Princess Su will be going to Beijing soon. Now everyone in Beijing knows that the emperor seems to be dissatisfied with the crown prince, so he summoned the famous prince Su to stay in Beijing.

After the prince reaches adulthood, he cannot stay in the capital unless he is appointed as the crown prince. However, the prince Su and his wife were specially summoned back to the capital. The battlefield of the royal family, which was not smoked, slowly revealed the terrifying sword light and blood shadow.

After Empress Xiao Qi died, the emperor suddenly felt infinite nostalgia for his successor empress. Since she was gone, the emperor could only devote all his passion to Prince Lu and the second princess. Prince Lu had now been demoted to a prince of a county. The emperor proposed to re-enfeoff him, but Prince Lu refused. Later, he stayed in the palace to mourn for Empress Xiao Qi on the pretext of recuperating from illness. He stayed indoors and waited until the three-year mourning period was over before he went to his fiefdom.

The death of an empress is a major national event, and the whole country should mourn. However, Empress Xiao Qi had committed a taboo before, and her funeral was finally held by the emperor with great pomp, but the matter of mourning was neglected.

Now, I am afraid that except for Empress Xiao Qi's biological children, Prince Lu and the second prince, no one is willing to mourn for her.

The situation in the capital city became tense overnight. All the families in the court noticed that something was wrong and kept silent about it. Many people also distanced themselves from the Eastern Palace to avoid suspicion.

Historically, seizing the throne has always been a turbulent process. The prince has indeed made great contributions, but in the final analysis, the emperor is the real monarch and the object of loyalty of all the scholars and generals in the world. The merit of following the dragon is not so easy to establish. Once the pressure is wrong, the whole family may be dragged to be buried with it, so many ministers are unwilling to take sides. Not expressing a position will not go wrong. As long as they claim to be royalists, the banner of loyalty to the emperor is the best cover. When the final winner comes out in the future, they will show their loyalty and continue to serve as officials in the court.

With this in mind, many officials kept silent at the right time, completely missing their enthusiasm and support for the Eastern Palace when they were defending the capital. Since the emperor had returned, the morning court that had been suspended for a long time should be resumed. One morning court, the emperor ordered the suspension of a new policy promoted by Qin Yi.

"Re-measure the land, pay the land tax, and use silver instead of labor service. What are you doing? Taxation and labor service are the rules left by the founding emperor. Who gave you the courage to change them?" The emperor rejected the report of the Ministry of Revenue with an unhappy face, frowning and saying, "You are self-righteous, which is simply nonsense. From now on, all will be stopped."

Some conservative old officials naturally shouted in praise of the emperor. The Yan Dynasty has been established for 200 years. At the beginning of the dynasty, corruption was vigorously cracked down, and officials were more honest than one another. However, as of today, local gentry and local government have colluded to seize land under various pretexts. The people's land was annexed, and they could only rent land for farming. They harvested seven dou of rice a year, and six dou were used to pay rent. One dou was barely enough to make a living, and they had nothing the next year, so they could only rent land again. Over and over again, the people became more and more miserable, and the financial crisis of the national treasury became more and more serious. You know, the land occupied by these royal relatives, eunuchs and civil officials is not taxed.

This crisis in the capital is a major outbreak of the financial crisis. When Qin Yi took over the government affairs, he realized that the national treasury had become so empty. After the siege, Qin Yi rebuilt the capital and issued relief funds to the people affected by the war and the soldiers who died in the war. He even had to "borrow" money from his ministers. No matter from which aspect, Qin Yi felt it was terrible.

Rebuilding the capital was only the first step. Next, he had to rebuild the Shenji Camp, the Sanqian Camp and the Wujun Camp. The myth of the invincible army that swept across the grasslands, the three camps that defended the capital from within and prepared for wars from without, should not have ended in such a humiliating way.

Rebuilding the imperial guard obviously requires a huge amount of money. Where does this money come from? It can only come from the national treasury. Taxation is the most legitimate income for a country, so it is urgent to clear the land and implement new taxes.

