But things happen unexpectedly. Emperor Jianxi had been worried for days and was also old. When he suddenly learned that his beloved son could be saved, the breath he had been holding on to finally eased and his illness came like a mountain.
Emperor Jianxi was unable to set off, which was exactly what Shangguan Shu wanted.
According to his plan, by transferring Zhao Xi away, he could take this opportunity to get things done. Once Emperor Jianxi wrote the edict of enthronement, it would be difficult for Zhao Xi to return to Beijing.
A prince who is not in the capital when the emperor chooses his successor has already lost the opportunity.
Even if Emperor Jianxi was not sick, he would not let him go to Dali with Zhao Xi. He needed to separate the emperor and the prince.
Of course, he also left a way out.
What if Emperor Jianxi saw through his plan?
Emperor Jianxi was not a foolish or incompetent monarch. He was the victor in the succession bid and was extremely cunning and shrewd. If he was suspicious and cast suspicion on himself...
The worst that could happen is that he would reveal his cards. He just wanted the emperor to give his Ying'er a chance. He had schemed so many things just to get an opportunity that the princes could easily get.
There is a reason for choosing Dali. Dali has been troubled by the border recently. Northern Myanmar colluded with local officials to sell a kind of grass seed juice called "Afurong" to Da Chu. The drug is addictive and can cause mental disorder, skin ulcers and sudden death over time.
The people of Dali were living in poverty and had no food to eat because of this small amount of hibiscus. As the price of hibiscus was high, the people gave up growing millet and planted opium, which led to a decrease in local rice production. If this continued, the harm would be widespread.
At present, Dali has tens of thousands of hectares of fertile land, which can provide 70% of the grain needed by the south of Dachu. If Dali stops growing grain, the people in the south will go hungry, and soon the national grain prices will rise. Even if they rise, grain will be hard to come by.
They could only buy grain from Jiaozhi, Siam and other countries at high prices, but their situation was not much better than Dali. How could that little grain be enough to meet the needs of the people of Da Chu?
Before this, Emperor Jianxi discussed with him that he should first stabilize the country, which meant sending officials to Dali to strictly investigate local officials, cut down all opium and plant wheat on the spot. However, several imperial envoys who went there in succession either died inexplicably or were disobeyed by the people below.
Even the local people offered strong resistance, believing that the imperial envoy's cutting down of opium would cut off their livelihoods. They knew that the law did not punish the masses, so they openly defied the court.
After wave after wave of imperial envoys were sent to maintain internal stability without any results, Emperor Jianxi began to think of repelling foreign aggression.
This was a last resort, which meant letting him lead his troops to rob food from neighboring countries.
But if anyone can accomplish this task, it will certainly solve the court's great difficulties and will be enough to prove his ability and talent.
He believed in Zhao Ying.
If it was her wish to travel freely in the sky and fly at will, then he would tear off the shackles that bound her and let her fly.
In the past, he owed her too much, and from now on, he will fulfill all her wishes.
It's just a throne...
After lunch, Shangguan Shu was summoned into the palace.
Perhaps it was because Emperor Jianxi himself was in poor health and his son was not going to be by his side, which aroused the emperor's vigilance. He did not say anything, but only told Shangguan Shu lightly that he decided to let Zhao Ying take Zhao Xi to seek medicine.
He didn't trust others, he believed that only Zhao Ying would not hurt Zhao Xi.
Shangguan Shu showed no expression after hearing this. He had long guessed what kind of person Emperor Jianxi was. He would rather kill the wrong person than let him go. He was just on guard and wanted to cut off the source of his trouble. Since Zhao Xi was not around, he would also get rid of Zhao Ying.
Fortunately, Shangguan Shu had a backup plan.
Shangguan Shu said, "If Your Majesty wants Princess Chengqian, a woman, to go and get medicine for His Royal Highness Prince Ding, you should have come up with a suitable excuse so that His Royal Highness Prince Ding won't be accused of relying on a little woman, nor will people suspect that there is discord between the royal brothers. Your Majesty is having no choice but to let a princess go and get medicine!"
Since everyone is talking about Zhao Ying being a princess, he has to say something too.
When conferring the title, Zhao Ying was treated as a princess, but when doing things, she was used as a son? Since ancient times, how could a princess be asked to travel a long distance with a prince to seek medicine?
Emperor Jianxi lay on the dragon couch, a cloth covering his forehead. It was obvious that he had a high fever. In response to Shangguan Shu's sarcastic tone, Emperor Jianxi chuckled and said in a muffled voice, "According to you, what name should be established?"
Shangguan Shu said calmly, "Your Majesty, I dare to recommend Princess Chengqian to quell the rebellion in Dali!"
As soon as Shangguan Shu finished speaking, the bedroom fell silent for a moment.
After an unknown amount of time, Emperor Jianxi said cryptically, "I will give Cheng Qian a secret decree..."
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace."
Emperor Jianxi drove Shangguan Shu out. Outside the palace, Zhao Ying was waiting for Shangguan Shu to come out. When she saw Shangguan Shu coming out, Zhao Ying asked curiously, "What did the emperor say to you?"
Shangguan Shu pulled Zhao Ying away and said, "Let's talk in your Guangming Palace."
Arriving at the Hall of Brightness, Zhao Ying dismissed his attendants and said, "Tell me, what are you talking about so mysteriously?"
"The Emperor wants you to go to Dali and ask for medicine for Prince Ding."
Zhao Ying didn't comment. "And then?"
"Then I will recommend you to quell the rebellion in Dali!"
"The Dali Rebellion?" Zhao Ying had learned the reasons for the Dali Rebellion while serving as a calligrapher in the Imperial Study. She had also heard about the repeated setbacks that followed, and she felt resentful. She thought that if she went, she would definitely bring those traitors to justice one by one. Unfortunately, it was just a thought. She was a woman, not...
But Shangguan Shu said so, and looked at her with those bright eyes, full of relief and fascination. Her heart beat faster, and she couldn't help but ask, "Does the emperor... agree?"
Zhao Ying's tone was tentative and a little cautious.
Shangguan Shu smiled slightly and nodded.
Zhao Ying was startled, her heart seemed to be pulled, and then it stretched out like cotton soaked in water, becoming thick and moist.
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