Chapter 199 Punishment

Then, in the court, there was a war of words between the officials of both sides. They each insisted on their own opinions, argued with reason, and spoke sharply. The emperor sat on the dragon chair, his brows knitted, showing a headache, but he had to be patient and watch the situation develop. The queen mother sat on the phoenix chair, her expression indifferent, as if she was detached from the world and ignored the dispute.

Qi Heng stood silently among the officials. Suddenly, the emperor suddenly spoke, "I wonder what Qi Hanlin thinks of the new policy?" When the queen mother heard the emperor mention Qi Heng, she couldn't help but raise her eyebrows and became energetic.

Qi Heng's eyelids twitched, and he stepped out with his tablet in hand, "I think if the new policy can be implemented, the country will prosper and all industries will flourish. The court will be clean and honest, corruption will be gradually eliminated, talented people will emerge, politics will be in order and the people will be harmonious. Farming and business will all be in their proper places, and the people will live and work in peace and contentment, and their lives will gradually get better. The border defense will be stable, the military will be strengthened, foreign threats will be eliminated, and the country will be peaceful. The new policy is truly a blessing for our Great Song and a blessing for all the people!"

Upon hearing this, the emperor was delighted and laughed, clapping his hands. Minglan closed her eyes to hide the worry in her eyes; the empress dowager suddenly clutched the armrests of the phoenix chair, sat up straight, and stared at Qi Heng's eyes as if they could spit fire; the eyes of all the civil and military officials in the court were gathered on Qi Heng, and the atmosphere was subtle.

Then, the emperor took advantage of the situation and issued the new policy decree. All the ministers kept silent and held their breath without any objection. The new policy was set, the world was bright, and there was a new atmosphere in the court.

After the new policy was discussed, the emperor announced the appointments of the ministers. When Qi Heng was announced as the secretary of the Central Secretariat, the ministers showed a look of understanding.

Minglan looked at Qi Heng worriedly, her eyes full of concern, Gu Tingye's eyes flashed with a trace of guilt, and Changbai stood beside Qi Heng and patted him on the shoulder. Qi Heng accepted it one by one and thanked him.

This court meeting, the launch of the new policy and the personnel changes all indicate that the Song Dynasty will usher in a new prosperous picture.

After the court meeting, the Queen Mother left with a flick of her sleeves. When she passed by Qi Heng, she stopped and shot a cold look at Qi Heng. The Queen Mother snorted fiercely, "Qi Sheren, follow me to Baoci Palace."

Minglan lagged behind the Queen Mother a few steps, called Qi Heng aside, took out two knee pads from her sleeves, and quietly handed them to Qi Heng.

"You disobeyed the Queen Mother in front of all the ministers. Even if the Queen Mother does not criticize you in court, she will definitely punish you in private. Take these two knee pads and find a chance to wear them later. If the Queen Mother really punishes you, they can also protect you." Minglan finished her words quickly, handed the things to Qi Heng, and hurriedly chased after the Queen Mother's sedan chair.

When the Queen Mother caught up with the Queen Mother's sedan chair, she leaned on it, her eyes slightly narrowed, her voice was majestic without anger, "You went to find Yuanruo?"

Minglan hurriedly bowed her head and answered respectfully, "I'll go and ask him why he did that."

"Oh? What did he say?" The Queen Mother opened her eyelids, her eyes were like torches, and she glanced at Minglan, examining Minglan's reaction.

"Lord Qi said that the new policy is to benefit all people, and the noble families should not compete with the people for profit." Minglan spoke in a calm tone, trying to excuse Qi Heng.

Hearing this, the Queen Mother raised a sneer at the corner of her mouth, "What a great man Qi Yuanruo is, he has the world in his heart, he is really a gentleman!" Although she said so, she could not hide her inner dissatisfaction and ridicule.

"The Queen Mother is wise. It is a blessing for the Song Dynasty that there are such talented young men who care about their country and their families." Minglan made timely suggestions, trying to ease the atmosphere.

