Zhao Qian was sitting in the sedan chair and heard the people next to him informing him, so he opened a crack in the curtain.
"Is the King of Shu leaving the palace?"
"Back to the emperor, my nephew has gone out to buy things for his mother and concubine."
Zhao Qian took advantage of the situation and asked with a smile: "What precious things do you want the King of Shu to go out of the palace to buy in person?"
Zhao Fushou hurriedly took out a brocade box from his arms and said with a smile: "Uncle Emperor, this is just medicine."
Zhao Qian thought to himself that the hospital was still short of medicine and needed to buy it outside? But he didn't embarrass his nephew too much, and asked: "Is the concubine's illness getting better?"
Zhao Fushou said: "Back to the emperor, my concubine's illness has been treated by Dr. Zeng, and she has gotten better."
Zhao Qian nodded and lowered the curtain, and Zhao Fushou breathed a sigh of relief. The guards were busy greeting Zhao Qian, and Zhao Fushou also took advantage of the opportunity to enter the palace gate. Afterwards, he broke into a cold sweat.
When Zhao Qian returned to the palace, it was getting dusk.
The chief official of the mansion replied: "Your Majesty, the Duke of Zhenguo has sent a greeting card. There are also a few baskets of fresh spring bamboo shoots and two cans of tea."
"Is there anything else you can say?"
Changshi shook his head.
Zhao Qian nodded and said, "I understand, go down."
Before Chang Shi could walk out of the door, Zhao Qian called him again: "Send the spring bamboo shoots and tea leaves in parts to Chongqing Palace."
Chang Shi agreed and left.
Zhao Qian saw the big red post on the desk. Without much hesitation, he opened it and read: Your Majesty, please pay your respects! Only six short words. With just one glance, he closed the post again.
The busy government affairs made him exhausted. Just when he was about to eat, Du Yu, the first assistant, asked to see him.
During the day, they also argued over political differences. What is he doing here so late? Zhao Qian was led to the study, where he changed into homely clothes.
When Zhao Qian came to the study, Du Yu brought the tea bowl and was about to drink. When he heard the footsteps, he stood up and bowed to greet him: "Blessings, Your Majesty."
Zhao Qian also said very politely: "Mr. Du Ge, please have a seat."
An hour ago, the two of them had been arguing with each other, but now the smoke had dissipated when they saw each other, and they were in a harmonious mood.
Du Yu said with a smile: "Sorry to disturb the prince."
"I can't say I'm bothering you. Can you please have a meal?"
When Du Yu saw that the regent wanted to leave a meal, he readily accepted it. Zhao Qian then had a table of simple banquets delivered to him.
The two of them talked about political affairs while eating.
Du Yu said: "With the opening of Enke this year, a large number of talents will surely emerge. Then we will have to carefully select and select. The emperor is getting older year by year, so he will have an arm. No matter how old he is, he will still be able to do it." Sooner or later, the regent will have to hand over the responsibility to the emperor."
Zhao Qian smiled and said nothing. He only knew that someone wanted to harm the mother and son, and he had to find the murderer as soon as possible. Let mother and son live a stable life.
Du Yu went on to talk about Enke. He wanted to have a good talk with Zhao Qian about the examiner. During the day, the two of them got into trouble because of the candidates. They both had people they liked and each had their own opinions. .
Later, Zhao Qian made a concession and said: "Okay, Mr. Du Ge, this matter will never end if we continue to fight. Why don't we all take a step back and choose someone again."
When Du Yu heard about it, he thought that this was also a solution, and asked hurriedly: "I wonder which one the prince would recommend?"
"How about Li Shishuo from the Hanlin Academy?"
"Your Majesty, are you talking about the Queen Mother's father?"
"Yes, he is an upright man. Besides, the Imperial Academy is taking the lead in this imperial examination, so let Li Shi speak out and preside over it. It's not a bad idea."
Du Yu didn't speak for a long time after hearing this. When Zhao Qian saw that he didn't speak, he said, "Since Mr. Du Ge has no objection, let's make it final."
They each took a step back. The person they chose was within the acceptable range, so Du Yu agreed.
After successfully settling the matter, Du Yu talked to Zhao Qian about the paper about impeaching Li Shi. Du Yu said: "My lord, have you put away the paper about impeaching the governor of Guangdong and Guangxi?"
"No, what are you doing with it?"
"Governor Li is the brother of the Queen Mother, and the person who is being impeached is desperate for his life. But the old man wants to see how the prince plans to approve this matter."
Zhao Qian said simply and neatly: "Once we get to the bottom of it, we will do whatever we need to do."
Du Yu seemed a little surprised, smiled, and after eating, he discussed the river work with Zhao Qian for a few words and then left. The whole night was peaceful and there was no argument.
Zhao Qian went to take a shower, but he still didn't feel sleepy. He stood on the porch and looked up at the night sky. The stars were twinkling in the dark night, and the stars Altair and Vega were twinkling across the Milky Way.
At this time, he would wonder what Li Wei was doing, whether he was looking up at the stars like him. The two of them were obviously so close, but they couldn't say anything or do anything.
When Zhao Qian was feeling sentimental, Laixi came in.
"Your Majesty."
Zhao Qian nodded. This was his confidant eunuch. He had sent Laixi some tasks after returning this time.
"Your Majesty, there is news from Controller Prison about the King of Shu."
Zhao Qian was not surprised. He was now in charge of Controlling Crane Prison, and now he asked the people in Controlling Crane Prison to help keep an eye on these vassal kings, just to see if they could find any clues.
Zhao Qian went to the study and then asked him to report the good news.
"Your Majesty, according to the news from Konghe Prison, it is said that King Shu went to Wen Mansion today and stayed for nearly an hour before coming out."
"An hour?" Zhao Qian didn't believe that the King of Shu sneaked out of the palace just to buy medicine for Concubine Qi. He could have expected that the King of Shu would meet with the Wen family in private, but he didn't expect that it would take so long. . He also knew that Fu Shou and Wen Ke had some interactions before.
But Fu Shou is looking for Wen Ke just to reminisce about old times? Then you would find an excuse to go see him secretly
Zhao Qian thought for a while and then said to Laixi, "Send someone from the Wen family to keep an eye on it."
"yes."
He had never found out which arrows were aimed at Li Wei and his son, but this time he wanted to prove his innocence and protect their safety.
Among these intricate relationships, the Wen family is also on the same line. He had previously told Li Wei to be wary of Concubine Qi, but he didn't know if she listened. Leaving the King of Shu in the capital was indeed not a wise choice in his opinion.
The people over there are very guarded against him now, and they have to go through procedures to see her.
"What kind of bullshit procedure is this!" Zhao Qian was so angry that he slammed the table. After calming down, he planned to write a letter to Li Wei to explain the situation. If you can't see her, it shouldn't be too important to send her a letter or something.
Zhao Qian thought about it for a while, and then he wrote and explained clearly the strange things about King Shu and the illness of Concubine Qi. Finally, he told Li Wei about letting his father serve as the examiner. After writing, he sealed the envelope with wax and had to find a reliable person to hand it in.
(End of chapter)