newbobooks Chapter 402 Lost and Unknown
Chapter 402 Lost and Unknown
"When my mother was still alive, she helped the emperor come up with many ways to keep the people safe."
Zhao Qingcheng said suppressedly: "At that time, all the elders knew that it was my mother's idea, and they were grateful for my mother's kindness, but my brother followed my mother's wishes and forcibly changed these policies to his own."
“The elders didn’t dare to speak, but kept it in mind silently.”
"My brother is grateful for my mother's kindness, so he allowed me to parade in the streets and enjoy the prosperity of the world on behalf of my mother."
Chen Changan nodded, and suddenly thought of Chu Yanran: "Your mother is much better than my mother. She will only harm her son."
Zhao Qingcheng was silent for a moment, then gritted her teeth and said, "Changan, can I ask you, your mother..."
"Don't tell me. I can't tell you."
Chen Changan naturally understood what Zhao Qingcheng wanted to say and interrupted her immediately.
I have been busy dealing with the emperor's state affairs recently and have not had the time to pay attention to how Chu Yanran is doing. I can only wait a few days.
After strolling around the streets, we walked back to the palace.
The palace was already filled with red silk, and the emperor himself, leading all the civil and military officials, was waiting here.
Seeing Zhao Qingcheng coming out, the emperor stood up.
The ministers were dressed in court robes, the civil officials had flying birds embroidered on their uniforms, and the military officers were wearing shining armor, all following the emperor in an orderly manner.
Everyone came in front of Zhao Qingcheng. The emperor stood still first, slowly raised his hands, and his wide sleeves slid down, revealing the exquisite dragon-patterned cuffs underneath.
He stared at the jade card in Zhao Qingcheng's hand with a solemn expression. He bent down and bowed deeply, then knelt down with his forehead touching the ground, performing the ceremony of three kneelings and nine kowtows.
"Your son respectfully welcomes the Empress Zhaolie!"
"Meet Empress Zhaolie!"
The ministers naturally shouted and knelt down in front of the token.
Zhao Qingcheng accepted the greeting on behalf of her mother and shook her head gently: "Brother Huang, please get up."
"This jade pendant is a relic of Empress Zhaolie. I will return it to you today. You should keep it well and never forget your mother's teachings to you."
The emperor sighed as he took the token from Empress Zhaolie and sighed slightly.
Then he took all the civil and military officials and went to the back hall to summon the soul of Zhao Qingcheng's mother.
When Zhao Qingcheng went in with the emperor, the ministers naturally could not follow.
General Li walked up to Chen Changan and said solemnly, "Changan, is it done?"
"With Chang'an's help, everything will be done." Chen Chang'an showed the letter from the credential on his chest.
The old general just sighed heavily: "The emperor used the tax silver you brought back from Qingzhou to expand the army. Now the new and old soldiers should be 600,000."
"But the quality of the military is uneven, making it difficult to win battles."
Chen Changan looked at the old general, not knowing what he was talking about.
The old general shook his head and chuckled: "Let me tell you a secret, the emperor has already let Chi Shi go."
"What? Let him go? Hold the arrow?" Chen Changan was confused.
Zhishi is the prince of Western Xia. With him in their hands, even if Western Xia wants to attack them, they will have reservations. How can they let him go?
Chen Changan's lips moved, and he suddenly understood: "This... Your Majesty, Your Majesty wants to attack Xixia?"
"At least you're not stupid."
Chen Changan fell into deep silence. He looked seriously in the direction where Zhao Qingcheng was kneeling, but said nothing.
Your Majesty, are you crazy?
The threats from Prince Jing'an, Chen Fusheng and the Chu family have not been resolved yet, and you want to attack Western Xia?
It is easy to start a war, but difficult to put it down.
The lives of the people have just started to improve, why is the arrow being fired?
"It was not the emperor's intention. It was a letter from Xixia."
Xiao Zhennan obviously knew more than Li Wuling, and he interrupted, "Xixia's words were very harsh. The emperor thought about it for several nights before agreeing to release the arrow."
"It may not necessarily be a war with Xixia."
"Whether it's war or peace, we shouldn't let Chi Shi go." Chen Changan shook his head and said, "Chi Shi came to our Great Chu and has a lot of information about the Great Chu army. How can we let him leave so easily?"
"In my opinion, the emperor is just getting old and confused."
“Shhh!!!”
Xiao Zhennan's face suddenly changed, and he lowered his head and said, "Sir Chen, you are the emperor's brother-in-law, so you are not afraid, but we still want to live!"
Chen Changan shrugged. He was the same as Lord Xiao, or even worse than Lord Xiao.
"Your Majesty has no choice. The ministers have given their advice. Foreign envoys are watching. How can you not release them?"
