The first month of the first year of Jingming.
Emperor Chengzong Wende's funeral!
The funeral procession stretched for dozens of miles, and the whole way was covered in white.
As long as he was not dead and not too sick to get out of bed, all the nobles, royal relatives, and high-ranking officials would join the funeral procession to see the late emperor off for the last time.
The only person missing was the most important person, Empress Dowager Pei.
Many people were grumbling that it would be inappropriate for Empress Dowager Pei not to show up at the burial of the late emperor.
"Your Majesty and the Queen Mother are not on good terms!"
This rumor got out somehow.
Everyone looked at the Pei family.
Whether there is any conflict between His Majesty and the Queen Mother, the Pei family should know better than anyone else.
The Pei family, headed by Lady Lu Hou, turned a blind eye to all the probing looks.
Unable to obtain any useful information from the Pei family, everyone turned their attention to several adult princes, especially Prince Duan Liu Yi.
Prince Duan Liu Yi walked through the funeral procession with a blank expression, his eyes long since lost their luster. He paid no attention to the outside world.
Why didn’t Empress Dowager Pei show up?
Others may not understand, but he can figure it out with his toes.
But he had no intention of delving into the matter, nor did he intend to take the lead.
He is a loser, a complete loser. What qualifications does he have to stand out?
Xiao Qin'er was a little sad.
In the past six months, Liu Yi has been living like a walking corpse.
Being rejected by Emperor Chengzong Wende dealt a fatal blow to Liu Yi. He still can't figure it out and is still full of self-blame.
…
It took three full days to reach the imperial mausoleum.
The funeral took another two days.
When I returned to the capital, I counted the time and found that I had wasted seven or eight days.
Halfway through the first month of the lunar year, the temperature begins to rise.
Ouyang Fu visited Prince Duan's mansion and chatted with Xiao Qin'er about family matters.
"My prince doesn't attend court or run errands. He spends his days in his study, writing and drawing. Everyone in the palace, from top to bottom, dares not breathe. The children are even more cautious in what they say and do than before. I wonder when this will end."
Xiao Qin'er raised an eyebrow and said, "To be honest, I'm worried too. My prince's situation is even more serious than yours."
Ouyang Fu frowned, "The late emperor's funeral is over. Doesn't Your Majesty plan to have the princes return to the court to serve?"
Xiao Qin'er pursed her lips and said, "Second sister-in-law, why don't you ask the Empress about this matter? The Empress has always lived in the Prince of Qin's Mansion, just two streets away, very close."
Ouyang Fu smiled awkwardly, "Fourth brother's wife has a good relationship with the Empress, and Prince Duan and Your Majesty are brothers from the same mother, so you two should be even closer."
Xiao Qin'er smiled, "I don't agree with that. I remember that Second Sister-in-law and the Empress had a closer relationship in the past. When did they become distant from each other? This isn't good."
Ouyang Fu covered her mouth with a handkerchief and coughed softly, "Alas, every family has its own problems. I don't have the good family background of my fourth brother's wife, so I lack confidence and am inevitably restrained in what I say and do. You know, the Empress likes cheerful and generous people. I'm not very likable in my current state!"
Xiao Qin'er sneered in her heart.
Who doesn't know how to act pitiful?
Back then, this princess could cry for three days straight.
"It's tough for me too! Not much better than Second Sister-in-law. There's a bunch of women in the backyard, plus a bunch of illegitimate children. I'm overwhelmed every day and look more and more like a yellow-faced woman. I don't have the confidence to have a say in the Empress. Second Sister-in-law, instead of coming to me, why not think of other ways, like the Empress Dowager?"
Ouyang Fu's face tensed, and she lowered her voice and said, "I heard that the Empress Dowager is unwell and needs to rest. She hasn't left the palace for many days, and no one has been able to see her. Fourth sister-in-law, you are the Empress Dowager's biological daughter-in-law. Why don't you go to the palace and ask for an imperial decree..."
"I don't have time to disappoint my second sister-in-law." Xiao Qin'er interrupted Ouyang Fu directly.
