Strange Tales from the Northern Qi Dynasty

Chapter 256: Crazy Prince

Inside the palace.

Queen Hu held Gao Wei in her arms and looked at the important ministers in front of her anxiously.

Gao Yu, Gao Rui, Duan Shao, and Gao Yan who just returned.

Gao Wei stayed quietly in his mother's arms, looking at the ministers in front of him, confusion written all over his little eyes.

However, he hadn't been held by his mother for a long time since his younger brother was born, so he was still very happy.

He didn't quite understand what was happening now.

The mother's reaction was strange. Sometimes she cried, sometimes she giggled. She also forced herself to cry, even though she didn't know what she was crying for.

Several people were discussing the matter of ascending the throne, but Queen Hu did not respect herself very much. She wore clothes that were not in accordance with etiquette, and in front of four important ministers, she did not have the demeanor of a person from a prominent family at all. There were several eunuchs with good looks standing in front and behind her. Even during the discussion, a eunuch came up with things and interrupted Gao Yin's speech.

Even Gao Rui was a little angry when he saw this situation.

Queen Hu didn't seem to care about any of this at all, and her tone was a little frivolous.

However, the child in her arms was the best choice at the moment. Just as everyone was discussing a good time to ascend the throne, Queen Hu suddenly asked, "What should we do with that slut Li Zu'e?"

Gao Rui immediately frowned, "Queen, you can't humiliate Queen Wenxuan like that."

Queen Hu rolled her eyes at the other party, showing her snow-white arms, and picked up food from the side, looking like a common woman. She said disdainfully: "Humiliation? I'm afraid you don't know, her belly is big, and she has been bewitching Your Majesty all day long. I think Your Majesty is crazy because of touching this woman!"

"I heard that Emperor Wenxiang had touched her. There's no need to say more about Emperor Wenxuan. The current emperor also touched her. Everyone who touched this woman became ill. It's possible that Emperor Xiaozhao had touched her too, but he just didn't say anything."

Several ministers blushed at this moment, feeling ashamed of what the queen had said.

Gao Rui immediately looked at Gao Wei.

"Prince, we are discussing important matters here, please go and rest first."

Gao Wei was obedient. He jumped down quickly, bowed deeply to several important ministers, and left with several eunuchs.

Gao Rui looked at the prince's leaving back, his expression softened slightly, and he looked at the queen seriously.

"Queen, you are the mother of the Great Qi, the model of the whole country. How can you say such unbearable words?! The prince is so young, not even ten years old, and you still want to say these things in front of him!!"

Gao Rui has always been straightforward and never speaks politely.

Queen Hu was a little frightened by what he said, and quickly bowed her head and confessed her guilt.

They continued talking about business.

Queen Hu didn't dare to speak easily anymore. She just lowered her head and said nothing, as if she was leaving everything to them.

Several important ministers decided on the coronation and other matters, and then they bid farewell to the queen.

They really didn't want to continue to get along with this frivolous and rude queen.

Watching several people leave in a hurry, Queen Hu raised her head, her face full of displeasure.

A pretty female official came to the Queen's side and whispered, "Queen, please don't worry. What can you say to these rough people?"

Queen Hu looked at her, and suddenly reached out her hand and grasped something under her clothes.

The female official was stunned and her face turned red, "Queen~~"

"Lord Wang, who do you think is thicker, you or they?"

"The Queen is joking."

"Look at how stupid you are. Go call Shan Langjun and Yuan Langjun over. Tonight, we will recite scriptures for His Majesty all night long, hoping that he will get better soon."

"Hahaha~~"

Several important officials were walking outside and could still hear the laughter coming from inside.

Gao Rui frowned, his face looking extremely ugly.

"The Queen is rude! She is so disrespectful!"

"Can you be a queen mother with this behavior and words?"

Hearing Gao Rui's words, Duan Shao immediately reminded him: "Don't be impatient, Prince Zhao. Many of the Hu family's relatives were previously appointed."

Gao Rui himself was close to the Hu family's in-laws, but at this moment, his eyes were full of anger. Queen Hu's performance was disappointing, and he even began to regret his decision.

Gao Yu said slowly, "Let's not talk about the Queen's matter for now. What should we do about Queen Wenxuan's matter?"

After hearing this, the important officials were unwilling to speak.

If what the queen said was true and Queen Wenxuan was pregnant, it would be a huge scandal.

The late emperor has been dead for several years, but his queen is having an affair with the current emperor. She is not a concubine, but a legitimate wife, the queen.

