Part 3
Gu Zhen’s eyes dimmed slightly, and he said flatly, “It’s not just plundering. The lack of warfare in the past ten years or so has given them an opportunity to bide their time and build up strength.”
Whenever these Hu people had a chance, they all wanted to enter and rule the Central Plains. Thinking of Rouran’s contempt for Great Chu due to the change of monarchs recently, his face darkened a bit.
The matter was of great importance, and the ministers dared not slack off, so they discussed it seriously. It wasn’t until the sunset slanted into the hall that the discussion was barely halted.
It was said to be an afternoon of argument, but in reality, it was just perfecting the plan drafted by the Emperor and the late Emperor, adding some details.
Gu Zhen didn’t keep the ministers for dinner, but individually bestowed dinner to the government offices. When the Emperor bestowed food, one had to eat it, so the group withdrew from Zichen Palace, preparing to return to the government offices for dinner.
Among the close ministers and important officials, Gu Zhen kept only one person.
“Your Majesty has the ambition to inherit the late Emperor’s last wish. It is a blessing for us subjects.” He Minghong cupped his hands and said, then sighed, “It’s just that this animal plague has obviously forced Rouran into a desperate situation. I’m afraid it will be a fierce battle.”
Gu Zhen also knew it would certainly be a fierce battle. But if they didn’t fight and only passively waited for Rouran to plunder, by then, they would have lost the initiative and allowed them to snatch wealth and grain.
It would be even harder to deal with.
However, what He Minghong didn’t expect was that the Emperor kept him not to discuss this war.
“Did Uncle go to see Mother a few days ago?” Gu Zhen asked flatly.
After He Minghong responded, Gu Zhen continued, “If Uncle goes to pay respects to Mother next time, please trouble Uncle to advise Mother for Us. It is time for her to enjoy her old age. I will handle all matters of the outer court, and the Empress will manage the affairs of the harem. Matters unrelated to her, she should stop managing.”
He Minghong heard it then; the Emperor thought the Empress Dowager was managing too much. He didn’t know exactly what she was managing too much of. He lowered his head slightly and said, “The Empress Dowager naturally likes liveliness and likes to manage various things… If I go to Wanchun Palace to pay respects to Her Highness next time, I will definitely advise Her Highness to take care of her health and not worry about those irrelevant matters.”
Gu Zhen nodded, but said, “Linchuan’s temperament is unstable. She refuses to stay put and runs off all day. Mother is inevitably lonely alone in Wanchun Palace. I told Xunfang last time that if she has nothing to do, she can come to the palace more often to accompany Mother.”
The Emperor was… blaming Xunfang for not doing as she was told.
As the Empress Dowager’s only brother, he had taught the Emperor for a period when he was young. Therefore, He Minghong had always been favored and respected by the Emperor. Although he was the Supervisor of the Secretariat, he held the title of Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi (Jointly Manager of Affairs with the Secretariat-Chancellery), and people could call him Prime Minister He.
He Minghong’s Adam’s apple bobbed, then he respectfully responded, “That girl doesn’t like to go out and is timid. When I go back tonight, I will definitely scold her and tell her to enter the palace more often to accompany Her Highness.”
Gu Zhen suddenly sneered, looking at He Minghong with a hint of subtlety in his eyes. He Xunfang was timid and shy? How did he not know about this?
Uncle’s previous attitude made him unable to help suspecting that he didn’t want He Xunfang to enter the palace to accompany Mother.
He thought again that He Minghong only had this one child, perhaps he couldn’t bear to part with her, so he was slightly more understanding: “In that case, she can go to Wanchun Palace every once in a while. Mother likes her anyway. It’s a good opportunity to ask her to talk to Mother more.”
He Minghong crossed his hands and bowed, responding, “This subject obeys.”
After He Minghong left, Gu Zhen fell into deep thought for a moment.
People from the beast garden reported that the litter of newborn puppies had opened their eyes. Their personalities were also very lively and active, and their energy was very vigorous. In another year or so, they would be good helpers for hunting.
He seemed to have said that day that he would bring one to the Empress.
After thinking for a while, he ordered flatly, “Go pick a good-looking one.”
Wu Mao paused, wanting to say something, but upon seeing the interest in the Emperor’s eyes, he ultimately chose to remain silent and went down to find the puppy.
Jiaofang Palace had been excessively quiet these days.
Thinking that she really hadn’t gone out for many days, Gu Zhen couldn’t help but sneer. Being in a pique for so long, could it be… waiting for him to coax her?
Whatever, he couldn’t be bothered to haggle with her anymore. Since she wanted it, he would go over and see her.
Save her from continuing to be in a pique.
He had always been a decisive person, implementing things immediately upon thinking of them. In a moment’s effort, the palace servants had prepared the imperial carriage and invited the Emperor to board.
Along the way, Gu Zhen thought about the Empress’s current appearance.
She was so squeamish, someone who could cry for half a day just from him being fierce to her once. Having been given the cold shoulder for so long this time, she must have cried until she was haggard and heartbroken, right?
Every time Wu Mao went to Jiaofang Palace, he hadn’t seen her, and never mentioned how she was doing. Even more likely, she was washing her face with tears all day long.
Thinking of this, his face suddenly darkened, and he coldly ordered the palace servants to drive faster.
Upon arriving outside Suzhang Gate, he didn’t send anyone to announce him first, but got out of the carriage and walked into Jiaofang Palace himself.
The palace servants guarding the door of Jiaofang Palace looked at him with disbelief as if they had seen a ghost. Then, overjoyed, they busily tried to go in and announce him, but were nailed to the spot by his gaze.
After entering Suzhang Gate, he suddenly heard the sound of chatter coming from inside the hall.
The further he walked in, the more he could hear those voices, but he still didn’t see anyone.
He frowned, lifted his steps to walk deeper, but stopped in front of the main hall. Looking up, he saw that a swing had actually been set up on the pear tree in the northwest corner of Jiaofang Palace.
And his Empress was sitting on the swing, swinging and laughing.
Author’s Note:
Gu Zhen: The Empress must be crying until she faints!
Yiyi: I have six points of doubt……
……
Gu Zhen: Not crying? It must be that I opened it the wrong way, go back and try again! @
Double update today!! Kiss kiss babies, still 30 small red envelopes~ (Will try hard to start writing earlier tomorrow)
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Thank you for the chapters!!
you’re welcome!