Fu Xiaoguan listened quietly and poured three cups of tea for the three prime ministers.
"Your Majesty, the entire Wu Dynasty's intelligence is in Zhou Tongtong's hands. We must be on guard!" Nangong Yiyu said earnestly.
Fu Xiaoguan nodded. "Zhou Tongtong is also a veteran of the Wu Dynasty. He played a significant role in suppressing the rebellion of Empress Dowager Xi. What he said in the Xuande Hall today was exactly what I wanted to say. I don't think of him differently because of what he said today."
"But how do you explain why he sent his family to Jinling?"
"He told me about this. His old mother suffers from severe rheumatism. You know the climate in Guanyun City, it's very humid. Jinling is different, it's much more comfortable. Zhou Tongtong was raised by his old mother, this is his filial piety, how can I refuse?"
The three prime ministers looked at each other and kept silent.
Although the old man Zhou Tongtong is dark, his filial piety is known to everyone.
But the more this happened, the more worried they became. What if Zhou Tongtong changed his mind? Although the Wu Dynasty was now completely under the Emperor's control, especially the military, even if Zhou Tongtong wanted to cause trouble, with the ant colony he controlled, he wouldn't be able to cause any major trouble. But the three ministers were still somewhat worried. If he only targeted His Majesty, even if His Majesty had two Saints by his side, if he obtained a flintlock rifle... the consequences would be unpredictable.
We must be more careful about the emperor's safety.
Nangong Yiyu looked at Zhuo Yihang and said, "I think we should ask You Beidou to accompany His Majesty as well."
Zhuo Yixing nodded slightly but looked at Jia Nanxing who was standing quietly in the corner. In the end, Jia Nanxing had to nod his head on this matter. After all, even if the two brothers were not enemies, the gap between them seemed to have not been eliminated.
"You don't have to worry about my safety. I've appointed Ning Siyan as the commander of the imperial guards and have ordered him to train 10,000 soldiers to guard the imperial city. General Bai Yulian will be there to help us out at sea. I'll also bring Ning Siyan and some of the imperial guards with me on future tours. This matter ends here, and you shouldn't discuss Zhou Tongtong privately."
…
Tianji Pavilion.
Zhou Tongtong sat quietly in the attic, watching the sunset and the clouds and fog rise.
He had been looking at it like this for a long time, and the expression on his face remained as calm as water.
Until the last ray of sunset set, he finally showed a hint of sadness.
A man in black stood quietly behind him, staring at Zhou Tongtong's motionless back for a long time, until Zhou Tongtong spoke:
"Tell the Chen family that His Majesty will go to sea next February."
"grown ups……"
Zhou Tongtong took a deep breath and narrowed her eyes slightly. "Tell Yu Wendao and Yan Hanyu that after the Waking of Insects... the Spring Thunder will definitely sound!"
…
…
The harem of the Wu Dynasty, the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
Wu Linger looked at Fu Xiaoguan and asked in a low voice, "I went to Jinghu Villa today. Tianci was supposed to be practicing martial arts, but I couldn't find You Beidou. The guards said he's been gone for nearly a month... Did you give him a mission?"
Fu Xiaoguan picked up Wu Tianci and said with a smile, "I just happen to need his help with something. It's not a big deal, but I'll be away for a little longer this time... Tianci has to practice martial arts at such a young age? You're not letting him have fun playing?"
Wu Linger glared at Fu Xiaoguan. "How can you be a father like that? Tianci is four years old now. It's time for him to start learning literature and lay the foundation for martial arts. Hey, husband, who are you going to hire as Tianci's teacher for literature?"
"How about throwing it to Wen Xingzhou?"
Wu Linger's eyes lit up, but then she said, "I thought you wanted to ask Master Wen to be the prince's teacher, or to ask Master Wen's son Wen Canghai to be Tianci's teacher?"
Yu Wenjun is the queen, and logically, Yu Wenjun's son Fu Yian will be the crown prince.
Fu Yian is three years old now, and it is time for him to start his education. Wen Xingzhou is the most famous scholar in the Wu Dynasty, so it is only right that Wen Xingzhou be invited to be the prince's tutor.
"Now that there's no crown prince, let's just give everything to Wen Xingzhou. Teaching one person is teaching, teaching a group is teaching too. It's settled. Next spring, let Tianci, Yi'an, Ziliang, and Duoduo all go to study with Wen Xingzhou. Remember to prepare a generous scholarship. Old Master Wen is too incorruptible and poor!"
"Give him the title of Prince Taifu. Also, give him some money privately so he can buy a house or two. You can't let a scholar like him go broke; that would discourage other scholars across the country."
Wu Linger chuckled. She heard that this man wanted to kill more than 80 corrupt officials at the grand court meeting today, but in the blink of an eye he secretly bribed honest people. After all, he has a sharp tongue but a soft heart.
"By the way, Ling'er, I went to Linjia Village this time."
Wu Linger's face flushed immediately, "Why go there?"
"Look, that house was almost falling down, and we rebuilt it. I'm wondering if you'll miss that place? How about we sneak over there and live there sometime?"
Fu Xiaoguan looked at Wu Ling'er with a lewd expression. Wu Ling'er's face turned even redder. She lowered her head and bit her lip with her silver teeth. "At that time, I was young and ignorant, and I acted on impulse. You, you must not tell anyone!"
Fu Xiaoguan hugged Wu Linger in his arms and whispered, "This is our secret, and we will never tell anyone... Tonight, I want you to sleep with me!"
"...Okay!" Wu Linger's voice was as low as a mosquito and her face was shy. She no longer looked like the heroine she once was.
The couple chatted for a while, and then Jia Nanxing hurried in.
"Your Majesty, Ning Fatian has arrived."
"Okay, please let him in."
Wu Linger took Tianci away, and Ning Fatian came to the Yangxin Palace carrying a sword.
"Your Majesty, I greet you!"
"Don't be so polite, please take a seat."
"Your Majesty, thank you!"
Ning Fatian sat opposite Fu Xiaoguan and was extremely surprised. He had broken through the Saint Level in Luomei Mountain, but was summoned back by a secret order from His Majesty.
The decree did not say why he was called back, it only said that he needed to avoid everyone's eyes and return quietly, which probably meant he had an extremely important mission.
"Well, there's something I need you to do."
"Your Majesty, please give your orders!"
"I'm going to Jinling in the Yu Dynasty for one mission: to protect Zhou Tongtong's family with You Beidou."
Ning Fatian was shocked, "You Beidou also went to the Yu Dynasty?"
"Yes, he has already arrived in Jinling."
Jia Nanxing was slightly stunned. Is His Majesty doing this to protect Zhou Tongtong's family or to monitor Zhou Tongtong's family?
Your Majesty, do you trust Zhou Tongtong or not?
On the way back from Nanping County, Your Majesty mentioned the inaction of the Imperial Clerk's Office, and Zhou Tongtong, as the Imperial Clerk's official... naturally could not escape responsibility.
Zhou Tongtong has been in charge of Tianji Pavilion for decades, and Your Majesty wants to train a brand new intelligence team. It seems that Your Majesty has some doubts about Zhou Tongtong.
"Your Majesty, should we get rid of Zhou Tongtong directly to avoid complications?" Jia Nanxing asked seriously. He was also worried. An ant colony is hard to guard against. Who knows when it will do something detrimental to the emperor.
"No, let's wait and see."
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