Today in the court hall, Uncle Lu Jiang and Prime Minister Jiang Kanzhi had a heated argument over where the famine in Huaibei started, who to send, and who to convict.
Other ministers are usually either just sitting on the fence or already standing in line for reconsideration. Chen Chaoci threw away his sleeves in anger and walked away, leaving a group of ministers looking at each other in disbelief and not daring to show their anger. They waited in the main hall until noon when they got the order to disperse.
In the imperial study room in the afternoon.
Chen Chaoci had just calmed down a lot, and received a letter of credence from the State of Wei. It was the Empress Dowager's birthday, and special envoys were sent to congratulate her.
Lu Jiang and Jiang Kanzhi also argued over which minister to send to greet the Wei envoy.
Chen Chaoci was furious, with blue veins popping out on his forehead and neck. He stood with his hands on the desk, breathing heavily. He couldn't bear it anymore and shouted sternly: "That's enough! Get out of here, get out!"
Chen Chaoci suddenly overturned the pen, ink, paper and inkstone on the table, then picked up the inkstone and threw it at the two of them.
Chen Chaoci's face became increasingly ugly, and he was already standing a little unsteadily. If he hadn't been holding the desk with both hands, he might have fallen down on the table.
When the eunuch Liu Lian who was guarding him saw that something was going wrong, his expression suddenly changed. He quickly stepped forward to help Chen Chaoci sit down: "Your Majesty, are you okay?" Then he called out to the little eunuch outside: "Emperor, please call the eunuch quickly. "
The imperial doctor came to diagnose the problem, but he only said that the emperor was short of breath and needed more rest, and prescribed a medicine to soothe the nerves and replenish the energy.
Chen Chaoci leaned his head on the dragon chair and ordered people to drive Lu Jiang and Jiang Kanzhi out of the study. Neither looking at the tea nor looking at the seats, just let them wait there.
After dinner, they were ordered to be sent away.
He just felt useless. To be an emperor, you have to listen to these two ministers gesticulating and arguing. All he could do was let them stand outside.
When Chen Chao left the study, he was still angry. The little eunuchs around him only followed cautiously.
When they walked outside the Queen's Changkun Palace, Xiao Linzi was about to deliver the report when he saw Chen Chaoci and turned back again.
His master Liu Lian quickly covered Xiao Linzi's mouth and scolded him in a low voice. Xiao Linzi kept his head down and followed with his head lowered.
We changed the route and came to Jinxiu Palace.
Chen Chaoci didn't want to go to the queen at all, so he deliberately acted like this, passing by without making any progress. It was just for the people in the Queen's Palace to see. This country's uncle, Chen Chaoci can't do anything to him, but Queen, he can't be left in the cold and bored?
However, he really cannot abolish the queen.
When I entered the Jinxiu Palace, I heard the eunuch reporting that Princess Anyang was there. Only then did he relax his brows slightly, showing some joy in his eyes, but quickly retracted them. Liu Lian happened to catch this expression. He remained calm and just wrote it down in his mind.
"Concubine, I have met the emperor."
"My maid, I have met the emperor."
"Everyone, get up." Although Chen Chaoci was overjoyed to see Song Ran, he was by no means an emperor greedy for beauty. It was just that when he saw Song Ran that day, he felt some inexplicable joy in his heart.
Chen Chaoci felt that Song Ran should be different from other ordinary women who were shy and timid. Maybe he has heard too much about Nanjun. He only thought that Song Ran should be bright and bright, free and easy.
When he saw her at the family dinner that day, his suspicion was indeed confirmed.
While he pulled Concubine Chen to sit down beside him, he looked at the future sister-in-law in front of him.
When he was young, he was not the favored son of the late emperor, and did not have many opportunities to meet these princes and princesses. The only impressions I had of Song Ran were at the birthday banquet of the present Empress Dowager and then the Empress Dowager or in the palace of his eldest sister who was married to another country. At that time, the eldest sister would call him over to play from time to time.
