◇ Chapter 86 (86) Killing Three Birds with One Stone
Lianzhi was so well behaved, which was not right. She must be upset that he was drunk last night and was deliberately trying to get him to confess. Once he admitted it, she would call him to account.
Bo Kang asked tentatively: "What do you mean?"
"That's what you said last night when you were drunk." Lianzhi blinked. The word "drunk" made Bai Kang more certain of his thoughts. He took the official uniform from Lianzhi's hand and said, "Don't hold it anymore. Be careful not to get tired."
"It's okay, it's okay. I'll help you put it on. Look, Brother Kang, I'm not clumsy anymore!" Lianzhi stood up, put the official uniform on Bai Kang, and pushed him back to the table. As Lianzhi had said, he didn't put the uniform on incorrectly. Every button was in the right place, and he didn't tie the belt incorrectly. I don't know if she suddenly became interested in him, or if she had been practicing secretly.
Did you practice secretly just for him?
This is so cute.
Seeing that Bai Kang didn't say anything and was just trying hard to suppress the corners of his mouth, Lianzhi was a little surprised that he hadn't come to praise her yet, so she asked the servant to bring in some water and tie up Bai Kang's hair.
"Brother Kang, please say it again." Lianzhi sat beside him, looking at him eagerly. Bai Kang took the initiative and said, "I'm sorry."
Lotus branch:?
His face suddenly darkened, and he pouted and questioned, "Bo Kang, don't push your luck! Is it so hard to get a good word from you?"
"What good words?" Bai Kang asked slowly.
Lianzhi really wanted to hear Bai Kang express his loyalty again, saying that he would kill Emperor Jianguang for him... No, he didn't really want to hear it. He was angry and anxious, so he turned his head and ignored him. But Bai Kang was still stupid, poking his shoulder from behind: "What good words are you talking about, my dear? Tell me."
Lianzhi was annoyed by his poking, and turned around, whispering and about to speak, when she suddenly heard a "puff" sound coming from the opposite side. Bai Kang couldn't help but let out a laugh, and then burst into laughter.
What else is there to not understand now? Bai Kang clearly remembered what he said last night. He was just teasing him just now! Lian Zhi glared at him fiercely. He was fooled by Bai Kang again!
Bai Kang tried to pull his hand, but was slapped away again.
"Don't worry, baby. I remember everything." Bai Kang hugged the angry boy and rubbed his chin against his forehead. "Your husband is not a man who goes back on his word."
"...It's so painful. Remember to go shave after work today." Lianzhi grumbled, and was coaxed into a good mood. The rubbing just now made both of their hair a mess. Lianzhi pushed him and said, "You go tie your hair."
The servant who had been waiting on the side, not daring to utter a word, finally stepped forward. Bo Kang stopped arguing with him, yawned, and when he looked up to see the sky clearly, he jumped up from his chair in a hurry and hastily put on his official hat.
"It's over, it's too late... Qinghe, hurry up and get the car ready and follow me!"
I was so busy teasing Lianzhi that I didn't notice that it was getting brighter outside. I guessed it was almost time to go to court!
The room suddenly became a mess. Lianzhi watched everyone in a panic, then slowly returned to bed, wrapped in the quilt and lay down, looking very sneaky. Baikang was busy and saw Lianzhi so leisurely, and couldn't help but pinch his face: "You really can sleep well."
"You still want to order me around?" Lianzhi snorted. "It's all your fault for getting up late every day. If you get up half an hour earlier, you won't be late for anything I do."
This made a lot of sense, and Bai Kang couldn't argue with it, so he hurried away. Contrary to what he'd expected, Lianzhi had already given up on sleeping. As he left, the servant from before returned with water.
Lianzhi wiped her face and asked in a low voice, "How is it?"
"You're so wise! The Queen Mother woke up last night," the servant replied. His voice was unfamiliar, clearly not from the Shangshu Mansion. "His Majesty commended the two imperial physicians who treated the Queen Mother."
Lianzhi nodded and threw the towel back into the basin. The little white cat sleeping under the bed noticed that its other owner had left, and meowed as it jumped onto the bed, almost knocking over the basin. The servant was afraid that Lianzhi would be angry, so he was about to take the cat away. Lianzhi lifted the little white cat and shook it: "You think your father is annoying too, right? You like me more, right?"
