"So, she's from the Lu family in Jiangnan. What about Yi De?" Zhao Shu already knew what happened after that and didn't want to hear it again.
Zhen Qizhong was a little unhappy about being interrupted, but Zhao Shu naturally didn't care what he thought.
"She is also a member of the Lu family."
Zhao Shu frowned. She hadn't expected that Yi De was from the Lu family; she had initially thought Yi De was from the Zhong family.
However, the Zhong family is clearly doing better than the Lu family. The Zhong family is still well-known today, while the Lu family has long since disappeared. It is likely that the founding emperor made an example of them.
The Jiangnan region is prosperous, and if we do not deal with this seriously, the consequences will be endless. Emperor Taizu was right.
She had learned most of what she needed to know, and as for the details, it didn't matter if she didn't listen; she could guess anyway. She yawned, then stood up and prepared to leave.
Zhen Qizhong stopped her, "You promised to release them."
"Heh." Zhao Shu chuckled, looking at him with great pleasure. "Should I say you're stupid or cute? When did I agree to release him? I haven't settled the score with you for abandoning your wife yet. Take him away and let the Ministry of Justice interrogate him properly."
"You!" Zhen Qizhong was so angry she was speechless. "Zhao Shu, I never thought you were this kind of person!"
Zhao Shu was not angry at these words. Instead, she generously said, "Thank you for the compliment. Don't worry, Zhao Bi is dead. I will not be merciful and bury you two together. I will bury Zhao Bi in the far east and you in the far west. Even if you become ghosts, you will not be able to be together."
"How could you be so vicious!" Zhen Qizhong racked her brains, but these were the only words she could think of to express her dissatisfaction with Zhao Shu.
Zhao Shu shrugged. "If you say another word, I'll tear him apart and make him a ghost with incomplete bones."
"You!" He was so angry that his hands trembled. "Zhao Shu, you will get your comeuppance."
"I'll get my comeuppance before I get mine." Zhao Shu felt she had vented enough, and flung her sleeves as she left Yipinju.
As soon as they arrived at the door, they encountered Wei Tingsi. He reeked of blood and looked extremely exhausted, as if he had just been in a fierce battle.
Zhao Shu went up to her, frowned, and looked her up and down. "You're not injured?"
"It's alright, the Emperor is quite busy with his ascension to the throne." He gave Zhao Shu a reassuring smile. "Let's go, the Emperor is looking for you."
"What does he want with me?" Zhao Shu asked suspiciously. Now that Zhao Yi has ascended the throne, his main task is to purge the court. The Weiting Division is enough, not to mention Xie Yun and others are helping him. There is nothing for her to do.
Dayong is in a period of vigorous development, with a wealth of talented people in the court. Unless they engage in factional infighting, and unless the emperor deliberately acts incompetent, things will not get too chaotic.
"I don't know. If you're worried, I'll go with you."
"Go and rest, I can go by myself. What can he do to me if he becomes emperor?" Zhao Shu felt sorry for him seeing how tired he was.
Wei Tingsi smiled and then patted her head. "I'll have someone send it to you."
"Yes, you should get some rest. After the coronation ceremony, there will probably be war."
"I'm afraid I can't wait any longer, I'll just grab something and leave." In the end, he didn't hide anything and told Zhao Shu the truth.
"So rushed?" Although it was expected, it still felt too rushed.
Wei Tingsi chuckled, “It’s alright. It would be abnormal if the Emperor wasn’t anxious after his ascension to the throne. Now that he’s desperate, it’s the perfect time. Don’t worry, Prince Augustus has already amassed a large army on the border of the Xiongnu. In less than three days, the Xiongnu will be attacked from both sides, and he will withdraw the troops he lent to Prince Jing. At that time, it will be easy to take over Xiliang.”
Even so, Zhao Shu was still worried that she might become his girlfriend, and her anxiety and concern made her confused.
“In a few days, envoys from foreign countries will be coming, and the capital may be in some chaos. Be careful. Nowadays, our firearms are much better than the breech-loading cannons, and many people are eyeing them.”
Zhao Shu had already considered this point; weapons with high destructive power have always been highly sought-after by nations.
Often, the strategy is to destroy what you can't have.
"Go quickly, the Emperor is quite busy, and if you are late, the other ministers may have something to say."
Zhao Shu nodded, didn't linger too long, gave him some more instructions, and then went directly into the palace.
The palace welcomed a new master, and although there was bloodshed, it generally prospered.
Many of Emperor Mingde's concubines, especially those who were out of favor, moved away. Emperor Mingde himself did not live in the palace. It is unknown what he was thinking. He had Biyou Palace cleaned up and moved in with the Empress Dowager and several concubines.
However, the Empress Dowager still lived in the Cining Palace.
Upon arriving at the Taihe Hall, Zhao Shu saw Xie Yun and the others, but with the new emperor, no one dared to say she couldn't come to the Taihe Hall anymore.
Xie Yun came over with a smile to greet her, "Princess, I have recently acquired a pair of geese, which are of excellent quality. I will present them to Wei Chang'an tomorrow."
If he weren't the elder and Zhao Shu the younger, she would definitely have rolled her eyes at him right now, and imitated Huo Baichuan's manner by chuckling twice, "I heard that goose meat is quite delicious. Why don't you send some to me, Lord Xie? I'll have the kitchen in my mansion prepare it and send you a leg."
"Oh dear, no, no, I'd better keep him here for now." He puffed out his beard and glared, becoming even more adorable.
"Princess, you've arrived! Please come in." Xiao Fuzi came out to see what was happening when she heard the voices. Sure enough, she saw Zhao Shu and her face lit up with joy. She immediately spoke up.
Zhao Shu nodded, then nodded to Qiu Tangshi and the others before going inside.
Although the coronation ceremony had not yet taken place, Zhao Yi was already dressed in the dragon robe. He stood tall and was full of vigor. Upon seeing Zhao Shu, he immediately put down his vermilion brush and said, "Ah Jun, come here."
He stepped down from the dragon throne, personally took a box from the imperial platform, and handed it to Zhao Shu, saying, "Sit down and read this."
"Is my brother the Emperor going to give me a reward?" Zhao Shu teased, opening the box as she spoke and finding an imperial edict inside. She took it out and slowly unfolded it.
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