The imperial envoy sent to the north never returned, and even the team of 300 soldiers from the Shenshu Camp that was sent along with the imperial envoy has not been heard from since.
Just when the Second Prince was getting as anxious as an ant on a hot pan and almost thought that General Shi had rebelled and defected to Qi Xu, the team sent to the north finally sent back news.
Already on the way back.
However, they came back the same way they went, and did not arrest King You who was in the north.
"How dare this old man Shi Zhiheng disobey the orders of this prince!"
The second prince was so angry that he threw the memorial on the table.
The door of the imperial study was pushed open from the outside, and Concubine Ling walked in gracefully with two teams of palace servants. The palace servants behind them gently placed the ginseng tea they brought on the table. Concubine Ling personally poured a cup and handed it to them, "I heard from Eunuch Sui that you didn't sleep until dawn last night. How could you have had enough rest? Drink this ginseng tea quickly and replenish yourself."
The Second Prince's anger subsided a little in front of Concubine Ling, but his expression was still ugly.
Seeing this, Concubine Ling said, "I just heard you get angry outside. What's the matter? Who is so blind as to make my son angry?"
Concubine Ling has been quite happy these days.
Emperor Xiaoming said that he was ill in bed, but in fact, he was unable to face the previous chaos, so he used the excuse of illness to hide away. He did not hide anywhere else, but "hid" in the Qionghua Palace where Concubine Ling was.
At first, Concubine Ling tried her best to serve Emperor Xiaoming so well that he was reluctant to leave and willingly handed over power to the Second Prince. Later, the Second Prince got his wish and began to take charge of government affairs. Concubine Ling was tired of spending so much time to please Emperor Xiaoming every day, so she simply invited a few of the "prostitutes" previously prepared for the Grand Theater to come to the palace.
This method of training prostitutes was thought of by Xue Linglong when she came up with the idea of rebuilding the theater.
These prostitutes were also different from the prostitutes in ordinary brothels. They were much better in both appearance and talent. Otherwise, the idea of placing them in big theaters and having them be sought after by the young men in the capital would not have been thought of during the previous planning.
Now that he had no time to take care of the Grand Theater, Emperor Xiao Ming made an excuse of being ill, and Concubine Ling immediately saw "hope" in it.
Perhaps she didn't have to endure that long to become the most noble woman in Dayong...
The son is about to take charge of the power, who would have the patience to keep serving an old man?
Concubine Ling arranged for several prostitutes to accompany Emperor Xiaoming for drinking and entertainment every day, which not only made Emperor Xiaoming happy and reluctant to leave, but also made herself feel much more relaxed and at the same time made Emperor Xiaoming feel a little guilty about herself, and took the opportunity to transfer more power to her.
Less than half a month had passed, and the court officials had stopped urging Emperor Xiaoming to come forward.
It seemed that he had completely accepted it, and the second prince was in charge of the government.
This "generation" may be permanent.
In her mind, it was a foregone conclusion that the Second Prince would become the next emperor. Regardless of what happened in Beiman and Xiliang, who could compete with the Second Prince when the Emperor, the Queen Mother, and the court officials all supported him?
No one!
Concubine Ling could almost see what the future second prince would look like when he sat on the dragon throne.
She didn't care about the Second Prince's anger. "Whoever makes my son angry will be arrested! I want to see who is so bold."
"It's still that guy Qi Xu." The second prince frowned.
He is not as optimistic as Concubine Ling.
Only when he really sat in this position did he realize that many things are not as they seem on the surface.
He knew that in his mother's mind, Qi Xu was a "loser" who had already been eliminated. He only had a few thousand men under his command, and was not a match for the imperial army...
Sure enough, after hearing this, Concubine Ling said, "If he provokes you, just arrest him and punish him. Your father will never speak for him."
"I wanted to do this, but Shi Zhiheng... General Shi used the excuse that the border was tense and he couldn't spare any troops to arrest people!" The second prince said with gritted teeth, "They are all excuses, mother. The secret letter from the team I sent has already said that there is no war going on at the border. Shi Zhiheng deliberately disobeyed my orders!"
"Shi Zhiheng..."
"Loyal and Brave Marquis..."
Concubine Ling muttered, her eyes flickering.
"General Shi was a soldier under the command of the late emperor in his early years. He was unwilling to attack Qi Xu, perhaps because he was thinking of the friendship he had with the late emperor."
"But it doesn't matter. Mother has a way to make him take action even if he doesn't want to!"
Concubine Ling spoke with a firm tone.
The second prince was puzzled. What could she do?
Their eyes met, and he saw the viciousness in his eyes, and suddenly he reacted.
After a moment of silence, he cupped his hands and said, "I'll trouble you, mother, to take care of that."
…
Almost at the same time, in the small Buddhist temple in the corner of the backyard of Duke Xu's mansion.
The old man, who had already changed into a plain robe, was full of gratitude, "Madam, I am sorry to have bothered you these past two days."
"What are you talking about, old lady?" Lady Xu Guogong quickly waved her hand modestly and sighed, "Lord Luo specifically told us to keep a low profile, so we can only place you here temporarily. I am worried that I have neglected you."
The wife of Duke Xu is also old enough to have great-grandchildren.
The old lady in front of her was older than her and had a head full of white hair.
It was the old lady of the Shi family who had received an invitation and came to Duke Xu's mansion the day before to watch the coming-of-age ceremony of the youngest daughter of Duke Xu's eldest son.
After watching the ceremony and drinking the banquet the day before, the Shi family's carriage, like other families' carriages, took the master away.
However, the one who was taken back was actually the "impersonator" hidden in the Xuguo Mansion, who had been arranged by Lord Luo. The real old lady took the opportunity to stay in the Xuguo Mansion.
Just wait until today, and take the carriage that the wife of Duke Xu uses to burn incense at the temple, and you will be able to leave the city smoothly. Then, the team arranged by Lord Luo outside the city will escort you all the way north.
In just over a month, I will be able to meet General Shi who is far away in the north!
The Shi family was now left with only this mother and son.
One is at an age with a head full of white hair and ready to give up at any time.
Another situation is being stationed on the front line, having to keep your head on your belt at all times.
The mother and son had long been prepared to never see each other again in this life, but now they suddenly had this opportunity.
Lord Luo worked for King You, but that was not the point. Old Madam Shi was extremely grateful to Duke Xu's Mansion for being willing to step in and help.
"Madam, you don't have to thank us. If you really remember this favor..." Lady Xu sighed, "My nephew and his family are still exiled to Beiguan, and I don't know what their situation is. When you get to Beiguan, I hope you can help take care of us."
Old Lady Shi had long heard about the fact that Wei Maolin, an imperial censor, was exiled for submitting a letter of remonstrance to the emperor.
"Don't worry, Madam Guogong. When we get to Beiguan, I will take care of Lord Wei and his family as if they were my own juniors."
As they were talking, the carriage was ready.
Carrying Old Madam Shi, they headed out of the city in a low-key manner.
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