They fell silent immediately.

Gao Yan sighed and said, "I'll find a way to solve it. You guys go do other things."

The important officials were silent at this moment, full of worry. Duan Shao spoke again to comfort them, "Well, although the queen is not good-looking, the prince is well-behaved and kind. If he is taught well, he will surely be a wise ruler in the future."

In the inner hall.

Gao Wei walked in accompanied by several eunuchs.

As soon as I walked in, I heard a dog barking from inside.

Gao Wei's eyes lit up and he quickly quickened his pace. He walked quickly into the other hall and saw a little kid about the same height as him, no more than ten years old, squatting aside. There was a big dog lying in front of the child, sticking out its tongue.

The child touched the dog's head with a smile on his face.

Gao Wei stood at the door, looking at this place but not daring to get closer.

The child looked up and saw Gao Wei, and immediately frowned, "Wei? Why are you here?"

"My mother asked me to come here. She has something to do in the main hall."

This child is the same age as Gao Wei, but slightly taller than Gao Wei.

His name is Gao Chuo.

He was Gao Zhan's eldest son, born a few hours earlier than his younger brother Gao Wei, but because of his illegitimate status, he was demoted to a younger brother.

Gao Zhan first adopted him to Gao Qia as his son. Gao Qia was the fifteenth of the fourteen generations of the Gao family and was born to Lou Zhaojun. The second generation of the Gao family should actually be the fifteenth generation. Unfortunately, the fifteenth did not live to adulthood and died at the age of thirteen, so the fifteenth generation became the fourteenth generation.

This year, Gao Zhan chose another person to be adopted by his younger brother, and brought his own son out, and he once again became his own son.

Therefore, the two brothers Gao Wei and Gao Chuo were not very familiar with each other.

Gao Chuo waved his hand and said, "Come over here, we can play together."

Gao Wei hurried forward, squatted aside, carefully reached out his hand and touched the big dog's head.

The eunuchs on both sides were terrified and stared at him intently, fearing that the dog would bite the prince.

The two brothers played for a while, and Gao Chuo suddenly looked at Gao Wei, "It's boring to play like this. I have something more fun, do you want to try it?"

Gao Wei was a little nervous, "How do we play?"

Gao Chuo looked at the eunuch in front of him, "You, take off your clothes!"

The eunuch was horrified and begged for mercy.

Gao Chuo said viciously: "If you don't obey, I will tell the queen that you abused me."

The eunuch looked at Gao Wei, who frowned. Gao Chuo urged him again, and the eunuch took off his clothes.

"Okay, now you walk here like a chicken."

Gao Chuo slapped the big dog beside him, "Come on, General Black, bite that chicken to death!!"

The next moment, the big dog pounced on him and bit the eunuch's leg. The eunuch screamed and struggled frantically.

Gao Chuo's face turned red, he laughed and clapped his hands.

Gao Wei was terrified. He pulled Gao Chuo's sleeve and said, "Isn't this a bad idea? Will it hurt?"

Gao Chuo didn't answer, just smiled.

Gao Wei looked in astonishment at the big dog biting the eunuch madly. His speech became slower and slower. Gradually, his face turned red, his whole body was shaking, and his eyes became more and more blurred.

“Is it fun?!”

"Fun!"

“Is there anything more fun?”

"Yes! Scorpion bath! Have you ever heard of it?"

"no!"

"Hahaha, the only thing you can do in this palace is take a scorpion bath. Apart from that, there's nothing else fun to do. The fun is in the wild! Use big dogs to eat the kids on the street, one bite at a time!!"

“Hahahaha~~Really?!”

"Catch their parents and make them watch the big dogs eat their babies! That's the most fun!"

"Hahaha~~~"

Gao Wei's eyes widened, and a strange smile appeared on his innocent face, "It turns out there are so many happy things!!"

The eunuchs around said nothing. They stood there, terrified, and dared not speak.

At this moment, a man hurried here and had the big dog caught.

When he saw the person coming, Gao Wei's ferocious expression suddenly disappeared.

The person who came was Lu Lingxuan.

Lu Lingxuan looked at Gao Wei with some disappointment, then looked at the eunuch lying on the ground in pain, and Gao Chuo in the distance.

Gao Chuo didn't pay much attention to him and still looked very proud. Lu Lingxuan sighed and said, "Someone, take the Prince of Nanyang back."

