The officials of the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Revenue withdrew, leaving the Emperor sitting alone in the imperial study, his eyes somewhat dim.

  The Empress Dowager's condition has improved in recent days, and the Emperor finally breathed a sigh of relief.

  He used to go to Empress Dowager's place to serve her after getting up in the morning, which had become a habit.

  These days he doesn't have to serve, so he takes the opportunity to take a nap.

  These days I've been sleeping a lot and often have dry eyes, but when I sleep less, it's never happened.

  He gently rubbed his Yintang acupoint and felt a bit relieved.

  On the desk was another unfinished imperial edict, which was to confer the title of Guifei on Gu Zhenzhi. It was no longer needed now, so the emperor lightly stacked it up and put it aside.

  Without Gu Jinzhi, what method should he use to elevate the Gu family and make it a powerful and noble clan on par with the Tan family and the Yuanping Houfu?

  Gu Jin's saving of the Empress Dowager made the Emperor want to win over the Gu family, so he promoted her to be a first-rank Noble Consort. Otherwise, the Gu family had no military achievements, and Gu Jin did not give birth to an imperial son, nor did she have great virtues in the palace, at most she could only be granted the title of Noble Lady.

  What should we do now?

  The emperor has a headache.

  Although the border areas have been quiet and peaceful in recent years, the imperial court has also been clean and honest among its officials, with no treacherous or evil people roaming the streets.

  It is inevitable that the new emperor will be deceived by old ministers in the court. In the four years since his accession to the throne, the situation in the court has gradually revealed its shortcomings.

  The first is Yuan Ping Hou and the other is Tan Jia.

  Yuan Ping Hou is the only son of the princess, has always had military achievements, and also serves as the Minister of War. Now his disciples are all over the court, and there is a trend of partying together to attack each other. Although he does it secretly and doesn't dare to be openly arrogant, none of them can escape the emperor's attention, and the emperor looks at him with alarm.

  Yuanping Hou and the Princess Mother and Son, who have the merit of supporting the Emperor, cannot be disposed of by such an old minister. Otherwise, the Emperor will gain a bad reputation for being ungrateful and everyone in the court will be in danger. The situation may become unstable.

  The emperor watched as Yuan Ping Hou Jiang Liang grew more powerful by the day...

  In addition, the emperor was also worried about the family of Empress Dowager's maiden home - Zhang He and Hou Zhan Shi. Old man Tan had been the chief assistant before. Although he is no longer in office now, his disciples are all over the court. The current Xia Shou Fu is also a proud disciple of Old Man Tan.

  Xia Shoufu hinted several times that he wanted the emperor to make Tan Housheng's five-year-old eldest son the crown prince.

  The Emperor was worried about Empress Dowager's health and went to Kun Ning Palace to serve her, interrupting Xia Shoufu's proposal.

  Several other ministers also petitioned for Empress Dowager's younger sister, Consort Tan, to be made empress.

  As a result, Tan's family reputation became even more prominent.

  Tan's family and Yuan Pinghou, one civil and one military, dominated the imperial court, letting them have their way. There would come a day when the emperor's power would be nothing but an empty shell.

  The emperor's foundation is not stable, and there are not many loyal ministers. So he dare not rashly break the situation in the court, but can only infiltrate and dissolve from within.

  He wanted to raise a new clan and break through the existing shackles.

  Dongge University Scholar Gu Yan Tao is a person valued by the Emperor.

  Still remember that year, the emperor was still a prince. Western Mountain hunting, a goat was chased to the edge of the cliff, hit by seven or eight arrows, then lost his footing and fell down, but hung on the ancient pine in the middle of the mountain waist.

  The former emperor said forget it, don't want it anymore. It's too dangerous. Not good to take.

  Then everyone left.

  The emperor stood there for half a day.

  Gu Yan Tao walked over and asked: "Your Highness, is it that gazelle you want?"

  The emperor nodded.

