Time flies, and three days have passed in the blink of an eye.
Seeing that the sun was already setting, after taking care of business for a day, the girls of the Zhongjing Hou Mansion finally gathered together.
Sai Xishi greeted with a plate of dishes:
"Sisters, I have created a new set of Bazhen mutton, please try it quickly."
Seeing Pang Yanyan moving chopsticks and praising her, all the girls also tasted it.
Seeing Du Shiniang who was sitting next to her, Li Shishi couldn't help but persuade her:
"Shi Niang, you stay at home all day and don't care about your property. Be careful to pay it all."
Du Shiniang picked up a piece of mutton listlessly and said sadly:
"Isn't my sister's girl Chunliu helping me take care of it? Alas..."
As she spoke, she sighed:
"I originally wanted to use the money from my business to raise some spies, and maybe I could help Cao Lang, but it was too difficult. The money was simply not enough, and I didn't bother."
"...I don't know when Cao Lang will be able to return to Beijing."
As she said this, she was startled again.
Master Li laughed softly:
"I told you, but it turns out that you are lovesick."
"When Cao Lang comes back, I don't know if you can bear it for a few days. Don't ask me for help then..."
Du Shiniang spat softly and gave her a few blows:
"Well, you are a master girl. You seem to be honest on weekdays, but in fact you are the best."
"Cao Lang can best describe you... boring*."
Hearing this, Master Li was so angry that he hit her upper buttocks several times.
When the other girls saw that they were getting bolder and bolder, their hearts swelled and they couldn't help but cover their mouths and laugh.
At this moment, the nun at the middle gate suddenly came to report:
"Madam, Miss Qingzhao from the Li Mansion is outside asking for an audience."
Hearing Li Qingzhao's request to see him, Pang Yanyan was stunned for a moment, quickly suppressed her smile, rubbed her swollen face, and said seriously:
"Invite her in quickly!"
As she spoke, she stood up and rinsed her mouth while explaining:
"I heard that the Empress Dowager drove her out of the Third Division and returned home. Mr. Wang has sent someone to explain that this is a test of the officials under her husband by the court, and it will be time to attack General Di Qing soon."
"Ms. Li is my husband's important helper. I'll go and comfort her first so that she won't know the details and worry secretly."
In fact, Li Qingzhao was in the Third Division and had Shangguan Wan'er's inheritance card. He had a clearer view of the situation in the court than Pang Yanyan, and he was not too upset about being dismissed from office.
What was difficult for her to accept was the reason for the Empress Dowager’s dismissal:
If you boast about your talents and fail to abide by your boudoir precepts, you will suffer from a woman's bad morals.
This kind of comment made her feel so wronged that she had no shame to hang out in the capital.
She knew that the Empress Dowager's thoughts and opinions were more conservative, but she didn't expect that she would be so disgusted with her affairs and speak so harshly.
So she was eager to know Cao Bin's itinerary and specific plans. If Cao Bin didn't want to take the risk of a coup, she would become the worst victim.
In this era, a woman with a bad reputation will probably end up not very good...
In fact, it was not only Li Qingzhao and others who were concerned about Cao Bin's schedule, but Empress Dowager Liu in the palace also felt that time was pressing.
Unlike Pan Renmei and his daughter, Empress Dowager Liu was very afraid of people who could control the army.
She knew that before Cao Bin returned to the court, it was the easiest time to weaken his strength.
As long as the general situation of the imperial court and the imperial army are in hand, by then, even if Cao Bin is unwilling, it will be too late. He can only be forced by the formality and let himself control...
After dinner, Empress Dowager Liu was reading memorials and thinking about the appointment and dismissal of officials. She didn't fall asleep until midnight. She was woken up by the little emperor at three o'clock in the morning the next day.
Thinking about the morning meeting, Empress Dowager Liu no longer felt sleepy, so she ordered the palace servants to wash up. Not long after, old eunuch Guo also hurried to Ciyuan Hall.
Empress Dowager Liu did not turn her head and asked casually:
"How is the progress of the boy named Gong?"
Eunuch Guo hurriedly replied:
"Don't worry, Madam. It's going very smoothly. Pan's master and servant are no longer so wary."
"Last night I was relieved and asked Gong Liangchen to inquire about the news from the court. I believe it will be done soon."
Empress Dowager Liu frowned, with some unpleasantness on her face:
"The Ai family knows that that little bitch won't give in."
As she said that, she seemed a little dissatisfied with the service of the palace maid. She waved it away and picked up the foundation herself to apply makeup in front of the mirror:
"Pan has been fasting for seven or eight days, right? I think she can't bear the hunger, so I'll ask Gong Liangchen to give her medicine tonight."
