The ministers begged me to ascend the throne

Chapter 332 Empress Xie's Hole Card
In the imperial study, the emperor received a secret letter from the Dragon Guard back to the capital from Jinling. The letter stated that there was news about Zhao Yao and that Zhao Yao's life was not in danger at present.

After the emperor read the secret letter, his face suddenly turned gloomy, and Sun Kui was so frightened that he immediately knelt on the ground.

"Okay, that's great!" The emperor said with a gloomy face and a very sinister smile, "I really underestimated them!"

Sun Kui, who was kneeling on the ground, felt the cold anger emanating from the emperor and trembled with fear.

The dark guard stood aside with his waist hunched and his head lowered without speaking.

"Kiddling Xiao Shi to provoke me, I am really looked down upon by others!" The emperor's face was full of sinisterness, his eyes were cold and stern, "I did not touch them for the time being, but it made them think that I am an incompetent emperor."

Sun Kui's forehead, face, and neck were covered with cold sweat, and the ground in front of him was dripping with sweat.

Who was so bold as to scream at the Emperor and kidnap His Highness the Tenth?Do they not want to live?Or do they dislike too many people in their family?
The secret guard hesitated for a moment and asked: "Your Majesty, are you going to rescue His Highness the Tenth Prince next?"

"If we don't save Xiao Shi for now, I want to see what they want to do." Although the emperor was very angry, he did not completely lose his mind. "I also want to see how that brat Xiao Shi can save himself." This is just a test for Xiao Shi. Ten good opportunities for that brat.

Sun Kui was kneeling on the ground: "..." Your Majesty, aren't you very worried about the safety of His Highness, why don't you give His Highness first aid?

The emperor then ordered the secret guard: "Keep an eye on them and protect Xiao Shi secretly."

The secret guard replied respectfully: "Yes, Your Majesty."

The emperor waved his hand towards the dark guard, beckoning him to retreat.

The secret guard retreated respectfully, and Sun Kui stood up quickly, then went to the imperial tea room to make a cup of tea for the emperor.

"Your Majesty, have a cup of tea to calm down."

The emperor took the tea cup and drank the tea in no hurry.He held the tea lid and gently brushed the water with a thoughtful expression.

Seeing the emperor's pensive expression, Sun Kui didn't dare to speak to disturb the emperor, so he stepped aside and stood quietly.

The emperor thought for a moment and then closed the tea lid in his hand.He raised his eyes to look at Sun Kui and ordered: "Go and call Lao Qi."

His Highness Prince Jing?

Sun Kui was surprised in his heart, but he didn't show it on his face.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

A moment later, King Jing appeared in the imperial study.

"Lao Qi, the imperial examination is about to start. I will send you to Jinling to preside over the county examination in Jinling City."

When King Jing heard what the emperor said, his eyes suddenly lit up and his expression became a little excited.

The emperor looked at King Jing lovingly and asked warmly: "Are you confident that you can do this well?"

King Jing said excitedly: "Father, I will definitely handle this matter well."

When the emperor heard what King Jing said, a pleased smile appeared on his face: "I believe you will not let me down."

King Jing was deeply moved when he saw that the emperor believed in him so much: "My son will never let my father down."

"You leave early tomorrow morning. Go say goodbye to your mother now to save her from worrying."

"Yes, father." After King Jing saluted the emperor, he left the imperial study and headed to Zhaoyang Palace.

As soon as he entered Zhaoyang Palace, he told Queen Xie that he was going to Jinling to preside over the county examination.After hearing this, Empress Xie was naturally very happy in her heart.

"The Emperor attaches great importance to the imperial examinations. It is a great achievement for you to go to Jinling to preside over the county examinations this time."

"My son thinks so too." King Jing couldn't hide his excitement, "My father is giving me a chance."

"During this period of time, the emperor has become more and more dissatisfied with the prince in the court. The emperor gave you a chance just to see your performance. If you successfully run the county examination in Jinling this time, the emperor will be more satisfied with you. Then you You can replace the crown prince." Queen Xie said to King Jing seriously, "When you go to Jinling this time, you must complete the county examination. After you complete the county examination, the emperor will also let you take the next government examination and court examination. You are in charge."

"Mother, do you mean that my father asked me to take charge of the county examination in Jinling to test whether I have the ability to do it well?" King Jing's mind was spinning quickly, "If I can run the county examination in Jinling well, then The next government examinations, college examinations, and even the subsequent rural examinations will be left to me."

"That's right." Queen Xie said, "Do you know what it means to be in charge of the imperial examination?"

When King Jing heard Queen Xie's question, he couldn't help but think deeply, and soon he understood.

"The imperial examination is to select talents for the imperial court. I am responsible for the imperial examination in Jinling. I can be regarded as a benefactor to the students of Jinling."

