When officials saw Zhao Yi, they would respectfully address him as Minister Zhao.
Firstly, Zhao Yi was quite tactful and adept at navigating officialdom. Secondly, the emperor was very pleased with the Zhao family's immense wealth and their show of loyalty.
In the battle to reclaim the northern border, the national treasury was far from what it used to be. However, the Zhao family donated two years' worth of the Yipin Pavilion's profits to the national treasury, which greatly relieved the pressure on the treasury. As a result, the emperor paid more attention to the Zhao family.
Zhao Yi quickly became the emperor's favorite, succeeding the Wang family.
On this day, Zhao Yi left the court and came out of the main hall with Zhao Ping'an. Jiang Bai had nothing to do and happened to be at the palace gate with the two of them, which led to a story of passing on the throne.
This matter also reached the emperor's ears, and the emperor's expression was unreadable.
Anping said to the emperor, "This couple has a deep and abiding love for each other, which is truly rare."
"I have never seen such a loving couple in all my years."
The emperor glanced at Anping, his tone slightly indifferent: "Why do you like the Zhao family so much?"
Anping was a little puzzled as to why the emperor would ask such a question: "Because the Zhao family members are straightforward and easygoing, the kind of people who are suitable to be friends."
"Oh? Is that so?"
The emperor uttered three words, and for some reason, Anping felt uneasy.
"Does His Majesty dislike the Zhao family?"
Although she knew what the emperor's purpose was in treating the Zhao family this way, she also understood that the emperor did indeed treat the Zhao family differently.
"like."
He had almost never seen such an outstanding woman as Jiang Bai.
Anping frowned slightly. She looked at the emperor and her lips moved: "Your Majesty, everything has its own cause and effect."
The emperor looked up at her and said, "I understand."
Anping bowed and left the palace, her steps quick.
Scene after scene flashed through my mind.
The emperor was usually so gentle that she almost forgot what he was really like.
That jealous emperor, with an extremely strong desire for control and comparison.
However, during his years as emperor, he forced himself to be a good emperor and a good ruler.
Admittedly, he has done a good job in this regard, but that does not mean he has completely changed his nature.
Just now, in the emperor's eyes, Anping seemed to see the boy from back then who didn't care about the price to get something.
Jiang Bai left the palace and somehow ended up in front of Yipin Pavilion.
When Jiang Bai saw the princess, he invited her into the inner hall and served her the wine that Zhao Nan had given her.
"This is peach blossom dessert brewed by the Princess Consort. It has been a long time since it was made. Princess, please have a taste."
After drinking the peach blossom wine, the princess felt much calmer.
Jiang Bai sensed that the princess had something on her mind.
"Princess, what's wrong?"
Anping looked up. Actually, she wasn't someone who could hide her emotions, so she felt out of place in the palace.
"Jiang Bai, you should go to the palace less often in the future."
Jiang Bai was a little confused, and suddenly remembered the time she went to pick up Zhao Yi and Ping An.
“Who would continue the court proceedings afterward? To avoid giving others cause for gossip later.”
Jiang Bai, however, felt that things were not so simple.
"But what happened?" Jiang Bai asked in return.
“No,” Anping replied.
Nothing actually happened; she was just a little uneasy.
Jiang Bai didn't get a clear answer from the question, so he stopped asking and nodded in response, "Okay, I understand."
"In short, once you enter the imperial court, you have to be careful at all times. You never know who might stab you in the back."
Jiang Bai nodded.
Anping reached out and took the peach blossom wine from her hand: "Now I regret it a little. I shouldn't have given you so much beauty filter back then. You and Zhao Yi are not suitable for going to places like this."
Jiang Bai remained silent, unsure why Anping seemed so different today.
Anping got drunk and fell asleep on the recliner.
In a daze, Jiang Bai helped her into the house and put her on the bed. Then he heard Anping muttering something.
Jiang Bai leaned down and listened carefully.
"He...he's not a good person."
"Who?" Jiang Bai asked.
Anping didn't say anything; he fell into a deep sleep.
Jiang Bei shrugged, instructed the servants to take good care of Anping, and then went to the front hall.
The days that followed were almost unchanged. The Zhao family moved to a new location, the Minister's Residence, which was personally renovated by the emperor.
Jiang Bai finally met the legendary Deputy Prime Minister, Ling Zhishan.
On this day, members of the Ling family came to offer their congratulations in person, along with other ministers.
Jiang Bai wanted Zhao Yi to exchange pleasantries with him.
Although Ling Zhishan had a smile on his face, Jiang Bai could see the displeasure in his eyes.
This dislike stems from jealousy.
However, Jiang Bai thought about it again and understood. Vice Prime Minister Ling used to be in charge of the national treasury, and the former Minister was also under his control.
The Ling family has dominated both the imperial court and the common people. Now that half of the power over the national treasury has been given to Zhao Yi, how can he be at ease?
Moreover, he must have sensed that the emperor's attitude towards the Ling family had changed drastically, while he was instead supporting the Zhao family.
Jiang Bai could guess that Ling Zhishan, that smiling tiger, was already planning how to bring down the Zhao family.
Just like how we treated the Sheng family back then.
However, Jiang Bai and Zhao Yi were not as straightforward as Sheng Bai. Jiang Bai was just waiting for the Ling family to come to them on their own.
That saved them the trouble of coming to our door.
Zhao Ping'an received Ling Zhishan, and Ling Zhishan's expression became even stranger upon seeing Zhao Ping'an.
In fact, he often observed Zhao Ping'an in the imperial court, and Zhao Ping'an also sensed it.
Now, Jiang Bai thought that he probably felt the same way as He Yu, that Xiao Ping'an resembled Sheng Bai.
After all, He Yu said that Xiao Ping'an looks very much like his father.
But without evidence, who can prove it?
Xiao Ping'an's presence in front of him was exactly what annoyed Ling Zhishan, making him uneasy.
Ling Zhishan was lost in thought when Zhao Ping'an asked him, "Vice Prime Minister Ling?"
Ling Zhishan snapped out of his daze: "General Zhao."
"Vice Prime Minister Ling, please come in."
Many ministers came to celebrate the housewarming, making the Zhao family's house very lively that night.
Zhao Xile came out of the backyard looking for Jiang Bai and bumped into Ling Zhishan.
Ling Zhishan squatted down and sized up Zhao Xile: "Who is Zhao Ping'an to you?"
At this moment, someone picked up Zhao Xile; it was Jiang Bai.
"Ping An is Le'er's older brother."
Ling Zhishan smiled and said, "I see. No wonder this child looks like Ping An."
Jiang Bai smiled and said, "These two children are born to the same father, how could they not look alike?"
Jiang Bai's words had a hidden meaning, but Ling Zhishan didn't understand and turned to leave.
Zhao Xile pointed at him and asked, "Mother, who is this person?"
Jiang Bai said calmly, "She's not the person Le'er likes."
"Someone Le'er doesn't like?" Zhao Xile asked.
Jiang Bai remained silent: "Le'er, it's time to sleep."
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