Chapter 367 Palace Banquet
The Imperial Tutor glanced indifferently at the list. The Northern Qi Emperor nominated four people: the Assistant Director of the Judicial and Censorate, the Left Counselor of the Provincial Administration Commissioner, the Prefect of Yuncheng, and the Vice Prefect of the Prefecture.
These people were all local officials. It was obvious that the Emperor of Northern Qi did not dare to select officials from the capital to serve as Shao Zhanshi, for fear of choosing people from the virtuous king and the king of Qi.
The Imperial Tutor inquired, "What kind of person does Your Majesty want to take on the position of Junior Secretary?"
The Northern Qi Emperor said: "He is not afraid of power and has outstanding talents."
"The several gentlemen on the list all meet the requirements. As for their outstanding talents, Your Majesty will review their achievements and select the best." The Imperial Preceptor put down the list in his hand. "The officials will not object."
After a pause, he added, "Even if the officials have objections, he can resolve them with his ability."
The Emperor of Northern Qi took the list again and found that the one with the most outstanding political achievements was the prefect of Yuncheng. He was not only courageous but also strategic, and was the most suitable for the position of Shao Zhanshi.
The Northern Qi Emperor looked at the Imperial Preceptor and asked, "What do you think of Xie Liufang, the prefect of Yuncheng?"
The Imperial Master said, "It's still acceptable."
The Emperor of Northern Qi had an idea in mind, so he issued the appointment document that day and sent someone to deliver it to Yuncheng at full speed.
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On the other side, when Concubine Shu heard the news, she was so angry that she threw the medicine bowl in her hand to the ground.
With a snap, the porcelain bowl shattered into pieces.
Concubine Shu said in a bitter voice, "The Lin family hasn't been executed yet, so how can someone else take their place?"
It wasn't until yesterday that she saw clearly that the Northern Qi Emperor was a cold-hearted and ruthless emperor. But in order to save the Lin family, she had to resort to self-torture to gain the Northern Qi Emperor's favor.
Unfortunately, things went against his wishes. He actually threatened her with the prince. If the Lin family did not die, they and their son would definitely be implicated in the future.
The Lin family is her maternal family. With the entire family being killed, how can things be better for them and their son?
She understands the principle that when one prospers, all prosper, and when one suffers, all suffer.
In a panic, she pretended to faint.
Unexpectedly, after the Emperor of Northern Qi confirmed that she was in good health, he sent someone to send her back to Zhaohua Palace.
"I can't just watch the entire Lin family being executed."
Concubine Shu repeated it over and over again.
Every time he said it, his eyes became more determined.
But now there is no way out.
What should she do to save the Lin family?
Suddenly, an idea came into Concubine Shu's mind - to find the remnants of the previous dynasty.
In order to benefit the people, the previous dynasty issued decrees that harmed the interests of the aristocratic families and caused turmoil in the court.
The late emperor was a general with a large army in the previous dynasty. He took this opportunity to unite with the aristocratic families to usurp the throne.
After the previous emperor ascended the throne, in order to stabilize the people's hearts, he sent troops to the Great Zhou and turned the internal conflicts outward.
Under the rule of the previous emperor, Northern Qi grew increasingly powerful. The people benefited from this and gradually forgot that their ruler was an illegitimate emperor.
Concubine Shu once heard Lin Yi say that the late emperor sent out countless troops to search for the remnants of the previous dynasty.
After the death of the previous emperor, the Emperor of Northern Qi took over this important task and also spared no effort to find the remnants of the previous dynasty.
Concubine Shu suspected that the late emperor and the Northern Qi emperor wanted to wipe out the roots.
If she finds the remnants of the previous dynasty, can she make a contribution and save the Lin family?
Even though the hope is slim, Concubine Shu is determined to give it a try.
Thinking of this, she grabbed Hongqiao's hand and said, "Send someone to find Jiang Jianzheng and ask him to help us calculate the people of the previous dynasty."
The Jiang family has gone through two dynasties and is good at divination and observing celestial phenomena, so they must know the whereabouts of people from the previous dynasty.
