Contract Prince

The horseshoe went west, the team gradually drifted away, and everyone looked back.After Xiao Zhan dismissed all the officials, he climbed up the tower, followed by Gu Yunjing and Xiao Muxue.

In October, the weather has turned cooler.The city tower was empty, and the wind above was blowing, and the faces of the people who were slapped were painful.

Xiao Zhan stood at the highest point of the city tower, with deep eyes, he kept looking at the direction of the army, unwilling to look away for a long time.When the figures of the soldiers finally turned into black spots, he turned his gaze back and sighed softly. The sigh was blown away by the wind and fell into Gu Yunjing's ears.

Gu Yunjing was weak and afraid of the cold, and her hands were a little cold after being blown by the wind above the city tower. After rubbing them lightly a few times, she put her hands in her sleeves.

Seeing this, Xiao Muxue hurriedly passed on the word, and soon some attendants came over with a small stove and cloak.The charcoal fire was grilling, emitting a red glow, and there was a crackling sound.After Gu Yunjing took over the stove, a burst of heat came, which dispelled a lot of the cold on her body.

Xiao Muxue walked up to Gu Yunjing, gathered her collar tighter, tied her cape again, and asked with concern: "Is it still cold now?"

Gu Yunjing smiled lightly: "It's not cold, it's very warm, it's warmed to the bottom of my heart."

Xiao Zhan glanced sideways, looking at the son-in-law who didn't have much blood on his face, he said slowly: "Why don't the son-in-law go back and rest first?"

"The terrain here is high, and if you look around, you can have a panoramic view of the magnificent scenery of the capital. Could it be that Your Highness wants to enjoy this beautiful scenery alone, so you want to drive me back as a courtier on purpose?" Gu Yunjing teased .

Xiao Zhan said: "My son-in-law, where are you talking about? I just thought that you are feeling cold and afraid of the cold, and it is windy here, so I told you to go back and rest.

"Of course I know His Highness's intentions, I was just joking with you just now, Your Highness don't take it to heart." Gu Yunjing's voice paused, why did His Highness sigh just now?

Xiao Zhan put his hands on the railing, his eyes became very complicated, and he said in a deep voice: "With Jun Mo's words, you can be a marquis, and you will be successful. No matter you win or lose in a war, it will always be the people of Li and the frontline who suffer." Soldiers, this king has always had one wish, that the world will be peaceful, that there will be no more wars and killings, that the people will live in happiness and well-being, and that the king can rule the world with his hands."

"Yes." Gu Yunjing is not shy, "As long as your Highness inherits the great rule as soon as possible, works hard to unify the other three countries, and become the overlord of the five continents and four seas, why should the people of the world worry about not having a good life?"

If someone else said this, Xiao Zhan would definitely blame him.However, it was Gu Yunjing who said this today, and Xiao Zhan naturally would not blame him, but was slightly taken aback, and then smiled: "Father is still here, this king will definitely not have the heart to move away. But now father The emperor suddenly fell ill, and there was no one to take care of the political affairs in the court, so I took over."

Hearing Xiao Zhan's words, Gu Yunjing knew that he would not become emperor in a short time.After thinking about it for a while, she said seriously, "Your Highness is truly admirable for his benevolence, loyalty, integrity and filial piety. But now is a critical period, and you must become emperor as soon as possible. There are three reasons."

"First, although you are in charge of the country now, you are a prince. I don't need to say more about the difference between a prince and an emperor. You should understand it. As long as your highness does not ascend to the throne for a day, those young people will stare at you The heart will not decrease for a day."

"Secondly, the [-] soldiers in the patrol battalion in the capital have always been ordered by His Majesty the Emperor. If you are not enthroned, you will naturally have no way to order them."

"Thirdly, His Highness once told me that he wanted to implement and formulate a series of reform policies. As far as I know, the biggest resistance to implementing these policies comes from many stubborn conservatives. And why do these conservatives dare not listen to His Highness? what's your will?"

Xiao Zhan asked, "Why?"

