C69 (1/2)
Princess Linlang's manor.
Zhao Qixuan didn't seem to care about the punishment, but as her trusted confidant, Shi Yan knew how angry this princess was. The failure of the imperial court this time was a great humiliation to her. Someone from the Crown Prince's Palace wanted to see the princess, but before they could even get close to her, they had already left!
What the princess didn't want to talk about, she mustn't ask. This was a rule. Zhao Qixuan calmly asked, ”Is there any news from there?”
”Not yet!”
Shi Yan naturally knew what she was referring to. Having followed Princess Linlang for seven years, Shi Yan was confident that no one knew her more than he did. He knew all of her preferences, dislikes, and even subtle thoughts, and he hid his admiration and loyalty to her, not just for the sake of his children's relationship, but also because he saw the princess' ambition. Although it had never been proven, he was sure that his judgement was correct!
Everyone in the world thought that this princess supported the crown prince, but in the princess' eyes, the meaning of the crown prince was no different from trash! The princess was a schemer, how could she be willing to support someone she looked down upon?
”You must remember to remind those people over there to not keep an eye on them too closely! If we were to anger the other party, the gains will not make up for the losses! ”
Shi Yan nodded to remember.
Wandering in the south for almost a year, I never thought that a person like Zhang Zhou would appear in Hezhou. Although he is not that powerful, his abilities are impressive!” He had heard from Tong Xinchu that the Nine Prefectures Business had once sent a State Zephyr Fragrance to the Mansion! Ze Xiang's profits were very important to guests. Zhang Zhou's work was not small! ”Unfortunately, I know it's a bit late.
”Right now, Zhang Zhou is just a commander of a torture camp, he's not worthy of your highness' attention! The Peace King probably used silver to build a relationship with him, at most, it would only be the second rich hall! ”
Zhao Qixuan looked at Shi Yan playfully, but didn't say anything! Shi Yan thought that he understood her, but she knew his character very well. She was loyal, had both martial and civil skills, but she was too petty to listen to him praise others!
”The Tang Dynasty has always neglected the northern prefectures, and so have the rest of us. We have always been staring at those places in the south. After the King of the Great North River fell, all of us fled far away!”
”Those northern states have very little influence on the overall situation. The only one who will be decisive is Zhang Shuhe!”
Zhao Qixuan smiled but didn't say anything! After a moment of silence, he said, ”I heard that Hezhou has changed a lot! I want to take a look! ”
Although the imperial edict was to ban a person from serving his life for a year, but Shi Xiong didn't find the princess' decision surprising at all!
”You don't have to follow me this time, you have to stay behind and take care of matters in the capital.” You don't have to follow me this time, you have to stay behind and take care of matters in the capital. Also, when purple jade marries to the Western Tribes, watch every move of Sima Jingyan closely! I really want to know what this old fox will do! ”
Shi Biao was a little reluctant in his heart, but he didn't say anything else. He nodded and accepted the order.
The Western General's Estate.
Sima Jingyan sat steadily on the custom-made big chair in the Nine Regions Business Department. He maintained an indifferent expression throughout the year. As long as it was someone lower ranked than him, it was practically impossible to tell what he looked like.
Last year's development was not bad. Not only did he get rid of the Huyan Family, but he also earned several hundred thousand taels of silver a year. He didn't care what those people in the Nine Regions were doing. The Southflat Prefecture was big, you can do whatever you want. As long as you don't fight with the Sima family for benefits, then you will be in the limelight.
But at this time, Sima Jingyan was in an extremely bad mood. The several people standing below didn't even dare to breathe!
He had four sons, boss, and second brother was stationed in Nanping Province! Third brother, fourth brother serves in the capital. As one of the four second rank generals, regardless of military authority or personal strength, the other three generals were far inferior to him. A few days ago, he had nothing to do with the crippling of the title of Crown Prince that shook the entire capital. He had nothing to do with it.
And today's news made him extremely vexed!
What was the purpose of this marriage alliance? It was clear that he wanted to reduce the strength of the Sima family. After joining the Tang family, even if it wasn't considered loyal, it would still be worth it! After so many years of peace and stability in the Northwest, it was the Sima Family that put everything on the line. If you, Zhao Qianyuan, wanted to take this Xi Rong's grindstone, would you want to kill this donkey called the Sima Family next?
Sima Jingyan's third son, Sima Huan, was a typical valiant and brainless martial artist. He could charge into the fray without any problems. If he had to think about the issue, it would be better for him to just ask him about his own knee. The fourth son was an extremely tactful and scheming character. Back then, the one he met in Huyan Dong Ham of the Sheep Hall was him, Sima Ming Zhu, who had been lightly injured during the assassination and was now fully recovered.
He didn't dare to take out his signature fan in front of his father. When he heard his father's slight snort and knew that the old man had an idea, he carefully asked, ”Father, do you have any plans?”
Sima Jingyan looked at his youngest son and said in a low voice, ”You little brat, you have a lot of ideas. Tell me first!”
Sima Ming Zhu thought for a moment and gave her father a look. Sima Jingyan waved his hand and everyone else left the room. Sima Ming Zhu then said, ”Lord Father, I think that marrying into the Western Tribes will be very disadvantageous for our family!” In the bitter and cold lands of the Northwest, you have worked so hard for so many years, and now that you have this much money, you can't not be on guard! ”
Afterwards, he looked at Sima Jingyan. Sima Jingyan also didn't like this kid's concealed personality, but this guy was quite intelligent. He had managed to obtain many benefits from the various powers, so he didn't blame him too much.
”Un, continue!”
”Son guessed that once he married the Western Tribes, he would definitely use the reason of being invincible to the northwest to cut down our Sima family's military provisions. Perhaps, he might even have the idea of taking advantage of our Sima family's military forces!”
”Well, what do you think?”
”Lord Father, it has been too quiet in the Northwest!” That's why they made some people forget the importance of our Sima family! Then we should remind them! If I were to blindly accept it, it would be the same as sitting still and waiting for my death! ”
”Hmm, there are indeed so many people in the imperial court. They are looking down on our Sima family more and more!” Marriage alliance, hehe, properly enroll a consort horse, stay in Tang Tang is not good? Do you really think of the Sima family as a decoration? ”
Sima Jingyan stood up and looked at his youngest son, saying, ”My father hasn't been feeling well these days, so I can't go to court now! What should we do? You, your big brother, and your second brother should discuss it! Now that you all have grown up, it's time for you to support yourselves! ”
”As you command, Father!”
As Sima Ming Zhu watched her father leave, the smile on her face disappeared. It was unknown as to what she was thinking!
There had been a lot of changes in the city! North Street, was no longer the 'dirty, messy, or poor' street from before. Instead, it was the biggest commercial street in the city. The west side of the city had already started the large-scale demolition according to Zhang Zhou's plan, creating the Hezhou Light Industry Manufacturing Garden. In the future, a large number of craftsmen would be stationed here to process and manufacture the Nine Regions' commercial products, including printing, clothing, daily necessities, and so on.
Hezhou, based on the story of the Twin Classes, built the Hundred Meet Garden, the library of literati, all sorts of famous people's inscriptions and poems, all kinds of literary associations, all kinds of inviting scholars to the rostrum, it also added a lot of human charm to the city.
The military hunting and patrolling horses in Hezhou had become a sign! Clothes are the cleanest; walking is the most standard; moving is the most efficient! If anyone were to report him and confirm his wrongdoing or corruption, he would be guaranteed to strip him of his official uniform on the spot and then get his entire family out of Hezhou!