The little white cat meowed again, and Lianzhi smiled with satisfaction: "Xiaobai is so good."
The servant said nothing more, lowered his head and went out. Liang Ye, who was guarding the door, said, "The young master and the master have a very good relationship."
"What do you mean?" the servant was puzzled.
"The young master named the kitten after the adults." Liang Ye held his chin with his hand, his expression even happier than when he got married. The servant didn't understand Liang Ye's thoughts and quickly left to go back to work.
The matter of the Empress Dowager's poisoning was quickly resolved, but it also involved an old case from a year ago: there was a heavy snow at the beginning of last year, and the court specially approved 100,000 taels of disaster relief silver to be sent to the north, but a small part of it disappeared.
The local officials who reported back explained that bandits were rampant along the way and that the relief grain had been lost during transportation. They also reported the whereabouts of the silver in a clear and organized manner. The matter was then over.
Only today, during an investigation, did the truth emerge: a full ten thousand taels of silver had vanished! The individuals responsible were none other than officials affiliated with the Empress Dowager and the Ministry of Revenue. Earlier this year, the Ministry of Revenue had purchased a new residence in Beijing. The truth is self-evident: jealousy grew between the Ministry of Revenue and officials affiliated with the Empress Dowager over an unequal distribution of the spoils, leading to their frequent targeting of the Empress Dowager's faction within the court. The conflict deepened, becoming irreconcilable.
The Ministry of Revenue's doctor was sentenced to immediate execution, and the person who was responsible for disaster relief was also sentenced to be executed later in the autumn. There were more than ten other people involved. Emperor Jianguang used this incident to severely suppress officials in the court.
Foreign merchants who sold spices were also fined heavily. Even the Princess Jinyang, who had dealings with foreign merchants, was severely reprimanded and had her salary fined.
It went very smoothly, almost strangely so. So much had been uncovered in just a few days, as if everything had been prepared in advance, just waiting for investigation. Using this incident to suppress the three parties was a brilliant move. Looking at Doctor Qin, who was dispensing medicine, Bai Kang casually asked, "Anyway, it would be best if the Empress Dowager could wake up. You've been very busy these past few days, haven't you?"
"My medical skills are not very good, so it was the judges who treated the Empress Dowager. With the judges' expertise, I think the Empress Dowager should be well now." Imperial Physician Qin weighed the herbs. Bo Kang said, "Is this the medicine prescribed for the Empress Dowager?"
Imperial Physician Qin inexplicably felt that Bai Kang had been talking too much today. Although he was usually talkative, he was always rambling on about irrelevant matters, saying that it wasn't time to start work yet so he wouldn't discuss business. Also, why was Master Bai suddenly concerned about the Empress Dowager?
"It's for the palace ladies. It's been cold lately, and many palace ladies have caught colds. Lord Bai should also be careful," Imperial Physician Qin advised. Bai Kang thanked him and left the Imperial Hospital.
Outside the Secretariat, the Prime Minister and Minister Du were waiting for him. Seeing Bai Kangcai arrive, Minister Du asked, "You're coming from the Imperial Study? What is Your Majesty's opinion?"
"I also went to the Imperial Hospital." Bo Kang glanced back and said loudly, "I have official business to report. Please move aside, sir."
Walls have ears, and the three of them entered the inner chamber of the Secretariat together. After closing the door, Bo Kang spoke, "Your Majesty's intention is to allow the Prince of Longxi to enter the capital."
"Ridiculous." Thinking back to what just happened, the Prime Minister sighed, "How is this any different from inviting a wolf into the house?"
Just now, in the Imperial Study, the Prime Minister and his men argued forcefully, hoping that Your Majesty would reconsider. Although the forces in Mobei had been losing ground, at this critical juncture, someone still needed to guard the border to prevent unrest.
The Minister of War said that the King of Longxi was very powerful and needed to be recalled to the capital to suppress him and his subordinates.
