Lin'an Never Night

Chapter 868 Plot
"How is my health?"

After the imperial physician finished taking his pulse, Zhao Qu leaned back on the couch and asked lazily.

The imperial physician smiled apologetically and said, "The remaining toxins in Your Majesty's body have been basically cleared. The Imperial Hospital will prescribe a few more doses of medicine; Your Majesty should continue taking them."

Zhao Qu curled his lip and said lazily, "There really is no problem. Before I could even ask, you had already claimed credit. Now, tell me, what is the truth?"

The imperial physician's smile froze on his face.

Zhao Qu's face darkened: "Speak, the Empress Dowager is old and the Empress Dowager is unaware of the affairs of the previous dynasty."

"I must have a clear understanding of my own body."

Upon hearing this, the imperial physician said with a slightly bitter expression, "Your Majesty... that poison is extremely potent and takes effect very quickly."

It's already a miracle that Your Majesty escaped with your life, but your foundation... is still damaged after all..."

"Stop being so wishy-washy, just tell me how much longer I have to live."

The imperial physician said sheepishly, "With proper care, it should be possible to recover in ten or twenty years."

Zhao Qu stared at the imperial physician for a long time, then sighed, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

"I thought I'd live for another year or two at most, but you're saying I'll live for another 10 or 20 years?"
"In the next ten or twenty years, many people won't live to that age even without illness or disaster. Why are you looking so long-faced?"

Zhao Qu was in a great mood and waved his hand, saying, "Alright, alright, you can leave now."

The imperial physician was taken aback by the fact that this absurd prince took life and death so lightly. He paused for a moment before agreeing and getting up to pack his medicine chest.

"Hey, that's right!"

Zhao Qu suddenly became serious: "Imperial Physician, you say that I have damaged my foundation, then... can my body still tolerate women?"

This prince is truly absurd!
The imperial physician inwardly scoffed, saying, "Your Majesty's testicles are extraordinary; they are more than a size larger than those of many strong men."

Therefore, since kidney essence is abundant, there is no impact. However, lust is like a steel knife scraping the bone…

Before he could finish speaking, Zhao Qu was already beaming with joy.

"Alright, alright, that's settled then. What about the saying 'color is a bone-scraping steel knife'? Why don't you mention that the Yellow Emperor ascended to immortality after having relations with three thousand women?"

Zhao Qu disagreed: "You've already said both the positive and the negative. If I can't even get close to women, what use is it if I live to be a hundred?"

Zhao Qu began to shoo away the guests: "Twenty or twenty years from now, if I am no longer enthusiastic about this place, my greatest pleasure will be gone."

"Whether I live or die then, what is there to regret? Heaven has indeed been kind to me, Zhao Qu."

After dismissing the imperial physician, Zhao Qu called to the eunuchs serving outside the door, "Go and invite the Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager here, and send someone to invite the Prince of Yan."

Before long, Empress Dowager Wu and Empress Dowager Xie hurriedly arrived at Zhao Qu's bedchamber.

Seeing that Zhao Qu was in much better spirits, Wu and Xie were very happy.

Zhao Qu said, "Mother, sister-in-law, I have recovered enough. Today, I will move back to the Prince's Mansion with Madam Qu."

He paused for a moment, then said, "The matter of Emperor Yili can no longer be delayed."

With the court assembly approaching, and the emperor not expected to attend, rumors are spreading throughout the court and among the people. The situation, which is currently trending towards stability, is about to descend into chaos again.

Still unwilling to give up, Madam Wu advised, "Brother Qu, the building is about to collapse. It would be most appropriate for you to step forward."

"Are you really not going to be emperor?"

Ms. Xie was also a little nervous after hearing this.

Even if her brother-in-law became emperor, it would never be as good as her son becoming emperor. She really preferred Zhao Yuan's three sons.

However, she dared not reveal her true thoughts in front of the highly respected Empress Dowager Wu.

But she was still worried that her brother-in-law would agree.

Zhao Qu smiled slightly: "Mother, didn't we already agree on this? Why are you bringing it up again?"

Madam Wu sighed softly and said, "You are well aware of the current situation in the court."

"Brother Qu, if you were willing to step forward, it would be far more beneficial to my Song dynasty than any of your nephews."

Zhao Qu shook his head: "Otherwise, if I were to become the emperor, that would be the worst possible move."

Madam Wu was slightly surprised: "What do you mean?"

