"The joy of newlyweds must be wonderful. Brother Wang, don't forget about the old one when you have a new one." After the court meeting, Cheng Jiao finally found a quiet place, so he seized the opportunity to "taunt" Zhao Zheng. But Zhao Zheng didn't feel the slightest embarrassment. He responded with a smile of unknown meaning, "I heard that the eldest daughter of Chen Tingwei's family admires you very much."
There are rumors in the market that there is a daughter in Chen Tingwei's family who has a different title from Chen Guo's Mrs. Peach Blossom. She is known as Xiao Xi Gui [1], but this "Xiao Xi Gui" is just to make fun of Ting Wei Dong Shi Xiaofeng. He doesn't care what his daughter will become, he just wants to get a glimpse of the glory of Mrs. Peach Blossom. It was fine that she was not good-looking, but Chen Tingwei had developed an arrogant temper by holding her in the palm of his hand all day long, and was really useless from the inside out. Cheng Jiao was chased by her all day long and had a headache.
So now Chengjiao looked at Zhao Zheng bitterly, and said as if he was dead: "From now on, I will only obey the king's orders and have no complaints." Zhao Zheng didn't even look at him, but pulled down the willow branch on the side to look at it. He suppressed his joking thoughts and said, "Come to think of it, what do you want me to do today?"
Cheng Jiao also calmed down after hearing this and said helplessly:
"The dragon wants to rebel."
After the person who "intended to rebel" finished speaking, he looked at Zhao Zheng with an innocent face. Zhao Zheng's expression moved, and he gently released the hand holding the willow branch. The willow branch bounced back with a "swish" sound, causing the surrounding branches and leaves to tremble. Many withered yellow leaves fell in response, and there was a solemn and solemn roar. Without thinking, he said: "He passed it on." This was not a question, but a statement of the answer. Cheng Jiao smiled bitterly and said: "Fortunately among the misfortunes, this rumor has not spread widely yet."
"This prime minister, I have really taken great pains to consolidate my position. It is known throughout the country that I don't want to see you. The merchant is cunning. Since he is not sure whether you will have evil intentions and threaten me, he will simply kill you directly. Get rid of future troubles. I scolded you in today's meeting, and he must feel more convinced. I'm afraid there will be further actions next."
"My brother, I am very wronged. Please save me, Brother Wang." Chengjiao was precocious since childhood. Because his temper has been suppressed for a long time, he has always said little in front of others. He was only close to Zhao Zheng when he was young. Although the silly smile at Zhao Zheng back then was half genuine, the reason for pretending to be stupid was just to get close to him. Fortunately, Zhao Zheng looked cold on the outside, but he was actually sincere and honest. He lived up to his good intentions and was willing to tell the truth about his situation.
In the past few years, after the stranger left, the two brothers have been secretly supporting each other. This kind of friendship is unparalleled. Zhao Zheng was in charge in the palace, while Cheng Jiao worked for him outside the palace. In order not to make Lu Buwei suspicious, they had been pretending to be brothers who were at odds with each other.
Zhao Zheng curled up his lips and said: "He touched you like this, but it reminded me. Don't worry about anything, just follow the same pattern." Cheng Jiao said in a deep voice: "Brother Wang said... he passed it on to his younger brother, then My younger brother also spread it to him? But... in this way, the rumors spread by my younger brother have made him anxious. Will he treat Brother Wang..."
Zhao Zheng shook his head and said with certainty: "He doesn't know how to do it, and he doesn't dare to. In the final analysis, no matter how powerful he is, he is just a foreign minister. He also knows that according to the temperament of my old Qin people, I will never tolerate him going to that step. So he can only control the government of Qin by controlling me. Isn't this queen given to me by him? He wants to find someone to monitor me, and by the way, I can indulge in the gentleness of the country and have no intention of government, so I have to reluctantly obey. However, Now it seems like this chess piece..."
At this point, Zhao Zheng curled his lips again, then changed the topic and continued: "Besides, I really hope that he can't see clearly and take action on some ideas. I'll be quick to make excuses." To cut the knot, there is no need for Zhenri to show weakness in front of him."