"If the Prince of Longxi wins again, his reputation will rise even higher. Wouldn't that mean he'll surpass His Majesty?" Bai Kang imitated the Minister of War's tone. "That's what they say."
"Your Majesty, how can you believe one side of the story?" Minister Du sighed. "The Helan tribe is the best example! If they hadn't insisted on summoning Prince Mu to the capital, leaving the north without a general, I'm afraid we wouldn't be shackled by the Helan tribe everywhere. How dare such a small country boss us around?"
Was he really just believing one side of the story, or had he always planned this? Bai Kang didn't answer. He propped his chin up, tapping the tabletop with his fingers. "Anyway, the courier has already received it. We can't say anything about what happens next. His Majesty doesn't trust us."
"That's wrong. It's the officials' duty to advise Your Majesty." The Prime Minister disagreed.
If we were to ask which official in the court most disapproved of Emperor Chen Fengke, it would be the Prime Minister. Emperor Jianguang's usurpation of the throne was an unjust act, and even if he had a good reputation in the past, it could not cover up his past mistakes. But if we were to ask who loved Emperor Jianguang the most and supported him the most, it would also be the Prime Minister.
Regardless, that man is sitting on the throne now.
In the past, Bo Kang had learned the true teachings of the Prime Minister and he also agreed with his mentor.
"Perhaps, Your Majesty has always thought so?" Bai Kang said softly.
The two people opposite were older and a little hard of hearing. They didn't hear what Bo Kang said clearly and asked in unison, "What did you say?"
"Nothing." Bo Kang raised his hand, retracting his dreamy expression. "The Imperial Guards and the Ministry of War must have already prepared a countermeasure. I mean, Your Majesty might not be unprepared."
Unlike Bo Kang, who was contemplating plotting and persuading the Prime Minister and Minister Du, Lianzhi had set up a recliner in the courtyard, watching the servant brew medicine while she lazily basked in the sun outside, holding her little white cat. It was a rare sunny day, and the charcoal pot burning in the house had a slightly pungent smell, but the warm sunlight was much more comfortable.
After attempting suicide several times, only to be stopped each time, An Shi stopped trying again and remained unconscious. The doctor attributed it to his mental fatigue and his unhealed old injuries. But Lianzhi always felt he was just feigning sleep.
This morning, Eunuch Wen said An Shi had woken up. Lian Zhi had someone boil the medicine, and a strong bitter smell wafted out. He was about to carry the medicine in when he got burned.
"Master, let me hold it for you." Liang Ye looked at his burned index finger and felt a little distressed. "You just recovered from your illness, how can you be so tired?"
Lianzhi didn't correct him. Just as she was about to let him follow, she noticed Liang Ye's distressed look and changed her mind: "No need. I can do it myself."
He went in and placed the bowl on the bedside. "You're finally awake. Xiao Wenzi said it was very difficult to feed you medicine these past few days. You weren't conscious, and you vomited whatever you drank. He was so tired that he was sweating profusely."
An Shi lay there straight, not blinking, as if he hadn't heard anything. Lian Zhi raised her hands again: "Look, my hands are burned. Tell me, how can you bear the thought of me running around for you?"
This time, An Shi turned his head and said, "I deserve to die for making Your Majesty tired."
"As long as you can wake up, this matter will be over." Lianzhi blew on the medicine in the bowl. "But some people not only don't accept your feelings, but also want you to risk your life for them. An Shi, do you think I asked you to kill for me? Do I want your life?"
An Shi's lips trembled. A figure flashed past the window. Through the thick window paper, he could see that it was Eunuch Wen, who must be worried about An Shi's situation.
Seeing his hesitation, Lianzhi said, "I saw him. He's having a very bad time. The person he loves deeply doesn't love him at all and even beats and scolds him. Do you know about this?"
Hearing this, An Shi's wrist trembled: "What did you say?"
"The one he loves doesn't care about him at all, while the one you love is willing to abandon their camaraderie and use you, yet neither of you thinks there's anything wrong with it." Lianzhi chuckled and crossed her legs. If An Shi had thought carefully, he would have realized that his current attitude was somewhat similar to Bo Kang's. "I never realized before, but you secret guards are quite sentimental."
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