Yutai Bi

Chapter 176
"Let the east and west of Shannan be divided, and the Huainan road urgently raise grain to be transported to the east and west of Jiangnan. There must be no mistake!" Emperor Gaozong ordered the transportation of grain for disaster relief.

When the front court was quarreling, the harem was also not peaceful.

In the early morning, Empress Cui went down to Wu Zhaoyi Palace surrounded by Liu Jieyu, Wang Baolin and other concubines.

Empress Cui proudly sat on the main seat, looking at Wu Zhaoyi who was standing at the bottom.Her face is like a lotus, her figure is plump, her skin is like a pear blossom in spring, extremely delicate.No wonder the emperor has never been to the palace of other concubines since the prince was full moon.The queen wanted to endure the jealousy, but saw her thin hands with blue veins, and quietly retracted them back into her sleeves.

"The severe drought in the south of the Yangtze River, although there are rumors that it is related to Zhaoyi and the little prince. I don't believe the words of these strange forces and gods."

After Wu Zhaoyi heard these words, she sat down without waiting for the Queen's order: "Oh? Thank you, my concubine."

"Master Wu, how dare you disrespect the queen?" Liu Jieyu was the first to accuse.

"My status is higher than yours, and you are disrespectful to me." Wu Zhaoyi sneered and threw the words back.

"Shut up for me! Liu Jieyu, stand down!" Empress Cui kept Liu Jieyu silent for fear of getting off topic.She continued, "Even if I don't believe it. But the emperor is worried about the drought in the south of the Yangtze River, and all the officials are working hard for the drought in the south of the Yangtze River. Naturally, the harem has to do something. Since the rumors involve Zhaoyi, I will let you go back to Changchun Palace." Chanting scriptures and praying for blessings. I will pick you up after the drought in the south of the Yangtze River eases."

After the queen finished speaking, the servant brought a red lacquer plate to Wu Zhaoyi, inside which was a neatly folded Taoist robe.

Wu Zhaoyi said slowly: "If I refuse, will the queen empress order the palace servant to force me to replace it?"

Empress Cui smiled and said: "No one is forcing you. I am just telling you the truth. Wu Zhaoyi is deeply loved by the emperor. Wouldn't she be willing to share the emperor's worries? It's just going to the Changchun Palace to pray for blessings. I am not forcing you. You become a monk and become a real person. Is Zhaoyi afraid that he won’t be able to come back?”

Wu Zhaoyi laughed out loud, stood up and took the Taoist robe: "Okay, I'll change into this Taoist robe."

As long as she enters the Changchun Palace and cuts off the emperor's visits in the name of praying, she has a way to prevent her from coming out forever.Empress Cui was nervous and excited, her fingernails were tightly stuck in her palm.

Wu Zhaoyi walked towards the inner hall with her Taoist robe, passed by the queen, and said in a low voice: "Your Majesty, the imperial guards notified General Du when she left the palace. I believe that he will lead the emperor to rescue the concubines soon after. Your Majesty If you are afraid, just leave quickly."

General Qianniuwei and the partial generals are the late emperor's confidantes. They have been Qianniuwei for generations, loyally guarding Miyagi, no matter how they win over, they will not favor any side.There is only one Du Yansui who is a newly appointed general in the palace.The Cui family wanted to win over, but the situation turned into threatening Du Yanwan.Do you think Du Yansui has nothing to fear when the palace rewards two old fish-eyed beads to the Jianguohou's mansion?If he really dared to help Wu Zhaoyi, he would definitely make his sister suffer a lot later.

Empress Cui glared: "You are willing to enter the Changchun Palace to pray for blessings, and all the sisters are witnesses!"

Wu Zhaoyi looked back contemptuously at the concubine who followed the queen, turned around and entered the inner hall.

After a while, Wu Zhaoyi came out.She had washed all the lead, half of her hair was tied up in a bun, and a jade hairpin was inserted, half of which was loosened up to her waist.

"Since Zhaoyi intends to pray for the emperor..." Empress Cui hadn't finished speaking when she saw a group of Qianniu guards rushing in, and the emperor rushed into the palace.

"The courtiers and concubines meet the emperor!" Empress Cui left her seat and bowed down with all the concubines.

Gaozong only saw Wu Zhaoyi in his eyes.

The Taoist robe was like snow, covering her body loosely.A pair of beautiful eyes seemed resentful but not resentful, happy but not happy, and the shadows of tears floated up in an instant: "The concubine sees the emperor!"

For a moment, Gaozong seemed to have returned to the past.When serving the late emperor, his heart always moved with the graceful figure walking between layers of curtains.She held a lantern and waited for him with a smile on the porch in the backyard of the palace.She rolled up her bun and knelt on the futon to recite scriptures. Every time she went to see her, when she raised her head, there was a layer of sadness between her brows.

Gao Zong strode over, stretched out his hand to pull the jade hairpin from her head and threw it on the ground, making a crisp sound of breaking.He didn't even bother to say a word to the concubines in the hall, he dragged Wu Zhaoyi into the inner hall.

Empress Cui was anxious and angry, mixed with shame and indignation, she got up and chased after her: "Your Majesty!"

A purple figure stopped in front of her.Du Yansui looked at her with pity: "Your Majesty, please go back!"

