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Chapter 33 You fight, I snatch
The scroll of the Ministry of War was suppressed for no other reason than the empty state of the treasury. The people of the Ministry of War thrown countless of cups. Rain of curses fell about the crafty official who would harm the country. They also said that Great Liang would sooner or later be ruined by these people of Department of Supervision.
However, what did these had to do with Lord Qiansui? At this moment our Jui Qiansui was standing in front of many chests and looked at the clothing material from the tribute of the south.
The people of the south were skillful and good at weaving and embroidery. The woven brocade was bright in color and the pattern was beautiful. The texture was also delicate like a cicada’s wing. It could also keep warmth like jade. Wearing it would be like wearing another skin of oneself. There wouldn’t be discomfort at all. It would be able to keep one warm in the winter and cool in the summer.
As for the patterns, they were even more beautiful. There were lifelike colorful butterflies and flowers. There were also gorgeous birds facing the phoenix and there were a pair of noble and majestic dragons made from pearls. There were many kinds. Lin Qing’s face showed a satisfied smile.
The eunuch in charge stood by his side and said fawningly, “Lord Qiansui, these were presented by the people of Jiangnan a few days ago. They arrived not long ago. The Department of Internal Affairs hadn’t checked them yet. Several consorts liked them. Do you want to select a few batches first?”
“Oh, it seemed that these clothes are truly not bad. Xiao Dezi, I also feel that they are pretty good. If the consorts want them, then send it first to them. However, you have to grasp it to be well within the norms. Just keep the account privately lest it would be bad if one day His Majesty wanted some materials he liked or he got some idea,” Lin Qing said idly.
“This servant will keep this reminder,” The eunuch in charge named Xiao Dezi said respectfully.
“I think that the chest of water-cloud satin is also very good,” Lin Qing said casually.
Xiao Dezi’s heart skipped a beat. His face was immediately full of smiles, “It’s good that Lord Qiansui likes it. This servant would immediately send this water-cloud satin to Qiansui’s residence.”
Lin Qing swept once over him. Xiao Dezi’s heart trembled and wondered whether he had guessed wrong. Aiya, Lord Qiansui rarely returns to his residence. How could he had thought about sending it there?! He might as well send it to the treasury of the Department of Supervision!
Unexpectedly, Lin Qing glanced at him faintly and said, “You are one who knows how to handle things.”
Oh, Lord Qiansui smiled. Xiao Dezi felt very sweet in his heart. He didn’t expect that it was what Lord Qiansui wanted!
Lin Qing leisurely walked out with a group of people. Only now did Xiao Dezi remember that Lord Qiansui had never bothered with these things, not to mention coming here in person. What happened today?
Lin Qing who was walking on the steps of the palace promenade looked at the flowers blooming outside of the promenade and asked Lin Jiu who was following him leisurely, “Little Jiu, all humans like beautiful things, right?”
Lin Jiu replied, “Godfather is right. Lin Jiu had never seen anyone who doesn’t like beautiful things no matter if it was a man or a woman.”
Lin Qing’s eyes seemed to be a bit cold at this time, “Although beautiful things are liked, but they will eventually be spurned. People’s hearts are fickle. How can we hold onto them forever?”
Lin Jiu didn’t understand what he heard. Was godfather asking him? Or asking himself?
Lin Qing didn’t think that he would get an answer from Lin Jiu and said, “Let the embroidery lady who specially make clothes for me at Qiansui’s residence make a few sets of clothes with the water-cloud satin and sent it to Osmunda Yard, do you understand?” Osmunda Yard was Zhao Zimu’s small courtyard.
“Yes,” Lin Jiu answered respectfully and thought at the same time, it seems that this beauty Zhao shouldn’t be underestimated. She was actually able to get godfather’s liking.
—
At this time, in the Hall of Supreme Harmony where the empress dowager stayed, the empress dowager pulled the emperor’s hand and said, “Son, aijia’s state of mind hasn’t been peaceful recently and kept thinking about your emperor father when he was still alive. Your emperor father worried about the country and people and worked hard for his whole life for the people of Great Liang. However, he left too soon. Aijia misses him very much. Presumably your emperor father is also missing me. That was why he sent aijia dreams every day. So, aijia wants to go to Spiritual Temple to light an incense for your emperor father. How about you go with aijia? Presumably, your emperor father also misses you. It is also to pray for your emperor father.”
Aijia: lonely house. I, used by the empress dowager.“It is this son who is not filial.” Emperor Jinghui said remorseful, “The day after tomorrow, this son will let the children and grandchildren also go, so, emperor father can also see his descendants.”
The eyes of emperor Jinghui was very sincere which made the empress dowager very pleased. Although, her son government of the court wasn’t as good as his emperor father, but he wasn’t a foolish monarch. It was just that he was credulous and was easily led astray by people. It would be better if he could distinguish between the good and bad. The empress dowager thought to herself.
Emperor Jinghui ruled the nation for seventeen years. Although, he had no major achievements, but he also didn’t cause a great hardship. The country was stable. Although, the struggle between the opposition parties were fierce, but at least on the surface, the country was peaceful and prosperous.
—
In the Eastern Palace of the crown prince, the crown prince, his advisors, the imperial tutor and the nation’s maternal uncle had gathered together. One of them said to Situ Yaohua, “Your highness the crown prince, now third prince had gotten the aide of Lin Qing that castrated person. What would our next step be?”
The nation’s maternal uncle is the brother of the empress
Situ Yaohua glanced once at prime minister Lin and wanted to hear his suggestion.
Prime minister Lin, Lin Xian, is Situ Yaohua’s maternal uncle. He had been immersed in the court politics for many years. He was rigorous in schemes, had deep foresight and had a prestige in the court. Many civilian court officials regarded him as the head. At this time, many people also looked at prime minister Lin.