"Tell him that if this happens, the Aijia will give him a great future. If it doesn't, he won't have to live in this world."
Eunuch Guo nodded quickly and said with a smile:
"It's because the eldest lady is kind. This can save Pan's life and make her life easier. It's just that it's easier for Gong Liangchen..."
After Empress Dowager Liu finished applying makeup for the wrinkles around her eyes, she looked carefully at the mirror for a while, then glanced sideways at him:
"Hurry up and do your errands, remember the medicine shouldn't be too strong."
"Lest Pan find out later and become determined to live or die, the fish will die and the net will be broken. We can't be too gentle and let Gong Liangchen return without success."
As a woman who has been widowed for many years, she knows the loneliness of the deep palace all too well. Gong Liangchen is Pan's old lover. After the first time, there will be a second and third time.
If she produces a few more children, that bitch will never be able to reconcile with the little emperor. Even if she, the Queen Mother, dies, she will never be able to stand up...
"The queen is about to go to court."
After breakfast, Queen Mother Liu teased the little emperor for a while, and soon it was time for the court meeting.
Empress Dowager Liu got up from the Zichen Palace. As soon as she ascended the throne and received the court ceremony, she saw Bao Zheng coming out to play:
"The Empress Dowager, my minister Bao Zheng impeached Gao Lehou Liu Mei."
"This person is stupid and ungrateful. He ascends to a high position just because he is a relative of the emperor. He is actually a beetle in the country..."
The last time Liu Mei's Imperial Guards committed an offense, Bao Zheng sent out swords and guillotines without any mercy. He also targeted Liu Mei, the newly appointed deputy commander of the front division, and reported them almost every day.
This time Bao Zheng also became ruthless and acted stupidly and unethically.
To criticize Empress Dowager Liu's only brother in such a bad way was tantamount to slapping her in the face in public. At this time, Empress Dowager Liu's face looked as ugly as if she had eaten a fly. She suppressed her anger and said:
"Bao Qing will step aside for now. After the dynasty is over, the Ai family will call Marquis Gao Le and warn him face to face. How about asking him to accomplice Bao Qing?"
Hearing this, Bao Zheng suddenly became excited and said righteously:
"Marquis Gao Le did not offend a minor minister, but offended the people of Li and the country of the Song Dynasty!"
"If the Empress Dowager does not depose Gao Lehou, I will not stop impeaching him for one day..."
As soon as these words came out, Queen Mother Liu almost became angry to death.
Before planning to seize the palace, she had made an agreement with Wang Yanling that the other party would be in charge of the court and she would be in charge of the army. She did not expect that Wang Yanling could not even control his own students, which made her extremely unhappy.
Seeing Bao Zheng being aggressive and insisting on death, she couldn't help but secretly made up her mind to expel this black man from the capital after dealing with Di Qing.
At this moment, He Jianzhang suddenly left the class and said:
"Bao Zheng, you are so presumptuous! You have dealt with the culprit, and the Empress Dowager has also promised to persuade Gao Lehou, why are you still holding on to him? Do you want to run the court for the Empress Dowager..."
Seeing Bao Zheng's eyes widening with anger and wanting to argue with He Jiazhang, Wang Yanling quickly said:
"That's enough. Envoys from Northern Liao and Xixia arrived in Beijing yesterday with letters of credence in hand. If there is something important, we'd better summon them first and discuss other trivial matters later."
"Xiren, please go back to court first. Since your Majesty has given the order, please give Marquis Gao Le some more time.
With that said, without waiting for Bao Zheng's reply, he directly asked Empress Dowager Liu for instructions and summoned the envoys of the two countries.
Although Bao Zheng was unwilling to give up, he did not want to show the discord between the court and the court in front of the foreign envoys, so he had to go back to work and endure it.
The envoys sent by Xixia this time were Zhang Yanshou, the director of the Planning Academy, and Yelu Yixian from Liao State who often came to the Song Dynasty as envoys.
On his last mission, he provoked Cao Bin and was kicked off his horse. He lost face as a boss and was almost dismissed by Emperor Liao. Thanks to his brother being favored by Emperor Liao, he had the opportunity to serve Song Dynasty again and make meritorious service.
After saluting, he briefly glanced around the palace and saw that Cao Bin was not there. He felt relieved. Then he took out his credentials and read aloud.
This is a letter of congratulations, congratulating the Song Dynasty for clearing up chaos, for the Holy Lord to come to the court, and for the virtuous ministers to assist the country.
