Hanhou

In the spring of the third year of Yuanguang, the Yellow River migrated and flowed southeast from Dunqiu.

The county magistrate of Dunqiu got a report, and went to investigate with the county magistrate and county lieutenant in person, and wrote an urgent report for several days, and sent a fast horse to the county.

The knight worked day and night, and submitted the report to the prefect of Dongjun.The eunuch was shocked when he heard the news. While sending people to Dunqiu, he wrote a memorial, sealed up the Dunqiu urgent report, and sent it to Chang'an quickly.

The diversion of the Yellow River is no small matter. If the river cannot be blocked in time to relocate people, the losses caused may be immeasurable.

After the report was sent out, the prefect of Dongjun still couldn't rest assured. He summoned the officials who were familiar with hydrology and the elders of the county.Based on the direction of this water migration, the counties and counties in the southeast of Dunqiu bear the brunt.

Flying riders traveled day and night, almost never resting on the way, and ran to death with two fast horses.When he arrived in Chang'an, he saw the guards at the city gate. He was so tired that he almost fell off his horse.

Seeing his hairpin with pheasant feathers and bamboo slips on his back, the guards knew there was an urgent report.Before asking about his identity, the knight fell headlong.Fortunately, the guard reacted quickly and did not fall to the ground.

"Hurry up, the water of the Yellow River... moves!"

The knight's voice was hoarse, his mouth was chapped, he didn't care about his bleeding thigh, he unwrapped his body, and said with difficulty: "Quick report!"

Lieutenant Ning Cheng was the first to get the news, and he didn't dare to delay, so he immediately sent the memorial to the palace.

I don't want to see the emperor rushing to nothing, and seeing Gong Gaohou, who has not been out of the mansion for a long time, and asked the eunuch who brought people here, only to know that there was an "accident" in the palace last night, because a family member who committed suicide in front of the palace, the Queen Mother Captain Huben Han Yan should be punished for a felony.

Because the Queen Mother wanted to involve Chen Jiao, the eunuch did not dare to reveal too much, he just waved his hand to Ning Cheng and signaled him that if it was not an urgent matter, it was really time to see the time.

"It's a matter of great importance, and there is no delay!"

Ning Cheng is a cruel official, but also a capable official.Regarding the people of the sixteen counties along the coast, even if he will be hated by the Queen Mother, he must meet the emperor!

A servant happened to pass by, and knowing the reason why Ning Cheng wanted to see the emperor, he took the initiative to take over the matter.He is a close minister of the emperor, even if there is a little misbehavior, at worst he will not be a servant, but will be sent out to be a county magistrate.

Not long after the attendant entered Changle Palace, Liu Che walked out of the palace, saw Ning Cheng, and asked anxiously, "Where is the report?"

"Please take a look, Your Majesty."

Ning Cheng held out the bamboo slips, Liu Che couldn't wait to return to Weiyang Palace, and unfolded them directly in front of the stone steps.Seeing what was written in it, his expression became more dignified, and he immediately ordered: "Call the prime minister, the general, and the imperial doctor to enter the palace to discuss matters."

"promise!"

The eunuch went out of the palace according to the order, and sent the emperor's oral instructions to the various houses as quickly as possible.

Liu Che was about to return to Weiyang Palace, Changxin Shaofu hurriedly chased after him, saying that the Queen Mother wants to see the emperor, please take a step forward.

Thinking about the matter of the Yellow River, the Queen Mother added trouble at this time. Liu Che's patience was finally exhausted, and the last string broke. On the spot, he ordered Gong Gao Houli to be sent back to the mansion, and the Changle Wei Wei who arrested Han Yan was dismissed. Send as many as possible to Beitun.

All the courtiers and eunuchs who knew what happened last night were all punished as criminal slaves, including Changxin Shaofu.

"His Majesty……"

Changxin Shaofu is in charge of the Empress Dowager Palace. With the authority of the Han Empress Dowager, the power in his hands is really not small.

