Work overtime

Chapter 678

After a while, Li Beichen wrote another letter, avoiding the main point and focusing on the trivial, "Today I went to pay tribute to the late queen, and a blue butterfly landed on the portrait, which was magical."

So Jiang Yuebai received two letters in succession.

She thought for a moment and wrote back, "I guess the emperor misses her day and night, and the queen sensed his affection and turned into a butterfly to visit him."

This is pure guesswork. The leader's impromptu decision must have some reason. In this case, subordinates must think carefully and at least avoid taboos when speaking or doing things. The emperor suddenly paid homage, and it is very likely that he dreamed of the late queen and felt something in his heart.

After receiving the letter, Li Beichen smiled. He interpreted Jiang Yuebai's unnaturalness in the letter as jealousy. In fact, it was just that Jiang Yuebai was inexperienced and didn't know how to word it.

After the morning court session the next day, Li Beichen took Xie Zhaoyi on a carriage back to the Duke of Huguo's Mansion to visit.

Li Beichen was wearing a dark green robe, a white jade crown, and holding a folding fan with a cricket painted on it.

He looks like a definitely suave and noble young man.

"The emperor is so handsome." Xie Zhaoyi exclaimed with a smile.

She was dressed in plain white, with a jade hairpin on her head and delicate jade earrings, looking quite refreshing.

Li Beichen's face turned cold, "How dare you!"

Xie Zhaoyi immediately fell silent. She originally thought that the emperor was no longer angry with her, but she found out that the emperor took her out of the palace purely to win over the Xie family.

Suddenly I felt a little depressed.

The carriage was very spacious, and even had a tea table and plates of snacks and fruits.

Xie Zhaoyi had nothing to do, so in order to avoid eye contact with the emperor, she buried her head in eating fruit and cracking melon seeds.

When they arrived at the Huguogong Mansion, Madam Xie, along with Madam Xie and two grandsons who were officials in the court, knelt down to welcome them. The imperial physician Liang, who was arranged to take care of Madam Xie, was also among them.

Mrs. Xie's hair used to be full of silver, but now it has turned gray, her face is ruddy, and she is full of energy. The ends of her hair are white, and the roots are black. She seems to have regained her youth.

"Madam's hair has become much darker, which is a cause for celebration."

Madam Xie hurriedly said, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace. I, your wife, and I are all grateful for your great grace. Your Majesty sympathized with the Duke's Mansion and arranged for Dr. Liang to take care of her. The old lady's migraine has improved a lot after two months of treatment."

Li Beichen smiled and nodded, "Reward Doctor Liang."

Doctor Liang quickly knelt down to express his gratitude and humbly stated that this was what he should do.

After Li Beichen entered the mansion, he sat in the middle of the room. He gave seats to the old lady and Madam Xie. The others stood aside respectfully.

The emperor just waved his hand, and Liang Xiaobao ordered someone to deliver a birthday gift.

The old lady was flattered and quickly knelt down to express her gratitude, but the emperor ordered his men to stop her.

"Having an old man in the family is like having a treasure. Seventy is rare, the old lady is so lucky."

The old lady thanked him hurriedly, "It is all thanks to the royal family that I am able to be with you."

The emperor inquired about the old lady's health and daily life with concern, and told Liang Taiyi to take good care of the old lady. If the Huguogong Mansion needed any precious and rare medicinal materials, just ask the Imperial Hospital.

Then he asked with a smile, "Madam, you are in such good health, do you have any tips for keeping fit?"

"Your Majesty," the old lady said slowly, "I am a dull-witted woman. I think my greatest secret is to be blind, deaf, and muddle-headed. I should mind my own business, and then I won't have many troubles."

The emperor closed his folding fan and said, "It is rare to be confused, but it is a great wisdom."

"Your Majesty is very busy, so please take care of yourself." The old lady said with a smile, "Your Majesty's health is a blessing for all people in the world."

The emperor nodded slightly, "Xiao Xie said that he dreamed of his aunt a few days ago, saying that Yirou wanted to go home to visit you and wish you a happy birthday. I also dreamed of Yirou yesterday, and I was very grateful when I woke up. I think she is worried about her family. Xiao Xie, why don't you go and get closer to Taizu's mother."

Xie Zhili showed a childlike expression of joy. He ran to the old lady, squatted beside her, looked up and talked to her.

Li Beichen went to the study to have a private chat with Mrs. Xie. They mainly talked about the southwest border defense.

It turned out that Le Qui Ly, a relative of Annan, had rebelled a few years ago, killed the then king Tran Nhat Kun, and took control of Annan. Afterwards, Le Qui Ly changed his name to Hu Yi Yuan, claiming to be a descendant of Hu Gong, a descendant of Emperor Shun, and changed the name of Annan to Dayu. Soon after, he passed the throne to his son Hu Han Cang.

After Li Beichen ascended the throne last year, Hu Hancang sent envoys to the Ming Dynasty to request a title, claiming to be Hu's nephew, and that the Hu family had no descendants, so he was pushed by everyone to ascend the throne.

The tradition of the Ming Dynasty was to respect the internal affairs of vassal states and not to interfere easily. Li Beichen had just ascended the throne and hoped to have good relations with neighboring countries, so he appointed Hu as the King of Annan.

