He turned the tables on him: "Brother Zhao, since you have this idea, why don't you sell your property and bring your relatives and friends to join us?"
Zhao Sui was taken aback, then burst into laughter.
“That is exactly what I was thinking. Gentlemen, please wait for me for a few days. I will soon come to join you with my family, servants, and fellow villagers.”
Liu Qi narrowed his eyes.
The appearance of Zhao Sui is too strange.
He suddenly chuckled, "Alright, we'll be waiting for you, Brother Zhao."
A few days later, Liu Qi and his group entered Shandong province.
Zhao Sui brought his two younger brothers and recruited more than 500 men to join him.
These five hundred people were all agile and skilled, and were trained in martial arts.
Even Liu Liu can tell something's wrong now.
Zhao Sui clearly came prepared!
Currently, they only number a few dozen, less than one-tenth of Zhao Sui's forces.
Now that they've discovered our whereabouts, it won't be easy for us to escape.
Zhao Sui did not attack them. Instead, he treated them like brothers, drank and chatted happily, and even sent someone to invite Yang Hu and the others to join him.
Zhao Sui proposed a series of military discipline measures, including cracking down on military misconduct, only killing corrupt officials, and not harming the common people.
Liu Liu, Liu Qi, Qi Yanming, and the others gasped in shock.
They had done a lot for Su Wanwan, and their vision was far beyond that of ordinary bandits. Now they were certain that Zhao Sui definitely had ulterior motives.
They are not fools.
Neither the Prince of Anhua, who plotted rebellion, nor Liu Jin, the "standing emperor," met a good end.
These days of hardship and uncertainty made them realize that rebellion was an extremely difficult path.
...
"The men under Liu Liu and Liu Qi were mainly peasants who had gone bankrupt under Liu Jin's oppressive rule and were forced to flee with nowhere else to go. Along the way, they killed corrupt officials, local tyrants and bullies to vent their anger, and plundered wealthy households to fill their stomachs. They followed the path of generosity and righteousness."
“Zhao Sui is different. He is well-educated and knowledgeable in military strategy. He is not a friendly person, unlike ordinary bandits. He came with five hundred elite soldiers. I’m afraid he is being instructed by someone behind the scenes.”
Qian Ning frowned and reported the situation to Su Wanwan.
"They've now gathered together and recruited some thugs, bringing their numbers close to a thousand."
"They cannot be wiped out by the Imperial Guards."
Su Wanwan clenched her fists.
I felt both joy and sorrow.
The good thing is that she didn't misjudge him.
Even after becoming outlaws, Liu Liu and Liu Qi maintained their original chivalrous ways and had principles in their actions.
The worrying thing is that it's obvious someone is deliberately trying to escalate this matter.
After all, Liu Liu and Liu Qi are her people, and in the end, it will be her reputation that is criticized.
Her eyes quickly hardened.
"If they can send people, so can we."
Su Wanwan and Qian Ning plotted together.
Qian Ning's eyes were complicated: "If they are not trustworthy people, I'm afraid Liu Liu and Liu Qi might not believe it."
Su Wanwan: "Call Heying here."
...
Upon entering Kunning Palace again, Heying's body was extremely tense, and her heart was pounding.
From the most trusted confidant to a complete stranger whose presence is as difficult as climbing Mount Everest.
It was all because of her initial carelessness and jealousy.
She never intended to harm the Empress, but instead caused the Empress to suffer greatly, teetering on the brink of death.
"Your Majesty." He Ying knelt down and performed a grand salute.
Su Wanwan's voice was calm and her expression serene: "Rise."
"There's something I need you to do."
There was no small talk or reminiscing, nor any inquiry about her recent situation.
He Ying felt a deep sadness in her heart.
"Please give your orders, Your Majesty."
The empress may seem kind, but she never forgives those who betray her.
In the Empress's heart, her mistake back then was probably a betrayal of her.
She wanted to weep and repent, begging for the Empress's forgiveness.
But once she met the Empress's calm and unwavering eyes, she knew it.
