The clouds gather and the rain disperses, and it comes back again. The two people, who had been trapped in lovesickness for a long time, finally reached harmony through countless sublimations. Seeing that the beautiful woman under him really couldn't bear the kindness, Wu Feng reluctantly got up from An Qier's body.
"Feng Lang, you are getting stronger and stronger. Is it possible that no one will accompany you when you return to the imperial capital this time?" Angel, who was clinging to Ai Lang tightly, with a blush on her face, seemed to have not completely calmed down from the excitement.
"Well, yes, aren't those two outside?" Wu Feng could rub the beauty next to him to his heart's content while savoring this rare happiness.
"You're talking about Shuang Ying and that girl from the Gu family. I think you didn't succeed at them! Why, our world-famous love saint also failed sometimes?" he said with a sweet smile.
"Hmph, don't say that. I'm not as romantic as you said." Wu Feng defended.
"Hmph, I'm trying to hide it. I didn't read today's newspaper. The whole page is full of news about you. I think there will be another wave of idol worship for you in the imperial capital. How many girls in the imperial capital now hope to win your favor? Ah, he is young and handsome, and has been promoted to the youngest Duke in the empire. He also holds the military and political power in the two major regions of the empire. His future is limitless. He has not yet been married. No matter it is a commoner girl or a noble daughter, who doesn’t want to marry Yum? Who is the Duke's family?" Angel said quietly.
Feeling the emotion in the beauty's heart, Wu Feng hugged the beauty and said, "Although I don't want to get married yet, you can never run away. You are definitely my woman, and no one can take it away from me. The house will always be yours."
The empire's marriage customs are somewhat peculiar, combining the customs of the Tang people of the Eastern Continent and the Slan people of the Central Continent. This was probably due to the influence of Situ Fengguang, the founding emperor of the empire. The mother of Situ Fengguang at that time was a Slan person from the Central Continent. Nobles above a marquis are allowed to marry four head wives, while nobles above a duke are allowed to marry eight head wives. However, in fact, the nobility in the empire are still accustomed to marrying one or two head wives, and rarely more than three.
Hearing Wu Feng's words, Angel suddenly felt more at ease. She also knew that her lover was ambitious and lustful, but the customs and habits of the upper class in the entire empire and even the entire continent were like this, so she had no dissatisfaction. , but so far Wufeng has not officially taken her to formal social occasions, and the most important thing is that she has never expressed her intention to marry him in person. This somewhat makes this one of the three most famous beauties in the upper class of the imperial capital. She was a little disappointed. Seeing that Ai Lang's career was booming and he stayed in the northwest for a long time, but she had to stay in the imperial capital for his career. All this made An Qier feel resentful. Today I finally heard Ai Lang's clear statement. Although it was only a matter of time, but with his words, I was willing to do it no matter how hard and tired I was.
Gently laying her cheek on Ailang's majestic chest, Angel closed her eyes and silently blessed her, hoping that the warmth of this moment would stay forever.
However, the cruelty of reality cannot make the lovers indulge in sweet love. What else is hidden behind the peaceful surface? While Wu Feng and An Qier were indulging in the love game of reunion, something was quietly happening in the palace, the core of the imperial capital.
In the Royal Study Room of the Imperial Palace. Eight fish candles with unique shapes illuminated the small imperial study room. Situ Mingyue carefully read the memorials presented by the ministers, and her brows slowly wrinkled.
A young eunuch was standing by the door with his head lowered and motionless, holding a white jade whisk. Thick brocade curtains kept out the cold northwest wind, and a pot of red charcoal fire filled with bursts of warmth.
After gently putting down a memorial, Situ Mingyue took a deep breath, stood up, slowly moved his numb body, and walked slowly in the study, as if thinking about something embarrassing.
Yes, Situ Mingyue did have something difficult in her heart. Ever since Li Wufeng was conferred the title of duke and appointed concurrently as the governor of Northern Luzon in the early morning, when he returned to the palace, he received many secret documents from important officials one after another. Judging from their contents, The same thing, they all require themselves to limit the power and influence of Li Wufeng to avoid the emergence of another figure like Lin Guoxiong or Lang Yongquan. He didn't expect that his reward for merit would trigger such a backlash, which shows how much influence Li Wufeng had on the ministers in the DPRK.
But this Li Wufeng has indeed made extraordinary contributions to the empire. It can be said without any boast that even if he is under the Nine Springs a hundred years later, he can still proudly show off to the former emperors that he has had such a glorious achievement in his life. On one page, during his rule, the empire's territory expanded greatly to the west, crossing the majestic Hengduan Mountains, and became a great empire that overwhelmed the central and eastern continents. Based on this alone, no matter how big a reward you give Li Wufeng, it is not an exaggeration.
However, the several ministers who presented the memorial were all their own, and they represented more than just themselves. The most important thing was that the core of the problem they reported was actually only one problem, which was the fear of following Li Wufeng's influence. The expansion will affect the royal authority. This is also a problem that I have always been worried about but want to avoid repeatedly.
In particular, the memorial by Interior Minister Lu Wenfu can be said to be sincere and full of detailed arguments. The problems it reflected really shocked me, so that I had to suppress the emotions caused by the Luzon Incident and carefully examine this issue.
Li Wufeng's steps were indeed a bit out of line. He even signed a peace treaty with the Luobei people privately and released prisoners of war, without reporting such major events to the central government of the empire. He also actively expanded the army, accepted ethnic minorities, and bought people's hearts. Is this all just In order to consolidate the empire's rule in the northwest? Or does he have other ulterior motives of his own
The more Situ Mingyue thought about it, the more upset she became. She couldn't help but pick up the memorial and read it carefully, falling into deep contemplation.
"His Majesty."
