After the cold wind blew in the middle of the night, the snow finally fell.
It squirted all night, and by the time the rooster crows, a thick layer has accumulated on the ground.
The palace servants who got up early opened the palace door.
It was pitch dark outside, and the cold wind poured into the hall, flipping through a pile of thick books on the desk - "Jibei County: County 5, 15,700 households, 72,000 people."
"Jinan County: Eight counties, 16,600 households, and 81,000 inhabitants."
Below the black text are several lines of small red text annotations: "In the fourteen counties of Jinan in the former Han Dynasty, there were more than 140,000 households and more than 640,000 people; in the twelve counties of Jinan in the later Han Dynasty, there were nearly 80,000 households and more than 450,000 people.
There are only 80,000 people in eight counties today? It seems there should be 100,000. Check again!"
As if he was in a bad mood, he added another line after the red letter: "In the prosperous period of Jinwu and Taikang, the six counties of Qingzhou only had more than 50,000 households. At that time, the household registration in the country should be 60%. In the prosperous period of the Later Han Dynasty, the household registration of the six counties of Qingzhou was only one in Jinan, the former Han Dynasty.
The third one of the county’s household registration? The most ridiculous person in the world! Sima Yan, exaggerated!"
"Donglai County: County Six, with 11,100 households and 58,000 inhabitants."
"There are only 6,500 households in the Donglai Kingdom of Jin Dynasty, but now it exceeds 10,000. Your Majesty and I have done our best! I will send people to look for the old officials of Prince Sima's Mansion and check their records. Your Majesty and I will just sit back and relax."
"Leling County: County 5, with 1200 households and 49,500 people."
The annotation of the short essay comes again: "The county of Cao Wei has 10,000 households, the Jin Dynasty has 10,000 households, and the Liang Dynasty has 10,000 households! No matter who rules it, no matter what the disease or disaster is, no matter whether it has been in war for a long time, every household is the same
Wan, I believe it!"
"Ouch!" The door was gently closed.
The booklet stopped at the last page: "Regardless of Xiapi, there are nineteen counties and one hundred and twelve counties, with a total of more than 270,800 military and civilian households and more than 1,254,300 people."
At the end there is a big red cross with two words: "Incompetent!"
The palace servant carefully put away the books, files, pens, inks, paper and inkstones, and wiped the tabletop.
Their movements were very gentle because there was a slight sound coming from inside.
The emperor was busy with everything during the day, and continued to work on it at night. He was so tired that he didn't even get up to practice martial arts today.
After changing a bucket of water, the table in the west dining room was also cleaned.
The door was pushed open a crack, and someone outside asked softly: "Has your Majesty gotten up?"
"Never."
The visitor seemed a little anxious and sighed: "Today there is a meeting to climb a mountain. If you don't stand up, the Queen will be up."
The palace man was speechless. What could she do? She could only say: "Let's prepare breakfast first. His Majesty won't be practicing martial arts today. Just prepare some dolphin, chicken, and fish."
The sound of the visitor's footsteps faded away.
The palace man stood in the hall and looked towards the east side hall.
The palace room was as warm as spring.
With Jin thoughts, Shao Xun opened his eyes.
The soft body in her arms moved and seemed to be awake.
The woman's back was turned to him, and the two of them hugged each other and slept together all night.
Liang Lanbi blinked her eyes and blushed after feeling the thing clamped in her buttocks.
At the same time, I was also a little worried. I felt comfortable. What if Yu Wenjun found out?
Wenjun was really kind to her. He often came to see her, comforted her, and said that she could go home and live leisurely, and no one would make things difficult for her.
But she didn't want to leave, and His Majesty wouldn't let her go.
The guilt in her heart was indescribable, but when she was bullied by His Majesty, when she thought of Wenjun, she felt a tremor from her soul.
It felt like he had stolen something she loved.
She could only use the fact that she was forced to numb herself.
Your Majesty wants to favor her. As a woman who has subjugated her country, she has no way to refuse, right?
Wenjun can't serve His Majesty now. It's better for her to help Wenjun than others, right? She will never hurt Wenjun--"
The man rubbed her roughly for a while, causing her breath to become a little confused.
The purple grapes also suddenly stood up.
Fortunately, it was getting late, so the man just played with it casually for a while, then tucked her into bed and stood up to change her clothes.
There were intermittent voices outside, seeming to be asking if they wanted to have breakfast at Jiuhua Terrace.
The man seemed to refuse and only ordered to prepare breakfast for her.