The Queen Mother raised her body slightly, her eyes suddenly sharpened, staring straight at Minglan, "Did you know about today's events in advance?"

Minglan raised her head, met the Queen Mother's gaze, and answered frankly, "Queen Mother, this was set up by His Majesty, a conspiracy, but he is still one step ahead."

Upon hearing this, the Queen Mother slowly relaxed her tense body and leaned back into the sedan chair, her tone revealing a trace of fatigue and helplessness, "I know it very well, but I just can't swallow this. Recently, His Majesty has been making frequent moves, and many of my old ministers have retreated to my side. I can't help but feel a little lost!"

Minglan sighed in her heart, but still comforted, "Queen Mother, the game is not yet decided, and the world is still uncertain. " Can be reversed."

The Queen Mother looked at Minglan deeply, with complex emotions flashing in her eyes, "But Yuanruo, I still have to punish you. I know that you two have feelings for each other, but Minglan, you must know that love is the least worth mentioning in the eyes of men. You are by my side, and you are the most powerful girl in the Song Dynasty that I have carefully cultivated. I don't want you to indulge in love."

Minglan's face did not change at all, and her tone was calm but full of power, "I will always be by the Queen Mother's side. Before the world is settled, I will definitely put the overall situation first. Matters of marriage are absolutely not among my considerations."

Although Minglan's words were not flowery, every word was loud and clear, which made the Queen Mother feel relieved after hearing it. She looked at Minglan's bright and resolute face, and her heart was comforted. She nodded secretly: This girl, she was right.

"Good!" The Queen Mother uttered a word softly.

Minglan looked at the old man who closed his eyes and rested in the sedan chair. There were white hairs on his temples and wrinkles on the corners of his eyes. Minglan's eyes gradually softened. Finally, she looked at Qi Heng who was following behind with worry.

Noticing the change in Minglan's gaze, the Queen Mother slightly opened her eyes, glanced at Minglan, and a trace of tenderness flashed in her eyes.

In Baoci Palace, the Queen Mother and Minglan were chatting. Suddenly, a palace maid stepped forward and reported in a low voice: "Empress Dowager, Qi Sheren has been waiting outside the palace for a long time."

The empress dowager raised her eyebrows when she heard this, as if she had just remembered this person, "Let him kneel outside the palace and wait."

Minglan heard this, and the teacup in her hand shook slightly unconsciously, but soon she stabilized her hand, and a trace of barely perceptible worry flashed in her eyes.

Afterwards, the empress dowager took Minglan to Baoci Palace to accompany her to relieve her boredom. In a flash, the sun gradually climbed to the middle of the sky. Although the weather had turned cooler, the midday sunlight was still scorching, like an invisible flame burning on people, still making people feel unbearable.

Qi Heng was kneeling outside the palace, as straight as a pine tree. Sweat was quietly dripping down his handsome features, soaking the hair on his forehead, but he didn't care. His back was still straight, like an unyielding sculpture.

Thanks to the knee pads Minglan gave him, otherwise Qi Heng would not be able to bear kneeling until this hour.

At noon, a palace maid served food. The Queen Mother asked Minglan to eat in the palace, but she still didn't ask Qi Heng to stand up. Minglan frowned slightly, and when no one was paying attention, Minglan quietly hid a few cakes in her sleeves.

After finishing the meal, Minglan was talked to by the Queen Mother again, and the Queen Mother felt a little tired. Minglan waited on the Queen Mother and took an afternoon nap, and then she said goodbye and left the palace. The Queen Mother waved her hand, and Minglan left the inner hall.

When she walked out of the hall, she deliberately walked close to Qi Heng to block the sunlight for him and also blocked the sight of the palace maids and eunuchs. While scolding Qi Heng for not knowing how to be grateful, she calmly handed the cakes in her sleeve to Qi Heng.