"This is secondary. When you are in charge of the imperial examination, if you find useful talents, you can use them for your own use." Empress Xie said with a smile on her face, "You are the legitimate prince, and your status is more noble than that of the acting king. There will definitely be many people who can use it for you."

King Jing came to his senses and said with joy on his face: "The queen is right."

"There are outstanding people in the south of the Yangtze River. Talents have been produced there since ancient times. If you can recruit some useful talents, it will be of great help to you."

"What the Queen Mother said is that when I go to Jinling, I will pay close attention to it."

"One more thing." Empress Xie frowned, her face was solemn, "Jinling is the territory of your uncle and the crown prince, I'm afraid your trip to Jinling this time will not go smoothly."

"Mother, do you mean that the people in Jinling won't listen to me?" King Jing knew that there was a Xie family in Jinling.His maternal grandmother was born in Jinling.

Queen Xie nodded slightly: "Yes, most of the people in Jinling listen to your uncle and the prince. If your uncle doesn't help you, he is just afraid that you will go. Those people in Jinling will not only not help you, but they may also delay you." Your hind legs.”

King Jing said angrily: "Uncle is so partial!"

"I have already given up hope for your uncle. Now the emperor sends you to Jinling to preside over the imperial examination. I can't let your uncle hinder you." Empress Xie said, asking Jiang Chuan to get something.

After a while, Jiang Chuan returned with a brocade box in his arms and handed it to King Jing with both hands.

King Jing took the brocade box and opened it to see a jade plaque with the word "Song" engraved on it.He picked it up and examined it carefully, and found that it was a piece of high-quality mutton-fat jade, but there was nothing special about it.

"Mother, what is this jade tablet?"

"This is what your grandmother left to me. Your uncle and the others don't know." As soon as King Jing heard this, he knew that this piece of mutton-fat jade was not simple.

Empress Xie said with a deep expression on her face, "The Song characters on it refer to the Song family in Jinling."

"Song family?" King Jing didn't know much about the situation in Jinling and didn't know what the Song family was like.

"Don't underestimate the Song family." Queen Xie said, "The Song family is one of the largest salt merchants in Jinling, and they have been salt merchants for generations."

Generational salt merchant? !
King Jing stared straight at his eyes, and said in shock, "The Song family is in Jinling..."

"Although the Song family is not an aristocratic family in Jinling, its status in Jinling is extraordinary." Empress Xie thought about the fact that Duke Zhen Guo did not know that she had the Song family token, and her face was full of pride. "As far as I know, your uncle does not I don’t know that your grandmother has a relationship with the Song family. Although the Xie family cooperates with the Song family, the Song family does not cooperate with the Xie family very much. The Song family has only cooperated with the Xie family for two or three points. "

"Mother, my grandfather has a relationship with the Song family. Doesn't my grandfather know about it?"

"I don't know, I'm the only one who knows about this matter." Empress Xie's eyes turned red when she thought of her mother's instructions before she died, "Your grandmother only told me that she gave me this jade plaque before she died, and she guessed you My eldest uncle will not help me in the future, and now she has really guessed it." Thinking of her eldest brother not helping her, Queen Xie's heart was full of anger, unwillingness and bitterness. "Your grandmother told me that as long as I get this jade plaque, the Song family will spare no effort to help me."

King Jing lowered his head and looked at the jade token in his hand, and said with a surprised look on his face: "This jade token is so useful!"

"If you take this jade token to the Song family, the Song family will recognize you as their master, and they will do their best to help you."

"Mother, with this jade token, the Song family is really willing to help me?" King Jing couldn't believe it.

"That's what your grandmother said, and she won't lie."

"Mother, what is the relationship between grandma and the Song family?" King Jing asked in surprise, "Why don't grandpa and uncle know about it?"

"What is the specific relationship, your grandmother didn't tell me." Empress Xie guessed that her mother should have an unfathomable relationship with the Song family, otherwise the Song family would not have presented this jade plaque. "The Song family is the trump card that your grandmother left to me. With the Song family's status in Jinling, they will definitely be able to help you organize this county examination."

King Jing clenched the jade plaque in his hand and said with joy on his face: "With this jade plaque, I immediately feel confident."

"I'm not very clear about the specific situation in Jinling." Although Queen Xie is a queen, before she got married, she was just the legitimate daughter of the Duke of Zhen, not the legitimate son, so there are many things in the Duke of Zhen. , she doesn’t know.Besides, none of her daughter's family can get involved in some affairs in the mansion. "I only know that all the aristocratic families in Jinling have good relations with the Song family, and the Cao Gang and Yan Gang in Jinling also have good relations with the Song family."

"I didn't expect the Song family to be so powerful in Jinling." King Jing thought about it. After all, the Song family has been a salt merchant for generations.

