Yan Qing didn't say anything, but he had seen everything Empress Dowager Jiang did during this period. What stuck in his heart was not because Empress Dowager Jiang was a woman.
The late emperor was his favorite student. He had always regarded the late emperor as his own child, and he also had talents that were different from ordinary people in governing the country.
But what he loved more was fighting on the battlefield and making the neighboring countries surrender to Yong. Yan Qing tried to persuade him many times, but to no avail.
The government of Yong State gradually fell into the hands of Queen Mother Jiang. The late emperor often led military campaigns in person, so Queen Mother Jiang naturally controlled the court.
Later, the late emperor was injured and his health became worse day by day. That day when he learned that the late emperor passed away, Yan Qing was in a state of shock.
Because he knew that the illness of the late emperor would not kill him so quickly. At that time, Yan Qing had already found the whereabouts of a miracle doctor who traveled around the world, but before he could set out, the late emperor passed away.
There were only the late emperor and the empress dowager in the hall that day. He could not help but doubt the empress dowager. Coupled with the turmoil surrounding the establishment of the crown prince, he increasingly felt that the late emperor died at the hands of the empress dowager.
But for so many years, he has been investigating hard, but there is no clue at all. Now that the Queen Mother is in power, how can he safely hand over the land of Yong State to that ruthless woman?
It's just that these things are hidden in his heart. He just has suspicions. Over the years, he has no evidence at all, so the only thing he can do now is to remove that woman from power.
However, due to the current situation in the Yong Kingdom, it seems that the Queen Mother cannot step down for the time being. Now that she has won the hearts of the people, if she rashly changes to another emperor, she will naturally lose the hearts of the people easily.
Especially now that the identities of these five princes are in doubt, and the only nephew of the late emperor is ambitious and wants to rebel, how can such an unfaithful and unjust person be entrusted with the power of Yong?
Yan Qing sighed and said: "Of course I know the current situation, but I really have no clue about the whereabouts of the Queen Mother."
Jiang Fang knew that Yan Qing had no need to lie to him, so he said: "You should know about the Queen Mother Xiao Huaiyan kidnapped. I believe you also know why he kidnapped the Queen Mother, right?"
Xiao Yao asked: "It was Xiao Boyuan who rebelled, but now Xiao Huaiyan has intervened, so both of them want to gain the world, right?"
Yan Qing did not answer Xiao Yao's words, but just said: "He kidnapped the Queen Mother and arranged a fake Queen Mother in the palace. Naturally, he wanted to find out the truth about that year.
Or we could force the Queen Mother to reveal that he was the prince appointed by the late emperor and not Jiang Huaigu, so that he could seize the throne without any bloodshed."
Jiang Fang said: "Xiao Boyuan intended to rebel, and Xiao Huaiyan must have known it, so he placed a fake queen mother in the palace to contain Xiao Boyuan and buy time for himself.
And since Xiao Huaiyan is ready to fight without bloodshed, he naturally has a way to contain Xiao Boyuan. The only worry now is whether Xiao Huaiyan will kill someone and silence her after taking advantage of the Queen Mother."
Yan Qing frowned: "Such a plan is too risky. If the Queen Mother loses her use value to him, she will naturally be silenced."
At this moment, Jiang Fang thought of the bead that Aunt Gui had given him, and asked, "Has Mr. Yan Ge ever seen this bead?"
Yan Qing took the bead in Jiang Fang's hand and looked at it carefully. At this time, Xiao Yao said: "These beads are used by some wealthy families to wear them as curtains.
Because the sound they make when the wind blows against them is very pleasant, ladies and gentlemen have been competing to make them into bead curtains in the house or waving stones on their heads."
Only then did Jiang Fang think of Xiao Yao and asked, "So it's easy to get this bead?"
Xiao Yao thought for a while and said: "The beads themselves are not difficult to obtain, but green beads like this are rare. The craftsmanship is different, so the appearance is naturally different.
Looking at the quality, it’s not something that ordinary people can afford. It’s considered a tribute level, haven’t you seen it in the palace?”
Xiao Yao's words awakened Jiang Fang, and she suddenly remembered where she had seen him before, but she couldn't remember it for a while.
At this time, Mr. Yan Ge said: "These beads were brought as tribute by the people at that time. The Queen Mother also gave some to various imperial wives to use as headdresses. They were very popular at that time, and the wife of an old minister still has one."
One moment it was a hairpin, and the next it was a bead curtain. Jiang Fang's mind became even more confused, so he said: "So in short, those who can have these things can only be from the families of officials from the first rank or above, right?"
?”
Xiao Yao looked at the beads carefully and said, "Look at the beads, they have holes, so they should be used to make curtains.
The beads on women's hairpins are all inlaid, and usually there are no holes. If all beads of this color were used to make curtains, I'm afraid only the palace would be able to use them."
But Jiang Fang just couldn't remember where he had seen this bead. He always felt that it was very familiar, but he also forgot where he had seen it.
Yan Qing said: "If you like these beads as curtains, they must only be in the palace of women. If it is not the third princess, I am afraid that the eighth princess and Concubine Li will be left in the palace."
Jiang Fang said: "I went to the Qiushui Palace today and was surrounded by the Imperial Guards. I shouldn't dare to imprison the Queen Mother so blatantly in front of the Imperial Guards.
I have never been to Xiao Niao Niao's palace, but Xiao Niao Niao has been favored by the Queen Mother since she was a child. Although she is more thoughtful, she should not dare to do such a bold thing."
But Xiao Yao said: "Why don't you dare? What if you said that Qiushui Palace is surrounded by the Forbidden Army? It's just an illusion? The Forbidden Army obeys the orders of the Queen Mother, so isn't the fake Queen Mother also the Queen Mother?
The more bluffing you are, the more secrets you hide, and your eighth sister, she has been interested in your consort for a long time.
I can see the look in her eyes. Only you can imagine how cruel a woman can be, but she cannot do it. If the Queen Mother steps down, you will also step down.
Your eighth sister is not involved in the issue of position. If you help him at this juncture and want to get a hostage from an enemy country, is it not a matter of just one word?"
Yan Qing said: "What he said is not unreasonable. The struggle for power never ends. And although the Eighth Princess has won the favor of the Queen Mother, she will not be able to compete with you after you come back. After all, blood is thicker than water.