Although Xu Shuyi scolded Erqiao in a righteous manner, she was still worried about Zhou Jin's situation, so she went to Qiyuan Palace. Knowing that Zhou Jin had always been very indulgent to Xu Shu. Eunuch Xing'an did not stop Xu Shu from reporting first. Instead, she took the initiative to remind Xu Shu, "I'm here to see the Empress, Lord Zhuang is in there now!"

Zhuang Li was there too. It seemed that Zhou Jin was indeed starting to reduce the vassal states. Xu Shu nodded and went in. Yuzhu still stayed at the door and did not follow in.

"You are here!" Zhou Jin looked up and saw Xu Shu, and waved to her. Xu Shu walked over consciously. Zhou Jin grabbed her hand and found that her hand was a little cold, so he held it in his hand and warmed it.

Zhuang Li coughed unconsciously, "Since the Empress is here, I will take my leave first!"

Xu Shu glanced at the map spread on the table and knew that they were talking about serious matters, so she pulled out her hand, "Since the emperor and Lord Zhuang have something to discuss, I won't disturb you!"

"No!" Zhou Jin pulled Xu Shu back, who was about to turn around, "Just hear what you mean!"

"The harem cannot interfere in politics, and I dare not speak nonsense!" Xu Shu bit her lip lightly, and her words were dry and awkward.

Zhuang Li couldn't help laughing after hearing this, but he quickly held it back.

Zhou Jin glanced at Zhuang Li, smiled and said to Xu Shu, "Don't hold on, you're not an outsider!"

"I..." Xu Shu glanced at the map and her eyes fell on the East China Sea area. The color of that area was obviously different from other places. It was obviously a trace left by someone for a long time. It seemed that Zhou Jin wanted to cut the vassal states but was planned for a long time, so it was imperative, but...

Xu Shu admitted, "It is not a good time to reduce the power of the vassal states now!"

"I know!" Zhou Jin nodded. The court had just helped the King of East China to quell the pirates. The King of East China also wrote a letter to thank him and offered a beauty to express his gratitude. Then the emperor turned around and turned his back and wanted to reduce the vassal states. It was the court's fault.

"But you can't wait any longer!" Zhou Jin frowned, "This time King De went to Donghai, and Zhuang Li also went. When he found out that Donghai King mined a large amount of saltpeter and sulfur, Donghai King was already preparing to start a war!"

Saltpeter and sulfur are essential materials for making gunpowder...

Thinking of the flying fire bomb, Xu Shu felt guilty inexplicably, "Does King Donghai really want to rebel?"

Zhuang Li nodded, "It should be! The King of Donghai has always been unscrupulous. This time the pirate invasion was not very serious, but the King of Donghai still asked the court for support, just to test the court's attitude. If the court gives it, he will become more and more aggressive. If the court does not give it, he will publicize the court's ruthlessness, ignore the lives and death of the people, win over the hearts of the people, and raise an army and rebel for him!"

But this time Zhou Jin gave him support, and there was no reason for the King of East Sea for the time being, but next time, the King of East Sea would definitely ask the court for more force, until the court was unable to resist, he would have an excuse.

"But even so, the vassal of the vassals will be defeated at this time!" Xu Shu directly hit the key point of the problem.

Reducing the vassal states requires reasons. The vassal states were sued for being punished without fault. This is a taboo for being a king. It will not only give other vassal states an excuse to raise troops, but will also make the court officials feel disappointed.

Zhou Jin nodded, "The fief of King Donghai is far away from the capital, so it is not easy to get evidence of his rebellion. Moreover, King Donghai has no descendants, so he can't gradually reduce his power by refusing grace! He can only take the lead! Especially now that King Donghai has prepared for rebellion again. If he is ready for it, it will be too late!"

"It's not necessarily the master of Wuming!" Zhuang Li looked at Xu Shu and suddenly laughed strangely.

"What do you mean?" Looking at Zhuang Li's malicious smile, Xu Shu knew that he must have had some shameful idea.

"Although there is no evidence that King Donghai is unofficial, King Donghai personally sent two handles to the door!"

"You mean Er Qiao?"

Zhuang Li nodded, "The King of Donghai wants to show his gratitude to the emperor through them, and the Emperor can also use them to restrain the King of Donghai! Since they were carefully selected by the King of Donghai, then they can blame them for making mistakes, right?"

Xu Shu and Zhou Jin looked at each other and had to say that this was indeed a solution, but Xu Shu still had a question.

"After all, it's just a trivial matter in the harem. How can I get it to the court? It seems that the emperor is too petty and even has to worry about such trivial matters!"

"If it's just a trivial matter of being jealous, it's naturally hard to say. If they are jealous of the queen who murders the mother of a country in order to fight for jealousy, that's another matter!"

The murder of the queen is a serious crime of extermination of the family. Zhuang Li said such a sinister and vicious method but he was lightly distorted. However, he was calm and thoughtful. This method was indeed feasible. A small matter of jealousy would not be taken on the surface, but the big matters that matters that matter to life are different.

"The beauties presented by King Donghai to murder the queen, and they can be suspected without reason that they were instructed by King Donghai. King Donghai wanted to murder the queen. Of course, King Donghai would not admit such a crime. For justice, the emperor can take the opportunity to summon King Donghai to Beijing to confess his love. If King Donghai is willing to enter Beijing, he will take the opportunity to put him under house arrest in the capital. At that time, the emperor will make the decision on how to reduce the vassals. King Donghai tried every means to refuse and refused to enter Beijing. Then the emperor would have a reason to reduce the vassals?"

Xu Shu was about to nodify, but Zhou Jin had already denied Zhuang Li's proposal without hesitation, "I don't agree!"

He would not agree to this strategy of sacrificing Xu Shu to achieve his goal no matter how great the benefits it is.

Zhuang Li glanced at Xu Shu and signaled Xu Shu to convince Zhou Jin, but Xu Shu looked at Zhou Jin without saying anything. Zhuang Li cursed himself, "It's a humble minister who talks too much. How can the Empress be damaged at all? It's just that when wars are everywhere, living beings are tragic and the people are displaced, don't regret it!"

"I won't let her have this time to regret it!" Zhou Jin came to protect Xu Shu with a domineering attitude.

Zhuang Li looked at Xu Shu, then looked at Zhou Jin, and finally laughed and sneered, "I'm going to leave!" He left with a smile.

Zhou Jin gritted his teeth and said angrily, "Does he still feel wronged?"

Xu Shu comforted him, "He is also thinking about you. It is a serious crime to murder the queen. No matter how much King Donghai refuses, he will not be clean. Moreover, the deep love between the emperor and the empress is well known to everyone. No one will say that you are wrong for me. You can also take the opportunity to achieve the goal of reducing the vassal states!"

"Are you moved?" Zhou Jin grabbed Xu Shu's hand tightened, "You agree with Zhuang Li's proposal in your heart, right?"

Xu Shu said angrily, "Although I think this method is feasible, it is not easy to implement. You know me, and I will not do anything I am not sure about!"

"You'd better not have such thoughts!" Zhou Jin knocked Xu Shu's forehead, "Otherwise..."

"Otherwise what?"
Chapter completed!