After saving the Empress, I became the top scholar in the imperial examination.

By the time she had prepared a large table of dishes, including honey-steamed preserved fish, the sun had just set. But the young doctor was nowhere to be found today; he hadn't returned home even at this hour.

She told Qinghuan to eat first, while she sat in the flower hall and waited. As the sky gradually darkened, Chunyu lit the lamps in the flower hall. She didn't know how long she waited, but she remembered that at some point, she felt a little tired, so she placed her hands on the jade round table, rested her head in the crook of her arm, and quietly fell asleep... After a long time, when she opened her eyes from her drowsy state, she saw the young doctor enter the flower hall...

……

……

The next day.

She summoned Xiao Shaocheng, Minister of Rites, Zhao Silang, Vice Minister of Rites, and Cui Xianghai, a senior official in the Ministry of Rites responsible for direct negotiations with the Northern Dynasty, to the Qianqing Palace.

Xiao Shaocheng was in his seventies and was the father of Xiao Minmin, the wife of the Marquis of Jingbei. According to seniority... she didn't know what to call him. Calling him "Xiao Qingjia" would be somewhat disrespectful, so she could only very politely call him "Xiao Gong".

Xiao Shaocheng was flattered. He had been entrusted by the Empress Dowager to submit a memorial to the newly enthroned Empress, advising her to spare the life of Prince Wu with the grand gesture of "filial piety." He even offered to retire and make room for his trusted minister in the position of Minister. He had thought it would be good enough if the Empress didn't hold a grudge, but he never expected that she would still be so magnanimous and treat him with such courtesy... It seems that he retired a bit too early... Xiao Shaocheng couldn't help but think with some regret.

Zhu Cuiwei ordered the three that everything except the marriage could be discussed slowly and patiently.

Cui Xianghai said solemnly, "Your Majesty is absolutely right. That Northern Tartar wants to become the Grand Prince Consort—it's utterly ridiculous! The war between the Northern Dynasty and the Rakshasa is raging, and the Rakshasa's army is extremely powerful and their advance is unstoppable. They are the ones who should be worried! The principle of 'befriending distant states and attacking nearby ones' applies here. Our dynasty's decision not to ally with the distant Rakshasa but to jointly attack the nearby Northern Dynasty is already a matter of righteousness. The Northern Dynasty, however, is oblivious to our position and has actually proposed such humiliating terms in the alliance! They are truly ungrateful! In my opinion, Your Majesty sees through this perfectly. At this time, our dynasty should indeed wait for the right price and reap the benefits!"

Cui Xianghai's words were righteous and impeccable.

Xiao Shaocheng frowned slightly, his gray eyebrows furrowed, and he lowered his gaze, saying nothing more.

Zhao Silang, in the prime of his life, glanced at Cui Xianghai and said loudly, "Your Majesty, the consort Your Majesty has chosen should naturally be outstanding in appearance and possess both virtue and talent, worthy of the name of the Great Liang. That Beile from the family of Prince Yi of the Northern Dynasty is certainly unsuitable. However... what Cui Lang just said, I find quite different from what you have said."

"Oh?" Zhu Cuiwei glanced at him, then looked up and said, "Minister Zhao, please speak freely."

Zhao Silang lowered his head and said, "Your Majesty, in the past, Great Zhao and Liao were neighbors and had a brotherly alliance. When Jin swept Liao away, the incompetent ruler of Great Zhao actually allied with Jin, intending to reclaim the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun. After Jin destroyed Liao, the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun that Great Zhao had reclaimed were quickly destroyed by Jin. The entire Yan and Yun region was not reclaimed until two hundred years later, when Emperor Taizu trampled Youyan with his horse. Jin then destroyed Liao and captured Bianjing, forcing Great Zhao to move its capital to Lin'an. Thus, it is clear that the strategy of befriending distant states while attacking nearby ones is suitable for Great Qin, but absolutely not for Great Qi. It is suitable for Jin, but absolutely not for Great Zhao."

The implication, of course, is that this suits the Rakshasa, but not the Great Liang.

Cui Xianghai glanced at his superior and gave a slight snort, saying, "Could it be that Lord Zhao hopes our dynasty will form an alliance with the Northern Dynasty? In order to prevent the Rakshasa from destroying the Northern Dynasty and then marching south to destroy our Great Liang?"

Xiao Shaocheng remained silent, but sighed inwardly. He was exhausted, and had already entrusted all matters concerning the Northern Dynasty to Zhao Silang. With his keen intellect, he could naturally see that his two subordinates in the Ministry of Rites were playing good cop and bad cop, still urging His Majesty to form an alliance with the Northern Dynasty. However, neither dared to utter the word "marriage alliance."

