As soon as Xi Ruoxuan finished speaking, the Right Prime Minister Yao Dao came out and said, "I would like to report to the Prince, the Regent, and I think what Lord Sun said is inappropriate. It will take at least a month to deal with the affairs of the Daxing Emperor. According to other countries and this country According to court practice, the prince should succeed to the throne first."
When Sun Leng heard this, he was very angry: "Master Gu, aren't you sad just after the emperor left? Fortunately, the emperor used you so highly before. On this day of great mourning for the country, do you still have the heart to hold a succession celebration? You What’s your intention!”
Director Yao was not to be outdone: "Master Sun, as the saying goes, a country cannot live without a king for a day. What are your intentions in leaving the throne empty for a long time?"
Sun Lengzhi turned pale with anger: "What do you think I have any intentions? The emperor has already decided on the position of prince. Can I still change it?"
"It's hard to say! Some people just have such ambitions!"
"you!"
Seeing that the two of them were quarreling, Xi Ruoxuan hurriedly said: "Stop arguing, let's go and listen to the Queen Mother's opinion before we talk!"
Hearing this, Sun Lengzhi immediately had a smile on his face: "Yes, the regent is right, the Queen Mother should have the final say on this matter."
Sun Lengzhi's joy made Xi Ruoxuan see his true face more clearly. He was indeed the Queen Mother's man, otherwise why would he be so happy!
Seeing what Xi Ruoxuan said, Director Yao couldn't object, so he had to retreat to his original position. Xi Ruoxuan continued: "Do you have anything else to report?"
Sun Lengzhi reported: "To the Prince and Regent, because of wars in the south every year and the severe drought this year with no harvests, people in ancient Yan City were starved to death. The magistrate of Gu Yan reported to the imperial court to allocate money to open a porridge restaurant, please invite the Prince. , the regent decides.”
Xi Ruoxuan frowned: "Then why don't you do it? Human lives are at stake, so hurry up and ask the Ministry of Revenue to allocate the money!"
The Minister of the Ministry of Revenue exerted his strength and said: "Prince and Regent, there are major disasters in various places this year, and the Ministry of Revenue has no money to allocate. Prince, Regent, please think of something!"
Xiruoxuan was stunned. She really didn't expect that there were so many problems. She originally thought that as long as she said goodbye to Xiao Tielong, she could at most put the pillar on the throne and go home. But now there are so many problems. There are major famines all over Yunyan. This is a precursor to the people's rebellion! Throughout history, many changes in dynasties were caused by famine. People who had nothing to eat would inevitably take risks. It seems that I won't be able to return to Dayou in five days. I have to deal with Yunyan's problem thoroughly and let Zhuzhu secure the throne before I can leave with peace of mind.
"Then what do you think we should do? There is no money in the national treasury, so let's let the rich gentry across the country contribute a little!" Xi Ruoxuan suggested.
Shi Li shook his head: "Prince Regent, you have used this trick a long time ago. The wealthy gentry have donated three times. This time we ask them to donate again, but they refuse to pay even if they live and die. We really have no choice. .”
"Then what do you think we should do? Are we going to watch the people starve to death?"
Ministers, you look at me and I look at you, but I have nothing to say. Xiruo
When Shi Li heard this, he was immediately overjoyed: "That's the best. We are all worried to death. Seeing the people falling to death on the streets one by one, our hearts are broken, but there is nothing we can do."
Xi Ruoxuan wrote a letter on the spot. She asked Su Shaokai to return to Dayou immediately, gave the letter to Quan Langyu, and told him to temporarily borrow a thousand tons of grain and have Su Shaokai quickly transport it to Gu Yan.
Su Shaokai hesitated for a long time: "Xianxuan, the situation is unclear now, should we send someone else there?"
Xi Ruoxuan thought for a while: "I know this, but the food problem is also a big problem. If there is no reliable person to escort it, it will be a serious problem."
