Gu Jiu followed Chang En into the palace, and Liu Yi escorted him all the way.
When they arrived at the palace gate, they got off the carriage.
Liu Yi stepped forward and said, "I am sending my sister-in-law to the palace, and I just happened to be going to Weiyang Palace to report."
Gu Jiu glanced at Liu Yi and said nothing.
So Liu Yi followed Gu Jiu into the palace.
His eyes fell on Gu Jiu's back and he looked at him carefully.
There was a sense of joy in his heart, but he tried hard to control it. His face was tense.
Chang En suddenly turned around and looked at him.
Liu Yi's face was calm as he greeted Chang En's gaze.
Chang En frowned, maybe it was all his illusion.
Separated halfway.
"Take care, sister-in-law."
"Thank you for seeing me off, Your Highness. Please hurry to Weiyang Palace. I'm sure the Empress is waiting anxiously."
Liu Yi nodded and strode away.
Chang En teased quietly, "His Royal Highness the Fourth Prince and His Royal Highness the First Prince have a very good relationship. He even specially escorted Madam Zhao into the palace."
Gu Jiu smiled and said, "Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures. Does Eunuch Chang agree?"
Is this an extraordinary period?
For Empress Pei's direct descendants, this was indeed an extraordinary period.
Liu Zhao was neglected and had to retreat outside the city to recuperate.
The Fourth Prince and Liu Zhao are brothers from the same mother. At this time, they should show a friendly and respectful attitude towards each other and must not engage in internal strife.
Chang En smiled knowingly, "Whatever Madam Zhao says is what it is."
"Eunuch Chang is becoming more and more smooth in his speech." Gu Jiu teased.
Chang En laughed, "Madam Zhao, you are so kind."
After arriving at Xingqing Palace, after being informed, Gu Jiu walked into the main hall to meet Emperor Wende.
Emperor Wende has calmed down now.
Only when anger is controlled can one weigh the matter calmly.
"How serious is Liu Zhao's wound? He can't even get out of bed." Emperor Wende opened his mouth and questioned.
Why expose something you already know? It will only embarrass everyone and make things so awkward!
Gu Jiu lowered his head and said, "Your Majesty, the wound on your Highness's body is very serious."
Tell lies with open eyes!
Emperor Wende snorted coldly, "Chang En, have you seen that bastard?"
Chang En hurriedly bowed and said, "Your Majesty, I have seen His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."
"What's going on?"
"His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is lying on the bed and can't get out."
Emperor Wende laughed when he heard this.
What a rip-off, and he still puts on a whole show.
If he refuses to even act, I will give him a good beating so that he can't get out of bed.
Emperor Wende said casually, "Since the sore has broken out and you can't get out of bed, you should rest well and stop thinking about causing trouble all day long."
Gu Jiu secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Fortunately, Emperor Wende still wanted to save face.
If the emperor wants face, things will be easy.
"I obey your command. I will convey your Majesty's instructions truthfully."
"but……"
The turning point is waiting here.
The previous ones were just appetizers, now is the main course.
"Liu Zhao has caused such a big mess, and the reputation of the Imperial College has been ruined. The court officials are talking about it, saying that I am tolerating traitors. I am also in a difficult situation!"
Along with the embarrassment comes a sigh.
Gu Jiu pretended to be innocent and said, "Your Majesty has worked hard for state affairs. Thank you for your hard work!"
Emperor Wende had a mouthful of decades-old blood stuck in his throat, unable to spit it out or swallow it.
Pretend! Keep pretending! See how long you can keep pretending.
Gu Jiu blinked, looking innocent.
No pretense! Very sincere.
Look at her sincere eyes and feel the sincerity.
Emperor Wende was furious.
He tapped the tabletop lightly with his fingers. "If I don't give the court officials an explanation, they won't let it go. This matter was caused by Liu Zhao. How should I punish him to appease the court officials' anger?"
Gu Jiu was in a panic, "Your Majesty, the eldest prince has a sore on his head and can't be hit!"
Emperor Wende was very upset.
You're addicted to acting, right?
absurd!
"Did I say I would beat him?"
Gu Jiu blinked, "If Your Majesty doesn't beat him, how will he be punished? Will the Zongzheng Temple be closed again? Poor Yu'er and Heng'er, they have just been with their father for a while, and now they have to be separated again."
"That's enough! Stop playing tricks on me."
Emperor Wende shouted at him, and Gu Jiu could only shut his mouth.
She was just cooperating with Emperor Wende's performance and playing a competent supporting role, but even that was wrong.
As expected, he is the emperor, and everything he says is right.
"The daughter-in-law is wrong!"
"snort!"
Emperor Wende snorted coldly, "Tell me what you think! I want to hear the truth."
