Chapter 143
On the way back to Beijing.
Yi Twelve suddenly appeared and fell into the carriage.
Qu Dubian smelled the fragrance of flowers. He didn't even open his eyes, lying lazily on the small blanket in the carriage: "Liuliu is here."
Yi Twelve nodded and placed a bunch of wild flowers he picked on the road aside.
"Is there important news in the Northern Frontier? You make this trip in person."
Yi Twelve paused and said, "It's not news from the northern border, it's news from the capital."
Qu Duanbian opened his eyes: "Beijing?"
B12: "More than two years ago, the eldest prince took over the task of disaster relief in the three counties, and all the silver and grain passed through his hands. Five days ago, people from Xianghe County came to the capital and crashed to death in front of the Jingzhao prefectural government office, crying that there were corrupt officials in the capital, that it was dark and there was no light, that the common people were suffering, and that power was killing people."
"Now, these four lines of poetry have spread everywhere, and all the candidates who dared to take the imperial examinations in the capital are discussing them."
Qu Watanabe's expression gradually became serious, "And then?"
The common people had no place to seek justice and were killed under the emperor's feet.
There are still two months left before the Spring Examination, which is the time when all the scholars from all over the country go to the capital. The next generation who are going to be officials are watching. If he doesn't handle it well, it will be recorded in history books and Lao Deng will be scolded to death.
It just happened to happen at this time, I'm afraid it won't end well.
"Your Majesty was furious and ordered an investigation. It was found that the East Factory and the eldest prince's wife's father, the Minister of Revenue, Mr. Shu, had embezzled money, falsified accounts, and misappropriated relief grain to fill the number of old grain during the two years of disaster relief. The relief grain was also sold privately to accumulate money for the eldest prince."
Qu Dubian was greatly shocked when he heard this.
Any of these charges would result in dismissal from office, exile, or even loss of life.
Qu Watanabe: "But it's only been five days, how could they find out so much?"
It also involves the eldest brother. Who investigated it? He is so brave.
B12: "Yes, it was investigated by the people from the East Factory. The main investigator is Chen Jian, one of the two candidates for the next head of the East Factory."
Another candidate is Wen Xiaochun.
Qu Duanbian only heard news about him sporadically, but he hadn't seen him for a long time.
He asked, "Who does Chen Jian belong to?"
Yi Twelve said, "There is no one behind the two candidates."
Qu Dubian raised his eyebrows slightly. Liuliu's statement was quite interesting.
Liuliu and Xiaoyuan both knew that Xiaochun was connected to him, but more than ten years had passed and other people would not remember an unknown eunuch who had once been with the Seventh Prince.
So is there someone standing behind Chen Jian?
Qu Dubian picked up the wild flowers that Liu Liu had given him, smelled them, then lifted the curtain of the carriage and looked towards the capital.
Wild flowers are refreshing, and power is lustful.
"Liuliu, how are the arrangements going in the Northern Frontier?"
B12 nodded: "Approaching the target in an orderly manner."
Qu Watanabe: “Yeah.”
The Shenbi Crossbow has been used to deal with the Northern Frontier Cavalry for half a year. Judging from the news from my grandfather and Xia Fuyang, the effect is not as amazing as it was at the beginning, because the enemy is also improving.
Yu Ruo's words quickly made him defensive.
I just hope that the vortex of power struggle in the capital will not affect the northern border.
-
After receiving the news from Liu Liu, Qu Dubian sped up his return to Beijing.
Two days later, just as he returned to the Seventh Prince's Mansion, Eunuch Yu arrived with the imperial edict.
The seventh prince was appointed General Wuyi and concurrently Secretary of the Ministry of War, and was rewarded with a certain amount of silver and money. The other generals were rewarded in order according to their contributions in suppressing bandits.
He handed over the imperial edict with a smile on his face: "Congratulations, Your Highness. Your Highness, I haven't seen you for more than half a year. Are you doing well?"
Qu Watanabe: "It's good, everything tastes delicious."
