inspire-indiana Chapter 1624 Jia Heng: Your Majesty, I dare not.
Chapter 1624 Jia Heng: Your Majesty, I dare not.
Chapter 1624 Jia Heng: Your Majesty, I dare not.
Grand View Garden, Qichiyuan
Zhen Lan and Zhen Xi sat in the window of the warm pavilion on the west side. Under the shining autumn sunlight, the beautiful women's plump and bright faces were full of tranquility and ease.
At this moment, a maid in a wide-sleeved green skirt came quickly from outside, her eyes were gentle and warm, and she whispered: "Princess, the prince is back."
Zhen Lan gently put down a round and smooth chess piece in her hand, stared at the young man in the python robe, and said with joy in her voice, "Brother Heng, you are here."
Jia Heng smiled and said, "Sister Lan'er, Sister Xi'er, you two are playing chess."
Zhen Lan turned her beautiful face and said in a soft voice, "I have nothing to do, so I am playing chess with my sister. Brother Heng just came over from the front yard."
Jia Heng nodded and sat down.
Zhen Lan's eyebrows were trimmed, and her charming eyes showed a trace of concern. She asked curiously, "My Lord, has the elder sister summoned you to the palace?"
Jia Heng nodded and said softly, "Because of the impeachment in the court, I went to the palace to explain the situation to your elder sister."
Zhen Lan was surprised for a moment, and a hint of expectation appeared in her clear eyes. She asked, "What did the elder sister say?"
Jia Heng said: "What else can she say? In front of the ministers, she can just say a few words and then stop."
It's nothing more than some sex, and then all the anger disappears.
Now the relationship between him and Zhen Qing is basically one of alternating offense and defense.
Jia Heng gently took Zhen Lan's slender hand, looked at Zhen Xi beside him, and said, "Xi'er, have you missed me these days?"
Zhen Xi lowered her eyebrows, and her bright eyes, which were as bright as a stream, seemed to be filled with a trace of shyness. Her snow-white face was covered with two red clouds, which were as bright as fire under the sunlight. She whispered, "I want to."
Jia Heng smiled, gently put his arm around Zhen Xi's slender shoulder, with a hint of amusement on his face. He moved close to the beautiful woman's slightly moist lips, trying to capture her sweet breath.
Zhen Xi hummed softly, her eyes full of joy.
Zhen Lan walked slowly behind Jia Heng and gently massaged his shoulders, saying, "Has your sister become suspicious of Brother Heng?"
Jia Heng sighed and said, "I know I can't hide it from Sister Lan'er. Your sister is indeed suspicious."
Well, Zhen Lan also wanted to be the queen, and she knew some of his thoughts very well.
Zhen Lan said, "Sister is a suspicious person by nature, so it's not surprising that she is suspicious of Brother Heng."
Jia Heng sighed and said softly: "Jie'er is grown up after all, and it's for the sake of his own children."
After Jia Heng finished speaking, he gently took Zhen Xi and Zhen Lan's hands and said softly, "Let's go inside and talk."
Zhen Lan hummed softly, and her fair face, which resembled Zhen Qing's, looked a little dazed.
She also missed Brother Heng a little.
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Time flies like water, and before I knew it, half a month had passed.
On this day, on the spacious streets of the Shenjing City, a large number of Jinyi Guards holding embroidered spring swords were escorting prison vans. Under the gaze of the bustling crowds on both sides of the street, they gradually approached the city.
Standing on the prison cart were Chen Yuan and Liang Wang Chen Wei, as well as the coffin of Wei Wang Chen Ran, who were all heading to the capital together.
At this moment, Chen Yuan was in the prison car, gazing at the familiar scenes of the capital city, his mind somewhat dazed.
In another prison van with high fences, Chen Wei, dressed in a tattered prison uniform, looked around with a sense of loss in his heart.
These past few months have been like an indescribable dream.
He escaped from Shenjing and now returned to Shenjing, but his brother the king stayed in Bashu forever.
At this moment, Chen Yuan also narrowed his eyes, but an indescribable sadness welled up in his heart.
Thinking of Chen Yuan, he worked hard for the great cause of becoming emperor all his life, but in the end, it was all just a dream and his life was like a mirage.
Not long after, his soul flew to the underworld, how sad and lamentable...
Shenjing City, Hanyuan Palace——
Outside the palace, a large number of Jinyifu guards were holding embroidered spring swords and standing on the beams under the eaves of the corridor. They stood straight, like pine trees, facing the wind.
At this moment, the civil and military officials in the hall were holding a pair of ivory tablets, standing on both sides with solemn expressions.