Zhao Silang shook his head and said, "No. It is not that I say we must form an alliance with the Northern Dynasty, but..." He sighed and said, "If we really sit idly by and watch the Northern Dynasty be destroyed by the Rakshasa without helping it, I'm afraid, I'm afraid..." He gritted his teeth, but still did not say the words "follow in the footsteps of the Great Zhao".

Zhu Cuiwei narrowed her phoenix eyes slightly, glanced at the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, and slowly said, "Minister Zhao, rest assured. The north is not like the south. In two or three months, the snow in the south will be as thin as paper, but over in Heilongjiang, it will be snowing heavily and freezing cold. With the Northern Dynasty's capabilities, it is unlikely that it will be conquered by the Rakshasa in two or three months. Once winter comes, both sides will cease hostilities. Minister Zhao... you don't need to worry unnecessarily. Talking more with the Northern Dynasty will be fine."

"Don't worry..." Zhao Silang felt a chill in his heart, and bowed with a forced smile, saying, "Your Majesty is absolutely right. I know nothing about military affairs, and my words are those of a scholar, making me a laughingstock among experts."

Zhu Cuiwei shook her head and didn't say anything more.

She summoned Cabinet Minister Gao Congzhe yesterday. Gao Congzhe said that for the officials in Jiangnan, this alliance hits them where it hurts most. The more powerful and influential the families in Jiangnan, the more they are happy to see it happen and want to finalize the alliance as soon as possible.

Once the imperial court can reclaim the Huai River intact, they can enjoy wealth and prosperity for at least another hundred years, no longer worrying day and night about the Northern Dynasty crossing the river, or His Majesty launching a northern expedition and demanding grain from them.

Zhao Silang was a descendant of Zhao You, a famous minister of the Former Liang Dynasty. Over the course of 150 years, his family had accumulated more than 10,000 acres of land. What they wanted most was to enjoy peace and tranquility.

Fortunately, the Ministry of War's attitude was relatively clear. Gao Congzhe was the former Minister of War, and the current Minister of War, Luan Zongyuan, had a father who died at the hands of the Northern Dynasty's Eight Banners army, so he strongly opposed the so-called alliance with the Northern Dynasty.

The Ministry of War, acting on her orders, is working with the Embroidered Uniform Guard to investigate military supplies across the country, but they are not doing so openly. When they encounter corrupt officials, they can only tolerate them for the time being to avoid causing unrest, and settle scores later.

Inside the Qianqing Palace.

After outlining the bottom line of the alliance, Zhu Cuiwei discussed some details with the others. Marriage was not feasible, but other aspects of the alliance were open to discussion.

For example, after the alliance is formed, how long will it take for the Northern Dynasty's army to withdraw from south of the Huai River, how long will it take for the Northern Dynasty to dismantle the military fortresses and strongholds built south of the Huai River, how much food and military equipment the Southern Dynasty needs to provide to the Northern Dynasty to help it resist the Rakshasa, when will the two sides send troops... There are a lot of details to discuss... There is really no rush.

Zhu Cuiwei said calmly, "Minister Zhao, Minister Cui, all these things must be discussed clearly, and nothing can be omitted." The two immediately accepted the order.

He then smiled at Xiao Shaocheng and said, "I'm grateful for your continued care, Master Xiao. These are turbulent times, and I can only return home to enjoy my retirement in two more months."

With the experienced and prudent Xiao Shaocheng overseeing things, nothing major will happen to the Ministry of Rites.

Xiao Shaocheng immediately agreed.

After the three people left...

An old eunuch came to report, saying, "The Empress Dowager invites His Majesty to Yongshou Palace for a talk."

Sunset.

Zhu Cuiwei's imperial carriage stopped outside Yongshou Palace.

Yongshou Palace is located on the west side of the Imperial Palace and is one of the Six Western Palaces. It has a hipped roof with yellow glazed tiles. She stepped down from the imperial carriage, looked up at the gloomy sky, and entered the main hall of Yongshou Palace.

The Empress Dowager sat at the head of the table. There were chairs on both sides of the hall, each with a few people sitting on it. There were more than ten people on both sides in total. Some wore python robes, some wore ordinary clothes, some were old and some were young, and each had an extraordinary demeanor.

She stepped into the hall.

Everyone rose and bowed, saying, "...Greetings, Your Majesty."