Empress Dowager Empress Dowager

Chapter 238 Smallpox
In the early morning of the next day, Huo Mingzhu brought up the matter of offering sacrifices to heaven again.

"Qizou the emperor, the sacrifice to the heaven was blocked by the mob and delayed. Therefore, the courtiers made a divination for this yesterday and calculated a good date. This day is the most suitable day for worshiping the heaven since the emperor ascended the throne. And on this day, all the gods from heaven will descend, and if they sacrifice to heaven on this day, the effect will be better than usual.

"Okay." When the emperor heard it, Longyan was delighted: "I will do it according to the wishes of the national teacher."

"Thank you, Your Majesty, I will definitely do my best to handle this matter well." After Huo Mingzhu finished speaking, she took a step back.

Baili Zonglu said: "Your Majesty, I'm afraid this matter is inappropriate."

Seeing that it was Baili Zonglu who came out to object, the emperor's face darkened, and he asked Baili Zonglu, "How do you say that, Ninth Brother?"

"Your Majesty, the matter of offering sacrifices to the heavens will only be interrupted if the mob obstructs them, and the purpose of this sacrifice to the heavens is to beg the blessings of the gods of the heavens for Dayong, so that the country will be safe and peaceful. Beheading all the heads for public display, the lives of hundreds of Dayong people were lost for the sacrifice to heaven, and the common people have been guessing, but now it is necessary to do it again, this king thinks it is inappropriate."

Baili Zonglu's words are reasonable, but Huo Mingzhu didn't expect that Baili Zonglu would actually contradict her because of this thing that didn't do him any good. What did Baili Zonglu think?

"The Nine Emperor Brother's concerns are also very correct, what do you think of the national teacher?" The emperor threw the question to Huo Mingzhu.

Huo Mingzhu said: "My daughter thinks what the Ninth Prince said is reasonable."

As soon as Huo Mingzhu said this, there were voices of discussion in the court, Huo Mingzhu said again: "It's just that if all the ministers think that this sacrifice to heaven is not important, the ministers have nothing to say."

"this……."

As soon as Huo Mingzhu's words came out, many ministers felt distressed. This matter of offering sacrifices to heaven is very important. All the ministers knew very well in their hearts that this ghost and god thing should not be slowed down.

"I feel that it is necessary to pay attention to the matter of offering sacrifices to the heavens. What the national teacher said, we must obey. Father, the matter of offering sacrifices to the heavens has not been interrupted since the founding of the Dayong Dynasty. For the sacrificial ceremony, I feel that we must act in accordance with the words of the national teacher."

As soon as the crown prince said, many ministers echoed, but Huo Zhengde, as Huo Mingzhu's father, remained silent. Huo Mingzhu watched carefully and knew that Huo Zhengde and Baili Zonglu were probably colluding.

I just don't know if Bailizonglu promised Huo Zhengde, after he succeeds in ascending the throne, whether he will be promoted to a noble or a house full of gold and silver, Huo Mingzhu thinks, it should be the former.

However, Huo Mingzhu didn't think that her father could have this life to enjoy these things.

"Since the crown prince and all the ministers feel that it is necessary to carry out the sacrifice to heaven, then we will proceed as scheduled according to the days occupied by the national teacher. Not only must we take it seriously, but we must also do it more grandly than before." The emperor finally finalized and decided This matter cannot be opposed by Baili Zonglu.

Baili Zonglu's objection was unsuccessful, and she was not angry. The smile on her face remained the same. Huo Mingzhu took a look at him, and then closed her eyes. She didn't really think that this matter had no influence on Baili Zonglu. No, but I don't know what hindered Baili Zonglu's matter of offering sacrifices to heaven.

After the court, Huo Mingzhu didn't see Baili Zonglu's figure. Normally, Baili Zonglu would come to talk to her to be happy.

Soon, Huo Mingzhu knew what had hindered Baili Zonglu's sacrifice to heaven.

Huo Mingzhu returned to the National Teacher's Mansion, and Jin Wuhuan came to visit.

