My clone is on the other side of the starry sky

"Your Majesty, Lu Fengxian, the commander of the City Guards, has recently been successfully promoted to the Cave View Realm. According to imperial law, he should have been promoted to the rank of fourth-rank general. However, he has suppressed rebels several times over the years. His merits are enough. I would like to request that Lu Fengxian be granted the rank of third-rank general." General Kou, I hope your majesty will grant you permission." The next day, Lu Xuan followed Xie Yao into the palace. Lu Xuan's current rank could not enter the Chaotian Palace without a summons, so he could only wait outside the palace. However, Lu Xuan could naturally hear what was going on in the Chaotian Palace. , this time Xie Yao went to court and asked for an official for himself.

Ji Gong, who was already thirteen years old, was much precocious than other children of the same age. He scanned the ministers to see if there was any objection, but to his disappointment, no one in the civil and military officials of the court objected.

Over the years, Ji Gong has been groping on her own in the palace with Zhang Shen's guidance. She is no longer the confused child she was seven years ago. As she grows older, Ji Gong has gradually become dissatisfied with the constraints of the three princes and wants to take power by herself. He didn't have many direct relatives in the court, which gave him a headache.

"According to the report." Seeing that no one came forward to refute, Ji Gong didn't want to refute Xie Yao's face in vain, nodded and said: "Can Lu Fengxian be in the palace?"

"Waiting outside the hall." Xie Yao bowed.

"Xuan!"

Soon, Lu Xuan strode up to the palace, saluted Ji Gong and said, "General Lu Fengxian, please see your Majesty."

"I heard that Aiqing is already a martial artist in the Cave View Realm. According to the rules of the imperial court, he should have been promoted to the rank of fourth-rank general. However, I heard that Aiqing has made great achievements in conquering for the imperial court in the past few years, so I bestow the title of Aiqing on the rank of third-rank bandit. General, I hope that your beloved will continue to fulfill his duties and encourage me to practice martial arts!" The thirteen-year-old boy spoke with great grace.

"Thank you, Your Majesty! I will definitely live up to the emperor's kindness!" Lu Xuan stepped in and saluted, and the eunuch handed Lu Xuan the official uniform and seal that had been prepared.

In an instant, a stream of green energy fell from the sky, submerged into Lu Xuan's body, and then passed through the mountains and rivers to transform into pure energy, allowing Lu Xuan to further improve his cultivation.

The appointment of the city guards was not within the scope of discussion in the court. Generally, the appointment was directly issued by the Ministry of War after the Three Dukes drafted it. The next discussion was more about state affairs. To put it simply, the Yunhe River was overflowing and water control required money. The court had no money. There was a military disaster in Liuzhou, and troops needed to be sent. The Ministry of War needed money, but the Ministry of Household Affairs had no money. There was a flood in Wuzhou, and the people were displaced, and money was needed, but the Ministry of Household Affairs still had no money.

Then there's just the question of where to get the money.

In fact, the imperial court wants to solve these problems, but all problems require money to solve. The annual tax revenue that the imperial court can collect now is about 13 million taels, which was about 60 million taels seven years ago. , can barely support the operation of the court, but over the years, after various states and counties have delayed the handover for various reasons, the court's income has declined year by year, but the places where money needs to be spent will not decrease, and the treasury is also rapidly drying up in this state. Come down.

The little savings that Ji Huan had saved for many years were all consumed in just seven years. This is why Ji Huan became increasingly dissatisfied with the three auxiliary ministers. Under the governance of these three, Daqian was really worse than the previous year. Year.

But do Xie Yao and the others want this?

If Da Gan can continue to maintain it, the three of them are actually willing to maintain it. After all, the power is in their hands.

However, the entanglement of interests was too deep, and the three of them were powerless, trying hard to maintain the imperial court that could collapse at any time.

More taxes? The people are now prone to explosions and rebellions at every turn. They can't survive anyway, and at worst they work hard. They usually work for the local gentry. If they don't get married and support the family, they can still survive.

In the past two years, I could still collect some money from commercial taxes, but in the past two years, small traders have almost disappeared. Many wealthy households have money in their hands but dare not use it. They tightly hold their money bags and save money to avoid letting the court discover that they still have money. money.

Murong Cheng wanted to withdraw precisely because he saw clearly that even if they were the three major families, it would be difficult for them to continue to maintain this mess.

The court meeting lasted from morning to evening. At the end, Murong Cheng came out and bowed: "Your Majesty, I have something to report!"

"Oh?" Ji Gong looked at Murong Cheng and said, "Old love, what else can I do?"

"Your Majesty, I am getting very old. I have been feeling weak recently. I beg your Majesty to allow me to retire and return to my hometown." Murong Cheng bowed.

Ji Gong, who had lost all energy at first, was slightly startled, then looked at Murong Cheng and said, "Why did you abandon me, my beloved?"

"I don't want to. It's because I'm already old and can no longer assist Your Majesty. I beg Your Majesty to have mercy and allow me to retire and return to my hometown." Murong Cheng sighed.

"Alas~" Ji Gong looked at Murong Cheng, nodded and said: "That's fine, it's just that love is the humerus of the country. Once love is gone, who can replace love?"

"There are still some virtuous people in the court. Since I have withdrawn from the court, I can't say more. I hope your majesty will take this seriously." Murong Cheng bowed and said.

"That's... okay." Ji Gong looked at Murong Chengdao with a regretful expression.

Lu Xuan's eyes fell on Murong Cheng, then looked at the little emperor, shaking his head secretly in his heart. After all, he was still too young. At this time, it was best to tie the three major families to his side, and if possible, make it impossible for them to withdraw.

