The Shenhou Mansion has always been under the direct control of the emperor, and the Shenhou Mansion has never been subject to any yamen restrictions and is directly responsible to His Majesty the Emperor.
However, when Qi Ning heard what the little emperor said, he realized that the little emperor had not yet completely controlled the Shenhou Mansion.
After thinking about it carefully, I felt relieved. The Shenhou Mansion was established since Emperor Taizong. So far, there have been two gods. After the first emperor succeeded to the throne, Ximen Wuhen became the god. Once the emperor and the courtier, the little emperor has succeeded. position, but Ximen Wuhen is still above the position of God.
There is no objection to Ximen Wuhen's loyalty to the former emperor, but whether he is loyal to the young emperor or not, even the young emperor himself is not sure.
The most important thing is that Ximen Wuhen, as the divine minister promoted by the former emperor, was a close confidant of the former emperor. Naturally, the former emperor also had the means to control Ximen Wuhen. However, the new emperor came to the throne and wanted to control the situation at a time of chaos. It is not easy to live with this veteran.
For the young emperor, the best way to take control of the Shenhou Mansion is of course to promote his own cronies to replace Ximen Wuhen, but given the current situation, it is obviously not easy to do this.
If it cannot be replaced, then the other way is to bring it together.
Everyone in the civil and military circles of the dynasty naturally knew that after the young emperor succeeded to the throne, he attached great importance to the Jinyi Qi family, and everyone knew that the Jinyi Qi family was completely on the same path as the young emperor. The emperor granted marriage to the Ximen family and the Qi family. , of course, is to draw the Shenhou Mansion into the emperor's faction.
Qi Ning was thoughtful, and the little emperor patted Qi Ning on the shoulder and said: "I have indeed revealed my intention to grant you a marriage, but I have not revealed to the public who I intend to grant you, and I have never issued a decree. I just have to wait for you to come back to discuss it." He sighed softly and said in a low voice: "I understand that once the decree of marriage is issued, it is impossible to take it back."
Qi Ning was originally quite unhappy about having someone else make the decision about his marriage, but the fact that the little emperor considered it made him feel more comfortable.
"I know that if I were to make the decision, you might not be happy in your heart." The little emperor smiled bitterly and said, "The Queen Mother has been forcing me to appoint Sima Wanqiong as queen, and I am not comfortable either. I know what it feels like. So...!" Looking at Qining, He said: "I regard you as a brother, so you decide whether you agree or not."
Qi Ning hesitated for a moment and then said: "Your Majesty, as long as there are forces in the court that can win over, we naturally can't miss it, but... It is not yet known whether Ximen Zhanying agrees to this marriage. If it is just to win over the Shenhou Mansion, let Ximen Zhan Ying married into the Qi family aggrievedly, which is not very fair to her."
The little emperor smiled and said: "You are worrying too much. You are handsome and suave, and you are also an imperial marquis. If you can't conquer even one woman, how can you help me conquer the world?"
"Your Majesty, I don't like hearing this anymore." Qi Ning rolled his eyes: "Who said you can't conquer a woman? If you don't believe it, I will conquer all the women in the capital."
The little emperor laughed, and then said: "I will give you three days. After three days, you come and tell me whether you are willing to grant the marriage. If there is no reply, I will directly declare the decree."
At this moment, I heard a voice coming from outside: "Fan Zhuo, the envoy of Chentai Hospital, comes to see the Emperor!"
Longtai said: "Come in and talk."
When Fan Zhuo entered the imperial study room, Qin Ning recognized him at a glance. He had been to the Taiyuan Hospital before about Mrs. Tian's affairs, and he had met the envoy Fan.
When the envoy Fan Yuan came in to pay homage, Qining thought that the envoy Fan Yuan had treated him quite well before and said with a smile: "Your Majesty, the envoy Fan Yuan has superb medical skills and is a kind man. It was thanks to the envoy Fan Yuan that he treated me last time. "
When Fan Yuan heard Qin Ning praising him in front of the emperor, he felt grateful and hurriedly bowed his hands in humility. Longtai had already asked: "How is the prince's condition?"
Envoy Fan Yuan looked around, then glanced at Qi Ning, and said Longtai: "Jin Yihou is my close minister, there is no need to be taboo."
Fan Yuan thought that people outside said that Jin Yihou was close to the emperor, and now it seemed that it was indeed the case. He took a step forward and said softly: "Your Majesty, the prince is sick...!" After hesitating, Long Tai frowned and said, "You can just say it. No need to be taboo.”
"Yes!" Fan Zhuo said hurriedly: "The prince is terminally ill, with economic and trade disorders, qi deficiency and blood loss. If the diagnosis is correct, there is no way to save him. At most, he will only be... about a year."
"Is it really hopeless?"
"I'm not sure." Fan Zhuo looked solemn: "There are many strange people in the world, and there may be a way to bring the dead back to life. I will recruit people to look for panaceas and elixirs to see if they can slow down the prince's recovery."
As soon as he finished speaking, he heard a voice coming from behind: "Envoy Fan, don't bother me." Everyone looked over immediately and saw that Xiao Shaozong had already walked to the door and was entering the imperial study.
Longtai frowned and said, "Your Majesty, you...?"
"I am deeply grateful for the emperor's favor." Xiao Shaozong said with a smile: "However, it is difficult for people to ascend to heaven. The fact that my stubborn disease has been delayed until now is already God's favor. It is also a gift that I can live for a year and a half. I know it myself. Regarding my condition, my father has consulted countless famous doctors over the years, but nothing can be done. How long he can live depends on God's gift." Just after he finished speaking, there was a cough.
Envoy Fan Yuan said hurriedly: "Your Majesty, I will prepare the medicine now. You...!"