A eunuch immediately came forward and pulled Gao Chuo away. Gao Wei lowered his head, feeling somewhat guilty. Lu Lingxuan squatted helplessly and looked at him, "Your Highness, the Crown Prince. The Queen doesn't like you and wants to make your brother the emperor. The ministers don't know what kind of person you are and are still waiting and watching. At this time, how can you kill the eunuchs for fun?"

"I know I was wrong."

Gao Wei said in a low voice.

Lu Lingxuan's face looked much better. She held Gao Wei's small hand and said, "If Your Highness wants to have fun, just tell me."

"I'll find someone to play with Your Highness. No matter how Your Highness plays, no one will find out, and no one will report it."

"It's just that you are outside, Your Highness cannot do anything reckless."

Gao Wei asked, "Sister, when can I do whatever I want?"

"You can always do it, but you have to do it beautifully and leave others speechless."

"For example, if your highness lets the dog bite people, he will be discovered if he plays here, and the ministers outside the city will be informed. They will be dissatisfied with your highness, so your highness must find a place where no one else knows to play."

"What if I just want to play here?"

"Then Your Highness must find a way to get rid of those ministers who are holding you hostage. You can get rid of anyone who dares not to let you play."

Lu Lingxuan stood up and looked outside.

"come in."

The next moment, a man was seen walking in quickly. The man was not very old, just a teenager. After walking in, he bowed deeply to Gao Wei.

Lu Lingxuan said with a smile: "Your Highness, this is my son Mu Tibo. From now on, let him follow Your Highness."

Gao Wei looked at the older brother in front of him, smiled and nodded.

Lu Lingxuan continued slowly, "Your Highness, there are many things we need to do, but the time is not yet ripe. Please be patient. As long as you endure this period of time, there will be nothing to worry about in the future."

Gao Wei nodded heavily.

"I see."

Lu Lingxuan stood up, looked at the eunuch wailing on the ground, then looked at her son and gestured. Mu Ti Po narrowed his eyes and nodded slowly.

Lu Lingxuan stood where she was and looked towards the main hall.

The queen and her youngest son.

Gao Rui, Gao Yu and many other clan members outside the imperial city.

"Someone, go and call General Liu Taozhi in."

Liu Mansion.

In the past few days, many guests came to visit Liu Taozi.

Gao Yanzong was sitting next to Liu Taozi at this moment, saying something loudly.

"Brother, I originally intended to follow you to the border. I really want to go to the border and beat up the Zhou people!"

"But, Yecheng still needs me. My brothers are at odds with each other. When I was here, there were still people who could persuade them. If I follow you, I'm afraid they will start fighting tomorrow."

Gao Yanzong shook his head and said, "None of my brothers are worry-free."

Judging from his attitude, he seems to believe that this family will fall apart without me.

However, he is indeed one of the few people who can get along well with his brothers. The rest of them have prejudices against each other. The eldest brother Gao likes to have fun and love luxury, and he doesn't like the strict fourth brother. The third brother Gao is brave and irritable, and he doesn't like the gentle and studious second brother Gao.
Gao Yanzong complained a few words, "When are you going to leave, brother?"

"Leave tomorrow."

"what??"

"Leaving tomorrow? Not waiting for the ascension to the throne?"

"I have something to discuss with King Lou. Once we're done, we'll leave. There are many important things to do at the border."

Gao Yanzong nodded, "That's right, Yang Zhong will definitely come next year. If Yang Zhong is coming, please let me know in advance and I will go over to help you!"

“I was born with supernatural powers”

Gao Yanzong showed his strong arms. His fat was not just pure fat. When he exerted force, one could see the strong tendons on his arms.

He is very active and has to exercise every day. He can't rest. He is also a foodie. His daily appetite is astonishingly large and he can't stop.

Just as the two were talking loudly, there was noise outside again.

Someone broke in by force.

Liu Taozi heard the soldier draw his knife.

Gao Yanzong stood up angrily, furious at being interrupted. He looked outside the door and said, "Brother, wait a minute. I'll go and catch that rude guy!!"

Gao Yanzong went there and soon came back.

Gao Rui pushed him from behind, and Gao Yanzong no longer had the arrogant expression he had just had.

He hurriedly said goodbye to Liu Taozi and fled.

The person who came was Gao Rui. Gao Rui frowned and looked very serious.

He walked to Liu Taozi's side, waiting for her to give up her seat so that he could sit in the upper seat, but after waiting for a while, Liu Taozi didn't even make a move to get up.
Gao Rui laughed, "General Liu is so arrogant, do you want me to worship you?"