The young emperor seemed to only see the power vacuum left by Murong Cheng's withdrawal from the court, but failed to see that without the support of the Murong family, the court might not be able to sustain even its current false prosperity.

After retiring from the court, Lu Xuan did not go home or go to the Spring Festival. Instead, he prepared a generous gift and went to Xie's Mansion. No matter what, he still had to thank him.

"Fengxian, how have you considered what I told you yesterday?" Xie Yao looked at Lu Xuan and smiled.

"Ah?" Lu Xuan looked at Xie Yao in shock, not quite understanding for a moment.

"It's just about getting married." Xie Yao smiled.

"It's not suitable. My temperament is not suitable for marriage at the moment." Lu Xuan smiled and said: "Is Mr. Xie going to be a matchmaker for me?"

"I have a daughter named Xie Kui, and she has reached the age of leaving the cabinet. She has not liked talented people since she was a child, but she likes strong generals. I think Fengxian is very suitable. I wonder if Fengxian is willing to give in?" Xie Yao asked with a smile.

Honey trap?

Lu Xuan raised his eyebrows. Although he knew it was a solicitation, he still had an inexplicable feeling. Why is this scene so familiar? Especially when it was tied to the name Lu Fengxian, Lu Xuan inexplicably felt that a fat man would jump out.

But it's impossible to think about it. If Xie Yao wants to win over her now, how can he play a trick with him like one woman marrying two husbands? If this is really the case, wouldn't it be nice for a group of courtesans who are full of spring spirit?

"This... the general was born in a reckless family, will he have wronged Mr. Xie's daughter?" Lu Xuan said with a smile.

"With Fengxian's current level of cultivation and status, there are countless wealthy families today who want their daughters to marry into Fengxian's place. How could he object?" Xie Yao shook his head and smiled: "Fengxian just wants to say whether he is willing, right?"

Lu Xuan knew that Xie Yao wanted to tie him to the Xie family. However, this daughter was probably not his biological daughter. She might have been adopted by a concubine of the Xie family. He had been in Tiandu for seven years and was close to the Xie family. , but I have never heard of Xie Yao having any daughters.

However, he also wanted to have further contact with these aristocratic families to see how deep their heritage was.

"Mr. Xie doesn't think the general is vulgar. The general is naturally willing. I'm just afraid of wronging the daughter of the Xie family."

"I said, my daughter loves heroes like Fengxian the most. How can she be wronged? It's settled. I'll choose an auspicious day and get married as soon as possible."

"Thank you so much, sir."

Soon, the news that Lu Fengxian was going to marry the daughter of the Xie family spread throughout Tiandu, and the city guards would naturally not know about it.

"The general is getting married?" Gu Hui ate the chicken legs and thought for a while: "Then can we have a feast?"

"Well... it seems so." Zhou Tong was confused by Gu Hui's brain circuit, looked at Gu Hui and said: "I said, little Pixiu, are you not sad at all?"

Little Pixiu is Gu Hui's nickname among the city guards. He can only go in but can't get out. He is very powerful. He is the sacred beast of the city guards. Someone suggested making a Pixiu military flag and painting Gu Hui on it.

"Why are you sad? What does the general's marriage have to do with me?" Gu Hui asked confused.

"Didn't you want the general to treat you as a man before?" Niu Ba laughed.

"Didn't he refuse?" Gu Hui was even more puzzled.

That makes sense!

Everyone was speechless. This little Pixiu really didn't understand the relationship between men and women at all. She only knew how to eat!

"What do you think the general will give us to eat when he gets married?" Gu Hui couldn't help drooling as she thought of the many delicious foods Lu Xuan had mentioned before.

"It's boring, train, train, let the general see him and have to curse again!" Everyone looked at Gu Hui and dispersed with bored expressions.

"Hey, what do you mean? Why are you not talking anymore!?" Gu Hui looked at the men who suddenly lost interest and gnawed on the chicken legs with a puzzled expression.

The days passed quickly. Marrying a daughter was a big deal for the Xie family. Although it was fake and the big family knew it, the name was real and no one would deny it. Moreover, Lu Fengxian hooked up with the Xie family and he was a member of the Xie family. The Cave View Realm warrior is about to become a new dignitary in the Great Qian Dynasty, so naturally there are many people coming to make friends with him. The process is also based on the formal process of marrying a daughter from a big family or a general.

In the palace, Ji Gong frowned and listened to the report of the young eunuch. After a long time, he sighed: "I originally wanted to win over Lu Fengxian, but now it seems that it is not possible."

"Your Majesty, don't be impatient. I have heard that Lu Fengxian is a frequent visitor in spring. How can a person who hangs out in a brothel all year round be concerned about a woman?" Cao Jingzhong smiled and waved the young eunuch away and said with a smile: "You can't be in a hurry when recruiting people. , His Majesty is the Supreme Emperor, and Lu Fengxian is His Majesty's minister. How can the Emperor bribe his ministers? Now that Murong Cheng has aged, His Majesty has more and more power. At that time, only Lu Fengxian can show his loyalty to His Majesty. "

Ji Gong fumbled for his national jade seal and nodded: "Yes, but you can't lose etiquette. The Xie family is also reluctant to give up a daughter and use a fake one to make up for it. Then I will make this fake one real. Please draw up a royal decree for me and confer Lu Fengxian’s wife the title of third-grade royal wife, and consider it as a congratulatory gift from me."

"Your Majesty is wise!" Cao Jingzhong heard this and quickly praised.

With this title of Mrs. Gaoming, even if it is said in the future that she is not a daughter of the Xie family, she is still a Mrs. Gaoming canonized by the royal family. Ji Gong does not believe that Lu Fengxian did not know that this woman was a fake daughter of the Xie family.