The next morning, there was still a moment left when the court meeting was about to begin.

According to convention, the ministers who arrived early all gathered in the Eastern Court to wait for Empress Dowager Liu to take the young emperor to court to follow the government.

Everyone sat or stood, whispering in groups of three or five.

The topics they discussed were naturally inseparable from the celebrity in front of Liu Hou, Xie Changgeng, the governor of Hexi.

He arrived in the capital yesterday evening and handed a note to the palace. The Empress Dowager was kind to him to the hard work of the journey, so that he did not have to go to the palace to pay his respects immediately. He would have to rest for one night first, and it would be no too late to meet him tomorrow morning.

This news has been spreading for a long time.

Everyone was talking about his contributions to the King of Jiangdu that he had pacified not long ago, and envied him for his great contributions. This time he went to Beijing to report on his duties, he would definitely be granted official titles.

As he was speaking, a palace servant came into the hall, saying that the empress dowager would postpone the court this morning for half an hour, so that the ministers would continue to wait here.

As soon as the palace servants left, there was a buzzing sound in the east court.

Everyone knows it well that this must be the Empress Dowager Liu was meeting Xie Changgeng alone.

For his audience, even the court meeting was postponed, and he asked himself and others to continue to work here.

In addition to envying, everyone is inevitably a little jealous.

So soon, no one knew who started it, the focus of everyone's attention changed from the merits of Xie Changgeng, the governor of Hexi, to a rumor that had just been spread to the officialdom of Shangjing a few days ago.

At the beginning of the year, Xie Changgeng got married with the Changsha King's daughter who had been engaged three years ago. She did not want to encounter the rebellion of the King of Jiangdu. On the wedding night, he left his wife and left home. This was no secret. At that time, a colleague went to the wedding banquet, and it was spread to ten and ten hundred, and it was already known to everyone.

But maybe he did not appease the bride at that time. The bride was so angry that she returned to Changsha. Just last month, after quelling the rebellion, Xie Jiedushi rushed to Changsha without stopping, trying to take back the princess. However, he didn't expect that he would touch the ashes there.

Not only did he fail to take back his wife, it is said that he was also humiliated by the young King of Changsha who had always looked down on him, and finally returned empty-handed.

The original source of this rumor should have come from the magistrate sent by the imperial court in Changsha.

The imperial court had a supervisor in every vassal state, and reported one copy every month to report on its supervision income that month. This was a regulation set by the dynasty when it was established.

Regardless of the authenticity of the news, for most officials in Beijing, they are jealous and despised Xie Changgeng, who is from a poor family. From this standpoint, they have all become supporters of Changsha King Mu Xuanqing. If you can see Xie Changgeng having such a frustration and making such ugly things, who would have unfortunately gloated after dinner? Let me say a few words?

Now the court meeting has been postponed because of his arrival.

Everyone simply let go and began to whisper. They spread the news they heard, expressing deep sympathy for the experience of governor Xie Jie.

At the same time, Xie Changgeng was waiting outside Xuanzheng Hall.

Although he was not in the East Court, he knew exactly what his colleagues there were talking about at this moment.

This was also mentioned in the secret letter Cao Jin sent him last night. Perhaps because he was afraid of causing his unhappiness, he simply mentioned it, saying that his experience in this trip to Changsha has spread.

Xie Changgeng looked calm and stood outside the hall waiting for the summons.

With a sound of footsteps, Yang Guangshu, the eunuch beside Empress Liu, came out of the hall in person, and said that the Empress Dowager summoned him and led Xie Changgeng in.

Xie Changgeng followed in, walked to Hou Liu who was sitting upright in the hall, and performed the courtesy of his ministers kneeling down.

Empress Liu was only in her forties and had been the queen mother for many years. Ten years ago, Empress Mu from Changsha died. The following year, she was made her the queen and her son was made the crown prince.

The emperor had a secret illness and died within two years. The emperor who succeeded him was young, so he was naturally responsible for everything from being promoted to empress dowager to take charge of the government.

After she took power, she eliminated dissidents. The vassal kings of the Zhao family who were enfeoffed in various places claimed to be dragon sons and grandsons, and were nobles in heaven. How could they be controlled by the relatives and wait for death? They all wanted to get rid of the traitor and replace them with themselves.

