After the Dajing Dynasty officially declared war on the Dafeng Dynasty, millions of iron troops gradually moved southward, and the sound of horse hooves continued all day long. The whole country is filled with an atmosphere of panic and uneasiness.
As the center of power, the capital city is even more undercurrent.
Due to the promotion of His Majesty the Emperor, Li Zixin was directly promoted to Minister of Rites and officially participated in the government since then.
Since Zhuang Tianji passed away due to illness, Kaifu Yitong and the Third Division have become "below one person and above ten thousand people". There have been rumors in the court recently that the emperor intends to appoint this Kaifu Yi and the three ministers as the new prime minister.
Shan Anli, the minister of the Ministry of Industry, begged for his bones and returned home for some unknown reason. Although the Kaifu Yitong Third Division recommended a new candidate for the Minister of Industry, the matter seems to have stalled. Therefore, many matters of the Ministry of Industry are currently under the sole responsibility of the minister.
According to the joint deduction between Qin Fang and the Imperial Master, the war will break out in no more than three months.
It is not easy to swallow up a dynasty. In the best case scenario, even if a huge advantage can be obtained from the layout stage to the final conclusion, it will take at least a year to end the war.
Moreover, this ideal state is impossible. Because the Dafeng Dynasty also had a huge backer, both Zou Zi and Pu Jiezi could be said to be the best chess players in the world.
In Jiaofang Hall, there were only three people, mother and daughter, for breakfast today.
The father and son were not here, so naturally no one touched the big fish and meat on the table. Qin Fang increasingly felt that these meat objects were an eyesore, so she asked the palace maid to remove them.
"Where's dad?" Hu Meizi asked softly.
"The war is imminent and political affairs are tight. Your Majesty has been very busy lately. From now on, I'm afraid you won't have the chance to have breakfast."
Qin Fang sighed slightly, feeling upset for no reason, so she simply put down the bowl and chopsticks and rested her chin with her hands.
Looking at the two daughters, Qin Fang suddenly said angrily: "Guiqing, are our family too poor to live? We wear such shabby clothes all day long! And the same goes for Xiao Humei, why do you always wear all black? I don't know. Isn’t it unlucky?”
Hu Meizi immediately lowered her head and whispered: "I'm sorry."
Guiqing's pretty face was slightly cold, she held Hu Meizi's hand and said coldly: "Mother, please don't take it out on your daughter."
Qin Fang suddenly smiled, Xiao Humei was living a good life, and she was becoming more and more favored.
"But this is indeed the case." Qin Fang's tone was softer, "Gui Qing, you are a princess of a country. Don't always wear these blue and white plain clothes. It is against the rules of the emperor's family."
Gui Qing didn't want to get entangled in such a boring question and said expressionlessly: "That's it, Yi mother."
Qin Fang nodded and said with emotion: "There are some matters between the monarch and the ministers. Due to their status and age, your majesty and mother are not suitable to come forward, so your brother needs to solve them. Although your brother is not here now, you are the princess, and you are also the monarch." , so you have to do some things for him as a monarch and his ministers."
Gui Qing nodded slightly, remembering something for no reason, her beautiful eyes slightly lowered with sadness.
Qin Fang began to turn the conversation to Hu Meizi, squinted her eyes and smiled: "Last night, there was a new oiran woman in Chunxian Tower. It is said that she is beautiful and charming, and her lotus-like face is worthy of climbing to the fifth floor. Little Hu Mei, why don't you accompany me later? Want to see its true face?"
Hu Meizi's eyes shone when she heard this, and she nodded without hesitation, "Yeah!"
Qin Fang noticed the change in Gui Qing's expression.
At this moment, Gui Qing's whole body was exuding a cold feeling, which made people feel palpitating.
Hu Meizi immediately felt a chill running down her spine and realized that she had said the wrong thing. She didn't dare to look at Gui Qing's expression, so she could only lower her head and whisper: "It's just an oiran, there's actually nothing to see..."
Qin Fang smiled broadly, "Maybe it's better looking than Qing'er?"
Gui Qing sneered and said: "No matter how beautiful the skin is, what does it matter? After you cut it open and peel it off, it's just a piece of meat."
Hu Meizi looked like she had admitted her mistake and wanted to quietly hold Guiqing's hand, but was ruthlessly thrown away by the latter.
Qin Fang nodded slightly. She had already seen before that her daughter didn't care about her appearance at all. The title of the most beautiful woman in the world has been fought over by many people. But to her, it seemed like nothing.
On the other hand, some ugly women prefer to show off their clothes and go shopping in a showy way.
There are surprisingly many people like this in the imperial court today.
After Zhuang Tianji's death, the Dajing temple, which was originally a source of living water, quickly turned into a smoky stagnant water.
The Dajing Dynasty is now full of shortcomings, and after the death of Zhuang Tianji, his Majesty has no way to make a comeback.
If we want to create a prosperous age again, we can only place our hope on the next generation.
Li Zixin and Zhang Gu are both extraordinary talents, so Qin Fang believes that his son will not lose to his father in terms of merit.
Qin Fang stood up and said, "Okay, Mom is going to meet the new oiran woman. Will you two accompany Mom?"
Qin Fang suddenly whispered again: "I heard from Li Zixin that this oiran is a confidante that your brother met by chance when he was out of the palace a few years ago. The relationship between the two is not shallow."
Even though Qin Fang had been so bewitched, Hu Meizi, who had shown great interest before, was now very quiet and silent.
Gui Qing narrowed her eyes, "If you dare to go, never come back again."
Qin Fang immediately feigned anger and said: "Gui Qing, don't bully little Hu Mei! You don't want to go, why don't you let me go? How can you be so overbearing?"
