Wealth and glory seek stability

Tao Lejiao was wearing a green satin brocade robe with black fox inlays, his eyebrows and eyes were full of resentment and anger, "Zhang Cen'er, you don't love me at all."

The woman sitting on the throne had a proud look on her face. She was used to being surrounded by flattery, so when someone suddenly provoked her, Zhang Cen'er found it interesting.

"The Tao family's business network extends throughout Xuanwu. Everyone knows the relationship between you, the second master of the Tao family, and me. That's why I'm so convenient for you. Tao is happy to be friends with you. One can't have it all."

Zhang Cen'er stepped forward and lifted Tao Lejiao's chin with her red nail polish, as if she was admiring a beautiful object.

Tao Lejiao looked into the woman's eyes as if she was looking through him into a distant memory, and couldn't help asking, "Who are you thinking about?"

Zhang Cen'er turned away, "It's none of your business."

Tao Lejiao suddenly felt ridiculous. The humiliation was like the ice and snow that had shrouded the royal court for years and was difficult to remove.

"Since Your Majesty does not want to speak to me, I will withdraw." He walked to the entrance of the hall and said with his head tilted slightly, "The Tao family is not only the result of Your Majesty's efforts today. All the businesses of the Tao family have paid taxes exactly. If Your Majesty is not happy, you can take back what you gave me. Let's see if I will fall into the quagmire and never get up again."

Zhang Cen'er stared at the profile that looked extremely similar to Jian Xi in the sunlight, lost in thought.

Tao Lejiao has his own pride. He will never allow anyone to treat him as a substitute for others. From now on, he will never set foot in this royal court.

Yinzhu went forward to add more tea and could not help but speak: "Your Majesty, Master Tao has a sincere heart for you. Whenever he gets something good, he never forgets to present it to Your Majesty. The Tao family is busy with business, and he will come to the royal court to see Your Majesty every month. Although he always says it's on the way, the royal court is located in the far north, so how can it be such a coincidence."

"Enough!" Zhang Cen'er interrupted.

"Everyone, stand down."

"Yes."

The hall was empty.

Zhang Cen'er sat on the throne, looking at the empty palace filled with gorgeous golden decorations.

I finally understood Zhang Qiao's feelings.

Loneliness, extreme loneliness.

Many things can only be kept in your heart and cannot be told to others.

Just because she is an empress, shouldering the rise and fall of the country, she cannot speak when she is tired, nor can she cry out when she is wronged.

The only person who could tell the truth to me was also driven away.

Even when his own brother stood before him, he could only feel fear as a subject.

uninteresting.

Zhang Cen'er now also likes to stay alone in the warm room and drink the imperial wine in the palace to relieve his sorrow.

I still remember that when we were young, Zhang Qiao and Li Tu were very much in love.

All the things used in Li Tu’s palace were the best in the royal court.

Ever since Zhang Cen'er was five years old, Li Tu pleaded with Zhang Qiao on behalf of the Li family. Zhang Qiao was furious and from then on she became cold towards Li Tu and rarely entered the harem.

At first, Zhang Cen'er resented Zhang Qiao's inaction and neglect of them. Apart from her gentle brother the emperor and her father, she had no other attachment in this royal court.

Until Xuanwu was defeated, she and her royal brother were sent to the Xuanyuan Dynasty. At the time of parting, guilt flashed across the woman's face, and Zhang Cen'er felt only disgust in his heart.

If it weren't for Li Tu's life, she would definitely choose to elope.

The trip to the Xuanyuan Dynasty was the beginning of her nightmare.

Xuanyuan Zangzhen, that cowardly man, wanted the throne but didn't have the courage to fight for it, and was easily pinned to the ground by Xuanyuan Zhan.

He stole the food that she had worked so hard to collect, and even drugged her on their wedding night.

animals.

She hates men.

Finally, Zhang Cen'er waited for an opportunity to leave the Xuanyuan Dynasty.

Fight against the unfair fate together with the pure woman in white at the polo match.

It’s Jian Xi.

Along the way, Jian Xi displayed wisdom and resourcefulness that was no less than any man Zhang Cen'er had ever seen.

She was relieved.

Jian Xi never showed weakness, and gradually, Zhang Cen'er could no longer take his eyes off her.

This woman always acts in a meticulous and gentle manner.

Zhang Cen'er had specifically inquired about Jian Xi's background. From a little maidservant to the wife of a high-ranking official of the dynasty, it could be said that she had risen to prominence through the ages.

Seeing that Jian Xi and Shen Nanxing were childhood sweethearts, Jian Xi chose a girl from a well-matched aristocratic family to be Shen Nanxing's wife.

Zhang Cen'er knew that Jian Xi was the same type of person as her.

The end justifies the means.

A woman who puts her ambitions and desires openly is both resourceful and gentle.

Before his death, Zhang Qiao still gave Xuanwu to Zhang Cen'er, not because the woman had a change of heart and wanted to make amends, nor because Zhang Qiao suddenly discovered her talent, but simply because of Wu Lanya's divination.

Before leaving, Zhang Qiao said that Jian Xi was the best assistant, and she had already sent her confidant to Saibei to assist Jian Xi.

