Do you know the long song of laughter?

Chapter 498 Ambition
The Empress Dowager saw Concubine Liu Gui's expression out of the corner of her eye and the corners of her mouth rose slightly.

"You don't have to bring the child to me every day. I heard that the queen has been feeling unwell recently. You have to pay more attention to the emperor."

Before, she had tricked Zhao Zongquan and then withdrew from power.

After she had some free time, the empress dowager was a little hesitant about whether to continue fighting with Zhao Zongquan.

If the fight continues like this, it will be of no benefit to the court.

She did not intend to keep control of power all the time, but rather wanted to maintain the situation that the previous emperor had worked so hard to build.

However, Zhao Zongquan's thorough investigation of the salt business made the empress dowager finally make up her mind.

It’s not that she was opposed to a thorough investigation of the salt business, but Zhao Zongquan launched it too quickly.

In the Queen Mother's opinion, Zhao Zongquan was not well prepared and lacked shrewdness, but fortunately there was Gao Luyuan.

If he continues to do this, the Song Dynasty will be finished.

But the officials in the court did not support her, and now she has withdrawn from power and it is difficult for her to interfere in the affairs of the court.

After much thought, the empress dowager came up with a solution and sent someone to inform Zhao Zongquan that she was bored on weekdays and wanted to bring Prince Yong's son into the palace to take care of him and keep her company.

Zhao Zongquan was not willing to agree at all because Prince Yong was the crown prince chosen by the previous emperor.

Although Prince Yong was killed by Prince Yan, he still had a young son.

From the perspective of etiquette and law, the youngest son of Prince Yong is more qualified to inherit the throne.

Of course, he was canonized by the late emperor himself, and the late emperor left a will in the presence of all civil and military officials.

There is no comparison between him and Prince Yong's youngest son.

But as the son of Prince Yong, he could still do something about it.

Therefore, it was impossible for Zhao Zongquan to allow Prince Yong's son to enter the palace.

The Queen Mother was bored and wanted a child to entertain her, so Zhao Zongquan asked Concubine Liu to bring more children over.

In order to shut the Queen Mother's mouth.

However, this is exactly what the Queen Mother wanted to see.

The Queen Mother did have the idea of ​​deposing Zhao Zongquan and replacing him as the emperor, but it was very difficult to do so.

There might even be a mutiny.

In addition, the most important point is the successor.

The son of Prince Yong was a suitable candidate, but Prince Yong's family was killed, and many people who defected to Prince Yong were killed by Prince Yan.

Even those who did not die were sent away using various excuses after Zhao Zongquan came to power.

She wants to change the emperor, but she can't do it by herself, she needs help.

The son of Prince Yong is not suitable.

The most suitable person was actually Zhao Ceying, but he was the eldest son of Zhao Zongquan and had the best chance of inheriting the throne, so it was difficult to persuade him to rebel.

After much deliberation, the Queen Mother decided on Prince Yong, who was born last year.

Firstly, Prince Yong is young, and she can choose more famous teachers for him. She can train him according to her wishes and cultivate an emperor that suits her wishes.

Secondly, Concubine Liu also has a certain amount of power.

Concubine Liu was married to Zhao Zongquan in Yuzhou, and her family background was even inferior to that of the Shen family.

However, Zhao Zongquan was of humble origin, and his disadvantage was that he lacked confidants.

Concubine Liu's brother-in-law has also been given an important position. He now serves as the deputy commander-in-chief of the Palace Front Department, in charge of a part of the imperial guards, which is the same position as his original honor.

With the help of the Liu family, she has the opportunity to learn from the King of Yan and directly control the palace and put Zhao Zongquan under house arrest.

With her as the empress dowager, after placing Zhao Zongquan under house arrest, she can push Prince Yong to the throne.

During this period, Concubine Liu came here often. The Empress Dowager tested her subtly and found out that Concubine Liu did have ambitions.

But ambition is ambition, everyone has it, it just depends on whether you have the courage to act.

"The Emperor's side is important, and the Empress Dowager's side is equally important. I have nothing to do, so it's no big deal to run back and forth between the two places." Concubine Liu said with a smile.

"You have much less trouble than the Queen. She has been obsessed with Xiao Zou, causing Xiao Zou, a concubine, to dare to ignore the principal wife, disrupting social order! The royal family is a role model for the world, wouldn't this make the world laugh at you?" said the Queen Mother dissatisfiedly.

"Your Majesty, you are too kind. But the Madam has her own difficulties. After all, it was Madam Zou who saved her life."

When Concubine Liu saw that the Empress Dowager was dissatisfied with Empress Shen, she was secretly happy.

Zhao Zongquan was dissatisfied with Queen Shen, and now the Queen Mother was also dissatisfied with Queen Shen. If Queen Shen was deposed, she would have a good hope of becoming Queen.

By then, her son will also be a legitimate son, and it will be uncertain who will inherit the throne in the future.

