Xia Chu took out the two pieces of paper from the private cell and handed the remaining deployment plan to Xiao Zimu. He then briefly explained to him the causes and consequences of Guo Weidong, but hid the matter of the Zhao Mansion private cell.
Xiao Zimu watched her carefully fold the two pieces of paper and put them away close to her body. He thought they were love words written by Xiao Mubai to her.
"It's getting late, I have to go back and keep an eye on things." Xia Chu walked towards the door.
"Okay." Xiao Zimu's words fell to the ground, as if a bowl of water had been poured on him, the sourness faded away, and suddenly turned into a suffocating pain.
He held the prince's document in one hand and the jade seal in the other.
The woman in front of him was clearly within his reach, but he felt that she was getting further and further away from him...
On the morning of the fourth day of the first lunar month, the weather was cold and the wind was biting.
The first spring snow arrived as promised, and Chang'an, which was already frozen, was once again covered with snow.
In the Hall of Supreme Harmony, Xiao Yanjun stood tall and straight in the middle.
Today he wore a red shirt, Bai Juan's lower clothes, and an apricot-yellow robe with four dragon patterns on the outside. He had a gold belt hook around his waist and a dragon-shaped jade.
The already handsome face was enhanced by this robe and made it even more noble and majestic.
"This is the first morning court meeting this year, and it coincides with the snow. The ministers are working very hard in the wind and snow. We have finished the discussion early. I have set a table in the East Palace." Xiao Yanjun glanced at the ministers with a considerate look. The posture of a subordinate.
With a smile on his lips, he said warmly to Taifu Wu and Prime Minister Ju: "I will ask people to prepare soft, glutinous and easy-to-eat dishes to take care of the teeth of the two ministers."
As soon as Xiao Yanjun finished speaking, several people led by Min Zhisong laughed out loud, followed by ridicules from the people in the court.
Ever since he was crowned the crown prince, Taifu Wu and Prime Minister Ju had been claiming to be ill and had not come to court.
It's unusual today. It doesn't matter whether they come to court because they have surrendered or not. Let them show off their power first and try to react and give back.
Who would have thought that Xiao Yanjun didn't wait for the two of them to reply.
On the contrary, Kong Changhui, the Minister of Dali Temple, came out at this time: "I have something to report."
Xiao Yanjun expected that among these people, someone would always stand up to cause trouble for him. He thought that at least one important person would stand up, but it turned out to be Kong Changhui.
"It's still the fourth day of the Lunar New Year. Is there a case to be reported in Dali Temple?" Xiao Yanjun glanced at the people under him, thinking that one of them had been manipulated and allowed Kong Changhui to seek bad luck at this time.
"It's good news. There has been a breakthrough in a major case that has been without progress for a long time. I can't wait to report it. I hope your highness will provide convenience." Kong Changhui responded in a deep voice, neither humble nor overbearing.
"Oh?" Xiao Yanjun thought for a long time, but he couldn't think of any major backlog of cases in Dali Temple that needed his convenience.
"The case of collaborating with the enemy and treason has made progress. I want to put Concubine Li on trial." As soon as Kong Changhui finished speaking, there was an uproar in the court.
Xiao Yanjun's face was livid, he pointed at him and shouted angrily: "You dare to slander my mother and concubine, you should be punished."
Prime Minister Ju, who had always been humble, suddenly stood up and said: "The trial was not truthful, and the crime is indeed worthy of death. However, it is still unclear whether it is slander or not. Your Highness's words are hasty."
Xiao Yanjun listened to his gentle tone and smiled to persuade him, but his words reminded him overtly and covertly that it was impossible for the Supreme Harmony Hall to silence Kong Changhui.
"I would like to see what evidence you can produce?" Xiao Yanjun sneered, his eyes suddenly became cold and stern: "If you cannot convince the courtiers, I will kill all nine of your clans."
Taifu Wu sighed at the right time: "Veteran and Prime Minister Ju are old and frail. Thanks to His Highness's sympathy, they are still waiting to go to the East Palace to have a bite of soft and glutinous dishes to warm their stomachs. It seems that they can't go now."
These words made the courtiers who had just laughed at them look very embarrassed, and also made Xiao Yanjun's face completely sink.
Unexpectedly, Taifu Wu went out to ask Xiao Yanjun: "Shall we go to the Jade Palace with His Highness?"
If someone else had said these words, Xiao Yanjun would have rebuked him angrily, but Taifu Wu was so respected that he could only grit his teeth and reply: "Master Kong hasn't explained anything yet. Is it inappropriate to bother my mother and concubine now?"
Prime Minister Ju continued his words and replied: "But Mr. Kong didn't explain anything before, and His Highness threatened to kill him..."
"You!" Xiao Yanjun pointed at Prime Minister Ju, who was angry. Min Zhisong coughed twice beside him, and then he retracted his hand.
"Why did Prime Minister Ju take advantage of His Highness the Crown Prince's filial piety to talk about something? It concerns Concubine Li. It is understandable that he was excited for a while." Shi Fuqiu came out and criticized Prime Minister Ju.
Before Kong Changhui said anything, the two camps were already at war with each other over this small issue, refusing to give in.
Finally, Concubine Li, who had received the news, sent Lian Yan to invite all the officials to the Jade Buddha Palace. Only then did the two parties cease their activities and followed Lian Yan towards the Jade Palace.
Xiao Yanjun just walked out of the palace gate and bumped into Xiao Zimu who had arrived late.
"Fourth brother retreated from the court so soon? The maid in front looked like Empress Li's maid, why did all the officials follow her?" Xiao Zimu looked confused and ignorant, eager for knowledge. His eyes flickered at Xiao Yanjun, and there was a smile as usual at the corner of his mouth.
Xiao Yanjun looked at Xiao Zimu in front of him, then turned to glance at Taifu Wu and Prime Minister Ju behind him, and sarcastically said: "It's a coincidence that you three got sick together and recovered together."
After he finished speaking, he walked away, his apricot sleeves slapping the three of them in the face.
Taifu Wu and Ju Chengtong spat at his back at the same time. Xiao Zimu looked helpless and bowed to them: "Let's follow him quickly, don't miss the opening."
The main hall of Yufu Palace is huge, but it is still full of courtiers.
Concubine Li was sitting in front of the screen carved with the fairy mountain pavilion, wearing a dress decorated with golden threads in the morning glow, making her dazzling.
In the entire harem, she was the only one who could match such brilliant colors of gold and purple.
The smoke rising from the gilded Boshan furnace made the hall seem trance-like and confusing.
Concubine Li's face was like a cloud, and all the officials couldn't see her expression clearly. Only her cold and arrogant voice came from the top: "I have heard that Mr. Kong may have questions?"
Kong Changhui stepped out in front of everyone and bowed: "Yes, I have been ordered to thoroughly investigate the matter of collaborating with the enemy and treason. The seal of King Hu on the letter Su Qianle handed over was genuine. If it weren't for the young marquis, , there must be someone else in the Xiao Kingdom."
"Master Kong, are you making insinuations and accusing me?" Concubine Li pursed her lips and smiled softly. She asked lightly but to the point, making her appear more magnanimous.
After saying this, many courtiers pointed their fingers at Kong Changhui. He had another intention behind his words, but he chose to put Concubine Li on trial in the main hall. This meaning was already obvious.
Kong Changhui took out a letter from his arms: "Wei Chen is just investigating the truth of the matter, and I also ask the empress to clear up the confusion."
(End of chapter)