Chapter 590 Sir, times have changed (2)
“Really?” The young eunuch was doubtful.
"It's absolutely true!" Yang Jiong replied categorically, "My admiration for the emperor is like a surging river, endless, and the world can learn from it!"
This young eunuch His name was Han Shunxi, and he was the one who took the lead in shouting "Long live our emperor" under the white marble steps on the day Gu Xu killed Emperor Tianxing.
With the death of Emperor Tianxing, several powerful eunuchs in the former Daqi Palace, such as Cao Tong, the eunuch of Bingbi, all chose to commit suicide because they were afraid of Gu Xu's liquidation.
After Gu Xu moved into Zichen Palace, for the sake of saving money, and as a time traveler, he was already used to taking care of himself and didn't like to be served by a large group of people anytime and anywhere, so he dismissed it. A large number of palace personnel.
After all, when he was shopping in stores in his previous life, he always liked to choose slowly by himself. He would feel uncomfortable if a clerk followed him too attentively.
It would undoubtedly be unbearable for Gu Xu if a large group of palace maids and eunuchs were watching daily chores such as eating, drinking, bathing, and dressing.
The maids and concubines in the palace have basically been released to the people, and they choose their husbands to marry.
For more than twenty years, Emperor Tianxing has practiced in seclusion and has not been close to women. However, the imperial court still followed the old system and held private drafts every three years.
As a result, many "older virgins" between the ages of twenty and forty gathered in Zichen Palace.
They spent the best years of their youth in the deep palace, but they never even saw the emperor's face.
Gu Xu couldn’t help but sigh at this, it’s true that a full man doesn’t know how hungry a hungry man is.
In his army, a large group of bachelor soldiers could not find wives, almost to the point where even the sight of sows made them feel pretty; but Emperor Tianxing, for the so-called "royal face", sent thousands of soldiers to Women are kept in the palace and have nothing to do.
Are you not worried at all about the declining fertility rate and negative population growth in the wilderness?
Most of the maids and concubines were sincerely happy about Gu Xu's decree to release the palace ladies back to the people, and they all praised the new king's wise decision.
They are like canaries that have been imprisoned in a cage for a long time, and now they are finally freed and free.
However, a very small number of people, when they were about to leave the palace, caught a glimpse of the new king's young and tall figure with a jade tree facing the wind from a distance. Inexplicable feelings surged in their hearts, and they actually raised their thoughts. The thought of staying.
But Gu Xu flatly refused.
On the one hand, he was not a sentimental person; on the other hand, Zhao Yan was still beside him at the time, looking at him with a smile.
If he upset her jealousy, he would never end up easy.
As for the eunuchs in the palace, they originally thought they would pack up and leave, but Gu Xu considered that they might be looked down upon by others after they left, and it would be difficult for them to "re-employ".
So, after cleaning up a group of eunuchs who had done evil, were corrupt and perverted the law, Gu Xu kept the rest.
However, Gu Xu did not let them idle in the palace, but sent them out to deal with a lot of chores during the early days of the new dynasty. After all, he is currently short of manpower, so this can be regarded as making full use of the labor force.
Someone once advised him: "Emperor, the number of servants in the palace is too small, and it may be difficult to demonstrate your royal majesty."
Regarding this, Gu Xu secretly cursed in his heart: If you want me to recruit more people, do you also pay the wages of these people?
However, he responded calmly: "A person's dignity does not depend on the number of his servants, but on his own strength."
Han Shunxi, the first to surrender, was temporarily promoted by Gu Xu to the position of "Eunuch in the Hall" because his family background was innocent and he had not done any evil deeds.
Since the current eunuchs with higher status than him were either dead or imprisoned, Han Shunxi instantly had the greatest authority in the inner court.
But he did not dare to get carried away with this at all, let alone imitate his predecessors and use this little power in his hands to plunder and make money.
Because he knew very well that his current power and status all originated from the young new king.
This new emperor is completely different from Emperor Tianxing who practiced in seclusion and ignored secular affairs.
He is determined to seek governance, strictly supervises, and knows everything about the affairs of the court, and he cannot tolerate a grain of sand in his eyes.
