The capital is in sight.
Liu Zhao stood at the bow, watching the busy porters loading cargo onto the boat.
After the cargo was fully loaded, the boat sailed down the river towards the capital.
The dock, which was originally filled with the neighing of horses and the roar of people, suddenly changed its style, which was a bit strange.
Lin Shuping bowed and stood beside him, "Sir, this is the Sihai Freight Company that Madam runs. They transport goods for people and also pay the city gate tax on their behalf."
Liu Zhao made a "hmm" sound through his nose.
He already knew everything that had happened in the capital over the past few months.
He really didn't expect that during the few months he was away, Gu Jiu made such a big fuss and was even targeted by the Emperor's grandfather.
When the boat docked, Liu Zhao got off and took a carriage back to the capital.
The once prosperous capital city is still prosperous.
The streets were bustling with people and goods piled up like mountains.
Liu Zhao did not return to the palace, but went directly into the palace.
In the imperial palace, the emperor led all the officials to welcome his return.
His achievements have spread throughout the court.
The royal family was proud of him, and the courtiers looked at him with more scrutiny.
In the past, everyone's eyes were on the adult prince. From today on, the court officials' eyes would also turn to Prince Zhao.
It is possible that the emperor's grandson will be appointed as the crown prince.
Liu Zhao achieved remarkable feats and single-handedly disrupted the Beirong court, which greatly reduced Beirong's strength and prevented it from moving south for at least ten years.
I wonder how the emperor will reward me for such a remarkable achievement.
The court officials looked at Prince Ning again.
Congratulations to King Ning for having a good son. With Prince Zhao making great achievements outside, King Ning's chances of success are much greater.
At least he is much more reliable than the little prince who is still breastfeeding in the harem.
Apart from the Li family and its faction, no one wanted a young prince to inherit the throne and then have the empress dowager rule the country from behind the scenes.
This is political chaos!
Concubine Li De, what qualifications do you have to dream of ruling the country from behind the scenes? Just dream on.
The emperor was very excited and personally stepped down from the dragon throne, patting Liu Zhao on the shoulder and saying, "You haven't dishonored our ancestors. Very good!"
"My grandson has fulfilled my mission!" Liu Zhao bowed.
The emperor laughed heartily.
The eunuch took the imperial edict and read it aloud, praising Liu Zhao's achievements and bestowing upon him the title of General Guarding the Nation, a rank below that of a prince. He received several thousand taels of silver in salary per year, plus several farms.
Liu Zhao knew this would happen.
It is impossible for the emperor to grant him the title of a prince, even if he has made extraordinary achievements.
Liu Zhao accepted the imperial edict and knelt down to thank the emperor for his great grace.
The emperor encouraged Liu Zhao and let him rest for a few days before he could go directly to the Ministry of War to take up his post.
Liu Zhao thanked him again.
It was a situation that everyone was happy with, but unexpectedly, an imperial censor suddenly jumped out and asked the emperor to appoint a crown prince.
"Prince Zhao has achieved remarkable feats, and I, your humble servant, beg Your Majesty to appoint Prince Ning as Crown Prince!"
Prince Ning was furious. Without waiting for the emperor to ask any questions, he rushed forward and kicked the censor to the ground.
"This king has no grudge against you, you bastard, who ordered you to frame this king?"
"Your Majesty, your humble servant, has devoted himself to the public good. You do not understand my efforts, but instead criticize me. What is your intention?"
Prince Ning was too lazy to talk nonsense with the censor. In terms of eloquence, he was absolutely no match for the censor who was good at talking.
He attacked immediately, punching the censor one punch after another, and specifically hitting the censor in the face.
As a result, the censor was not allowed to attend court until his facial injuries healed.
"presumptuous!"
The emperor shouted angrily, and the Han general rushed into the hall and pulled Prince Ning away.
The censor lay on the ground, crying out in pain.
A handsome face was beaten into a bun, pointing at Prince Ning and accusing: "%&...... ("
No one heard a word clearly.
The emperor's face was full of frost.
Chen Dachang gave a wink, and immediately a eunuch dragged the censor away.
Prince Ning looked furious. "Father, I have no aspirations of becoming the Crown Prince. Please don't let a few words from the Censor cause you to become suspicious of me."