Zhao Qu said frankly, "Yang Yuan is a man who values ​​loyalty and righteousness."

With me holding him back, unless our Zhao family continues to do things that offend him and push him to the point of no return.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have flipped the table.

This was also what Lady Wu thought, which is why she felt that Yang Yuan would be more reliable if Zhao Qu, who was closest to Yang Yuan, became emperor.

But for some reason, Qu Ge'er said that this was actually the worst move.

Zhao Qu said, "Yang Yuan purged the court of corrupt officials for his own life and the sake of the many soldiers who died unjustly in the Jin state."

But no matter how many difficulties he had, once he had done it, there was no turning back.

From then on, he had to be wary of my Zhao family.

Zhao Qu gave a wry smile and said, "Even if I don't become emperor, I will always be his friend."

If I become emperor, then his precautions will be directed at me.

But he was a man of great loyalty and affection, and he absolutely could not bear to let me be a puppet.

Has the mother ever considered how he should balance this relationship?

How should his followers, who have been entrusted with high-ranking positions, view the relationship between his son and Yang Yuan?
People's hearts and feelings are always changing.

Upon hearing this, Madam Wu fell silent.

She entered the palace at the age of fourteen, and at fifteen she donned armor, hung her sword, and accompanied Zhao Gou on his travels.

At that time, we faced the formidable enemy of the Jin army from the outside, and internally, numerous factions were vying for power, with frequent mutinies and such incidents...

But at that time, she had no regrets, because the Wu family girl had her man in her heart.

But decades later, she and Zhao Gou had become the most familiar strangers.

She didn't shed a single tear when Zhao Gou died.

The feelings had long since vanished without a trace, without anyone noticing.

Yes, people's hearts and relationships need to be maintained, even between husband and wife.

Otherwise, one day it will change.

Zhao Qu slowly said, "As friendship is worn down day by day, it gradually turns into mutual suspicion."

Mutual distrust will completely destroy any relationship.

"The friendship is gone, and neither of us has a way out, so one of us has to die."

Zhao Qu was perhaps born with intelligence, and he was able to see through too many things.

Or perhaps that's why he doesn't take many things to heart. Because for someone who has seen through it all, it's just that.

Zhao Qu said, "If I become a prince without official duties, I will not have any grudges against him."

If Dun'er makes any mistakes in the future, I'll be there to mediate and resolve the situation.

but……"

Zhao Qu became serious: "Whether Yang Yuan can become the Duke of Zhou, Yi Yin, or Huo Guang depends on how the emperor treats him."

Mother, sister-in-law, please remind Dun'er to be content with his lot and not to have any unrealistic ambitions.

As long as Dun'er treats him as a national hero, Yang Yuan will never rebel!

With Yang Yuan protecting our Zhao family, this land is as stable as Mount Tai.

When the ruler and his ministers are in harmony, they live in peace for generations, and the Zhao dynasty can continue securely.

At this moment, the chief eunuch tiptoed in to report: "Empress Dowager, Empress Dowager, Prince Jin, His Highness Prince Yan has arrived."

……

When Yang Yuan rushed to the palace, the women of the "Inner Secretariat" in the underground palace of the Yang family's inner quarters had also arrived.

Because Dan Niang had informed Lu Xi beforehand, Lu Xi knew what everyone was going to discuss today.

Lu Xi doesn't usually get involved in the internal affairs of the secretariat, but this time the matter to be discussed is too big, and no one would dare to take charge without her being invited to oversee things.

As long as she's there and doesn't object, everyone feels more confident.

Liu Yanran, Fujiwara Takako, Fei Yuye, Xue Bingxin, Leng Yuchan, Dan Niang, Emmanuelle, Yazawa Kanon, Tsubakiya Kona, Wu Youyao...

As for Qingtang, Aman, and Alihu, they are not qualified to get involved in such an important matter.

In addition, Fujiwara Himeka, Uguron Yingge, Dao Feifei, Meizhen, Ermeisa, and Kim Tae-hee...
As early as when Yang Yuan received the top-notch courier in Shaanxi and was preparing to hand over his post and return to Lin'an, they had already begun to make their own arrangements.

Each of them has a powerful force behind her.

So sooner or later, they were all arranged to leave by Yang Yuan.

Yang Yuan dared not gamble, betting that the Zhao family would not harm him, and betting that he would not make a mistake.