Zhen Qing sat on a soft couch covered with bamboo mats. Her beautiful face showed a hint of surprise. She said, "My lords, the remnant of King Zhao, Chen Yuan, has been escorted to the capital. What do you think should be done with him?"
As she spoke, the beauty cast her clear eyes towards Li Zan, who was in the lead, and asked, "Lord Li, what do you think?"
Li Zan's face became solemn, and he said, "Your Majesty, I think that Chen Yuan, the remnant of the Zhao king, has repeatedly committed rebellious acts and has persisted in his evil deeds. He has done many immoral things in the past. Chen Yuan should be sentenced to death to serve as a warning to the people of the world."
Qi Kun said: "Your Majesty, Chen Yuan's crime is unforgivable. He should be executed to serve as a warning to the world."
Zhen Qing opened her soft and smooth red lips slightly and said loudly, "The whole court has no objection to the treatment of Chen Yuan. Now that they are two commoners, Chen Ran and Chen Wei, what do you think should be done with them?"
As soon as these words were spoken, all the ministers in the hall fell silent.
Compared to a notorious traitor like Chen Yuan, for whom execution is the only option, Chen Ran's situation is a little complicated.
Because Chen Ran and Chen Wei were the biological sons of Emperor Shizong. Chen Ran was dead. If Chen Wei was executed, the only son of Emperor Shizong Xian would be the eighth prince Chen Ze.
Li Zan was silent for a moment, then said, "My queen, since King Wei Chen Ran has died, you can just send someone to handle the funeral according to the rites of a commoner. You don't need to pay too much attention to it."
The so-called cold treatment, no need to make a big fuss or to worry about it.
"Where is Chen Wei?" Zhen Qing's face was as cold as frost. She said, "When Emperor Shizong Xian was alive, they were trying to force him to abdicate in the capital. Emperor Shizong Xian was kind and demoted them to commoners. I didn't expect them to be unrepentant and continue to commit rebellious acts. They should be executed as well to deter the evildoers."
As she spoke, Zhen Qing raised her eyebrows, her phoenix eyes fixed on Jia Heng who was in the group of military ministers, and asked, "Prince Wei, what do you think?"
Jia Heng pondered and said, "Your Majesty, I think that Chen Wei is the biological son of Emperor Shizong Xian after all. Prince Wei Chen Ran has passed away, and Prince Liang Chen Wei..."
Zhen Qing was silent for a moment, then said, "King Liang Chen Wei has no intention of repenting and has committed many acts of treason. If he is not punished, people all over the world will follow his example. What will happen?"
At this moment, all the Han civil officials present looked at Jia Heng in unison.
In other words, all the Han civil officials present were extremely surprised by Empress Zhen's rage.
Jia Heng was silent for a moment, then pleaded, "Your Majesty, I think that although Chen Wei is guilty, the bloodline of the imperial family is dying out, and even if it is for the sake of being a role model for the people of the world, he should not be sentenced to death."
I had promised Tianniuer at that time, and it was also part of the "acting" with Zhen Qing.
Zhen Qing asked again, surprised: "Can the King of Wei guarantee that Chen Wei will behave himself in the future? And no longer harbor resentment towards the court?"
Jia Heng hesitated for a moment and said, "Just lock up Chen Wei and have someone keep a close watch on him."
Zhen Qing was silent for a moment, then said, "Last time, Chen Wei and Chen Ran were both imprisoned, but they were also rescued by the White Lotus Demon, weren't they?"
Jia Heng said: "The White Lotus monsters have all been destroyed now. The thing your majesty is worried about will never happen again."
Zhen Qing snorted coldly, looking unfriendly, and asked, "Can you guarantee that the White Lotus Demon won't come back?"
Jia Heng seemed to be at a loss for words for a moment, then calmed down and spoke, "Your Majesty, I beg you to spare Chen Wei's life and keep him in prison forever, because the new emperor will change the reign next year, and God is merciful, so please show some leniency, Your Majesty."
There seemed to be a cold light flashing in Zhen Qing's narrow and clear phoenix eyes, and there was a bit of hostility in her tone. She shouted: "Prince Wei, are you trying to intimidate me by talking about the new emperor changing the reign title?"
Jia Heng's expression suddenly changed, and he clasped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, I dare not."
At this moment, all the ministers in the palace were shocked when they heard this.
Li Zan's expression changed slightly, and his heart moved inexplicably.
Because, just now, from this conversation, the Prime Minister of the Han Cabinet caught the signal that the two had become enemies.
Jia Heng was silent for a moment, then said, "Your Majesty, I think that since the 20th year of Chongping, the court has been in turmoil, people inside and outside the court have been upset, and the royal family has withered. When the people of the world see the internal strife and the quarrels among the royal family, it is inevitable that they will lose their respect, which is not conducive to educating the people."
