Chapter 646: Dark Chess
Liang Guangyi rarely agreed with Xiao Yan in his attitude and refused to allow the officials from the aristocratic families to influence the war at this time. However, Emperor An tried twice to send people to "reinforce" Marquis Wenxin and others, but after being refuted by Xiao Yan, he gave up the idea.
Qian Baokun and Xiao Yan were discussing the allocation of grain and grass in the south, and Cao Dejiang was listening.
When Jinyun brought in the news from the palace, not only Qian Baokun and Cao Dejiang were stunned, even Xiao Yan was at a loss for a moment.
However, the three of them were not shallow-minded people after all, and they had been immersed in the court for a long time, so their minds were very clear. After being surprised for a moment, they all figured out the reason why the Queen Mother did this.
Jinyun said, "The girl sent a message saying that she had rejected the Queen Mother. Although the Queen Mother was not angry, the atmosphere was not good. The Queen Mother did not make things difficult for the girl, but said that she would hold a banquet in Shoukang Palace tomorrow to entertain the ladies who came to the palace to attend to the patient."
"The girl said she was a little worried that something might happen tomorrow, and she was also afraid that the Queen Mother and Emperor An might have other plans. So she wanted to ask the Master if she could take charge of the banquet preparations and find a way to send some people to Shoukang Palace, just in case."
Jinyun paused after finishing his words. "By the way, the young lady also said that the Queen Mother's recovery was somewhat strange. I wonder if she had pretended to be seriously ill so that she could use this as an excuse to recruit people to the palace to take care of her, or if there was something else going on. She asked if she could investigate the case of Doctor Wu who treated the Queen Mother."
Qian Baokun frowned and turned away after hearing this: "The Empress Dowager's illness is indeed strange. She has been ill for more than half a year. Many people in the Imperial Medical Bureau have taken over, but her condition has not improved. I have never heard of Imperial Doctor Wu's superb medical skills before, so how come he is so amazing this time?"
"Then what Imperial Doctor Wu said to the public was the help of astrology."
Cao Dejiang spoke in a deep voice, "I've asked the Imperial Observatory before, and the director, Yan Hongjun, was very smooth-talking. He just said that what he reported was indeed what he observed. When I asked him if His Majesty had asked him to observe it or if he did it himself, he avoided the topic and kept silent."
Xiao Yan sat aside, his moon-white robe giving him an ethereal aura, and the high jade crown made his face look like cold jade.
"Yan Hongjun's silence alone speaks volumes about who instigated this so-called astrological theory. Furthermore, since the Empress Dowager was able to point out Princess Tangning's words, Emperor An must also be aware of this matter."
"Wu Qiuping has been staying in Shoukang Palace, with someone accompanying him at all times. There are others from the Wu family, but if the Queen Mother was truly ill, Wu Qiuping would not have informed his family, especially since his youngest son had just been sent to the palace."
If it was just a reward for curing the empress dowager's illness, it would be fine. But if it was for other reasons, such as the youngest son of the Wu family entering the palace, then Wu Qiuping and the other members of the Wu family would probably be even less willing to speak, and there would be no point in trying to investigate them.
Xiao Yan's fingers fell on the table, making a light "thump thump" sound.
Qian Baokun and Cao Dejiang both looked at him, and neither of them spoke to interrupt his thoughts.
After a moment, Xiao Yan paused and said to Jinyun, "You should arrange matters in the palace first. Since Shoukang Palace is hosting a banquet, it's impossible for it to only entertain Tang Ning and the others. If Emperor An and the Crown Prince go, they will definitely be accompanied by other concubines. Send a message to Concubine Zhao Gui and ask her to find a way to get there."
"Arrange a few more people to serve as palace maids, just in case."
Jinyun nodded: "Yes."
Xiao Yan continued, "Go ask Feng Lai if he knows what Emperor An is planning. Also, tell him and Yue Jian to allow them to act as they see fit. Everything should be done with Tang Ning and Madam Rong's safety in mind. Also, protect Miss Qian and Marquis Wenxin's wife and daughter. Don't let anything happen to them in the palace."