"Humph! That's why we should distinguish between public and private matters. Mrs. Zou saved her, so she should just give her more rewards. But she just indulged them blindly. What should she do when those relatives ask her for help in the future? Can she not agree to their request?"

The Queen Mother snorted coldly and said, "If Prince Huan was not the eldest son and would inherit the throne in the future, deposing the Queen would be too complicated and I would have to ask the Emperor to depose her. Forget it, I don't care about these trivial matters anymore. Let them do whatever they want."

When Concubine Liu heard this, her heart sank. She had originally fantasized about deposing the queen and becoming the queen herself.

Now after hearing the Queen Mother's words, I have completely given up.

Yes, since Zhao Zongquan intended to make Prince Huan the crown prince, how could he easily depose the queen?

"After returning from this thorough investigation of the salt business, King Huan should be crowned the crown prince. In the future, please come less often to my side. It will be good for both you and Yong'er." said the Queen Mother.

"I don't quite understand what you said, Your Majesty." Concubine Liu forced a smile.

Is the Queen Mother hinting to her that if she comes here often, will King Huan be dissatisfied with her?

"It's best not to understand. For many things, the more you know, the more you think about it, the more annoyed you become." The Queen Mother looked at Prince Yong reluctantly, handed him to Concubine Liu, and said, "Anyway, just remember to come to my place less often in the future. Go back."

Concubine Liu took her son and said, "Then I will take my leave first."

"Go!" the Queen Mother waved her hand.

Concubine Liu handed her son to the palace maid, bowed and left.

After leaving the palace, Concubine Liu had a gloomy look on her face, and she kept thinking about what the Queen Mother had just said.

Will King Huan become suspicious of her and her son in the future because of this?

meeting!
Concubine Liu soon got the answer, even if she didn't come, she would still come.

She has been in the palace for more than a year, and she would read some books when she was bored.

She also knows a little about history.

Many times, when fighting for the throne, you can't just avoid it by not fighting.

It doesn’t mean that just because you become the crown prince, you won’t care about your other brothers.

Marry a virtuous wife, keep concubines and enjoy sex.

A wife doesn't have to be beautiful, but a concubine must be good-looking.

She was younger and more beautiful than Queen Shen, and was very much loved by Zhao Zongquan.

Zhao Zongquan loved Prince Yong as well.

Originally, she could not be granted the title of Imperial Concubine due to her status, but Zhao Zongquan granted her the title of Imperial Concubine after she gave birth to a son. Didn't the Empress of Emperor Gaozu of Han turn Emperor Gaozu's favorite concubine into a human pig after Emperor Gaozu of Han died?
Wasn't Li Chengqian, the crown prince in the early Tang Dynasty, favored because of his younger brother? Even though he was already the crown prince, he still sent people to assassinate his younger brother.

Thinking of this, Concubine Liu turned her head to look at Prince Yong who was held by the palace maid behind her.

Prince Yong was playing with his little hands, entertaining himself. When he saw his mother looking at him, he stretched out his hands and waved them.

I don’t know if he was saying hello or wanted his mother to hug him.

"Fight!"

Looking at the innocent smile on her son's face, Concubine Liu made up her mind.

Whether for herself or for her son, she has to fight for it.

If you don't fight, you are putting your destiny in the hands of others.

She didn't want to hope every day that Queen Shen and Zhao Ceying would bypass them and their son in the future.

After returning to the bedroom, Concubine Liu asked the palace maid to send Prince Yong to his wet nurse, and asked someone to bring her elder sister and younger sister into the palace.

Concubine Liu had three sisters and no brothers.

Among them, the eldest sister married a son-in-law who was timid and submissive and was of no use.

Even with her help, he is now only a sixth-rank official in the Ministry of Personnel.

However, her brother-in-law is good at martial arts and now serves as the deputy commander of the Palace Front Department.

However, her eldest sister is very scheming, and if she wants to fight for the position of crown prince for her son, she will also need the help of her sisters.

After waiting for about half the time of the envoys, Aunt Liu and Aunt Liu arrived at Concubine Liu's palace.

Concubine Liu did not hide anything from her sisters and directly expressed her thoughts.

The three of them are sisters from the same mother, and the two of them rely on her to have their current lives.

Concubine Liu was not worried at all that the two men would report her.

Aunt Liu and Aunt Liu were shocked after hearing what Concubine Liu said.

"Second sister, you can't do anything rash. Prince Huan is already an adult, and Prince Yong has just been born. Even if you want to fight, who in the court will support Prince Yong? If you are not careful, you may lose your head." Liu Sanniang advised.

Although she was a woman, she knew that fighting for the throne was not that easy.

She is very satisfied with her life now.

Aunt Liu was shocked, but after thinking about it, she said, "I think there is a good chance. Third sister just said that Prince Huan is an adult, and Prince Yong is still young. This is actually our chance."

"Sister, you..."

"Listen to me first."

Aunt Liu stopped her sister and said, "The emperor is now in his prime, but Prince Huan is already an adult. This is probably why the emperor did not appoint a crown prince when he ascended the throne. But the crown prince cannot be delayed, and the ministers will not agree."

