After becoming a widow, I raised my traitor brother

That night.

Wei Zi gave Zhou Xianji the reply letter that Xue Shangshu secretly sent to the palace.

Zhou Xianji opened it and found a pattern painted inside: birds perched on branches.

"'Good birds choose trees to roost in,'" Wei Zi said softly, "Uncle will not help the eldest princess and Zhou Xianyang."

Zhou Xianji burned the letter and replied: "I do think that Xue Shangshu can be used as an internal agent."

Wei Zi pondered for a moment, there are only a few civil and military ministers available to Zhou Xianyang now, and even fewer of them can be trusted. As Shangshu Xue, who was personally attracted by Wei Feishan, if he joins Zhou Xianyang, he will definitely be entrusted with an important role. Naturally, he knows The movements of the eldest princess.

She said seriously: "I will convey His Highness's opinions to my uncle."

In August, fire flows, and in September, clothes are given.

With the end of midsummer, calls from North Korea and China for the establishment of a crown prince have become more and more enthusiastic.

Every day when Zhou Shuo went to court, almost all officials proposed to establish the throne as soon as possible.

He stepped into the imperial study with a dark face, and touched the memorial on the dragon desk angrily: "Establish the crown prince, establish the crown prince, am I that old?! I have only been on the throne for only twenty years, and I am in the prime of life! A bunch of useless people Trash, they all shout long live, but in their hearts they wish I would die soon, they are all traitors, they are all sycophants!"

Zhou Yanxue sat on the armchair: "Imperial brother, don't be angry, try the mint crisps I brought."

Zhou Shuo sat down with a puff of sleeves and picked up a piece of pastry from the plate: "In this world, the imperial sister is the only one who cares about me. Look, no one from the harem or concubines came to help me solve my problems!"

The mint crisp melts in your mouth.

Zhou Shuo felt better. He twisted his beads and asked, "Sister Huang, why did you come here today?"

"Does the emperor like this mint cake?" Zhou Yanxue asked without answering.

"The mint is sweet and melts in your mouth. It is very sweet and soft." Zhou Shuo nodded, "It is better than the chef in the palace."

Zhou Yanxue smiled gently: "Guess who did it?"

"Could it be that the cook brought by the imperial sister from Langya made it?"

"No, Yang'er made it for you with his own hands." Zhou Yanxue's face was full of admiration, "Yang'er heard that the emperor's younger brother had recently injured his liver and got angry over the matter of establishing a heir, so he specially asked the folk chefs for advice. Such a pastry. My dear brother, Yang'er is a good and filial boy."

Zhou Xianyang...

Zhou Shuo thought of his son, and a trace of gloom flashed across his face.

He said slowly: "Is it possible that the imperial sister came here today also for the purpose of establishing a heir apparent?"

"Yes." Zhou Yanxue admitted simply, "Yang'er has no intention of competing for the throne. I just brought this pastry to him when I came over to see you. He said that now the court officials are discussing the matter of establishing the throne. , if he came in person, he would be suspected of competing for favor. He did not want to compete with his brothers. He only hoped that his father would be in good health and not worry about such trivial matters. He also specifically told me not to tell You, these pastries were made by him himself."

Zhou Shuo twisted the beads one by one.

His expression was dark and unclear. After a moment, he smiled meaningfully and said, "He does have a good intention."

"I think so too." Zhou Yanxue shook her head with emotion, "Among the princes, he is the most inconspicuous, and his background is not good. However, precisely because Ji Zhaoyi's mother's family is weak, it has cut off the possibility of her relatives to participate in politics in the future. Suspicion. Coupled with his filial piety and loyalty to you, he is really a good candidate for the prince. I think it is better to simply make him the prince and silence the courtiers first. In the future, if the emperor's younger brother has another prince he likes, he can find another prince. It’s just a reason to re-establish the reserve!”

Zhou Shuo was silent.

His concubines all came from aristocratic families. For example, behind Zhou Xianji was the entire northwest grassland tribe, behind Zhou Xianfeng stood Grand Master Wen, and behind Zhou Xianming stood Grand Master Wang.