When Su Shaokai saw what Xi Ruoxuan said, he had no choice but to agree: "Xiao Xuan, you have to be more careful. There are many crises in the palace. I will tell Yang Xibiao again to let him be more thoughtful."
"You can go with ease!" Xiruoxuan dismissed Su Shaokai and turned his attention to the ministers: "My lords, let's go to the harem together and see what the Queen Mother means."
"Yes!" More than a dozen ministers bowed their hands and saluted, then followed Zhu Zhu and Xi Ruoxuan towards the harem. Arriving at Queen Mother Gu's residence, Xi Ruoxuan and Zhu Zhu led a group of ministers to salute Gu Yan. Queen Mother Gu waved her hand: "You all come to see the Ai family. What's going on?"
Sun Lengzhi first expressed his position: "To the Queen Mother, I just discussed how to deal with the emperor's important affairs, but Mr. Yao insisted on holding the enthronement hall first. We don't agree, so we ask the Queen Mother to make a decision."
Queen Mother Gu looked at Sun Lenzhi: "What do you think?"
Sun Lengzhi handed over his hand: "My opinion is very clear. The emperor's important affairs are the top priority, and everything else should be put aside."
Empress Dowager Gu nodded: "What Sun Aiqing said makes sense! The Emperor has just left. We can't just leave the Emperor there coldly. We should sort out the Emperor's affairs first, and then deal with the enthronement. Do you agree, Zhuzhu?"
Xiao Zhu looked at Xi Ruoxuan, who nodded slightly. Only then did Zhuzhu agree: "My sons and ministers all obey their mother."
Seeing that the matter had come to this, Xi Ruoxuan had no choice but to say: "Since this is what the Queen Mother means, I will do as I please."
Seeing Xi Ruoxuan being so cheerful, Empress Dowager Gu also had a smile on her face: "Xiao Xuan, I've worked hard for you these past few days. As the regent, you should worry more about the affairs of the court. The emperor will be in charge of Mr. Sun. Just deal with it.”
Xi Ruoxuan cupped his fists and said, "Xixuan Xuan listens to the Queen Mother."
Seeing that the Queen Mother and the Regent had reached an agreement, all the ministers resigned one after another. Xiruoxuan suddenly saw a familiar figure, which was very similar to Xiao Zhi. Xi Ruoxuan's heart skipped a beat. This kid hadn't been imprisoned yet. It seemed that Zhu Zhu's prospects were not very optimistic. Coupled with the fact that the Queen Mother obstructed Zhu Zhu's ascension to the throne in every possible way, her wolfish ambitions were fully exposed. Faced with such a complicated situation, what should I do? Xi Ruoxuan ran out of ideas for a moment.
Leading Zhu Zhu out of the Queen Mother's residence, Yang Xibiao was already waiting here with a group of guards. Before Su Shaokai left, he gave many instructions to protect the safety of Zhuzi and Xiruoxuan, especially Xiruoxuan. If something goes wrong with her, I, Su Shaokai, will never stop with you!
Yang Xibiao also knew the seriousness of the problem, and he immediately brought his personal guards into the palace to protect Zhu Zhu and Xi Ruoxuan. Yang Xibiao is now the governor of Yanjing and is in charge of all the defense of the capital, so the eunuchs in the palace dare not stop him.
When Xiruoxuan saw Yang Xibiao, he immediately told him: "You must strengthen the guards of the palace and the emperor's palace in the past few days. There must be no omissions, especially the people on the Queen Mother's side. You must worry."
Yang Xibiao understood: "These young men have all told me, princess, don't worry, with me here, the emperor and the princess will be safe!"
Xi Ruoxuan looked at Yang Xibiao with satisfaction: "Thank you for your hard work."
Yang Xibiao cupped his fists and said, "This is the responsibility of the general, please rest assured, princess!" Yang Xibiao was actually very grateful to Xi Ruoxuan. It was his words that turned him from an ordinary deputy general to a popular leader of Yanjing.
