Rebirth of marriage

"So, you admit that you planned all this?" The emperor's face was cold, "You were the one who really captured Qi He and his wife and children.

You arranged all this just to let me discover the relationship between Lin Zheng and Xiao Wang, so as to sow discord between our father and son. "

Cao Zhicheng knelt on his feet and said in a calm voice, "Your Majesty has misunderstood. I have no intention of provoking. If the Emperor is in harmony with Prince Xiao and his son, it is not something that I can do.

I just wanted to tell the emperor some truth, but your majesty misunderstood me a lot. If I told you directly, your majesty might not believe it, so I had to use such a roundabout way. It seems that I didn't do a good enough job to gain your majesty's trust. "

His words didn't make the emperor look any better. They knew each other well why they didn't trust his words. It was because the Cao family was too ambitious.

"You still dare to quibble. Didn't you plan this to make me suspicious of King Xiao, so that you can continue to sit in the court and check and balance each other with King Xiao?" The emperor's voice was gloomy, "Cao Zhicheng, you are so brave, how dare you Even I am plotting against you."

"I don't dare." He said he didn't dare, but he didn't bend down and kowtow like before. Instead, he took out a booklet from his arms and handed it out with both hands, "This booklet contains all the private information with Lin Yushi. The people who come and go, Your Majesty, the so-called lonely ministers are all an illusion."

The emperor flipped through the book and his pupils shrank suddenly. Some of them were originally from Cao's party, some were neutrals, and some were loyal to him, but they were all won over by Lin Zheng.

What does Lin Zheng want to do by wooing these people? To accumulate connections for King Xiao? His heart is boiling with anger and he pretends to be calm, "So what? He is King Xiao's grandfather, and King Xiao is my only descendant. He is The future heir to this country."

"Your Majesty is right." Cao Zhicheng raised his eyes and looked at the emperor, "But Your Majesty, King Xiao has become a tiger, and you are in your prime. Did you know that King Xiao has no intention of replacing him?"

"Presumptuous, Cao Zhicheng, do you know that if you are so instigating, I will give you the death penalty."

Cao Zhicheng was not afraid, and continued, "Your Majesty must have heard about coal cakes that can replace charcoal, and the Jiuxiao Pavilion that owns this business. Does your Majesty know that the owner of Jiuxiao Pavilion is Princess Xiao?

Your Majesty also knows that Jiuxiao Pavilion is now as rich as the country. The three sons of Lu Zheng, the former Minister of Household Affairs, are taking care of Xie Jiu's business. The son of Lu Zheng, the eldest son of Lu, worshiped Lin Zheng as his teacher and returned with him. Beijing.

In recent years, His Highness Prince Xiao has performed good deeds as Mr. Feng, accumulated a lot of good reputation, and won the support of the people.

He has an army of 15 garrisoned at Yuyouguan, his father-in-law, King Liaodong, has [-] Liaodong troops, and the [-] soldiers on the outskirts of Beijing who guard the safety of the capital are under the orders of Duke Zhenguo, as well as the black-feathered guards in the hands of Prince Gong. They all He is from King Xiao.

Lin Zheng has won over half of the courtiers for him. Your Majesty, King Xiao now wants people and money. If he..."

"But they all have to obey me in the end, I am the emperor." The emperor already looked irritable and interrupted him impatiently.

Cao Zhicheng took all this into consideration and raised the corners of his lips slightly, "Your Majesty must have heard that when the King of Liaodong left the capital, he cried bitterly at the city gate because he could not bear to leave Princess Xiao.

The King of Liaodong was an iron-clad man who would rather shed blood than shed tears, but he cried like a woman because of the separation. This shows how much he loves Princess Xiao, and the Duke of Zhen has already stood by King Xiao. Isn't it?

Your Majesty, if one day there is a conflict between you and King Xiao, will King Liaodong and others listen to you or King Xiao?

I guess they must have listened to King Xiao. As His Majesty said, King Xiao is your only heir. Even if they listen to King Xiao, they will still be loyal ministers when things come true in the future, and they will still be loyal to the Gu family. "

What the emperor had been worried about was said so bluntly by Cao Zhicheng. He was filled with shame and anger, "Shut up."

"It is easy for you to be suspicious and to have unreasonable suspicions about King Xiao. But what if, if someone provokes you, will King Xiao be able to withstand the temptation? Your Majesty, how many men in the world can withstand the temptation of power?

I am struggling like this, but I am just unwilling to live in glory all my life, but in my old age I will be like a lost dog. I want to keep my position as the chief minister, and please your Majesty to make it happen.

