Wealth and glory seek stability

The wheat ear on the edge of Jian Xi's court dress is the symbol of the Minister of Agriculture.

The previous two Grand Ministers of Agriculture were herdsmen who died in riots, so even the children of noble families who were stuffed into the court to gain gilded positions would try their best to avoid the position of Grand Minister of Agriculture.

Therefore, most people are not optimistic about Jian Xi.

Ruan Zhiyin achieved his goal and immediately begged Zhang Qiao:

"Your Majesty, since Lady Jian is so confident, in my opinion, you might as well give her this opportunity. If it succeeds, it will be a great thing that will benefit the country and the people. If it fails——"

Before he could finish his words, Jian Xi said playfully, "If it doesn't work, I will let Lord Ruan handle it. How about that?"

Ruan Zhiyin, like Ruan Chizheng, exudes evil stupidity from the inside out.

I don’t know if it’s because he has been rich and honored for too long, but he’s still as arrogant as ever, and his tricks of framing others are easy to see through at a glance.

Jian Xi really wanted to say: Lord Ruan, the murderous intent in your eyes is almost overflowing from your eyes. I can guess that you will definitely send people to kill me in the northern grasslands, so I will definitely find someone reliable to protect myself, please don't worry about it in vain.

Hey!

Most of the Nguyen family members in the court controlled the economic lifeline of the Xuanwu Dynasty, so they had the most say.

The Qi family is a practical group that is willing to work hard, just like the few people in the Ministry of Works who just argued for the construction of water conservancy projects, they still have the people in their hearts.

Jian Xi began to screen allies in her mind.

She was not prepared to fight alone. This was not the time to act like a hero. If she did everything by herself, Zhang Qiao would probably think she wanted to make herself king.

Finding a suitable partner and forming an alliance of interests would also give Zhang Qiao a handle that he could hold in his hand.

"That's what you said."

"Yes, I said so."

"My colleagues all heard it. I didn't force her to say this. She said it herself."

Ruan Zhiyin wanted to make Jian Xi write a military order on the spot.

Several ministers behind Ruan Zhiyin spoke up immediately, "Yes, we all heard it."

"In that case, then I'll do as you say." Zhang Qiao seemed to have done nothing but was only the one who made the final decision, but he achieved his goal quietly.

Except for when Zhang Qiao asked questions, the adult princes and princesses just sat on the side and listened.

"I have one more announcement to make at today's court meeting. The high priest Wu Lan Ya is old, and the new high priest has been chosen. It is Wu Zhan from the Wu Clan, and the succession ceremony will be held today."

After he finished speaking, the horn sounded.

The eunuchs carried a large tripod and placed it in the center of the hall.

The court officials retreated to the sides.

Two figures walked out of the Gate of Light.

Wu Lanya had a hunched body and a solemn expression.

Wu Zhan at the back was full of energy, with excitement in his eyes that he could hardly suppress.

The high priest represents absolute justice and majesty. He usually stays in seclusion and does not participate in court disputes.

Only the one who holds the succession ceremony under the witness of the empress and the ministers can be considered the real high priest.

Zhang Qiao, who was sitting upright, also stood up slowly.

Wu Lanya took off the feather crown on her head and put it on Wu Zhan's head. She took the wet towel handed to her by the eunuch, wiped off the two lines of oil paint on Wu Zhan's face, and used her fingers dipped in yellow-green oil paint to paint three lines on him herself.

Jian Xi looked at the court officials around her, all of whom had their hands crossed over their chests and their eyes closed.

Although she didn't understand why, she did it anyway.

I opened my eyes a little to see what was happening.

Wu Lanya clasped her hands together and placed them on the tip of her nose, as if she was praying, and muttered something in her mouth.

In the large hall that could accommodate thousands of people, it was so quiet that the only sound that could be heard was Wu Lanya's chanting that sounded like Sanskrit.

Jian Xi felt much more at peace.

The singing of prayer ends.

Jian Xi looked at the people around her and saw that they still had their eyes closed.

Wu Lanya walked slowly to the nine-foot high platform.

Step by step.

Since she had to look up to see it, Jian Xi didn't dare to look at it openly.

Fortunately, she could not be seen at all among the ministers, whose average height was between 1.8 and 2 meters.

She remained motionless, with one eye half open.

Wu Lanya and Zhang Qiao stood side by side on the stage.

Suddenly.

A sense of clarity suddenly came over Jian Xi's head, as if a drop of ice water had been dropped on her, chilling her heart to the bone.

"Holy water baptism, the ceremony is over!"

"Thank you for the blessing, High Priest!"

"Thank you for the blessing, High Priest!"

"..."

It turned out to be a blessing.

"The next high priest will be Wu Zhan from my Wu clan. The Wu clan will always remember its mission and assist Emperor Xuanwu. I sincerely pray that my Xuanwu dynasty will prosper and may the Eternal Heaven bless us!" A voice full of vicissitudes and stories spread throughout the hall.

Wherever Jian Xi looked, both men and women were shouting in indignation.

"Blessings from the Eternal Heaven!"

"Blessings from the Eternal Heaven!"

Jian Xi's heart was touched. Is this faith?

No matter who they are, even if they were arguing with each other the moment before, at this moment everyone has the same belief in their hearts.

Wu Zhan used a torch to light the bronze tripod in the center of the hall. After everyone met the new high priest, the ceremony was completed.

The meeting is over.

Jian Xi met with Zhang Qiao alone.

Zhang Qiao dismissed his attendants and no one knew what the two had talked about.

Day two.

An imperial decree came from the royal court, which announced to the whole court:

The Saibei grassland is independently owned by the new Grand Minister of Agriculture Jian Xi. Jian Xi's orders are law, and within five years, no one can question the decisions made by Jian Xi.

Two months later.

Jian Xi is six months pregnant and her belly is slightly visible.

There is a pavilion ten miles outside the imperial capital.

Zhang Qiao sent Zhang Cen'er to inspect the surrounding tribes, and Jian Xi accompanied him, so that Jian Xi could learn more about the tribal power of Xuanwu. The two were almost inseparable during these two months, and their friendship grew deeper and deeper.

"You've been gone for five years. I don't know what the Queen Mother was thinking. She actually let you go to that remote place." Zhang Cen'er held Jian Xi's hand, reluctant to let her go.

Jian Xi is the only friend she can talk to in many years.

Jian Xi dragged her slightly clumsy body and smiled, "Princess, you looked down on a lowly person like me in the beginning, but now you are acting so sad, are you reluctant to let me go?"

Zhang Cen'er threw away Jian Xi's hand and said angrily, "Who can't bear to let go? Don't dream. I won't do that."

Jian Xi's eyes were filled with doting and she shook her head.

"This opportunity is a great training for me. Although I am a little clever, I am only good at talking about court affairs. I am very grateful to Your Majesty for giving me time to train. What are your plans for the future, Princess?"

Zhang Cen'er pursed her lips, put her hands behind her back, and looked far into the distance at the mountains. "My father wants me to follow the example of my mother and lead the troops to quell the tribal rebellion."

Jian Xi nodded, "That's great. What Li Cejun said is very true. The princess is very talented, but what she lacks most is experience. I think she will be very different in five years."

The two looked at each other and smiled.

"Then I'll take you to the desert on horseback to drink, and we'll definitely not come back until we're drunk." Zhang Cen'er showed his white teeth.

Jian Xi is pregnant. Although Zhang Cen'er has repeatedly assured her that women who have taken pregnancy-preserving pills can drink alcohol, Jian Xi still insists on not drinking a drop of alcohol.

"it is good."