This is the root cause of national chaos that has lasted for many years.

There were too many vassal kings, and they united to oppose Empress Liu's rule. They either rebel here or force the palace there. Even if Empress Liu had the means and no matter how powerful the mother's family had, they would be in vain and were in a hurry.

Three years ago, the rebellion broke out again, and the rebellious soldiers rushed straight to Shangjing. Empress Liu sent people to quell the rebellion, but suffered repeated defeats. Shangjing was in danger. Just when she was facing unprecedented pressure, Xie Changgeng was born.

In the past three years, with his outstanding military talent, he helped Empress Liu suppress the violent rebellion of the vassal kings several times. Empress Liu's status was thus stabilized. Why didn't she look at him differently?

She smiled and asked Xie Changgeng to get up, ordered the palace servant to give him a seat, and said with a smile: "I and Your Majesty saw the confession you handed over yesterday. It's great. The rebellion of King Jiangdu was quelled, and you made great contributions. You shared the troubles and problems of the court. Although Your Majesty was young, he also knew to tell me that Xie Qing was a loyal minister and a good general. You would like to give me any rewards, just speak."

Xie Changgeng said: "This is just my duty. I am ordered to fight against rebellion, and thanks to the great blessings of the Empress Dowager and Your Majesty, relying on the soldiers in the army to serve their lives, so that I can live up to the mission. I was originally just a wild man and had the honor of today, but I am so grateful that I have no more thoughts of seeking credit."

Empress Liu was very satisfied with his attitude and a smile appeared on her face.

"Xie Qing, you are young and have achieved your current official position. Although you have been awarded for your merits, I am afraid that you will really be the target of public criticism. This time, I will no longer grant you a title, but change your mother's imperial edict. How about it?"

Xie Changgeng knelt down and thanked him.

Empress Liu asked him to get up, said a few more words, and said, "Because of the rebellion of King Jiangdu, you are tired of leaving home on your wedding night. I feel very guilty. I heard that you went to Changsha last month?"

Xie Changgeng raised his eyes and looked at Empress Liu's concerning gaze, saying, "After pacifying the rebellion of King Jiangdu, I was fortunate to be given the opportunity to return home to visit my family. When I returned home, I learned that my wife was not suitable for me and was in a state of peace and health, so I had already returned to Changsha. I walked."

"So that's it. How is her health?"

"It's no big deal, just need to rest more. Thank you for your concern."

Empress Liu nodded.

"But why did I hear that you were humiliated in Changsha?"

Xie Changgeng looked ashamed.

"I dare not hide it. I am a rude person and I am a vulgar person. When I first asked my relatives to the King of Changsha, my wife and brother were dissatisfied with me. Now that I have seen me, I am negligent, which is also a normal person."

Empress Liu frowned: "This Mu Xuanqing is very brave, and he dares to treat you like this! He knows that you are my value and is so arrogant. What can you do in the future?"

She paused. "The Mu family in Changsha has always been malicious towards this palace. Someone once reminded me to beware of the Mu people. What do you think about this?"

She suddenly asked this question.

Xie Changgeng said: "The King of Changsha was young and energetic, and he acted recklessly. The king of a country was like this. Changsha also lacked soldiers and generals, not like other vassal kings, but they were all strong and powerful. What should I be afraid of? Even if they really dare to cause trouble in the future, how big can they make?"

"Xie Qing, in the future, if I want to get rid of Changsha, how will you deal with yourself?" Empress Liu stared at Xie Changgeng and asked again.

Xie Changgeng met Empress Liu and looked at him without blinking, saying, "If the king wants his minister to die, the minister has to die. What's more, something else?"

Empress Liu remained silent.

A few days ago, she summoned the inner historian Zhang Ban to discuss the next plan to determine the country. When talking about Changsha, Zhang Ban made suggestions that Changsha was already weak. The new king Mu Xuanqing, who succeeded to the throne three years ago, was not only far less capable than his father, the King of Changsha, but also acted recklessly. I heard that just a while ago, he hunted alone and fell into the ravine pit. If he had not been lucky enough, the searched person found it in time, he would have lost his life. The recent rumor that he refused to let his sister go back with the governor Xie Jie, and humiliated him in public is even more proof.

