to become a Grandmaster come?
On second thought, even if he broke through, he wouldn't be able to defeat Chang, Xu, or even MIngzhu and Ruyi. What was the point of such a breakthrough?
Li Duan held Xiao Rui's hand and ran out from the backyard. The two of them had been separated for several years, but these days, they were inseparable.
When he ran past Lao Chang, he halted, bowed, and said, "Master."
Xiao Rui also looked at MIngzhu. "Auntie!"
She didn't know who Chang De was, so she didn't know how to greet him. She just called him master like Li Duan.
Li Duan looked at MIngzhu and hesitated for a moment before saying, "Auntie."
Before Li Yi could correct him, he ran outside with Xiao Rui.
"The Zhao Kingdom has sent an ambassador." MIngzhu sat beside him and said, "In the past few months, Zhao Yi personally led the army and broke through the cities of the Zhao Kingdom with irresistible force. Now, half of the Zhao Kingdom has fallen into the hands of the Qi Kingdom."
Li Yi thought about it and asked, "The Zhao Kingdom wants to borrow troops?"
MIngzhu nodded and said, "What the courtiers mean is that although we have old grudges with the Zhao Kingdom, if the Qi Kingdom conquers the Zhao Kingdom, it will become a greater threat to us. In order to prevent the Qi Kingdom from growing stronger, we should send troops."
Li Yi shook his head and said, "I'm afraid it's too late."
Sending troops was not something that could be done on a whim. Not only did they have to mobilize the troops, they also had to prepare rations and pay for the troops. In addition to the long journey, by the time the troops guarding the borders received these orders, it would already be too late.
This time, it could be said that Zhao Yi had made up his mind to go crazy. He was the kind of person who would kill anything that stood in his way. His expansion would eventually become a serious problem for the Wu Kingdom and the Jing Kingdom. Neither kingdom would sit by and do nothing. It was because he knew this that he sent troops so quickly and wanted to conquer the Zhao Kingdom in the shortest time possible.
When the Zhao Kingdom was completely conquered by the Qi Kingdom, it would not be easy to touch them.
MIngzhu nodded and said, "Even if it's too late, we have to be prepared. Once the Qi Kingdom grows stronger, they will eventually point their spear at us …"
Li Yi shook his head and said, "Zhao Yi is a smart man. Without Heaven's Punishment and cannons, he will not send troops to the Jing Kingdom or the Wu Kingdom …"
The emergence of gunpowder and cannons had made the Jing Kingdom and the Wu Kingdom look like they had turned on a cheat code. In terms of military strength, they had rapidly advanced to the forefront of the world. Coupled with suitable tactics, they were almost invincible.
Zhao Yi knew this very well. Without Heaven's Punishment, he would not dare to do so …
The two of them were discussing this matter in the courtyard. Outside the courtyard, Li Duan and Little Rui were sitting on the swing. Suddenly, he turned his head to look at her and asked, "Little Rui, will you marry me in the future?"
"Of course!" The little girl turned to look at him and said matter-of-factly, "We've agreed. Are you going back on your word?"
"No, no …" Li Duan hurriedly shook his head and said, "However, if you marry me in the future, you can't call that aunt 'aunt' anymore …"
"Why not?" The little girl blinked and looked at him curiously. "What else can I call you if not aunt?"
"Call me mother …"
Li Duan thought for a moment and said, "Also, the Little Auntie who gave you the candy just now, you can't call her Little Auntie. You have to call her Lil 'Miss like me …"
…
The affairs of the Zhao Kingdom were attended by countless important officials in the imperial court. A few days before the New Year, Li Yi went out to visit a few old generals and gave them the gifts he had received a few days ago.
Then came the New Year.
On the third day of the first lunar month in the fifth year of Jingping, something big happened in the capital city.
Even for the entire Jing Kingdom, this was a major event.
On this day, the Empress gave birth to a baby boy. Both mother and child were safe.
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