"Oh, I see that you have lost weight. His Majesty has prepared a welcoming banquet for you tonight, please enjoy the delicious food. However, the court is a bit chaotic right now, so it will be a family banquet, and only you and a few princes will go."
"His Majesty asked me to make it up to you after the matter of the eldest prince is settled."
Now? A few brothers having a family dinner together?
What is on Lao Deng's mind?
Qu Dubian pulled Eunuch Yu to the side and whispered, "Eunuch, how is my brother?"
Eunuch Yu calmed down a bit, "Your Majesty is very angry."
Qu Duanbian frowned: "Are those evidences real? Big brother really can't do it."
In his impression, his elder brother didn't seem like someone who would do such a thing.
Eunuch Yu glanced around and then lowered his voice and said, "The evidence is conclusive. Your Highness, just wait. But this matter has nothing to do with you. It's a very complicated matter. Just ask this old servant, but don't get yourself wet. Be careful what you say during the family dinner tonight."
Qu Dubian handed him a bag of Qingzhou's unique pearls.
"Thank you, eunuch." Without waiting for Eunuch Yu to refuse, he said seriously, "Think of it as a gift for an elder. You have watched me grow up since I was a child, and you took the risk to give me news out of friendship, but I can't forget it. These are not expensive, they are just souvenirs for you."
"How dare I call Your Highness an elder," Eunuch Yu said quickly, "Oh, look at you... I am really embarrassed."
After repeated refusals, the bag of pearls finally fell into Eunuch Yu's sleeve.
He said embarrassedly: "Then I will leave first, please don't forget it."
Qu Duan nodded: "Go slowly."
Eunuch Yu bowed and said goodbye. After he was far away from the Seventh Prince's Mansion, he sighed, pinching the pearls in his sleeves.
The Seventh Prince is really...
Qingzhou pearls are not really that precious, what is precious is the heart that cherishes you.
Even though I know that this thought is mixed with something else, it still makes me happy.
Ye Xiaoyuan: "Your Highness, go back and have a rest first,"
"Take a rest first. You never know what will happen at night."
Eunuch Yu said that there is solid evidence of Minister Shu's crimes, so that is probably ironclad evidence. Right now in the court, the followers of the second and sixth brothers should be sieging the eldest brother.
Lao Deng suddenly called us to dinner in the evening, which was not a good thing no matter how I thought about it.
Qu Dubian handed the imperial edict in his hand to him, stretched his body, and ran towards his own courtyard.
He started shouting as soon as he entered the yard.
"A little white! Jinlai! My little grandchildren, I'm back!"
A group of Paw Patrol came running over upon hearing the noise.
“Wangwangwang!!”
Those puppies have grown into almost one-year-old dogs. Led by Yidianbai and Jinlai, they surrounded and attacked their bad father/father-in-law/grandfather who didn't care about his family at all.
Qu Dubian was hit hard and fell on his butt in the vegetable field. He pushed Yidianbai backwards and raised his head desperately, "Yidianbai, be reserved, your wife is here, don't lick my face!!"
Two sheep also came to join in the fun.
"Ahh my hair!"
The servants who were taking care of the vegetable garden nearby couldn't help laughing.
Ye Xiaoyuan put away the imperial edict and came back. He smiled and couldn't help but hold his forehead: "Why are you standing there? Pull His Highness up."
His bangs and beard were wet by the dog. If they were licked bald, His Highness would definitely bite his handkerchief in secret and go crazy.
The servants hurriedly said, "Here they come."
As soon as the Seventh Prince came back, the entire Prince's Mansion became as lively as cooking in hot oil.
-
After lunch, Qu Dubian took a nice bath.
You know, when we were marching to suppress bandits, there were no such conditions at all.
At most, Ye Banban would fetch some water, and he would simply scrub it, and then Ye Banban would help him wipe his back which he couldn't reach. He hadn't had a proper bath for a long time.
It was still quite cold in the capital city in February. As the weather has turned colder recently, many families have started burning charcoal fires again.
Although Qu Duan didn't need charcoal fire, there was still a pot of it in the room.