Even if the Queen Mother still can't control the power of the palace, no one can guarantee that Jiaofang Palace will continue to be favored in the future, and whether there will be any beauty who will come from behind.

Once the queen falls out of favor and the Dou and Chen families are feared by the emperor, the palace power will surely return to the queen mother.

At that time, as the Changxin Shaofu, he will be reused by the Queen Mother.

I don't want the dream to come true, but the emperor ordered him to punish him as a sinful slave!

If you are a scholar, you can still lose copper to pay for your crime.But he is a middle-aged man, and there is no such case at all.

Liu Che sent Gong Gaohou away and gave silk and medicinal materials.

Afterwards Chen Jiao was asked to return to the Jiaofang Hall, and Han Yan and Gongsun He followed him to the Proclamation Room.The attitude is very tough, it is obvious that this matter should be let go, and no further investigation is allowed.

"The empress dowager is weak and closed the palace to recuperate."

After leaving these words, Liu Che drove back to Weiyang Palace, without saying a word to the Queen Mother.

A turmoil came to an abrupt end, quite anticlimactic.

When Liu Xing entered the palace, Changle Palace was already closed.Knowing her temperament, Chen Jiao simply invited her to the Jiaofang Hall and explained the cause and effect of the incident, so as to avoid hearsay and unnecessary troubles.

"You said Wang Zhi launched a sudden attack?" After listening to Chen Jiao's narration, Guantao became more and more puzzled.

"Mom, is something wrong?"

"It's really strange." Liu Xun picked up the lacquer cup, as if he wanted to moisten his throat with tea soup.Just as he handed it to his mouth, the movement suddenly stopped. Thinking of something in the early years, a gloomy look flashed in his eyes, "A-Jiao, we are probably deceived."

"Mother?" Chen Jiao was puzzled.

"You are young, and you don't see much." Liu Xun put down the lacquer lamp, motioned Chen Jiao to dismiss the palace servants, and continued when only the mother and daughter were left in the palace, "Emperor Taizong has a favorite concubine. When you are favored, you can even sit at the same table with the queen."

"Aunt is talking about Mrs. Shen?"

"Exactly."

Recalling his early years, Liu Xing looked slightly cold.

When Mrs. Shen was the most favored, the mother was often wronged, and she and the two younger brothers had to avoid it.She still remembers those days.It was precisely after seeing everything about Mrs. Shen that she was particularly fascinated by power, and she even got into a corner at one point and was completely used by Wang Yan.

"Before Mrs. Shen, Emperor Taizong loved Yin Ji. In terms of beauty and figure, the latter is far better than the former, and she can sing, sing, sing and play, and there is no one like her in the palace."

Empress Dowager Dou had mentioned these old things to Chen Jiao, but the point of view was different from that of Liu whoring, focusing more on control.

"Mrs. Shen competed with Yin Ji, and she was at a disadvantage at first. She was smarter than Yin Ji, but she pretended to be stupid, and she deliberately fell into Yin Ji's trap, which made Emperor Taizong angry. Then she seized the opportunity and used it. It's a bitter trick to use the palace people to expose Yin Ji and accuse her of Zhi Zhi's crimes, but she turned her back and let Emperor Taizong feel sorry for her, and forced Yin Ji to fall off the cliff bit by bit until she was smashed to pieces."

"Amma said that the Queen Mother also has similar plans?" Chen Jiao said.

"It's possible." Liu Xun said in a deep voice, "I have long felt that Wang Zhi's actions are not like her at all. In the early years, Li Ji could not stand up, and the former Linjiang King was pulled down from the position of prince. You shouldn't be so stupid if you are frivolous."

The more Liu Xun talked, the more he felt that he was not wrong. He held Chen Jiao's hand and said: "Jiaojiao, she is the birth mother of the emperor after all, and her blood is not broken. You and the emperor are husband and wife, but you have no children so far. Now the emperor The Empress Dowager has gone, and the palace power is in your hands, Wang Zhi may not have the intention of putting her to death and rebirth after she did this plan."

"Put it to death and live?" Chen Jiao's expression changed slightly after chewing on the words carefully.

