Chapter 458 Asking the Elders for Information
"Let's discuss this slowly. Why are you so anxious?"
"I'm not anxious, I'm angry!
Liu Yitong, ah Liu Yitong, we've known each other since childhood. How come I didn't know you had such courage?
How dare you so recklessly violate the laws and order of the court? Humph, who gave you the courage? "
"I gave it to him."
"You didn't give him..."
The Minister of Personnel had just begun to speak angrily when he was interrupted by the Queen sitting on the dragon throne with a smile.
"Don't be upset, my dear Lord Zhao. This matter was worked out between me and the Minister of Works.
You have just been in the capital as an official for a short time. I don’t know that the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Rites also underwent major adjustments to achieve their current appearance.
Of course, this is just our initial discussion, and how to implement it specifically still needs to be discussed carefully with all of you ministers.
However, reform is imperative. I hope you, Zhao Aiqing, understand this and don't stand in the way."
The Queen's voice was gentle, but it carried a force that refused to be rejected. Those accustomed to her style of doing things would naturally be willing to wait and see, but those who were not accustomed to it really couldn't get used to it at all.
"Ridiculous, absolutely ridiculous!
Your Majesty, although I come from an aristocratic family, I am loyal and dedicated to the well-being of the nation. It was only because I heard there was a wise ruler in the court that I, Zhao, braved the gossip of others and re-entered the government at such an advanced age.
But Queen, what are you going to do?
If the imperial order and laws are disturbed, how can the country be stable?
It's so hard to win the hearts of the people. You've finally built up a lot of prestige among the court and the people. Why would you resort to such a risky move?
Half of it was sincere advice, and half of it was doubt about one's current choice.
The emperor seems to be very unreliable. If the queen who seems reliable is actually unreliable, then how can the government be maintained?
If we let them mess around for a while, will the people of Dayu be plunged into another chaos?
Lord Zhao's genuine concern for his country and its people prevented Jiang Wan from rebuking him. She could only let him go for now, believing there would be someone who could control him later.
All the matters discussed at the court meeting were important. The Minister of the Ministry of Rites stepped forward in a timely manner to help out, claiming that for some reason the envoys from Linyue had been delayed, and asked if Dayu should send someone to greet them on the road?
Finally, Weiwu Hou took on the task, and Lao Qiao planned to let the younger generations in the family make the trip.
A variety of government affairs were discussed below until it was time to leave the court. The Queen then asked a few important officials to stay, and the others left the palace one after another.
The emperor had already been waiting in Qianyuan Hall. Looking at the people following his wife, he blinked.
"Do you want to tell them in detail?"
"Go ahead, let the adults have a set of rules in mind, so that if something unexpected happens, everyone won't be caught off guard."
The queen sat on the chair with a tired look on her face. She hadn't rested all night and had just attended a morning court session in a hurry. Now she was sleepy and tired.
So she sat there with her forehead supported by her hand, leaving the final word to the emperor.
"Prime Minister Qin, Minister Chu, Minister Liu, Uncle, this is what happened..."
In this way and that, I picked and chose things and sorted out everything that could and should be said.
Qiao Yunhai was the first to frown and sneer.
"Damn it, you just jumped out to bully you because my sister, brother-in-law, and nephew are all gone, right?
Do you think my uncle is dead?
Let them come!
My Qiao family is not extinct, and all the men and women can take up swords and mount horses to fight on the battlefield. Your Majesty, don't panic, we still have people!"
The head of the Qiao family, Marquis Weiwu Qiao Yunhai, is a rough man, and his mind is even cruder than that of Duke Ling Jiang Huailiang.
There was no need to discuss his dissertations; any random Hanlin scholar could probably fill up his bookshelf. He wasn't even among the top martial artists; the top five noble families, led by the Duke of Ling, had each achieved greater merit than he had.
However, the Qiao family has one special feature that no other family can match, and that is that the Qiao family can really fight for Emperor Li Chengxiu with their last drop of blood.
This was the legacy that Queen Qiao left for her family and her son with all her hard work.
"Uncle, don't worry. If there really is a war, I don't need your help. I can do it myself!
Now let’s talk about the Gu family.
Anyway, I have already killed Chen Wangqiu, but Gu Xiaoxiao's life was saved by the imperial physician.
Do you think what she said is true?"
The emperor shook the jade pendant twice and felt a little worried.
"My eldest brother is ill again, and it's not convenient to have him brought into the palace. So I thought I'd just ask you guys. If you have anything to say, just tell me!"
Minister Chu and Minister Liu glanced at each other quietly, then looked at Prime Minister Qin in front of them. Neither of these two smart men spoke first.
Qin Zhenning took two steps forward, took the green jade pendant, and looked at it carefully, searching through memories from many years ago in his mind.
“I don’t know whether this jade pendant is genuine or not, but I seem to have heard in my childhood that Emperor Daqiqing once concealed the treasury’s wealth.
However, I'm not the eldest son to inherit the family business, so no one has ever told me whether it's true or not. I always thought it was just a rumor, so I never told the Emperor or the Empress.
Master Chu, Master Liu, what are your thoughts?"
Finally, the question was brought to their head, and Chu Hong and Liu Maosheng both sighed in their hearts.
Prime Minister Qin was cunning and shrewd, and also from an aristocratic family. Unlike the emperor and empress, who were ignorant and easy to fool, these two old foxes could only speak the truth.
"I've heard of this as well, but my Chu family also had a queen in the previous dynasty, so I probably know a little more than you do."
Minister Chu sighed.
"Alas, you don't know that this jade pendant has actually been passed down from generation to generation to the eldest son of the Gu family.
I didn't know what this thing was used for before, but my eldest son, Queen Chu, once inherited it.
It was said that the person who possessed the jade pendant was the legitimate ruler of the Gu Dynasty. However, he tragically died in the struggle for the throne, and the jade pendant was lost. Unexpectedly, it later fell into the hands of Princess Cangyu.
Minister Liu also nodded.
“Yes, it is also recorded in my family’s books.
Before Emperor Qing of Daqi ascended the throne, the treasury of Daqi was abundant. After he ascended the throne, the treasury was in deficit every year, and unfortunately, it encountered several natural disasters, which led to the rapid decline of national strength.
Therefore, the noble families were privately spreading a rumor that the Gu family had hidden a fortune that was rich enough to rival a country.
The three old men compared their statements with each other, and then the emperor could easily come to a conclusion.
"So, there really is a treasure waiting for me to dig! Hahahahahaha, I've been poor and destitute for so many years, and finally I've gotten some good fortune!"
He slammed his big hands on the table and grinned with joy.
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