Cheng Jiao suddenly understood, then smiled and said: "Brother Wang can see clearly." He knew that these lies were useless to Zhao Zheng, but Cheng Jiao liked to use words to criticize him. Zhao Zheng was not annoyed and said with a "good temper": "I still know one thing." Standing in the sun, Cheng Jiao suddenly felt a chill on his back and subconsciously asked: "What's the matter?" His brother Wang He said with a smile on his face, "I've already thought about the reward for you after you accomplish this."
Zhao Zheng's ability to tell lies with open eyes is the essence of his teacher Zhao Gao. It's just that on the outside, one is annoyingly gentle, and the other is overwhelmingly strong. But no matter what, if this ability to hurt others is used to no disadvantage, it will definitely cause the other party to suffer.
Being rumored to be "rebellious" together with Lu Buwei, could he get a reward? Cheng Jiao quickly smiled flatteringly at his brother Wang. Unexpectedly, his brother Wang didn't even look at him. He just said expressionlessly: "You seem to have stayed too long." He also knew that he was afraid of people being suspicious. It was not advisable to stay too long and left in a hurry. The sunshine at noon was originally very good, but Chengjiao's interest was really not high.
"Wait a minute." After hearing these words, Cheng Jiao suddenly felt that the late autumn sunshine was still a little comfortable on his body. But what Zhao Zheng said was still business: "Master Wang, tell him for me that Zhao Zheng understands his sincerity for the country, but it's not the time to touch Lu Buwei yet." Cheng Jiao also knew what Brother Wang was worried about. He said solemnly: "Brother Wang, don't worry. I know the stakes involved and will definitely persuade the old general to calm down."
In fact, all military power has been quietly held by Zhao Zheng since last year. The death of Yi Ren in the past year can be regarded as leaving a hand for him. Not only did he leave the orphan to Lu Buwei openly, but he also secretly issued an edict to entrust Zhao Zheng to the Meng family and the Wang family. The Meng family and the Wang family controlled half of the military power.
The edict was in the hands of Zhao Zheng. Meng Wu was his first teacher and knew his abilities. Therefore, except for the personal soldiers brought by his family, the rest of the military power was willingly returned to him since last year. As for the Wang family, the old general was loyal to the country. Seeing that he respected virtuous people and came to be his disciple in person, and seeing that he was only a young man, but already had the demeanor of a wise king in the court, he also secretly transferred power. We will make it clear after he takes office.
Lu Buwei didn't know these things. In addition to helping the young master over the years, he has done several good and practical things for the Qin State. He feels that his hard work has made great achievements, but he is a little too arrogant and does not know why. His eyes are always blinded, and he has not noticed that as the young master grows older, he has faintly shown signs of it. Edge. What's more, if he, the father-in-law who is assisting the young master, does not restrain his arrogance and comes into contact with the "young master" in the future, the flames will become uncontrollable and will eventually harm himself.
However, Lu Buwei is also shrewd. No matter how arrogant he is, he can only control it within a certain range. Take the Forbidden Palace Zongma as an example. If Zhao Zheng wants to use this as an excuse to use him, it will fall into the trap and make others think that he is a little kid of the King of Qin. He was violent and cruel at a young age. He ignored his father's care and support for many years and only wanted to eliminate dissidents and seize power. Therefore, Zhao Zheng hesitated to move, showing weakness and dormant, just to wait for the opportunity and to seize him as a bigger handle.
It’s just that Zhao Zheng has no way of knowing at this time what a heavy price he will have to pay for seizing this opportunity in the future...
Three days later.
"Yesterday, the king took the initiative to bring up the matter of returning home with the child. The child was really touched. The child is really sorry that he has troubled the king so much today." Le Mi was well dressed and dressed in gorgeous clothes. She was really gorgeous, even The maids on the side were all amazed, saying that she and the king were a match made in heaven. At this moment, she was talking to Zhao Zheng, her lips parted slightly, her cheeks were slightly red, her face was like a peach with dew, and she was indescribably shy and charming.
