Zhao Shu was never angry. The reason she didn't refute was simply to give her a way out. However, when it came to the purpose of going to the Xie family, only she understood herself.
Indeed, the purpose of going to the Xie family was to take advantage of them, and as a result, they gained Chen Jingyu, a historian.
With Chen Jingyu on his side, no matter how hard Yide tried, he couldn't stir up any trouble.
"You understand me so well, I'm a little worried," Zhao Shu said deliberately.
“Look at you, so capable. I’m here to warn you that a gang of ruthless bandits has come to the capital. They’re posing as ordinary traveling merchants, but their real purpose is to steal the blueprints for muskets,” Sun Yun said solemnly.
Zhao Shu frowned. "Do you know who invited them?"
"Do we still need to invite you? With muskets, we have a voice. Muskets are money. Think about it, you're highly sought after now." Sun Yun said with exasperation.
Zhao Shu never expected that Sun Yun would speak to her in such a tone one day. Did he already consider her his daughter? Thinking about it, she felt a little awkward.
However, just as she thought this, Sun Yun patted her on the shoulder. "What are you thinking about? You're so engrossed. Are you even listening to me? They came prepared. They don't care about the law or who you are. They'll kill without batting an eye..."
At this point, she suddenly remembered something, and her face turned pale. "Do you know that before Emperor Taizu led his troops into the capital, there was another group of people who also led troops into the capital?"
Zhao Shu shook her head; she didn't pay much attention to these kinds of things.
"You may not know, but everyone in my family knows that in the previous dynasty there was a family that produced three prime ministers, two empresses, one empress dowager, and five grand tutors. They were an extremely outstanding scholarly family. However, the emperor of the previous dynasty was tyrannical, and rebel armies rose up everywhere. One of them was a bandit group. They recruited soldiers and horses and quickly grew strong. Moreover, their leader was knowledgeable in military strategy. They marched north and were invincible. They entered the capital and proclaimed themselves emperors. Although the ministers of the previous dynasty were all ministers of the fallen country, how could they be willing to assist a mere bandit? The bandit emperor was not convinced and asked the most prestigious person at the time why he would not assist him, the true Son of Heaven. That person said that he was of low birth."
"Guess what that bandit emperor did?" Sun Yun asked.
Zhao Shu shook her head. "I don't know what he did."
"In order to elevate his status, he forcibly married the eldest daughter of the most prestigious family in the court to improve his bloodline. At the same time, he also condoned his subordinates to forcibly marry daughters of noble families to improve their bloodline. Many families suffered as a result. Later, Emperor Taizu led his troops into the capital and killed the bandit emperor, which saved the noble ladies. Emperor Taizu did not follow the example of the bandit emperor, but instead dutifully made his first wife, who had shared hardships with him, his empress. This is how he gained the support of the noble families."
There's another story behind it. It's understandable that Emperor Taizu didn't abandon his wife after becoming emperor. However, Zhao Shu doesn't believe that the aristocratic families supported Emperor Taizu because of this. At that time, Emperor Taizu must have been so powerful that no one could find a way to discredit him, which is why he was able to gain the throne.
"Do you think that bandit has the ability to force someone to marry him?" Zhao Shu asked. Could he possibly break into Prince Yong's mansion and force her to marry him? That's a joke.
Sun Yun shook his head. "It's not possible right now, but you have to know that bandits are capable of anything. Speaking of bandits, I remember reading a storybook before. You've read storybooks, right? I remember one that went like this: A noblewoman fell into misfortune and encountered a bandit leader. The bandit leader was handsome, charming, and talented. She fell in love with him at first sight and vowed to marry him. The bandit leader was also devoted to the woman... and they became a legendary couple."
Zhao Shu: ...Isn't this a scene from a novel? Are real-life bandits really so charming and talented?
No, at least the bandit emperor who proclaimed himself emperor in the previous dynasty was not bad. Although he acted like a bandit, he at least understood military strategy. It's hard to believe that a bandit could understand military strategy. He was quite unique among bandits.
"What are you thinking about all day? You actually believe those stories?" Zhao Shu said helplessly.
Sun Yun pursed her lips, "I was just saying, take it as a joke. I'm telling you, stay home as much as possible these days."
"You reminded me to stay home, yet you went out yourself. If you wanted to remind me, you could have just sent a servant. Why did you have to come in person?" Zhao Shu stared at her. "Could it be that some people have ulterior motives?"
"You heartless bastard, I'm leaving." She stood up and walked out.
Zhao Shu chuckled and called out from behind her, "Remember to wipe the bamboo flute with a damp cloth often to avoid hurting your hands."
"Zhao Shu, you'll get your comeuppance." Sun Yun turned around, glared at her, and quickly left.
After seeing off Sun Yun, whose true intentions lay elsewhere, Zhao Shu lay on the chaise longue and beckoned to Xiao Zhu Zi, asking, "What powerful figures have come to the capital?"
"There are many people here, including the princess, representatives from seven foreign countries, and several cousins of Prince Augustus. However, they are being received by the Ministry of Rites. This servant is currently investigating these people and should be able to produce a detailed report by tomorrow, which will then be presented to the princess."
Zhao Shu held no hope. No matter how much the foreigners investigated, they wouldn't find anything. However, knowing something was better than knowing nothing. With the new emperor's ascension, there would only be more people coming, not fewer.
“Go and investigate those bandits,” Zhao Shu said after a moment of contemplation. She was quite worried about them; since Sun Yun was concerned about them, they must be no ordinary bandits.
“Yes, this servant will go right away,” said Xiao Zhu Zi.
Zhao Shu nodded, and after waiting for about an hour, Xiao Zhu's subordinate came to report that the people from the Five Cities Garrison had returned.
Xiao Zhu handed the intelligence to Zhao Shu. It contained few words, but clearly told Zhao Shu that no one had been caught. After Jiang Yue was captured, Yi De had fled with her men.
Come to think of it, given Yi De's personality, how could she possibly trust Jiang Yue? She only sent Jiang Yue away to annoy Zhao Shu.
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