"What can we do if we just watch?" Chen Changan shook his head and said, "Dignity lies only on the edge of the sword, and truth is within the range of the cannon. If anyone is not convinced, we can just beat them until they are convinced."
"Look at Sakurajima. Do they take us Da Chu seriously?"
Xiao Zhennan was silent. What Chen Changan said might be right.
But now Chi Shi has been gone for many days and may have already returned to Xixia. It is too late to say anything now.
Chen Changan lost interest and handed the letter to Xiao Zhennan: "Sir Xiao, please give this to the emperor. I am very tired and need to go back to rest."
"what is this?"
Xiao Zhennan snatched the letter suspiciously, and scanned it, following the lines of handwriting that came into view.
His face turned pale instantly, his mouth opened wide, and he exclaimed in disbelief: "Oh my God, Chen Xiaoyou, you actually succeeded, it's really cause for celebration!"
"Chang'an, Chang'an——"
Chen Changan was not as happy as Xiao Zhennan.
This is a betrayal of his feelings to get the letter of credence, what is there to be happy about?
Turn around and leave.
Xiao Zhennan's voice alarmed the ministers, and the emperor came out of the palace with a gloomy face.
"Master Xiao, what makes you so excited?"
"Your Majesty, you have Chen Chang'an, just like King Wen of Zhou had Jiang Taigong!"
Xiao Zhennan did not hesitate to praise him: "Chen Changan has already obtained the letter from the country, and Goguryeo has agreed to belong to our country. It is really a cause for celebration for all!"
"Your Majesty, look, look!"
When the emperor heard that there was a letter from the credible state, he raised his hand to signal for it to be presented.
When the letter was handed to him, the emperor unfolded it and his expression changed suddenly. His brows furrowed, his eyes widened, and his lips trembled slightly.
The hand holding the credentials seemed to be controlled by an invisible force and could not stop shaking.
Seeing the emperor lose his composure like this, all the ministers looked at each other in bewilderment.
The entire court was in deathly silence. Everyone was quietly waiting for the emperor to speak, wondering what had happened to shock the emperor so much.
However, in this suffocatingly solemn atmosphere, the emperor suddenly laughed out loud towards the sky!
"Okay, okay, Chen Changan really didn't let me down!"
"Pass on my imperial decree, tell the Zhennan Army to escort the merchant caravan of tens of thousands of people to Goguryeo, and station the soldiers on the seashore!"
"If Sakurajima dares to attack, the King of Zhennan will attack with all his might!"
The deal is done!
Upon hearing the emperor's edict, all the ministers were furious!
Prince Jing'an gritted his teeth slightly. He originally thought that Park Bo Young had no choice but to choose to cooperate with him, but he didn't expect that he would be tricked by Park Bo Young.
The fact that the Great Chu had troops stationed in Goguryeo also meant that he couldn't go to that place!
Damn, Chen Changan, you can do it!
"My dear, where is my dear?"
Prince Jing'an was hesitating when he heard the emperor shouting.
Xiao Zhennan quickly reported: "Your Majesty, Lord Chen has left the palace because he has been tired recently. Maybe he is waiting outside."
The emperor moved his lips, but did not let Eunuch Jing go to find Chen Changan.
These days he has to deal with Shangqing Palace and Goguryeo, and he is really exhausted.
The emperor waved his hands and said, "Pass the order down. I am very happy today. Not only is Empress Zhaolie back, but I am also able to expand the territory in my old age. It is a blessing for the whole country."
"Today, we will host a banquet in the Imperial Garden. I will not leave until we are drunk!"
The ministers were naturally happy and expressed their gratitude one after another.
Zhao Qingcheng came outside the palace and saw Chen Changan sitting in the car, not talking to Lao Ma.
Zhao Qingcheng immediately said distressedly: "Chen Lang, what's wrong with you?"
"It's okay, I'm just worried about the future of this country."
Chen Changan forced a smile: "But why should I worry?"
"When I left Jiangdu, I had no country and no home. What does the rise and fall of the Chu have to do with me?"
"You are a subject of the Great Chu. How can the rise and fall of the country have nothing to do with you?"
Zhao Qingcheng shook her head: "You seem to have a lot to say to the emperor. The emperor is hosting a banquet in the Imperial Garden. Would you like to come with me?"
"Has the emperor issued an imperial decree?"
"That's not the case."
"I won't go. If I start talking, the emperor will be upset."
Chen Changan smiled and said, "Lao Ma and I will go out for a walk, eat something and relax, and come pick you up tomorrow."
Zhao Qingcheng talked to Chen Changan, but she felt even more depressed.
Chen Changan waved his hand and walked out.