He lay limply on the edge of the tub, his inner strength circulating gently within his body, steam forming droplets on his back and shoulders.
He dozed off in the bathtub for a quarter of an hour, and when he woke up, his muscles were a little sore because they were completely relaxed.
He stepped out of the tub, and water dripped down his ankles onto the floor.
Yidianbai squatted on the ground with her tongue hanging out. Only when she saw him come out did her worried look disappear.
Qu Dubian avoided it and said in a very lazy tone: "Don't jump on me, you dirty little son." He would arrange a bath for Bai's family when he had time.
He dried himself with cotton cloth and came out to eat.
He didn't even have the right manners when eating. He just lay in the rocking chair with the plate on his chest and ate with a small fork.
But the insertion is quite accurate.
Ye Xiaoyuan said: "Your Highness, what are you going to wear to the family dinner tonight?"
Qu Watanabe yawned.
"Ordinary clothes will do. Martial arts clothes will do." After showing off and filling his stomach, Qu Dubian rinsed his mouth and lay back in the rocking chair.
"Benban, I'm going to take a nap after dinner, wake me up before we go to the palace."
The sound is sleepy and floating.
Ye Xiaoyuan said lovingly, "Okay."
He took a small blanket and put it on Qu Dubian's belly.
-
evening.
After sleeping for half an afternoon, the Seventh Prince regained his energy, changed into a casual dress with half wide sleeves, and went to the palace.
Although it was a family dinner, it wasn't too informal.
The location is in the side hall of Wo Lin Hall.
The door of the hall was half open, and it was warm inside. There was a pond of green lotus and carp in the center of the hall.
Qu Dubian had never been to the side hall, so he didn't know whether the scenery of the side hall was casually arranged or had always been there.
A low, long table was placed next to the pool, with seats on both sides of the table, and several princes sat crosswise in order.
One, three, five, and seven are on the left, and two, four, and six are on the right.
When Qu Dubian arrived, only the third prince and the fourth prince were there; the rest had not arrived yet.
He greeted, "Third brother, fourth brother."
"Xiao Qi."
"Seventh brother."
The third prince simply greeted him and said nothing more. He only had one hand, but the gloom between his brows was much less than a few years ago, as if he had gradually let it go.
"When will they come? I'm starving."
Qu Dubian didn't like kneeling, so he sat down cross-legged, grabbed a handful of melon seeds on the table and started eating them.
The third prince's mouth twitched: "Are you really here to eat?"
Anyone with a discerning eye knows that today’s dinner is not simple.
Qu Watanabe said in a sad tone: "But I'm really hungry, Third Brother."
The fourth prince shook his head and said, "Just eat later. Tonight is probably Big Brother's special night. Let's not talk nonsense."
"I know, I know."
The two of them were talking at a normal volume, and the Third Prince seemed to be hesitant to speak. He glanced at the palace servant who was standing with his head lowered a few meters away.
No, although he had not been in the imperial court for several years, he knew that he couldn't say this openly, right? Wasn't he afraid that the palace people would tell his father and he would be accused of speculating on the emperor's intentions, which would make his father unhappy?
I wanted to remind you, but the words were on the tip of my tongue, and I remained silent.
That's all.
It has nothing to do with him anyway, as long as the seventh and fourth brothers know it.
Qu Dubian ate half a plate of melon seeds and drank three refills of water before someone finally came.
The eldest prince, the second prince, the fifth prince and the sixth prince came together. As soon as they came in, Emperor Chongzhao arrived.
Qu Dubian and the other two stood up and said, "Greetings, Father."
"Hello, my royal brothers."
"Big brother, second brother, fifth brother, sixth brother."
Called it all over again.
Emperor Chongzhao: "We are all brothers, why are you being so polite? Please sit down."
The princes took their seats.
Qu Dubian came out alone. He was sitting next to the Fifth Prince on the left, but there was no one opposite him.
After Emperor Chongzhao sat down at the top, the first thing he saw was the almost-eaten melon seeds on the table and the small pile of melon seed shells next to Qu Dubian.
he:"……"
Is he bored of waiting, or is he really hungry?
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