After he took power, within a few days, a large number of officials were packed into Luojing Prison. The originally empty and deserted cell was now overcrowded.
There are even many people lining up outside, waiting for some empty seats to be made available after Qiu Houwenzhan.
Han Shunxi did not want to become "cell friends" with these people.
He looked solemnly, took out an imperial edict from his sleeve, and began to read:
"In response to Tian's obedience, I accept the order of Ziming:
"Luojing Mansion Yin Yangjiong, who is in a prominent position, does not want to serve the country, but engages in corruption.
“When the Ghost King of Mang Mountain invaded the country, he embezzled funds for disaster relief, causing the people to lose their homes and complain everywhere; he also accepted bribes, appointed cronies for personal gain, engaged in malpractice for personal gain, and corrupted the government;
"He also secretly colluded with Mingquan and Yanling merchants to resell the government's cultivation resources and enrich his own pockets, which caused the imperial court's dignity to fall and its interests to be damaged. His evil deeds are clearly exposed and are in fact the anger of both humans and gods.
< br>"According to the law, I order Yang Jiong to be hanged as a warning to others. All the ministers take this as a warning, fulfill their duties conscientiously, serve the public with integrity, and jointly protect the tranquility of Daxia to comfort my heart.
"I admire this!"
When Yang Jiong heard the word "hanging", he seemed to be hit by a thunderbolt. His whole body stiffened instantly, and his plump face lost its color and turned pale. Like paper.
His eyes showed deep fear and despair, and he kept pleading to Han Shunxi: "You can't kill me, you can't kill me! I... I was forced to do this, and everyone around me Do this! I...I'm just doing the same thing as them..."
However, Han Shunxi just stared at him coldly, without any sympathy on his face.
"Sir, times have changed," he said calmly, "Under the rule of the emperor, you have to do things according to the emperor's rules.
"The laws of Daqi may sometimes be just a piece of paper. , but in Daxia, the law is an iron law, a manifestation of the emperor's will, and cannot be trampled by anyone. ”
After saying this, Han Shunxi turned and left.
As the door behind him slammed shut, the cell was once again shrouded in darkness.
Yang Jiong was left lying lifelessly on the straw mat with an ashen face, and layers of fat on his body, like a heavy hill.
…………
In the Kunyuan Hall, the bead curtain hangs lightly, swaying in the wind, making a tiny sound.
On the beams, the gold paint is mottled, and the auspicious dragon and phoenix patterns are vaguely visible, but the edges are slightly dim.
The porcelain is neatly arranged, but the luster is not as good as when it was new, and some parts are still stained with fine dust.
Sunlight poured in from the window lattice, forming bright beams of light, illuminating every corner of the hall and also illuminating the dust dancing in the air.
This was the palace of the queen of the Daqi Dynasty in the past.
It is located on the central axis of Luojing, facing the Qianyang Hall, the emperor's palace, with graceful and graceful painted buildings.
When it was most prosperous in the past, hundreds of servants shuttled through it, busy and orderly, taking care of every detail of the queen's daily life.
However, now, as the palace maids have been dismissed, the once bustling palace has instantly become empty and deserted, and seems particularly quiet.
The former empress Chen Anzhi was in the palace, packing her belongings silently.
She had already taken off her exquisite and gorgeous emerald crown with dragon, phoenix and pearls, untied her priceless gold and jade belt, and took off her colorful red dress with clouds and dragon patterns.
Instead, there was a simple light cyan skirt and an ordinary wooden hairpin.
In the past, many people praised her beauty, saying that she was graceful, dignified and bright, like a gorgeous peony flower, showing her motherly demeanor as a queen in the world.
However, when she took off her gorgeous clothes and didn’t put on makeup, she seemed to have turned back into a little wild flower on the roadside.
Delicate and soft, but she no longer has that overwhelming grace.
After the change of dynasty, she has been reduced to a commoner. According to the rules of the new dynasty, she has to leave the former palace. Except for a few simple personal items, those valuable items from the past were all royal property and she could no longer take them away.
Her daughter Xiao Wanjun, the former Princess Zhaoning, was quietly helping her pack her things.
She was still as usual, wearing simple men's clothes and tying her hair with a scarf. She looked heroic, like a handsome young master.
