The cold pressure is like a heavy blanket covered with ice
Just as the first snow fell in Tiandu, Ji Mingxiu's carriage on its way back to the palace stopped outside the city.
What a big battle.
It was a freezing cold day in the coldest month of winter, but rows of civil and military officials were kneeling in neat rows outside the city gate, waiting to show their power to the emperor.
Ji Mingxiu showed no expression, as if he was really frightened by the scene, but he sneered in his heart.
Do you still think he is the prince who can be manipulated by anyone?
Qiu Ling had been waiting there early, and as soon as his carriage stopped, she rushed over to help him add clothes and hold an umbrella.
He got off the carriage with the help of Cheng Tianfeng and looked around. The imperial teacher was not there. Only the prime minister was standing at the city gate looking at him from afar. The wind and snow were swirling all over the sky, like another sword fight.
But before he reached the city gate, someone blocked his way.
"His Majesty!"
Minister Ji of the Ministry of Revenue rushed over, knelt before him with a thud, and cried at the top of his lungs, as if he was mourning for him.
"The empress is without a ruler, and the heavens are without a sage! Your Majesty, how can you disregard the peace of the world for the sake of a momentary impulse, Your Majesty!"
"His Majesty!"
Ji Mingxiu raised his eyes and saw that behind Minister Ji, the crowd was making a sudden noise like a spreading plague, and it was like huge rocks rolling down a mountain.
Minister of Revenue, Ji Qingyi?
Ji Mingxiu's lips curled up into a smile, but his eyes were dark and cold. He took a step forward and brushed away Qiu Ling's hand that wanted to support him, and even refused to hold the umbrella, letting the snow fall on him.
"Ji Aiqing."
Ji Mingxiu bent down and helped up Ji Qingyi, who was kneeling on the ground. He was so gentle that he seemed to be at the mercy of others. Ji Qingyi also stood up with the help of his support.
But in a second, Ji Mingxiu's tone was so cold that it made him freeze in place almost instantly.
"Is the battle of Black Mountain to your liking?"
"His Majesty!"
Ji Mingxiu stood up and coldly let go of his hand. Ji Qingyi lost his support, his knees went weak, and he fell to the ground with a thud.
"Your Majesty, spare my life!"
This time, I guess she really cried.
Ji Mingxiu looked down indifferently at Ji Qingyi who was crying and kowtowing in front of him and begging for mercy. He did not stop him, but let the blood on his forehead seep out and stain the white snow on the ground red.
This bright red color always made him feel as if he had returned to the days in the northern border, which was always filled with the smell of blood and gunpowder.
Gu Zi'an had many scars on his body. In addition to the wound on his chest that almost took half his life, there were countless knife and sword scars on his back, waist and abdomen. The dense scars were terrifying to look at.
During the time of making love, he had cried and stroked the scars and asked Gu Zian how they came about. However, there were too many scars, and even Gu Zian himself could not remember how many wins and losses he had gone through to create all these scars.
What's more, Gu Zi'an always reported good news but not sorrow, and kept everything hidden from him and was unwilling to tell him anything, always using minor injuries to fool him.
But he was not stupid. The casualties reported in the Black Mountain Battle were enough to make him imagine how hopeless that battle was. From Xu Yan, he learned that the entire isolated and helpless battalion was almost annihilated, and Gu Zian was covered in blood when he broke out alone.
The false intelligence and withheld war preparations were enough for him to cut the man in front of him into pieces.
Ji Mingxiu no longer paid him any attention, turned around and got back on the carriage, and this time no one dared to stop him.
Li Qingyun's tall figure stood in the wind and snow, staring for a long time in the direction where Ji Ming repaired his carriage and left, until frost fell all over his body.
A long trail of bright red blood was left on the snow behind him.
*
Ji Qingyi was just the beginning, and Ji Mingxiu knew this very well.
From the moment he returned from the Northern Frontier and stepped into Tiandu, what greeted him was another war without the smoke of gunpowder. That day, Ji Qingyi was just pushed forward as a chess piece to test him.
He will not let go of anyone who dares to kneel in front of the city gate and block him from entering Tiandu!
Just looking at the treatment that Su Yuanbai finally presented to Ji Qingyi gave him a slight headache.