Therefore, with these people around, he felt much more at ease.

Duo Zi sat at the lower end of the Lu River. Seeing that everyone was seated, he said in a deep voice:
“My lord, ever since you relinquished your military power in Shaanxi and returned to Lin’an, you have been facing numerous crises.”

Now that my husband has launched the "purging of the court of corrupt officials," there is no turning back.

What the future holds, we cannot know.

But my husband is too sentimental; if he's not careful, he might harm himself.

Fei Yuye said, “My husband’s affairs are always filled with complaints and worries. The ‘Outer Secretary’, the ‘Middle Secretary’, and many elders in the ‘Fellow Boat’ often offer us advice. We must be wary of others.”

Emmanuelle said slowly, "However, there is an old Chinese saying: 'You can be a thief for a thousand days, but you can't guard against thieves for a thousand days.'"

Yazawa Kanon asked, "So, what do we need to do?"

Tsubaki Kana immediately replied sweetly, "I will listen to you, Madam. I will do whatever you say."

Upon hearing this, Xue Bingxin and Leng Yuchan both glanced at Xiao Nai.

That little bitch.

Only Wu Youyao remained unmoved, displaying the demeanor of a master at the level of a great Bodhisattva.

Both Liu Yanran and Duozi had served in the royal family, with Liu Yanran being particularly familiar with the Song Dynasty royal family.

The two of them then complemented each other, integrating the influence of the external and internal secretarial offices, as well as the many forces that had pledged allegiance to Yang Yuan.
And the opinions and demands of Han Qianchen, Wang Changsheng, and other veteran members of the same group.
He slowly explained the final, summarized plan to everyone.

After hearing this, Dan Niang looked at Lu Xi and whispered, "Elder sister, we can't tell our husband about this. We'll have to figure it out ourselves."

What do you think of this plan?

Old Man Song and others also kept complaining to the internal secretariat.

Moreover, Lu Xi had to endure the constant betrayals from the imperial court while her second brother risked his life time and time again, causing her endless worry and fear.

Women naturally place more importance on romantic relationships and family/clan connections than men.

For her, family was always the most important thing, regardless of the nation or the world.

Therefore, Lu Xi had already agreed to the plan.

However, if we want to go further, aren't there many crises ahead?

She knew that her sisters each had their own strengths, and many of them had more insight and vision than her, so naturally they wouldn't act arbitrarily just because they were the eldest sister.

After a moment's thought, Song Luxi said, "Duozi and Yanran have already explained their plan."

Sisters, who agrees and who disagrees?

Emmanuelle was the first to nod and say, "I agree!"

Following that, the other women expressed their opinions one after another.

Wu Youyao didn't care. The young nun Fanqing, who had renounced worldly desires, now only had one man in her heart, along with a slightly blurred sense of family.

Since everyone agreed, she naturally had no objections.

Seeing this, Lu Xi said, "Alright, in that case, Yanran, Duozi, and Yuye will be in charge of this matter. Let's begin!"

Yazawa Kanon said regretfully, "When Himeka first met Master, she wanted to encourage him to do this."

If Himeka-neechan hadn't gone back to Hakata, she would definitely have tried her best to participate.

Duo Zi smiled charmingly: "How could we forget her?"

Hime-hyang from Japan, Kim Tae-hee from Goryeo, Ugulon Yeong-ga from Shin-Kim, Fei Fei Fei from Dali, Mei-zhen from Pengzhou, Er-mei-isa from Tianshui...

Everyone needs to do something.

Liu Yanran said, "We don't have any of our own people running the business on Xixia Road."

However, the Ren family can only rely on her husband now.

My seventh brother's brothel, named Que, was mainly responsible for spying and planning against the Western Xia, and they had considerable influence there.

So, leave that to me; I'll do my best.

Seeing that everyone had reached a decision, Song Luxi said, "Alright, sisters, please act according to the agreement."

I'm going to find my father and ask him to make the trip to Xuzhou to find Uncle Xiao!

Uncle Xiao, Xiao Qianyue, was the first old teacher in Lin'an.

He crafted the Tai'a sword worn by Qin Shi Huang, the "Stone Classic of Filial Piety" handwritten by Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, the bath towel used by Yang Guifei when she bathed in Huaqing Pool, and the terracotta horse that Huo Qubing, the Marquis of Champion, rode as a child...

I just don't know what he'll need to do this time.

(End of this chapter)