Painting Doctor Jinhua

Not long after Xie Yuxuan and Xiao Xian arrived in Shuozhou, news came from the Southern Chen Dynasty that Emperor Chen Xu had passed away due to illness, and Crown Prince Chen Shubao succeeded to the throne and changed the country's name to Zhenming.

At the same time, news came from Yecheng that Emperor Gao Zhan of Qi had passed away. Emperor Gao Wei issued an edict of repentance and announced it to the world. Because the emperor had a hidden illness and needed to recuperate, the prime minister "Xie Zhen" was in charge of all affairs of the court. There was also a faint news that the emperor wanted to abdicate.

Xie Yuxuan and Xiao Xian couldn't help but feel overjoyed and breathed a sigh of relief.

"So it seems that Sister and Prince Lanling have succeeded, right?"

Xiao Xian also looked happy. When he first arrived in Shuozhou, he heard that the couple had responded to the imperial edict and rushed to Yecheng. He was extremely nervous and worried. He sent spies to inquire about the news from Yecheng every hour.

"I hope they are safe in Yecheng. But even if they become emperor, the road ahead will still be full of difficulties and dangers!"

"But at least we won't be framed by the tyrant! Don't Yu and the others still have us?"

Xie Yuxuan's idea was extremely simple and optimistic. She didn't think as much as Xiao Xian, but it seemed to make sense, and Xiao Xian's mind became clear!

Yes! As long as the Gao family is not persecuted by their closest relatives like this, as long as Lanling Wang becomes the ruler of Qi, with Ayu's wisdom, it should be a matter of time to promote some talents and govern the country well.

He must have confidence in Ayu!

On second thought, he remembered that the emperor of the Southern Dynasty, Chen Xu, had passed away. This happened too suddenly and coincidentally. He wondered where the new crown prince Chen Shubao would lead the Chen Kingdom?

Xiao Xian had also heard about the character of Crown Prince Chen Shubao. Although he was not as cruel and bloodthirsty as Qi Lord Gao Wei, he was just as fond of literature and music. He often gathered some scholars to the East Palace to drink, write poetry, enjoy singing and dancing, and play with beauties. There was constant music and singing in the East Palace, just like a peaceful scene of prosperity and peace!

Thinking of this, a trace of worry appeared between Xiao Xian's brows.

Xie Yuxuan seemed to sense his worry, so she smiled and said, "You can't blame me for what happened to Chen Xu! I just scolded him a few times, but the emperor of a country was scolded to death, so he deserved it!"

"Xiao Lang, you're not still sympathizing with him, are you? He's about to kill you, and you're still..."

Xiao Xian just smiled slightly, interrupted her, raised his hand and stroked her cheek gently, and said softly:

"How could I blame you? It was you who saved me. I can't thank you enough! I, Xiao Xian, am not a blindly loyal person. I just thought that Jiankang is our hometown after all. It has been destroyed by wars many times. How many people have been forced to leave their hometowns because of wars? It has finally settled down in recent years, but I don't know how long this stability can last?"

At this point, he sighed, "Perhaps only when the world is unified can wars truly cease and the world be at peace?"

Xie Yuxuan also fell into deep thought. Jiankang in the Southern Dynasty was also her hometown, but because of Hou Jing's Rebellion, most of the Southern Dynasty's noble families were slaughtered. Now that the south was occupied by Chen Xu, she had no home to return to.

She also deeply felt the feeling of being homeless, and nodded: "I agree with this. It is true that only when the world is unified can the people get real peace and stability!"

"So, Xiao Lang, we should also work hard to help A Yu and Lan Ling Wang realize this ideal, right?"

After Xie Yuxuan finished speaking, she smiled mischievously, and Xiao Xian couldn't help but nodded and smiled: "Yes! Ah Xuan is right!"

……

When Yuwen Hu of Zhou heard that Emperor Gao Zhan of Qi had died and that Emperor Gao Wei had issued an edict of repentance, he immediately sent an army of 100,000 to besiege Luoyang, in an attempt to block the Qi army's food supply and seize Jinyang.

