Liu Zhao faced King Ning's questioning without even moving his eyebrows.
"Don't you think that position is yours?"
Prince Ning snorted coldly, "So what if I have an idea? So what if I don't? You, little brat, have been goading me into fighting my brothers all day long. You're simply hoping that I'll become emperor so you can be crowned prince."
Liu Zhao lowered his head slightly, his eyes scornful, and sneered, "If my father became emperor, would he make me the crown prince?"
"Of course not." King Ning gave a negative answer without even thinking.
Liu Zhao said calmly, "Since that's the case, my father will go to court tomorrow and have a good fight with Uncle Zhao and Uncle Yan."
Prince Ning's eyes rolled and he asked, "What did the old man say to you?"
Liu Zhao lowered his head and smiled, his expression cold, "Grandfather said that if you don't come to court tomorrow, I will send someone to tie you up and bring you to court."
Prince Ning bared his teeth and said, "The old man just can't bear to see me have a few days of leisure. He really is an old man who won't die."
"Father, be careful with your words."
Prince Ning didn't care at all. "If anyone dares to spread a single word of what I said here, I will exterminate his entire clan."
In the hall, all the eunuchs knelt down, not daring to breathe.
Liu Zhao glanced at the eunuchs kneeling on the ground and memorized each of their faces.
Prince Ning asked, "What else did the old man say?"
Liu Zhao said, "My grandfather intends to appoint a prince to lead the Ministry of Revenue to clear up the arrears accumulated over the years."
After a pause, Liu Zhao continued, "As far as I know, my father borrowed money from the Ministry of Revenue a few years ago and never paid it back. In total, he owes the Ministry of Revenue a full three hundred thousand taels."
Prince Ning bared his teeth and asked, "Do I owe the Ministry of Revenue so much money?"
Liu Zhao nodded, "Father spent no less than fifty thousand taels just on rewarding the courtesan."
Prince Ning stroked his beard. "I'm a true prodigal son. No matter how much money I have, I'll squander it all. The old man ordered the Ministry of Revenue to pay off its arrears, a job that's bound to offend people. He asked me to attend court at this time. Could it be that he wants to call on my name and have me take charge of this matter?"
Liu Zhao nodded, "It's possible."
"No, no. The old man is digging a hole to bury us all. Humph, I will never be fooled."
Liu Zhao said expressionlessly, "I have to go. Otherwise, tomorrow morning, the Jinwu Guards will come to invite my father to the Imperial Prison for tea."
Prince Ning's face changed, "The old man is too vicious, he has no love for us sons, he wants to force us to death.
He has been emperor for decades, and has killed countless members of the royal family, countless relatives, and countless court officials, yet he still sits firmly on the throne. No wonder people say that old men who refuse to die are thieves.
Liu Zhao frowned, "Father, please be more careful with your words."
Prince Ning snorted coldly, "Don't try to lecture me. Even in front of this old man, I dare to say this."
That's true.
On several occasions, Prince Ning cried and made a fuss in front of the emperor, making indirect accusations.
Every time the emperor punished Prince Ning, it was all talk and no action. He also said it was rare to hear the truth and that he owed Prince Ning something in the past.
Outsiders do not know how the emperor owes King Ning.
This seems to be a secret between the emperor and Prince Ning.
The Concubine Shu knew a little bit, but she always kept silent and pretended not to know.
The emperor's indulgence made Prince Ning more lazy and daring.
The emperor favors his new beauty, and only Prince Ning dares to say that the emperor is old and undisciplined.
It was with this lazy image that Prince Ning was able to gain a foothold in the court, competing with Prince Zhao, Prince Yan, and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.
However, when Prince Ning went to court, he usually worked for three days and rested for two days, as if he was not interested in that position.
Of course, whether he really doesn't care about that position or is just pretending not to care about it, only King Ning himself knows.
