The two sat on the eaves, looking at the fireworks not far away, and smiled at each other.
The banquet lasted until midnight.
next day
Chu Yunning sorted out the names and amounts of money submitted by the concubines in the harem, looked at the thick stack of banknotes, and sighed to himself about how much food and weapons he had to buy.
"The emperor has ascended the throne, and the Marquis of Xihai is dead. As for us, we have no use value anymore. Should we be let go?"
Mrs. Xihaihou listened to the banquet and revelry all night, and she felt uncomfortable.
Without her status as queen, it would be too painful for her to continue to stay in the harem.
So she took the initiative to hand over the Phoenix Seal, hoping that Chu Yunning would let her go for the sake of her cooperation.
Chu Yunning took the phoenix seal and checked whether it was genuine or not. After confirming that it was correct, she handed it over to Bixiu and put it away.
"I understand Mrs. Hou's desire to reunite with her family, but now is not the time."
"You want to regret it?" Mrs. Xihaihou questioned, her eyes suddenly became sharp.
Chu Yunning pretended not to see it and whispered: "Now and then, first the villain and then the gentleman. I can guarantee that I will not hurt you."
She took out a letter and wrote the content on it.
"You make a copy and choose a keepsake to send to the Yao family."
When Mrs. Xihaihou saw the content clearly, her face darkened: "Chu Shanggong, this is immoral. How can I help you persuade your father and brother to hand over military power?"
Without military power, is it still at the mercy of others?
"As far as I know, General Yao listens to you very much. As long as you speak, I will handle the rest. How about it?"
Chu Yunning snapped her fingers, and a palace maid immediately brought the Four Treasures of the Study. She took the inkstone and started grinding it skillfully.
Seeing this, Mrs. Xihaihou raised her eyebrows. She couldn't tell what the tone was, so she just said, "I didn't expect that Chu Shanggong could actually be good at ink."
The two were in a stalemate for a while. Chu Yunning looked at the ink and said, "As long as you promise to let General Yao hand over half of his military power, I can guarantee that the Yao family will be safe!"
"Why should I trust you?" Mrs. Xihaihou sneered.
I finally collected five million taels of silver, but the other party turned out to be a cheat.
Annoying!
Chu Yunning raised her lips and said, "Mrs. Hou, did you see Leng Concubine in the evening three days ago?"
Three days ago happened to be the day when King Yi caused trouble.
Mrs. Xihaihou did not deny it, and nodded lightly: "Leng Bing has an old illness. I...I just went to visit her."
After being a queen for so many years, she still hasn't gotten used to the fact that she has become a deposed queen, a marquis in name only.
She didn't care at all.
Chu Yunning didn't speak when he heard the words. He took up his pen and copied two words slowly.
Madam Xihaihou glanced at him casually, her brows furrowed.
This handwriting is exactly the same as hers!
"I will discuss this with you only if I am in a good mood today. After two days, even if you kneel down and beg me, you may not have this opportunity."
Chu Yunning snapped the pen.
Looking around, the inner hall of the central palace is indeed luxurious, but there are fewer people to serve it, making it look empty and deserted.
"You should think about the Sixteenth Prince as well as others."
When the sixteenth prince was mentioned, Mrs. Xihaihou's mood collapsed instantly. She looked at her in disbelief: "What nonsense are you talking about?"
"The Sixteenth Prince was sent away to be raised because of his tough fate since birth. You finally tried so hard to persuade the Eldest Prince to guard the border. Isn't it just to pave the way for the Sixteenth Prince to come back? You must be very happy that the Eldest Prince is dead.
!”
There is no doubt about this, even though the eldest prince is her nominal son.
But mother and son have no feelings at all.
Mrs. Xihaihou's tight strings suddenly poured out, as if all her energy had been drained away, and she sat dejectedly on the chair.
, she asked: "What on earth do you want!"
"One hundred and fifty thousand soldiers and horses!"
Mrs. Xihaihou raised her head and asked, "Why should I trust you?"
Chu Yunning took out a death-free gold medal from his arms: "A gold medal will exchange you for a letter. As long as you get a reply, I will let you go immediately!"
After all the words were said, Mrs. Xihaihou did not give her a chance to refuse.
No matter how unwilling she was, she could only write the letter.
After the handwriting dried, Chu Yunning checked it carefully, folded it after confirming it was correct, put it in the envelope and put it on the table again.
This means that Mrs. Xihaihou still has to find a way to send the letter herself.
"No wonder the emperor can't tolerate her in his eyes and only takes you with him." Mrs. Xihaihou smiled meaningfully: "You are indeed not an ordinary woman."
In some ways, she feels ashamed of herself.
"Thank you so much for your praise." Chu Yunning added, "We'll work hard all the way. You'll get a reply within three days. I'll wait for you for three days."
Mrs. Xihaihou clenched her fists tightly under her sleeves and suddenly said: "Chu Yunning, you swear on your son's life that if you lie to me, he will not live to be ten years old!"
After hearing this, the smile on Chu Yunning's face faded, and his expression gradually became serious.
"Why, you don't dare?" Mrs. Xihai Hou grabbed the envelope as if she wanted to tear it into pieces.
Chu Yunning looked at her calmly.
"It's only a matter of time before we gain military power from the Yao family. It doesn't matter whether you send the letter or not, it's just a few more wars."
"Are you guilty?" Mrs. Xihaihou asked repeatedly, her gentle and virtuous face was a little distorted at the moment, and it was actually a bit ferocious and terrifying.
Chu Yunning shook her head. In the real world, she had dealt with many psychologists and learned a lot of experience.
So in this era, she is definitely not the loser in psychological warfare!
"As you wish." Chu Yunning's expression was indifferent, and he reached out to take back the gold medal that was not exempt from death, and was about to leave.
He looked like he didn't care at all.
Seeing this, Mrs. Xihai Hou panicked, walked around the table and grabbed her arm: "I can help you ask for military power, but you must promise to keep the Yao family and the sixteenth prince."
Chu Yunning nodded: "As long as the Yao family has no rebellious intentions and the sixteenth prince has no hatred in his heart, I can guarantee that I will not cause trouble to the Yao family as long as I live."
"What you say is unfounded! Write down the evidence."
Chu Yunning didn't refuse and wrote down the documents readily.
Holding the receipt in hand, Mrs. Xihaihou calmed down a little and sat back on the chair, with an expression as if she was about to see off the guests.
Chu Yunning turned around and left, then went back to Concubine Xia's palace.
Concubine Xia was childless and beautiful. She had been in the palace for ten years and had been favored by her for many years. She was the eldest daughter of Prime Minister Xia of the imperial court.
At this moment, Concubine Xia held the black and white chess pieces in her hands and started playing chess pieces leisurely. When she saw her coming, she smiled and said, "You are here, sit down."
Concubine Xia's face is like a blazing rose, enchanting and dazzling, with hairpins surrounding her temples, her lips curled up, and every frown and smile is extremely beautiful.
Such beauty is as if it was carefully carved.
Too beautiful to be true.
"It's really boring for me to be alone in Nuo Da's palace. It's rare for you to come and play chess?"
Concubine Xia picked up the chess pieces one by one with her jade-white fingertips. She held her chin with one hand and blinked: "If you beat me, I will agree to your purpose of coming. How about that?"
Chu Yunning was about to say that she was not good at chess. After hearing this, she sat down without saying anything and held the white piece on her fingertips.