Ouyang Fu was extremely embarrassed. After a moment's thought, she said, "Why don't we go to the palace together and ask to see the Empress Dowager?"
Xiao Qin'er smiled and said, "Instead of you and I entering the palace, it would be better to invite Concubine Shen to enter the palace. The effect will definitely be better."
After Emperor Chengzong Wende passed away, Concubine Shen was promoted to Concubine Shen Taifei and left the palace to live with her son.
Ouyang Fu's face twisted for a moment.
When Concubine Shen moved into the palace, the first person to bear the brunt was her, the daughter-in-law.
Ouyang Fu was used to being the boss, but now she was under the control of her mother-in-law, Concubine Shen, and her life was in dire straits.
Asking her to beg Concubine Shen, Ouyang Fu felt so uncomfortable that she wanted to vomit.
She said to Ouyang Fu, "The Concubine Dowager is not feeling well and shouldn't be out and about. Doesn't Fourth Sister-in-law want Prince Duan to go to court and do his work? Staying in the mansion all day is not a good idea!"
"I'm on a mission, so it's not my place to speak on such matters. My second sister-in-law is just overthinking things. As for men, if they don't go whoring and ruin the family, then let them stay in their rooms and get moldy."
Xiao Qin'er looked very open-minded.
Ouyang Fu's face looked a little ugly.
She rubbed her brows. "To be honest, Fourth Sister-in-law, my prince has nothing better to do and always likes to cause trouble for me. Plus, the Concubine Dowager is unwell and needs care everywhere. I'm caught in a dilemma, neither inside nor outside. I thought, if I let my prince go to court to serve, at least the atmosphere in the mansion will be better and I'll be under less pressure."
Xiao Qin'er laughed muffledly.
Ouyang Fu must have been forced to such an extent that she would shamelessly tell the truth.
Xiao Qin'er felt relieved when she thought that there were people who were worse off than herself.
She sincerely suggested, "I'm sorry to disappoint your second sister-in-law. I can't help you with this matter. You might as well go directly to the Queen."
Ouyang Fu looked embarrassed. "I sent a visiting card to the Empress, but the Qin Palace replied that the Empress was currently unavailable to see me. I had no other choice but to come to Fourth Brother's wife for help."
Ouyang Fu threw everything into the air, not even caring about her dignity, and frankly admitted that Queen Gu refused to see her.
Xiao Qin'er was surprised.
After thinking for a moment, he said, "From what I understand, the Empress is indeed very busy during the twelfth and first lunar months of each year. It's possible that she really doesn't have time to see you, and it's not just a perfunctory statement."
Ouyang Fu didn't believe it. "I must have done something wrong and offended the Empress, so she refused to see me."
"Second sister-in-law should relax and stop overthinking. Why not wait a little longer until February and then submit your sign to request an audience."
Ouyang Fu had no other choice but this was the only solution left.
After sending Ouyang Fu away, Xiao Qin'er pondered for a moment before sending servants, "Tell the concierge that this princess has been feeling unwell lately and needs to rest. Anyone offering visiting cards or invitations will be rejected."
The servant took the order and left.
Xiao Qin'er thought clearly that as long as Empress Dowager Pei did not come out of Weiyang Palace, she and Liu Yi would have to keep a low profile.
Although it is unknown why Empress Dowager Pei was forced to rest, it did not prevent her from treating the matter with caution.
She also ordered the servants, "Keep a close eye on the prince and don't let him leave the palace. If the prince insists on leaving the palace, report to this princess immediately."
Others may not know the grievances and hatred between the brothers Liu Yi and Liu Zhao, but Xiao Qin'er knows it very well.
The three of them grew up together, so it was inevitable that they would have conflicts.
She would rather Liu Yi be a leisurely prince for the rest of his life than offend Liu Zhao and be held accountable.
Xiao Qin'er had only one thought: to ensure prosperity and wealth for her descendants.
…
Gu Jiu is indeed very busy.
As soon as she finished the funeral of Emperor Zong Wende, she immediately set off for Universal Steel in a carriage.