In the congratulatory letter, Empress Dowager Liu was described as the daughter of Yao and Shun, and Wang Yanling was praised as the Duke of Zhou who was still alive. The words of praise were endless, and Empress Dowager Liu and Wang Yanling's eyes were filled with joy and their hearts were full of joy.
Especially Wang Yanling, who was very particular about "convincing people with virtue". Being able to get such praise from the enemy country almost made him reach the peak of his life.
Seeing Wang Yanling being very proud and many ministers showing proud expressions, Kou Zhun felt disgusted.
Why is Liao Xia praised so much?
Wouldn't it be that Wang Yanling's compromise with them would benefit them?
Thinking of Wang Yanling's hurried summons of envoys from the two countries, Kou Zhun even suspected that he had already known the purpose of the Liao and Xia envoys, so as to stabilize the Song Dynasty and gain prestige.
At this moment, he was quite disheartened and regretted supporting Wang Yanling...
Unlike Bao Zheng, he didn't care so much about Gao Lehou Liu Mei's affairs. He was also happy to see the results of denigrating Cao Bin's old army and weakening his military popularity.
What made him most unhappy was the compromise made by Empress Dowager Liu and Wang Yanling towards Liaoxia, and Wang Yanling's handling of Jiangnan Ship Division and other places.
Although Kou Zhun was not used to Cao Bin's style, he admired his way of making money.
The financial crisis of the imperial court has just been alleviated this year, and it is the time to seek stability. He, Wang Yanling, just sent people to mix things up, and he couldn't wait to change the local new policies set by Cao Bin.
In Kou Zhun's view, Wang Yanling was overstepping his authority in order to exclude Cao Bin, and was too selfish...
It took a long time for the envoys from Liao and Xia to finish reading the letter of credence. Yeluyi first proposed that the Liao Kingdom was short of finances, suspended repayment, and borrowed another one million guan of money and grain.
After the last war between the Liao and Song Dynasties, although the Song Dynasty won a tragic victory, it also changed the annual currency into the name of a loan. Now the return date has come. Unexpectedly, the Liao Kingdom not only did not want to repay the loan, but also wanted to borrow again.
Wang Yanling was about to speak, but Kou Zhun couldn't help it and angrily said:
"Envoy Liao, shut up. You, the Liao Kingdom, are clearly asking for money from me, the Song Dynasty, in the name of borrowing money..."
The Song Dynasty lived a hungry and full life, so how could it allow the Liao Kingdom to defraud money? What's more, the Liao Emperor also planned to attack the allies of the Song Dynasty. Isn't this an attempt to capitalize on the enemy?
Yi Xian heard the words, but with a sneer on his face:
"Master Kou, our country's South Campus is short of military resources. The army has not collected enough money for winter pay. If they cannot survive, they may go south to plunder."
"When the time comes, please don't blame me, Daliao, for not being able to restrain us and for not caring about the righteousness of our brothers and neighboring countries."
Kou Zhun was so angry at this naked threat that he angrily said:
"If you dare to come, don't blame me, the Song Dynasty, for not showing mercy to the Liao Emperor and executing all the Liao soldiers who dared to cross the border..."
Upon hearing this, Queen Mother Liu quickly interrupted:
"Kou Qing, please shut up. The Liao envoy also please calm down. Everything can be discussed. Using weapons rashly will do no good to either Song or Liao."
She was just happy when she got a headache from Liao Envoy.
The Liao State was aware that the Song Dynasty was internally unstable and was in a critical period of seizing power. It did not dare to discuss military affairs and start a war, so it took the opportunity to blackmail.
She pondered for a while and was about to speak when the Xixia envoy interrupted:
"The Empress Dowager, I, Xixia, also want to borrow 200,000 yuan. I hope you will spare no expense in our friendship and help me a little bit."
When Empress Dowager Liu heard this, she was immediately speechless. All the ministers also looked at each other and looked at the menacing Liao envoy, and remained silent for a while.
Zhang Dun and Wang Anshi also looked at each other, quite speechless. If the Liao Kingdom was like a tiger, then Xixia was like a hyena. They were capricious in their ancestors and often wanted to run up to get some advantages.
At this moment, a high-pitched shout suddenly came from outside the hall:
"In the main palace of Ciming, I am obeying my will and listening to the government. Empress Dowager Pan has arrived..."
Upon hearing this announcement, Queen Mother Liu was shocked. She immediately knew that something had changed in the harem and quickly summoned Eunuch Guo and the imperial guards in the palace.
Yeluyi was stunned for a moment, then showed an excited look.
He didn't expect that there were still variables in the Song Dynasty court, but the more chaotic the Song Dynasty was, the more beneficial it was to them, and they might be able to deceive more benefits...
