Zhutian: My skills are not serious

Chapter 541 Your daughter? She is my succubus!

Seven days later.

It's time to return home.

After Rong Fengxiang died, Rong Jiaojiao acknowledged Wang Shichong as her godfather, so her maiden home must have been the Shangshu Mansion.

Jingxuan in the back garden of the palace.

In summer, when you open the window, a cool breeze will blow through the hall. In winter, if the surrounding windows are closed tightly and a thick layer of curtains are put up, with a brazier or stove in the middle, it can also be a good place to keep out the cold.

Wang Shichong sat facing the door wearing a fur coat, while Wang Xuanying wore a brocade robe and from time to time stretched his hands to the hot copper stove to warm them.

Practicing qigong can keep you warm, but if you do it all the time you won’t be able to concentrate on communicating.

Squeak.

Rong Jiaojiao, who was wearing a fox fur jacket over her skirt, closed the door and walked over to the father and son and sat down.

Wang Shichong asked, "Where is Chai Shao?"

"He was helping me crack walnuts in front. He said that the servants were clumsy and always broke the walnut kernels. He was worried, so he just did it himself. He also said that eating whole walnut kernels would make the son born in the future smart."

Wang Xuanying looked at his sister in front of him, who had no eyebrows or makeup, and just came back home with a fresh and clean face. The only difference was that her hair had been changed from the cross bun of an unmarried girl to a flying fairy bun that made her look like a very young woman. Her eyes were still the same eyes, her nose was still the same nose, and her mouth was still the same mouth, but her whole person looked brand new, and she exuded an enchanting aura that could make one's bones melt from head to toe.

"Jiaojiao, you've changed a lot since you got married."

Rong Jiaojiao's eyes moved, and she said sweetly: "Brother, please tell me in detail, where has Jiaojiao changed?"

These words made all the hairs on Wang Xuanying's body stand up.

Wang Shichong was also slightly distracted, but he quickly reacted, coughed lightly and said, "Yesterday, the Empress Dowager came to me to discuss an important matter."

Hearing the word "important", Wang Xuanying forced himself to look away from Rong Jiaojiao's face.

"what's up?"

"You've all heard about the news that Chang'an released to prevent the marriage between the Chai and Wang families, right? The Empress Dowager wanted me and Chai Shen to stage a play to trick Li Yuan into coming to the Eastern Capital and imprisoning him."

"Bitter meat trick?"

"Yes."

"What if Li Yuan doesn't come?"

"If he doesn't come, the Li family's credit will be ruined."

What is the biggest characteristic of the Li family? Bluff! This is not only known by Chu Pingsheng, but also by Wang Xuanying. Once Wang Shichong loses power, the Empress Dowager will prove her wisdom with practical actions. If the Li family does not come, it will be a betrayal. The generals and soldiers who believed in the Li family before will also have second thoughts and will no longer be loyal and resolute.

"But dad..."

Wang Shichong knew what his son was worried about. What if Xiao Meiniang turned her fake play into reality?

"That's why I consulted with Jiaojiao. The only forces that can really threaten us are the Song clan in Lingnan, Li Mi in Wagangzhai, and Li Yuan. There are three forces between Lingnan and Luoyang: Xiao Xian, Lin Shihong, and Zhu Can. It can be said that they are out of reach. Li Mi in Wagangzhai is now constrained by Yu Wenzhi. It is impossible for him to use troops against Luoyang before the two sides decide the winner. Didn't you see that he retreated to defense after taking Xingyang? As for Li Yuan, once he takes Luoyang, it will be like laying the foundation for his hegemony. He can retreat to defend the fertile land of Guanzhong and advance to stare at the Central Plains. As for Li Gui and Xue Ju in the northwest, they are just deliberately left alone by the Li family to interfere with the judgment of the heroes in the Central Plains, so as to prevent them from uniting to fight against the Li family."

"Father, do you mean that the Li family is our biggest threat?"

"That's right. At least on this point, our interests are consistent with those of the Grand Empress Dowager."

"Dad is inclined to act in this scene?"

Wang Shichong looked at Rong Jiaojiao, who looked very happy even when she frowned and thought: "That depends on the attitude of the Chai family."