"However, since ancient times, when emperors were in their prime and princes were given the title of crown prince, how many of them eventually ascended to the throne?"

"Marquis Weibei is the uncle of King Huan. The officials' confidants all had a good relationship with King Huan. After King Huan was named the Crown Prince, some people will definitely join him."

"As Prince Huan becomes more powerful, won't the emperor be suspicious of him? Third sister, don't you want your brother-in-law to be a marquis and you to get an imperial decree? Even Xiao Zou can get an imperial decree, but we don't."

Her husband is a scholar, but his talent and learning are average, otherwise he would not have married into her family.

This meant that even with Concubine Liu's whispering, her husband would only be a sixth-rank official.

Her brother-in-law was a warrior, whom she used to look down upon, but this actually brought her the greatest benefit.

She was naturally unwilling, but there was nothing she could do about it.

If Prince Yong could become emperor, the situation would be different.

Therefore, she was very enthusiastic about this matter, and as she said, Prince Yong had a chance.

"I…"

Liu Sanniang opened her mouth. Although they were sisters of Concubine Liu and had gained some benefits, none of them had an imperial edict.

Aunt Liu saw that the third sister was hesitant, so she didn't try to persuade her. She looked at Concubine Liu and said, "Second sister, I support you. What are you going to do?"

"I'd like to trouble you, elder sister, to help win over some officials' wives and see if we can win over their men through them. Also, send people to spread rumors and discredit King Huan. Now many people are writing petitions to stop the thorough investigation of the salt business. If King Huan really finds out something, he will really be named the crown prince when he comes back this time." Concubine Liu said.

"Second sister, I don't think it's necessary." Aunt Liu shook her head and said, "Doing this may prevent King Huan from being crowned as the crown prince, but it doesn't have much practical significance. If he is not crowned this time, he will be crowned next time. Can it be prevented every time?

On the contrary, I think that not only should we not stop it, but we should also help King Huan and praise him."

Concubine Liu frowned and said, "Sister, aren't you helping King Huan establish his prestige?"

"What a fool!"

Aunt Liu cursed inwardly, thinking that she was just lucky, as she was supposed to be someone else's concubine but ended up becoming a royal concubine.

Although she thought so in her heart, she did not show it, but smiled and said: "That's not necessarily true. If Prince Huan thoroughly investigates the salt business, he will offend many people, and the more the prince does, the more mistakes he will make. Only in this way can he arouse the suspicion of the government."

"Some time ago, someone came to me and promised me all the salt shops in a state. I was afraid it was a trap, so I didn't dare to accept it. You can tell the officials about this."

Aunt Liu still had some vision. Someone came to her and promised her a salt shop in the provincial capital.

A few salt shops are nothing, but it means that all the salt in a state capital is handed over to her for management.

Even the poorest state capital can earn a lot of money.

However, although she was moved, she did not dare to accept it.

Giving her this kind of benefit at this time is nothing more than trying to drag her into the water.

She is not worth that much money, but Concubine Liu is.

The government is conducting a thorough investigation into the salt business. If any of the imperial relatives were involved, it would be a joke.

"You can also use this to please the government," said Aunt Liu.

Concubine Liu's eyes lit up when she heard this, and she said, "Since she was young, you have been smarter than me and my third sister. Let's do as you say. As for winning people over, I'll have to trouble you to spend more time on it."

"It's hard to win people over." Aunt Liu shook her head and said, "The emperor is now in his prime, and no one will take sides so early. But it's not that there is no one who can be won over. Ningyuan Marquis Mansion is a good candidate."

"Marquis Ningyuan's Mansion?" Concubine Liu was stunned and said, "Gu Tingye has the merit of following the emperor, and he is also a close friend of Prince Huan. He even cooperated with the Grand Master to trick the imperial seal from the Queen Mother. How did he win him over?"

"I'm not talking about Gu Tingye, but Xiao Qinshi."

Aunt Liu smiled and said, "The news that the little Qin family tried to seize the title and hid the suicide note left by the old Ningyuan Marquis has now spread all over Bianjing. If we can use him to get rid of Gu Tingye, King Huan will have one less helper. Even if it fails, the title cannot be inherited by Gu Tingye. As long as Gu Tingye does not inherit the title, he will not be able to inherit the prestige and connections that the Gu family has accumulated over the years."

Before, Gu Tingye forced Xiao Qinshi and others to acknowledge the legitimacy of the suicide note in front of the clan elders.

Afterwards, people were spread to ruin Xiao Qin's reputation.

There is no way. The word "filial piety" can crush a person. Xiao Qin has disguised herself too well over the years and has a good reputation for being virtuous.

If Gu Tingye wants to deal with her, he must destroy her reputation.

People outside didn't know this, but Gu Tingye's publicity did give the people of Bianjing something to talk about after dinner.

When Concubine Liu asked her to win over some people, the first person she thought of was Xiao Qin.

(End of this chapter)