"What's going on?" Situ Mingyue woke up from her deep thoughts and glanced at the chiming clock beside her. It was almost ten o'clock.
"Master He, Minister of Military Affairs, is asking for an audience outside Qingyuan Palace."
"Oh? Tell him to come to the imperial study to see me."
"I, He Zhiqiu, come to see Your Majesty." With a solemn look on his face, He Zhiqiu stepped into the imperial study and bowed deeply.
"Escape, He Aiqing, you saw me late at night, but what big changes have happened in the army?" Situ Mingyue asked worriedly.
"No, there is nothing else from the military department. I met him late at night because of the meeting with Li Wufeng this morning." He Zhiqiu looked straight at him and said solemnly.
"Oh," Situ Mingyue breathed a sigh of relief and leaned back, looking much more relaxed, "That's it. I thought there was another change in the war situation in the south."
"Your Majesty, I don't think this matter is trivial. In my humble opinion, if this matter is not handled properly, the consequences will be worse than the war in the south." He Zhiqiu's face turned a little pale.
Hearing what the always cautious Minister of Military Affairs said, Situ Mingyue couldn't help but be startled, "He Aiqing, are you exaggerating?"
"No, Your Majesty, I am definitely not being alarmist. If I don't pay attention to it, I think that Li Wufeng will become the second Lin Guoxiong, and the harm will be even worse." He Zhiqiu said every word to show the strong tone of his tone. .
"Is that true? Then tell me your reasons." Situ Mingyue was shocked and her face became heavy.
"Your Majesty! Li Wufeng was an ordinary regiment-level officer a few years ago. With his meager achievements during the Western Expedition, Your Majesty made an exception and promoted him to Qingyang City Guard. However, this man soon exposed his wolfish ambitions. First of all, he created Taking advantage of the unexpected death of the Jinzhou city guard, he sent troops to Jinzhou without authorization, becoming the first to interfere in the internal affairs of neighboring prefectures and counties, and then created a fait accompli that forced the empire to recognize its actual control over Jinzhou. At the same time, he began to use excuses to resist The invasion of the Luobei people massively expanded the army, and broke with convention by recruiting a large number of Gaoyue barbarians into the army. When rebellions broke out in the neighboring Guide and Bonan prefectures, he deliberately stood still and allowed the rebellion to spread, forcing the empire to appoint him He sent troops to quell the rebellion only after he served as a military and political envoy to the northwest. I thought that all these were his carefully planned actions, including the death of the Jinzhou city guard, and I also thought there was something fishy." He Zhiqiu was a little excited.
"Do you have evidence?" Situ Mingyue's face was gloomy.
"No, things have changed and Jinzhou will soon be under his control. Even if you want to find any evidence, it is impossible." He Zhiqiu shook his head.
"Keep talking." Situ Mingyue didn't want to dwell on this matter any longer.
"Now that his wings are not fully mature, he ignores the authority of the empire and sends troops to foreign countries without authorization. I don't want to explain the consequences of this matter, but his move has opened an extremely dangerous beginning. Now he also serves as the military and political governor of two regions. Excluding the garrison force, the regular army alone has six divisions and nearly 150,000 people. Although it cannot catch up with Lin Guoxiong and Lang Yongquan in the south, judging from its development momentum, I believe it will surpass Lin Lang in the near future. Home." He Qiqiu's words were full of worry.
Situ Mingyue had no expression on her face and just nodded slightly.
"In addition, when Li Wufeng served as the military and political envoy of the northwest, he also reached a peace agreement with the Luobi people without authorization, released the Luobi prisoners, and colluded with the Luobi people to threaten the countries in the western region, but ignored the traitor Sun Yuanliang of Yinchuan Prefecture in the north. Regardless, he has completely failed His Majesty's hope when you appointed him as the Military and Political Envoy of the Northwest, and his heart is to be punished." He Zhiqiu knew that Yinchuan was an eternal pain in His Majesty's heart, and deliberately provoked this scar.
Sure enough, when the Yinchuan Mansion was mentioned, Situ Mingyue couldn't help but snort, and his face became even colder.
"I believe that this situation must not be allowed to continue, but some measures should be taken to make up for it." He Zhishi Shaoqiu struck while the iron was hot and made suggestions.
"But Li Wufeng took Northern Luzon for me, and even signed a treaty with the Grand Duchy of Luzon. This is also a fact that he has made such a great contribution. How could I do something that would chill the people and ministers of the world?" What about? And I have already promoted his title and appointed him concurrently as the governor of Northern Luzon. You can’t go back on your word, can you?” Situ Mingyue frowned slightly and handed over a few newspapers on the imperial case. To He Zhiqiu, who was standing under the case, he said, "He Aiqing, look, all the major news media in the imperial capital have published the 'Luzon Incident'. The public sentiment was exciting and the reviews were rave. And the Zhongzhou Evening News even promoted me to the title of Li Wufeng." The appointment of him as the concurrent governor of the Northern Luzon region of the empire has been published, what do you want me to do?"
He Zhiqiu took the newspaper and read two at random. Almost every newspaper published the detailed story of the "Luzon Incident" on the front page. He also interviewed the person involved, Li Wufeng, and expressed his intention to follow up the report. After reading these, He Zhiqiu couldn't help but smile bitterly. This guy really knew how to create momentum. Even before he met the saint, the reports had already come out.
"Your Majesty, this is nothing. I think it is inappropriate and inappropriate to take any measures against Li Wufeng at this time, but I already have an idea that can safely resolve this matter." He Zhiqiu saw that His Majesty the Emperor's tone had relaxed a lot, knowing that Situ Mingyue already agreed with her own opinion, with a knowing smile on her face, and she put forward her ideas confidently.