Not long after, there was movement outside again, as if a royal car was approaching, and there were the sound of uniform footsteps of the guards.
He is leaving!
Liang Lanbi turned sideways and looked toward the window.
The sky was still dark. In the past, she hated this kind of deep darkness, but now she wished that the nights were longer, because she could curl up comfortably in a man's arms, even if she had to be tortured by him.
After the men's shower was over, they quickly left in the car.
Liang Lanbi smelled the aroma of food, but she had no appetite recently and didn't want to eat much.
Especially that food may have been prepared for His Majesty. He is a martial arts practitioner and has to eat meat in the morning, but now Liang Lanbi just feels a little nauseous and doesn't want to eat it.
The palace man came in again.
This is someone who has been with her for a long time. She used to be a maid in her family. She was summoned into the palace three years ago. Now she practices in the Buddhist hall with her.
After seeing Liang Lanbi wake up, the palace attendant said crisply: "Queen Mother, Pu She will come to the Buddhist hall today."
"Father is coming?" Liang Lanbi asked, but he was not surprised.
"Yes." The palace man replied: "Pushe is going to Chang'an. I want to comment on the scholars of Yong, Qin and Liang. Before leaving, I may have something to say to you."
"This is going to be a war-" Liang Lanbi whispered.
Yesterday, His Majesty was warming wine on Jiuhua Terrace and chatting with Liangzhou scholars. At that time, she was practicing in the Buddhist hall inside Yunlong Gate on the east side, and she could hear the laughter of the emperor and his ministers.
Liang Lanbi's political sensitivity is not low, and he analyzed it immediately.
This is the biggest and best opportunity for the Kansai scholars. After this experience, it will be a matter of routine in the future. Unless the capital of Daliang is Chang'an, it will be difficult to defeat the Kanto scholars.
However, it seems to have nothing to do with her anymore.
Her status was not high on the agenda, and no matter how powerful the Kansai scholars were, they could not help her. She had no extravagant hopes.
"Go back to the Buddhist hall to practice." Liang Lanbi sat up and looked at the depression next to him where the man had been lying, feeling a little sad.
****
In the afternoon, Liang Fen came as expected.
Liang Fen felt a little sad when she saw her daughter in plain clothes.
His lineage is not prosperous.
By this time, there was only one daughter left, and only one grandchild. After the winter, she was still infected with the cold.
His branch is teetering on the verge of extinction.
Every time I think about this, I can't help but feel sad.
"Grandpa." Liang Lanbi saluted.
"Are you still willing to call me grandpa?" Liang Fen smiled bitterly and asked, "Why don't you want to go home?"
Liang Lanbi avoided his father's questioning eyes and only said: "Master is going to Chang'an?"
"Yes, let's go with Yao Yizhong and others." Liang Fen said:
: "In February and March, Your Majesty will also go west to inspect Yong and Qin."
"Why patrol?
"This is an ancient system." Liang Fen said: "When the new dynasty was founded, it patrolled the four directions to let the world know what year it is."
This is no joke. In fact, not many people in the world know about the change of dynasty. Basically, they are the powerful and literate people.
Even literate people may not know everything.
It has only been more than two months since the founding of the country, and some information is not available. People who like to live a small life behind closed doors may not necessarily know.
Not to mention the field shepherds, local soldiers, tribal herdsmen, and fort residents.
"I don't know that there was a Han Dynasty, regardless of the Wei and Jin Dynasties" is an artistic exaggeration, but the real situation is not much better.
"Oh." Liang Lanbi nodded lightly.
"Are you going home or not?" Liang Fen was just distracted by her daughter, so she continued to ask.
Liang Lanbi lowered her head, as if asking to be careful not to speak.
Liang Fen was angry at her daughter's attitude, but she thought about having only one child, and remembered that her late wife Huangfu held his hand before she died.
Let him protect their child, and they won't be able to say harsh words.
"I don't care about you anymore" lingered on for a long time, and I couldn't say it out. Finally I could only sigh and said, "You can take care of yourself. If you want to go home, just send someone to let you know. I have worked hard for my father and the emperor for many years.
I still have this face. I am getting old and I can’t protect you for a few more years.”
As soon as Liang Lanbi heard this, tears burst out of her eyes.
When Liang Fen saw it, her eyes were slightly red, and she said: "That's all. I'm sorry for you as a father, and I've delayed your life. In this world, Liang Fen left the palace without a trace.
When I returned home, it was already the time when the lanterns were first lit.
The house is empty.
