Chapter 157 The heroine of Nanchu
It is early spring, but the remaining winter outside the Pass has not yet faded away. Occasionally, traces of white can still be found in some nooks and crannies, and in the river, the crystal clear water washed by the river The transparent ice cubes rise and fall with the waves all the way down. Eventually, as time goes by, they will merge with the river water and no longer be separated from each other.
Thousands of miles away in the south of the Yangtze River, spring is now blooming.
The peach blossoms are in full bloom, with red, pink and white flowers stretching to their heart's content, releasing their fragrance in the sun, attracting bees and butterflies to dance among the flowers, turning up and down. Fly, at the end of the day, carrying pollen all over their body, they go to another place, thus completing their great mission of passing on the family line.
The sound of laughter came from among the flowers and trees. A six or seven-year-old boy was running and waving a net bag in his hand, trying to catch a colorful big one not far in front of him. Butterfly, but the butterfly is very clever, flying around the net bag, sometimes even stopping on the net bag, but it just refuses to give in.
Several young women held their skirts in their hands and ran closely behind the boy, but they were already sweating slightly and breathing heavily.
"Your Majesty, be careful, there is a ridge ahead!" a woman shouted.
Before the sound was played, the boy running in front had already tripped over his feet and fell flatly to the ground like a dog eating shit. He even threw aside the net bag for catching butterflies.
Several women were so frightened that they hurried forward, surrounded the boy, and helped him up.
The boy, whose face was covered with mud and flower petals, burst into tears. Tears flowed down, carrying the petals all the way down. Finally, one piece hung on his chin, but one remained on his lips. The boy rolled his tongue and swallowed the petal into his mouth.
A woman picked up the net bag and shouted in surprise: "Your Majesty, look, I've caught it, I've caught it!"
In the net bag, the colorful big man who had been chasing for a while was The butterfly was lying quietly inside. It must have been that when the boy fell, the net bag went down and caught him.
The boy suddenly burst into laughter.
It really proves the saying that if you plant flowers with intention, they will not live, but if you plant willows with no intention, they will make shade.
Under a big tree not far from the boy, a lazy woman was half-lying on a soft blanket, her head propped up on her elbows, her eyes seemed to be looking at the boy playing among the flowers and trees in front of her. , but when you look closely, your eyes are dim, but they seem to have no focus, and your thoughts are obviously not here.
Her black hair flowed down like a waterfall, covering most of her face, and finally spread on the blanket.
The woman was not wearing shoes, one leg was curled up under her body, but the other was stretched straight out, with bright red dots on her toenails. Lying on her side, she fully exposed the woman's perfect curves, and gently patted her towering hips with one hand.
Within a dozen steps around the flower tree, several eunuchs and maids stood with their heads bowed, or sat cross-legged, but their eyes fell on this woman. As long as this woman made the slightest move, they could immediately respond.
This woman is the current actual person in power in Da Chu, the Queen Mother Jiang Qian. And that person playing among the flowers is the current little emperor of Chu: Xiong Kuo.
Said to be the Queen Mother, but in fact Jiang Qian is only in her twenties this year.
It's just that her series of operations in the past two years have made everyone subconsciously ignore her age.
Became a crown princess at the age of fifteen, a queen at the age of eighteen, and became a widow at the age of nineteen. Then this woman seemed to have cheated, rising rapidly in the chaotic Chu State court. She is twenty this year. Two-year-old Jiang Qian has already firmly grasped the power of Chu State in the palm of his hand.
The sound of footsteps was heard on the path, and a gray-haired old eunuch hurriedly came to Jiang Qian's side and whispered: "The Queen Mother, the Prime Minister wants to see you!"
Jiang Qian snorted slightly, sat up straight, and hid her bare feet under her skirt, "Invite him in!"
Xiong Shoucheng, the prime minister of the country, is fifty-seven.
Just by looking at his surname, you can tell that this person was born in the Nanchu royal family.
In the Chu State, there is an unwritten but established rule, that is, all ministers of the country are served by members of the royal family.
The previous Prime Minister Xiong Yi resigned a year ago due to illness and thanked guests behind closed doors. Xiong Shoucheng was eventually favored by Jiang Qian and became the new Prime Minister.
Xiong Shoucheng is quite famous in Nanchu.
It’s just that this reputation is not based on his political work. In fact, he has never been a small official in his life, but he is extremely famous for his academic career. . When he was young, he traveled to the Qin Dynasty and studied under Yu Entai. After returning from his studies, he has been studying in the Chu State. For decades, he compiled and collected countless classics for the Chu State. He also spent his own money to recruit scholars to collect, study and make up for many missing pieces. The Danyang Royal Library now far exceeds the Chang'an Library, which is the result of Xiong Shoucheng's achievements over the past few decades.
Being the Prime Minister is really a hard job for him.
But I have to do it.
Old Prime Minister Xiong Yi suddenly resigned, leaving the seat vacant.
The Xiong family of the royal family is naturally unwilling to give up the position of Prime Minister to others.