"Your Majesty, you colluded with the enemy, sold intelligence, and withheld military pay to enrich yourself. According to the Great Xuan Law, all three clans should be beheaded, and the entire clan should be exiled for 3,000 miles."
Of course he knew that the three clans would be beheaded, but Ji Qingyi's legitimate daughter was his father's concubine, and now she was the most respected concubine in the harem.
He had no deep impression of the women in his father's harem, but only this Concubine Dowager Ji was deeply favored. It was rumored that she was only one step away from the throne.
His father had only two children, him and his elder brother, both of whom were born to his mother. None of the other concubines had given birth to any children. He did not want to be too drastic in eradicating the problem completely, nor was there any need to do so.
However, the law does not allow for mercy. Even if he wants to let Concubine Ji go, he must have a sufficient reason.
"Your Majesty, don't worry too much. The harem must not have any connection with the previous dynasty. If we can find out whether Concubine Ji is colluding with Ji Qingyi, we can convince the ministers."
Su Yuanbai put down the memorial in his hand, picked up the calming and qi-replenishing soup beside him, walked forward and fed Ji Mingxiu the soup.
"Your Majesty, the most important thing is to take good care of your own health. Just let the people below take care of the rest."
He did not go to the city gate to greet His Majesty on the day he returned to the palace. It was not because he did not want to see His Majesty earlier, but he understood that it was a banquet for His Majesty. As His Majesty's personal servant, Qiu Ling could naturally go to greet His Majesty, but he was an official of the previous dynasty, and whether he went or not was an expression of his stance.
Moreover, he believed in His Majesty. Instead of going to the city gate to greet him, it would be better for him to stay in the palace and prepare all the arrangements for His Majesty's welcome and cleaning.
However, Su Yuanbai put down the spoon, and his slightly drooped brows concealed a gloomy expression.
Your Majesty seems to be becoming more and more estranged from him.
Even though His Majesty did not move, he could still sense a hint of resistance in His Majesty's eyes.
Why?
Su Yuanbai thought hard but could not figure it out. He was never good at guessing other people's thoughts. But His Majesty was the child he had raised, so he thought he knew His Majesty well.
However, the current Majesty is becoming increasingly confusing to him.
And just as he lowered his eyes in deep thought, Ji Mingxiu was also looking at Su Yuanbai.
"National Master."
He stared at Su Yuan's white-dressed Hanmei and pondered for a long time before finally deciding to speak.
"The position of Imperial Master established by my father is a fictitious one, and Chaoyue Palace is not a place for official business according to explicit regulations. Now that the position of Shangshu Ling has been vacant for a long time, I want you to take up this position and set up a residence in Tiandu City."
"What do you think?"
"His Majesty?!"
Su Yuanbai suddenly raised his head and looked at Ji Mingxiu in disbelief, his expression sad and panicked.
Chaoyue Palace was once his fortress and his armor to protect himself, but later it became a shackle that made him complacent. He also imagined leaving and breaking free from this shackle, but it was not like this.
It seems that after this farewell, the opportunity has been lost forever.
He stretched out his trembling hand and tried to hold His Majesty, but Ji Mingxiu dodged it lightly.
The emotions in Su Yuanbai's eyes were like a needle, piercing straight into Ji Mingxiu's heart. He couldn't look directly at the burning question and could only look away helplessly.
"Master, you can think about it again. There is no need to rush."
After a moment of almost suffocating silence, Ji Mingxiu held Su Yuanbai's hand again. He spoke slowly, each word revealing a soothing tone.
The position of Imperial Master is a nominal one, and all powers are decided by him, but the Shangshu Ling has clear authority and great power. Few rulers would appoint or dismiss this position from court officials. If Su Yuanbai really takes this position, no one in the entire court will be more powerful than him. He will truly be second only to the emperor and above all others.
But Su Yuanbai was obviously reluctant, because they all understood that this was compensation.
"I, your servant, am not qualified for this important task."
Su Yuanbai lowered his eyes and stubbornly pulled his hand back, then knelt deeply in front of Ji Mingxiu, his heart sinking heavily.
He was unwilling to accept this compensation.
"I hope Your Majesty will take back your order."