Liu Zhao was silent for a moment, then said, "Uncle Zhao owes the Ministry of Revenue no less than 200,000 taels of silver, and Uncle Yan owes an estimated 400,000 taels. The Eastern Palace should owe the least, only a little over 100,000 taels."
Prince Ning laughed heartily and said, "Why does the Eastern Palace owe the least money? Because the Crown Prince doesn't know how to enjoy life. He spends all day discussing scriptures and doctrines with a bunch of old men, and he really thinks he's a scholar. Now, the king is no longer a king, and the minister is no longer a minister. His time as Crown Prince has come to an end."
The old man's patience has been wearing thin over the years. If he stirs things up a few more times and someone whispers in his ear, the crown prince will be completely finished."
Liu Zhao said, "Father, please don't forget the eldest grandson."
When Prince Ning heard the words "eldest grandson of the emperor", his facial features wrinkled together.
The emperor's eldest grandson is the crown prince's eldest son and the prince of the Eastern Palace. Since his birth, he has been extremely loved by the emperor.
Although everyone has tried their best to spread slander behind the emperor in recent years, causing him to alienate the emperor's eldest grandson, it does not mean that the East Palace is powerless to fight back.
If the emperor ever remembers the affection he had for his eldest grandson in the past, perhaps the Eastern Palace can be revived.
Prince Ning frowned and said, "This old man would never bypass the prince and appoint the emperor's eldest grandson as the heir. This is a way to bring disaster. As long as this old man is not confused, he would not do such a thing."
Liu Zhao dropped a bombshell, "At court this morning, the Emperor's grandfather issued an order ordering his eldest grandson to go to the Beijing camp for training."
"What?"
Prince Ning suddenly stood up from his seat. "Is the old man crazy? Sending the emperor's eldest grandson to the Beijing camp for training at this time, what does he want to do? Does he want to kill us all? Does he want the royal family to kill each other until only one person is left? This old man is so stubborn, I really can't have too high expectations of him. He is so angry that this king is furious."
Prince Ning paced back and forth in the hall, feeling extremely depressed, and scolded the emperor from head to toe.
Liu Zhao continued, "Father, calm down. It's not just the eldest grandson who will be going to the military camp for training. The eldest son of the Zhao Palace, the eldest son of the Yan Palace, the eldest sons of the uncles' palaces, and even my son, will all be going to the military camp for training."
Huh?
Prince Ning stopped and stared at Liu Zhao, "Why didn't you tell me about this earlier? You made me worry for nothing."
"Father spoke too hastily, leaving his son no chance to speak."
Liu Zhao talked nonsense seriously.
Prince Ning snorted coldly, "This old man sent you to the Beijing Camp for training. This is to test you. Perform well and win honor for this prince."
"As you wish, son. Also, I think the twelfth month of this year is a good date for your wedding."
Prince Ning stared at Liu Zhao and asked, "You want to get married in the twelfth month?"
Liu Zhao nodded.
By the twelfth month, Gu Jiu's dowry should have been prepared and it would be the right time for the wedding.
Prince Ning sat relaxed in his chair, "Have you made up your mind? Do you really want to marry Gu Jiu?"
Liu Zhao nodded, "Son, I've already made up my mind. I will marry Gu Jiu."
Prince Ning asked tentatively, "Would you like me to personally select a few concubines for you? Don't worry, they are all from good families with clean backgrounds."
Liu Zhao shook his head. "Thank you for your concern, Father. I don't need it. Why don't you send the chosen ones to my second, third, and fourth brothers? They won't refuse."
Prince Ning sneered, "Why, for the sake of Gu Jiu, you have to remain a virgin? Isn't that shameful?"
Liu Zhao remained calm and composed, saying, "I'm not trying to remain a virgin for anyone. I just don't like having too many women around me."
Prince Ning did not believe this.
"Sometimes I even doubt whether you are my biological son. Your temperament is neither like mine nor your mother's. Instead, it's a bit like my younger self. Back then, in order to fight for the throne, I could endure anything."
