You are my golden finger

Arriving at Chongzheng Hall, Murong Xu reported the battle situation with Northern Qiang in front of all the ministers and presented Northern Qiang's letter of peace. The old emperor nodded frequently, commended the merits of the Northern Frontier soldiers, and expressed his intention to reward them according to their merits.

"Father, when I was attacking the enemy at the border, I was shot by several arrows from behind. I was poisoned and almost died. Later, on the way back to the court, I was ambushed twice at Qinguan and Wuzhui Peak. These are all internal conflicts and the law of the jungle. I have nothing to say. But the terrible thing is that some people are betraying us, colluding with foreign enemies, selling military rations to the Northern Qiang, and want to put our dynasty to death. They deserve to be killed!"

After saying this, Murong Xu presented the letters seized from Deputy General Huang and the Northern Qiang King, but he did not reveal that he had been to the Northern Qiang royal court. He only said that it was seized from Prince Ashina Li.

"Capture the third prince, Prime Minister Han and his men!" the old emperor ordered.

"Father, I was framed and I am innocent!" The third prince protested for his innocence.

"Your Majesty, I am innocent! Please look into this matter." Prime Minister Han also shouted shamelessly.

The two men cried out for injustice almost at the same time, truly birds of a feather.

"Your Majesty, this morning when I went to court, I found a package of things left by someone at the door of my mansion. I dare not keep it to myself, and now present it to Your Majesty." Old Tutor Lin took out a package wrapped in oil paper from his lapel.

"Your Majesty, there is also a pack at my door!" Duke Anguo Shangguan Yi also stepped forward and took out a pack.

These were naturally the masterpieces that Murong Xu had arranged in advance. He had An Yi and others place them at the doors of the two houses just before he went to court.

The emperor took out the secret documents and checked them carefully. Finally, he was so angry that he threw them at the feet of the Third Prince and Prime Minister Han.

"Yulin Guards, listen up. Immediately arrest all the people in the Third Prince's Mansion and nine generations of relatives in the Prime Minister's Mansion. Once verified, they will be executed within three days and all property of the mansion will be confiscated. Concubine Han will be stripped of her title, demoted to a commoner, and given a white silk." The emperor handled this incident particularly decisively.

The Yulin Guards took the order and left, and Murong Sheng and Han Cheng were terrified. Even their former supporters did not dare to come forward to plead for them, for fear that they would be affected if they were not careful.

The Third Prince's Mansion and the Prime Minister's Mansion were of course in a state of chaos, and all the captured people were thrown into the prison of the Ministry of Punishment. The Ministry of Punishment immediately interrogated the main criminals, and Han Weiqi, the dandy, confessed all his crimes after just a few whippings.

"How dare you keep private soldiers? My dear Minister Wu, immediately lead 50,000 troops to destroy his private soldiers' base, and kill anyone who resists without mercy!" The emperor was sitting on the high dragon throne. When he saw the information from the interrogation, he was furious and furious.

No one can bear it. The son that I raised with my heart has become an ungrateful person. He harbors evil intentions. Not only does he want to sit on the throne, but he also harms his brothers and invites wolves into the house. Isn't he afraid of the destruction of the country and the extinction of the race?

"I obey your command." General Wu took the order and led his troops to the expedition.

Because the emperor was in a bad mood and the interrogation department was busy trying the third prince and Prime Minister Han for treason, the reward for Murong Xu, General Peng and a group of soldiers was postponed. It was not until three days later, when the third prince and the people in the Prime Minister's Mansion were executed outside the Meridian Gate and eradicated, that the matter was put on the agenda.

"The Emperor, in compliance with the Will of Heaven, proclaims: ... My son Murong Xu is extremely intelligent, virtuous and talented, with outstanding martial arts, and is gentle, respectful, frugal and modest. He resisted foreign enemies, defeated the Northern Qiang, and captured three cities of the Northern Qiang. He is truly the soul of the royal family and the pillar of the country. In order to prolong the country's destiny and inherit the holy wisdom, he is specially canonized as the Crown Prince..."

When the imperial edict was issued during the morning court session, the whole audience was shocked. In fact, this matter came suddenly and the emperor had not discussed it with the ministers. Murong Xu was also very surprised because his father, the emperor, had never mentioned the matter of appointing a crown prince to him.