He knew that one day he would eventually die. In the future, when these princes succeeded to the throne, there was no guarantee that the forces behind them would not reach out to the court.

What's more...     I'm afraid it will overturn their Zhou family's empire!

Only Zhou Xianyang...

He chuckled: "According to what the imperial sister said, it seems that the third child is indeed the best candidate for the crown prince."

"Filial, loyal, and kind," Zhou Yanxue smiled, "Besides him, I really can't think of anyone else."

Zhou Shuo nodded: "This matter is serious. I will go to court early tomorrow and discuss it with the courtiers."

The conversation between the emperor and the eldest princess in the imperial study quickly spread like wildfire.

Within half a day, almost all civil and military officials found out that the emperor wanted to make the third prince the prince.

Finally, when the court went to court early the next day, the courtiers were fully prepared to express their opinions. Some were in favor of establishing Zhou Xianyang as the crown prince, while many officials were opposed.

Zhou Shuoxian leaned on the dragon chair and looked at Xue Shangshu: "What do Xue Qing think?"

"To report to your Majesty, I think that His Majesty Prince Rui is brave and resourceful in both civil and military affairs, and he has the grace of His Majesty in his youth. If he becomes the crown prince, he will be a blessing to the common people of the country!"

Zhou Xianyang stood in the queue of courtiers. Hearing Xue Shangshu praise him so much, he couldn't help but feel proud in his heart.

Zhou Shuo smiled strangely.

Even the third child, who looks so stupid, dares to call himself "a man of both civil and military courage and resourcefulness"?

Is it worthy to compare with him when he was young? !

At least he would never marry a woman who is pregnant with someone else's child and cuckold him!

He glanced at Murong Tao: "What do you think, Prime Minister?"

Murong Tao held an ivory wat in his hand: "Your Majesty, I believe that Your Highness, the Third Highness, has outstanding virtues, is open-minded, has a heart that loves the common people, and is benevolent to the world, and is suitable to be established as our Crown Prince of the Great Zhou Dynasty."

He said this with mockery in his eyes.

It doesn't matter whether Zhou Xianyang is virtuous or not. What matters is that Zhou Xianyang is a fool.

Compared to other princes, he is easier to control.

What's more, in terms of age, it is more suitable for his granddaughter Xiangxue.

Zhou Shuo played with the Buddhist beads and finally looked at Hua Yannong: "What do you think of Hua Aiqing?"

The content discussed by the monarchs and ministers of the previous dynasty quickly spread to the harem.

In the North Palace, Wei Zi set up tea to entertain Zhou Jing, but Murong Jiuli came again uninvited.

Zhou Jing listened to Qing Ju's report and couldn't help but sarcastically said: "When did my third brother, a fool with strong limbs and a simple mind, become a brave, resourceful and open-minded gentleman? He must have bribed these officials."

Wei Zi held a chess piece in her hand and asked, "How did Hua Yannong answer?"

"The director of the flower factory said," Qingju imitated Hua Yannong's tone, "Since ancient times, it has been said that 'it is not to be virtuous when establishing a direct descendant, but it is not to be virtuous when establishing a son,' and many disputes in the previous dynasties were caused by the matter of establishing a heir apparent. , Your Majesty, have you forgotten? There are no rules. I hope your Majesty will act in accordance with the ancestral precepts."

Wei Zi chuckled: "What he said is to ask His Majesty to appoint His Highness the Crown Prince."

"Exactly!" Qingju nodded quickly, "After he said these words, some courtiers immediately objected, saying that His Highness is weak and doesn't know how long he can live. How can the country and the country be handed over to a sick man? "

"Sick Yangzi?"

Murong Jiuli, who had been concentrating on eating pastries, suddenly curled up the corners of his mouth.

She raised her eyelashes as if watching a good show: "Zhou Xianji is no longer a sick man, and his body has recovered 70% to 80%. Why, don't you all know yet?" (End of Chapter)