Qin Yi did not expect that the new political system he had rebuilt with great effort, and the new tax law that many ministers in Wenhua Palace had discussed all night, was terminated by the emperor without even a glance. Most of those who implemented the new policy were young officials. Their enthusiasm was suddenly dampened. Many of them were indignant and could not help but stand up and say, "Your Majesty, the national treasury has been empty for years, and the tax revenue of the Ministry of Revenue is less and less year by year, while many farmers in the private sector are displaced and cannot get enough food. In the long run, it will only fatten the local rats and erode the century-old foundation of our Great Yan. The new policy cannot be abolished, Your Majesty, please reconsider!"

As soon as these words came out, many young officials stood up to second them. For a while, the only thing that could be heard in front of Chengtian Hall was the repeated calls of "Your Majesty, please reconsider."

The emperor looked at his ministers who openly opposed him and his face darkened: "You are the pillars of a country, and each of you is thinking about the country, but you keep saying that you will raise a rat. I think you are the termites!"

The ministers immediately knelt down in a large group. Several old ministers shuddered and said in a trembling voice: "Your Majesty, please calm down. Please take care of your body."

The new policy promoted by Qin Yi undoubtedly affected the interests of many relatives and old ministers. Profit is the top priority. No matter whether you have just saved the lives of the whole city or not, as long as their own interests are affected, they will turn their faces against you.

The emperor felt better when he saw a bunch of people on his side. He ordered: "These ministers have been spreading rumors and misleading the people, and have been discussing the laws of our ancestors. All of them should be pushed out and punished with thirty strokes of the cane. The leader is particularly evil. His title of Jinshi should be stripped and he should never be employed again."

As early as when the emperor was angry, several close ministers of the Eastern Palace had already stopped Qin Yi. The situation was not favorable for the Eastern Palace at that time, and it was not appropriate to stand out at this juncture. It would not be too late to let the emperor slowly realize the benefits of the new policy after the storm had passed. Among them, Qin Yi was particularly important. The prince was the most important trump card of the new policy.

Qin Yi also knew that he could not force it, so he had been enduring the slander and attacks in his ears, but when he heard the emperor's words, Qin Yi could not help it no matter how well-mannered he was.

What does it mean to a scholar who has studied hard for ten years to be stripped of his title of Jinshi? Does the emperor really not understand? If he doesn't understand, he is unworthy of being a king. If he understands and can still say such things, he is simply unworthy of being a king.

Qin Yi no longer needs to endure it. He stepped forward and said coldly: "Your Majesty, he just proposed a new way of collecting taxes. What big mistake did he make that he should be stripped of his title?"

"He spread evil words to confuse the people and contradicted me in the court. He should be severely punished."

"Your Majesty, is he severely punished because he really said something wrong, or because he was promoted by me?"

"Your Highness!" The courtiers were shocked. The emperor was stunned for a moment, and then he was furious: "How dare you!"

The situation after the morning court was a mess. The emperor was furious, and many people stood up to plead for the prince, which made the emperor even angrier. In the end, the number of ministers who were pushed out of the Meridian Gate and caned increased several times, and the crown prince was also dismissed and ordered by the emperor to reflect on his mistakes behind closed doors.

This was the largest caning of ministers since the founding of the country, except for the few years when the dynasty was just established and the meritorious officials were frantically liquidated. The number of ministers affected and the severity of the caning shocked the court and the public.

Chu Jinyao had a bad feeling when she heard that many adults were pushed out for caning today. When she saw Qin Yi coming back early again, the bad feeling finally came to an end.

Chu Jinyao sighed silently, walked over and gently held Qin Yi's hand: "Your Highness."

Qin Yi wrapped Chu Jinyao's hand with his backhand and slowly applied force.

Everything is self-evident.

The turmoil outside did not seem to affect the two people in Donggong at all. It was a rare opportunity for Qin Yi to spend so much time with Chu Jinyao. The child grew up day by day under their witness. Qin Yi watched with his own eyes as Chu Jinyao's belly grew bigger and bigger, and the child's kicks became stronger and stronger.

