Long Harem Road

Chapter 18

Imperial study room

Zhao Zhen looked at the ministers who were chattering and arguing in front of him, his head was throbbing with veins, his face was like a black pot, and his eyes were bloodshot. It seemed that he hadn't had a good rest for a long time.

Floods in the south of the Yangtze River have delayed the arrival of relief funds. In recent years, disasters have continued. In addition, when the former emperor was in power, he was benevolent, and the clan's children were squandering wantonly, and the treasury was almost empty.

Nowadays, the people in the south of the Yangtze River are living in dire straits. He is busy with his head, while his ministers of honor are arguing and shirking each other's responsibilities.

In the face of tens of thousands of people affected by the disaster, Zhao Zhen had nothing to do. After the disaster, the plague must be rampant again. Now his officials can't even appease the people, so there is no way to resist the plague.

Zhao Zhen clenched his fists tightly, his knuckles and long-sleeved fingers turned white, and he slammed it on the table with a "bang", "Shut up, what's the use of you all, are you just arguing and shifting excuses at critical moments?"

Seeing that the emperor was on the verge of eruption, all the officials bowed their heads and knelt down knowingly, "Your servants are in panic!", not daring to act rashly.

"Okay, stop talking nonsense, does anyone have a good suggestion to solve the disaster relief matter, if you can't think of a way today, don't even do this official!" Zhao Zhen asked sharply with a dark face.

"Show the emperor, my minister has some immature thoughts about the disaster relief in the south of the Yangtze River, but please forgive me for being helpless!" Ji Mingyun, Minister of the Household Department, took a step forward and said.

The other ministers also breathed a sigh of relief seeing that someone finally spoke up, regardless of whether they belonged to the same faction or not.

"Your Majesty, I suggest that you send people to hurry up and deliver tents and herbs first, gather the people to settle down, and avoid refugee incidents. At the same time, send imperial doctors to treat patients in time to avoid plagues.

The imperial envoys then raised momentum and asked the merchants for food donations along the way, and they had to ask the emperor to reward the merchants with proofs similar to Danshu iron scrolls.

Based on this proof, the merchants will not only reduce the tax rate in the future business process, but also have certain discounts for their descendants in the scientific examination. These merchants must be tempted.

Scholars, farmers, businessmen, businessmen in my dynasty have always had a low status, and what they care about is nothing more than the respect of the world and the success of future generations. "Ji Mingyun slowed down, thinking of the disaster relief methods his daughter sent to him yesterday, he was both relieved and guilty.

After listening to Ji Mingyun's words, Zhao Zhen frowned slightly and thought about it. Although the iron coupons of Danshu cannot be rewarded at will, but the affected area this time is too large, and the treasury can no longer afford it. This is indeed the best way.Only then did he look gratified and nodded and said:

"Okay, Ji Aiqing's suggestion has solved my urgent need, do you have any other opinions?"

"The minister waits for a second opinion!" When Zhao Zhen was thinking, all the ministers were also thinking. Those who can reach this position are extremely smart people. The emperor is in a hurry, and the method is really good, so he will not come out to refute.

"Okay, then do it like that.

Li Du, General Mingwei of the fourth rank, led a team and two imperial physicians to transport tents to the disaster area to control the epidemic;
As the imperial envoy, Ji Mingyun, Minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs, went to the disaster area and called on all merchants along the way to make donations to help the victims.Ji Mingyun has the right to act cheaply, and can reward Danshu according to the donation of the merchant! "

"Yes, I will do my best to live up to my holy order!" Li Du and Ji Mingyun kowtowed forward.

"Okay, let's go!"

After the minister left, the imperial study returned to silence. Zhao Zhen leaned on the back of the chair, closed his eyes and rested his mind, stretched out his hands and kneaded his brows. He has been anxious about disaster relief these days and has not had a good rest. Thanks to Ji Shangshu, he came up with a solution to the problem.

Thinking of Ji Mingyun, Zhao Zhen thought of Ji Jieyu in the palace again, she was a sweet person, it was a strange spirit who missed her after not seeing her for a few days, go back and see her.