Fighting for power and throne, except for some setbacks at the beginning, Li Tu attacked the royal court and committed suicide to complete Zhang Cen'er's hegemony.

Zhang Cen'er succeeded, but also became a real loner.

The huge royal court is still covered with snow no matter how many years have passed. The Ice City is no exception.

After Jian Xi became the prime minister, Zhang Cen'er confidently handed over all the four cities and eight tribes under the jurisdiction of the empress. Some people said that this move might foster Jian Xi's ambition and make him want to seize power and usurp the throne. Zhang Cen'er did not care. She actually hoped that day would come.

Zhang Cen'er looked at Jian Xi who was reporting the situation of each tribe in a serious manner, and couldn't help asking, "Prime Minister, you have been working diligently for decades, don't you feel tired?"

Jian Xi was already thirty years old at that time. Her well-maintained face showed only the vicissitudes of life in her eyes, and it seemed as if time was unwilling to leave any marks on such a person.

Jian Xi subconsciously asked respectfully: "Why do you say that, Your Majesty?"

Zhang Cen'er was stunned by the question. Yes, how could she feel tired doing the same things every day? The only one who felt tired was probably her, an idle empress.

Zhang Cen'er changed the subject, "She has already agreed to Qingxi and Hui'er's marriage. From now on, our two families will be relatives. Prime Minister, there is no need to be so polite."

Jian Xi lowered her eyelids and said in a light tone, "Your Majesty is polite."

When Gao Qingxi got married, in addition to the dowry prepared by Jian Xi, Gao Yunhuai gave his Gao Trading Company as a dowry. Tao Lejiao also gave half of Tao's property to Gao Qingxi. The dowry team set out from the northern frontier and marched straight into the imperial capital. It was truly a ten-mile red wedding.

Zhang Wanhui inherited Zhang Xuanyu's infatuation and doting on his wife, and put Gao Qingxi first in everything.

Zhang Cen'er ordered that the next emperor of Xuanwu could only be born by Gao Qingxi.

Jian Xi became less talkative, acted strangely and didn't take anyone seriously.

Whenever Zhang Cen'er encountered memorials impeaching Jian Xi, he would just laugh it off.

What a joke! This kingdom will belong to Gao Qingxi in the future. Jian Xi loves her daughter dearly. Is it possible that she would treat her daughter badly?

When Jian Xi was fifty years old, the prince was already thirty-three years old. The country was stable, so she wanted to retire and return home.

But Zhang Cen'er refused.

"Your Majesty, I don't want to work so hard anymore." Jian Xi threw away the tablet in his hand.

Zhang Cen'er sat cross-legged on the throne and handed over the iced oranges on the plate. "After so many years, you are finally tired. This royal court is so big, you can move in with me. I will abdicate now and pass the throne directly to the prince. It's a good opportunity for us to give some advice. What do you think?"

Jian Xi's eyes were filled with resentment. "I have been busy for these years. Now that I am old, I just want to travel around the beautiful mountains and rivers. Back then, Granny Qi on the Wenshan grassland said that the Suzaku Dynasty was the most peaceful. I want to go and see it."

Zhang Cen'er was very excited, "I want to go too. I'll go with you."

Jian Xi said helplessly: "The officials will not agree to your leaving the royal court."

Zhang Cen'er threw the tangerine in her hand away as if to vent her anger, "I can't go, so you can't go either."

Jian Xi wanted to defend herself again, "But I'm already fifty years old."

"I will be fifty years old next year. The Prime Minister is in his prime and in good health. After I die in two years, you can go wherever you want." Zhang Cen'er sounded like he was speaking angrily.

Jian Xi knew that it was impossible for her to leave the imperial capital.

Had to give up.

Although he took the royal court's secret medicine to maintain his health, years of dealing with officialdom had exhausted him.

At the age of fifty-eight, Jian Xi passed away peacefully lying in a rattan chair in her own home.

The emperor was sad and did not attend court for three days.

The Crown Prince and the Crown Princess personally served at the bedside.

Because Zhang Cen'er had never taken a harem, there was still a share of vacant land in the imperial mausoleum, so Zhang Cen'er decided to bury Jian Xi in the imperial mausoleum.

Gao Qingxi wanted to say something, but Zhang Wanhui pulled her back and signaled her to be silent.

Gao Qingxi walked out of the palace and shook off Zhang Wanhui's arm. "My father has missed my mother for many years. He wrote to me, hoping that they could not sleep together in life or be buried together in death. What does this mean, my mother?"

Zhang Wanhui was caught in the middle and had to explain: "My father-in-law and mother-in-law have divorced a long time ago. My mother-in-law is loyal to Xuanwu. It is a great blessing for her to be buried in the imperial mausoleum. My mother is not in good health. Don't offend her at this time."

Gao Qingxi was still thinking about waiting until things were over before thinking of a solution.

Who would have thought that Zhang Cen'er would follow him the next year.

After she left, she even left a will to Qi Si, a female official in charge of ceremonies. After her coffin entered the imperial mausoleum, it was filled with molten iron, so that even if someone robbed the tomb, there would be nothing they could do.

Gao Qingxi had to give up the idea of ​​finding someone to rob the tomb.