Outsiders thought that the East Palace, which was gloomy and at the center of controversy, was actually very peaceful. Qin Yi finally had plenty of time to accompany Chu Jinyao, but for some reason, he always felt guilty: "It's my fault that you got involved. If it weren't for me this time, you wouldn't have been angered."

Chu Jinyao was the daughter of a marquis. Her life should have been one of luxury, with beautiful women in elegant clothes, and she should have been sought after at one banquet after another, instead of being trapped in a corner like now.

"What are you talking about?" Chu Jinyao was comparing the fabrics for making clothes for her child. When she heard what Qin Yi said, she raised her head and glared at him, saying, "What do you mean by implicate? We are husband and wife, and we should share weal and woe. Besides, I don't want to go out and socialize with those ladies. I always hope it will end soon, but now I don't have to do anything and can see you all day. I wish this day could last longer."

Chu Jinyao has the ability to coax people into submission without realizing it. Qin Yi had nothing to say, so he could only walk over and hug her shoulders, resting his chin on the crook of Chu Jinyao's neck. Qin Yi's strength became stronger and stronger, but Chu Jinyao didn't mean to remind her, because even at this time, Qin Yi's arm was carefully around her belly.

Accompany you from the border to the capital, from rise to trough. She was there when the Eastern Palace was powerful, she was there when the country was on the verge of destruction, she was there when the capital was difficult to rebuild, and now, the hero who saved the situation is trapped in the shallows. She has been praised in the past, and now she has to endure as much criticism as she has been praised. The winds outside are ups and downs, but the only thing that remains unchanged is her.

In February, Princess Su set out from Qingyang and arrived in the capital before the end of the month.

Zhao Lanhui opened the curtain of the car, looked at the familiar scene outside, and a smile slowly climbed up the corners of his lips.

So what if she left the capital in disgrace last year? Now, hasn't she returned in glory? People, temporary glory does not mean anything, but it is easy to be arrogant and cause trouble. People like her who have accumulated a lot and then made a breakthrough are the ones who will truly have a happy future.

Princess Su's arrival in Beijing was a big deal, and she became the most sought-after object among the noble ladies in Beijing.

Not long after Zhao Lanhui landed, he quickly held a banquet to invite all the wives of officials above the third rank in Beijing. When this grand banquet began, the Crown Princess was still locked up in the East Palace.

Princess Rong'an was sitting in the flower hall, talking to her daughter in private. Because she came early, she was looking at Zhao Lanhui with a smug look on her face. "I knew my son was a lucky one. That person was so arrogant a few months ago, but now he is still locked up in the East Palace and dares not even show up. So, people should not laugh too early. The one who laughs the most is the winner."

Zhao Lanhui just smiled lightly at this. Of course, she knew who Princess Rong'an was talking about. In fact, Chu Jinyao was younger than Zhao Lanhui, but she became Zhao Lanhui's eldest sister-in-law for no reason. However, facts have proved that being young and of low birth means having no vision. If things go a little smoothly, they will be arrogant to no end and are not capable of controlling the overall situation.

Obviously, in Zhao Lanhui's heart, he is the one who can plan big things and control the overall situation. Didn't you see that although Prince Su has concubines and maids, he still treats her, the principal wife, with great respect. This is the best proof.

One is a prince with a domineering reputation, and the other is a prince who is courteous and humble. Similar things have happened many times in history, and without exception, the latecomer has the upper hand.

In fact, according to Fang Moushi's original plan, Qin Yi should have ascended the throne in a hurry. They prepared a series of back-up plans for this, but Qin Yi did not ascend the throne and still served as the crown prince.

All the tricks failed, but Empress Xiao Qi still died as planned. Zhao Lanhui sighed that the emperor really loved Empress Xiao Qi deeply. Just relying on Empress Xiao Qi's death, he actually achieved the expected effect.

This situation is simply very favorable. Zhao Lanhui smiled complacently. Chu Jinyao is not lucky at all. The real good fortune is like her, born in a famous family, raised by a noble lady, and married to a husband who is also a hidden dragon who pretends to be a pig and eats a tiger. So people still have to know themselves. Only a noble lady like her, who comes from a famous family and is born noble, is worthy of the Phoenix throne.

She is waiting for this day.