This trick didn't work.
As for Yan Rong.
Hehe, back then she thought the Empress was foolish, indiscriminately showing kindness to Yan Rong and letting Yan Rong follow Prince Rong.
A few days ago, news came from the Rong Prince's Mansion in Changde that Yan Rong had indeed won the favor of the Rong Prince and was pregnant with a child.
However, during childbirth, the baby was too large to be delivered, and after three days and three nights of pain, she and her unborn child died.
It was a boy.
Before she died, Yan Rong sent someone to tell her: "Don't follow my example."
He Ying thought she would mock Yan Rong, but in the end, she couldn't stop the tears from flowing.
How could she possibly learn from Yan Rong?
She never intended to betray the Empress.
Never.
That incident of poisoning the Empress was merely a mistake, a result of her negligence.
But is this oversight truly unavoidable?
No.
He Ying knew that she deserved what she had done.
The fact that the Empress did not punish her and instead sent her to find Liu Qi was already the greatest kindness she could show her.
The Empress is granting her wish.
But after a few years, Liu Qi preferred to become an outlaw rather than have her.
In the end, she herself became a laughing stock.
Even Guo Xun, the Marquis of Wuding, who had once intended to marry her, avoided her like the plague and never mentioned marriage again.
"Go tell Liu Qi that whether he wants to be a bandit or wants to be recruited by the government, I will support him. If he needs money or other support, I will provide it."
"Only one condition: I must part ways with Zhao Sui."
He Ying stared wide-eyed at Su Wanwan in disbelief.
Has the Empress gone mad?!
She quickly lowered her head, swallowing her surprise.
That's enough.
She never understood the Empress.
Just do as instructed.
Being trusted and used by the Empress is her good fortune.
...
It's the end of the year, and it's time for officials to evaluate their performance.
The Ministry of Personnel submitted a report on the performance evaluation of Grand Secretary Li Dongqian over nine years.
Su Wanwan generously issued an imperial edict: "Dongqian has served three emperors with utmost diligence and outstanding achievements. Now, for his nine years of service as a first-rank official, he is hereby commended and granted the honorary title of Grand Secretary. He shall continue to serve as he was before the emperor, and shall be granted an imperial decree and a banquet at the Ministry of Rites."
Receiving double the salary of a Grand Secretary is unprecedented since the establishment of the cabinet system in this dynasty!
Su Wanwan bestowed the title of First-Rank Lady upon Li Dongqian's deceased birth mother and stepmother, and even posthumously granted the title of First-Rank Lady upon his deceased first wife.
To host a banquet exclusively for a single official at the Ministry of Rites is an unparalleled honor.
The civil and military officials were filled with envy.
However, Li Dongqian did not accept this and submitted a memorial requesting that the order be withdrawn.
In his memorial, Li also mentioned that "the current situation is one of continuous floods and droughts, the people are impoverished, bandits are rampant in the southeast of the capital region, and there are earthquakes in and around the capital. Those responsible should be held accountable and should be exempted from punishment."
It was practically a slap in the face to the emperor.
The court is currently plagued by natural and man-made disasters. I, the Grand Secretary, bear responsibility, but you, the Emperor and Empress, who have violated human ethics, should bear even greater responsibility.
Su Wanwan insisted on bestowing the reward and did not care about Li Dongqian's refusal.
However.
Li Dongqian quickly submitted a memorial, stating that "Your Majesty is in the prime of life, yet there is no heir. All subjects, both within and outside the court, are eagerly awaiting the arrival of a future heir."
Su Wanwan couldn't quite grasp his intentions.
So he simply left the memorial with the emperor.
Time flies, and it's already the eve of the Lunar New Year.
Su Wanwan felt increasingly uneasy.
It's freezing cold, and the New Year is just around the corner, yet there's still not a single word from Lu Xingjian.
However, the memorial submitted by the Ministry of War yesterday stated that the Northern Yuan Dayan Khan personally led an expedition to the right wing but was defeated and returned home.
They should be back soon, right?
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