The emperor picked up the teacup and smashed it directly on Prince Ning's head.
Prince Ning dodged it flexibly.
"It's not your turn to comment on what I think."
Prince Ning's eyebrows twitched, and he knelt on the ground. "Father, today's incident is clearly a frame-up for me. If we investigate the connections behind that censor, we will definitely be able to find the villain behind this."
"Shut up!"
The emperor didn't want to hear a word.
The emperor's gaze, like a sharp sword, swept across the faces of every courtier.
"Who else wants to bring up the matter of appointing a crown prince?"
The court officials looked at each other in bewilderment, their hearts still trembling with fear.
But there are still people who are not afraid of death and stand up to propose the issue of appointing a crown prince.
Fortunately, he did not specify who to appoint. He only said that the crown prince is the foundation of the country, and it is urgent to appoint a crown prince to stabilize the people's hearts. I urge the emperor to appoint a crown prince as soon as possible.
"Your Majesty, please appoint a crown prince as soon as possible."
More court officials came forward to petition.
The emperor glanced at everyone in the hall with a cold look on his face, and the cold light in his eyes could not be hidden.
Establishing a crown prince is a taboo in the emperor's mind.
Establishing a crown prince means that there is someone to replace him, and he may be replaced at any time.
After experiencing the destruction of Empress Cui Ruizhen and the death of Crown Prince Renxuan, the emperor had already decided not to appoint a crown prince.
The court officials once again raised the issue of appointing a crown prince, which only made the emperor feel extremely wary.
Who is it?
Who exactly wants to replace him?
Who else is eyeing his throne?
Is it Prince Ning?
Or the Prince of Zhao? Or another adult prince?
The emperor's gaze swept across the faces of each adult prince, his eyes cold and emotionless. There was only wariness and vigilance.
When Prince Ning saw this, he secretly cried out that it was all over!
The old man became suspicious again, and each time it became more serious.
Prince Ning gnashed his teeth. Who was that imperial censor working for? Who ordered him to do so?
The censor suddenly appeared and asked him to be made the crown prince. This was definitely a conspiracy.
Someone wants to harm him.
And the goal was achieved easily.
Look at the way the emperor looks at him, it makes people feel like they are falling into an ice cellar.
Liu Zhao experienced life and death and made great achievements, but he was easily pushed aside by an imperial censor and all his achievements came to nothing.
The contributions made by Liu Zhao not only failed to add points to Prince Ning, but instead deepened the emperor's suspicion of Prince Ning.
Prince Ning already had murderous intentions in his heart.
He wanted to kill the censor.
His eyes swept across the faces of each brother, and every one of them was suspicious.
He even suspected that the censor was sent by Concubine Li De.
Concubine Li De was seeking revenge.
The emperor flicked his sleeves and left, dismissing the court directly.
The court officials looked at each other in bewilderment.
King Ning went to Liu Zhao and said, "Immediately send someone to watch over that censor. We can't let him die. Tell me to find out who is behind this plot. This feud is over."
Liu Zhao said softly, "I'm afraid it's too late."
A word can be a wise saying.
The people sent to find the censor reported that the censor had been dragged out of the palace and then returned to his residence. When they arrived at the censor's home, he had already hanged himself.
Upon hearing the news, Prince Ning slammed his fist on the table.
"Damn it! Investigate, keep investigating. Dig up the entire censor's family history and find out who is causing this trouble."
…
harem.
A trusted eunuch came to Concubine Li De and whispered, "Your Majesty, I have fulfilled your mission. The censor has committed suicide."
Concubine Li De picked up the rouge and gently applied it on the back of her hand.
Hearing this, she smiled softly, "What's Prince Ning's reaction?"
"Of course she was furious. After Gongzi Zhao received the imperial edict, the censor immediately stood up and asked that Prince Ning be appointed as the crown prince, which immediately broke the situation. Your Majesty is truly wise."
Concubine Li De raised an eyebrow. "I never thought that Gongzi Zhao would disappear for a few months and go to Beirong, and even accomplish such remarkable feats. Seeing the Ning Palace's prosperity rise, I can't sleep at night. Fortunately, I'm not the only one who dislikes the Ning Palace."
