"Since His Majesty has decided not to kill Zhou Chuan, let's reward him for this. Eliminating the King of Chaoye and destroying the underground gang in Changsui is a great achievement. Now that the destabilizing factors in the capital have been eliminated, let's go abroad and convey the goodwill of the Great Jing to other countries to stabilize the border situation."
Wei You explained in detail: "Your Majesty, I suggest that you appoint Zhou Chuan as a special envoy and send him to the Western Regions. Your Majesty, think about it. There are hundreds of countries in the Western Regions. Once Zhou Chuan goes there, he won't be able to return for more than a year or two. During this time, he will lose contact with his consort while he is abroad, and their feelings will naturally fade. However, Your Majesty can show him care from time to time. When he returns from his mission, his feelings for Your Majesty will naturally surpass those for his consort."
Yuan Xiu laughed upon hearing this, and pointed at Wei You to Dian Chen, saying, "Dian Chen, listen carefully. Not everything has to involve fighting and killing. Learn from this!"
The official replied solemnly, "Your Majesty, Lord Wei's idea is good, but I cannot emulate it. I only know how to fight and protect Your Majesty's safety. These matters requiring brains are Lord Wei's forte!"
"That's quite modest." Yuan Xiu smiled with satisfaction and said to Wei You, "We'll do as you say!"
"yes!"
...
The Imperial Garden was bathed in bright sunshine.
It was summer of the eleventh year of the reign.
After the court session, Yuan Xiu, accompanied by Lü Lu and Wei You, took a stroll. Looking at the bright sunshine, he thought about how it was now his eleventh year on the throne, and couldn't help but feel great.
He was a puppet emperor when he ascended the throne, his freedom nonexistent, and even his life hanging by a thread. Later, through forbearance and cunning, he overthrew powerful ministers, and after assuming personal rule, he weakened the power of Zhao Huan and Yuan Zhang, truly consolidating power in his own hands. He drove out sea pirates, defeated the Southern Zhou, destroyed the Yedan, and brought half of the hundred kingdoms of the Western Regions to pay tribute…
Yuan Xiu became more and more excited as he thought about it, thinking that he was truly the greatest sage ruler in the history of the Great Jing Dynasty!
Moreover, he has only been emperor for eleven years and is still young. He has plenty of time to develop his civil and military affairs, and it is even possible for him to become the first sage ruler of this Eastern land!
When I'm in a good mood, everything looks much better, even the palace maids standing on both sides of the corridor don't seem so unpleasant anymore.
Yuan Xiu reached out and pinched a palace maid's face, startling her so much that she flinched and blushed deeply.
This scene also surprised Wei You and Lü Lu. The two looked at each other with strange expressions.
What's wrong with Your Majesty?
His Majesty is actually touching women?!
Wei You quickly caught up with Yuan Xiu and said, "This palace maid is very pretty. If His Majesty likes her, we can have Eunuch Lü arrange it tonight."
Yuan Xiu waved his hand dismissively and said, "What do you mean by 'skinny'? It's not as smooth as yours."
Wei You felt relieved, thinking to himself that it was good that His Majesty hadn't changed, that it was good that he hadn't changed...
When Yuan Xiu was talking to his subordinates, Lü Lu rarely interrupted, but this time he spoke up unusually, saying, "Your Majesty, since we've come to the topic of women, this old servant has something to report."
Yuan Xiu continued walking forward and said, "Speak."
Lu Lu followed up by saying, "A servant reported to me that he found out that Lord Mu Shanyue invited several important officials to his home for drinks last night."
Yuan Xiu asked calmly, "What business does Elder Mu have with them?"
Lü Lu said, "Establish an empress."
"You scoundrel!" Yuan Xiu's face immediately changed, and he shouted, "Back then, they forced me to select concubines, and I yielded and cooperated with them in choosing a few. The order of the concubines was also determined according to their wishes. What did they promise me back then? They said they would no longer interfere in the affairs of the harem! What does Mu Shanyue mean by this?! Are they senile?!"
"Your Majesty, please calm down!" Lü Lu and Wei You immediately knelt down, and the palace maids behind them also knelt down in fright.
Lu Lu continued, “Your Majesty, please forgive my bluntness, but Mu Shanyue is a pillar of the nation. He always considers matters from the perspective of the interests of the Great Jing, and he has no personal selfishness.”
Yuan Xiu stared at Lü Lu and asked, "Even you want to offer advice?"
"This humble servant brought back a message, spoken by Mu Shanyue himself," Lu Lu said, prostrating himself on the ground. "Old Mu said that the important thing is not whether His Majesty establishes an empress or not, but that it has been eleven years since His Majesty ascended the throne and His Majesty still has no heir."
Yuan Xiu trembled with anger and remained silent.
Lu Lu said, "This old servant is naturally trying to share Your Majesty's worries. Elder Mu's words are firstly because he is worried about the instability of the country, and secondly because he is worried that... he is worried that Your Majesty will have many criticisms in the court and among the people."
Upon hearing this, Wei You quickly prostrated himself, trembling with fear.
After his initial rage subsided, Yuan Xiu's expression calmed down, and he said in a deep voice, "This past year has seen great victories in the northern deserts, a state banquet, and the princess's wedding. The celebrations have been too frequent; they've forgotten that I can kill."
Lu Lu shouted, "This old servant has offended Your Majesty's majesty, please punish me!"
"You have only been honest with me, what crime have you committed?"
Yuan Xiu gently kicked Lü Lu with his foot, then turned and continued walking forward, saying, "Get up."
"Wei You, get up too! This has nothing to do with you, what are you afraid of?"
"yes……"
Wei Youwei shakily got up, his heart filled with panic.
Your Majesty, you may think this matter has nothing to do with me, but the ministers who know the truth do not think so!
Do you know what they say behind your back?
They say I am the sole recipient of His Majesty's favor, preventing His Majesty from extending his blessings equally to all.
That's the nice way of putting it. The unpleasant things they said were that I, Wei You, was a fox spirit reincarnated, bewitching the harem!
These people are simply spreading alarmist rumors and are utterly shameless!
I, Wei You, enjoy the Emperor's favor solely because of my sincerity and ability. How could I be a reincarnated fox demon?
Even though he had complaints in his heart, Wei You dared not say a word of them to Yuan Xiu.
Wei You thought for a moment and advised, "Your Majesty, why don't you... hurry up and have a prince?"
Yuan Xiu turned around abruptly, his eyes fixed on Wei You.
Wei You was so frightened that she fell to the ground again.
"You're becoming more and more unruly! Eunuch Lü can say these things to me, but you can't!"
"I...I will be punished by death!"
"You deserve to die! I'll spare your life for now, but if it happens again, I'll skin you alive!"
At this moment, Dian Chen strode over and said, "Your Majesty, Zhou Nuo requests an audience."
Yuan Xiu waved his hand and said, "Today at court, I issued an imperial edict to Zhou Chuan to go on a mission to the Western Regions. Zhou Nuo must have come for this matter. I will not see him!"
Dianchen said, "She has been waiting outside for an hour. I came to inform her because she was unwilling to leave."
“Even if she waits a whole day, I will not see her…” Yuan Xiu suddenly paused, as if he had thought of something, his eyes rolled, and he smiled and said, “I will see her, I will see her, after all, she is the first female instructor of our Great Jing, I cannot neglect her.”
"Quickly, invite her in!"
"yes!"
Lu Lu asked doubtfully, "Your Majesty, why have you suddenly changed your mind?"
Yuan Xiu chuckled wickedly, "Don't those old men insist that I appoint an empress? What do you say, how about I make Zhou Nuo the empress of our Great Jing?"
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