He also sent his trusted confidants to attack the three states of Shuo, Heng and Yan.

When the news that the Zhou army was approaching Luoyang reached Yecheng, Xiao Jinyu immediately sent the left prime minister Hulugu and Lanling King Gao Changgong to rescue Luoyang and fight against the Zhou army with the emperor's edict!

In addition, Xiao Jinyu also transferred back Zhaojun Prince Gao Rui from Jizhou and appointed him as Shangshu Ling. He also promoted Li Mi to Zhongshu Shilang, Cui Heng to Yushi Doctor, and Zhao Yanshen and others to assist in the administration.

Later, Gao Yanzong was appointed as the Grand Commander of the Capital, Gao Xiaoheng as the Grand Marshal, and Murong Jue as the Army Commander-in-Chief. They were responsible for the defense of the imperial palace and the dispatch of the imperial guards, and they also had to retrain the imperial guards.

When Fenghuang was training the imperial guards, one of his generals, Duan Chong, was somewhat dissatisfied. When he was alone with him, he could not help but ask, "Young Master, on the day of the mutiny, we clearly occupied the palace, and all the troops in Yenan City were ours. Why didn't you just kill Gao Wei and become the emperor yourself?"

"Shut up! Do you think it's so easy to be an emperor? Without the support of the aristocratic families and the nobles of Jinyang, it would be easy for other kings to raise their flags and besiege me. What's more, I only know how to kill people and march and fight, but I don't know how to govern the country!"

"But Lanling Wang is also a military commander. He only knows how to march and fight. He doesn't understand state affairs!"

"He is different. He is from the Gao royal family, and he has Brother Qing to help him govern the country, so he has nothing to fear!"

"So what if the Gao family is a royal family? Didn't the Gao family also usurp the throne of the Yuan family? The Murong family was also a royal family two hundred years ago. Moreover, young master, you obviously like that woman. For her, you would rather risk your life. Why are you willing to give her to someone else? Young master, as long as you kill Lanling King and take that woman to become emperor, can't she still help you govern the country?"

Before Duan Chong finished speaking, Fenghuang suddenly raised her hand and grabbed his throat, her eyes filled with anger that almost spit fire.

"What are you talking about? What good can you gain from instigating me to rebel? Who sent you as a spy?"

Duan Chong's face turned purple from being pinched, and he almost suffocated!

"Young Master, spare... spare my life!"

Only after he begged for mercy did Phoenix slowly calm down and let him go.

Duan Chong coughed a few times before saying, "I am not a spy. My family has served the Murong clan for generations. Our ancestors left a will, hoping to help the Murong clan restore their country. I never thought that although you, Murong Jue, are extremely brave, you only have one woman in your heart. I am really disappointed!"

Duan Chong strode away after he finished speaking.

Fenghuang was silent for a long while before she left the training ground and came to where Xiao Jinyu handled official business.

Now Xiao Jinyu has changed into men's clothes again, but she no longer uses that fake mask. She discusses important matters with the ministers in the court, such as arranging officials to transport food and grass to the Jinyang Army, punishing and dismissing some corrupt officials, or promoting some capable people.

Of course, the most urgent task now is the siege of Luoyang by the Zhou army. After she discussed the matter with King Lanling and Hulugu, Hulugu and several ministers hurried out of the meeting hall.

Only Prince Lanling remained in the palace.

"Ayu, thank you for your hard work! I know that these things are very laborious to handle, and they may offend people! It is not easy to govern the current Qi State well!"

Gao Changgong said with great distress.

Xiao Jinyu shook her head: "Governing a big country is like cooking a small fish, it should be so! As long as Chang Gong is still here, the great generals of Qi are still here, and the monarch and his subjects are of one mind, the country will not collapse, and Qi can be saved!"

"It's just... Chang Gong obviously doesn't like being a king, but he was pushed to this position by A Yu, and he may also bear some infamy. Will Chang Gong blame me?"

Gao Changgong kissed her forehead and smiled with tears in his eyes: "No blame, I know you are doing this for me. As long as you are by my side, I am willing to do anything. It's just that how to be a qualified king, I need Ah Yu to help me!"