The reason why Concubine Li De thought of sending the censor to break the deadlock was naturally because someone gave her advice.
The trusted eunuch smiled and said, "Congratulations, Your Majesty. After what happened today, His Majesty will only become more suspicious of Prince Ning. Your Majesty only needs to say a few words when necessary to make Prince Ning unable to recover."
Concubine Li De smiled and said, "Not only will I make it impossible for Prince Ning to turn over, I will also make sure that everyone in Prince Ning's mansion is wiped out."
There was a flash of resentment in her eyes.
If Gu Jiu dares to plot against the Li family behind their backs, he must be prepared to accept revenge.
She wanted to make Gu Jiu pay a heavy price and make Gu Jiu live a life worse than death.
The entire Ning Wang Mansion will die because of her.
…
Prince Chu's Palace.
The King of Chu was so excited that he couldn't help but say, "I want to thank Fang Shaojian handsomely. With one trick, Fang Shaojian provoked Concubine Li De and easily undid Liu Zhao's extraordinary achievements, leaving Prince Ning and his son with nothing. Haha, it's really satisfying. It's a relief that Fang Shaojian didn't see Prince Ning's expression at that time."
Fang Shaojian sat on the ground and reminded him, "Your Highness, don't be too happy. After all, Prince Zhao has made extraordinary achievements. In the eyes of civil and military officials, he has become the best among the emperor's grandsons. Even if the emperor is very suspicious of Prince Ning, it does not prevent the court officials from favoring Prince Ning's mansion."
Concubine Sun nodded repeatedly, "What Young Master Fang said makes sense. Prince Ning could use the opportunity of Prince Zhao's achievements to recruit civil and military officials. Especially the military commanders. I'm afraid that once Liu Zhao makes a call, he will be responded to by a large number of people."
The King of Chu frowned and said unconvincedly, "Liu Zhao was just lucky."
As both are grandsons of the emperor, he and Liu Zhao have been fighting since they were young.
He thought he was the best among the emperor's grandsons, but now he was suppressed by Liu Zhao, so he was naturally unwilling to accept it.
You can't help but say some sour words.
Upon hearing this, Concubine Sun's face darkened, "Ridiculous! If you think Liu Zhao's achievements were all due to luck, then you will never be able to defeat him.
You must face your opponent squarely before you can make an accurate judgment. I know you have a history with Liu Zhao, but you shouldn't let personal grudges blind you and say he relied on luck.
"To disrupt the Beirong royal family and plunge Beirong into internal strife, how could it be achieved by mere luck?"
The King of Chu looked ashamed. "Mother, you are right. I know I am wrong. I admit that Liu Zhao's achievements are remarkable. But I believe I am no worse than him. If it were me who went to Beirong, I might not be inferior to him."
Concubine Sun's expression softened. "It's good that you think so! I've already sent someone to the northwest to learn more details. When the news arrives, you should carefully consider how Liu Zhao is doing in Beirong. Learn from others' strengths, and don't just focus on their weaknesses."
"As you wish, son."
Crown Princess Sun waved his hand, and the King of Chu bowed and retreated.
In the hall, only Concubine Sun and Shaojian Fang were left.
Concubine Sun rubbed her brows and grumbled, "The King of Chu still lacks prudence."
Fang Shaojian chuckled softly, "Your Highness is simply too concerned with gain and loss. Sudden elevation to a high position isn't necessarily a good thing. This old servant still says the same thing: Your Highness is currently unfit to serve in the imperial court. It would be best if you first spent two years in the military to temper your character."
Concubine Sun's face was solemn. "If he leaves the court, how can he have a place in the court?"
"Making a name for yourself in the army is more important than gaining a foothold in the imperial court. Your Majesty, don't forget that the prince is only in his early twenties this year. It wouldn't be a bad idea to wait a couple of years before entering the imperial court to hone his skills."
Crown Princess Sun frowned, "Please let me think about this matter again."
She wants to listen to the opinions of her family.
Fang Shaojian shook his head secretly, his heart filled with hidden worries.
He looked in the direction of Prince Ning's Mansion. He had really underestimated Liu Zhao in the past.
Liu Zhao has become the first among the emperor's grandsons, so does he have a chance to reach the top?
