kvmb Chapter 367 Palace Banquet
Chapter 367 Palace Banquet
The Imperial Tutor glanced indifferently at the list. The Northern Qi Emperor had selected four people: the Assistant Commissioner of the Provincial Judicial Commission, the Left Councilor of the Provincial Administration Commission, the Prefect of Yuncheng, and the Assistant Prefect of a Prefecture.
These people were all local officials, which shows that the Northern Qi emperor dared not select officials from the capital to serve as Junior Chamberlain, for fear of choosing someone from the Xianwang or Qiwang factions.
The Imperial Tutor inquired, "What kind of person does Your Majesty wish to appoint to the position of Junior Chamberlain?"
The emperor of Northern Qi said, "He is not afraid of powerful figures and has outstanding talent."
"The officials on the list all meet the requirements. If we're talking about exceptional talent, Your Majesty can review their achievements and select the best." The Imperial Tutor put down the list. "The officials will have no objections."
He paused for a moment, then added, "Even if the officials have objections, he is capable of resolving them."
The Northern Qi emperor reviewed the list again, and the one with the most outstanding political achievements was the prefect of Yuncheng. He not only had courage but also strategy, making him the most suitable candidate for the position of Junior Chamberlain.
The Northern Qi emperor looked at his imperial tutor: "What do you think of Xie Liufang, the prefect of Yuncheng?"
The Imperial Tutor said, "It's acceptable."
The Northern Qi emperor understood the situation and immediately issued the appointment document, sending it to Yuncheng by fast horse.
-
On the other side, Consort Shu was so angry upon hearing the news that she smashed the medicine bowl in her hand on the ground.
With a crack, the porcelain bowl shattered into pieces.
Consort Shu said angrily, "The Lin family hasn't been executed yet, so how can someone else take their place?"
It wasn't until yesterday that she clearly saw that the Northern Qi Emperor was a cold-hearted and ruthless ruler. But in order to save the Lin family, she had no choice but to use a self-inflicted injury to gain the Northern Qi Emperor's favor.
Unfortunately, things didn't go as planned. He threatened her with the prince, saying that if the Lin family didn't die, it would definitely implicate them, mother and son.
The Lin family was her maternal family. The entire family was slaughtered, so how could she and her son possibly be any better off?
She understands the principle that we all prosper together and suffer together.
In a moment of desperation, she pretended to faint.
Unexpectedly, after the Northern Qi emperor confirmed that she was unharmed, he sent someone to take her back to Zhaohua Palace.
"I cannot stand by and watch the entire Lin family be executed."
Consort Shu repeated it over and over again.
With each repetition, his gaze grew more resolute.
But now they've reached a dead end.
What can she do to save the Lin family?
Suddenly, a thought popped into Consort Shu's mind—to find the remnants of the previous dynasty.
In an effort to benefit the people, the previous dynasty issued decrees that harmed the interests of powerful families, causing turmoil in the court.
The late emperor was a powerful general in the previous dynasty, and he took this opportunity to join forces with powerful families to usurp the throne.
After the late emperor ascended the throne, in order to stabilize the hearts of the people, he launched a military campaign against the Great Zhou, shifting the internal conflicts to the outside world.
Under the rule of the previous emperor, the Northern Qi Dynasty grew increasingly powerful. The people benefited greatly and gradually forgot that their ruler was an illegitimate emperor.
Consort Shu once heard Lin Yi say that the late emperor had sent out countless troops to search for the remnants of the previous dynasty.
After the late emperor passed away, the Northern Qi emperor took over this important task and spared no effort in finding the remnants of the previous dynasty.
Consort Shu suspected that the late emperor and the emperor of Northern Qi wanted to eliminate them completely.
If she finds the remnants of the previous dynasty, will she be able to perform meritorious service and save the Lin family?
Even though the chances were slim, Consort Shu was determined to give it a shot.
Thinking of this, she grabbed Hongqiao's hand: "Send someone to find Supervisor Jiang and ask him to help us calculate the fate of the people from the previous dynasty."
The Jiang family has served two dynasties and is skilled in divination and celestial observation; they must know the whereabouts of people from the previous dynasty.