Liu Zhao remained silent.
Prince Ning had a bored expression on his face and waved his hand. "Forget it, you've made your own decision, and I don't want to bother with you. I'll send a matchmaker to the Gu family tomorrow to set a date for your wedding. What date do you want?"
Liu Zhao said in a cold voice, "The sixteenth day of the twelfth lunar month."
"The sixteenth day of the twelfth lunar month, I've made a note of this. Tell your mother about this, or she'll blame you for keeping everything from her."
"Thank you, Father, for reminding me. I will go see Mother right away. Father, please remember to get up early and attend court tomorrow, otherwise the Jinwu Guards will be here."
"I know, I know. The old man won't let me go, so you bother me too."
Liu Zhao got up and left Bixi Pavilion and headed towards Chunhe Hall.
When Princess Pei saw Liu Zhao, she snorted coldly, waved her hand, and asked all the irrelevant people to leave.
Then he said, "You still remember to come and see me. I thought you had forgotten me completely."
Liu Zhao sat down on the chair and said, "Mother, you are joking. How could your son forget you?"
Princess Pei snorted, "I'm not joking. Count for yourself, how long has it been since you came to pay your respects to me? Your fourth brother is even more filial than you. As long as he's in the mansion, he'll come to pay his respects every day and show his filial piety to me."
Liu Zhao smiled and said, "Since my fourth brother is so filial, why not let him stay in the mansion from now on and just chat with mother to relieve her boredom?"
"What do you mean by that? Are you jealous of your fourth brother, or are you trying to ruin his future? He's a man of honor, how can he be trapped in the inner chamber?"
Princess Pei glared at him, very unhappy.
Liu Zhao said coldly, "Mother is considerate of my fourth brother. She knows a man shouldn't be confined to the inner chambers. Why is she so critical of him? Should a son be confined to the inner chambers all day just to fulfill his filial duty? I'm afraid my filial piety won't last long before the Jinwu Guards arrive."
"You, you are simply outrageous. Are you and your fourth brother the same?"
Princess Pei was furious and disliked Liu Zhao even more.
Liu Zhao didn't care. Was it important for him at his age whether his mother liked him or not? It didn't matter at all.
However, he still said: "My son is the eldest son and has heavy responsibilities on his shoulders. I hope my mother will understand."
Princess Pei took a deep breath, her anger subsiding a bit. "If I didn't understand you, I would have sent someone to the Wenshuyuan to find you. Tell me, what's the matter that brought you here so eagerly today?"
Liu Zhao said softly, "From tomorrow on, father will have to get up early every day to attend court."
Princess Pei frowned, "You want me to control your father? Humph, if I could control him, how could there be so many women in the mansion?"
Liu Zhao said, "I understand your difficulties. I would like you to clean up the inner courtyard and send away those who need to be dismissed. Those who cannot be dismissed should be sent to the farm. My fourth brother is getting married in July, and I don't think you would like to give the guests a messy impression."
Princess Pei thought for a moment and said, "Okay, tomorrow I'll draw up a list and send out all the dishonest people. Anything else?"
Liu Zhao continued, "My wedding date has been set. It's the sixteenth day of the twelfth lunar month. My father will arrange for a matchmaker to come to the Gu residence to formally set the wedding date."
Princess Pei looked unhappy, her eyes critical, "Is that girl named Gu Jiu really that good? Do you like her that much?"
Liu Zhao said in a deep voice, "Whether she is good or not, she is my son's wife. After she marries me, please, mother, give her enough respect for my son's sake."
"It's really rare that you would come to me for a woman. By the way, your marriage is already settled, but I haven't even met Gu Jiu yet. What does she look like?"
Princess Pei didn't dislike Gu Jiu, but she definitely didn't like her either. She was more curious about what kind of girl she was to be so valued by her eldest son.
Liu Zhao said, "She's pretty."
This is really a forced statement.