Zhao Zheng had been used to seeing his mother's appearance since he was a child. Compared with her, Le Mi was a little less pretty. Seeing this scene, he just felt peaceful. However, although he was calm in his heart, the expression on his face still changed. He slowly bowed his body, lowered his head slightly, and said evilly to her ear: "That's right." Zhao Zheng's hot breath hit her when he spoke. The warm and numb feeling beside her ear made her feel a little nervous. Thinking about everything that happened at night, she felt even more shy.
The news of the harmony between the king and queen spread like wildfire, and soon spread throughout the palace. The maids in the palace were all envious of Le Mi's good fortune. Of course, Lu Buwei outside the palace knew and was very satisfied. Only Zhao Ji was completely worried. But what she is worried about is not that her son has married a bride, but that she has been vomiting recently...
"Queen Mother, what are you doing?" There was no one around, and Lao Ai's voice lost its previous high pitch and returned to the low tone of a normal man. Queen Mother Huayang took the square towel he handed over, wiped the water stains at the corners of her mouth, glanced at him, and said angrily: "You heartless thing, why do you think I dare not call the doctor? I have you in my belly." None of the children know.”
Hearing this, Lao Ai was filled with joy and fear. She stood there and didn't know what to do. She said incoherently: "What...how is this child...but...but this is the child of Lao Ai and the Queen Mother...The Queen Mother..." Zhao Ji spat displeasedly: "Look at your potential, calm down for me, why are you panicking?"
Lao Ai knelt on the ground, took her hand and shook it and said: "Queen Mother, although Lao Ai was sent to the palace by Lu Buwei, now she just wants to serve the Queen Mother wholeheartedly. If he knows about this, or the king knows about it, Well, that Lao Ai will definitely not be able to eat and carry around... You have to save Lao Ai."
Zhao Ji caressed the child in her belly, with a motherly and gentle expression on her face. After a while, she looked at Lao Ai and said, "I will remember the fact that you broke up with him because of me. Just now I figured it out, you are He was sent to the palace by Lu Buwei. Everyone knows this. If something happens to us, do you think he will be safe? So there is no need to rush this matter. It will take a few months to show up. I was shaken by you just now. I figured out a way..."
At the same time, Zhao Zheng and Le Mi were escorted by Meng Wu personally and sat in a carriage heading to Lord Changping's mansion. The reason why Mengwu had to be escorted when he returned home was because Zhao Zheng had important matters to discuss with Changping Lord Xiong Qi. Only with Mengwu's presence could Lu Buwei's elaborate plan not take advantage of the loopholes. Moreover, as Zhao Zheng's swordsmanship, horseback riding and archery teacher, Meng Wu could use his eagerness to protect his students as a cover for this, ensuring that the matter was foolproof and Lu Buwei could not doubt it.
Xiong Qi had already been waiting outside the door with his whole family half an hour ago. When he saw Zhao Zheng's honor guard approaching, he hurriedly greeted them. Zhao Zheng got off the carriage and wanted to help Le Mi down again. Le Mi was about to refuse, but when he saw him raising his right hand and putting his index finger on his lips to make a silencing gesture, he suddenly lost his mind and just let it go. He took it down. Lord Changping watched silently, remembering the agreement between himself and Lu Buwei, and felt a little confused in his heart.
"My minister Xiong Qi has met the king and the queen."
"I've met the king, I've met the queen."
Zhao Zheng stepped forward and personally held Xiong Qi's hand, then raised it slightly, asked his wife to get up, and said: "Uncle and aunt [2] don't need to be polite. In terms of seniority, it's Zhao Zheng who should salute you." That's right." Seeing how he treated others, Xiong Qi was a little stunned and couldn't react, but his daughter's words brought him back to reality. "Le Mi has met her father and mother."
"Look at how confused I am. I have prepared a banquet. Your Majesty and Queen are here to invite you." Zhao Zheng led Le Mi through the process of a bride returning home. It was already noon. After dinner, Meng Wu asked Xiong Qi to find a quiet place on the pretext that he wanted to catch up with Xiong Qi. Zhao Zheng, who originally felt tired and wanted to rest, soon appeared here with Le Mi.