"Foster father, Chai Shao is no longer a concern. I have a plan that can convince Chai Shen to switch sides."

Rong Jiaojiao spoke with a smile on her face.

The father and son looked at each other and both thought it was feasible. Chai Shen only had one son, Chai Shao, so how could he betray him?
Wang Xuanying said, "Jiaojiao, are you sure Chai Shao will listen to you?"

Just as she was about to answer, she heard someone calling from outside: "Jiaojiao, Jiaojiao..."

It’s Chai Shao who is here.

"Husband, I am here."

Rong Jiaojiao responded in a sweet voice.

Soon, Jingxuan's door was pushed open, and Chu Pingsheng walked into the room with a chill.

"Father-in-law, brother-in-law, you are all here."

Wang Shichong said with a smile: "Chai Shao, look at you, your hands are frozen red, come and warm yourself in front of the copper stove."

"It's okay, I'm not cold."

After Chu Pingsheng finished speaking, he ignored the father and son of the Wang family and hastily uncovered the silk in his hand. Underneath was an exquisite food box filled with whole, peeled, shiny walnut kernels.

"Jiaojiao, look, I peel it better than the servants."

"Husband, you are so amazing. It's true that not a single one of them was broken."

She opened her little mouth and looked at him affectionately: "I want you to feed me."

Chu Pingsheng picked up a pill as if no one was around and handed it to her tempting lips: "Come on, ah..."

"what……"

Wang Shichong and his son looked at the two people who loved each other very much and thought that what Rong Jiaojiao said was a sure thing. Chu Pingsheng also thought it was a sure thing. He lost both his wife and his troops? How could it be enough to kill an elite monster like Wang Shichong who could drop top-grade equipment just once? He had to kill it several times.
……

Three days later, morning.

Civil and military officials sat on the left and right. At the top was the little emperor, who had not rested well the night before and had been dozing off. Behind the pearl curtain sat the Empress Dowager, who was sitting upright and looking increasingly majestic.

No one spoke, it was quiet, because something was very wrong. Just now, Vice Minister of War and General of the Left Guard Chai Shao reported his father-in-law to the police.

That’s right, only ten days after the bride got married, this guy turned against her and made big news at the court meeting.

Crash, crash.

The pearl curtain rustled softly.

Everyone turned around and found that it was the Empress Dowager who stood up. Her beautiful hand reached through the curtain and threw the memorial heavily on the red carpet in front of her. The little emperor was startled and all his sleepiness disappeared.

This shows how angry the Empress Dowager was.

"Wang Shichong, let me ask you, what is your relationship with Rong Fengxiang?"

Wang Shichong hurriedly stood up and walked to the middle, bowed his head and said: "Your Highness, I am a good friend of his and have adopted Rong Jiaojiao as my adopted daughter. Many people know about this."

Xiao Meiniang said coldly, "Now that Rong Jiaojiao has married into the Chai family, she has been touched by Chai Aiqing and his son, and has devoted herself to Sui. She confessed that her father Rong Fengxiang had contacted the leader of the Green Snake Gang, Ren'en, and asked him to contact Song Que's son Song Shidao in Lingnan to make friends with Li Mi. Do you know about this?"

"I don't know?"

"do not know?"

"Rong Fengxiang is a casino owner with no troops or power. If there is no one plotting far-reaching plans behind him, why would he make friends with traitors like Song Que and Li Mi?"

"I really don't know."

Wang Shichong quickly knelt down and couldn't get up.

"Rong Jiaojiao said that she saw you discussing secrets with her father in the study room many times, and she was not even allowed to listen. You said you didn't know? Wang Shichong, do you think I'm easy to fool, right?"

"This... Your humble servant's loyalty to the Great Sui Dynasty... is evident."

"Hmph, your loyalty is evident? Lord Wang's subtext is that you are not afraid of investigation? If so, then you should resign from the positions of Minister of Personnel and General of the Left Guard. Considering your contribution in supporting Emperor Huangtai, your titles will be retained for the time being. Once Ren En has explained himself and the whole incident has been investigated, we will deal with you accordingly."

"Grand Empress Dowager..."

