I play the role of Jiajing in Zongwu: What crime have I committed?

This ability to distort the truth truly opened his eyes.

Zhu Houcong sat high on the dragon throne, and seeing the way these people were denouncing him, he felt a surge of anger.

It’s the opposite!

What do you want to do?

Rebellion?

Such a loud voice! You'll frighten my beloved concubine again!

He quickly coughed twice and raised his hand to signal, "Ahem, my beloved subjects, please be quiet."

As soon as the emperor spoke, the commotion in the hall immediately ceased, and all the civil and military officials returned to their ranks in unison, as if the previous outrage had never happened.

He nodded in satisfaction, then turned to look at Yuwen Xuan, whose face was ashen.

"Yuwen Xuan, you've seen it yourself. Because of you, the officials of our Great Liang are so agitated."

As he spoke, he pointed to Lou Zhijing and the others, who were still staring wide-eyed.

"My ministers cannot bear to see the Great Liang humiliated."

Yuwen Xuan's lips twitched, and he was about to speak in his defense when Zhu Houcong stood up and said earnestly.

"I know it's difficult for you, and it's difficult for me too. Let's all do our best!"

[Imitate Jiajing +1, reward: Martial Arts Golden Elixir]

Hearing these words made Yuwen Xuan's vision go black. Before he could react, Zhu Houcong had already flicked his dragon sleeve and left the main hall.

"Court adjourned!"

Chapter 92 Is Southern Chu also a female-oriented novel?

As soon as they returned to the hermitage, the young palace maid Qin Banruo tiptoed in.

Holding a secret letter in her hands, she bowed respectfully and said, "Your Majesty, a secret report from Southern Chu has arrived. Please take a look."

Zhu Houcong leaned against the couch with his back to her, slowly raising his left hand.

Upon seeing this, Qin Banruo quickly stepped forward and carefully handed the secret letter to him.

"come over."

Without turning his head, he ordered, "Give me a foot massage."

Qin Banruo bit her lip, knelt on the footstool, and placed her slender fingers on Zhu Houcong's feet.

But she was distracted, and the force she applied to her hands was inconsistent, sometimes light and sometimes heavy, without any method.

Zhu Houcong had just opened the secret letter and hadn't even had a chance to read it when he noticed something was amiss.

He turned his head slightly, and out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of that pretty face with furrowed brows, her empty, lifeless eyes filled with worry.

With just one glance, he understood Qin Banruo's thoughts.

The next second, Zhu Houcong slowly raised his right foot and gently lifted Qin Banruo's chin with his toes, forcing her to look up.

Qin Banruo also came to her senses at this moment.

"What, are you worried that Prince Yu might be implicated in the bombing?"

Seeing that Zhu Houcong could guess her thoughts at a glance, a hint of panic was clearly visible in her eyes.

"This servant...this servant knows His Highness Prince Yu, he would never do such a thing."

Whether he did it or not is for the three judicial departments to investigate; it's not something you can speculate on at will.

Zhu Houcong was in a good mood today, so he slowly withdrew his foot and did not intend to pursue Qin Banruo's recklessness.

"But don't worry, this case will end with Mei Changsu."

His gaze returned to the secret letter, and he added casually.

"As long as you behave yourself, I won't harm Prince Yu."

Qin Banruo trembled upon hearing this and immediately continued massaging.

The subsequent kneading was much more careful, and the pressure from the fingertips was just right.

Zhu Houcong smiled slightly as he intently read the secret letter about the latest developments in the Southern Chu court. The only sound in the study was the rustling of pages turning.

In previous years, Princess Nihuang guarded Yunnan and drove the Southern Chu army into a series of defeats.

Later, the two countries re-established their alliance, and Emperor Liang gradually relaxed his attention to the Southern Chu court.

They treated him as a defeated opponent who was not worth fearing.

Instead, they paid more attention to the Muwang Mansion, which was gradually growing in Yunnan.

But at this moment, after reading the secret letter in his hand three times, Zhu Houcong's expression became increasingly strange.

Suddenly, he looked up sharply, asking incredulously, "You've seen this intelligence report?"

Qin Banruo then pinched the corner of her foot and replied, "Your Majesty, this servant did indeed check beforehand."

Are you sure the contents are correct?

"This is intelligence gathered by three separate groups of spies who are strangers to each other. I have cross-checked them, and the contents are exactly the same."

Zhu Houcong still couldn't believe it, so he immediately pointed to the secret letter and confirmed it again.

"So, the tutor of Yuwen Quan, the Crown Prince of Southern Chu, is really Lu Shiyu, the Minister of Personnel of Southern Chu?"

"Your Majesty, it is absolutely true."

Qin Banruo replied respectfully.

