It’s hard to break a phoenix’s destiny

Chapter 685: The Beautiful Lady Smiles Charmingly

Seeing Liu Yao's attitude, his generals stopped talking. However, they were also very unhappy, and left the palace with dark faces and pouting lips, and went back to their own business.

But soon, their faces turned darker.

Because of the fluctuating weather, many soldiers fell ill with high fevers. If Mao Hongbin hadn't prepared some herbs in advance and boiled them into a large pot of medicinal soup and sent it to the barracks in time, there would have been more people who fell ill.

The common people also prevented diseases by drinking the herbal medicine. Even if they were really sick, they only needed to go to the Chang'an government office on the street and ask for a bowl of free medicine to drink. After sweating, the symptoms would naturally be alleviated a lot.

In this way, the people of Chang'an were really saved. Everyone was naturally convinced and liked Mao Hongbin, an old minister of the Jin Dynasty. But Mao Hongbin did not dare to be proud of his achievements. Instead, he told everyone that it was the advance prediction and arrangement of Emperor Liu Yao and Queen Yang Xianrong that saved everyone from the suffering of the disease.

But the ministers in the court were not immune to the disease. According to the doctor Bian Heng, although it was not a plague, the severity of the disease was enough to make people lose a lot of weight and their mental state became extremely bad. It would take more than half a month to recover.

Therefore, the number of people coming to court decreased day by day, while the number of people asking for leave increased day by day.

Liu Yao sat in the court with a gloomy face, listening to reports from all sides, most of which were about grain collection and some about the battle situation.

Now, since Liu Yao took control of the Han Dynasty, he adopted the principle of "slow march, fast battle", which has had a very powerful deterrent effect on all parties, and he is also slowly expanding his territorial territory.

But he also knew that this method was effective now, but problems would arise over time. Therefore, he urgently needed a think tank, someone who could sincerely give him advice.

This person can only be Xiao Yi.

However, this person had taken twenty days off, and still said that his old illness had been revived due to a fever, so he could only recuperate in peace and refused visitors. Even when Liu Yao sent people to visit him and deliver medicine again and again, he still asked his wife to entertain the visitors, and said that his condition had not improved and he could not come to the court to discuss matters.

Today, he even asked his personal attendants to come to the court and tell Liu Yao: "Lord Xiao said that he is old and may not be able to come for a year or two. Please make arrangements early, Your Majesty."

This is obviously an excuse and a way of shirking responsibility, and it even means that he doesn't want to do anything for Liu Yao at all.

After the court session, Liu Yao's gloomy face was known to everyone. Yang Xianrong naturally knew the news early on, and quickly asked the imperial kitchen to make some of Liu Yao's favorite Hu bing and mutton soup, and personally brought them to Liu Yao who was sulking in the bedroom.

Liu Yao felt a little better when he saw Yang Xianrong's smile.

He couldn't bear to see Yang Xianrong busy setting the plates and serving the soup, so he took her fair little hand and sat down, asking her in detail what she had done today and how the children were doing.

Yang Xianrong naturally knew that Liu Yao changed the subject just to change his mood and did not want the previous court events to affect the atmosphere in the harem. However, she was not an ordinary woman, and Liu Yao had already said that she could participate in the political affairs.

Therefore, Yang Xianrong spoke up and asked, "If Xiao Yi really doesn't come to court and just uses his long-term sick leave, what will you do?"

"There is no way." Liu Yao only drank half a bowl of yokan, then put down his bowl and chopsticks, looking at Yang Xianrong, "I really hate him, but I have to admit that he is extremely talented. When he was assisting my father, he repeatedly came up with unexpected strategies, which enabled my father to win battles one after another and gain a firm foothold." "Is there no one in the court who can replace him?" Yang Xianrong stuffed another half cake into his hand, insisting that he eat a little more.

However, Liu Yao refused to eat it. He tore the Hu Bing into small pieces and fed them to Yang Xianrong instead.

Yang Xianrong smiled slightly, opened his mouth and ate.

Liu Yao's brows relaxed a little, and then he said: "In the current situation, it is a good thing that he can come up with ideas, but I value the civil officials behind him more. They are all powerful characters. After all, the relationships between these people in the court are extremely complicated. They are either relatives or factions of teachers. But everyone is convinced of this old man Xiao Yi..."

"In other words, as long as we bring Xiao Yi to our side, we can gain the trust of all the civil officials of the Han Dynasty?" With a biscuit in his mouth, his words were a little vague. Yang Xianrong covered her mouth, but Liu Yao still smiled and gently touched the corner of her mouth.

"You can say that." However, Liu Yao finally sighed again, "But this is really too difficult."

"Have you ever thought about why Xiao Yi treats you like this?" Yang Xianrong asked back, "Since you are the new emperor, everyone recognizes you, so they appear in the court. Before this, Xiao Yi should have agreed to your taking this position. But why is he doing this now? Is there any hardship or secret?"

"What could possibly happen to him?" Liu Yao pouted, "I even added a hundred loads of rice for him."

"Let's find someone to ask." There was a slight gleam in Yang Xianrong's eyes, and Liu Yao also understood.

"Liu Chengke hasn't come back yet?"

"It's no big deal, let Zhang Du go." Yang Xianrong smiled mysteriously, "Don't underestimate old butler Zhang, he knows a lot of people."

"Is there anyone here with Xiao Yi?" This time it was Liu Yao's turn to be surprised.

"Of course. Think about it. He served the late Emperor Sima Yan, and your father was so familiar with Sima Yan that he must have placed his own people around your father. Sima Zhong didn't make good use of these people, so they were naturally abandoned. However, Zhang Du knows that even if there has been no contact for so many years, based on his ability, can't he be used again?"

"So, that's why you kept Zhang Du?" This time, Liu Yao asked very directly.

"You can't say that. Over the years, he has become a relative to me, an indispensable relative. Originally, I wanted him to find a place to live out his old age in peace, but he wanted to follow me, and now that I... have you, my life will naturally be better." Yang Xianrong's black and white eyes were full of sincerity, which made Liu Yao feel dizzy again, and he couldn't help but want to kiss her.

But Yang Xianrong smiled and pushed him away, "You are the emperor now, don't be like this, let's talk properly."

"I can tell you anytime." Liu Yao was very strong, so he pulled Yang Xianrong to his side and kissed her twice. "I've been busy these past few days, and I haven't been able to spend time with you properly..."

The words are obscure, but everyone understands.

The room was so full of beauty that I was speechless.