Compared with Changsha, which is not very threatening, the scheming King Lu and the King Pingyang who hold heavy troops are the real disasters at present. In the eyes of court officials, Changsha is not aroused right and wrong, paid tribute on time, and there is no conclusive evidence of rebellion. There is a secret statement in the court that the reason why Empress Liu did not tolerate Changsha was due to the grievances with Empress Mu. If we deal with Changsha now, it would not only give King Lu and King Pingyang an opportunity to take advantage of it, but it would also be suspected of losing the population.

Zhang Ban said that now is not a good time to move Changsha. It is better to get rid of King Lu and King Pingyang in the future. It will be easier to deal with Changsha.

Empress Liu felt that it made sense at that time, and after thinking about it, she decided to adopt it.

She just deliberately asked this question in front of Xie Changgeng just to test his attitude.

After all, he married the Queen Mo.

Now his reply is exactly in line with her predictions about Xie Changgeng.

With his background like that, he was a wife clan on one hand and an imperial power that could give him great success. There is no doubt about how he would make a choice.

Without himself, he is nothing.

Empress Liu felt relieved and smiled and said, "A few days ago, when I was discussing matters with Zhang Neishi, I mentioned Changsha. His views were similar to you. After all, you also married the Mu daughter. If it were not forcing me, I would not want you to make things difficult for you. In the future, as long as the Mu family is honest, I will not move them."

Xie Changgeng said respectfully: "I thank the Queen Mother of Changsha for the grace of the Queen Mother."

Empress Liu nodded, pondered for a while, and quickly made a decision in her heart.

After Xie Changgeng left, she called her confidant eunuch Yang Guangshu and said, "Immediately draft an edict for this palace and send someone to Changsha with rewards."

"Just say, I thought about the deep affection between me and Empress Mu, and I sighed a lot. I remember that Fulan, the daughter of the Mu family, lived in the palace ten years ago and had an old age with me. I missed her a little, so I specially summoned her to Beijing to reminisce about the past. If her body was convenient, she would leave to Beijing."

Eunuch Yang was slightly stunned and asked, "Empress Dowager, didn't Xie Jiedu just now and say that she was recuperating in Changsha? Why did you summon her to Beijing?"

Empress Liu smiled.

"You think Xie Qing said just now? It's probably because he hit a nail in Changsha and couldn't take back the princess of the Mu family. He had no choice but to use it as an excuse in front of others to cover it up."

"He is from my palace. Even if I don't move to Changsha, I will let Mu Xuanqing know that disrespect to Xie Qing is disrespect to me! Xie Qing is now in the capital. His married sister, not to mention not being sick, even if she is really sick, as long as I say something, she will have to follow Xie Qing to enter the capital with me!"

Eunuch Yang suddenly realized.

"What the Empress Dowager said is very true. In the past few days, I have also heard some discussions. I think those people are jealous of Xie Jiedu, and some words are simply unavailable to listen to. Empress Dowager, you kill two birds with one stone. Not only did you warn Changsha, but you also fulfilled the face of Xie Jiedu. He will be grateful to the Empress Dowager when he knows it."

Empress Liu was stunned for a moment and said, "It's not only that. I heard that the Queen of Mu's wife is outstanding in appearance and is known as the number one beauty in Changsha. Although Xie Qing had just expressed his loyalty to this palace, the so-called beauty village and heroic tomb have been in the hands of women from ancient times to the present. Don't look at Mu Xuanqing's attitude now. As long as Xie Qing and Mu's daughter are still husband and wife, in the future, if she listens to someone's instigation or hides evil intentions, it's not impossible to get rid of Xie Qing and the palace. I have to see it with my own eyes to be relieved. It's okay to be honest, but I don't know how to hold on to people like Xie Qing. But if she is an inappropriate person..."

A gloomy look flashed in her eyes.

"Then think of a way to solve it early to prevent disasters from happening in the future."

Eunuch Yang whispered: "The Empress Dowager's consideration is indeed detailed! Although she let Changsha go for the time being, she must be careful. I will draw an order now!"
Chapter completed!