"Tell me about Zhou Xinran in detail, without omitting anything."
Yan Yu began her story by saying, "After I arrived at the Ye family, Miss Ye asked me to go to the Zhou residence to rescue Guan Mu Ning. She had already fainted at the time..."
Su Yan tapped her bamboo-like fingers lightly on the table, listening carefully to Yan Yu's words.
Yan Yu made no attempt to hide anything, recounting how Guan Mu Ning had destroyed Zhou Xin Ran's body in the snow.
After he finished speaking, Su Yan waved his hand.
Yan Yu withdrew.
The study light was on, and Su Yan picked up a pen and began to write down why this could have happened.
1. The magistrate of Qingshui County was greedy and shielded Zhou Xinran from wrongdoing. How many magistrates would not be tempted by money and would shield evil deeds?
2. The county magistrate is the local official, who can control everything. When the people suffer injustice, they have no travel permits or connections. What can they do but endure it and seek justice?
...
The study light stayed on until late at night, and there were more than a dozen sheets of paper on the desk.
Su Yan finally put down his pen, blew out the lamp, lay down on the couch in the study, and closed his eyes.
Less than an hour later, Yan Yu came in and woke him up, saying, "My lord, it's time to go to court."
Su Yan rubbed his temples and immediately got up to get dressed.
He then picked up another piece of paper from Ye Panjiu, which contained only one sentence.
"Do not be elated by external gains, nor saddened by personal losses."
Yan Yu also saw it, and said, "Miss Ye's two sentences are very apt for the master."
Su Yan shook his head. "I'm far from that level. How could I possibly be unmoved by the eight winds? I'm just an ordinary mortal."
Three nights later, nearly a thousand soldiers secretly left the palace.
The difference was that these soldiers were all older, some with missing limbs and in tattered clothes.
But everyone's face was resolute. They had experienced life-and-death battles and had dedicated their blood to the Great Liang. The Emperor had not forgotten them!
Now that we trust them so much and have assigned them such an important task, they will certainly not fail in their mission!
Su Yan stood on the palace wall, watching the backs of the group of people.
“My dear minister, this world is too vast, and too many voices have entered our ears, and the wicked are always better at talking than the good.” Ning Xuan Canglan’s mournful voice rang out.
Su Yan felt bitter inside. “Your Majesty, you have done enough for the Great Liang. After a hundred years of rule, the dynasty has accumulated many problems. The powerful families are strong and the national treasury is empty. Since Your Majesty ascended the throne, you have worked diligently and responsibly, which is why the people have been able to enjoy some good days in the past few years.”
He wasn't lying. Since ascending the throne, Ning Xuan had never missed the morning court session. Besides attending court, he studied various subjects diligently every day, only going to bed later than him, never earlier.
The Great Liang Dynasty had been established for a hundred years. When Ning Xuan ascended the throne, the national treasury was not only empty, but it even owed money to the powerful families.
The powerful clans, with their military power and centuries of intermarriage, are not easily weakened.
There have been quite a few natural disasters in recent years, including floods in Xuzhou, locust plagues in Yuzhou, and snow disasters in Lianzhou. Ning Xuan has overcome them all, which is inseparable from his diligence.
However, due to excessive diligence, Ning Xuan's body aged prematurely. Although he was over fifty, he looked like he was already in his sixties.
Ning Xuan sighed, "I am too shocked by Zhou Xinran's matter. I can't sleep when I think about how many other Zhou Xinrans are colluding with me in Daliang to deceive me."
Su Yan advised, "Your Majesty, your health is of utmost importance. We will address each issue one by one."
Ning Xuan shook his head. "I am getting old. My three sons only have their eyes on the throne and money. Aren't they doing the same things as Zhou Xinran?"
If an emperor does not have compassion for his people, the Liang dynasty will inevitably fall into the wrong hands sooner or later.
If he chooses an unsuitable successor and loses the great empire, how will he face his ancestors in the afterlife?
He was put on the throne by someone else; he was not the biological son of the previous emperor, but merely the emperor's nephew.
The princes fought endlessly for the throne, even resorting to fratricide. The emperor could not bear to see his children kill each other like this, so after observing them for a while, he chose him and put him on the throne in his final years, teaching him in every way.
Therefore, he did not want to destroy the Great Liang.
Su Yan remained silent; since it involved the prince, he couldn't say more.
Ning Xuan turned to look at him, "It would be great if your surname was Ning."
Su Yan was terrified and hurriedly knelt down, "Your Majesty, I am filled with fear, I..."
Ning Xuan helped him up. "Why are you in such a hurry? I know you care deeply about the people, but what if the next emperor doesn't care about them? What will you do then?"
Su Yan sneered inwardly. What could he do? Of course, he would try his best to support him, and if he couldn't be supported, he would sideline him and become the regent. But he remained silent.
He had no desire to be emperor; there were too many restrictions on what he could do in that position. The prime minister was different.
"Yesterday, I coughed up blood in the night. The imperial physician said that my health is in danger and that my life force is failing. My dear minister, I don't have many years left to live. At the latest, after the New Year, I must choose a successor. I will push him to the throne. It would be best if he had the surname Ning. If I can't choose one, I will adopt you as my son and push you to the throne."
Su Yan broke out in a cold sweat. "Your Majesty, you cannot torture me like this."
He hadn't even won over his wife yet... For some reason, he had a feeling that Ye Panjiu would come to the capital, but she definitely wouldn't want to stay in the palace every day.
He felt resistant every time he entered the palace, because he didn't want to die in the palace without ever having a retirement.
Ning Xuan glared at him, "You good-for-nothing! You've been with me for over ten years. Don't I count as your father?"
When Su Yan was fifteen, he was selected as the top scholar in both civil and military affairs and started as a court attendant. Despite the objections of his ministers, he insisted on keeping him in the position of prime minister when he was only twenty years old.
Su Yan kowtowed forcefully, "In my heart, Your Majesty far surpasses my father, but I have my own selfish motives."
Ning Xuan sighed and helped him up. "Fine, let's choose someone with the surname Ning."
Su Yan then relaxed a little.
It was quite late when he returned to the Su residence from the palace. He had been busy for the past three days, trying to come up with a foolproof plan to deal with situations like Zhou Xinran's.
Only now did I find the time to write a letter to Ye Panjiu.
...
Ye Panjiu sat in Jiujiu Braised Food Shop, looking at the long queue outside the shop, calculating the money in her mind.
Two months have passed since I arrived, and it is now December.
She still earns more than five taels of silver every day, and has one hundred and fifty taels in hand.
After her parents took the ten taels from the academy, they never let her pay for household expenses again.
Neither the first wife nor the second wife needs to contribute any money.
In another month, after the New Year, she will have two hundred taels of silver.
Then it's time to go and explore other parts of Daliang.
A richly decorated carriage stopped in front of the shop.
Ye Panjiu frowned, stood up and looked at it carefully.
A spoiled young master, adorned with gold and jade from head to toe, shouted with a provocative expression, "Where is everyone?! Is this how you clean the table?! Is this a place to eat?!"
He was followed by four armed guards.
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