"And your son's Right Guard General, forget about it." She tilted her head slightly and looked to the left: "Chai Shao."

"The minister is here."

"You have made a great contribution in reporting this incident. You will be in charge of the Zuo Yi Guard for the time being. The position of Grand General will be decided after we find a suitable candidate."

"The minister obeys the order."

Chu Pingsheng raised his head and took a glance, and their eyes met through the curtain, as if they were connected.

Wang Shichong shouted with great resentment: "Grand Empress Dowager...I am truly wronged."

However, even if he cried out for injustice, no one dared to stand up and plead for him, because the ministers were not fools. They had seen through the facts by now. They all thought that Wang Shichong was playing tricks and pushed Rong Jiaojiao out to replace his illegitimate daughter, and the Chai family was deceived because of greed for money. They did not expect that things were not that simple. If it was Dong Shu Ni who married into the Chai family, Chai Shao could use the identity of son-in-law to erode the military power of the Wang family without easily causing a backlash from the Wang father and son. If it was Rong Jiaojiao who married into the Chai family, she could be used as a breakthrough point to find evidence of collusion between the Wang father and son and Rong Fengxiang, and kill them with one blow.

The consequences of the Censorate's obstruction of the Empress Dowager's behind-the-scenes rule are there. Although Mr. Feng is gone, Mr. You is still there. Standing up to speak for Wang Shichong under such circumstances would be courting death.

"Duke Zheng, aren't you still thanking me?"

Just then, a shrill voice came from under the Queen Mother's seat.

All the court officials knew that it was not the eunuch who was shouting, but Mr. You who was threatening.

"Thank you, sir."

Wang Shichong slowly got up, his face as pale as death, and stepped aside.

Xiao Meiniang waved her hand.

The little emperor coughed lightly and said, "My dear ministers, is there anything else you want to discuss?"

No one spoke.

"In that case, let's withdraw from the court."

All the court officials stood up and went out. At this time, the eunuch standing in the audience said, "Minister Chai, the Empress Dowager asked you to stay for a while."

The few court officials who fell behind glanced at the young master of the Chai family without thinking much, and without getting angry.

Even though this guy is just a county marquis, once he takes over Zuo Yiwei, the Chai family will truly deserve the adjective "extremely powerful".

After Yu Wenzhi murdered the emperor, the Sui court's imperial guards had been reduced from the original sixteen guards to twelve guards, including the soldiers who fled back to the Eastern Capital. Even these twelve guards were seriously understaffed. Only the Left and Right Yiwei remained fully staffed, with 25,000 men each, the Left and Right Xiaowei each had 20,000 men, and the Left and Right Wuwei totaled 20,000 men. The remaining Left and Right Houwei, Left and Right Weiwei, etc., had less than six thousand men at most and just over two thousand at least, and their individual combat effectiveness was much worse than that of the Left and Right Yiwei and the Left and Right Xiaowei.

Before the Empress Dowager entered the city, Duan Da was the General of the Right Wing Guard, Wang Shichong was the General of the Left Wing Guard, and Wang Xuanying was the General of the Right Xiao Guard. The position of the General of the Right Xiao Guard was vacant, so at least half of the Right Xiao Guard's forces were in the hands of Wang Shichong. The General of the Left Wuwei, Wei Kuangbo, was old, and his daughter was Wang Xuanying's wife. He was basically regarded as Wang Shichong's ally. Therefore, there was a saying that Duan Da and Wang Shichong had great power in the Eastern Capital.

Now Chai Shao temporarily takes over the command of his cheap father-in-law, General Zuo Yiwei. Together with the Right Yiwei controlled by Chai Shen, the Chai father and son now have 50,000 elite soldiers under their command. If they harbor rebellious intentions, Luoyang City will be finished.

Of course, the prerequisite is that Chai Shao can deal with the trusted generals placed by Wang Shichong in Zuoyiwei, otherwise the position of the general will be a commander without troops.

Soon, the news that Chai Shen and his son had turned against the Wang family spread in Dongdu. No one had expected that the son-in-law would betray his father-in-law so thoroughly and become a cheater after only sleeping with someone else's goddaughter for ten days.

(End of this chapter)