Qian Qiyue entered the palace for Tang Ning, so nothing must happen to her.
As for the wife of Marquis Wenxin and the others, Marquis Wenxin is still fighting on the front line, and he must not be distracted.
"There's no need to worry too much about Madam Cao and Madam Fu. The Queen Mother isn't foolish enough to touch them, but she's gotta have people keep an eye on them to make sure nothing goes wrong."
Jinyun naturally knew that these were the wives of people who were on good terms with the master, and he would take care of them if he could. He nodded and said, "I understand."
When Xiao Yan was giving orders to his subordinates, neither Cao Dejiang nor the other said a word. After Xiao Yan had given his instructions and Jinyun went out to make arrangements, Qian Baokun looked at Xiao Yan in surprise.
"That Concubine Zhao is actually yours?"
Emperor An had a large number of concubines. In his early years, when he was still wise, he did not abstain from women and his harem was full of beauties. Later, when he started taking elixirs and had strong energy and spent every night in love, the harem was filled with more beauties than he could count.
Many of those women could only gain Emperor An's temporary favor. If they were lucky, they would be given a title and a rank. If they were unlucky, Emperor An would forget them after favoring them. Those who were originally palace maids were still palace maids, and more than a dozen people who were not palace maids were crowded in one palace. They did not live a rich life, and were even worse than ordinary women who married out of the palace.
There were only so many people in Emperor An's harem who could be mentioned. In the early days when the aristocratic families were powerful, the empress came first, followed by the virtuous concubine, the prosperous concubine, and the virtuous concubine. Most of the concubines who came after her also had excellent family backgrounds and were born into wealth and nobility.
The only exception was Concubine Zhao. She came from an ordinary official family, had no deep family background, and had never given birth to a child. However, she was given a high position because of her stunning beauty, and Emperor An was always thinking about her.
In the harem, although Zhao Guipin was not a concubine, her status was extremely high.
Although Qian Baokun always knew that Xiao Yan must have his own people in the palace, and he must have made many plans and arrangements over the years, he never expected that this noble concubine who rarely interacted with the outside world was actually Xiao Yan's person.
Xiao Yan casually said, "Zhao Guipin is not mine. It's just that I helped her once unintentionally in my early years, and she is just remembering the past."
Cao Dejiang heard this but had doubts in his heart. He knew Xiao Yan's character. If Xiao Yan was not sure that Zhao Guipin was capable of control, he would not use Zhao Guipin in the matter of Tang Ning. It made no difference whether he wanted to conquer her or just show her kindness and be willing to repay her.
However, he did not ask any further questions, but simply said: "It is indeed a bit strange that the Queen Mother is holding a banquet at this time, and it is no wonder that Tang Ning is surprised and suspicious."
Qian Baokun frowned impatiently. "The war in the South is intense. Everyone knows that the Ministry of Revenue is running out of money. Why would the palace hold a banquet at this time? Besides, so many soldiers are fighting for their lives out there. Can't they just sit back and relax? They always have to find something to stir up trouble."
Cao Dejiang was also annoyed.
Whether it was the Queen Mother or Emperor An, as the people in power in the Great Wei, they only focused on their own petty gains, and none of them was willing to lower their heads to see the current situation of the Great Wei.
Emperor An would not be unaware of the news sent back from the northwest. Beiling was frequently mobilized, and Luoyan Pass was almost in preparation for war. Even Liang Guangyi could temporarily put aside his previous grudges and work with Xiao Yan to suppress the court officials so that the war in the south could go smoothly and King Pingshan could be captured and killed sooner.
But the Empress Dowager and Emperor An were not at peace. At this time, they were still thinking of plotting some secret things against the wives and daughters of court officials.
It is truly a misfortune for the Wei Dynasty to have such a person in power.
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