Zhen Qing snorted coldly, her eyes seemed to contain a cold light, and she said in a deep voice: "Since King Wei insists on inviting me, I will simply agree to this matter."
Jia Heng cupped his hands and said, "Thank you, Madam."
Zhen Qing's face was as cold as ice, and her tone was full of reprimand. She said, "But Chen Wei needs to be kept under strict supervision and must not be allowed to deceive people outside."
Jia Heng said, "Don't worry, Madam."
Zhen Qing now turned his gaze to the other ministers in the palace and asked, "Lord Li, when will the troops of Bashu return home?"
Li Zan said, "Your Majesty, in Bashu, the Sichuan chieftains and foreign generals' transformation into Han Chinese still requires the Duke of Liao to use the troops of the Beijing Camp to suppress and advance it."
Zhen Qing said, "So many soldiers were withdrawn from the Beijing garrison at once, leaving the capital city defense force empty. The soldiers from the Beijing garrison in Bashu should be transferred here as soon as possible."
Jia Heng said, "Your Majesty, the Beijing camp still has more than 100,000 soldiers and horses, which are enough to protect the peace of the capital and the three auxiliary areas."
Zhen Qing frowned and said in a cold voice: "Prince Wei, the safety of the capital is related to the country, how can we ignore it? Prince Wei is also an experienced minister who is good at planning for the country, don't you even understand this principle?"
Jia Heng quickly clasped his fists and said, "Your Majesty is right."
At this moment, all the ministers in the hall stared at this scene, with all kinds of speculations in their minds.
He thought to himself, could it be that Empress Zhen has begun to become suspicious of Prince Wei?
When Xu Lu saw this scene, he frowned slightly and couldn't help but think about something.
It seems that the previous memorials were not without effect.
Thinking of this, Xu Lu's eyes flickered under his rough brows, and his heart moved slightly.
Zhen Qing's expression paused for a moment, and she asked in a cold and charming voice, "Ministry of Revenue, have the grains and fodders in the prefectures and counties been collected in the past few days?"
Qi Kun, holding an ivory tablet, walked out of the court with a solemn expression on his face. He said in a clear voice: "Your Majesty, the autumn grain collection has just begun, and it will not be completely completed until November."
Zhen Qing's fair, smooth, and frosty cheeks couldn't help but warm up. She really didn't understand it before.
Zhen Qing calmed down, her eyes warm, like the sun, and asked, "Shi Qing, how is the disbanding of the nine frontier troops in Liaodong?"
Shi Jie said: "Reporting to the Empress Dowager, the troops in Datong and Xuanfu have been reduced by nearly half, and the reduced troops will be transferred to the Liaodong Military Region, and the troops of the Beiping Military Region will also be transferred to the Liaodong Prefectures."
Zhen Qing looked thoughtful, and then asked, "Wang Ziteng has been appointed as the Governor-General of Liaodong. Has the imperial decree of the Military Affairs Council been issued?"
Shi Jie paused for a moment, then whispered, "It has been sent out at an express rate of 600 miles. Wang Ziteng should be in the capital to report on his work in the next few days."
Zhen Qing nodded and said, "I will also listen to his plan for governing Liaodong after he takes up his new post."
Jia Heng raised his eyes and looked at the shadowy figure sitting behind the bead curtain, and his mind felt a little strange.
Mopan got into the role very quickly and already looks a bit like a dominatrix.
This is the blessing that power brings to people. Perhaps it won’t be long before Zhen Qing will find that power is more interesting than him as a man.
After the meeting was over, all the court officials in the Han Dynasty's court came out of the Hanyuan Hall in twos and threes.
Xu Lu walked a few steps, quietly followed Li Zan's steps, stared at Li Zan beside him, and said: "Lord Li, just now in the court..."
Li Zan's face was as solemn as iron. He interrupted Xu Lu's words and said in a deep voice, "Let's talk about it when we get back to the mansion."
Xu Lu didn't say anything else and responded quickly.
Shenjing City, Li's House
Li Zan returned to his residence first, sat down in the study, and thought about the previous court situation.
Judging from Empress Zhen's performance in the court just now, it seems that she has become suspicious of Prince Wei.
Then the next step was to have Empress Zhen strip Prince Wei of his title of prince and confer him the title of prince of a county.
Then, it would undoubtedly further anger King Wei.
"Master, Lord Xu is here." At this moment, an older servant quickly entered the room and whispered.
Li Zan's face turned serious, and he said in a clear voice, "I'll go and meet him."