Empress Cui looked at him resentfully.She didn't understand why he refused to recruit him as a queen.He had to vote for Zhaoyi, who was from a humble background.Why?
Du Yansui said in a low voice that only she could hear: "General Qianniuwei can still enjoy himself in the palace. Xu Yi's title is quite attractive, but unfortunately your surname is Cui. The purpose of recognizing the master that day was to confuse the Cui family. It’s just a tactic to slow down the troops.”

"Don't forget that your sister is still in the Jianguohou Mansion!" Empress Cui gritted her teeth.

Du Yansui chuckled lightly: "Try?"

Empress Cui was so angry with these two words that the veins on her forehead twitched, she turned her head and left.

Liu Jieyu and others chased them out in a panic.

Du Yansui watched coldly, and the fire was burning with oil. This struggle for power in the harem to take advantage of the severe drought in the south of the Yangtze River was just the beginning.

Wu Zhaoyi finally failed to go to Changchun Palace to pray.

The prime ministers of the three provinces and the six ministers slowly carried out the emperor's will for disaster relief.

The food for disaster relief was walking slowly on the road, and while walking, it was withheld by the governors of the state capitals along the way.Before the food was delivered to the fields, the autumn wind had blown the fallen leaves yellow.The cold winter is coming.

The shortage of food in the south of the Yangtze River has reached the point of gnawing tree bark and digging grass roots.The poor don't have enough clothes to cover their bodies, and they don't have enough food to cover their stomachs.Several large households were robbed of food by the victims over the wall.

The local state government dispatched government soldiers and arrested a group of people.Eight hundred li rushed to Chang'an like snowflakes.Still failed to speed up the pace of the food delivery team.

"Urgent report from [-] miles south of the Yangtze River! Chen Shuo, a woman from Muzhou, came down to earth claiming to be a fairy girl, and gathered people to rebel. The foolish people worshiped her as a god, and everyone responded. Now the army has conquered the vicinity of Muzhou, and is approaching Shezhou and Wuzhou!"

The court was shocked, and all officials were in an uproar.

This is the first time that someone raised the flag to rebel in the country after the emperor ascended the throne.

Emperor Gaozong looked angrily at the ministers who were discussing a lot: "I ordered food to be transported for disaster relief. It has been two months, but not a single grain has been delivered to the victims. Can anyone tell me why?"

"Your Majesty! It will take time to raise and transport food. The most urgent task right now is to mobilize troops to suppress the rebels!" Wang Xiang came out and said.

He is in charge of the six provincial departments under his door, and the military department is also dispatched by him.This remonstrance is his duty.

Hundreds of officials echoed.

Is accountability important?important.Suppressing traitors is more important.Gaozong was angry and anxious, and suddenly an idea came to his mind: "Decree, order Qianniuwei General Du Yansui to lead the Huainan Road Zhechong government soldiers, and order Hongzhou and Yangzhou governors to cooperate to put down the rebellion."

The ministers were shocked again.

Liu Xiang remonstrated: "Although General Qianniuwei can accept the emperor's order to lead the army, but Du Yansui has no experience in leading troops to fight, the emperor thinks twice!"

Gao Zong sneered and said: "The unreasonable people are just a mess, how can you kill a chicken with a sledgehammer. Do you want me to send famous generals in the court to deal with it? Du Ruhui marched and deployed, and was highly praised by the late emperor. Isn't Liu Xiang not convinced? Du Yansui's family has a long history of civil and military I have both, I believe in it. Retire!"

The emperor knew better than ever that he wanted military power and trained generals he could trust.Right now, no one is more suitable than Du Yansui.

Gaozong withdrew from the court and called Du Yansui into the Zichen Hall.

Du Yansui entered the palace and saw only Eunuch Hu standing beside him, knowing that the emperor must have important matters to discuss with himself alone.He stepped forward to salute and waited quietly.

Gaozong finished reading the stack handed over by Zhongshu Province, and quickly took a pen to write and forward it to Menxia Province.

Today's political agenda is that Zhongshu Province writes out the edicts that need to be issued by the emperor. After the emperor reviews them, they will transfer them to the six departments of Menxia Province for reconsideration.Discussion under the door passed, and then reported.After the emperor signed it again, it was sent to Shang Shu Sheng, who announced it to the public.

Gao Zong thought helplessly, how much of the papers that need to be drafted by Zhongshu Sheng was filtered out and he didn't let himself know?The three high-ranking officials huddled together and exchanged news with each other.He, the emperor, just moved the ink pen according to their wishes.I felt a little unhappy again.

He put down his pen, and Eunuch Hu hurriedly served a bowl of milk tea.

Gao Di took two sips, then took the hot sweat towel and wiped his face.Only then did he leave the desk and started to pace slowly in the hall.

Du Yansui knew that this was Gaozong's habit.The emperor likes to pace and think, and after making up his mind, he will proceed gently but firmly.

After staying by the young emperor's side for two years, Du Yansui liked to compare King Teng, who was not much different in age, with the emperor from time to time.The emperor was mild-tempered and seldom reprimanded in anger.No matter how dissatisfied with the old minister, his face is gentle and polite.Sometimes, he didn't even feel the majesty of the emperor, and felt that the emperor was more like a friend.

The emperor's temperament is deceitful, and his affinity is ten times that of King Teng.It always makes people unknowingly relax their vigilance and get close to him.

However, after staying by King Teng's side for a long time, Du Yansui reminded himself all the time that the emperor is the emperor, not the friends he made in the academy or on weekdays.

(End of this chapter)