"Since we are all a family, we can get straight to the point." From the moment Xiong Qi was invited by Meng Wu, he felt that something was fishy. Just because it was the first time that he and Meng Wu met, where could they reminisce?
At this moment, I saw that Zhao Zheng's aura and expression had completely changed, and his voice had become horribly deep. My heart suddenly skipped a beat, and I hurriedly bowed to him and said, "Your Majesty, please speak." Zhao Zheng did not help him this time, holding out one hand. Holding Le Mi, he put one hand behind his back and said in a deep voice: "Yesterday, Ah Le told everyone what happened between Prime Minister Lu and my uncle."
"No..." Before Le Mi could speak, Zhao Zheng turned his head, smiled at her, and squeezed her hand gently under the cover of his wide sleeves. He never let go, only using his fingers to touch her hand. He kept whispering in her palm. After all, Le Mi was a young girl who had just grown hair. She couldn't bear his teasing, and the rest of his words had long been forgotten.
The two of them were going back and forth like this, but Xiong Qi kept bowing and bowing his head and didn't notice. Now that he saw what happened was revealed, he could only kneel on the ground in fear and say: "Your Majesty, forgive me." Compared to the wonderful performance of the father and daughter, Zhao Zheng was free to hold Le Mi's hand and watch calmly. Xiong Qi, who is facing the crime. After a long time, Zhao Zheng just sighed, patted the back of Le Mi's hand, let her go, walked over and helped Xiong Qi up.
"In the past, when the widow and my mother were left alone in a foreign country, they often had no clothes to wear, no food to eat, and were even humiliated at will..." Zhao Zheng ignored the astonished expressions of Xiong Qi and his daughter and said calmly to himself. Reminds me of my past. Xiong Qineng could clearly feel that the intimidating aura he had exuded in his calmness had now faded a lot.
Seeing that Xiong Qi was no longer so nervous, Zhao Zheng continued: "My uncle is in a similar situation to Zhao Zheng, and he must have felt the same way as Zhao Zheng these years. Lu Buwei used this to coerce and induce my uncle. Is my uncle really willing to do it? "
Xiong Qi was not stupid. He knew that Zhao Zheng's name for him had changed, which meant that things had turned around. He thought of something again and relaxed completely. Having said this, Zhao Zheng sneered and said: "Zhao Zheng dares to grant his uncle the position of prime minister, how can he, Lu Buwei?"
Xiong Qi shook his head and said to himself: Not to mention the position of prime minister, with Lu Buwei's caution, I am afraid that he will not be given any real power to him. "Since Zhao Zheng is married to A Le, he and my uncle are naturally one family. I think my uncle should know the pros and cons of this." Xiong Qi subconsciously looked at Meng Wu who was standing not far away, and then bowed solemnly. He bowed again and said: "From now on, if your Majesty has an assignment, I will go through fire and water."
The best thing about a person is knowing himself. Needless to say, Xiong Qi already understood what Zhao Zheng meant. Which one is more important between Lu Buwei and Zhao Zheng? Now that Zhao Zheng has pointed out the stakes, and with Meng on his side to let Xiong Qi see his strength clearly, Xiong Qi knows how to make a choice.
"Uncle, you don't need to be polite. You have worked hard today to teach me. I am really tired now. Ah Le, take me back to the room." At this time, Zhao Zheng lost his sense of sharpness and solemnity, and his face showed laziness. look. Seeing this, Xiong Qi and his daughter had the illusion that what he just did was just a dream.
Returning to the living room that Xiong Qi prepared for them to return home, Zhao Zheng pressed Le Mi, who was still in a daze, under him. Although his movements seemed domineering, the expression on his face was extremely gentle. The two looked at each other. He raised his hand to touch Le Mi's face and asked in a low voice: "I used you to deceive my uncle today, will you? Are you complaining about being widowed?"
Zhao Zheng's handsome face magnified several times in Le Mi's eyes, and his gentle gaze made her addicted to it. She immediately shook her head stupidly: "If the king treats the child like this, how can the child complain to the king." Zhao Zheng saw that the betrayal of lust had achieved the effect, and with a curl of the corner of his mouth, he began to actively move the rain and clouds, and further comforted him personally. Get her up...