It was lunch time again, and Xi Ruoxuan still followed the rules and asked the young eunuch to taste the food first until it was safe. Xi Ruoxuan allowed Zhu Zhu to have a meal. While they were eating, the guards came to report that General He Tang wanted to see them.
He Tang was originally a deputy general. Due to his achievements with Xi Ruoxuan, he was quickly promoted to general. This person should be one of our own: "Let him in!"
Soon, He Tang strode in: "The general has met the prince and the regent!"
Xi Ruoxuan waved his hand: "General, there is no need to be polite. What's the emergency, General? Why are you so anxious to find the prince?"
He Tang cupped his fists and said, "Your Majesty, I have something secret and important to report. Can you step aside?"
Xiruoxuan waved his hand, and all the palace ladies, eunuchs, and guards retreated, leaving only Xiruoxuan and Zhuzhu in the room. He Tang took a step forward and said in a low voice: "Xiao Zhi is planning to rebel and usurp the throne. Did the prince and regent know?"
"Oh!" Xi Ruoxuan and Zhu Zhu were shocked at the same time, "How do you say this?"
He Tang came closer and said: "Prince, Regent, this morning, the Queen Mother and Xiao Zhi found the last general. They asked me to assassinate the prince. They said that after the incident is completed, they will make me the Sima of the dynasty and command the world's troops."
Xi Ruoxuan slapped the table hard: "As expected, I guessed that this old woman has hidden evil intentions. General He, what do you think we should do about her?"
He Tang slowly approached Xiao Zhu: "The Empress Dowager is going to attack, and in the end we will see only..." He Tang was mid-sentence, when he suddenly pulled out a dagger from his arms and stabbed Zhu Zhu's chest with lightning speed. Zhu Zhu instinctively stepped back, but He Tang's technique was too fast, and the dagger still penetrated Zhu Zhu's chest. Zhu Zhu screamed and fainted.
Xi Ruoxuan was horrified and hurriedly pulled out his sword and rushed over: "General He, what do you mean?"
He Tang sneered: "Princess, I'm really sorry. The Queen Mother has an edict, and the general will not dare to disobey her!"
Xi Ruoxuan already understood the reason, but he did not expect that He Tang would seek refuge with the Queen Mother. Xi Ruoxuan shouted loudly: "Here comes someone, come in quickly and escort him!"
More than a dozen guards rushed out of the door instantly. When these guards saw Xi Ruoxuan holding a pillar covered in blood, they were stunned. What the hell does this happen
Xi Ruoxuan pointed at He Tang: "This man is an assassin, take him down quickly!"
The guards were really a little confused, because He Tang was the general of the dynasty. How could he assassinate the prince? This was incredible. Xi Ruoxuan hugged Zhu Zhu and kept shouting: "Zhu Zhu, how are you? Zhu Zhu, wake up!"
Zhu Zhu opened his eyes weakly: "Sister, Zhu Zhu is leaving. Sister, hold me tight, hold me tight. Sister, you are so beautiful!" Xi Ruoxuan's tears fell on Zhu Zhu's face, "No! Zhuzi, you have to hold on, my sister won’t let you go!”
Zhu Zhu opened his eyes again: "Sister, Zhu Zhu actually likes her very much, but Zhu Zhu doesn't have this blessing. Zhu Zhu just wants to turn into a lamb and follow his sister in the next life. Sister, sister..." Zhu Zhu's voice slowly faded away, The body also slowly became soft.
"No—" Following Xi Ruoxuan's heart-rending cry, she hugged Zhu Zhu tightly in her arms, "It's my sister who is sorry for you, it's my sister who hurt you."
The room was empty, and the echo of the pillars could no longer be heard.
He Tang sneered at Xiruo
"Despicable, shameless! I, Xi Ruoxuan, will never collude with you beasts! Come on! Get him before I can!"
The guards immediately surrounded him with swords in hand.