Chapter 168 I’ve said it, you’re done.

Author: Zhou Liangliang

Chapter 168 I’ve said it, you’re done.

Before four o'clock, the civil and military ministers of the Manchu Dynasty were standing at the gate of the palace, waiting for the palace door to open.

He went to court on time every day, but the palace door opened at four o'clock.

The palace gate guard opened the palace gate on time at 4:00 a.m., and the ministers walked into the palace gate in order and walked in the direction of Chengguang Hall.

Normally the ministers would talk and laugh when they entered the palace, but these two days they were silent when they entered the palace.

Ever since the incident in Yangzhou reached the capital, the atmosphere in the capital immediately changed and became very depressing. Both the people and the ministers became silent and did not dare to speak at will.

The gate of Chengguang Hall has not yet opened, so the ministers went to the side hall to wait.

This side hall is specially used for ministers to rest.

As soon as the ministers sat down, the eunuch brought hot tea.

Although it is now April and the weather has become much warmer, it is still very cold in the morning. The ministers have just been waiting at the palace gate for a while and have somewhat suffered from the cold.

The ministers picked up teacups and drank hot tea slowly.

There was only the sound of drinking tea in the entire side hall, and there was no other sound.

After drinking tea, the ministers looked at each other and wanted to say something, but they didn't dare to speak.

After the sound of drinking tea stopped, the atmosphere in the side hall became eerily quiet. The ministers all lowered their heads. Some looked at their official boots and saw that they were stained with dust, so they quickly lowered their bodies and wiped them.

Some look at the sleeves of their official uniforms to see if there are any threads on them. Some look at their hands to see if they have any dirt on them.

Some ministers looked up at the roof of the side hall and studied the carvings on the beams. Some ministers simply closed their eyes and took a nap. In short, no one spoke.

Some ministers couldn't stand this depressing and strange atmosphere, and looked very uncomfortable and restless.

He Xiang, who was sitting at the head of the ministers, was sitting there drinking tea.

The prince and the king didn't speak either. They stared at each other.

After He Xiang drank the tea, he let out a sigh of relief.

His sigh sounded particularly loud in the quiet side hall, and immediately attracted all the ministers to look at him.

When He met the ministers, they all looked at him and smiled calmly at them. The ministers immediately smiled back.

The prince couldn't stand the strange atmosphere. He coughed twice and then said, "Prime Minister, you look good today. It seems you slept well last night."

After being shown concern by His Highness the Crown Prince, He Xiang said respectfully: "Thank you very much for your concern, Your Highness the Crown Prince. I have slept very well these past few days."

After hearing what Xiang He said, the ministers complained in their hearts: Xiang He, how can you sleep when such a big thing happened?

He Xiang said again: "I haven't slept so well for a long time. I have slept very well these days." The matter in Yangzhou was finally solved, and a big stone in He Xiang's heart could finally fall to the ground. He felt relaxed all over his body and mind.

Quite a few, so you can naturally sleep well.

When the prince heard what Prime Minister He said, he was stunned. Then the corner of his mouth twitched slightly and said: "Prime Minister, it's good if you sleep well."

"Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. I slept very well."

The prince looked at He Xiang and asked hesitantly: "Prime Minister, what's going on in Yangzhou..."

When the ministers heard His Highness the Crown Prince asking about Yangzhou, although none of them turned their attention to His Highness the Crown Prince, they all listened with their ears pricked up.

Although His Highness the Crown Prince has not yet finished speaking, He Xiang knew what he wanted to ask, "Don't worry, Your Highness the Crown Prince, things in Yangzhou are going very smoothly."

What His Royal Highness the Crown Prince wants to ask is not whether it went smoothly or not, but what specifically happened in Yangzhou.

"As long as things go smoothly." After saying that, His Royal Highness did not ask any more questions.

The ministers were still waiting for His Highness the Crown Prince to continue asking about things related to Yangzhou, but His Highness the Crown Prince suddenly stopped asking, which made the ministers anxious.

Your Highness, please continue to ask.

When Dai Wang saw that the prince did not continue to ask questions, he was so impatient that he had to ask He Xiang himself.

"Prime Minister, what happened in Yangzhou?"

When the ministers heard His Highness Dai Wang ask the question, they praised His Highness Dai Wang for asking a good question in their hearts.

"Your Highness, the King will announce the affairs of Yangzhou this morning." He Xiang said respectfully, "You will know later."

When the king heard this, he smiled gratefully at He Xiang: "Thank you, Prime Minister, for informing me."

"Your Highness, you are welcome."

When the ministers learned that they would know about Yangzhou's affairs in the morning, they were both looking forward to and afraid.

At this moment, Emperor Wu of Zhou had just finished his breakfast and was drinking tea leisurely.

Sun Kui walked in from outside at this time. He bowed respectfully to Emperor Wu of Zhou, and then reported to Emperor Wu of Zhou: "Your Majesty, all the ministers are here."