"Master Guoshi, it's really a noble person who forgets things too much. Now that he has become a national teacher, has he forgotten me as a good friend?" Huo Mingzhu couldn't stop laughing at this Jin Wuhuan's eccentricity.

"Mingzhu and Mr. Wuhuan are actually friends. This is the first time I heard about it. Mingzhu thought that there was only a cooperative relationship between us."

While talking, Huo Mingzhu had already called the maid to bring tea to Jin Wuhuan.

Jin Wuhuan said with a look of being shocked: "It is said that women are the most poisonous, and it is true. It is really rare for someone like you to use the measurement of crossing a bridge so skillfully."

"Thanks to the compliment, the so-called not going to the Three Treasures Hall for nothing, I'm afraid Mr. Wuhuan's visit today is not just as simple as reminiscing about the old days." Huo Mingzhu said.

Jin Wuhuan looked at Huo Mingzhu for a while, and finally said: "Well, I really can't hide it from you, it's like this, I got some news that the royal family of another country appeared in the territory of Dayong, and the court didn't know about it. Do you know or not?"

Huo Mingzhu froze for a moment, a little puzzled, how could Jin Wuhuan ask this question.

Not to mention why he was interested in the affairs of the royal family of other countries, even if he asked her about this matter, it was not quite right.

"I haven't heard of these things?" Huo Mingzhu said.

"You don't know, I don't know whether the crown prince knows it or not, but you don't know. The news came from the palace, saying that the royal family of Mobei was lurking in Dayong, and many of my goods were transported from Mobei. Yes, as soon as the news came out, the common people boycotted those goods, which caused me a lot of losses." Jin Wuhuan looked distressed.

"Then do you think this matter is true or not?" Although Huo Mingzhu didn't pay attention to this matter, it was related to Jin Wuhuan's business, and even if it affected her money, she also had to care Care is not.

"Didn't I come to verify the truth with you? Regardless of the truth, I can start preparing for the next plan." Jin Wuhuan said.

Seeing Jin Wuhuan's serious face, Huo Mingzhu began to think seriously, thinking that if the mob appeared, if it was really the work of the royal family of another country, it would be justified.

So, is it because of this that Baili Zonglu prevented her from offering sacrifices to heaven again?If so, Huo Mingzhu couldn't figure out what interests would involve Baili Zonglu during this period.

Huo Mingzhu didn't think about this unreasonable thing.

Jin Wuhuan said again: "If it is true that the royal family of Mobei is lurking in Dayong, there is nothing to worry about. If there is a war, I will hand over all the silver to the emperor and help him fight back those Tartars. But, You are a national teacher who can't lift your hands and shoulders, if Mobei really comes to commit crimes, will you go to the world with me?"

"You are worried about the country and the people."

"Everyone is responsible for the rise and fall of this country." Jin Wuhuan said.

"I thought you were a businessman covered in money." Huo Mingzhu looked at Jin Wuhuan with disdain.

Jin Wuhuan exclaimed: "Hey, I can't say that. Earning money is my pleasure. If I use the money for something useful, then it would be even more enjoyable. From now on, I can't say that I have money."

After talking nonsense with Jin Wuhuan, when Jin Wuhuan left, Huo Mingzhu couldn't help thinking seriously about the news Jin Wuhuan brought, and what this matter had to do with Baili Zonglu.

In the last life, there was no such thing as Mobei. If this incident happened because she changed the situation, it would not be strange if Mobei appeared and colluded with Baili Zonglu.

Thinking of this, Huo Mingzhu called Fang Tieyi and asked him to pay attention to the movement of those nobles who went to Beijing recently.

Although this move was just a trivial matter that Huo Mingzhu felt could not be ignored, Fang Tieyi found out something. It turned out that Baili Zonglu had found a peerless beauty and wanted to give it to the prince on his birthday.

And the crown prince's birthday is just a few days after the day when she sacrificed to the heavens. People in the royal family have to fast seven days after the sacrifices to the heavens. It means to Baili Jingqi.