Prime minister Lin was fifty-year-old and was from the generation of the former emperor. His words had vision and were the most valuable.
Prime minister Lin took a sip of the tea on the table. Then, he put the teacup down without rushing, stroked his beard and said, “Your Highness the crown prince doesn’t have to worry. You are his majesty’s legitimate son and the first-born of the empress. Moreover, you are the Eastern Palace’s crown prince and is blessed by the heaven. As long as you don’t commit grave sins, others wouldn’t be able to cause storms.” Prime minister Lin was confident.
“Then, should we not care about them?” An advisor of the crown prince asked. He felt that prime minister Lin took the matter too simply. He was a bit worried.
“No one can shake the position of His Highness the crown prince. As long as His Highness the crown prince could remain stably in the Eastern Palace, no one would be able to create big storms. However, we still have to guard against some hidden arrows and not let us be stabbed by others. As long as His Highness the crown prince demonstrates his abilities and with his identity, who would be unreconciled at the court? Also, if the enemy doesn’t take action, we don’t take action. If the enemy takes action, then we must grasp their loophole and weaken their power. The other thing is…” Prime minister Lin kept the listeners in suspense, smiled and swept over everyone present.
Situ Yaohua knew that this uncle of his had always been capable. At this time, he couldn’t help but sad curiously, “Uncle, please speak.”
The nation’s maternal uncle smiled. “Even if we don’t take action against third prince, other people will,” Prime minister Lin said affirmatively.
Situ Yaohua was a bit puzzled, “Is uncle talking about second little brother?”
Prime minister smiled and nodded. Situ Yaohua said puzzled, “Although, second little brother’s power is not weak, but he had always been good at disguising and wouldn’t take action easily. How can uncle be sure that he will take action?”
Everyone was also puzzled about this. The imperial tutor who hasn’t spoken until now said, “Your Highness the crown prince, you have to know how terrible the influence power has on people. After the third prince gets power, the one he will deal first with will not be you but second prince who is weaker than him in comparison. How can second prince watch the power in his hand weaken bit by bit? When people are forced to a wall, they can do everything.”
Everyone nodded in understanding and were a bit excited at the same time. What could be more pleasing than watching your enemies fight each other to death and in the end, you are the ones who benefited?
“Moreover,” Everyone’s attention had been pulled back by the nation’s maternal uncle again. A bright light flashed in those shrewd and deep eyes of the nation’s maternal uncle. He said, “Perhaps, we will have unexpected gains.”
Everyone began to be immersed in their own thoughts. Situ Yaohua’s eyes suddenly brightened and there was even a glimmer of joy in his eyes.
The nation’s maternal uncle and the imperial tutor exchanged a glance with smiles in their eyes. Although, His Highness the crown was a bit young, but he understood with just a reminder. He also planned in a calm a matter and already have the demeanor of a future good emperor. This made them very happy and gratified.
—
Jiu Qiansui’s residence, at Zhao Zimu’s small courtyard.
“Miss, miss?” Ling Er yelled a few times. The person on the bed didn’t move. She couldn’t help but feel a bit worried.
A few days ago, Ling Er felt that something was wrong with her miss. Her miss seemed to have gotten the sleeping beauty syndrome again. Ling Er had encountered such situation before. Sometimes, her miss would be lying in bed for a certain period of the year. Her miss said that it is the sleeping beauty syndrome and that she always wanted to sleep. When her miss lay down on a bed, she could sleep for ten days or even a month straight. She liked to stay behind closed door without taking a step out of it. What she used to like usually would also be disregarded.
However, this kind of situation rarely happened these past few years. Now, she couldn’t help but feel a bit worried. The person on the bed calmed her with a few words and then went back to sleep. Ling Er helplessly went out.
The one lying in bed was naturally Xue Yi who Zhao Zimu had borrowed from aunt Qing. Xue Yi was the same age as Zhao Zimu. Ever since young, she often pretended to be Zhao Zimu. Although, she was already very familiar with this little maid of Zhao Zimu, but in order not to reveal any loopholes, it was better for her to do and speak less. Moreover, Jiu Qiansui’s residence was not some good place.
At this moment, Ling Er who had just left Zhao Zimu’s room and was walking towards the small kitchen was so frightened that she didn’t know how to speak anymore. She immediately knelt and said, “This, this slave greets Lord Qiansui.”
Lin Qing made a “mm” sound and then asked, “How is your miss these few days?”
What does Lord Qiansui mean by this? He actually asked how her miss was? Did Lord Qiansui ever asked a beauty this?
Ling Er shivered and said trembling in fear, “Miss, miss is well. She just sleeps a bit more these days. She liked to stay in the room and not come out.”
Lin Qing frowned. He walked past Ling Er and went straight to Zhao Zimu’s room. He stopped in front of the room and listened for a moment before he let the people who followed him stay guard. Then, he walked in by himself.
At this moment, Xue Yi was pretending to sleep on the bed. Even if she heard something, she didn’t have to open her eyes. Anyway, the less she did, the less mistakes she made.
The sound of the footsteps slowly approached her bed. The person stopped in front of her bed. A low and effeminate voice slowly sounded. The voice was very small as if he was worried that he would disturb the person on the bed, “Are you angry? Why do you always lie in bed these few days? This is bad for the health. It is not that I don’t want you to go out. It is just that you should let my people follow you when you go out. It is also safer like that.”
The tone of the visitor was very low, but Xue Yi on the bed felt as if she was struck by lightning. Her body stiffened. Only a few words kept ringing in her head.
This is Jiu Qiansui?!!!
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