I no longer have the support of the prince behind me, and there is no incense inheritance under my knees. You don't have to worry about my disobedience. If you stay in the court, you can at least compete with him. Your Majesty, my surname is Cao, so I will always be a minister. "

Cao Zhicheng leaned over and knocked his head heavily on the ground, and blood immediately oozed from his forehead, "I don't ask for much, I just want to gain your Majesty's trust. I will serve you in front of you and swear to be loyal to your Majesty to the death."

The emperor did not trust Cao Zhicheng, but he was still moved. He was already hesitant, but Cao Zhicheng hit him at every point. The only thing that made him hesitate now was the matter of the second prince Di Rong.

"Hmph, in order to avoid Ding You, you dared to assassinate the second prince Di Rong. You intentionally caused a war between the two countries and ignored the safety of the country. How can you be worthy of being the chief minister of this country?"

"Your Majesty, I was wronged." Cao Zhicheng knocked hard again and raised his head again. Blood flowed down his eyebrows and entered his eyes. It may have been irritating and uncomfortable. He quickly closed the eyes there, looking a little panicked. Somewhat scared.

"Your Majesty, I should not be so confused, I only sent people to the Qi family, and never sent anyone to assassinate the second prince Di Rong.

I am the chief assistant of Daxia. If Daxia is uneasy, how can I be good? I would never dare to do so. Your Majesty, please take a closer look. "

"Are you really not you?" The emperor was suspicious.

He knocked hard again, "No, the affairs of the Qi family were arranged by me, and I admit it, but I dare not admit this is something I have never done."

He was determined not to admit the assassination of the second prince Di Rong. He knew that if he wanted to lie to the emperor, he had to be half-truthful, so he admitted the affair of the Qi family from the beginning.

He raised his head and even said a little aggrievedly, "Your Majesty, you and I have been kings and ministers for more than ten years. You understand me well. I am just a little vain and like to be praised by others, but all of this is based on the security of Daxia. Your Majesty, If you really are not a minister, please do it this time."

The emperor looked at him, blood was still flowing. He tried his best to clamp one eye and did not dare to wipe it. His face was filled with a pleading look, which was really pitiful. He had been dealing with Cao Zhicheng for nearly 20 years, and this was the first time he had seen him like this. Embarrassed look.

Finally, he agreed to Cao Zhicheng's request.

However, the majesty of the king made him unwilling to admit that he was afraid of his son and needed to rely on others. He said with a sullen face, "The second prince Di Rong was assassinated in our country, which would inevitably cause war between the two countries. The matter was left to the chief minister to handle." , be sure to find out this matter and appease King Di Rong.

After this matter is settled, you can go and observe mourning for your mother for three years. "

Only then did Cao Zhicheng dare to wipe the blood from his face with his sleeve, "Thank you for your forgiveness, I will definitely handle this job well."

The emperor was always unhappy, so he couldn't help but scolded, "Next time you dare to plot against me, I will definitely take off your head."

Cao Zhicheng smiled bitterly and pointed at his abdomen, "Old minister, I don't dare to do it anymore, this knife will almost kill me..."

After saying that, the person fainted, as if he had reached his limit.

Cao Zhicheng was carried back to the Cao Mansion by the palace servants, and with him went the emperor's edict to Cao Zhicheng to win his love.

After Lin Yushi learned about this, he felt a little uneasy. He was waiting for the emperor to summon him, and how he could convince the emperor that everything he did had nothing to do with Xiao Wang.

But Gu Xiao reassured him that the emperor would not summon him.

Sure enough, after more than ten days, he was also called to the imperial study room to discuss matters, but the emperor seemed to have no idea and treated him as usual, without mentioning a word about Concubine Yun.

The old censor understood that this meant that the emperor had regarded Xiao Wang as his opponent, and he was observing them in the dark.

Even when it was reported that Princess Xiao was pregnant, the emperor did not offer any reward, and the old censor's heart sank to the bottom.

Princess Xiao gave birth to the emperor's first grandchild, which was originally a great joy for the royal family. However, his lack of reaction was telling everyone that he did not pay much attention to the child. He was also telling everyone that he did not care about Prince Xiao. Not that seriously.

All the officials were also suspicious. Prince Xiao was almost a definite heir. Why did His Majesty have such an attitude? Soon everyone understood the reason.

There are two concubines in the harem who are pregnant, and Your Majesty has a new heir.

Along with this news, King Di Rong also asked Daxia to cede three cities and compensate the second prince for his life. Otherwise, he would offer the head of King Xiao to save the life of the second prince Di Rong.

While everyone was speculating on what the emperor would do, Gu Xiao was finally summoned to the palace.