As he spoke, he quickly walked out of the hall, came under the eaves, and looked quietly at Xu Lu.
Xu Lu's face turned serious and he said, "Lord Li."
Li Zan extended his hand and invited him, "Brother Deqing, please come this way."
Xu Lu responded softly, and then, following Li Zan into the study, the two of them sat down as host and guest.
Li Zan pondered for a moment and said, "I think Brother Deqing has also seen what happened at today's court meeting. What do you think?"
Xu Lu couldn't help showing a worried look on his face, and said, "It seems that Queen Zhen has become suspicious of Prince Wei."
Li Zan whispered, "Empress Zhen has a strong character. Now that she realizes that Prince Wei has improper ambitions for the throne, she will definitely have a countermeasure."
Xu Lu shook his head and said, "From what I've seen of Prince Wei today, he seems to be calm and has no resentment in his heart."
"Prince Wei has always been very cunning. Even if he has complaints in his heart, they may not be able to be relieved now." Li Zan said in a low voice with a cold look under his thin eyebrows.
Xu Lu was silent for a moment, his eyes warm, and said: "If King Wei continues to be patient, I am afraid that the plan of waiting for the two to turn against each other may not work."
Li Zan shook his head and said, "We can't count on this."
Xu Lu pondered and said, "Master Li, how is Cao Bianjiao doing?"
Li Zan raised his eyebrows, his eyes flashed fiercely, and said: "I am explaining the great principles to him, and he has already shown some signs of being moved."
Xu Lu paused for a moment and asked, "Are you interested?"
"Cao Bianjiao believes that Prince Wei has indeed changed after being conferred the title of Prince, but it is not necessarily the case that he is plotting to usurp the throne," said Li Zan.
Xu Lu frowned, his eyes flashed fiercely, and he whispered: "When Wang Mang was humble and had not yet usurped the throne, Cao Bianjiao had experienced a lot. I wonder if the current King Wei is just pretending."
Li Zan said: "The Prince of Wei seems to be submissive, and he can still confuse some people."
Xu Lu was silent for a moment, then said, "I'll go see Cao Bianjiao in the next two days and try to persuade him again."
Li Zan nodded and said, "No matter what, just tell Cao Bianjiao that Prince Wei is extremely powerful and greedy, threatening the safety of the country. Just ask him to strip him of his title of prince and live in seclusion in the woods. This way, the government and the people can rest assured, and the Han Dynasty can be completely stable."
Xu Lu said: "In this case, if Cao Bianjiao is sensible, he should be able to understand our painstaking efforts."
Li Zan said: "We must proceed with caution and not let the King of Wei's spies know about this, otherwise they will be prepared in advance."
Xu Lu's face turned serious, and he said, "Don't worry, Yuan Fu, I will find an excuse to look for Cao Bianjiao."
Li Zan said in a deep voice: "Brother Deqing, if you come to visit directly this time, you might be seen by the henchmen under the King of Wei and become suspicious of them."
Xu Lu said: "Even if I didn't come to look for Yuan Fu, I would still be in trouble. We are honest and upright, and we have no shame in the world. Why should we worry about being suspected?"
Li Zan smiled bitterly and said, "Brother Deqing, you are still too straightforward."
The so-called political court is mostly full of conspiracies and intrigues. People like Xu Lu and Li Zan are both ministers of integrity and sometimes they are indeed not suitable for these things.
Xu Lu asked, "Prince, what did the Imperial Concubine say?"
Li Zan said: "There is no news coming out now, but when that day comes, it will be a natural process to support the eighth prince."
Xu Lu said: ""
Li Zan said: "It is better to do this sooner rather than later. Now is the time to thank Zaiyi."
"Didn't Yuanfu plan to win over Xie Zaiyi before?" Xu Lu said.
Li Zan said, "Xie Zaiyi recently wrote a memorial praising Jia Yun. Jia and Xie are close friends and it is difficult to persuade them. When he returns to the capital, he may support the King of Wei."
Xu Lu nodded and said, "What the Prime Minister is worried about is not impossible. The Chenqiao mutiny in Zhao Song is a lesson we should not forget."
Li Zan said, "Now that Xie Zaiyi has transferred the Guoyong Battalion from the Beijing Camp, there is only one Cai Quan in charge of the Beijing Camp. Most of the followers of the Wing Guard King have already left. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. When the Beijing Camp returns from Sichuan, it will be even more difficult."
Xu Lu nodded and said, "If you don't make a decision when you should, you will suffer the consequences."
Li Zan said: "I will prepare for it in the next few days."
Xu Lu didn't say anything else, and soon left Li Zan's residence.
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