  He certainly wanted to. But the slope was too steep, and if he wasn't careful, he would fall off and be smashed to pieces. The goat was obviously dead, hanging there motionless, but going to get it wasn't impossible either.

  The emperor is hesitating.

  Gu Yan Tao however lifted his robe, pulling along Xiao Shan Po, small tree branches and short grass. In this way, he risked danger to help the Crown Prince retrieve that gazelle.

  He actually returned safely in the end.

  The former emperor and the emperor were both delighted, and they praised Guo Yan's bravery to his face. Although he was a civil official, he also had the courage of a military general.

  After returning, the former emperor asked the emperor how he viewed Guo Yanwang.

  The Emperor said: "He wants to fawn on me, which shows that his desire for power is heavy. His writing is good and his introduction is unique, but the Chief Assistant dislikes him, saying he lacks the air of a gentleman, being too much like a petty man, always suppressing him..."

  The former emperor nodded in approval.

  Then the former emperor said to the emperor, "You must remember what your father said today: Guo Yanwang is a man who can be used when the situation is chaotic. He can stir up more chaos, and you can take advantage of it to win. Once you really control the court, you cannot reuse this person again. This person will stop at nothing for power, not even his own life, let alone others'. When he eliminates dissidents, it's frightening."

  The former emperor thought that Guo Yanwang would become a great hero if he had the opportunity.

  Be extremely careful with this kind of person.

  Gu Yanwu is like a hunting hawk, very helpful when hunting, but be careful not to get hurt by him.

  The emperor has been on the throne for four years, and I have watched him coldly for four years.

  Two years ago he wanted to take action. Then, in less than half a year, his mother fell ill and he suddenly lost energy.

  In those years, he and his mother were so hard-pressed to gain the recognition of the emperor. The emperor would never forget what his mother had paid for him.

  He continued to keep a low profile.

  Now that Empress Dowager is recovering from her illness, various abuses in the court have become more and more serious, it's time to take action.

  Gu Yanwu's hunting eagle is also raised strong, it should be released now.

  Only, the emperor lacked an opportunity.

  The appearance of Gu Jinzhi gave the emperor an opportunity.

  The emperor wanted to get rid of not only those powerful ministers who relied on their seniority, but also his two brothers who were in charge of the large imperial guard.

  The Empress Dowager's illness has delayed many things and also made many people take it lightly, thinking that the Emperor had not noticed their disobedience.

  The emperor saw everything with his own eyes.

  Nanchang Wangfu has 600,000 elite soldiers, and Luoyang Wang also has 600,000. If they join forces, march north, and reach the capital, the Emperor will be caught off guard.

  These two brothers, one was raised by his own mother and showed loyalty many times; the other was foolish.

  Is this enough to put the emperor at ease?

  A sharp dagger is always placed at the back of the emperor's heart.

  Once out of control, the knife would stab him.

  What can brothers do? The Emperor does not believe them. Luoyang Wang is foolish, if Nanchang Wang wants to commit a crime, he will instigate Luoyang Wang, and Luoyang Wang has no judgment, stupidly, he will definitely borrow troops.

  The emperor actually most dreaded in his heart was still the King of Nanchang.

  Luoyang King... is after all his younger brother born of the same mother. The Emperor has deep feelings for the Empress Dowager, and from the heart, he also favors Luoyang King a bit more.

  It is possible to use Gu Jin's marriage with Lu Yang Wang as a pretext, openly and honorably "detaining" Lu Yang Wang and Nan Chang Wang in the capital, then sending someone to resolve the guard troops of Nan Chang Wang Fu and Lu Yang Wang Fu, achieving victory without fighting, which also delights the emperor.

  He had a smile at the corner of his mouth.

  Finally something has been settled.

  Next, he just needs to lift up Guo Yanwang, and the net will be cast. Then wait for the right moment to close in.

  But how can we promote Guo Yanwang without arousing the suspicion of the Tan family and Yuan Pinghou, while also achieving remarkable results?

  The emperor was also worried.