"It's very simple, because His Highness is not the emperor." Gu Yunjing shrugged slightly, "When His Majesty ascended the throne, the next court was a mess. The nobles and powerful officials formed their own factions, and His Majesty's unstable foundation cannot shake them , can only appease and give endless benefits. Over the years, His Majesty's gentle policy has given them a great taste of sweetness."

"And now you are just a prince. If you want to go beyond your majesty to eliminate their interests, these courtiers will naturally not agree. Because they think that the emperor treats us favorably, and your highness is a mere prince. What qualifications do you have to overthrow the emperor? A series of policies?"

"These courtiers are very large in number, and they are all tied together because of their interests. Once their interests are damaged, and some people with good intentions provoke them, they will inevitably not be restless. Many people have government soldiers in their families. If these government soldiers All in one place, that's a massive force."

Gu Yunjing hit the nail on the head: "Your Highness is not the emperor, so you can't mobilize soldiers from the patrol battalion. Now Ducheng can only mobilize [-] imperial guards... As for the consequences, I don't need to say more, Your Highness will naturally understand."

Xiao Zhan narrowed his eyes and said coldly: "The son-in-law is saying, if this continues, they will rebel?"

Xiao Muxue shook her head lightly: "Brother An Wang, as long as you don't become the emperor, how can they talk about rebellion? At best, it's just killing a prince. When Qin She and Xiao Cong fan the flames, they will make a grandiose The banner of Qing Jun is on the side."

"Everyone knows that you were deposed by your father back then, from a prince admired by thousands of people to an idle prince. Now your father suddenly fell ill and fell into a coma, and at this time you are in charge of the government smoothly. Someone with a heart can use this to fabricate a rhetoric that turns right and wrong into black and white."

The coldness between Xiao Zhan's brows seemed to grow stronger, "Xue'er, you mean they will charge me with murdering my father?"

"That's right." Gu Yunjing nodded, "It's well-founded, and it can indeed confuse a large group of people. Now that the situation in the court is chaotic, several princes are ready to move, and any slight disturbance may provide them with a good chance Now that His Highness is enthroned, all the troubles I listed above can be solved."

"Not only can we formulate a series of policies to improve people's livelihood, but we can also easily remove the two stumbling blocks of Xiao Cong and Xiao Yang, why not do it?" Gu Yunjing narrowed his eyes, "According to the methods of King Zhao and his like, I think they are probably plotting a big event now. The soldiers and many excellent generals recruited now have gone to the front line, and they have nothing to fear."

In the end, Gu Yunjing uttered a few words earnestly: "Your Highness can't delay any longer."

Xiao Zhan hesitated: "But the emperor is still here, if I become emperor, I will definitely leave a bad reputation in the history books."

A hard look floated on Gu Yunjing's elegant face, "If your Highness is an emperor, he can benefit the common people in the world, sweep away the dust, and create a peaceful and prosperous world. At that time, he must be a wise emperor through the ages, who will last forever. Same as these In comparison, who cares about the minutiae of enthroning?"

Xiao Muxue also persuaded: "Yes, Brother An. What Yun Jing said makes sense."

At this moment, Xiao Zhan fell into deep thought,

He thought of the abuses of the imperial court in these years, the scenes of people being displaced, and the situation where the treasury was empty because of Xiao Guan's profligacy.

The words of benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom and faith lingered in his mind over and over again, and the words of Jiangshan Sheji benefiting the common people also lingered in his mind over and over again.Xiao Zhan looked further away, with a complicated and difficult look on his handsome face.After exhaling two deep breaths, he slowly closed his eyes, "Okay!"

After hearing this, the princess and son-in-law showed joyful expressions on their faces. Gu Yunjing stepped forward and said, "Your Highness can make up his mind, that's very good."

"Next, Your Highness needs to understand a problem. Once the news of your enthronement is released, some clowns will jump up and down. Especially King Zhao Xiaocong, he knows that he has no chance of turning back, and he is ready to jump over the wall at any time. They are short of troops. It is necessary to rely on many soldiers from the families of important officials of the imperial court. If these people are in harmony with Xiao Cong, they will be anti-officials of the imperial court. When the time comes, you will kill them to gain power, and it will be justifiable.