Because once this convention is broken, it will be difficult to take it back. It's a pity that the current Xiong family of the royal family is really depleted of talents. It is really difficult to find someone who can convince the public. More importantly, this person needs to be recognized by the Queen Mother.
The Queen Mother doesn't approve, and everything goes to zero.
After choosing from left to right, Xiong Shoucheng was finally pushed out. Xiong Shoucheng, who was walking in a hurry, slowed down when he saw Jiang Qian's current appearance, hesitating whether to go over or not.
Jiang Qian’s current outfit is really too casual.
"Prime Minister, please come here!" Jiang Qian said with a smile from a distance.
Xiong Shoucheng cupped his hands from a distance: "Queen Mother, I'd better choose another time to come!"
"The Prime Minister is the elder, and the Ai family has to call themselves uncle, so why should the family be too formal? , Kuo'er, go and ask Grandpa to come over!" Jiang Qian said with a smile.
The six-year-old boy came over with a grimace.
He doesn’t like Xiong Shoucheng.
Because Xiong Shoucheng was the Prime Minister of the country and also served as the Crown Prince and Tutor, Xiong Kuo was six years old and already enlightened.
Reading is naturally a chore.
"Tai Tuo!" The little boy was laughing happily just now, but now he has turned into a mature man, crossing his hands and saluting solemnly, meticulously.
It’s not that he thinks about it, but if he’s not careful, the master will do it!
Looking at the child in front of him, Xiong Shoucheng had a smile on his face. Although Xiong Kuo was still young, he was smart and sensible and would definitely achieve something in the future.
Now I held Xiong Kuo’s hand and walked over slowly.
The eunuch here has already taken a soft cushion and placed it in front of Jiang Qian.
"Kuo'er, go play and catch some more butterflies!" Jiang Qian looked at Xiong Kuo, who was standing with hands hanging down, and said with a smile.
The little boy was overjoyed when he heard this, turned around and ran away.
"This child is smart!" Jiang Qian smiled and looked at the child's back: "Although he has just started to enlighten, he can still see his talent, and he was taught by the Prime Minister. If there are no other changes, more than ten years later, He will definitely become a wise king. But some people are not willing to wait for more than ten years. They have just lived in peace for a few days, and they want something to happen! The Prime Minister came to the palace to see me today, and that was why he came. "What happened?"
Xiong Shoucheng nodded and said: "Your Majesty, those delusional people are confused, self-righteous, and ignorant of justice. Please give them to me for instruction. After all, Xiong Qingxian is still your Majesty's biological father. , always leave some dignity to His Majesty.”
Jiang Qian smiled and said: "Are you delusional? Not necessarily. Does the Prime Minister know what Xiong Qingxian said in private and connected those people? You are probably the last person they want to win over. In their view, Come on, everything is ready, everything will fall into place!"
Beads of sweat dripped down Xiong Shoucheng's face: "They have not colluded with the military, have they?"
Jiang Qian smiled and said: "This Xiong Qingxian is quite capable. He actually convinced Sun Jun, the deputy general of the Shence Army, and is ready to launch an attack on the imperial court in three days to take back the power of regent from me. End The situation of Dachu Chicken Sichen is so bright!"
"How could this happen? I thought they were just talking about it." If Xiong Shoucheng was just talking happily, With Jiang Qian's big heart, he might laugh it off, but once the military is involved, it is an out-and-out treason.
Moreover, judging from Jiang Qian's attitude, it is clear that everything is under her control.
Xiong Qingxian's so-called secret plan is just a joke.
"The Prime Minister still did not disappoint me!" Jiang Qian said with a smile: "As soon as he got the news, he came to me. Prime Minister, please feel free to return. Nothing will change. How are you today? What will happen tomorrow?”
“Queen Mother, Na Kuo’er” Him?"
"The day Kuo'er was adopted to His Majesty the late Emperor, he had no relationship with Xiong Qingxian. How could Kuo'er be involved in Xiong Qingxian's rebellion?" Jiang Qian raised his eyes, Looking at the children playing with the palaces in the peach forest in the distance, he smiled and said.
"Since everything is under the control of the Queen Mother, please show mercy and not involve too many innocent people!" Xiong Shoucheng said.
"Who are the innocent people?" Jiang Qian asked back: "But since you, the Prime Minister, have spoken, I will give you this face. Xiong Qingxian and his other sons will definitely not survive, and the other female family members will no longer survive." As for people like Sun Jun and the Yi tribe, what do you think?"
Xiong Guocheng let out a long breath, knowing that this might be the best result he could achieve. .
"The Queen Mother is merciful! I resign!"
"The Prime Minister will stay in the imperial city tonight. There will be chaos outside tonight, and someone may come to break into you. A nice mansion. It will be more stable if you stay in the imperial city."
"But my family," Xiong Shoucheng said in surprise.
"Without you, they will be safe, and I will send people to guard them!" Jiang Qian waved his hand. "You have a lot to do tomorrow, and the big meeting the day after tomorrow must not be affected in the slightest!"
(End of this chapter)