In fact, Gui Qing could probably guess the true identity of the new oiran woman.
After a brief silence, Guiqing said: "I thought my mother would let her come back and serve him."
Qin Fang smiled: "Your brother doesn't have enough women around him? Your brother can't even handle those chattering little maids, so don't cause him any more trouble. What's more, that woman has been around since she was a child. I grew up next to my mother, and I have never been with your brother. The two of them have very little communication, so they must be like a veil between each other."
Gui Qingyu held her chin in her hands and said calmly: "Maybe it would have been better if she had stayed with my brother at first."
Qin Fang smiled and said nothing. Of the whole family, the iceberg beauty and the woman in the pink dress were the least tolerant of them. They had even had several arguments before and almost got into a fight. If it was that woman who served the prince and grew up with him. Taozhi was sent undercover to stay with Wu Peixian. In this way, Taozhi and the prince will definitely not have a deep or serious relationship. This is the result that Guiqing wants to see most.
But after all, Taozhi is also a daughter, so Qin Fang can't say anything to what Gui Qing said just now. As a mother, you must try to keep a bowl of water as level as possible.
Qin Fang glanced at the sky and realized that the breakfast meal was almost over. After a while, I went to Chunxian Tower to see the woman, and then I went to the Imperial Academy to discuss some matters with Laojijiu. I came back in the evening and continued to deduce and analyze the current complicated situation with the Imperial Master.
"Qing'er, I heard that Li Zixin made an appointment with you to have dinner at a restaurant today?" Qin Fang looked over.
Gui Qing hummed.
Qin Fang was about to speak but stopped, thinking that she might as well not say anything. This Li Zixin is not like the serious Zhang Gu. He is purely a rogue, so he is not afraid of Gui Qing getting angry if the negotiation goes wrong like last time.
When Hu Meizi heard that Gui Qing had something to do today, her moist peach blossom eyes suddenly filled with sadness.
Qin Fang really couldn't bear this pitiful look and said softly: "Qing'er, do you really want Xiao Humei to stay alone in the empty room?"
Guiqing frowned slightly and said in a cold tone, "Just go with your mother."
Hu Meizi's mood became even lower and she whispered: "I'd better wait for you to come back."
Knowing that Xiao Humei was no longer easy to coax, Qin Fang wisely turned around and left, and said: "You can solve your own problems by yourself. Mom is waiting for you in the carriage outside the palace."
Guiqing used her last bit of patience and whispered softly: "Go and accompany your mother quickly."
Hu Meizi still shook her head stubbornly.
Suddenly, a burst of fragrant wind came, accompanied by the itching sensation of black hair touching the skin.
At that moment, Hu Meizi's mind went blank.
She realized it later and was about to speak, but her red lips were touched by Gui Qing's jade finger.
A blush suddenly appeared on Hu Meizi's face.
"Are you satisfied with this?" Gui Qing said with a smile.
Hu Meizi nodded.
"Then hurry up and accompany your mother. Don't be like a resentful woman in your boudoir, worrying all day long because of trivial matters."
At this moment, Qin Fang was in the carriage, opening the curtain, holding her chin and looking in the direction of Jiaofang Hall.
Soon she saw Gui Qing and Hu Meizi walking towards this side holding hands.
She was a little surprised and curious as to what kind of candied dates Guiqing gave her this time, so that she could coax Xiao Humei so quickly.
Arriving in front of the carriage, Gui Qing took the initiative to let go of her hand and whispered: "Go."
Hu Meizi turned around, her watery peach blossom eyes seemed to be reluctant to give up, "Will there be more?"
Guiqing was stunned for a moment, then smiled and said, "It depends on my mood."
Hu Meizi curled her lips, this ambiguous answer was equivalent to saying nothing.
She opened the curtain and entered the carriage.
Qin Fang did not forget to warn her in the end: "Qing'er, you are no longer a princess who hides in the palace and drinks all day long. From today on, you will be exposed to the world. As a princess, you are responsible for your brother. Responsibility, so we must pay great attention to everything we say and do.”
Guiqing nodded slightly.
Qin Fang smiled and said, "Then I'll leave first."
After lowering the curtain, the carriage drove slowly and disappeared around the corner of the palace wall with the driver's call.
In the carriage, Qin Fang put her hand on her forehead, looking a little sad.
In fact, she was worried about whether Guiqing could do things well on her brother's behalf.
In many matters, even the prince needs to mediate and even tolerate, before he can quietly end the matter and get the matter done.
In recent years, the prince has been wronged a lot just to deal with some secret political affairs.
As for Gui Qing, what Qin Fang is worried about is not her ability and ability to handle political affairs, but her character flaws.
A princess who has lived in a deep palace since childhood, does not know how to deal with the world, and she does not know how to be patient. Whenever things do not go her way, she will use strong methods.
For example, the last time he persuaded Zhang Gu to proclaim himself emperor, the discussion fell apart after only a few words, and Zhang Gu was almost killed by Gui Qing.
Indifferent, arrogant, and arrogant, these are all obvious flaws of Guiqing.
But as the prince's letter said, it's time to temper this little girl's temperament.
Here, Guiqing returned to Qingui Palace, put on a graceful and luxurious dress, then sat in front of the mirror and pulled up her waist-length hair and put it into a hairpin.
From today on, Gui Qing, who drinks all day long with her hair down, will never appear again.
Gui Qing stood up and walked to the huge floor-to-ceiling mirror, taking a closer look at the graceful and noble beauty in the mirror.
Qin Fang thought wrong.
This time, she won't act willfully.
In order for that man to work less hard and go home earlier.