A cute little girl like a kitten, smart and genuine, with a smile on the corner of Zhao Zhen's mouth, if she knows how to advance and retreat, I don't mind pampering her a little more.

At this time, a little eunuch hurried to the door and winked at Li Mingzhong. Li Mingzhong came and closed the door, "Did you see the emperor resting? What happened?"

"Director Li, something serious has happened, the eldest prince has fallen into the water!", the little eunuch was not breathing well, raised his arm to wipe the sweat off his face, and said anxiously.

"What did you say, how long has it been, and where is it?" Li Mingzhong was startled, this is the only prince in the palace now.

"Just now, in the Imperial Garden, the little eunuch next to the imperial concubine came to report the news!"

"You wait here!" Without waiting for the little eunuch to finish speaking, Li Mingzhong turned and went back to the imperial study. The emperor had already fallen asleep leaning on the chair, his handsome face was full of fatigue, so he could only gently step forward, "Your Majesty!" ,emperor?"

After being tired for a few days, Zhao Zhen relaxed his mind and fell asleep in a daze. Hearing Li Mingzhong's voice, he opened his eyes and looked, "What time is it? But what happened?"

"Back to the emperor, just applied for the time. Something happened in the imperial garden, the eldest prince fell into the water!" Li Mingzhong lowered his head, risking his life to report the news he just received.

"What!", Zhao Zhen stood up suddenly, striding out nervously, even ignoring the memorial on the table touching the ground, and continued to walk out quickly.

"When did it happen, did you ever invite the imperial doctor?" Zhao Zhen led the people to ask and walked quickly towards the lotus pond.

The lotus flower pavilion was very quiet at this time, the first one who came to come was Concubine Liu, the biological mother of the First Prince, this concubine who was normally inconspicuous was not as calm as before.

The hairpins on her head were disheveled due to running, and her pale face was blurred with sweat or tears. Now she is just a mother.

She staggered step by step and ran to the eldest prince's side, stretched out her hand with lingering fear, and hugged the pale first prince tightly, as if she wanted to embed him deeply into her body, she couldn't help crying and choked up.

Due to the timely rescue, the First Prince only choked on a few sips of water and was already awake, and was crying and crying while being hugged by the nanny.

The eldest prince was frightened when he fell into the water. He was hugged by his mother, hugged Concubine Liu's neck and cried loudly, "Wow!" Also learned some inside information.

"The emperor is here!" Li Mingzhong's voice came, and everyone knelt down.

Seeing all the concubines in the lotus pavilion, as well as Concubine Liu and the eldest prince who were crying with their heads in their arms, they frowned slightly. After all, they were the only princes, so they went directly to Concubine Liu for a closer look. Seeing that the eldest prince was only looking bad, A hanging heart let go.

"What's going on? The imperial physician, why hasn't he arrived yet, where's the queen?" Zhao Zhen looked at his son's pale face, the usually lively and active child hugged Concubine Liu tightly and dared not let go, and said angrily.

"Back to the emperor, I have already gone to invite you, and I should be here soon!" Concubine Wei Gui had to speak at this time.

Zhao Zhen looked at the crowd, and waved his hands impatiently, "Get up, Concubine Liu, sit down first!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Two imperial physicians from the imperial hospital hurried over with a young eunuch, and seeing that the emperor was about to salute, Zhao Zhen said impatiently, "There is no need for so much etiquette, hurry up and check the eldest prince's pulse first!"

"Yes!" The older Song imperial physician felt the pulse of the eldest prince, and said cautiously after a while, "Back to the emperor, the eldest prince just choked on water, and there is no serious problem in timely rescue, but he was frightened and blew the wind again." , may have a fever and need to recuperate for a period of time."

"Okay, Concubine Liu, take the eldest prince back to the palace to recuperate first, and I will return the eldest prince justice!" Zhao Zhen felt relieved after hearing the imperial physician's words, and turned to Concubine Liu and said.