And there is Gu Jiu.
With Gu Jiu's financial resources, he could quickly put together a team for Liu Zhao.
Although he lost the trust of the emperor, he gained the support of the generals. As the saying goes, misfortune often brings blessings, and blessings often bring misfortune.
Who can predict what will happen in the future?
…
Liu Zhao returned to the palace and first went to pay a visit to Princess Pei.
Pei had known about his disappearance for several months, and he was still stirring up trouble in Beirong Capital.
Pei was a little scared. "Such an important mission, one that's a life-or-death struggle, why did His Majesty give it to you? If anything goes wrong, haven't you thought about the consequences? You don't even have a child, how could you... are you trying to scare me to death?"
It was rare for Pei to show concern for him, so Liu Zhao patiently said, "Don't worry, mother. Isn't my son back safely?"
"I've heard that Beirong has been hunting you. If your uncle, Marquis Lu, hadn't sent a large army to rescue you, you would have died in Beirong. Do you know how frightened I was when I heard this?
If anything goes wrong, you can't come back. The court is so big, there are people everywhere, why would you, the grandson of the emperor, do such a dangerous thing? "
Liu Zhao said seriously, "Wealth and honor are sought in danger."
Pei's face turned serious, "The palace is already rich enough."
Liu Zhao said, "That is the father's wealth, not the son's wealth."
Pei was angry and said sternly, "What belongs to your father is yours."
Liu Zhao laughed, "Are you sure, mother?"
Pei was speechless.
Prince Ning had more than one son, Liu Zhao. Obviously, it was impossible for Liu Zhao to inherit all the wealth and status that Prince Ning possessed.
Pei took a deep breath and said, "Forget it, forget it. I can't convince you, nor can I control you. I won't ask you anything anymore."
"It's my fault for causing you to worry. I'll come and pay my respects to you another day."
Pei snorted, "Hurry back to your room and see your wife. If you two can have a child soon, I'll have one less thing to worry about. Let me tell you, Concubine Shu has mentioned this several times, you can't just brush it off."
If Gu Jiu is not in good health, ask the imperial physician to take care of her. If she is not well, I will take care of her for you and marry a concubine to give birth to a son for you."
"Thank you, mother. But my son doesn't need a concubine. Xiaojiu will be pregnant sooner or later."
Pei glared at him, "It's no use just talking. The second son's wife is already pregnant, only your wife is still pregnant. You can do whatever you want."
Liu Zhao nodded and said, "Thank you for your reminder, mother. I will hurry up and have the baby."
He said goodbye to Pei and went straight back to the upper room in the east courtyard.
The weather was hot and Gu Jiu was suffering from the summer heat and didn't want to move.
Lying on the soft couch, taking a nap in a basin of ice.
He was holding a book in his hand, which was about to fall to the ground.
Liu Zhao walked up to her, took the book from her, and then held her hand tightly and refused to let go.
Gu Jiu slept soundly and was not woken up.
The sweat on her forehead made her feel uncomfortable.
Liu Zhao picked up the round fan on the table and fanned her gently while looking at her.
This was the face he had longed for.
In so many midnight dreams, all he thought about was Gu Jiu.
He was able to come back alive because he had faith in his heart that he must come back alive to see her.
Never give her the chance to become a widow.
When he thought that if he died in Beirong, Gu Jiu might remarry, he was filled with anger and resentment.
Liu Zhao laughed at himself.
I really don't know when this woman came to live in my heart.
But this woman is heartless all day long, saying things that make him upset. When she is unhappy, she kicks him off the bed, making him very embarrassed.
How could it be possible that a grandson of the emperor could not uphold the authority of his husband?
"I smell something sour."
Gu Jiu opened her eyes and looked at the man in front of her with a gentle smile.
"A sour and foul smell hits my nose. How much resentment do you hold in your heart?"
Liu Zhao lowered his head, sniffing the familiar body scent. "Since you know that the resentment in my heart has accumulated like a river, shouldn't you give me an explanation?"
Gu Jiu's eyes curved, "It's obviously you who should have confessed. You went to Beirong without telling me. Tell me the truth. Did any Beirong woman throw herself at you? Did you remain calm?"
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