Hong Qiao's eyes widened as she spoke tremblingly, "Your Majesty, the Jiang family has surrendered to Your Majesty. If they knew the whereabouts of the people from the previous dynasty, they would have told Your Majesty long ago."
Concubine Shu is desperate and is trying every possible means to cure her illness.
"Your Majesty trusts Jiang Jianzheng because he has accurately predicted several major events," Concubine Shu said quietly, "When he predicts the whereabouts of the people from the previous dynasty, he can't be wrong."
Hongqiao's face suddenly changed, and she understood what Concubine Shu meant.
The Northern Qi Emperor trusted the Jiang family because they could predict the secrets of heaven. Even if the person Jiang Jianzheng was accusing was not from the previous dynasty, the Northern Qi Emperor would still believe that it was from the previous dynasty.
You would rather kill someone by mistake than let him go, right?
"But...but the Jiang family and the Lin family have broken off their engagement, so how can they help us?"
"His son is studying at Nanlu Academy." Concubine Shu's eyes revealed a fierceness: "I heard that he only comes back on New Year's Eve every year."
Hongqiao was shocked. Concubine Shu was going to target Jiang Jianzheng's son in order to threaten Jiang Jianzheng to "testify" against people from the previous dynasty.
She felt vaguely uneasy, always feeling that something big was going to happen.
But Concubine Shu was already insane and refused to listen to advice.
Hongqiao had no choice but to do as she was told.
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When Zhao Yi and Shen Qingtan heard that the position of Junior Secretary would fall to the prefect of Yuncheng, they did not react in particular. Instead, they were worried that the New Year's Eve banquet in the palace would not go smoothly.
On New Year's Eve, they pasted couplets and window decorations in the mansion, replaced the eaves with red lanterns, and hung small red lanterns the size of palms on the branches, adding a festive touch to the deserted mansion.
This was the first New Year the couple spent together. Without any relatives in the house, it was so lonely.
Shen Qingtan specially prepared a reward and ordered Liu Yue and Ting Xue to tie ribbons on the branches. The people in the mansion selected the ribbons according to their own skills. If they completed the requirements of their superiors, they could receive the reward money.
This way, the mansion will be more lively.
After finishing the work, it was already late.
After taking a bath, Shen Qingtan sat in front of the bronze mirror and put on her makeup.
Liu Yue tied Shen Qingtan's hair and asked, "You have prepared a New Year gift for the prince's subordinates in the Ministry of Rites. Do you want to send someone to deliver it today, or wait until after the New Year when he starts his shift and have the prince take it?"
"Send it today." Shen Qingtan said softly, "I have prepared two other gifts, one for Princess Guangning and one for the Imperial Tutor. You will deliver them in person later."
"Yeah." Liu Yue responded.
At this time, Zhao Yi pushed the door open and looked at Shen Qingtan who was leaning in front of the bronze mirror with a delicate, lazy and charming look.
A line of poetry emerged in his mind: The clouds in her hair are about to cover the snow on her cheeks.
Shen Qingtan caught a glimpse of his figure out of the corner of her eye, turned her head and saw him slowly walking towards her.
She curved her lips and smiled: "You have to wait for me a little longer."
Zhao Yi hummed softly, watching Liu Yue tie her thick black hair into a bun and put a pearl crown on her head, making her look even more radiant.
He glanced at a gold-inlaid pearl ring in the box, hooked the ring with his fingertips, and put it on her slender finger. The glittering pearl light reflected on her snow-like skin, making it even more crystal clear.
When Shen Qingtan saw that he was holding her fingers tightly, a hint of helplessness flashed in her eyes. She let him lead her out of the house and take her in a carriage to the palace.
The carriage arrived at the palace gate and slowly stopped.
Suddenly, the carriage was hit and Shen Qingtan fell forward unsteadily. A pair of hands held her waist tightly in their arms.
Shen Qingtan's fingers tightly grasped Zhao Yi's clothes, and his heart was beating rapidly.
Zhao Yi's face darkened. He carried her out of the carriage and saw the virtuous prince approaching. "Royal brother, the road is slippery. The driver was so careless as to bump into your carriage, frightening you and your sister-in-law. You won't hold it against your brother, will you?"
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