Chapter 1124 Emperor Wen Takes Action

That night, Emperor Wen held a banquet in the Imperial Garden, and Yun Li personally went to invite four regent ministers to the banquet.

Although Yun Li also wanted to join in the fun, he had to host a banquet for Meng Ruowang alone, so there was really no opportunity.

Yun Li had no idea what Emperor Wen was up to, and neither did the four regents.

The four of them arrived at the Imperial Garden two quarters of an hour in advance to wait, and Emperor Wen then came over with the support of Mu Shun.

"Your Highness, I pay my respects to you."

When they saw Emperor Wen, the four of them bowed quickly.

"No gifts, no gifts!"

Emperor Wen smiled and waved his hand. "Today is not a banquet for the emperor and his subjects. It's just that I haven't seen you for a long time, so I just held a simple banquet to chat with you."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

The four of them stood up slowly, not believing what Emperor Wen said at all.

The four of them knew clearly in their minds that Emperor Wen was hosting a banquet for them at this critical moment, so there must be something very important.

However, no one knows Emperor Wen's true background right now, and they dare not speak carelessly. They can only wait and see what happens.

Emperor Wen motioned for them to take their seats, and specifically instructed the eunuchs, "Move the seat of Duke Jingguo closer to me."

"Yes!"

The eunuch bowed and accepted the order, then quickly stepped forward to move Xu Shifu's seat and desk closer to Emperor Wen.

Xu Shifu's heart was beating wildly and he felt an inexplicable sense of nervousness.

As soon as Xu Shifu sat down, Emperor Wen's eyes fell on him. "When Yuncheng's funeral was held, I was still sick in bed. I didn't go to see Yuncheng off. You won't blame me, right?"

Xu Shifu's heart trembled, and he knelt down quickly: "I dare not! Your Majesty is ill, and Your Majesty asked the Empress to go and see my son off for the last time. This is already a great favor!"

"Get up, get up!"

Emperor Wen signaled Mu Shun to help Xu Shifu. "I'm just asking casually. Why are you so startled? I was lying there a few days ago and kept thinking, if I hadn't sent Yuncheng to Yuzhou, I wouldn't have... Alas..."

Speaking of the latter part, Emperor Wen couldn't stop sighing.

“It’s all fate.”

Xu Shifu's eyes turned red, "If Yuncheng dies for the court, it will be the honor of my ministers!"

"The Crown Prince is still lacking in his ability to do things." Emperor Wen sighed softly, and then said to Xu Shifu: "There are some things that I know, but I don't want to mention them. I want the Crown Prince to exercise himself. Do you understand?"

Xu Shifu was puzzled. "Forgive me for my stupidity. I don't understand what Your Majesty means."

He probably understood it in his heart.

It is estimated that Emperor Wen was referring to the posthumous awarding of the title to Xu Yuncheng.

Xu Yuncheng is his son, the queen's nephew, and the prince's cousin!

He was posthumously awarded the title of Yinqing Guanglu Dafu, which is indeed a bit lacking.

But this was just his own guess. He didn't know what Emperor Wen meant, so it was difficult to jump to conclusion.

"never mind!"

Emperor Wen looked at Xu Shifu helplessly and said, "I will talk to the Crown Prince later and transfer Yun Gong to the Ministry of War to be a doctor first!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Xu Shifu was sure that his previous guess was correct.

Emperor Wen also felt that the posthumous award to Xu Yuncheng was a little lacking.

But the title had already been posthumously conferred, and Emperor Wen did not want to criticize the crown prince anymore, so he could only make up for his debt to Xu Yuncheng by asking Xu Yungong to make up for it.

This can also be considered as comforting him!

"Stop talking about this!"

He also ordered Mu Shun to have people serve wine and food, and did not forget to say to Xu Shifu: "You have just recovered from a serious illness, so please drink tea with me tonight! Otherwise, I will seem unsociable if I drink tea alone."

