Xu Zhihuai gave some instructions and relaxed a little when he saw that his daughter was obedient and sensible.
When Wei Li came back, everything was different.
She shuddered as she recalled the last time she saw him.
As long as he has a human skin mask, he can appear in front of her at any time, do whatever he wants, and do whatever he wants.
The night was dark, the lights were dim, and only the stove was burning brightly.
Xu Zhihuai snuggled next to Zhu Suxing, not sleepy at all. She could smell the alcohol coming out of his mouth.
Tonight, he was just as worried as she was, and could only rely on his tipsy state to fall asleep.
Just after midnight, footsteps could be heard outside the curtain, and someone cautiously said: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty..."
Xu Zhihuai's heart tightened and jumped suddenly: "What's the matter?"
"The princess has a nightmare."
Zhu Qingruo had a nightmare and started crying when he woke up.
Jinhua wanted to carry her on his back, but she didn't want to, holding the quilt with an aggrieved look on her face.
Xu Zhihuai hurried over and felt heartbroken when he saw his daughter's face wet from crying.
"What did An'er dream about?"
"It's a very dark place. My father and mother are gone. Aunt Jin is also gone. I'm the only one."
Xu Zhihuai comforted her for a while and ordered people to light a lantern in the house.
When she fell asleep, Xu Zhihuai and Jinhua guarded her together.
"She rarely has nightmares."
Xu Zhihuai stroked his daughter's soft hair and said in a low voice: "Why is it today?"
Jinhua understood immediately and shook her head gently.
Xu Zhihuai smiled bitterly: "I don't want to scare myself, but Wei Li is becoming more and more scary. This winter is destined to be difficult, and I can bear it. An'er must not have anything happen to her."
Jinhua nodded repeatedly and held her hand.
Wei Li returned to Beijing for three days and went on a killing spree.
Following the emperor's order, he took over the defense of the city and deployed three hundred archers to guard the city tower. At noon, the city gates were wide open and no one dared to take a step closer.
Zhu Xuxing ordered that porridge stalls and campsites be set up thirty miles outside the city to ensure that everyone could have food to eat.
The siege of the city is finally over.
Wei Li was so proud of himself that he bluntly said in front of the civil and military officials of the court that all the six ministers were useless.
Zhu Xuxing frowned. Seeing the scene where they were quarreling and accusing each other, he felt a headache. He simply waved his sleeves and left the court early.
He went to Qianhua Palace and met the eldest sister.
Zhu Weizhen looked at his worried face, placed the chessboard and said, "I thought the emperor would never ask me to play chess again."
Zhu Xuxing said calmly: "I just want to find a place to admit defeat."
Zhu Weizhen looked at his frustrated face and frowned: "The emperor will never lose, nor can he admit defeat to anyone."
Zhu Xuxing smiled sadly: "I have worked hard over the past year, but in the end it is still riddled with holes. If Wei Li doesn't come back, I'm afraid I won't even be able to defend the capital."
"No matter how arrogant Wei Li is, he will obediently obey the emperor's orders."
"Wei Li has changed."
Zhu Xuxing's eyes were dark: "The fame and fortune I can give him can no longer satisfy his appetite."
Zhu Weizhen met his gaze: "He hasn't changed. What he wants has always been the emperor's. If he dares to make another mistake, I will do it myself without leaving any further trouble."
Zhu Xuxing hurriedly shook his head and said, "No, that's not what I meant. Wei Li can't be killed now. Without him, there will only be more trouble."
"The emperor relies on Wei Li for everything, and it is precisely because there is no one available in the court. The emperor needs to cultivate new connections so that Wei Li can be replaced as soon as possible."
"Eldest sister, are you going to bring up the matter of choosing a concubine again?"
"Of course the emperor can not choose a concubine and guard Xu Zhihuai wholeheartedly, but how long can the emperor guard her? Wei Li has always missed her."
Zhu Xuxing's eyes darkened: "His persistence in forgetting is in vain."
"What about An'er?"
Zhu Weizhen asked further.
Zhu Xuxing was angry in a low voice, with veins bulging on his forehead: "An'er is my daughter."
"How will the emperor protect their mother and daughter? Wei Li is watching eagerly outside. How can you let them feel at ease?"
"I can do anything, as long as I can do it."
Zhu Weizhen saw the opportunity and said: "So, the matter of selecting the concubine cannot be delayed any longer. There are only two more people in the Three Palaces and Sixth Courtyard. Can't the emperor turn a blind eye?"
Zhu Xuxing's eyes were focused: "Eldest sister is so insistent, who do you have your eye on?"
"In a few days, Turkic envoys will come to Beijing to meet with him, and they will naturally bring good news to the emperor."
"Turk?"
"The third princess of the Turkic Khan Ashina's tribe is exactly the candidate for the queen that the emperor needs most. Anyone who can suppress Wei Li must have a huge force to support him."
Zhu Xiuxing was no longer angry, only silent.
Thousands of refugees were driven to the outskirts of the city for resettlement. Although porridge shops were opened, they could not bear the large number of people and the lack of porridge. Many people did not have enough to eat and went to nearby villages and towns to steal and rob, looting everything that was edible and usable. Empty.
The government arrests people every day, and there is no room for them in the jail cells. Several county magistrates were so anxious that they jointly signed a letter and asked the magistrate to submit a memorial.
Zhu Xuxing questioned all the ministers at the court, but no one stood up to solve it. In the end, Wei Li said bluntly: "Your Majesty, the court does not support idle people. Since they have left their hometown and have no one to rely on, it is better to send them directly to the quarry to work for a living."
As soon as this statement came out, all the ministers were shocked.
The quarry was a place of real hard labor, and only the guilty went to work there.
Those refugees have no fault, and if they are left like this, they will be slaves for life, and they will have to do hard labor for generations.
Seeing everyone's objections, Wei Li couldn't help but sneer: "My lords are so compassionate and talk about benevolence, justice and morality, so why not show your sincerity with real money and silver? I will arrange manpower to escort the homeless people there. How about your lords’ mansions and homes, each of whom is in charge of a hundred people? We don’t ask for fine clothes and food, but only for three meals and a roof over our heads. How about that?”
For a moment, everyone was silent.
In the end, Zhu Xuxing could only acquiesce to Wei Li's proposal.
After the court, Zhu Xuxing called Wei Li to the imperial study alone: "You have been too aggressive in doing things recently. Only by brainstorming can we come up with a good solution."
Wei Li was disdainful: "Your Majesty, they only spend the court's money. When it comes time to pay for it themselves, there is no benevolence, justice or morality left."
"Killing them all is not a long-term solution."
"I don't seek longevity, I only want to share the emperor's worries wholeheartedly."
"Anyway, the matter in the capital is over. You should also prepare to go south."
Wei Li's face changed instantly: "What does this mean, Your Majesty?"
Zhu Xuxing said solemnly: "Those who are capable work hard. I just ask you to do what you should do. As the new year is approaching, there are still many things waiting for Qing Yihou to do."
Wei Li smiled extremely frivolously: "What if I don't want to leave?"
Zhu Xuxing's quiet phoenix eyes revealed a cold light: "Wei Li, do you want to resist the order?"
