"No! No at all!"
Emperor Wende was resolute in his attitude.
No matter who comes to plead, it's useless.
The concubines were crying outside the gate of Xingqing Palace?
Sorry, Emperor Wende has a heart of stone and abstains from women, so it’s useless to cry beautifully.
The ministers tried to persuade him with reason and appeal to his emotions.
hehe!
Emperor Wende gave him a look and understood what he meant.
If you dare to stretch out your hand, you must be prepared to have your hand chopped off.
All the court officials who committed the crime were arrested.
Palace servants who dared to pass on information outside the palace were not so lucky. Once the crime was confirmed, they were immediately executed.
One body after another was carried out of the palace and buried in a mass grave.
The harem was in a state of panic and everyone was in danger.
Wherever the Ministry of Punishment went, even the concubines in the harem had to behave themselves.
A talented person died just two days ago, and no one wants to follow in his footsteps.
The fourth prince, Liu Yi, was dismissed from his post and remained unemployed at home.
His situation was better and he could go to the palace to pay his respects as usual.
In Weiyang Palace, mother and son meet.
The fourth prince, Liu Yi, paid his respects and asked with concern, "Is the queen mother okay?"
Empress Pei lay on the Arhat couch, looking listless.
She shook her head and complained, "Everyone in the harem is in danger, and I'm not doing well. The Ministry of Punishment is getting more and more outrageous, even daring to investigate the Weiyang Palace."
"Mother, please be patient. Everything will be fine once the storm passes."
"I understand this principle. I am simply indignant at the Ministry of Punishment's arrogant attitude."
Empress Pei placed the teacup heavily on the table, making a noise.
She asked the Fourth Prince Liu Yi, "Have you visited your father?"
The fourth prince, Liu Yi, nodded and said, "My son went to Xingqing Palace to pay his respects, but the emperor refused to see me."
Empress Pei frowned, "Your father is getting more confused as he gets older."
"Mother, be careful with your words."
Empress Pei said indifferently, "Even in front of your father, I would say this about him. He's getting older and no longer as smart as he was in his early years. He's becoming more and more confused. This is a fact. Your father should let you take on more responsibilities."
The fourth prince, Liu Yi, frowned, "Please be careful with your words, mother!"
"Humph! What are you afraid of? I'm not wrong."
The fourth prince Liu Yi rubbed his brows and said, "Mother, we are not in the palace now, so we can't say anything."
"Alright, alright, I'm just complaining a bit. Has your elder brother Liu Zhao written back?"
"You'll have to ask my sister-in-law. Maybe she's received a letter from my brother."
"This unfilial son." Empress Pei was furious. "I raised him, but in the end, he couldn't even receive a letter."
The fourth prince Liu Yi was silent.
He would not say anything bad about Liu Zhao, but he would not make excuses for him either.
It was indeed inappropriate for Liu Zhao not to write to the palace.
Empress Pei scolded Liu Zhao and felt better.
"I heard that your sister-in-law moved back to the Crown Prince's Palace with her children."
"Exactly!"
"Did you say when the housewarming party will be held?"
"He said we'll do it after Big Brother returns to Beijing."
"By the time Liu Zhao returns to the capital, the opportunity will be gone. What's the point of holding a housewarming party then? She's also a fool. Liu Zhao is now in the northwest and needs the support of the court officials. I thought she was moving back to the First Prince's Mansion at this time to use the opportunity to hold a housewarming party and build connections for Liu Zhao. But she turned out to be a huge disappointment."
Queen Pei scolded Gu Jiu again.
Scolding Gu Jiu for not considering Liu Zhao and not seizing the opportunity.
After Empress Pei finished scolding, the Fourth Prince Liu Yi spoke up, "My eldest brother doesn't have a good relationship with the ministers in the court. Even if my eldest sister-in-law holds a housewarming banquet, the wives of civil and military officials may not come to the banquet. Rather than being embarrassed and rejected, it's better not to hold a housewarming banquet."
"Ridiculous!" Queen Pei scolded Liu Yi.
"Aside from civil officials and military commanders, don't the royal family and aristocratic families also need to be entertained and contacted? Your father is furious, but he can't stop your sister-in-law from holding a housewarming party. No, I will arrange for someone to invite your sister-in-law to the palace right now."
"Wait a moment, mother." Liu Yi stopped Empress Pei. "My eldest brother is in the northwest. I'm afraid it's not appropriate for my eldest sister-in-law to hold a high-profile banquet."
Empress Pei asked angrily, "What's wrong? You always speak for her. Could it be that you and Xiao Qin'er accepted favors from her?"
Liu Yi quickly denied it, "My son is thinking about my eldest brother. Mother, think about it. Your Majesty, your father is already worried about your eldest brother. If your eldest sister-in-law holds a banquet and curries favor with many parties at this time, it will definitely cause your father's dissatisfaction. What if your father overthinks it and implicates your eldest brother in the northwest? Your eldest brother has worked hard to win this opportunity. We can't let it go to waste and let others take advantage of it."
Empress Pei frowned and thought deeply, "The second son is imprisoned in the Zongzheng Temple. He definitely has no chance to cause trouble at the moment."
"But there's still the third brother, the fifth brother, and the sixth brother. Concubine Luo De has been quiet and steady these years. If the critical moment comes, she may have some tricks up her sleeve."
Empress Pei snorted coldly, "Even if Concubine Luo De wants to fight for the fifth brother's chance, I'll have to agree with me. The third brother's mother passed away early, and because of his pitiful life story and the fact that he was poisoned, your father is particularly lenient with him. The third brother is a bad guy, just like the second brother, he is a restless person. If he acts so recklessly, he might really succeed."