"Wanjun, you should understand," Chen Anzhi wiped a bracelet until it was as clean as new and gently put it into his luggage. Then he turned to face his daughter and said seriously, "Our family used to chase With wealth and power, he has done many things that Gu Xu would not tolerate.
"Now that he is about to ascend the throne and proclaim himself emperor, our family will inevitably be liquidated by him."
For the first time in these years, Xiao Wanjun heard his mother speak to him in such a gentle tone.
She recalled that the last time they met, her mother aggressively asked her to marry someone to protect the interests of her natal family, the Chen family in Xiangyang.
The last queen of Da Qi is like a river clam, and the gorgeous Yanju crown dress is her hard shell. However, when Gu Xu destroyed this shell along with the Da Qi Dynasty with a thunderous force, her fragile, soft and helpless heart was revealed.
But even if she became a commoner, the first thing she thought about was still her family, not her daughter and son.
"What does mother need from me?" Xiao Wanjun asked directly. She has always been smart and smart, and she has long been keenly aware that her mother has something to ask of her.
Chen Anzhi approached her, hugged her into his arms, and gently stroked her back.
This hug is not intimate, and there is still a subtle distance between the two bodies.
The mother's movements in stroking her daughter were also a little clumsy - after all, the princes and daughters of the Daqi Dynasty were raised by wet nurses from childhood. As a queen, how could she always take care of her children personally and laboriously?
"Wanjun, you have grown up now. You are a famous beauty in Luojing. You are much more beautiful than your mother used to be." Chen Anzhi whispered softly, "You just need to dress up a little, don't do it anymore." Wear men's clothes every day, put on a gorgeous skirt, and wear some beautiful walking shoes, and all the men in Luojing will fall in love with you."
"What do you mean by this?" Xiao Wanjun took a step back and broke away from her mother's arms.
"I remember that you seemed to have some interactions with Gu Xu during those days in Luojing," Chen Anzhi seemed not to notice his daughter's reaction, and still maintained a gentle tone and said, "Your You are no less beautiful than his wife. If you can win his favor and say a few nice words in his ear, maybe he will be merciful to our Xiangyang Chen family."
It turns out that my mother hopes that I can use a honey trap!
Xiao Wanjun appeared calm on the surface, but he was laughing at himself on the inside, feeling that he had become a mere tool in the eyes of his mother.
At the same time, she also realized that perhaps because her mother spent a long time in the deep palace, accompanying the concubines every day, her vision was gradually limited by the palace walls, and she had no idea about the reincarnated Emperor Ziwei. The understanding seems quite shallow.
She knew that Gu Xu was always determined, and any decision he made could never be easily changed by a few sweet words from a woman.
Otherwise, he would not have achieved such brilliant achievements today.
What's more, saints and strong men are always known to be indifferent to emotions. How can they be easily moved by women's lust? .........
"It is said that the saints and strong men have their hearts set on the road and lack the seven emotions and six desires of mortals. But why did the emperor have such leisurely leisure time that he shot pigeons with a slingshot in the imperial garden?"
In the imperial garden, Zhao Yan looked at Gu Xu beside her and joked with a smile.
While she was speaking, Gu Xu narrowed his eyes slightly, pulled the rubber band of the slingshot casually with his fingers, and then quickly released it. A pebble hit the air accurately with the whistling wind. Flying dove.
This is Gu Xu’s first time trying to use a slingshot. However, with the power of "Destiny" to control probability, he naturally became a "sharp archer" without any need for practice.
He bent down, picked up the pigeons that had fallen on the ground, stuffed them into "Xianyunju", then pondered for a moment and replied: "Perhaps it is because the way I cultivate is different from that of other saints and strong men." It’s different.”
“Oh? What’s the difference?” Zhao Yan asked curiously.
"The Tao they cultivate is the Tao of Heaven. The deeper the realm, the higher they can fly and the farther they are from the human world," Gu Xu explained, "And the Tao I cultivate is the Tao of humans. The power comes from All living beings need to be grounded in order to practice better."
"What does this mean?" Zhao Yan was confused.
Since marrying Gu Xu, she often hears some strange words from his mouth that she has never heard before.