Because Song Ran was similar in age to Zhaohua, she often sat with Zhaohua and his companions next to the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager loved them far more than the other princes and daughters. The Queen Mother would make them laugh with cakes when they were disappointed. When they made mistakes, they would stop the late emperor and punish them successively. They can even enter and exit the Queen Mother's bedroom at will without being summoned by the Queen Mother.
This was the treatment he had never received as a prince.
The late Queen had no children, so he did use tricks when choosing his stepson. Only by becoming the queen's son can he have the opportunity to be respected by others. Only then could he have the chance to obtain the throne he holds today. From then on, he made up his mind to stand out and win the favor of his father, the emperor, and his mother. And he did.
The eldest son of the concubine and the former prince, under his guidance step by step, finally embarked on the road of no return.
As soon as Chen Chaoci sat down, the young eunuch sent by the queen was waiting at the door. Liu Lian glanced at the young eunuch looking at the door, and then reminded Chen Chaoci in a low voice. Chen Chaoci glanced outside the door, and his face suddenly darkened.
"Which blind dog slave is outside the house?"
When Xiao Anzi in the Queen's Palace saw that he had provoked the wrath of the Holy Spirit, his legs and feet trembled nervously and he knelt on the ground. Cold sweat flowed from his forehead unconsciously. Sweat beaded through the clothes on his back. Whether it was because he was cold from the wind or because he was extremely frightened, his body was still shaking unconsciously even though he was kneeling on the ground.
"Your Majesty, calm down. This servant is Xiao Anzi in the Queen's palace. The Queen - she -"
Chen Chaoci's eyes instantly became sharp and he shouted angrily: "Why, the people in the Queen's Palace can't even speak clearly."
"The queen heard that the emperor had hired an imperial doctor after lunch, and specially ordered the imperial kitchen to make some nourishing soup and medicine, and asked the servants to come and ask the emperor for instructions. Should he go to Changkun Palace for dinner later, or should he bring the soup to Jinxiu Palace? .”
"The news from the queen is fast enough." Chen Chaoci raised his eyes and glanced around, and couldn't help but sneer, and finally his eyes stopped on Liu Lian.
Liu Lian's whole body tensed up, and he stepped forward with a smile to express his loyalty and said, "I am definitely not a slave. I have never left the Holy Lord from my early morning visit to now."
"You old guy, did I say it was you? Go back and point out the few villains under your command. They are all ignorant people!" Chen Chaoci raised his arm and pointed behind Liu Lian. Those little eunuchs had dark and terrifying eyes.
"It's my fault that I'm careless. I'll definitely find this little brat when I go back." Liu Lian agreed with a smile.
"Your Majesty, calm down. The princess is still here, don't scare her. I finally invited you here, but you scared me so much that you didn't dare to come to my palace again." Concubine Chen flattered Chen Chaoci, her voice was soft and soft. , leaning his body against Chen Chaoci's side, making small fists with both hands and tapping Chen Chaoci's shoulders, looking coquettish.
Chen Chaoci calmed down a little, turned to look at Song Ran and said: "I heard that the princess is a hero, and she often fights on the battlefield with the king of Nanjun. She must also know something about the generals of the Wei State. There is something going on right now. , I would like to hear the princess’s opinion.”
"My daughter dare not."
"The Empress Dowager's birthday is approaching, and the State of Wei has sent their Prime Minister and General Mu Ling to celebrate her birthday. According to the princess, which minister should be sent to greet her in a way that is both a deterrent and not disrespectful of etiquette?"
Mu Ling——Song Ran couldn't help but feel her heart tighten. When the name came out of Chen Chaoci's mouth, she felt even more inexplicably flustered. She bit her lower lip lightly, walked forward in small steps, leaned down and knelt down.
"My daughter is a first-level military commander. I'm afraid I won't be able to help His Majesty with such a big matter."
"The princess is too modest."