Hongqiao opened her eyes wide and said tremblingly, "Your Majesty, the Jiang family has surrendered to His Majesty. If they knew the whereabouts of the people from the previous dynasty, they would probably have told His Majesty long ago."
Consort Shu is grasping at straws in her desperation.
"His Majesty trusts Supervisor Jiang because he has accurately predicted several major events," Consort Shu said quietly. "He said that the people of the previous dynasty must be right about where they are."
Hongqiao's expression suddenly changed, and she understood what Consort Shu meant.
The Northern Qi emperor trusted the Jiang family because they could predict celestial events. Even if the person Jiang Jianzheng accused was not from the previous dynasty, the Northern Qi emperor would still believe that he was.
It's better to kill the innocent than let the guilty go free, right?
"But...but the Jiang family has broken off the engagement with the Lin family, so why would they help us?"
“His son is studying at Nanlu Academy.” Consort Shu’s eyes flashed with a fierce light: “I heard he only comes back on New Year’s Eve every year.”
Hongqiao was startled. Consort Shu was going to target Jiang Jianzheng's son in order to threaten Jiang Jianzheng into "testifying" against people from the previous dynasty.
She felt a vague unease, a sense that something big was about to happen.
But Consort Shu was already obsessed and wouldn't listen to any advice.
Hongqiao had no choice but to do as she was told.
-
When Zhao Yi and Shen Qingtan heard that the position of Junior Chamberlain had fallen to the Prefect of Yuncheng, they did not have any particular reaction. Instead, they were worried that the New Year's Eve banquet would not be peaceful.
On New Year's Eve, they put up couplets and paper-cut window decorations in the mansion, replaced the eaves with red lanterns, and hung small red lanterns the size of a palm on the tree branches, adding a touch of festive color to the cold and quiet mansion.
This was the first New Year the couple had spent together, and with no relatives in the house, it was all too quiet and lonely.
Shen Qingtan specially prepared a reward, instructing Liuyue and Tingxue to tie colorful ribbons to the tree branches. The people in the manor could choose ribbons according to their own skills, and if they completed the requirements, they could receive a reward.
This will make the mansion more lively.
After finishing my work, it was getting late.
After taking a bath, Shen Qingtan sat in front of the bronze mirror to do her hair.
Liu Yue tied up Shen Qingtan's hair: "You prepared New Year's gifts for the Prince's subordinates in the Ministry of Rites. Should we send someone to deliver them today, or wait until after the New Year and have the Prince take them when he goes to work?"
"Send them today," Shen Qingtan instructed softly. "I have prepared two other gifts, one for Princess Guangning and one for the Imperial Tutor. You will deliver them personally later."
"Yes," Liu Yue replied.
At this moment, Zhao Yi pushed open the door and came in, looking at Shen Qingtan, who was sitting in front of the bronze mirror, with a charming and alluring demeanor.
A line of poetry came to mind: "Her hair, like clouds, seems to brush against her snowy cheeks."
Shen Qingtan caught a glimpse of his figure out of the corner of her eye, turned her gaze, and saw him slowly walking towards her.
She smiled and said, "You'll have to wait for me a little longer."
Zhao Yi gave a soft "hmm" and watched as Liu Yue tied her thick, black hair into a bun and put on a pearl hair crown, making her even more radiant.
He glanced at a gold and pearl ring in the box, picked it up with his fingertip, and put it on her slender finger. The shimmering pearl light made her snow-white skin look even more radiant.
Seeing that he was holding her fingers tightly, Shen Qingtan felt a hint of helplessness in her eyes. She let him lead her out of the mansion and into the palace in a carriage.
The carriage arrived at the palace gate and slowly came to a stop.
Suddenly, the carriage was hit, and Shen Qingtan stumbled forward, but a pair of hands grabbed her waist and held her tightly in their arms.
Shen Qingtan gripped Zhao Yi's clothes tightly with her fingers, her heart pounding wildly.
Zhao Yi's face darkened. He carried her down from the carriage, and then saw Prince Xian approaching: "Brother, the road is slippery. The driver carelessly bumped into your carriage, startling you and your sister-in-law. You won't hold it against your brother, will you?"