Liu Taozi pointed to the side and said, "Your Majesty, please sit down."

Gao Rui did not get angry and sat down immediately. He looked at Liu Taozi standing beside him and couldn't help but marvel at her.

"I've heard that General Liu is arrogant and domineering, but today I know the rumors are true."

"Your Majesty, you are an important official of the Three Departments, and I am the same as the Three Departments. Besides, I am an external general, not your subordinate. If Your Majesty has something to discuss with me, you can sit here and discuss with me. If Your Majesty wants to order me to do something, then Your Majesty should go back as soon as possible."

Gao Rui was very surprised.

He nodded, "Okay, then I'll sit here and talk to you."

"I have never met you, but I have been to Beishuo and Beiheng, and served as the governor of six states there. You did a good job there."

Gao Rui affirmed Liu Taozi, and then he said: "I came to see you because of something important."

"Your Majesty, please speak."

"I want to enthrone Emperor Xiao Zhao's crown prince as emperor."

"Oh?"

Liu Taozi looked at him, "Why?"

"Empress Hu is rude and immoral. With a mother like her, I don't think the prince is a man of much virtue."

"I want to get rid of the Hu family's relatives."

"The son of Emperor Xiao Zhao is the general's brother-in-law? I don't think this will do any harm to the general."

Liu Taozi shook her head. "This is your family affair. I won't interfere."

"This is not a family matter, this is a world matter."

"The ministers have just approved it, and you want to replace him. The ministers will not agree. They will only think that the king is trying to usurp the throne and exclude dissidents."

Gao Rui then fell silent.

He pondered for a long time, and suddenly asked: "Do you think King Pengcheng can govern the world well?"

"King Pengcheng and the king are both wise men who care about the world. I think things will be much better than before."

"What about you? Will you rebel?"

"will not."

Gao Rui fumbled for a long time, found the wine bag from his sleeve, and took a sip.

"I will solve these problems. I will not let any of the local nobles, nobles, or traitors who are harming the country go."

"King Pengcheng lacks courage. He is not fit to rule the world. He has clearly caught those people's handles, but he dare not kill them. What can he change with words alone?"

Liu Taozi asked: "Why did the king come to me?"

Gao Rui carefully took out a long letter from his sleeve. He looked very conflicted. Holding the letter in his hand, he seemed stiff and motionless.

After a long time, he handed the letter to Liu Taozi.

"This is?"

"These are the talented people from the border counties. I promoted many of them in the past. They are all good and virtuous people."

"After I left, some of them began to hide their abilities, some began to live in seclusion, and some fled to other places. Now there are more than 30 people left, and they are all useful talents."

"The border areas are in ruins. If these people are used well, they can pacify the local people sooner. It's up to you whether to use them or not."

"If you think that these are my trusted followers, then send them all to me and don't harm them."

Liu Taozi took the letter and looked at Gao Rui.

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Gao Rui said slowly: "If one day, I die because of state affairs."

"I would like you to send troops in time to stop the civil war. If possible, resolve it quickly and don't let more people die."

"I see."

ps: He liked naked people, and made them squat like animals, and let dogs bite and eat them. He turned left to Dingzhou, drew water from the well to make a back pond, and shot people from the top of the building. He liked to travel incognito, hunted without restraint, and raped and raped people. He said he learned to be a man like Wen Xuanbo. A woman holding a child on the road ran to hide in the grass, and Chuo took the child and fed it to the Persian dog. The woman cried, and Chuo was angry, and let the dog eat it again. The dog refused to eat, so he smeared the child's blood, and then ate it. ——"Book of Northern Qi·Biography of Nanyang King"

In the seventh year, he was ordered to command the military affairs of the six states of Cang, Ying, You, An, Ping and Dongyan, and the governor of Cangzhou. In the eighth year, he summoned Rui to Ye and appointed him as the governor of Beishuozhou, and the commander of the three states of Beiyan, Beiwei and Beiheng, as well as the military affairs of the towns along the Great Wall west of Kutui and east of the Yellow River. Rui comforted the newly relocated people, set up beacons and garrisons, and defended the interior and the exterior with rules and regulations, which greatly reassured the soldiers and civilians. In places without water, they prayed and dug wells, and when they used shovels and hoes, springs gushed out, which is still called Zhaojun Wangquan. - "Book of Northern Qi·Biography of Gao Rui"

(End of this chapter)