“Do something that ordinary people should do,” Gu Xu replied with a smile, “For example, reward yourself with a roast pigeon in the evening; or take a walk in the garden with your lover. ”
However, the two of them came to the Imperial Garden today not just to hunt pigeons or take a walk.
Just now, they made a special trip to the inconspicuous well at the edge of the Royal Garden - it was the prison where Xiao Zeyao's ghost body was once held.
This prison was originally a space independent of the wilderness carved out by Emperor Tianxing from nothingness. It contained a massive amount of death energy and was specially used to maintain the survival of Xiao Zeyao's ghost body.
After the death of Emperor Tianxing, this space lost its owner, and the passage connecting it to the wilderness began to become unstable.
Gu Xu is very worried that once a large amount of the death energy leaks out, the people living within a few miles of the palace may die without knowing it.
He must solve this hidden danger as soon as possible.
Fortunately, the Tai'a sword has now fallen into his hands.
Although Tai'a Sword does not recognize him as the master - of course, he has no interest in becoming the master of this so-called "the first famous weapon in the wilderness", he can still use the power of "control" to forcibly mobilize Part of the Taoist power of Tai'a Sword completely sealed the prison.
He also extracted all the death energy in the prison and sealed it in the space magic weapon.
Although these dead energy are dangerous, they can also be used as materials to refine powerful magic weapons.
The war in the wilderness has come to an end, but the real enemy is still watching from the nine heavens.
A new war may break out at any time.
Gu Xu must be prepared for danger in times of peace and be fully prepared.
…………
A moment later, Gu Xu and Zhao Yan walked out of the lush imperial garden and walked into the East Sixth Palace like two tourists.
The concubines and maids who lived here in the past have moved away long ago, and the once crowded and lively palace now looks empty and deserted.
Zhao Yan frowned slightly when she saw the scene in front of her.
The living environment of this harem was far more narrow and depressing than she had imagined. It was in sharp contrast to the spacious and majestic Fengtian Hall and Qianyang Hall not far away.
The tall palace walls stand ruthlessly, cutting the sky into a narrow line, and the lane in the middle can only accommodate two people walking side by side. Walking here, it feels like being squeezed tightly by the walls on both sides.
Here, only noble concubines are qualified to live in a hall alone. Other low-level concubines often live in side halls together, or even sleep on a bunk in a collective dormitory called "lower room" .
Zhao Yan could not imagine how this cage-like place could accommodate the three thousand beauties from Emperor Tianxing's harem in the past.
She suddenly hugged Gu Xu's waist tightly and deliberately said to him in a delicate and resentful tone: "My Majesty, if you are obsessed with other vixens after you ascend the throne, will you forget your concubine here?" In this kind of place, luck doesn’t come to me for months or even years, leaving me to wither silently in loneliness and look old?”
Gu Xu couldn’t help but secretly think to himself when he looked at her slightly turned eyes. I thought: You actually have the nerve to call others vixens? You yourself are the most seductive vixen in the world.
However, Gu Xu also knew that Zhao Yan, a female general who was galloping on the battlefield, had often acted coquettishly in front of him recently, like a little woman, just to seek more security from him.
After all, he killed Emperor Tianxing and occupied Luojing, which meant that he could go to Jiange to pick up Shi Xiaohan at any time.
On the day of the Luoshui Conference, the scene when Gu Xu risked his life to rescue Shi Xiaohan from the "ghost waiter" left a very deep impression on Zhao Yan.
As the rebellious eldest daughter of Duke Yan, Zhao Yan has always been confident in her beauty, talent, and charm. She feels sure to win against all the women in the wilderness.
However, in front of Shi Xiaohan, whose figure was far inferior to hers, she felt an inexplicable lack of confidence.
After all, in a sense, she successfully snatched Gu Xu from Shi Xiaohan's hands while he was in trouble.
Gu Xu smiled, pointed to the towering cornices of Kunyuan Hall not far away, and comforted her: "How could you have to live in such a cramped place? That's where you should live. Place."
Although Zhao Yan had already expected that he would say this, she still couldn't help but look happy when she heard Gu Xu acknowledge her position in his heart.
It is not that Gu Xu has never considered being like the protagonists in those novels, treating his women equally.
But he is not an emotional person who ignores interests.
