Ever since Jiang Rao left the capital, the Queen has sent spies to follow her.

Seeing that Jiang Rao was determined to go his own way and walked all the way to Rui County without any intention of turning back, she decided to kill him.

She couldn't let Jiang Rao ruin her plans again. Although Rong Ting had died in Huaizhou, there were still too many things that had to be kept secret no matter when.

Not only for the throne of the seventeenth prince, but also for her own reputation a hundred years later.

Ever since Jiang Xingzhou became the person in charge of the Ning'an Marquis' Mansion, the Ning'an Marquis' Mansion is no longer like before, close to the Xu family and distant from the Qin family. Instead, the relationship with the Qin family is getting closer and closer. It no longer has any effect on the Xu family, and even has the intention of stumbling over it. The Queen does not feel sorry for Jiang Rao's life at all.

Ever since Rong Ting came back from Yecheng, she had been blocked and miscalculated at every step. She had been suppressed for too long.

Although the Huaizhou matter finally went her way, it was Rong Ting who had to earn merits in his lifetime. Even if death was like the extinguishing of a lamp, she thought that the person who had given her so much suffering finally had a good reputation. This merit was an opportunity for her to create for him. Emperor Zhaowu came to her these days and often mentioned Rong Ting. His expression looked sad and relieved. She didn't want to say good things about Rong Ting, but she had to agree...

The source of all this is Jiang Rao.

If it weren't for her, Rong Ting would have died in Yecheng long ago. How could he have stolen so many years and received so much praise?

Since the little girl is so ignorant and always blocks her way, she should pay a price.

Empress Jiahe raised her finger and glanced at her trusted maidservant on the side with a cold gaze. The maidservant heard her question, looked at Empress Jiahe's actions, stepped forward to collect the cloth on the table, bent over and whispered in the Empress' ear, "Your Majesty, what a coincidence you asked."

"He Zhizhou's letter just arrived at the emperor's father-in-law's place. The emperor's father-in-law asked me to come and inform the queen, and the queen asked herself."

The maid approached the queen and said, "There was a fire at the inn in Qiliu Town. I heard that many people died. The magistrate was so busy that he wrote to He Zhizhou to ask for help."

"Rui County Magistrate, Zuo Junyuan." Empress Jiahe read the name of Magistrate Zuo and circled her fingers around the auspicious beast incense burner that was burning incense. This incense was given by the emperor a few days ago, so she naturally wanted to carry this kind of incense with her, so that the emperor would know that she liked it. The empress looked at the incense burner with a faint fragrance, with a smile in her eyes, but there was regret in her tone, "I have heard the name Zuo Junyuan from my father several times. He is a capable and ambitious person, but unfortunately he does not know how to adapt. My father tried to win him over several times before, but failed. This person is really a bit ungrateful. Find a time to go out of the palace behind the shopping people and bring a message to my father."

The maid listened attentively. The queen said, "When this case becomes a big deal, Jiang Xingzhou dotes on his only daughter so much that he will definitely investigate it to the end. When the time comes, we will try to put the blame on Zuo Junyuan and say that he failed to govern well. When Jiang Xingzhou makes a big fuss and insists on holding the magistrate accountable, we will ask father to help Zuo Junyuan and give him a chance to live."

The Queen raised her lips and said confidently, "Zuo Zhixian is so honest and upright, I believe he will be grateful and repay his kindness. We are helping him in his time of need, he will definitely want to repay us."

She said slowly, "This also fulfills my father's wish to recruit County Magistrate Zuo as his own."

The palace maid nodded, chuckled, and praised: "Your Majesty is right."

…

Zuofu.

Madam Zuo is holding Zuo Jixuan.

Zuo Jixuan would repeatedly put his little hands into his mouth. Every time Madam Zuo took them away, she would scold him. Finally, seeing that Zuo Jixuan refused to change, she stopped scolding him and asked the maid to find a clean doll for Zuo Jixuan to bite.

As soon as Magistrate Zuo returned to the government office, his wife found him with her child in her arms, "Zhizhou He has always disagreed with you on politics. He has relied on his high position to suppress and humiliate you many times. Why are you helping him this time?"

She was full of anger and annoyance, and the county magistrate kept backing away, "Madam, haven't you always wanted to see me rise to prominence?"

Madam Zuo was stunned for a moment. "Did you hear me asking Miss Jiang for help?"

She stamped her feet and said, "I just feel that with your talent, you should have been promoted long ago. I feel sorry for you, not disgusted. If you are so spineless that you want to curry favor with an old man like He Huairong who sucks your blood and changes his mind according to the situation just for the sake of an official position, I will take Xuan'er back to my parents' home."