Now Xiao Zhan finally understands why Gu Yunjing didn't directly ask him to imprison Xiao Cong, but took such a roundabout way. The reason is that she wanted to kill more birds with one stone.The courtiers who can be bewitched by Xiao Cong must have resentment towards him, and judging from the current situation, the most resentful towards him is those important officials who are about to be deprived of their benefits.

Thinking of the huge number of these people, Xiao Zhan asked: "My son-in-law, if we take them all down, there will be a lot of vacant positions in the imperial court. If there are no officials, it will be extremely unstable for the court.

"You don't want to pick up?" Gu Yunjing smiled softly, "Don't worry, Your Highness, I have planned everything for you. The imperial court is poor and weak, there is a shortage of talents, and there are too many vegetarians in the corpses. Take advantage of this opportunity to let bloodletting go. one time."

She handed out a list from her cuff, and the names of officials were densely written on it.Xiao Zhan took it over and looked at it, and said in a daze, "Aren't these people the officials who were dismissed and exiled by the father?"

There are not only the names of these officials, but also their personalities and various positions that they are good at.

"Exactly. The reason why these people offended His Majesty was all because they dared to speak out. They are the mainstay of the court. The development of the court cannot be separated from them. Therefore, His Highness wants to call them back to the court and restore them to their original posts."

"Are these people enough for Your Highness?" Gu Yunjing said.

Xiao Zhan was very happy, his hands trembled a little, he couldn't help smiling: "Enough, enough!"

He folded the list, bowed deeply to Gu Yunjing, "I am very lucky to be able to meet the son-in-law, and I am lucky to have the help of the son-in-law! In the future, I will have a son-in-law to assist me, and the Xiao kingdom will be the world It will definitely be cured with ease!"

Gu Yunjing put his hand on Xiao Zhan's elbow, hurriedly helped him up, shook his head and said, "Your Highness, I am serious. In fact, I did this not for you, but for Xue'er. You can thank her if you want to thank her." After all, I was indifferent at the beginning and never wanted to get involved in political right and wrong. Later, she convinced me that I was willing to advise you.

"That is to say, I just wanted to make her smile, and by the way, I helped you to the throne." Gu Yunjing said calmly, without any intention of claiming credit.

"Indeed, Sister Xue'er has paid a lot for me. I think the reason why she married you at the beginning was to consolidate my position as the crown prince." Xiao Zhan suddenly felt infinitely emotional, "At the beginning I was afraid Will Xue Er be happy marrying you, now it seems that I really worry too much."

Hear what Xiao Zhan said.The past came back again.Both Gu Yunjing and Xiao Muxue recalled the scene when they got married at the same time. From being strangers at the beginning to being in love with each other now, they have experienced too much.

Speaking of their marriage, the main hero is Xiao Zhan, if not because of Xiao Zhan, they would not have married according to the order.So the two of them said in unison tacitly as if they had made an agreement: "Speaking of which, you are still our great benefactor."

Xiao Zhan laughed loudly, Gu Yunjing smiled slightly, Xiao Muxue smiled, and the laughter of the three of them echoed on the tower.

Gu Yunjing thought that when Xiao Zhan ascended the throne, he could abolish Xiao Cong and Xiao Yang, and turn Xiao Country into a peaceful and prosperous world.It's a pity that such a clever son-in-law, after all, still missed a little bit. She didn't expect that there was an extremely dark enemy secretly spying on everything in the imperial city.

This enemy is ten times and a hundred times more sinister than King Zhao and the others.

On the other side, King Kang's Mansion.

A man in Tsing Yi, long gown and bamboo hat appeared in front of Kang Wang's Mansion.Among the princes, Xiao Lian is the most honest and simple, so Kang Wang's mansion is not as luxurious as his brothers' mansions, with a style of simplicity.

Huangfuyun stood in front of the door, quietly looking at the plaque, feeling extremely excited: After 20 years, I have finally returned.