20demayo Chapter 130 This Can’t Be Done
Chapter 130 This Can’t Be Done
Qi Xiao originally thought that Tang Ling would capture Lan Quan's assassin and kill him through Qi Xiao's hands. This would firstly avenge himself, secondly give a warning to the Dushifu, and thirdly, he wouldn't have to do it himself and wouldn't have to explain anything to the Emperor of Zhou.
"Well... the Dushifu is the internal affairs of the Great Zhou, so I won't bother you."
"Ha," Qi Xiao laughed out loud, "You're really being perfunctory."
Qi Xiao propped his head up, watching Tang Ling. He seemed to finally understand why Lu Fangjin had called Tang Ling a gentleman. In his eyes, family, country, and the empire were the most important things; his own life was probably worthless. Using Dachen and Qi Xiao to destroy the Dushifu's power in Chen territory would only weaken Zhou's external influence. Even if the Dushifu, Xingluo Guard, and the Zhou court continued to clash over who advocated peace and who advocated war, that was Zhou's own business.
If Tang Ling really did what Qi Xiao said, she would be no different from Qin.
Qi Xiao held Tang Ling's hand and sighed with regret, "I really want to avenge this for you. If I had known this would happen, I should have stabbed the guy who died in Lanquan a hundred or eighty times before killing him."
Tang Ling couldn't help laughing. Qi Xiao's hatred obviously made him like her unexpectedly.
Qi Xiao looked at Tang Ling and wanted to ask him how he was going to deal with the Dushi Mansion, but he couldn't bring himself to ask for a long time and had to give up.
***
Qi Xiao and Tang Ling could not continue to be so "greedy". At three quarters past four in the morning, someone came to the palace and the emperor invited Tang Ling into the palace.
Qi Xiao quickly packed up and said, "I'll go into the palace with you."
"Are you going to the palace too? To visit Lady Lin?"
"Yes. Yesterday, Zhang Suian sent someone to tell me that everything was ready and that Mother would be moved to the West Palace to recuperate today. I had originally wanted to wait for her there, but I have something to tell you, so let's go together. I can even go pick her up myself."
Tang Ling saw that Qi Xiao looked normal, but his tone was very serious. She was a little puzzled: "Is it related to the summons from His Majesty?"
"Maybe, maybe not."
Tang Ling nodded slightly: "Okay then. Why don't you go back to Yangxizhai first and come over later?"
Qi Xiao nodded. He couldn't walk around the Huaxi Villa openly, and it was even more impossible for him to walk out of the main gate of the Huaxi Villa. He had to go back to Yangxizhai quietly first. Besides, Zong Sheng and Bai Xiqiao were not around, and he had things to give instructions.
"I'll wait for you at the west side door in one stick of incense."
"it is good."
Tang Ling sent Qi Xiao away and sighed softly unconsciously. Qi Xiao's eyes just now hid a dull melancholy, which made Tang Ling worried.
***
Qi Xiao got into Tang Ling's carriage and sat next to her. The nobleman in brocade clothes and jade belt seemed no different from before. He was always arrogant, but in front of Tang Ling, his eyes were gentle.
“Is it a terrible thing?”
"It's not that bad yet." Qi Xiao shook his head. "Ning Wanxiao passed on a message saying that His Majesty ordered the Taichang Temple to match your horoscopes with the Fifteenth Princess."
"Me? And the Fifteenth Princess?"
"Ah."
Tang Ling looked at Qi Xiao's gloomy face and couldn't help laughing: "Why, are you going to be jealous like this? Even though I see you looking so aggrieved, I'm actually a little happy..."
"This is not a joke." Qi Xiao held Tang Ling. He was not jealous, but anxious. In the past two days, he couldn't think of any good ideas on how to make His Majesty give up the idea of marriage. He didn't like the feeling of being helpless.
"I know."
"Then how can you still laugh? The peace talks between Chen and Zhou are already on the agenda. His Majesty summoned you today, most likely to propose a marriage…" Qi Xiao knew Tang Ling wouldn't be as capricious as he was. He had his own mission in Dachen, and there was no personal feelings before family and country. Tang Ling could do that. Qi Xiao knew this, and it only made him even more depressed.
Tang Ling chuckled softly, her fingers gently tickling Qi Xiao's palm. She leaned her head against his shoulder and said, "It's not surprising that Your Majesty is interested in an alliance marriage. Our Emperor also has this idea, so it's a good opportunity to discuss it with Your Majesty."
"……What's the meaning?"
Tang Ling chuckled and raised her hand to scratch Qi Xiao's nose. "Aren't you usually the most astute? Why can't you figure it out now? I'm the son of Xun'an Marquis. If His Majesty summons me to be the consort of the Chen Kingdom, can my father and I accept? If we do, will there still be a place for my Tang family in the Great Zhou? This isn't a marriage alliance; it's a quest to destroy my Tang family. Such peace terms are unacceptable not only to my father but also to the Emperor."
Qi Xiao was stunned. That's right! The Tang family had been in charge of the military for generations, the cornerstone and pillar of the Zhou court. The Zhou emperor was young and had just taken power, so both military and political affairs depended on Xun'an Hou. If Your Majesty's target was Tang Ling, then it wouldn't be a marriage between Chen and Zhou, but a marriage between Chen and Tang. How could the Zhou royal family, the court, and the people agree to this? Unless Xun'an Hou Tang Yan was plotting rebellion and openly announced to the world that he was preparing to ally with Chen to replace him, he couldn't and didn't dare agree.
"So, you don't have to worry at all. This won't work. His Majesty is just testing me."
Qi Xiao placed a light kiss on Tang Ling's lips: "I'm still worried."
"I'll adapt to the situation." Tang Ling returned Qi Xiao's kiss and asked, "But I'm curious, why did Ning Wanxiao give you this news? Did he say anything?"
Qi Xiao said, "Ning Wanxiao told Bai Xiqiao the news, saying only that he was repaying Bai Xiqiao a favor, and didn't say anything else. Afterwards, I asked Bai Xiqiao to inquire with Lu Fangjin. It turned out to be a very interesting opportunity, but Bai Xiqiao himself didn't know about it."
"Oh? How interesting is that?"
"Eight years ago, the spring floods of the Chaoyun River and Qinjiang River arrived early, causing devastating floods that inundated ten prefectures. Bai Liu was stranded in Chuanyang on his way back to Yuanzhou Prefecture after reporting on his work. At the time, there were too many victims and grain prices were skyrocketing. Bai Liu forced Chuanyang and the three surrounding prefectures to collect grain from grain merchants in the name of the imperial court, at the previous market price, to provide relief to the victims. Those who privately hoarded grain and raised prices were imprisoned for treason, which temporarily resolved the situation. However, when word reached Yuanjing, it was interpreted as Bai Liu using force to coerce grain merchants into donations and openly rob them, which caused a huge uproar."
Qi Xiao smiled faintly and continued, "At that time, everyone in the harem was talking about this matter. Even my mother and I heard about it every day, which shows how serious the matter was. Before that, I only knew that Bai Liu was a famous general, but after that, I admired him even more."