Chen Chaoci seemed to have thought of something, and suddenly Long Yan was overjoyed and said to himself: "Why have I forgotten this boy Chen Chaobai?" He hurriedly called Liu Lian to him again: "After the court tomorrow morning, summon King Xuan to the imperial study. After saying that, he quickly waved his hand and said, "No, send someone to deliver the order now and let him go to court tomorrow."
"Your Majesty, don't be anxious, I will leave right away."
The next day, afternoon.
Song Ran took a nap in the palace.
Chen Chao resigned and ordered people to come and invite him.
Song Ran recalled what happened yesterday and wondered if there were any mistakes in her words and deeds.
Her face looked as usual, and she felt anxious inside. On the way to the Imperial Study Room, she couldn't help but inquire about her young father-in-law. The young father-in-law only said that King Xuan was here and said nothing else.
When she heard that Chen Chaobai was there, she breathed a sigh of relief.
In addition to Chen Chaobai, Song Ran also saw Liu Yunqi.
Chen Chaoci seemed to be in a good mood today. Seeing Song Ran come in, he lowered his head and said something to Chen Chaobai beside him, and the two of them laughed in unison. As a minister with a foreign surname, Liu Yunqi naturally just stood with his hands down, respectfully standing next to Chen Chaoci and pursed his lips without saying a word.
In Song Ran's impression, Liu Yunqi should not be such a gloomy person. When we were young, we rode horses and hunted together. He may have been too trapped in this imperial city, and his eyes had long lost the light they once had.
Looking at Chen Chaobai again, his face was warm and his eyes were handsome, showing no trace of the anger he had when he was young.
"This visit from Wei State really caught me off guard. I invited the princess here today because I want to discuss with her how to receive the envoys from Wei State."
Song Ran was horrified: "Your Majesty, this is against the rules."
"The princess is a female general who goes into battle and is also the pillar of the country. Why not discuss state affairs together?"
"Then I dared to listen here."
"I'm not just a spectator, I want to hear what the princess knows about the Wei State. This time the Wei State sent envoys to catch me off guard. Nanjun is close to the Wei State, and the princess has fought against them many times. She must be familiar with their habits. I know a little bit about it. Let me talk to Chao Bai and Yun Qi."
Chen Chaobai looked at Song Ran with a smile on his face and said, "This is the great scholar Liu Yunqi, Lord Liu."
"My mother and Mrs. Liu are close friends in the boudoir, and I also had a few acquaintances with Mr. Liu when I was young." Song Ran subconsciously looked at Chen Chaobai, her pair of peach blossom eyes were naturally romantic, and there was a light smile in her eyes. Song Ran turned her eyes to look at Liu Yunqi again, and nodded politely to each other.
"Hey, Chaobai, let them chat later. Let the princess take care of this urgent need for me first."
Chen Chaobai smiled and said: "It's my brother's fault. Brother, don't worry, the princess lives in the palace and can't escape."
"Yesterday, I heard from your majesty that Wei sent the Prime Minister and General Mu this time. I have never seen the Prime Minister of Wei, and General Mu has fought several times on the battlefield. Although this man is young, he is in the Wei army. He is quite prestigious. He is good at fighting but not fond of fighting. His marksmanship is neat and his swordsmanship is even more superb. In several encounters, we did not have the upper hand." Song Ran told Chen Chaoci in detail.
"I heard from the princess that she has a high opinion of General Mu."
"My daughter is just telling the truth." Song Ran felt regretful and frightened, and couldn't help but secretly blame herself for saying too much.
"Princess, don't panic, keep talking."
Song Ran carefully considered his words and continued: "As for eating habits, I only know that the people of Wei do not like greasy things, such as eels, loaches, etc."
"A small and barbaric country still pays attention to these things." Chen Chaoci patted Chen Chaobai's shoulder and laughed loudly.
Except for Song Ran, no one noticed Liu Yunqi, whose expression was a little complicated.