County Magistrate Zuo laughed helplessly, "You misunderstood."

He called a servant over and found out that He Zhizhou's letter was sent to the wrong place. It was not sent to the yamen, but directly to his mansion.

He Huairong had been at odds with him for many years, and this time, in addition to sending a letter, he also sent a rare gift.

County Magistrate Zuo thought of what Rong Ting had already found out when he was here, and his eyes couldn't help but turn cold.

What does it matter if I give you a gift today? Tomorrow they will probably bring soldiers and accuse you of neglecting your governance and sheltering unruly people, and they will hold you accountable for your crimes.

This gift is no different from fine wine mixed with poison.

He shook his head, looking sad.

Seeing his expression like this, Madam Zuo frowned and said,

What I said just now was just angry words. Do you have any difficulties? ”

The magistrate shook his head. "Since Magistrate He has sent the letter to your house, I will go and take a look. As for the gift he sent, please take the trouble to return a suitable gift. I will have some dealings with him recently, but I will not go along with him as you worry."

"Then why did you prepare a return gift for him?"

"I promised Jiu..." The magistrate paused, realizing that he almost let Rong Ting's identity slip. He paused for a moment and said, "I promised Master Qi something, so I have to arrange it this way. Madam, please don't ask any more questions."

He smiled and pulled Zuo Jixuan's little hand in Madam Zuo's arms, "Xuan'er, Daddy will wait until the clouds clear and the moon appears."

…

After the trusted palace maid found a way to leave the palace, the queen recalled what the palace maid had reported to her and suddenly realized something.

Many people died in the fire in Rui County, but the palace maid did not say clearly whether Jiang Rao was among them.

Empress Jiahe flicked the smoke from the incense the emperor gave her, and her expression gradually changed.

Jiang Rao went south and concealed her identity from the outside world. Queen Jiahe knew this from the beginning.

She calculated the days and found that He Zhizhou's letter had already been sent to Xu's house, but the spy she arranged to be next to Jiang Rao had lost contact at some point.

Could it be that the fire also hurt her people?

Empress Jiahe frowned and counted on her fingers. In the past few years, the number of missing assassins has increased.

The pattern of the silver snake embroidery on the assassins' clothes should be changed.

She had finally won Emperor Zhaowu's heart, and she couldn't let him become suspicious of her again.

Empress Jiahe glanced outside, trying to find someone trustworthy to help her deliver a letter to the Xu residence. When she looked outside, she saw the figure of the Seventeenth Prince appear in the Jinxiu Palace.

No matter how trustworthy a palace maid is, she cannot compare to her own biological son. Empress Jiahe laughed and asked the palace maid to summon the Seventeenth Prince into the inner hall. She drafted a letter and asked the Seventeenth Prince to take it with him when he left the palace.

She looked at the ruddy complexion of the Seventeenth Prince, which was much darker than last year. She knew every move of the Seventeenth Prince very well. She raised her eyelids and looked at the Seventeenth Prince, "Why do you like to go to the martial arts field so much these days?"

The seventeenth prince stood aside, lowering his eyelids and not daring to meet Empress Jiahe's gaze. "The day when the foreign nations will pay tribute is approaching. When their warriors come, father will definitely ask us to compete with them again. I don't want to be outdone."

The queen smiled and said

He patted the Seventeenth Prince's arm and said, "It's great that you have such thoughts."

"Where are the envoys who came to pay tribute?" Queen Jiahe glanced at the Seventeenth Prince and felt that he was a little thin and weak, perhaps he could not compete with the burly and strong warriors of the foreign race.

What may determine the outcome of a martial arts competition may not necessarily be martial arts skills.

If the warriors brought by the envoy eat something bad on the way, or if something happens during the competition... the winner will be her little Seventeen.

This is a matter of saving face for Da Zhao. As long as she can win, even if she uses some inferior means, the emperor will definitely forgive her if he finds out.

Those from other ethnic groups are all rough people, and they can't see through my little tricks.

During this year, she also tested the Emperor Zhaowu's tolerance for her and clashed with other concubines several times. Even when she was wrong, Emperor Zhaowu always stood on her side. Empress Jiahe was reassured for a moment and looked at the Seventeenth Prince with satisfaction. She did not tell the Seventeenth Prince her plan, "My mother believes in you. You will definitely win over those barbarians."

The seventeenth prince clenched his fist, nodded slightly, and said seriously: "I will do my best."