General Peng was given the title of General Zhenbei. As he was old and had many injuries, the emperor ordered him to live in Kyoto. The border army was led by his son, Deputy General Peng, who was promoted to the commander-in-chief of the Northern Frontier Army.

The rest of the officers and soldiers were rewarded according to their merits.

The next night, a celebration banquet was held, and all ministers above the third rank could bring their families into the palace. The ministers were all eyeing the position of the Crown Princess, and all the fancy clothes, cosmetics, and jewelry in Kyoto were sold out. The ministers were bound to dress up their daughters to win the Crown Prince's favor.

Shangguan Rui and Lin Xijin both took advantage of the situation and made a fortune.

After returning to Kyoto, Lin Xijin went back to her own house, strolled around the manor, visited the shop, and stayed at home for the rest of the time. She wanted to go back to Shiziwo, but Murong Xu refused to let her go, saying that there was still a reward. So she had to stay in Kyoto.

She wanted to take some time off, but others didn't let her go. The women from the Duke of Anguo's Mansion, the General's Mansion, the Imperial Tutor's Mansion, etc. came to visit one after another. Zhu Huiyuan and He Xiaojing were frequent guests at home. Lin Xijin couldn't refuse them and had to patiently receive them.

Shangguan Rui also came to visit with his wife Liang Anru. Liang Anru's son was three months old and looked cute. Liang Anru looked more demure and exuded the moist color of a happy young woman.

At Shangguan Rui's request, Lin Xijin checked her body and found everything was normal. She then explained some precautions before leaving.

"Sister Jin, are you going to the palace banquet tomorrow? I heard from my father-in-law that you might be rewarded, and the Queen Mother will help the Prince choose a concubine, so you must dress up beautifully." Liang Anru may have been instructed by Old Lady Shangguan, so she reminded him kindly.

"Do you want me to find two people to accompany you to the palace?" Shangguan Rui was also a little worried about her. He could vaguely sense the relationship between her and Murong Xu.

"Thank you! Don't worry about me, I can handle it." Lin Xijin replied calmly.

In Kyoto in February, the ice and snow have not completely melted, but only a thin layer remains. The branches of the willow trees are beginning to turn green, the sun is pouring down, and life is suddenly revealed, making people look forward to spring.

Lin Xijin hadn't finished her morning exercise yet when Manager Cai hurried in.

"Master, someone has come from the palace, saying that they are the maids and palace maids around the Queen Mother."

"Oh, okay, I'll be right over."

Lin Xijin changed her clothes and went to the front hall to meet the two people.

"Lady Jiahui, I (your servant) am here to greet you!" The two people who were drinking tea stood up and greeted her when they saw her.

Lin Xijin hurried forward to stop them.

Are you kidding me? It is said that the etiquette of the third-rank official in front of the prime minister, the maids and the senior palace maids beside the empress dowager, how can a small county lady like her accept it? The evil feudal hierarchy is there!

Lin Xijin was complaining in her heart.

"My Lady, I am Nanny Tao serving the Empress Dowager, and this is the senior palace maid Ruxiu. We were ordered by the Empress Dowager to help the young lady change her clothes and bring her into the palace." Nanny Tao explained the purpose of her visit.

Lin Xijin asked about the time to enter the palace, and the nanny told her that she only needed to arrive at the palace before the hour of Wei.

Knowing the time, Lin Xijin felt that there was no need to rush, so she invited the two to have breakfast together. The two declined at first, but when they saw that Lin Xijin had prepared separate portions for three people, they started eating together.

After breakfast, Lin Xijin went back to the space to wash up and appear in front of Nanny Tao and Ruxiu after feeling refreshed.

The nanny simply taught her some rules for entering the palace and told her to just be as careful as possible and not to be nervous.

The two of them brought several boxes of clothes out of the palace. No one knew who prepared them. The styles were not as complicated as the palace costumes, and the colors were plain and elegant, which won Lin Xijin's favorite.

With Lin Xijin's consent, the two chose a simple blue palace dress, put it on her and tied her hair. Lin Xijin decided to do her own makeup, as she was not used to the heavy makeup of the ancients, so she just did a simple nude makeup.

Lin Xijin, who was originally a beauty, has grown into a fair-skinned, beautiful and graceful girl after three years of growth. After dressing up, she looks like a spring orchid, even more elegant and refined; she also looks like a fairy in a painting, light and graceful.

"The county lady has a good appearance!" The two were stunned. After a long time, Nanny Tao began to praise her.

"Mother Mu praised it."