Xiao Jinyu also smiled.

"Well, after repelling Zhou's army this time, we have completed the last task! It can also be said that this is the first hurdle we have to face!"

Governing a country is a long and arduous task. To ensure peace and prosperity for the people, accepting the abdication and becoming emperor is only a means to achieve the ideal.

Gao Changgong understood what she was talking about. He looked at her in silence for a long time before saying:

"Then I will set off to Luoyang now! You must protect yourself well in Yecheng!"

Xiao Jinyu nodded and watched him leave. When he reached the entrance of the main hall, she couldn't help but call out:

"Chang Gong, there is something I want to tell you first!"

Gao Changgong turned around and heard her say:

"We have a child, so you must come back safely!"

Gao Changgong was overjoyed when he heard this, and couldn't help running back. He wanted to hug her, but seemed afraid of hurting the child, so he just carefully placed his palm on her lower abdomen.

"It's been three months. Don't worry, I will definitely protect him this time and let him come into this world safely!"

Gao Changgong nodded with tears in his eyes, and held her in his arms again, and said with great worry and fear:

"You must protect yourself too!"

The higher the position, the more dangers there are. He knew that Gao Zhan's words were not meant to intimidate. You never know when you will be assassinated by someone who disobeys the government's orders? Or by a spy from an enemy country!

After reviewing the troops at the Tongque Tower, Gao Changgong set out with 40,000 troops drawn from Yecheng.

Among these 40,000 troops, there are both Xianbei people and Han people from aristocratic families. This is also the result of discussion between Xiao Jinyu and Gao Changgong.

Since the founding of the State of Qi, it has always been the Xianbei people who went to the battlefield to make military achievements, while the Han people farmed and supported the Xianbei people. The Han people entered the officialdom only as civil officials, not military officers. In the court, the Han people often looked down on the Xianbei people, and the Xianbei people also looked down on the Han people. They formed factions and fought against each other. This was also one of the biggest reasons for the serious internal consumption of Qi and the decline of national strength.

Allowing Han people to go to the battlefield and gain military merit was the first step in Xiao Jinyu's plan to achieve integration between the Hu and Han peoples.

Standing on the Bronze Sparrow Tower, Xiao Jinyu watched Gao Changgong's army for a long time before slowly withdrawing her gaze.

When he turned around, he saw Phoenix standing behind him.

……

"Phoenix, I understand your thoughts, but I can't respond to you, except for myself. Whatever you want, I can give it to you!"

"I know! As early as the day you married Lanling King, I knew that I would never be able to get any closer to Brother Qing in this life!"

"However, I still have no regrets. If I can see you live to old age in peace, everything I have done and will do is voluntary. Brother Qing doesn't have to feel any burden! After all, you have saved my life, and your mother has been even more kind to me!"

"Your followers..."

Seeing Xiao Jinyu suddenly asking about his tribesmen, Fenghuang suddenly raised his head and looked at her.

"Brother Qing, rest assured. I won't let them do anything wrong. If they have the intention to rebel, I would rather commit suicide than let them succeed!"

Hearing him say this, Xiao Jinyu's expression became serious: "Phoenix, you know what I am most worried about is what you said. Over the years, I have not taught you anything, and it is because I have neglected to care about you that you have developed this personality now. But you are not wrong. Even if your subordinates did something wrong, it is not your fault, so don't take all the responsibility on yourself."

“Governing a country is just like leading an army. Each of them has their own ideas. You can’t make everyone the same as you want them to be, but you can do your best to make this team better!

If there are those who go against you, then you have no choice but to abandon them and remove them!"

Seeing Fenghuang lost in thought, Xiao Jinyu said again: "Fenghuang, if you encounter any problems that cannot be solved, you can come to me at any time. Don't take your life lightly like you did this time. I will always be your relative, and I want to see you live in peace!"

Fenghuang's eyes suddenly filled with tears. She said hello, choked up for a while, and suddenly asked, "Brother Qing, can I hug you?"