Emperor Wu of Zhou asked: "What did they say?"

"His Royal Highness the Crown Prince asked He Xiang whether he slept well last night, and His Highness the King Dai asked He Xiang what happened in Yangzhou." Sun Kui reported everything he heard to Emperor Wu of Zhou.

"The other ministers didn't speak?"

"No, only His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and His Royal Highness Dai Wang are talking to Mr. He."

After hearing this, Emperor Wu of Zhou sneered: "You can calm down."

"Your Majesty, there is something I don't understand."

Emperor Wu of Zhou was in a very good mood these past two days and allowed Sun Kui to ask questions.

"What don't you understand?"

"What happened in Yangzhou has been reported to the capital, why haven't you announced this matter for so long?" Sun Kui also saw that Emperor Wu of Zhou was in a good mood, so he dared to ask the question. "Everyone has received or heard about the incident in Yangzhou.

Regarding the matter on the side, aren’t you afraid that the companies involved should take precautions in advance?”

Emperor Wu of Zhou turned the tea lid with his right hand and said casually: "So what if you are prepared in advance?" As he said that, he stood up and threw the tea lid in his hand onto the tea cup. With a click, the tea lid closed perfectly on the tea cup.

He raised the corner of his mouth and sneered: "None of them can escape."

Sun Kui was frightened by the coldness at the corner of Emperor Zhou Wu's mouth, and his heart went cold. He quickly lowered his head and said, "Your Majesty is wise."

Emperor Wu of Zhou returned to his playful smile, put his hands in his sleeves, bowed his waist slightly, drooped his head, and reluctantly walked to Chengguang Hall.

Sun Kui walked behind Emperor Wu of Zhou. When he saw Emperor Wu of Zhou carrying heavy steps and exuding the aura of "I don't want to go to court" all over his body, the corner of his mouth twitched slightly.

Every day when the emperor goes to court, he looks like this...very reluctantly.

At this time, all the civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty were already standing in order in the main hall of Chengguang Hall.

Emperor Wu of Zhou walked into Chengguang Hall slowly and hunched over like an old man.

"Wow..." Emperor Wu of Zhou yawned inelegantly, which seemed particularly loud in the quiet Chengguang Hall.

"Tsk" Emperor Wu of Zhou clicked his tongue impatiently and immediately sat down on the dragon chair.

Sun Kui stood beside Emperor Wu of Zhou, shook his fly whisk, and immediately shouted loudly: "Go to court!"

The ministers below immediately saluted: "I am here to see you, Your Majesty. Long live Your Majesty. Long live Your Majesty."

Emperor Wu of Zhou stretched out his left hand and raised his hand to the ministers kneeling below, "Everyone, get up." After saying that, he opened his mouth and yawned again.

"Thank you, Your Majesty." All civil and military officials stood up.

Emperor Wu of Zhou changed his posture and lay horizontally on the dragon chair.

"Tell me, what's the matter?"

The ministers were used to Emperor Wu of Zhou sitting in such a posture. At first, Yushi Zhongcheng persuaded Emperor Wu of Zhou to sit upright when going to court, but Emperor Wu of Zhou ignored him and continued to sit however he felt comfortable.

Ministers, you look at me and look at you, but no one comes out to report the matter. What are they waiting for?

It seemed that He Xiang did not feel the gazes of the ministers and stood at the forefront of the matter.

The king and the prince looked at He Xiang frequently.

Didn't Prime Minister He just say that he would announce what happened in Yangzhou? Why didn't he say it now?

The ministers are all waiting for Prime Minister He to report the affairs in Yangzhou.

Emperor Wu of Zhou rested his head on the right armrest of the dragon chair, put his hands in his sleeves on his stomach, and put his feet on the left armrest of the dragon chair. He closed his eyes, as if he was asleep.

"Why, there's nothing to report?" Emperor Zhou Wu said without opening his eyes.

The ministers looked at each other again and saw that they still did not stand up to report. They had no choice but to stand up and talk about the matter.

Emperor Wu of Zhou was lying on the dragon chair, closing his eyes and listening to the performance of the ministers.

Sun Kui glanced at Emperor Zhou Wu from time to time to confirm whether Emperor Zhou Wu was asleep. After all, Emperor Zhou Wu often slept in the morning.

After the ministers finished talking about the matter, seeing that Emperor Wu of Zhou did not respond, they all looked at Sun Kui, as if to say, "Is the emperor falling asleep again?"

Sun Kui's face was stiff when the ministers looked at him. He sighed helplessly in his heart, then walked to Emperor Zhou Wu and shouted in a low voice: "Your Majesty!"

Just when he thought he would have to shout several times to wake up Emperor Zhou Wu, he unexpectedly woke up Emperor Zhou Wu with just one cry.

Emperor Wu of Zhou was not asleep. He opened his eyes and looked at Sun Kui and said, "Tell them that matter."
To be continued...