He glanced at Empress Jiahe hesitantly and asked timidly, "Can I go to the martial arts arena more often in the next few days?"

Empress Jiahe wanted to tell him that he didn't need to waste his time, but she had been living a comfortable life these days, so she became more indulgent towards the Seventeenth Prince and was not as strict as before. She smiled and nodded slightly in agreement, "Don't delay your studies. If you want to go to the martial arts arena, go ahead."

The seventeenth prince laughed, and the gloom in his eyes disappeared. He said loudly, "Thank you, mother."

Queen Jiahe looked at his back as he walked out.

After a few years, the Seventeenth Prince had grown a lot taller.

It's time to leave the palace.

After the separation of the residences, the time came to discuss marriage.

Whether it is the mansion after the separation or the marriage, her son should get the best.

…

Three days later, envoys from foreign countries arrived in the capital.

Emperor Zhaowu held a palace banquet as in previous years. When the envoys heard that Rong Ting had met with trouble in Huaizhou, they knew that they could not mention Rong Ting's name in front of Emperor Zhaowu. They were also afraid that if they asked the warriors to come out and compete with the prince of Dazhao, it would remind Emperor Zhaowu of Rong Ting. For fear of bringing bad luck, they did not even dare to mention the matter again.

Seeing that the envoy was slow to introduce the warriors, Empress Jiahe took the initiative to lean closer to Emperor Zhaowu after three rounds of wine and said softly, "Why haven't the warriors come out?"

The envoy was not far away and heard what Empress Jiahe said.

Then I took a look over there.

Emperor Zhaowu followed Empress Jiahe's instructions and asked the envoy when the warrior would come out. The envoy said respectfully, "Adanu is waiting outside. If Your Majesty wants to see him, I will call him up."

Emperor Zhaowu nodded.

The envoy gave a few instructions to his attendants and asked them to call the warriors over.

He put down the wine glass in his hand, and the wine in the slightly swaying glass reflected his dissatisfied expression.

He saw the excitement in Queen Jiahe's expression when she mentioned the warriors just now.

The Queen of Dazhao gave him the impression that she was always very good at dealing with people and never made people feel uncomfortable. But today, he raised his glass and pretended to drink, but actually glanced at the Emperor and the Queen. He felt that Queen Jiahe was a little more reckless and not as calm and steady as before.

Such thoughts just won't go away.

When the warriors entered, Empress Jiahe glanced at the palace maid beside her. The palace maid received her glance and quietly left.

Empress Jiahe smiled faintly, leaned close to Emperor Zhaowu's ear, and whispered, "I know that we always lost in previous years. Your Majesty is kind-hearted and never gets angry, but you must be hoping that Dazhao can win. Now Yuan'er has been practicing martial arts hard and has made great progress. Maybe he can win back face for your Majesty."

Emperor Zhaowu smiled lightly and patted the Queen's hand gently, as if he agreed, but did not say anything.

Empress Jiahe waited for the other princes to lose face first before calling out the seventeenth prince.

The venue was changed to Qingyuantai.

The place here was wide and the wind was strong. After arriving here, Emperor Zhaowu adjusted the collar for the empress.

The Queen's eyes were soft and grateful. When Emperor Zhaowu turned around, she raised the corners of her lips and looked back at the figure of Concubine Yun.

When there are warrior competitions, high-ranking imperial concubines can come to Qingyuan Terrace to watch the ceremony.

But when she looked out with a proud gaze, she couldn't find Concubine Yun.

The empress pursed her lips and asked Emperor Zhaowu, "Sister Yun loves to be in the crowd, why is she nowhere to be seen?"

Could it be that Qin Yun had offended the emperor before she could take action? He was ignored and imprisoned.

When Empress Jiahe thought of this possibility, she sneered inwardly.

Emperor Zhaowu's voice came faintly with the sound of the wind, "The Imperial Concubine dotes on her niece as if she were her own flesh and blood. The scene of foreign warriors competing with our princes only happens once a year, which is a rare event. Imperial Concubine Yun's niece is returning to the capital today, and she wants to bring her over to see it. She will come over after she picks her up."

Empress Jiahe put on a gentle expression on her face. As she listened to Emperor Zhaowu's words, she was horrified in her heart. The corners of her lips trembled a few times in shock as if they could not hold it back.

How many nieces does Qin Yun have?

Isn’t he…dead…?

Emperor Zhaowu looked at Empress Jiahe with a still indifferent gaze.

The Queen's voice trembled, "Your Majesty, are you talking about Miss Jiang Si from the Ning'an Marquis's Mansion?"