Using frivolity to cover up his scheming, showing weakness to set off the strength of Jiaofang, what will happen next?

Is it really like what my mother said, using bitter tricks to prove that the empress dowager has no authority and does not pose any threat to the emperor. Instead, the Jiaofang Palace dominates the Han Palace and is supported by the Dou and Chen families?

"Mother, don't worry, I will pay attention."

"It's just not enough attention." Liu Xing squeezed Chen Jiao's hand, and said seriously, "Wang Zhi's journey to today is by no means a fluke. Originally, her relationship with the emperor could not be changed, but after today's incident, there is a decision behind it." She has a plan. She is used to showing weakness, and she can do it seamlessly, so you must be careful!"

"I know." Chen Jiao nodded. Seeing that Liu Xing was still anxious, she comforted her, "Mother, I am not a cowardly person. Besides, my mother still doesn't know what your majesty's temperament is? It's not a joke to make him soft-hearted."

"That's true." Liu Xun heaved a sigh of relief.

"Also," Chen Jiao said with a relaxed tone, with a smile, "in the early years, when what happened today, my mother would have gone to Changle Palace a long time ago."

"You're my son." Liu Xing glared at Chen Jiao, "I'm worried about you, but you're more interested in joking."

Chen Jiao shook her head, and snuggled into Liu Xing's arms like a spoiled child.

Ever since Chen Jiao married Liu Che, the mother and daughter have rarely been so close.Liu Xun was stunned for a moment, and when he realized it, he put his arms around his daughter, and the corners of his eyes turned red.

"A-Jiao, don't worry, Grandma will definitely protect you!"

"I know."

In the Changle Palace, the Queen Mother was sitting in the palace, all the familiar palace people and eunuchs were taken away, and now the servants are mostly faces, fearing to offend her, they are all trembling and dare not show their anger.

"Go down."

Wang Zhi was silent for a long time, and his voice was slightly hoarse when he spoke.

The courtiers and eunuchs bowed down and exited the palace gate in a hurry as if they had received an amnesty.

When the door was closed, Wang Zhi got up and walked around behind the screen, his breathing became short of breath due to anger, his fingers were clenched tightly, leaving crescent-shaped red marks on his palms.

After the anger receded a bit, he heard the sound of pattering rain, and his mouth curled up.

It seems that God is helping her.

In the propaganda room, Dou Ying, who was called into the palace after hearing that the Yellow River had diverted its course, all looked solemn.

"Your Majesty, it will take at least a few days to rush from Dongjun to Chang'an non-stop. From the discovery of the abnormality in Dunqiu to the delivery of the memorial, at least half a month has passed."

"The matter is of great importance. Your Majesty, please make an order to relocate the people in the prefectures and counties as soon as possible, and conscript the men to build dikes to block the river, so as to prevent the flood from causing damage to human life."

Many of the people present were located in the north of the waterway, so they would basically not be affected by water migration.On the contrary, the court servants built river embankments and relocated the people, which would cause them to suffer losses.

But at this moment, no one raised any objections.

One is that the flood is not a trivial matter, if it is not dealt with in time, so that it leads to catastrophe, no one can bear the heavy responsibility; second, the emperor and Sangong have made it clear that it is foolish to speak out against it.

In the end, anyone with a conscience would not do this evil thing because of Tian Li's disregard for human life.

The river course must be governed, and no one raises any objections.Everyone has different opinions on the matter of recruiting servants.At the time of spring plowing, if a large number of recruits are recruited, it may arouse public resentment.

"Your Majesty, I remember that Emperor Gaozu issued a decree to control the waterways, and he once sent [-] people to the people." Wei Wan said.

Hearing this number, everyone fell into silence.

Liu Che furrowed his brows tightly, and kept closing and releasing his fingers, which was his habit when encountering difficulties.

When everyone was discussing, Han Yan remained silent.When the hall was suddenly quiet, he suddenly remembered what the other party had said when chatting with Zhao Jia, related to the problem at the moment, and couldn't help but feel agitated.