Something happened. This is not going to be bloody.

Gao Ze is not that smart, but he is not stupid. He naturally knows that his father praises him but does not value him. He is not as favored by his father as his elder brother. But it doesn't matter. He still has his mother, and he will definitely protect her. His mother is the most gentle and amiable woman in the harem.

After taking a sip of the soup, Gao Zhao praised, "The soups and medicinal food in my beloved concubine's palace are indeed effective. I feel much more relaxed after coming here."

You see, after she had eaten and drunk well, her title had changed from Shufei to Aifei.

Zhou Lengzi smiled and said that if the emperor liked it, he could eat more. She did not take the opportunity to seek grace, nor did she brag. It was still the same routine that if you want to take something in advance, you must give it first. Not fighting is the greatest struggle.

Gao Ze seemed to feel strange and said:

"Mother, Aze also often eats cakes and meals in your palace. Why doesn't Aze feel much stronger? Mother hasn't changed much either. Why is it that only Father has become more powerful?"

Zhou Leng thought, if you can talk, just say more.

Gao Zhao naturally still had the same idea as before: his dragon energy had returned, so his body was healed too.

After Zhou Leng picked up some food for Gao Ze, he said, "Then eat more. Aze, you don't eat as much as your father. You should come to your mother's palace for meals more often in the future."

After listening to what his mother said, Gao Ze ate a piece of meat in big mouthfuls.

Gao Zhao looked at the silly emperor and laughed out loud.

Not sure if it was the relaxing environment here that made him relax, Gao Zhao asked directly:

"I heard that you and Wang Zhaoyi met in the Queen's Palace. You let her go first? According to the rules, you are Shufei and she is Zhaoyi."

Zhou Leng answered nonchalantly:

"Wang Zhaoyi has an aggressive temper. She said she is a few years older than me. I thought it would be embarrassing if she caused trouble in the Queen's Palace. If we meet in the Imperial Garden, I will not give in. If the Emperor does not mention it today, I will bring people to meet Wang Zhaoyi tomorrow and I will definitely drive her away once to vent my anger."

Gao Zhao listened to the other party's clumsy counterattack. He thought about how Concubine Shu was not smart before, and how she became so obviously stupid. He looked at her calmly and said:

"Whether in the former court or the harem, the status and hierarchy must never be messed up. I will let you vent your anger on this matter. Tomorrow I will issue an order to demote Wang Zhaoyi to Zhao Xun, one of the three ministers."

Zhou Leng was demoted two levels when she heard this. Of course, this was obviously the emperor taking advantage of the situation, and she would not be so tactless as to pretend to be a saint or innocent. She said with a relieved tone:

"Your Majesty is wise. The harem must be organized in order of hierarchy. Tomorrow I will make soup for you."

The emperor raised his voice and said, "Cao Fu."

The person guarding the palace gate answered loudly: "The servant is here."

"Please remember this. Tomorrow you will personally pass on the imperial decree and ask Wang Zhaoyi to move out of Hibiscus Palace and live in a side hall."

"promise."

Cao Fu walked out of the palace with her back bent. At this moment, she felt a little regretful. She regretted that she had declined the benefits from Concubine Shu's palace during this period of time.

****

Let’s not talk about how Wang Zhaoyi in the harem was sad and angry, and how she moved, but Gao Jing received the news that his mother was demoted. In fact, this was a signal, but the eldest prince could not receive it.

The eldest prince's staff did give many advices, but the eldest prince didn't care at all.

In the court, the eldest prince felt that he could cover the sky with one hand, so he directly instructed the censor to make remonstrances.

At the grand court meeting, an imperial censor made a remonstrance:

"Your Majesty, I think that it is against the ancestral system for Consort Zhaoyi to be demoted to Zhaoxun. Consort Zhaoyi has a prince and has never made any serious mistakes in the harem. If she is demoted two levels just because of a dispute among concubines, it would be inappropriate. I think she can just reflect on her mistakes behind closed doors. Please revoke your order."

The emperor looked at Gao Jing who was keeping his head down and not saying anything. He knew in his heart that this must have been instructed by the eldest prince. He said bluntly:

"Oh? The harem is my family affair, and you want to get involved too?"

"In reply to the emperor, there are no trivial matters in the harem, and no family affairs in the royal family. Please take back your order, otherwise I will crash into this jade pillar and die to show my determination."

As soon as these words came out, several imperial censors followed closely and shouted loudly: "Your Majesty, please take back your order."

These people forgot that Gao Zhao was the founding emperor. How could he be the founding emperor without some courage and insight? The emperor said without changing his expression:

"The country has just been settled, and the people are suffering. You don't report the many injustices in this world, but focus on the small space in the harem. Come, drag them all away and exile them three thousand miles away. Confiscate their property, and the next three generations will not be allowed to serve as officials in the court."

This punishment is actually a bit too severe.

"promise."

The imperial guards on both sides of the hall answered in unison.

Gao Zhao thought that he couldn't touch those noble families who supported the eldest prince, and he couldn't control you imperial censors. In fact, if his health hadn't improved, he wouldn't want to touch these imperial censors.

Pulled around and moved the whole body.

If Gao Zhao's health had deteriorated and there had been no rumors of the two dragons fighting, and he had acquiesced to the eldest prince, perhaps none of these things would have happened.

The aristocratic families knew that this was a signal, a sign that the emperor might choose another crown prince.

Is the Emperor scary?

terrible.

Why is it scary?

Because he has an army, swords and guns, he naturally has the final say.

After what happened today, Gao Jing calmed down and returned to the mansion. He ordered people to investigate the reason for the emperor's sudden change of temperament.

Inside the study, a guard was reporting outside the door.

"Your Highness, someone shot a letter with a bow and arrow to the gate of the mansion, but the soldiers guarding the gate did not find any suspicious people."

Gao Jing sat at the table and frowned and said:

"Have someone check that it's not poisonous and send it in for this prince to have a look."

The guard replied: "Yes."

After a while, someone brought a letter into the room.

Gao Jing opened the letter and found only one sentence:

"The saint has already decided on the candidate for the crown prince. It is hidden behind the plaque in the Taiji Hall. You can see it."

Gao Jing's mind turned as he read the short content. He clenched the letter into his fist, and the letter caught fire without any wind. He let go of the letter and let it fall onto the table, burning into ashes with only shallow traces left.

Such means frightened Gao Jing.

Gao Jing didn't know whether this was true or false, or whether the other party was an enemy or a friend, but he was not afraid that you would not believe it, but that you would not doubt it. Curiosity killed not only the cat, but also the people who wanted to know the truth.

The emperor's heart is unpredictable. He punished several imperial censors at the court today. These things made the eldest prince feel uncertain, so he was eager to know whether the edict of succession was really hidden behind the plaque in the Taiji Hall. Was the emperor going to pass the throne to him?

Gao Jing tried hard to calm himself down. He thought this might be a trap. There were countless traps ahead waiting for him to fall into. He had to think carefully about this matter.