"Wei Chen obeys!"

Xu Shifu took the order respectfully, but he kept having doubts in his heart.

Emperor Wen is really abnormal tonight. What does he mean?

Soon, the food and wine will be served.

The palace maids also served tea to Emperor Wen and Xu Shifu as requested.

While eating a light meal, Emperor Wen casually chatted with a few people about family matters.

"I heard that Lao Liu is planning to purge the emperor's court."

After talking for a long time, Emperor Wen finally mentioned Yun Zheng's uprising.

"I have failed your Majesty's trust. Please punish me!"

"I also beg Your Majesty to punish me!"

Xiao Wanchou and Tang Shu stood up and knelt, taking the blame on themselves first.

Emperor Wen glanced at the two of them and said calmly, "The Crown Prince has also told me about that matter. You did not stop the Crown Prince, which means you did not fulfill your duty as a minister! But since I have handed over the government to the Crown Prince, I will not punish you. Let the Crown Prince punish you! If you insist on letting me punish you, then I will punish you with three cups of wine first!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

The two men bowed in thanks, quickly picked up the wine glasses on the table and drank the wine in them.

The palace maids serving beside them quickly filled their empty glasses with wine.

The two of them drank three cups in a row.

"Okay, sit down!"

Emperor Wen waved his hand gently and said, "What do you think about the rebellious son Lao Liu raising an army to rebel?"

Gu Xiu: "Your Majesty, I think we should first confirm whether the Sixth Prince is just threatening the court or really intends to raise an army."

"I think so too! I have a feeling that the Sixth Prince is trying to get some benefits from the court again!"

"That's what I thought too..."

The four of them expressed their thoughts one after another.

Emperor Wen sometimes nodded and sometimes frowned. No one knew what he was thinking.

"Duke Yu."

While they were chatting, Emperor Wen suddenly called Xiao Wanchou.

"Wei Chen is here."

Just as Xiao Wanchou was about to stand up, Emperor Wen raised his hand and motioned for him to sit down.

Emperor Wen waved his hand gently: "Drink three more cups!"

"Yes!"

Xiao Wanchou didn't ask the reason, he quickly picked up the cup and drank three cups in succession.

"Do you know why I asked you to drink three cups?"

Emperor Wen looked at Xiao Wanchou calmly.

"Wei Chen doesn't know."

Xiao Wanchou looked puzzled.

"Any of them can make peace, but you can't!"

Emperor Wen said sternly: "You are the Minister of War. The Sixth Prince is about to issue a manifesto. You should not consider whether to fight or not, but how to win!"

Xiao Wanchou stood up and slowly knelt on the ground: "I am ashamed to live up to your majesty's trust. Please forgive me!"

"I said, I'm just chatting with you today, I'm not going to punish anyone!" Emperor Wen waved his hand, "I know you're only thinking about the court, and I also know that the chances of winning a war at this time are slim! But if you don't even plan a war with the Ministry of War, what hope can the court have? Wouldn't the people in the court be dispersed?"

"Wei Chen understands!"

Xiao Wanchou slowly raised his head and said, "I will work with my colleagues in the Ministry of War to formulate a plan to quell the rebellion and submit it to His Majesty as soon as possible!"

"Don't report it to me, just report it to the prince!"

Emperor Wen nodded slightly and said, "Let Xu Yungong also participate in the plan to quell the rebellion this time. Young people should exercise more!"

Hearing Emperor Wen's words, Xu Shifu was delighted.

It seems that Emperor Wen was intentionally cultivating his second son!

"According to the order!"

Xiao Wanchou accepted the order.

"Get up!"

Emperor Wen smiled with relief and said, "You four did everything right in raising the army for Lao Liu. I was right about you!"

"You four are in charge of money and grain, soldiers, people, and science!"

"As long as you don't lose your composure, even if those people in the court make a scene, it's just nonsense!"