"Is that Lu Shiyu, who was on par with Zhou Xuanqing and Li Zhong?"

"That Lu Shiyu, the author of numerous books, with students and friends all over the world?"

"That's right!"

"I remember that the Minister of Personnel in Southern Chu is the same as that in my Great Liang, in charge of the appointment, evaluation, and promotion of civil officials, right?"

Zhu Houcong muttered to himself thoughtfully, then suddenly sat up and stared at Qin Banruo, asking a question.

"If the Crown Prince's teacher is the Minister of Personnel and a renowned Confucian scholar, wouldn't all the officials of the Six Ministries of Southern Chu be the Crown Prince's men?"

"Hasn't his influence already penetrated every aspect of the imperial court?"

Qin Banruo nodded mechanically and reported truthfully, "Your Majesty is wise...the facts are indeed as described."

Cow batch!

What was the emperor of Southern Chu called again?

Oh, right!

Yuwen Jian.

How could anyone be so shameless?

Under normal circumstances, the crown prince's teachers would not have real power. For example, the crown prince's grand tutor, grand preceptor, and grand master of the crown prince's palace would not participate in court affairs.

Because if the Crown Prince holds too much power, it will directly affect the emperor's authority.

How could Yuwen Jian dare to appoint the Minister of Personnel and a renowned Confucian scholar as the Crown Prince's tutor?

I admire you!

No wonder the Great Liang was able to make peace with the Southern Chu!

Emperor Liang and Emperor Chu were both complete idiots.

It's like a turtle seeing a green bean—they hit it off.

Thinking of this, Zhu Houcong unconsciously scratched the back of his head.

He then asked, "So, it's true that Gu Siling, the maternal uncle of Yuwen Quan, the Crown Prince of Southern Chu, is the Grand Marshal of Southern Chu, commanding 200,000 troops?"

"It is absolutely true."

Qin Banruo checked again, then secretly glanced up, wondering why the Emperor was so shocked by this intelligence.

Upon hearing the affirmative answer, Zhu Houcong suddenly leaned forward and stared intently at Qin Banruo.

Are you sure it's 200,000? Not 2,000? Or 20,000?

His words were full of doubt, and he raised his voice a notch with each number he said.

Qin Banruo was startled by the sudden interrogation, but quickly regained her composure.

"This servant is absolutely certain."

"The general from Southern Chu whom Princess Nihuang fought several times on the Yunnan border was a commander under Gu Siling."

"Uh!"

Zhu Houcong suddenly felt his brain wasn't working properly, and his fingers unconsciously tapped the armrest.

"So, Gu Siling still effectively controls the Southern Chu border army?"

Qin Banruo nodded slightly.

After confirming it several times, Zhu Houcong suddenly felt that this world was just a huge makeshift operation.

No!

The maternal relatives of the emperor commanded 200,000 troops!

How can that idiot Yuwen Jian sleep?

When this situation arises, there is only one possibility.

That is, Emperor Yuwen Jian of Southern Chu and his son Crown Prince Yuwen Quan had a deep father-son relationship and did not covet power.

Moreover, Yuwen Quan was truly a wise and capable crown prince, skilled in both literature and martial arts, who could keep his maternal relatives in check.

Otherwise, how could the Southern Chu court have gone so mad?

Zhu Houcong then suddenly looked up and asked urgently, "So, according to this, the relationship between Emperor Yuwen Jian of Southern Chu and Crown Prince Yuwen Quan should be extremely harmonious?"

"On the contrary!"

Qin Banruo shook her head.

"According to intelligence, Yuwen Jian is very suspicious of the Crown Prince because of the powerful influence of the Gu family."

"Moreover, Yuwen Jian seems to favor his eldest son, Prince Qi, Yuwen Tang."

"However, these reports have not yet been confirmed, which is why I did not write them into the secret letter."

That's it!

Zhu Houcong nodded repeatedly.

That's more like it!

Is there any emperor in the world who doesn't crave power?

It seems that Emperor Yuwen Jian of Southern Chu is not having an easy time living!

Standing below was the legitimate crown prince, whose teacher was the Minister of Personnel, who was in charge of appointing and dismissing officials, and a renowned Confucian scholar of the time.

The crown prince's uncle was even more formidable, serving as the Grand Marshal of an army commanding 200,000 soldiers.

With this combination of measures, whoever is emperor will have to sleep with one eye open at night!

"Tsk tsk..."

Zhu Houcong couldn't help but sigh, and suddenly felt much more at peace.

Compared to Yuwen Jian, my own start as Emperor Liang was practically a stroke of incredible luck!

If things continue at this pace, wouldn't it be a long time before Yuwen Jian is made Emperor Emeritus by his own son?

The Xuanwu Gate Incident?

Chapter 93 Azure Dragon Strikes