"Yes, my concubine thanks the emperor!" Concubine Liu hugged the eldest prince weakly and saluted, coldly glanced at Zhu Zhaoyuan who was standing beside her, and retreated with the imperial doctor and the people in the palace, leaving the eldest prince behind. The maids and eunuchs who serve the prince.

Zhao Zhen sat on the stone pier of the lotus pavilion with a dark face, his cold eyes swept over everyone present, and when he saw the people in Zhu Zhaoyuan's palace, his eyes deepened again.

Zhu Zhaoyuan lived like a year, no matter how stupid she was, she knew that she was being tricked, but she happened to have no evidence.

The emperor's eyes already determined that she was the murderer, no matter whether it was unintentional or intentional, if the eldest prince fell into the water because of her, she would definitely be punished.

The lotus pavilion is eerily quiet, only the lotus in the pond is swaying in the wind, and the surface of the pond is sparkling, but no one is in the mood to appreciate the scenery.

The breeze was blowing, and on this midsummer evening, the concubines felt a burst of coolness. At this moment, all the people gathered in the lotus pond, waiting for the interrogation.

The empress finally arrived late, she hurried to hurry, and she will arrive only now.Calmly bowing to the emperor, the emperor glanced coldly, as if he was dissatisfied with the arrival of the queen, "Since the queen is here, let the queen be in charge of the interrogation!"

"Yes, my concubine obeys the order!", the queen was also full of bitterness, she went to invite her little eunuch who belonged to Concubine Wei Gui, the speed must not be fast, Concubine Wei never let go of any opportunity to make her worry.

The queen sat opposite the emperor, looked at all the concubines present, and then said, "I just arrived, I don't know the situation, the concubine and sister are always here, so let's talk about the situation first!"

"Yes. The concubine and all the younger sisters are admiring the lotus. Sister Zhu Zhaoyuan walked over from the opposite side of the pond. When they reached the steps, the eldest prince's puppy ran up to Zhu Zhaoyuan, and the eldest prince followed behind.

The scene was very chaotic at that time, and the concubine did not see clearly how the eldest prince fell into the water! ", Concubine Wei said impartially what the concubines sitting in the lotus pond saw.

"Oh? Can all the younger sisters see others?" The queen said unhurriedly.

"Going back to your mother, the concubine only saw the puppy and the eldest prince running over, and didn't know how the eldest prince fell into the water!" Concubine Xian, Baozhu and others also immediately described what they saw in a few words.

"Zhu Zhaoyuan, are you convicted?" the queen looked at Zhu Zhaoyuan and said sharply.

Zhu Zhaoyuan and everyone in the palace knelt down and kowtowed with a "plop", "Your Majesty, the emperor, the concubine was wronged, and the concubine doesn't know how the eldest prince fell into the water. Someone must have framed the concubine?"

"Framed you? In the chaos, only people in your palace can get close to the eldest prince. Why did you say that the eldest prince fell into the water for no reason? Did he jump in by himself?" The queen wanted to find a scapegoat as soon as possible to appease the emperor's anger.

Although she knew that there were a lot of loopholes in this matter, and it was obvious that she was framed, no matter whether Zhu Zhaoyuan was framed on purpose or was framed, she was doomed to find it difficult to escape this time.

Then, it's better to punish her first to appease the emperor's anger, and then carefully review the rest of the inside story.

Baozhu has been quietly observing Concubine Ma since she arrived. She believes that Concubine Ma must be behind this matter, but she has no evidence for many things.

No one noticed that when the queen was convicting Zhu Zhaoyuan, Concubine Ma smiled triumphantly at the corner of her mouth.

"Your majesty, my concubine is wronged, my majesty!" Zhu Zhaoyuan crawled towards the emperor unwillingly, and Zhao Zhen didn't even look at her. Probably in his heart, these women are all the same. It is enough to confirm that his son is fine. As for how to punish , it doesn't matter anymore.

"Your majesty, look, how should Zhu Zhaoyuan be punished?" The queen ignored her cry of injustice and looked at the emperor.

(End of this chapter)