Although this seems to be an insignificant matter on the surface, but the crown prince is already weak, and it is reasonable to accept the concubine. Baili Zonglu has never given Baili Jingqi a beautiful woman before, but at this time?
Next, Huo Mingzhu heard another news that a girl who competed with her to accompany her at the beginning died of smallpox!That girl was the daughter of the magistrate of Chi County who was dragged out by the crown prince Baili Jingqi that day.

Huo Mingzhu still vaguely remembered that the girl had a good face, if she hadn't come out to disrupt the situation, she might have become the prince's accompanying student.

Huo Mingzhu suddenly realized that it was so.

Baili Zonglu's strategy turned out to be like this. First, he found a woman infected with smallpox to accompany the prince as an accompanying student. This accompanying student is equivalent to the future princess. If the prince really has something to do with this accompanying student, it would be a matter of course. .

If the prince contracted smallpox because of this girl, although it would make the queen mother sad and the emperor angry, it would be helpless. No one would have thought that it was the person arranged by Baili Zonglu for the prince.

This is the cause of the death of the previous prince.

Thinking about it, the beauty that Baili Zonglu was going to arrange for the prince this time may not be that simple, but it was destroyed by himself again.

If you don't give it away on your birthday, according to the past practice, if Baili Zonglu suddenly sends a woman to Baili Jingqi, wouldn't it attract suspicion? His Highness the Prince's people, only the Prince's birthday.

Huo Mingzhu didn't expect that her undoubted behavior would ruin Baili Zonglu's good deeds again, which made Huo Mingzhu very happy.

The matter of offering sacrifices to heaven was in full swing. This time, Huo Mingzhu arranged for the offering of offering sacrifices to heaven, and the emperor spoke again, saying that it would be grand. Therefore, of course, Huo Mingzhu lived up to his grace and made this matter quite grand.

Then, the business opportunities brought about by this are also unlimited. Jin Wuhuan kept making money secretly, and Huo Mingzhu's income also continued to increase.

Unknowingly, Huo Mingzhu's wealth has reached an unimaginable level.It's just that no one knows about it.

Speaking of this day of offering sacrifices to heaven, compared to the previous one, all the concubines and princesses in the palace appeared, which shows that the emperor attaches great importance to it.

Yu Tong followed Huo Zhengde with her big belly.

Inevitably, the emperor showed up with his concubines, and if the officials didn't bring their wives and concubines out, wouldn't they be impeached?

None of this has anything to do with Huo Mingzhu. Huo Mingzhu made this festival so big just to make money.

The ritual of offering sacrifices to heaven was a success, but Huo Mingzhu was very tired, and when she returned to the National Teacher's Mansion, Baili Jingqi rushed over excitedly as soon as she sat down.

Huo Mingzhu resisted the urge to roll her eyes and received Baili Jingqi.

"Ah Jin, standing alone under the altar today, looking at your demeanor, my heart is very surging, but you don't know that your demeanor is enough to make everyone fall at your feet."

"Thank you for the compliment, His Royal Highness." Huo Mingzhu didn't think there was anything elegant to say, she just wanted to have a good rest.

But Baili Jingqi couldn't understand it, and kept talking, but just after saying a few words, Lin Yunxi was also brought in by the maid, and seeing the prince present, the smile on his face paused and restrained , salute the prince.

Perhaps because of Lin Yunxi's presence, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince no longer had that elation, and did not talk to Huo Mingzhu, but instead talked to Lin Yunxi, and after talking for a long time, he took Lin Yunxi away.

It wasn't until Baili Jingqi and Lin Yunxi left that Huo Mingzhu realized that her cousin Yunxi didn't seem to have said a word.

If Huo Mingzhu has anything to lose in this matter of offering sacrifices to the heavens, it is his body. After a while of busy work, Huo Mingzhu fell ill. Although it was just a cold, it was because of being too tired. Huo Mingzhu rested at home for a few days.

(End of this chapter)