If Gu Jiu were here, he would definitely glare at Liu Zhao. How dare you say that this girl is okay? This girl is obviously very beautiful, okay? After examination, Liu Zhao was found to have a lame eye.
Princess Pei raised an eyebrow, "Just okay?"
Liu Zhao nodded.
Princess Pei sneered, "It's all my fault. I didn't discipline you well when you were little. You actually fell in love with a pretty girl. It shows how good Gu Jiu is."
"You can only tell whether it's good or not after seeing it with your own eyes. Mother is too anxious."
Princess Pei had a stern face and said, "Tomorrow I will send out an invitation and invite the person to my house."
Liu Zhao nodded and said, "Before the wedding, it's time for Mother to meet her."
Princess Pei was angry.
No matter what she said or how strong her tone was, Liu Zhao remained expressionless and unmoved.
It seemed as if what she said was so boring that it couldn't cause any fluctuation in Liu Zhao's emotions.
Princess Pei felt deeply frustrated and was filled with anger.
She waved her hand and said, "I've said everything. Hurry up and leave. Go, go, go, don't get in the way of me."
"Goodbye, son."
Liu Zhao stood up and left quickly.
Seeing Liu Zhao leave so abruptly, Princess Pei became angry again.
This son was the same as always, not close to her at all. His words were dry and emotionless.
Princess Pei was both furious and helpless. She had no way to deal with her son. It was truly infuriating.
The more this happened, the more she wanted to meet Gu Jiu.
She wanted to see what kind of beauty she needed to attract Liu Zhao's attention.
…
Time flies.
In a blink of an eye, a hundred days of mourning passed, and the capital city, which had been silent throughout the spring, came back to life like a person who had woken up from a long sleep.
The brothels and flower shops that had no customers in the past few months are now crowded with guests and are being entertained every day.
The wealthy families had pent-up enthusiasm for a whole spring and finally had the chance to release it.
There are banquets every few days.
Every household is looking for reasons to entertain guests, as if they want to release all the enthusiasm that has been pent up for several months at once.
For several days in a row, Xie and Zhang went out to drink and visit guests every day.
Gu Jiu followed him out twice and then lost interest.
So tired!
It’s always the same people coming and going.
Today you treat, tomorrow I treat, saying the same auspicious words every day. After a few days like this, Gu Jiu began to feel annoyed.
She made the excuse of feeling unwell and did not attend the next few banquets.
However, the other sisters were very interested.
Gu Zhen, Gu Yue, Gu Shan, Gu Lin, and Gu Jun never missed a day and would always go out with the guests to every banquet.
As Gu Yue left, she was still sighing, "It's a pity that my second sister is in poor health. She feels unwell after just a few days of socializing. What will happen when she marries into the palace and has to attend social events all day? I'm afraid she'll spend half a month lying in bed."
Somehow these words got out and even reached the Xiao family and the royal palace.
Xiao Qin'er became happy when she heard this.
Gu Jiu is in poor health and cannot take charge of the household affairs.
In the future, she will be the undisputed head mistress of the palace. Gu Jiu, please step aside.
At the palace, Princess Pei frowned when she heard that Gu Jiu was not in good health.
"Didn't you say you've recovered a long time ago? Could it be that you've fallen ill again?"
The servant said, "I guess it seems fine on weekdays, but it can't be worked hard."
Princess Pei snorted, "How could the boss choose such a sickly girl as his wife? How can he shoulder the responsibility? It's simply outrageous. Take this princess's name card and invite Gu Jiu to come and visit."
"Your Majesty, it wouldn't be a good idea to invite Miss Gu alone. Why not take this opportunity to hold a banquet and invite everyone to come and have some fun. The mansion hasn't been bustling for a long time."
Princess Pei nodded. "That makes sense. I, too, would like to take this opportunity to meet my mother-in-law. Bring me the calendar, and I'll personally choose an auspicious day to hold a flower viewing banquet."
"Your Majesty is wise."
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