Kuai Chuan: I really don’t want to be a villain

Chapter 59 Chinese New Year

Time flies and quietly comes to the fifth year of Xia Yuanqing.

In five years, Song Qiao and Qi Xuan never met again, but their secret contact was not severed, and they continued to invade the Chu Kingdom through joint wars.

Finally, in the winter of the fifth year of Xia Yuanqing, the state of Chu was ended.

Compared with the honor of destroying the country, Song Qiao cares more about actual interests. In recent years, most of the territory she has occupied in the Chu Kingdom is in the plains close to the Xia Kingdom. And every time she occupies a place, she will almost settle the accounts and give the land to her subordinates. Groups of new small and medium-sized landowners were created, also known as military meritorious landowners.

After the Chu State was destroyed, the entire Central Plains continent was divided between Xia and Jin. In terms of territory, the Jin State had more territories than the Xia State. In terms of military strength, the two countries were about the same. In terms of economic strength, the Xia State had more because of its proximity to the sea. It is a maritime trade, and Song Qiao's policies in recent years have not discriminated against or suppressed merchants, so the economic environment of Xia State is much more relaxed than that of Jin State.

Also starting from the fifth year of Xia Yuanqing's reign, the honeymoon period between the two countries officially ended, and the prelude to Xia and Jin's struggle for hegemony slowly began.

The New Year is about to come, and every household in the capital is beaming with joy, but the palace is a little deserted. The young emperor is still young, so naturally he doesn’t have many concubines. It is even less likely that Zhong Liwei’s harem from the previous dynasty will remain until now, so in the huge palace, except for Among the palace maids and eunuchs, there are only three people: Song Qiao, the young emperor, and Linglong.

Oh, and also add Bian Qingqing, who was dragged out of the laboratory by Song Qiao.

Tomorrow is New Year's Eve, and all the officials of the fourth rank and above in the capital will bring their families to the palace to celebrate the New Year with the emperor. Song Qiao left all these matters to Jiang Yingxue to handle.

Yes, the senior sisters and brothers of the Xiaoyao Sect have all come out. Ever since Song Qiao and Zhou Zhiyue talked a few years ago, they have all come out to help Song Qiao with Wu Yazi's tacit approval. Otherwise, she would be helpless on her own. too busy.

On the day of the New Year's Eve dinner, the palace was busy, and at night, it was even more crowded.

The lights in the main hall are bright, and those sitting there are the top people in the entire Xia Kingdom, but if you look closely, you will find that there are very few elderly people.

In the past five years, the Xia Kingdom has given birth to countless military meritorious landowners. Similarly, it has also given birth to many new lords. Some of the royal relatives were killed and exiled by Song Qiao. Now there are only a few yes-men left to survive.

Song Qiao and the little emperor sat side by side on the main seat. The ten-year-old emperor looked white and fat, but he lacked some intelligence and cleverness. Over the years, the people around him were arranged by Song Qiao, and those who taught him were not The emperor's art provided him with good food and drink all day long, and did not allow him to exercise more. To the uninformed, the little emperor looked really good after being raised by Song Qiao, but in fact, This kid is wasted.

There is nothing that can be done about it. If the little emperor was extremely smart among people, he would have been killed by Song Qiao long ago. How can he still survive to this day?

The entire palace was resplendent. Even though it was late at night, it was like daytime. Song Qiao's prestige in the entire Xia Kingdom could not be described in words. Just looking at the excited eyes of the nobles sitting below, one could tell that if she wanted to change to another emperor now, You don't even need to say anything, you just need to shout angrily at the little emperor, and someone wearing armor will rush up and chop off the little emperor's head with a knife.

In the entire palace, the highest-ranking people, except Song Qiao and the young emperor at the top, were followed by the woman in white sitting on the left side of Song Qiao.

She has an extremely beautiful appearance. In this lively day, she is dressed in white but does not look out of place. It is as if she was born to suit this color. She has no official status and is not a member of the harem. She lives in the Xia Kingdom as a commoner. At the top of the power, no one dared to comment on her. She was Linglong, whom the people of Xia called the Hidden Prime Minister.

