A son who doesn't resemble his father? Love you, old man, see you at Xuanwu Gate!

Chapter 84 Taking the Blade
Princess Pingyang.

Also known as Princess Yangxin.

She was the daughter of Emperor Xiaojing and Empress Dowager Wang, and also Liu Che's half-sister.

After she came of age, she married Cao Shi, the great-grandson of Cao Can and the Marquis of Pingyang. In the fourth year of Yuanguang, Cao Shi died of "epidemic".

She has been widowed for ten years now. It has been said since ancient times that Princess Pingyang would search for a husband among the marquises of Chang'an.

In the fifth year of Yuanshuo, Wei Qing captured more than ten minor kings of the Right Wise King of the Xiongnu, more than 15,000 men and women, and millions of livestock in the surprise attack on Gaoque, thus achieving great merit.

Wei Qing was not only appointed Grand General and granted a fief of 6,000 households, but also formally established his position as a commander above all other generals and above the prime minister.

Along with his three sons, Wei Kang, Wei Buyi, and Wei Deng, they were all granted the title of marquis for their father's merits, making them the most outstanding among the ministers.

That year, rumors circulated that Princess Pingyang and her attendants were discussing potential husbands, and "they all said the General was suitable."

In other words, everyone in Princess Pingyang's household believed that General Wei Qing was the most suitable candidate.

However, before the rumors could spread, news of the "wife's death and heartlessness" spread from the Shogun's office, shocking countless people.

Immediately afterwards, Princess Pingyang's residence responded, with Princess Pingyang herself saying, "This man comes from my household and is always accompanied by his riders when I come and go. How could he be used as a husband?"

No matter how noble Wei Qing was, he still came from Princess Pingyang's residence. In Princess Pingyang's heart, Wei Qing was still that lowly stable boy.

It's hard to say whether it wasn't an insult born of anger and embarrassment. In any case, neither Princess Pingyang's residence nor the General's office mentioned the matter again.

Now, Princess Pingyang, in order to remarry, personally went to Emperor Wu of Han to "propose marriage." Emperor Wu then conveyed to Empress Wei Zifu that he hoped Wei Zifu would issue an edict ordering Wei Qing to marry Princess Pingyang.

The news came from the palace, but its veracity remains to be verified.

Similarly, Princess Zhuyi.

This is Liu Ju's second elder sister. Above Liu Ju are his eldest elder sister, Princess Dangli, and his third elder sister, Princess Shiyi.

When Princess Li came of age, she married Cao Xiang, the great-grandson of Cao Can, the son of Cao Shi, and the contemporary Marquis of Pingyang.

Should Princess Zhuyi be married to Huo Qubing?

Liu Ju seemed to see a huge net trying to shake the relationship between him, Wei Qing, and Huo Qubing, and the people behind it were his father, the emperor, and Princess Pingyang.

Liu Ju finally realized that even though he had lived two lives, he still had a limitation in his thinking: a lack of moral integrity.

Whether it was the emperor, or Emperor Xiaowen, Emperor Xiaojing, or even emperors and princes of all dynasties, they would use their children to win over their relatives for political marriages and for the so-called purity of bloodlines.

The Prime Minister's Office and the emerging military merit group were two important supports for Liu Ju in court. Liu Ju knew that his father, the emperor, would try to overthrow and dismantle them, but he did not expect them to be so corrupt.

Now that the Emperor has shaken the emerging military power group, what about the Prime Minister's Mansion?

"Zhang Tang".

"Has anything unusual happened at the Prime Minister's residence recently?"

"...I have heard that Your Majesty's scholar Dong Zhongshu returned to Chang'an and visited the Prime Minister's residence on a snowy night," Zhang Tang replied.

Liu Ju suddenly turned his head, and at that moment, his majestic appearance was fully revealed. Zhang Tang subconsciously bowed his head and said, "It must be that the Prime Minister has blocked the news, worried that His Majesty may have doubts."

"It couldn't be that the Prime Minister blocked the news."