"The Song family's wealth and power are greater than those of the aristocratic families in Jinling." Queen Xie said meaningfully to King Jing, "The Song family's wealth and power alone can help you do a lot of things."

King Jing understood what Queen Xie meant, and said with joy: "Queen Mother, my grandmother really left us an incredible thing." He suddenly thought of something, and a proud smile appeared on his face, "The most important thing is that Queen My uncle and the prince didn’t know anything about it.”

"That's right." Empress Xie thought of the old Mrs. Zhen Guo, who had passed away long ago, with a sad look on her face, "Your grandmother had expected that after she left, your uncle and the others would not defend me, so they deliberately stayed behind." The Song family helps me."

"Mother, in the entire Xie family, only grandma loves you. If grandma were alive, she would never allow my uncle to bully you like this."

When Queen Xie thought that Duke Zhen would not help her, her heart was filled with hatred.

"Your uncle has been operating in Jinling for many years. Over the years, Jinling has given him and the prince a lot of money and many people. When you go to Jinling this time, if those people are willing to be used by you, you can Accept them. If they are not willing to be used by you, then they must not be allowed to be used by the prince and the others."

"Mother, do you mean to get rid of those people?"

Queen Xie nodded, with a sinister look on her face: "If I can't be used by you, I can't be used by the prince anymore, do you understand?"

"Queen, I understand." The queen is right, there is no need to keep those who cannot be used by him for the crown prince.

Empress Xie gripped the handkerchief hard, raised the corner of her mouth and sneered: "Jinling can be said to be your uncle and the prince's money bag. As long as Jinling is destroyed, your uncle and the prince will have no money to do whatever they want."

"The queen is wise." King Jing did not expect this.

"You go to Jinling this time for two main purposes. The first purpose is to run the imperial examination well, and the second purpose is to destroy the pocketbooks of your uncle and the crown prince." Empress Xie sometimes has a good head, "The aristocratic families don't want to see the imperial examinations held smoothly. The aristocratic families in the capital dare not disrupt the imperial examinations, but the aristocratic families in other places are not sure. If I guess correctly, the aristocratic families in Jinling will definitely not participate in the imperial examinations. They have Maybe even threaten the poor family disciples, you go to Jinling, don’t care about whether those aristocratic families can participate in the imperial examination, you want the poor family students in Jinling to pass the county examination smoothly, understand?”

King Jing nodded and said, "Understood!"

Queen Xie asked King Jing many things. King Jing listened very carefully and wrote them all down.

Duke Zhen didn't take it seriously when he learned that the emperor sent King Jing to Jinling to preside over the county test.He decided that King Jing would not be able to stir up any trouble if he went to Jinling.Just take advantage of this opportunity to make my sister and King Jing suffer a little bit, teach them some lessons, and make them more honest in the future.

After the emperor told King Jing to go to Jinling, he called King Chu into the imperial study.

"Fourth, you will leave for Pengcheng tomorrow."

"Pengcheng?" King Chu asked with confusion on his face, "Father, has something happened in Pengcheng?"

"A new iron mine has been discovered over there in Pengcheng. You can go and have a look for me." Just a few days ago, the prefect of Pengcheng sent a memorial saying that a new iron mine had been discovered and it was very rich.In addition to iron mines, there are also copper mines and charcoal kilns in Pengcheng. "By the way, take a look at the imperial examination in Pengcheng."

"Yes, Father." King Chu thought of the news he had just received and hurriedly reported to the emperor, "Father, my tenth brother is missing." If the emperor did not go to Pengcheng to find King Chu, King Chu would also come to the imperial study to ask for an audience.

"I know." Seeing King Chu's worried face, the emperor comforted him in a gentle tone, "Xiao Shi's life is not in danger, you don't have to worry."

Hearing what the emperor said, King Chu felt relieved.

"You go to Pengcheng and carefully inspect the copper mines in Pengcheng." The emperor said, his face suddenly turned gloomy, "I heard that there are copper coins with very low copper content in the Jiangnan area. You go and investigate the copper required for these coins. It didn’t leak out from Pengcheng.”

King Chu's heart tightened, and his expression instantly became serious.

"It's really lawless for someone to tamper with copper coins!"

The emperor continued to warn: "Also, carefully investigate where those counterfeit copper coins went."

"Yes, Father."

The King of Chu was going to Xuzhou to inspect the new iron mine, and the prince and Dai Wang soon learned about it, which made them very jealous and dissatisfied.

　Daily updates will resume from today, but the update time is still too late. I will try to update as early as possible and don't always delay updating before twelve o'clock.

　　In the past few days, the veterans have been watching my performance.If I don't do daily updates, the veterans won't give me a monthly pass.If I really resume daily updates, the veterans will give me a monthly pass.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)