"No need to work hard." Xiao Shaozong said with a smile: "The medicinal materials in the Huainan Prince's Mansion are piled up like a mountain. Over the years, I have never taken medicines for a day, and I am really tired of it." He cupped his hands and said: "Envoy Fan, please excuse me. I’m busy with business, so there’s no need to delay here.”
Envoy Fan looked at Longtai, Longtai looked solemn and nodded slightly, then Envoy Fan resigned.
"Your Majesty, you are not in good health. Go home and rest." Longtai stepped forward to comfort you: "I will send people to continue to look for famous doctors and cure you no matter what."
Xiao Shaozong smiled lightly, hesitated, and then said: "Your Majesty, I may enter the palace less and less in the future, and I will not be able to solve your problems too much. You have just ascended the throne, so don't rush into everything. With the help of Jin Yihou, everything will be fine. ." After a pause, he said: "This great Chu country was forged with the blood of our ancestors. The Xiao family's country must be shouldered by you alone. You should take care of yourself."
He talked about diagnosis and treatment, and Qi Ning saw that he could still remain calm despite knowing that he was terminally ill and would not die soon, and secretly admired his mentality.
"Jin Yihou, I originally hoped to work with you to help the emperor unify the world and let the people of the world live and work in peace and contentment." Xiao Shaozong's face was pale and his voice was a little weak, but his tone was still very calm: "But it seems that I can't accompany the emperor on his eunuch. Yuan, the emperor thinks very highly of you, and I only hope that you will not disappoint the emperor's expectations."
Qi Ning cupped his hands with a solemn expression.
"Your Majesty, I will leave first." Xiao Shaozong coughed again, and Long Tai had already shouted: "Fan Dehai!"
Fan Dehai, the chief eunuch of the internal strength, came in hurriedly, and Longtai ordered: "Take someone to take the prince back to his home, and take care of him on the way." He said to Xiao Shaozong, "I will see you another day."
Xiao Shaozong bowed, said nothing, and withdrew accompanied by Fan Dehai.
When Xiao Shaozong left, Long Tai sighed softly. Seeing that the little emperor's face was not good-looking, Qin Ning knew that he was worried about Xiao Shaozong's condition, so he comforted him: "Your Majesty, life and death are determined by fate. This cannot be forced, so you don't have to worry too much."
Long Tai nodded slightly, pondered for a moment, and then said: "By the way, you went to Dong Qi as an envoy and dealt with Beitang Yu. Do you know what he is like?"
"I haven't had much contact with him." Qi Ning said, "I heard that he has a high status in the Northern Han Dynasty, but he doesn't have much real power in his hands."
Longtai smiled lightly and said: "Beitang Yu loves to dance and write, and he has some literary talents. My father once mentioned this person. Beitang Huan has three brothers. Beitang Huan inherited the throne. His two brothers Beitang Yu and Bei Tanghuan Tang Qing is also a good person, but Beitang Huan is suspicious and has always ostracized the two brothers since he came to the throne. Beitang Qing, the Marquis of Changling, is a famous general. He has been leading the army on the front line and faced tit for tat with our great Chu. Tang Huan could not move easily, but Bei Tang Yu has been suppressed. Although he has a distinguished status in the Northern Han Dynasty, he has never had real power in his hands."
"I see." Qining knew something about the history of the Northern Han Dynasty, but this was the first time he heard about these things.
"Because Beitang Yu was suppressed, he naturally had some complaints against Beitang Huan and his son." Long Tai said with a smile: "Capturing Beitang Yu this time will be of great benefit to us."
"Your Majesty, since Beitang Yu has no real power in the Northern Han Dynasty, how much secrets and important things can he know?" Qi Ning asked curiously: "Even if he joins me in Da Chu, what will it be of use?"
Long Tai said: "Although Beitang Yu has no real power in the Northern Han Dynasty, Beitang Huan made him do a great thing." After a pause, he said: "You come with me."
He put his hands behind his back and walked around a wooden screen. Qining followed in. He saw Longtai walking straight to a wall and staring at it. Qining stepped forward and saw clearly that there was something on the wall. A map hung up.
He looked carefully and found that this map only depicted the area south of the Huaihe River, including the Yunnan-Guizhou River area. It marked dangerous passes in mountains, rivers, and rivers, but the Yunnan-Guizhou area was very simple.
"This map has taken countless people's efforts." Long Tai said slowly: "Even now, the terrain in our Dachu territory cannot be fully displayed on this map, and there are even some errors." Turning around: "Knowing yourself and the enemy is the only way you can win a hundred battles. If you want the Northern Expedition to succeed, in addition to your own strength, do you know what is another important thing?"
"The emperor is saying that he wants to know the general outline of their terrain?"
Longtai nodded slightly: "Yes, it is very difficult to map the terrain of the universe and the sky. As far as I know, in the previous dynasty, there was a map of the universe in the Luoyang Palace, but Beitang Tianwu led When the army invaded Luoyang, someone set fire to the palace, and the Huanyu map was said to be in the fire. Although they were rescued in time, it was said that half of the Huanyu map had been burned."
Qi Ning understands that it is not easy to draw a map, especially due to the conditions of this era. It takes ten or twenty years to produce a topographic map, plus a lot of manpower and material resources. It is simply impossible. Realize that a geographical map of the world can be said to be a priceless treasure.
"Beitang Tianwu got the incomplete Map of the Universe and has been trying to repair it." Long Tai said slowly: "It is said that when Beitang Huan got it, most of the Map of the Universe had been repaired. He didn't want to give Beitang Yu real power, so he sent He took over the responsibility for the restoration of the World Map...!" His eyes were bright, he stared at Qi Ning, and said with a hint of excitement: "Now do you understand the value of Beitang Yu?"