The eldest son was killed by rebel soldiers more than 20 years ago, and the second son died of illness nine years ago.
My wife also died of illness a few years ago.
There is only one eleven-year-old grandson left in the family (born to the second son), who has been bedridden since winter.
There is an air of desertion and loneliness everywhere.
Fortunately, children of the Liang family and Huangfu family came to visit him from time to time, so that he would not have no one to talk to.
Huangfuchang, the minister of Zuomin, came today. He is the nephew of Liang Fen's wife Huangfu and the adopted son of Huangfuzhong, the former governor of Qinzhou.
After the founding of the People's Republic of China, Zuo Mincao became the Zuo Minbu. The chief official was one Shangshu, and two other assistant ministers were appointed as Shangshu's deputies. Huangfuchang was one of them.
Huangfuchang smiled and walked out the door.
Liang Fen nodded and said: "His Majesty is on his western tour and has appointed you as an accompanying officer of the Zuo Min Department. Prepare yourself during these days. Don't waste the opportunity by asking questions without knowing anything."
"Yes." Huangfuchang brushed the snow off Liang Fen's shoulders, then helped him walk in and asked, "How is it? Is the Queen Mother willing to go home?"
"Now is the Liang Dynasty." Liang Fen glared at Huangfuchang and did not answer.
Huangfuchang did not ask further questions. After returning to the house, he asked: "Does Mr. Liang still remember Yan Ding?"
"He? Taichen?" Liang Fen paused and said with a wry smile: "Taichen! He is too ambitious. When I controlled Nanyang, he still thought about separatism and self-reliance. Didn't he surrender to the Huns later?"
"Yan Taichen later went to Liangzhou and had a secret communication with Yu Yuandu of Honglu Temple a while ago." Huangfuchang poured a small half glass of wine for Liang Fen.
He said: "I received his handwritten letter today and rushed here in a hurry."
Liang Fen pondered for a moment, then shook his head and said: "The Taiwan minister is still like this, obsessed with fame and fortune. However, this time he made a mistake and ran into the right person. He is also blessed. If he has this matter, he will not be in trouble.
A good ending."
"Yes." Huangfuchang said: "The Yan family has ethnic groups in Tianshui, Wuwei, and Jincheng, and it is not a small clan. If Yan Taichen can persuade the Yan family to return to the country and abandon Zhang Jun, it will be a great achievement.
It can still be used by Ming Gong in the future."
"I am over sixty years old, how many years can I still reign?" Liang Fen waved his hand and said: "What I am doing now is just to pave the way for the Liang family's children. After conquering Xiliang, it is time to abdicate and make way for others.'
"What did Ming Gong say to me?" Huangfuchang said with a smile, "Even the King of Zhao respects Ming Gong."
"Huh?" Liang Fen's eyes suddenly condensed and she looked at Huangfuchang.
Huangfuchang caught his gaze and laughed dryly, saying, "I'll close the doors and windows. It's too cold."
At this moment, an old servant came in and whispered something in Liang Fen's ear.
"Puff!" Liang Fen patted the table.
Huang Puchang was frightened and at a loss.
"Are you sure?" Liang Fen asked.
The old servant looked at Huangfuchang, then leaned into Liang Fen's ear and whispered: "There is more than one person in the Imperial Medical Office making the diagnosis, so there should be no mistakes."
"You Shao Quanzhong!" Liang Fen said angrily,
Huangfuchang looked left and right, then smiled awkwardly and said, "I'll go warm another pot of wine."
After that, he turned around and walked out the door.
Liang Fen slowly calmed down at this time.
The old servant observed the words and said in a low voice: "Ming Gong, the doctors of the Imperial Medical Office have seen so many evil things in their lives. They are very strict with their mouths and will never talk nonsense. When Emperor Hui was poisoned, the people of the Imperial Medical Office
He has not revealed a single word to anyone so far, which is trustworthy. There is still room for redemption in this matter."
"Is the unfilial daughter willing to go home?" Liang Fen asked.
"The Queen Mother would like to go home and rest," the old servant replied.
Liang Fen snorted coldly.
"Ming Gong, this is not a bad thing." The old servant said: "Shut up, Chief." Liang Fen sat down and said, "I will handle this matter myself, just obey your orders."
"yes."
Liang Fen's face was uncertain, and finally she sighed and said, "Do I owe Shao Quanzhong anything in this life?"
Shao, who was favored by Lao Liang, had just finished his climbing party on the 15th day of the first lunar month and was drinking with guests at the foot of Mount Mang.
Chapter completed!