Gu Jiute simply said, "Fine him! Your Highness's behavior is absurd and has caused great trouble to the court officials. Such behavior must be severely punished. And the teachers and students of the Imperial College who were harmed should also be compensated."
Emperor Wende raised an eyebrow. Did Gu Jiu have too much money and nowhere to spend it? He actually took the initiative to ask for a fine.
Gu Jiu continued, "Your Majesty has worked so hard for Liu Zhao's affairs. As his son and daughter-in-law, I should offer my filial piety at this time. I hope Your Majesty will accept it."
As soon as he finished speaking, Chang En took out a wooden box and said, "Your Majesty, this is a filial gift from His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and Madam Tong Zhao."
"oh?"
Emperor Wende seemed to be smiling.
He wanted to see what Gu Jiu was up to.
Emperor Wende opened the wooden box, took a careful look at it, and then closed it immediately.
This filial piety is so direct and absurd.
Inside the wooden box was a stack of banknotes.
It is ridiculous that bribery actually happened to him.
How could a dignified emperor, rich as the world, be bribed by a mere sum of silver and money?
hehe!
However, he really fell for it.
A hundred words of praise are not as real as real gold and silver.
Emperor Wende loved money so much.
At this moment, the more he looked at Gu Jiu, the more he liked him.
Those court officials spent all day trying to figure out the emperor's mind, and after so many years, no one knew what he was thinking. No one was as thoughtful as Gu Jiu.
Gu Jiu is so sensible. When he gave me a gift, it really touched my heart.
What does it mean to cater to someone's preferences?
Emperor Wende patted the wooden box, which was just to please the emperor.
"Hahaha……"
Emperor Wende burst into laughter.
Gu Jiu tried to guess the laughter, and after a moment he started laughing too.
Because she could hear Emperor Wende's joy from his laughter.
"You are quite creative!"
"Your Majesty, please accept this filial gift from your daughter-in-law and the eldest prince."
Emperor Wende gently stroked the wooden box. "I have received your filial piety. I have also seen your attitude of admitting your mistakes. However, I still need to calm the anger of the court officials."
Gu Jiu was very understanding and immediately said, "My daughter-in-law is willing to donate 50,000 taels of silver to the Imperial College to contribute to its educational cause."
"Not too reluctant?"
"No pressure!" Gu Jiu said in a loud voice.
The money has been paid, so there is no need to force it.
Any problem that can be solved with money is not a problem.
Who knows why she lacks everything except money?
It’s tiring to have too much money to spend.
"Fifty thousand taels is not a small amount. Don't you regret it?"
Gu Jiu said with certainty: "I will never regret it."
Emperor Wende laughed heartily. "You are so thoughtful. I believe that after the Imperial College receives your gift, the teachers and students will return to the teaching quarters and study as usual."
"Your Majesty is wise!"
Emperor Wende was very pleased.
It turned out to be right to ask Gu Jiu to enter the palace.
If it were Liu Zhao, Emperor Wende thought, he would probably have been angered to death by Liu Zhao.
It is so rare to have a sensible daughter-in-law!
Emperor Wende swept away his previous anger, and even the anger that was suppressed in his heart was extinguished by Gu Jiu.
He said with a smile, "I have seen your sincerity. When you return, tell Liu Zhao to take good care of his injuries. If you dare to cause trouble again, I won't solve it with a fine."
"Your Majesty's instructions are my daughter-in-law."
Next time, if fifty thousand taels is not enough, then let’s do one hundred thousand taels.
Emperor Wende waved his hand and said, "Retreat."
"Daughter-in-law, please leave!"
Gu Jiu felt relieved and successfully passed this hurdle, which is a cause for celebration.
When she gets back, she will have to give Liu Zhao a good beating.
Other families have only women who spend their money, but he is a man who spends his money.
At the rate Liu Zhao was squandering his fortune, no amount of money could withstand his squandering.
Empress Pei sent people to guard outside the gate of Xingqing Palace from the very beginning.
Seeing Gu Jiu leave Xingqing Palace smoothly, he hurried forward and said, "Madam Zhao, the Queen Mother invites you."
Gu Jiu had to go to Weiyang Palace to appease the irritable Queen Pei.
MMP, it turns out she became a member of the fire brigade.
First he put out the fire for the emperor, and now he has to put out the fire for the queen.
Gu Jiu's hands were itching again.
At this moment, he just wanted to beat up Liu Zhao and make him kneel down with an abacus as punishment.
Appeasing Empress Pei was accomplished perfectly without spending a penny.
Apart from being a bit of a waste of time, it is very cost-effective.
The cost of appeasing Emperor Wende is too high.
Gu Jiu felt a little bit of pain in his heart.
