Chapter 90: Palace Fighting Tactics
She quickly tugged at Xiao Linyuan's sleeve and said, "Your Highness, no one told me this. I just guessed it myself."
"Random guess? Did you guess the name Wang Ling?"
“…That’s not the case.”
Xiao Linyuan sighed. Although this girl was simple, she was not a fool who could make random guesses.
Since she misunderstood, the other party must have said something to mislead her.
She simply has no idea how sinister people are.
Wang Ge replied, "Your Majesty, I have never mentioned Ling'er in front of Miss Song, and Chunsheng probably hasn't said anything about her either, as he doesn't talk much."
Suddenly, he thought of a possibility, "Could it be that Ling'er came to the clinic to see the prince a few days ago, was seen by others, and told Miss Song about it?"
Xiao Linyuan narrowed his eyes, "Isn't Wang Ling a favorite concubine in the palace? Why is she back to the clinic at this time?"
"Ling'er heard that the prince was in a coma and was very worried, so..."
"I have thousands of secret guards under my command. Doesn't that mean anyone can leave their post and come visit me in the clinic?"
Wang Ge knelt on one knee and said, "Your Highness, Ling'er didn't do it on purpose. She was just too worried about your safety, so she acted on her own initiative. However, the palace was in chaos that night, so no one would have discovered her whereabouts."
Xiao Linyuan closed his eyes and said coldly, "Since you are so willing to make amends for Wang Ling, you should take the punishment for her! However, the situation is serious now, so the punishment will be left until after the matter is accomplished!"
Wang Ge accepted the order and withdrew. The prince was very kind of him not to pursue the charge of shielding him from the crime.
After the prince and Miss Song had been together for the past two months, his temperament had become much gentler, which made him mistakenly believe that the prince had become easy to talk to.
In the past, in the military camp, the prince was called the Iron-faced General by the soldiers.
Song Zijin didn't understand military regulations, so he didn't dare to interfere with Xiao Linyuan's decision.
Moreover, Wang Ge was punished because Wang Ling abandoned her post and he covered up the crime, not because she was jealous of those things.
After Wang Ge left, Song Zijin asked, "What is the punishment?"
"Ten military sticks."
Song Zijin breathed a sigh of relief. There were only ten of them. That wasn't serious, right?
Xiao Linyuan laughed but didn't explain, for fear of scaring her.
"So what did Wang Ling say to you?"
Song Zijin hesitated for a long time before Xiao Linyuan understood the whole story.
He reached out and adjusted her crooked bun. "Wang Ling is using her palace fighting skills on you, idiot."
Considering that Wang Ling and others have made great contributions in dealing with Emperor Guangxi, we will give her some money and let her leave after the matter is over.
Keeping such a scheming person around would bring him a lot of trouble.
"Palace fight?" Song Zijin was confused.
This word was so new, it was the first time she heard it.
"It's the concubines in the harem who use tricks against other concubines in order to gain favor."
Song Zijin said disdainfully, "The emperor is so weak, what is there to fight for his favor?"
After spending a few days with her, Xiao Linyuan couldn't help but laugh when he finally saw her fresh expression.
"Favor represents more than just the affairs of the bed. Noble families send their daughters to the palace for the sake of the family's prosperity or decline. Those who are not favored will fight for it, and those who are favored will try to maintain it. It is not for the emperor's feelings, but for the power in his hands.
If a son is born, she will pave the way for him to seize the throne. Those without wits will not last long in the harem, because the women in the harem will fight for their entire lives.
Song Zijin understood that palace fighting was for power.
Fortunately, she avoided the selection and did not enter the palace, otherwise she might have become a pile of mud in a corner.
Xiao Linyuan couldn't help but poke her cheek. It was very elastic and felt better than he had imagined.
"Although I have forgotten the days we were together, I can guarantee that I have never been attracted to any other woman. Don't let anyone instigate you in the future. If you have any questions, ask me. Don't let your imagination run wild. Remember?"
Song Zijin avoided his touch. She was angry not only because of Wang Ling.
Xiao Linyuan was slightly discouraged.
But as a general, he was never short of patience.
There is a long way to go, and as time goes by, I will get her sooner or later.