Just a week ago, Li Beichen's secret reporting system received news that the true grandson of the Chen Dynasty of Annan, King Chen, and his old ministers were traveling through mountains and rivers on their way to the capital.

Two days ago, the Executive Yuan reported to him that Prince Chen requested an audience with the emperor, and that the Chen family had not yet died out. The Hu regime was seeking power and usurping the throne, so they asked Li Beichen for help in restoring the country.

Li Beichen studied science back then and did not study history well, so he does not remember the specific process of this period very clearly.

I only remember that things were not that simple, and there were some twists and turns later. The real emperor Zhu Di in history sent troops to pacify Annan, and changed Annan into a county of the Ming Dynasty, and incorporated it into the territory of the Ming Dynasty.

He consulted Jiang Yuebai, who said she didn't know the details of this historical event. But according to human nature, once you get something, it won't fly away. After enjoying the benefits of power, how could you be willing to let it go?

Hu would definitely try every possible means to set up an ambush and kill Chen's grandson on his way back to eliminate future troubles.

According to this idea, it would be a good opportunity to send elite troops to escort King Chen back to the country, in the name of upholding orthodoxy, to wipe out the resistance forces in Annan and take Annan as their own.

Li Beichen agreed with Jiang Yuebai's idea.

After much deliberation, he decided that Madam Xie was the best candidate. When they reached the southwest border, the emperor's eldest sister, Princess Zhaoyun, would meet them and they would go to Annan together. The prince consort would stay behind at the southwest border. It was relatively easier for women to handle these thorny domestic and foreign affairs.

And if it fails, there is more room for maneuver in diplomacy.

I came here today to visit Madam Xie, to have a private conversation, and to discuss how many troops to bring.

When smart people fight, they stop at the right time and quickly understand each other's demands.

The emperor's request was to recover Annan at the lowest cost; Mrs. Xie's request was to restore the favor of Concubine Xie.

The two chatted and laughed happily. If they put aside their identities as king and subject, they would be close friends regardless of age.

Li Beichen respected and appreciated Madam Xie, who admired the young and daring emperor.

But Mrs. Xie did not dare to relax at all.

The relationship between the monarch and his subjects is always delicate, especially for meritorious officials.

Madam Xie knelt on one knee and said, "Your Majesty, I am old and have suffered many injuries. I am not as good as I used to be. After the Southwest War, I beg Your Majesty to allow me and the Protector of the Nation to return home and spend our remaining years in peace."

Li Beichen sighed, "The Duke of the Guards and his family have devoted themselves to the country and died for it. I am deeply grateful. I will draft an edict that no matter who is in power, they must ensure the prosperity of the Xie family."

Mrs. Xie responded officially.

She knew in her heart that Li Beichen asked her to wipe out the Hu family just to show her his attitude. There is only one result of a rebellion by foreign relatives, and that is the annihilation of the entire family.

Li Beichen talked about his dream last night and said that Xie Kewei was doing well there. He comforted Mrs. Xie not to be too sad, but to put the overall situation first, follow Xie Kewei's wishes, and take care of herself.

Madam Xie thanked the emperor for his grace and said she would do as he said.

When Li Beichen took Xie Zhili away, both of them were smiling.

After going out, he took Xie Zhili to a newly opened teahouse in Beijing to drink tea.

The environment is very good, exquisite and elegant, with a new view at every step. Quite a lot of Suzhou elements are integrated. It looks like a simple renovation, with new wine in old bottles, and a lot of work has been done on the interior soft furnishings.

The service was different from the common teahouses in Beijing, attentive and considerate, which reminded him of the star-level service he could only enjoy in Jiangsu and Zhejiang in his previous life.

Jiangsu and Zhejiang have been doing business since ancient times, this is true.

Who would have thought that in the teahouse, a young man from an aristocratic family would be attracted by Xie Zhili's beauty and come over to chat with her fearlessly. He was immediately beaten away by the guards who followed him and lay on the ground howling.

"Who are you to hit me?! Do you know who I am?"

Li Beichen answered simply, "I don't know. Can you introduce yourself?"

Upon asking, he turned out to be the second son of Luo Mingxing, the Shaoqing of Dali Temple.

Fortunately, the second young master just came over to chat, and he didn't do anything outrageous like those dandy boys who would rob a girl or take her into the box and push her against the wall.

"A gentleman loves a beautiful lady. I just fell in love with this girl at first sight. As long as she is not married, why can't I ask her name?"

"Sir, I have been married for a long time. The man in front of you is my husband. Why don't you apologize quickly?"

Xie Zhili couldn't stop laughing. There were still people in the world who were so tactless. Her eyes were shining as she looked at Li Beichen affectionately.

The man lying on the ground was stunned for a moment, "You look no more than thirteen or fourteen years old."

Xie Zhili said dismissively, "So what?"

Li Beichen calmly instructed the imperial guards, "Call his father."

"Do you know who my father is? How dare you call me dad? He's busy right now."

Li Beichen took a sip of tea and smiled. "Your father is a good official and very busy. Why don't you study in broad daylight?"

"Whether I study or not is none of your business!" The other party snorted coldly, with a look of disdain on his face.

Xie Zhili sneered, then turned and looked at Li Beichen with his chin in his hand.

I thought to myself, you are dead. If you dare to speak ill of the emperor, your father will beat you half to death.