Opposite Linglong, sitting was the current prime minister of the Xia Kingdom and the idol of all the scholars in the Xia Kingdom, Liu Xiangru. He was no more than ten years old, so he came into Song Qiao's sight through a policy paper, and was then summoned. After a night of spying, he entered the Hanlin Academy and became the youngest academician of the Hanlin Academy. After that, he repeatedly offered advice, whether it was people's livelihood, diplomacy, or farming, he had unique insights, and soon became Song Qiao In the past five years, Xia Kingdom's rapid development is inseparable from his contribution. After he was officially promoted to prime minister last year, he showed all his ambitions and brought the entire Xia Kingdom forward. Based on the latest research from the Ministry of Industry Based on the results, a straight road from Kyoto to Saisu was built! That will also be the place where the decisive battle with Jin will take place in the future.

Opposite Liu Xiangru, sitting at Linglong's head, were martial artists. Most of them were military aristocrats who had risen in recent years. Among them, headed by the twins of the Xia Kingdom, they were the most dazzling stars in recent years. Wei Changan, a Kyoto native, his ancestor was a hussar general of the Xia Kingdom, and his family was in a weak position. After Song Qiao entered Kyoto, he was discovered and joined the Yulin Guard. Because of his excellent military talent, he was favored by Song Qiao. During the war against Chu He performed outstandingly in the war and was now named General Zuo. Xia Houhuo, a martial artist with a grassroots background and natural supernatural power, was suppressed after joining the army, and later became a rebel inexplicably. He was captured with the rebels. The chief of guard cherished his talent and recommended him to Song Qiao. During the battle against Chu, He killed the most enemies and had the greatest record. He captured the general of Chu alive and was named the champion lord and hussar general.

The hall was extremely lively. Song Qiao was always more indulgent on such occasions. The warriors below accidentally drank too much and got together one by one, laughing and playing. Xia Houhuo sat next to Wei Changan, He picked up the wine glass, drank it all in one gulp, and looked at Linglong who was above him somewhat vaguely, "Brother Wei... I really..." Before he could finish his words, he was interrupted by Wei Chang'an, "You are drunk. Otherwise, let’s go back home first.”

Xia Houhuo looked at Wei Changan's cold eyes and couldn't help but shudder. He was mostly awake from the wine. He subconsciously looked up at the dragon chair and unexpectedly ran into a pair of eyes as calm as water. They were... big and long. Princess eyes.

In an instant, cold sweat slid down his forehead. He swallowed and quickly lowered his head.

Wei Chang'an sighed, stood up, walked to the center of the hall, and performed a military salute, "I have your honor."

For a moment, the noise in the hall gradually stopped. Everyone looked at Wei Changan, wondering what he had to report at such a moment.

Song Qiao's expression showed no emotion or anger, "Yes."

"I impeach the champion Hou Xia Houhuo for indulging his domestic slaves, hurting people in the city, concealing it and not reporting it, causing death! Knowing the law and breaking the law, the crime will be increased. He should be deprived of his title and thrown into the sky prison!"

The entire hall can be heard.

Song Qiao turned to look at Xiahou Huo, "Xiahou, is what General Wei said true?"

Xia Houhuo quickly walked up to Wei Changan and knelt down, "Yes! I am guilty! I know my guilt! Please punish me, princess!"

Song Qiao narrowed her eyes and said nothing. Just when the atmosphere became more and more depressing, she turned and asked Liu Xiangru, "What do you think, Prime Minister?"

"It's all up to the eldest princess to make the decision." Liu Xiangru held the wine glass with a slight smile on his handsome face and looked at Song Qiao with burning eyes.

"I punish you to go to Xizhou and become a school captain. Please reflect on it. If you do it again, you will not be spared lightly."

Is this a punishment? Who doesn't know that Xizhou will soon become a battlefield? Xiahou Huo is going there now to familiarize himself with the terrain in advance and wait for the military achievements to be made! The warriors breathed a sigh of relief and looked at Xia Houhuo with eyes full of envy, jealousy and hatred.