Liu Ju's voice was colder than the chilly wind of late spring. Gongsun Hong knew better than anyone that there was no way out except to support the Crown Prince. The Prime Minister's Mansion had made great contributions to the Emperor's retirement due to illness. Once the Emperor returned to power, Gongsun Hong and the Gongsun family would not escape disaster.

If nothing unexpected happens, it's the "sons and grandsons" who are making their move.

"It was Gongsun Du who blocked the news."

Liu Ju knew that Dong Zhongshu's visit to the Prime Minister's residence was undoubtedly to persuade Gongsun Hong to leave the court. No matter what conditions were offered, Gongsun Hong would not accept them, but the filial sons and virtuous grandsons of the Gongsun family might be different.

Zhang Tang lowered his head and remained silent.

He wasn't unaware of this, but if he could arouse the Emperor's suspicion towards the old Prime Minister, then his own promotion to Prime Minister and ennoblement would be imminent. Faced with the positions of Prime Minister and Marquis, the former Prime Minister wasn't entirely unworthy of sacrifice; unfortunately, the Emperor wasn't so easily deceived.

"Zhang Tang!"

"The minister is here."

"Go to the Prime Minister's residence and tell the Prime Minister that this kind of thing can only happen once, and there will be no second time!"

Liu Ju's anger was palpable. "Let the Chancellor remember that I have entrusted him with full authority over state affairs, meaning I have given him full authority over state affairs!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

Zhang Tang is gone.

Liu Ju gazed at the vast Wei River and fell into deep thought. Suddenly, a voice came and all his problems were solved.

"Brother Ju'er, I'm back!"

……

Ren An, the envoy of the Northern Army and the Protector of the Army, was invited into the Crown Prince's tent.

When Ren An lifted the tent flap, he saw Liu Ju, Huo Qubing, Gongsun Ao, and other generals of the Northern Army all waiting inside.

Ren An instinctively wanted to turn around, but saw that the tent flap had already closed. Through the shadows, he saw a guard blocking the doorway. He braced himself, stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Your Majesty."

"Ren An."

"The minister is here."

"In the Northern Army camp, a section of the wall has been breached. Someone is buying and selling things privately for personal gain. Is that you?" Liu Ju threw out a scroll, the unfolded scroll filled with accusations of crimes.

According to military law, destroying the walls of a camp is tantamount to compromising the Union army's defensive fortifications, which is equivalent to giving the enemy an advantage and may bring some unforeseen consequences.

Furthermore, buying and selling within the military can affect morale, and some people may even steal military supplies to resell them due to greed.

"is not it?"

"Yes," Ren An confessed.

As the envoy and protector of the Northern Army, he did not consider it a serious crime. After all, he was sent to the Northern Army by the emperor and had the power to supervise the entire army. Furthermore, some officers and soldiers also benefited from it, so the law does not punish the masses.

"You're the one who produced the evidence of the military's embezzlement last year, aren't you?" Liu Ju threw out the bamboo slips again.

Upon seeing the writing on the bamboo slips, Ren An suddenly panicked.

After Zhou Yangyou's death.

The Court of Justice obtained evidence of the embezzlement during the cruel official's inspection of the Northern Army. The evidence was detailed, the embezzlement was precise, and it involved a large number of grain officials, all of which proved that the provider was an important figure in the Northern Army.

Liu Ju was one, Wei Qing was one, Huo Qubing was one, and then there was Lieutenant Sima An and Envoy Protector Ren An.

After screening, identification, and covert investigation, it was discovered that Ren An had connections with Ganquan Palace and was the one who betrayed the Northern Army.

"Shang...shang...shangjun..."

Ren An stammered as he tried to say something, but Liu Ju didn't want to listen anymore. With a wave of his hand, Huo Qubing drew his sword, and all the generals stood up, drew their swords, and charged forward.

He was executed on the spot.

The stench of blood permeated the entire tent.

Liu Ju didn't care. The Northern Army was good, but they had been there for too long and it was time to move them.

Rain began to fall, mixed with snow, and the cold felt as it landed on him. Liu Ju gazed in the direction of Chang'an, "It seems I've chosen a very good day. Let's begin!"

(End of this chapter)