The steelmaking furnace was reignited.
New steelmaking furnaces are being built.
The area was cordoned off on all sides, with the Jinwu Guards stationed on the periphery, and the Sihai Guards on the interior.
Qian Fu stayed by Gu Jiu's side.
"Your Majesty, the person you want to see has arrived."
Gu Jiu looked at the steel furnace under construction and felt a surge of pride.
She said to Qian Fu, "Bring the person up here."
Qian Fu winked at the people around him, and soon a man with a feminine and evil temperament and a sturdy build was brought up.
"Lan Xiang, long time no see." Gu Jiu looked at the person who came with a smile.
Lan Xiang, an actor in the Ning Wang Mansion at that time, uncovered the mystery of the kidnapping case, implicating tens of thousands of people.
Since then, Lan Xiang disappeared from everyone's sight.
More than a decade later, Lan Xiang had completely transformed into a different person. If Qian Fu hadn't pointed out his identity, Gu Jiu wouldn't have dared to recognize him.
"The lowly Lan Xiang pays homage to the Empress."
Lan Xiang knelt on the ground, extremely respectful.
Gu Jiu asked curiously, "You didn't change your name?"
Lan Xiang shook her head, "The untouchables must remember their past humiliation."
Gu Jiu nodded and said, "Tell me about your experiences over the years."
"I obey your command! When I left the capital, I first worked for the Sihai Trading Company for a while, and later went out to sea with the fleet, staying overseas for seven or eight years."
No wonder he looks so fierce and has such a sturdy body.
"Go on."
"After that, I returned to land and, under the orders of Eunuch Qian, lay low in Jiangling Prefecture for two years. Later, I traveled to the northwest and followed a merchant caravan to Xiliang, serving as Imperial Preceptor Wuwang. I just returned to the capital half a month ago."
Gu Jiu asked, "How is the Imperial Master Wuwang?"
"The situation was a bit difficult, but fortunately, thanks to the prestige of Wuwang Guoshi among the people of Xiliang, everything went smoothly."
"What's the current situation in Xiliang?"
"The people are suffering! The Xiliang army was defeated, and a mutiny broke out in the Xiliang royal court. Fortunately, the prince, who was supported by the Hopeless Imperial Master, successfully ascended the throne."
Gu Jiu nodded. "That's good news. What's Xiliang's next plan?"
Lan Xiang said, "Go west!"
“Very good!”
It is in the interests of Da Zhou.
Gu Jiu asked again: "Have you met His Majesty?"
"Your Majesty, I have already met His Majesty yesterday."
"Do you know why I called you back?"
Lan Xiang shook her head, "The untouchables don't know!"
Gu Jiu looked at Qian Fu.
Qian Fu bowed and said, "Your Majesty said that the matter is up to Your Majesty. If Your Majesty thinks he is suitable, Your Majesty has no objection. If not, you can choose someone else."
Gu Jiu raised his eyebrows and stared at Lan Xiang. "Tell me what you have learned and what you are good at in these years?"
"The untouchables are good at lurking and assassinating."
"How's the investigation going?"
"When investigating a case or investigating a person, it is easy for the untouchables to be found."
Gu Jiu nodded and said, "Change your name."
She looked at Qian Fu and said, "I grant you the surname Qian, Qian Xiang, are you willing?"
Lan Xiang was dumbfounded.
Qian Fu kicked him and said, "What are you standing there for? Why don't you kowtow and express your gratitude?"
Lan Xiang was overjoyed. "I, the lowly Lan Xiang, no, the lowly Qian Xiang, thank the Empress for the name. If the Empress commands, I, the lowly, will go through fire and water and will never refuse."
－－－－－－Digression－－－－－－
Xiaoxiang recently held a fantasy writing competition, which can be seen at the top of the PC and APP.
Wen of a gay friend of a gay friend participated in a competition, and Yuanbao asked for a popularity vote on her behalf.
Just move your fingers and click.
Title: Rebirth in 1998: The Almighty Queen on Campus
Author: Mu Jiufeng
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