He knew very well that the position of Queen of Daxia must and could only belong to Zhao Yan.
Although Shi Xiaohan was his first love, and the two had a deep friendship and even had an engagement, the Youzhou Zhao family was his most important "partner" in the rebellion.
If Daxia is compared to a start-up company, then Zhao gave him a huge amount of start-up capital and held a considerable part of the shares.
For him, Zhao Yan resolutely gave up the throne of Dayan, led the army in the north to join his command, charged into battle, and fought for his cause. Her father, a mighty true king, also attacked the imperial city with him and participated in the feat of killing Emperor Tianxing.
If Gu Xu gave the position of queen to someone else, or was hesitant about the matter, then even if Zhao Yan had no objection, her father would definitely come to her in person to seek justice for his daughter. .
"Really?" Zhao Yan blinked.
"When have I lied to you?" Gu Xu smiled slightly, and then added, "However, after the enthronement ceremony, I plan to move to Changchun Garden outside the city."
To be honest To be honest, Gu Xu didn't like the atmosphere of Zichen Palace. He felt that the buildings here were too neat and solemn, showing the order of superiority and inferiority everywhere, reminding him of the strict rules of the Qi Dynasty all the time.
"Changchun Garden? That is a garden from the Chu Dynasty. Hasn't it been reduced to ruins long ago?" Zhao Yan asked doubtfully.
“I have sent people to start repairing it,” Gu Xu explained. “Some time ago, a large number of refugees from other places poured into Luojing, but there are not enough job opportunities for them in the city. They have no way to make a living. If they don’t Find something for them to do, I'm afraid it will cause riots in the capital..."
.........
Gu Xu did not deliberately conceal his whereabouts.
While he was talking with Zhao Yan, on the corridor not far away, a palace maid in her 28th year saw them from a distance. This girl's name is Cuiying, and she was once the personal maid of the former queen. When most of the palace ladies left the palace, she chose to stay and continue to take care of Chen Anzhi's daily life.
Upon seeing this, Cuiying hurried to Kunyuan Hall and panted to Chen Anzhi and Princess Zhaoning Xiao Wanjun: "Empress, princess, the emperor and Mrs. Zhao are nearby."
Chen Anzhi heard the news. , his hands trembled, and a trace of astonishment flashed in his eyes. She quickly put down the necklace she was arranging, stood up, and began to carefully apply makeup and adjust her appearance.
"Cui Ying, please go quickly and respectfully invite your Majesty and the empress in without any hesitation."
"Yes, empress." Cui Ying responded.
"Stop calling me empress, I'm just a civilian woman now." Chen Anzhi sighed softly.
Then, she turned to her daughter on the side and ordered: "Wanjun, go and change your clothes quickly. How can you be unworthy and still wear men's clothes all day long?"
Princess Zhaoning Xiao Wanjun Although she didn't say anything, she didn't disobey her mother's wishes and silently walked behind the screen.
She knew that her mother was so nervous at the moment, obviously she wanted to take this opportunity to express her loyalty to Gu Xu and try to save her family.
Although she felt that the possibility of success was unlikely, in this desperate situation, she still chose to fulfill her daughter's duty and obey her mother's arrangements.
…………
After a moment, Zhao Yan gently held Gu Xu's arm and stepped into the threshold of Kunyuan Hall.
Chen Anzhi and Xiao Wanjun were already waiting at the palace gate.
Chen Anzhi raised his eyes secretly.
In just a short moment, the eyes of the queen of Dahuang’s past and the queen of the future collided with each other.
Chen Anzhi seemed to see a red peony in full bloom.
Graceful and luxurious, overflowing with brilliance.
Just like myself in the past, wearing a phoenix crown and being in charge of the imperial court.
But now, I am like a dead leaf that has lost its color, falling into mud in the bleak autumn wind.
Chen Anzhi felt a sense of sadness. She quickly looked away and gently tugged on the sleeve of her daughter beside her.
The two of them knelt down and saluted together, their voices trembling slightly, and they said respectfully:
"Chen Anzhi, a citizen woman, pays homage to your majesty and the empress!"
"Xiao Wanjun, a citizen woman, pays homage to your majesty and empress!"