He had thought countless times about where he had offended Zhao Shu. After thinking it over, he realized that it was only because when she was young, everyone ostracized her and disliked her, and he hadn't stood up for her!
Although he would occasionally stir things up, he didn't dare to go too far, after all, the Empress Dowager favored her, but it wasn't a deadly feud!
Now she's trying to ruin his future and oppose him at every turn!
Compared to his anger and grievances, Zhen Qi was much calmer. He patiently listened to Zhao Bi's complaints, and then said gently, "Your opponent is Zhao Shu?"
Zhao Bi was taken aback upon hearing this. He was an extremely intelligent man and would have understood with just a little guidance.
Zhen Qizhong knew he understood, and said with relief, "No matter how powerful she is, she will never be able to ascend the throne in the future."
Zhao Bi smiled and met Zhen Qichong's gaze. "I am fortunate to have you."
After a brief explanation, he immediately put aside his distracting thoughts and regained his composure, placing his hands behind his back. "Gun, the father of Yu the Great, failed in his efforts to control the floods and was executed. Do you understand what should be done?"
These words were spoken to the woman in black, who kowtowed and said, "Your Highness, rest assured, this servant understands!"
“Alright.” Zhao Bi, as if surveying the landscape, turned to look at Xiao Ruanzi. “It is said in ancient times that when the spring season is followed by the summer season, many diseases will occur. Now, with the heat and the floods, it is truly a time of trouble. Xiao Ruanzi, I want to hear news of an epidemic before nightfall tomorrow.”
Xiao Ruanzi's heart skipped a beat. His Highness was going to kill the Crown Prince and take countless people down with him!
Yan Shiren and the Crown Prince have been quite effective in controlling the floods, and so far, the floods are almost under control. If the flood control efforts are to fail, the only option is to breach the dikes, change the riverbed, and let the floodwaters inundate the villages that have not yet been submerged. This would result in the deaths of many more people and the destruction of a large area of crops.
If another plague were to break out now, it would certainly not end well; death is certain. In the previous dynasty, three prefectures were afflicted by the plague, and all the medical experts in the land were helpless. The court had no other choice but to seal off the land and burn the people of the three prefectures alive in order to save the people of the other prefectures.
Just a moment ago I was sweating profusely, but now I feel ice-cold all over. The biggest difference between Your Highness and the Crown Prince is that the Crown Prince never sees himself as a chess player.
For some reason, Xiao Ruanzi inexplicably began to envy Xiao Fuzi, Xiao Guozi, and the others.
"Huh?" Zhao Bi was immediately displeased to see that Xiao Ruanzi had been stunned for a moment.
"Yes, Your Highness, I will certainly do it! Let the epidemic spread before nightfall tomorrow." He had served His Highness his whole life, and there was no turning back.
Zhao Bi nodded in satisfaction. As long as the crown prince was eliminated, no one else would be a match for him. He had understood this very well over the years.
They also understood the rules: the crown prince was a target, and whoever could bring down the crown prince and surpass all the princes would become the next emperor.
After Xiao Ruanzi and the woman in black left, Zhen Qizhong looked at Zhao Bi with a sorrowful expression and said painfully, "Your Highness, your karma of killing is too heavy."
"Xiao Qi, I know you have a kind heart, so I'll play the villain. You just need to always keep your kindness. All my evil is only to protect your kindness."
In Zhao Bi's heart, Zhen Qichong was as pure as a lotus flower that emerges from the mud unsullied.
If Zhao Shu were here, she would definitely vomit first, then slap him across the face. Damn it, the word "kindness" has been ruined by this beast!
At this moment, Zhao Shu felt a chill run down her spine for no apparent reason. She lost her grip on the black chess piece and it fell onto the board, where Wei Tingsi's white pieces captured all of her black pieces.
"What's wrong?" Sensing that something was wrong with her, Wei Tingsi asked in a warm voice.
Zhao Shu shook her head. "I don't know. I have a feeling something is going to happen. You should go back to Beijing. I can manage on my own."
Emperor Mingde sent a message several days ago. If we don't reply soon, he might start to overthink things.
Wei Tingsi felt a warmth in his heart. Was she concerned about him? He reached out and smoothed the slightly messy black hair at Zhao Shu's temples. "Xia Guang has already led his troops ahead. The main force is not moving fast, so it's not too late to catch up later. I'll stay with you for a couple more days."
How could he leave her alone in Jiangnan? Especially with the Crown Prince also present, the Crown Prince was like a bomb, ready to explode at any moment, hurting himself and others.
"Is there any news about Father?" Zhao Shu asked in turn.
"No, Peng Rui was a step too late and didn't find the Prince. But don't worry, the Prince and Miss Sun are definitely not in anyone's hands."
No news is good news; as long as it doesn't fall into other people's hands, she can rest assured.
"Someone from the palace reported that Consort Ning went to see the Empress Dowager, but received nothing." Wei Tingsi thought for a moment and then told her the news that had just come.
There are many interpretations of this statement. If Zhao Shu were more sensitive, she would definitely feel that the Empress Dowager was too heartless, and would be sad and resentful towards the Empress Dowager.
But Wei Tingsi still told her the truth, believing that Zhao Shu had her own judgment and that she was not so fragile.
As expected, Zhao Shu just gave a self-deprecating laugh, "They thought they could threaten the Empress Dowager, but little did they know that when the Empress Dowager gets ruthless, she can even abandon herself."
In fact, the fake Zhao Bi once said that the Empress Dowager had tacitly approved of Jiang Ying's death, and she somewhat believed it.
Or, it cannot be said that they tacitly approved it; it is certain that they did not do their utmost to protect it.
Should she harbor resentment? No, she didn't. She had no resentment towards Jiang Ying. All the information she had came from other people's accounts, but the Empress Dowager truly cared for her; she was a living, breathing person.
No matter how others tried to sow discord, no matter what the Empress Dowager might do to her for the sake of the stability of the empire, she could tolerate and accept it all with a heart that even she herself could not understand.
Because, if she were in her shoes, she would have done the same.
Some say that she was ruthless, just like the Empress Dowager. Yes, they were both ruthless, but there was a difference. Zhao Shu didn't care about the state of the country; she only cared about whether her people were doing well.
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