  What a pity! There is only one Gu Jin, not enough for him to use in two places.

  ——*——*——

  Gu Jin's ability to become a concubine of King Luoyang made the Empress Dowager very happy.

  She knew that although this marriage was promised by the emperor's golden mouth, it was handed over to the Ministry of Rites to handle.

  The program is cumbersome and may take a year and a half to sort out.

  Luoyang Wang can also live in the capital for another year and a half, the Empress Dowager is so happy that there are tears in her eyes.

  Zhong Jun married Gu Jinzhi and was able to accompany the Empress Dowager for a few more days, and the Empress Dowager's concerns about this youngest son also slowly dissipated.

  She called in Sheng Gu Gu and had her search the storage room of Kun Ning Palace, where she found twenty-eight boxes of gifts. She would have them delivered to Gu Jingyu when he returned home the next day.

  "The A family is going to marry a daughter-in-law again!" The empress dowager said with a smile. "Go and bring the jewelry box of the A family, it's the one that the A family brought when they entered the palace that year..."

  The Empress Dowager was given a pair of He Tian sheep fat white jade bangles by her mother when she entered the palace.

  One was given by Empress Dowager to the emperor's former empress; one she kept for herself. The other was prepared for King Wang's queen, Zhongjun.

  She thought it would take three to five more years. Who knew? Now they can be given out already.

  The empress dowager was extremely delighted.

  The elder sister-in-law was also delighted and hurriedly went out to find someone and then invited Gu Jinzhi over.

  The empress dowager was very solemn and personally put it on her: "When I entered the palace that year, I only brought this pair of jade bangles. Although they are not the best things, they are my intention. One was given to the former empress, and this one is yours, wear it well. You became my daughter-in-law, and I liked it in my heart..."

  Gu Jinzhi thanked him.

  She didn't show a bit of disdain for Zhong Jun's attitude, which moved the Empress Dowager even more.

  Zhang Jun is actually not bad, he just... at the age of thirteen, still like a six or seven year old child. His behavior is childish, but also not lacking in kindness, knowing good and evil, not stupid or foolish!

  Finally there is someone in this world who understands Zhong Jun.

  The empress dowager chatted with Gu Jinzhi for half a day, thinking that she would have to go home the next day, so she let her go to sleep first, and then continued to let Cheng Gugu and the palace people clean up the gifts.

  "Tomorrow, I specially permit you to leave the palace and see Jin'er off home." The Empress Dowager said to Sheng GuGu, "Go take a look at her home. I vaguely remember that Guo Guogong said their family is still in San Yuanpo Hutong. The houses there are all very cramped. If she's not living well, come back and tell me. My daughter-in-law can't be wronged."

  The elder sister said yes.

  On February 3rd, the spring snow had not melted, but instead added more snowy colors.

  The streets are lined with scales, all white and pure, the entire capital is a vast expanse of purity, and the view has also broadened.

  The eunuch in charge of the Kunning Palace sent a small eunuch out of the palace early in the morning to inform the Gu family that their seventh young lady would be returning home today and asked them to come and welcome her.

  Everyone in the Gu's household was once again in an uproar.

  They didn't know what Gu Jinzhi was doing when he entered the palace; now they were even more unclear about what was going on.

  The great uncle Gu Yanwu ordered his servants to sweep the road clean.

  At noon, the snow stopped, and it was just past 4 pm when a servant came to report to Gu Yanwu that Seventh Miss had returned. The eunuch in charge of Kun Ning Palace, Chang Gonggong, and Sheng Gugu personally escorted her back. Behind them were more than twenty sedan chairs carrying goods, all silk fabrics, jewelry, and trinkets, filling the entire alley of San Yuan Po to the brim.

  Gu Yanwu often walked in the palace and naturally knew what kind of weight Gong Gong Chang was.

  He jumped up at once, didn't even bother to change his clothes, and without wearing clogs, he trampled the snowy ground and ran swiftly to the gate.

  ——*——*——*——

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  Third update is done, continue to seek pink!