"So my son said that it would be good for my eldest brother if my eldest sister-in-law didn't hold a housewarming party at this time."
"How much good can it do?"
Empress Pei accepted Liu Yi's words, but was still unhappy.
She was dissatisfied with Liu Zhao and also with Gu Jiu.
She had never experienced the pleasure of being a mother-in-law in front of her daughter-in-law Gu Jiu.
It's really infuriating.
Empress Pei rubbed her brows and asked, "What has Xiao Qin'er been busy with recently?"
Liu Yi was embarrassed to say it.
Empress Pei glared at him and said, "What can't you say?"
"Qin'er is pregnant, but she's not even three months pregnant yet, so we haven't announced our son yet."
"Really?" Empress Pei was delighted. "I didn't expect she could get pregnant at her age. Is the pregnancy stable?"
"The imperial physician said that this pregnancy is very stable and everything is fine at the moment. Qin'er hasn't had any reaction."
Empress Pei laughed heartily, "This is great news! I must tell your father!"
Liu Yi had a different idea, "My son wants to wait until Qin'er is three months old before announcing it."
"Why is that?"
Liu Yi said solemnly, "I've heard that the Emperor has been extremely irritable lately, beating and scolding people at every turn. Reporting this news at this time might not please the Emperor, and might even irritate him."
"I understand that you can't please your father. But how can you say you're provoking him?"
Liu Yi pondered for a moment before saying, "I heard that your father hasn't entered the harem for a long time and hasn't asked for concubines. Could it be that your father..."
"ah!"
Queen Pei was shocked and surprised. She had never thought of it that way before.
"You mean, your father is dying?" Queen Pei covered her mouth, fearing that the news would get out.
Liu Yi lowered his voice and said, "I hope that's not the reason. But if... I report Qin'er's pregnancy at this time, I can't guarantee that my father won't think too much and think that my son and mother are making fun of him."
Queen Pei covered her mouth and nodded repeatedly.
"Your concerns are justified."
Empress Pei dared to scold Emperor Wende in front of him, saying that he was becoming more and more confused as he grew older, and even called him foolish and shameless, but she never dared to say that Emperor Wende was incompetent.
It's a matter of men's self-esteem. Ordinary men cannot accept being scolded, let alone the emperor.
This is dead xue!
Queen Pei thought she had discovered the truth.
She let out a long sigh, "This explains why your father has been so irritable recently. A major case has been launched in the palace and court, causing panic among the people."
This is not the first day that news has been passed around the palace.
This situation has existed since the day the palace was built.
Emperor Wende did not pursue the matter in the past, but chose to do so at this time. He must have been provoked.
Empress Pei said, "You are very thoughtful. Tell Qin'er to take good care of her pregnancy and not to come to the palace to pay respects in the near future. It would be best if you could give birth to another legitimate son."
"My son also hopes that this baby will be a legitimate son."
Liu Yi brought a cart full of rewards and returned to the Fourth Prince's Mansion, which was two blocks away from the First Prince's Mansion.
Xiao Qin'er was checking her daughter's needlework.
Seeing Liu Yi coming back, she complained: "Look at the needlework your daughter does. It's not even as good as what I did when I was a child. Your daughter has become more and more spoiled by you. She just refuses to calm down and learn needlework properly."
"It doesn't matter if she can't sew. When she grows up, I'll give her four or five seamstresses as a dowry. Does a royal granddaughter really have to sew with her own hands?"
Xiao Qin'er rolled her eyes at him and said, "I can't argue with you."
"How do you feel today?" Liu Yi asked with concern.
Xiao Qin'er smiled, "It's fine. I haven't vomited or felt nauseous, but my taste has changed. Everything I eat tastes bland in my mouth."
Liu Yi held her hand and said, "What do you want to eat? Tell the kitchen to make it. We don't need this little money."
Xiao Qin'er chuckled.
Not short of money?
Dream on.
She is now worried about money.
"You said the four-wheeled carriage is such a great thing, why doesn't the emperor agree to mass production?"
"What are you planning?" Liu Yi asked her.
Xiao Qin'er said, "My second sister-in-law came to my house yesterday and told me that if His Majesty agrees to mass-produce four-wheeled carriages, my eldest sister-in-law will raise funds. The four-wheeled carriages will definitely make a lot of money. I don't know how many people in the capital are asking about this thing.
I was thinking that when my sister-in-law started raising shares, I would invest some money to save some money for the children. Otherwise, if we relied on your little salary, our family would have starved to death long ago.
Liu Yi laughed at her, "When my sister-in-law was building a house outside the South City Gate, I advised you to contribute more money. But you were so stingy that you only contributed a few thousand taels. Naturally, your dividend was less than others."
Xiao Qin'er said bitterly, "Don't mention the past. Later, when my sister-in-law built a cement road, I also participated in the investment. I received a share of the profits every year, and I earned back my principal long ago. The next few decades were all for nothing. If it weren't for my keen eye, would you be able to live in a new house?"
"Don't forget that the new house was paid for by the emperor."
"The emperor gave me money to buy the house, but not to renovate it. The renovation alone, including the decorations and furniture, cost no less than fifty thousand taels. I paid for all this money, and you didn't contribute a penny."
"You are pregnant now, I won't argue with you."
"Then tell me, can the four-wheeled carriage be mass-produced? I'm still waiting to invest money in it."
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