It is also a blessing to meet a queen who is not greedy for money.
If the queen was as greedy for money as the emperor, I can’t imagine the scene.
After leaving the palace smoothly and returning to Xiaozhu, he rolled up his sleeves and gave the lively Liu Zhao a good beating first.
For a moment, Xiaozhu was in chaos.
The screams of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince were getting louder and louder.
…
Emperor Wende accepted Gu Jiu's filial piety and went to court the next day to resolve the matter quickly and decisively.
Cai Zhongshan and Xu Chengye have serious personal problems and are unfit to be teachers. They should be dismissed from office immediately.
And order the Dali Temple to conduct a thorough investigation to see if there are any other problems.
His Royal Highness the Crown Prince took the lead in besieging the Imperial College, causing panic among the people in the College and disorder. Severe punishment is not enough to appease the public anger.
His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was fined two years of rank and salary and ordered to reflect on his mistakes behind closed doors. He was also ordered to compensate the Imperial College for its losses of fifty thousand taels.
This matter ends here. Anyone who dares to criticize it again will be severely punished.
courtier:"……"
Is this an insult to everyone's intelligence?
The courtiers were furious.
The dismissal of Cai Zhongshan and Xu Chengye from office was something that had been expected long ago.
It would be strange if he was not dismissed from office if his dark history was dug up.
The key was the treatment of Liu Zhao. They claimed that he would be severely punished, but in the end he was fined two years of title and salary and was forced to reflect on his mistakes in seclusion.
Oh shit!
Everyone knows that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince does not rely on titles and salaries to support his family.
If you have a wife who earns money, it doesn't matter if you are fined two years of nobility and salary, or even twenty years of nobility and salary.
It's a good time to reflect on your mistakes and recover from your injuries.
As for the fifty thousand taels, it was just a drop in the bucket for Gu Jiu.
Isn’t it too cheap to settle this matter with fifty thousand taels?
Your Majesty, this is too much!
How could fifty thousand taels be enough?
At least one hundred thousand taels.
Emperor Wende's eyes swept across the faces of the courtiers.
Everyone is obsessed with money. People's hearts have changed and the world is deteriorating.
What should I do if I give the Imperial College 100,000 taels?
All the benefits go to the Imperial College, so am I just supposed to starve?
You don't know how to share my worries at all, what a bunch of idiots!
Besides, the Imperial College can’t win the argument itself, so why should I come out and help clean up the mess?
Shouldn’t the Imperial College reflect on itself?
A group of talented people who can't even win an argument with a group of scholars should just buy a piece of tofu and kill themselves.
"Withdraw from the court!"
Emperor Wende was too lazy to talk nonsense with the court officials. Not only was it a waste of time, but it also made him furious.
The court officials were discussing this matter.
"Settling a lawsuit for fifty thousand taels is ridiculous!"
"The Imperial College lost face this time, but gained money. It's a balance."
"Your Majesty is confused! I don't know whose idea it was to persuade Your Majesty to give you fifty thousand taels of silver."
"I heard that the Madam was summoned to the palace yesterday. Maybe it was at that time..."
"It's absurd for a woman to interfere in politics! I'm going to impeach Madam Zhao."
…
Deng Cunli came to the Imperial College with a mission and a group of people, and personally presented 50,000 taels of compensation.
Everyone in the Imperial College had their eyes blazing with anger.
Taking money to humiliate people is shameless!
The people who were watching the fun started to make a fuss.
"Please pay me to humiliate me, go ahead and humiliate me, I will face the humiliation with a smile, as long as the money is enough."
"Just by humiliating someone, you can earn fifty thousand taels. This business is too good to be true."
"Could this all be a conspiracy by the Imperial College, with the goal of extorting a sum of money from Madam Zhao?"
"Stop slandering me! The Imperial College is upright and honest, how could there be any conspiracy?"
"If there's no conspiracy, then why are you colluding to impeach Madam Zhao? Did Madam Zhao offend you? She's the victim, and yet she's being forced to pay you fifty thousand taels of silver. If that's not a conspiracy, what is it?"
"The one who suffered the most in this matter was Madam Zhao. Not only was she impeached, but she also had to pay fifty thousand taels. This is truly the worst bad luck of her life."
Gu Jiu: "..."
You understand me! You've spoken my heart.
My wife Dou E is wronged!
Unfortunately, her magical powers are limited and she cannot make it snow in June.
Deng Cunli said with a smile, "The people have sharp eyes. Everyone in the Imperial College, please accept these fifty thousand taels. Farewell!"
"The Imperial College is shameless!"
"The Imperial College plotted against Madam Zhao just to get money. They must be crazy because of poverty."
A new round of heated discussions has been sparked on the streets of Beijing.
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