So he smiled and pushed the almond tofu towards her.
"Eat quickly, this is made by me. Look, my hand is injured."
Song Zijin didn't want to go against the food, so he picked up the spoon and took a sip. The sweetness melted between his lips and teeth.
"How is it?" Xiao Linyuan observed her reaction.
"It's just okay."
"As long as it's edible, it's fine. This is my first time making it, so I'll have experience in the future."
Song Zijin bit the spoon hard, feeling indignant. How could he make it so delicious the first time?
It must be a blind cat catching a dead mouse.
"Tonight I want to eat pigeon stewed with bird's nest, steamed grouper, and flat-tipped duck stew."
Xiao Linyuan wiped the food residue from the corner of her mouth with his thumb and said with a smile, "You are still recuperating. Can you really eat so many greasy dishes?"
"I'm a miracle doctor!"
"Okay, okay, Dr. Song, I'll go learn it right now and I guarantee you'll be satisfied~"
——
A big event happened in the court——
Princess Qiyue is missing.
The man who was choosing a son-in-law in the camp outside Beijing the day before suddenly disappeared the next day.
At first, the people in the Honglu Temple didn't take it seriously and just thought that Huang Qiuyue had gone somewhere for fun.
She only brought a dozen people to Beijing, and she didn't report the matter because she thought there would be no big trouble.
It was not until King Qiwu sent an envoy because he failed to receive a letter from his daughter that the Junior Secretary of the Honglu Temple realized that something had happened.
The matter was reported quickly. Xiao Jin was unconscious, and Emperor Guangxi was not concerned about the small country of Qiwu. He only hastily sent the imperial guards to help search within the capital.
In his opinion, Huang Qiyue could knock two adult men away with one punch, so what could happen?
The matter was delayed again and again until King Qiwu concentrated his troops on the border.
Emperor Guangxi sat up from his illness, a look of disbelief on his face. "What did you say? Qiwu is planning a rebellion?"
The expression on the face of Minister of War Zhang Congfan was as if he had eaten shit. Who told you not to take Huang Qiyue seriously?
"Prime Minister, what do you think?"
Jiang Huaihai was confident, "King Qiwu is old and not capable of much. The Qiwu commander is Huang Qiyue, and with her away, the Qiwu army is just pretending to help Your Majesty find someone."
Zhang Congfan disagreed: "Prime Minister, Qiwu was the last country to surrender to King Jinyue. Their long-lasting resistance shows that their soldiers are very capable. You must not underestimate the enemy."
"Heh--" Jiang Huaihai laughed disdainfully.
"Although Lord Zhang holds a high position, he has never been to the military camp to experience military life, right? Let me tell you why Qiwu was so difficult to defeat back then. It was because Qiwu was cunning and sent a main force of women. King Jinyue's male soldiers hadn't seen a woman in years, and their legs were weak and they couldn't walk, so it took so long."
"..." Zhang Congfan rolled his eyes. Do you really think that everyone is like you, unable to walk when seeing a woman?
Jiang Huaihai only knows how to exploit the people all day long, and has no idea how deep the resentment of the people of Qiwu towards Dali is.
The pressure of tribute was enormous, and the quality of life of the people in Qiwu had seriously declined. There was no way to decline, so what was the point of rebellion?
It won't get any worse anyway.
Emperor Guangxi coughed a few times, his face gray and gloomy, "Then how do you think we should deal with this, Prime Minister?"
"I will write a letter to appease King Qiwu."
Zhang Congfan said, "No, Your Majesty. Qiwu borders Jinyue. It would be better to have King Jinyue send tens of thousands of troops to intimidate them."
"King Jinyue is unconscious, so how can he make arrangements?" Jiang Huaihai rolled his eyes.
"Prime Minister, you may not know this morning's news. King Jinyue has woken up, but he has suffered serious injuries and needs to rest for some time."
Emperor Guangxi's pupils trembled, "King Jinyue, he actually woke up?"
"yes!"
"What about Xiao Jin?"
"There's been no news from Minister Xiao's residence. I guess he hasn't woken up yet."
Emperor Guangxi shouted and threw the teacup beside him to the ground, "Why didn't anyone tell me?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
