At the beginning, I gave up my military power with a cup of wine, and I ascended the throne

Chapter 291: The Exhausted Zhenbei Marquis
There are rumors outside that this rebellion was caused by Xie Xuanli who was unwilling to be lonely and contacted his old subordinates.

But in fact, Xie Xuanli was still in the dark. Not only did he not contact his old subordinates, he didn't even know that a rebellion had occurred.

The former Marquis of Zhenbei spent his days in the courtyard tending flowers, growing vegetables and reading books, and led a leisurely life.

Late September.

The rebellion in the three states has been quelled, and the autumn harvest has been completed in most places. Carts of grain have been pulled to granaries in various places, and the whole of Xiliang is filled with the joy of autumn harvest.

A sudden drizzle seemed to wash away the scorching heat of midsummer. The weather became cooler and the herbs were faintly yellow.

The courtyard is spacious, and the flowers that were originally competing for beauty have almost withered, leaving only the lotus flowers in the pond.

"Ning Xi, what has the King of Xiliang been busy with recently? He hasn't come for a long time."

The sky was hazy with drizzle and fog. A charcoal fire had been lit in the hall. Xie Xuanli was lying on a chair and Ning Xi was massaging his shoulders carefully.

"My husband is still practicing in the knife sharpening hall."

she replied.

"Another year has passed."

Xie Xuanli sighed, "The flowers I've been raising for half a year are almost all withered."

"Every year, they wither and bloom. When next spring comes, these flowers and plants will bloom again."

Ning Xi was comforted.

"That's what I said."

Xie Xuanli shook his head: "It's a pity that flowers may bloom again, but people can never be young again. I haven't had such a peaceful life for many years, without having to worry about anything or take care of anything."

"Since the Marquis likes this kind of life, please hold on for a few more years."

She said softly, "It's autumn now, and the weather is getting colder day by day. Tomorrow, I will send a dozen more maids and servants to take care of the Marquis' daily life."

"Enough is enough."

Xie Xuanli said with a smile: "There are too many servants in this courtyard to use. If you assign more maids, they will be idle."

"I still want it."

Ning Xi pursed her lips, "In a month or so, the three Shatuo guards will send over a batch of top-quality furs. Then I'll pick out a few of the best quality ones and have the craftsmen make them into coats and send them over."

After chatting with Xie Xuanli for a while, Ning Xi left.

As autumn came, it was cloudy and rainy. Although it was not heavy, it just wouldn't stop. The whole Xiliang City was shrouded in a hazy rain curtain, and the towering city walls were looming.

Standing on the seventh floor of the Grinding Hall, one can vaguely see black spots coming in and out of the four doors. They are the crowded crowds of people and carriages.

The slaughtered cattle, sheep, furs, etc. were transported out, exchanged for grain and then transported back. As for the grain in Xiliang, it didn't matter whether it was a good year or not.

The government offices were not allowed to transport the grain out, and in the remaining years of each year, the counties and states would purchase the grain at the market price.

Just one bumper year filled up most of the empty granaries in various places, and merchants and travelers from all over the country frequently traveled between Qingzhou, Yanzhou, and the two Liao states.

The breeze blew the drizzle on his body, and his white robe fluttered. Xiao Han withdrew his gaze, turned around and walked downstairs.

The practice of the Nine Yang Immortal Fist has reached a bottleneck, and it is necessary to use the blood of the divine beast to help break through.

There is little point in continuing to practice hard in the Grinding Hall. Instead of wasting time, it is better to do something meaningful.

Even without the Nine Yang Immortal Fist, his strength was enough to roam the world. Besides, this retreat was not completely in vain.

"Your Majesty."

As he walked out of the Knife Sharpening Hall, Shen Pei and Xueying came towards him and bowed to him.

"Has anything happened in the past few months?"

he asked.

"No big deal."

Shen Pei said: "Everything is going according to the prince's plan."

"Has Liu Xuanxuan left Xiliang?"

"She left yesterday and is heading to Qingzhou." Xueying said, "Logically speaking, the Shadow Mountain Sword Canon she was practicing disturbed her mind, so her cultivation should have stagnated, but her strength improvement was extremely terrifying."

"People's hearts reveal their true nature. Even though they reveal evil hearts, evil hearts are still hearts. It is not surprising that their cultivation improves by leaps and bounds."

Xiao Han disagreed.

If Liu Xuanxuan is too weak, she is not qualified to be his chess piece.

After leaving the Modao Garden, he first went to the Military and Political Department courtyard. After meeting Guo Tu, he called Miaoyu and Ning Xi from the side hall and asked them many questions. Only after confirming the progress did he feel relieved.

"Husband, when do you plan to go to Piaomiao Peak?"

Ning Xi asked.

"The time has not yet come."

He shook his head, took the hot tea, blew off the foam, drank the tea in one gulp, and then continued: "Liu Xuanxuan's current power is not enough. When she accumulates enough prestige, it will be time for me to control Shadow Mountain."

"How is the health of Zhenbei Hou?"

Lying on the chair, enjoying their massage, he put his hand into Miaoyu's robe and asked softly, "How long can you hold on?"

Xie Xuanli's body has reached the point of being exhausted, and no matter how precious the medicine is, it will not be of much use.

It's just a matter of delaying it for as long as possible.

"Not too optimistic."

Ning Xi shook her head. "The doctor said that I only have one year at most."

"One year."

He narrowed his eyes, "It's enough for me to completely control the three states of Ji and Yong."

Xie Xuanli cannot die too early, nor can she die too late. If she dies too early, it will be detrimental to Xiao Han's control of Jizhou and Yongzhou, and if she dies too late, it will be easy for the children of the Xie family to find opportunities.

This is also why Xiao Han went around looking for famous doctors to extend Xie Xuanli's life. Otherwise, Xie Xuanli might not have lived to this day.

"Mr. Guo's trick of luring the snake out of its hole really caught a lot of big fish."

He smiled and said, "Now the three states of Ji, Yong and You should be able to remain peaceful for a while."

"We still cannot underestimate Xie Xuanli's influence."

Ning Xi's face was solemn. "Although the Xie banner has fallen, Xie Xuanli has worked in Jizhou for decades and still has a group of loyal followers who are loyal to the prince."

Sister Qingyao dug out a group of these people, but there must be many left, so my husband must be on guard."

"We have to be on guard against nature."

Xiao Han reached out and took his wife into his arms, raised his eyebrows and said, "But don't be too defensive. This time, the rebellion has turned them into frightened birds. In the short term, they dare not continue to cause trouble in Jiaodong."

"The local government offices should still focus their main efforts on training troops and governing the people. If the people of the four states of Xiliang are all on your husband and me, the children of the Xie family, then the command will become a rat crossing the street that everyone shouts and beats, and it will not be able to make much waves at all."

He whispered, "Don't put the cart before the horse and forget the basics."

"My husband is right."

Ning Xi smiled and looked at her man, with stars twinkling in her eyes, "I'm afraid that after my husband is crowned king, he will forget his original intention."

"That's why you tried to test me."

Te pinched her with his palm in annoyance, her pretty face blushed slightly, and she grumbled coquettishly: "Aren't you afraid that your husband will be angry?"

"What am I angry about?"

Xiao Han looked at them and said, "Ning Xi, Yu'er, you are the closest people to me, your husband. If I have done anything in the army, you should speak frankly instead of hiding it."

"Besides, I'm not the petty type."

"No."

Ning Xi and Miaoyu both shook their heads.

(End of this chapter)