Seeing Du Guqing standing in the court, Du Guyou was no longer angry. It was his youngest son who had quelled the Quanrong rebellion.
"Why aren't you welcoming me?" Du Guqing coldly glanced at those behind Du Guming. It was their freedom to choose which prince to support, but it was wrong not to care about the territory and the lives of the people.
"Son, how can you talk like that?"
Du Guyou knew that Du Guqing wanted to confront Du Guming's people. "Father, I was quite comfortable in the South of the Yangtze River originally, but some people in the court don't care about the people at all. With such an attitude, is he qualified to be the crown prince?"
"I remember someone said that we should see the will of the people. You just withheld the urgent reports from the border and held back the military supplies and reinforcements. Do you think such a decision - maker can win the hearts of the people?"
Du Guqing's sharp eyes were fixed on his elder brother.
"Father, make a decision quickly now. The enemy is approaching the border, and you can only send out your 30,000 imperial guards." No wonder Mei Qingxue looked down on him. "Are you saying that I must make a choice today?"
"Yes, Father. Our Feng Kingdom has a foundation of hundreds of years. If we let the Quanrong trample on it again, we will surely lose the will of the people."
Du Guyou nodded. In terms of the will of the people, talent, and ability, Du Guqing was the best choice. But he just wanted to make things difficult for him. "What if I don't choose?"
"The Quanrong rebellion will surely rise again. All of you claim to be loyal and patriotic officials, but when the Quanrong plundered our land, why didn't you say a word? Do you think what I said is wrong?"
"How many of our Feng Kingdom's people were killed? Do you know?"
"Those who should retire can write your memorials by yourselves. I don't mind sending you off personally. You receive the emperor's salary but don't think about the world. It seems that you are not suitable for your current positions anymore."
Du Guqing took out a roster from his hand. "Everyone on this roster didn't fight in the war or provide military supplies. You should know who you are, so I don't need to go into details."
"Father, I took the liberty to clean up the traitors around the emperor. Please punish me!"
Du Guqing neatly lifted his robe and knelt on one knee.
"Du Guqing, you are so audacious!" Before Du Guyou could say anything, Du Guming shouted angrily. "Is this a place where you can make decisions?"
"Very soon it will be," Du Guqing showed a smile on his face. "Father, what's your decision?"
Du Guyou nodded secretly in his heart. Sure enough, Du Guqing was the most like himself.
"I hereby establish Du Guqing as the crown prince. A grand ceremony will be held on a selected day." Du Guyou stood up and said, "Those whose names are on the roster in the crown prince's hand. I want to see your memorials before the morning court tomorrow." Those who didn't obey the order would be sent off by Du Guqing. The border was in crisis, but these people were forcing him to establish the crown prince earlier.
They couldn't tell what was more important. It seemed that he had become old - fashioned. Du Guyou stroked the memorial from Prime Minister Mei in his hand and smiled secretly. Prime Minister Mei was the one who understood his mind best.
Du Guyou then said, "Concubine Qin is dignified, kind, gentle, and virtuous. She has done a good job in educating the crown prince. From now on, she will be conferred the title of Empress Yirong."
Seeing that their situation was hopeless, those people all looked dejected. They had thought that if Du Guming could become the crown prince, they would be able to regain their glory.
They didn't expect to be forced to retire. Just as Du Guyou was about to adjourn the court, Prime Minister Mei stood up. "Your Majesty, I have something to report..." He also wanted to retire.
"Prime Minister Mei, I won't approve any of your memorials today."
"Adjourn the court!"
Du Guyou flicked his sleeve, with a proud smile on his lips. It was Qing'er who wanted to come back on his own. It wasn't his fault.
Moreover, Qing'er's strategies to repel the enemy were really brilliant.
"I don't want to be the empress. I want to go back to the South of the Yangtze River."
Concubine Qin had received the imperial edict from Du Guyou. "Silly Qin'er, if you are noble, then Qing'er's children will also be noble in the future. You're so stupid."
"Is this what I want?" Concubine Qin turned her face. "Why did my father go to the battlefield?"
"I don't know about this. It is said that there were several unexpected troops in the South of the Yangtze River." Of course, Du Guyou knew what was going on. Du Guqing's amazing princess was really a good choice.
"Is my father okay?"
"Your father is in great condition. I heard that he even wanted to pick up his old weapon and fight the enemy himself."
"Ah? Isn't his leg hurting anymore?" Concubine Qin looked worriedly towards the south. Now the old duke should have returned to Linzhou. He didn't even send her a letter, making her miss him and worry alone.
"Why doesn't Qing'er come to see me?"
"Qing'er is tidying up the mansion." The mansion of the Prince of Rui was now the mansion of the crown prince.
During the grand ceremony of Taize's coronation, a letter came from the South of the Yangtze River, saying that Du Guqing's sickly concubine had passed away. Mei Qing naturally knew what was going on. Before they entered the capital, they had contacted Marquis Anning to take Rong Yu'er away and just announced her sudden death to the public. Since she had been sick in bed and hadn't even had the ceremony of a concubine, no one expected that she was now "gone".
Du Guyou read Prime Minister Mei's memorial carefully several times. He wouldn't allow Prime Minister Mei to retire because he would take Concubine Qin back to the South of the Yangtze River. The old prime minister could stay to assist the new emperor.
Seeing that the situation was hopeless, Du Guming also asked the emperor for a remote fief and became a prince. It was unknown whether his ambition would expand again. Anyway, for now, the third prince was under house arrest and would never be able to make a comeback.
The charge of treason was established, but the emperor, considering his royal blood, spared his life and let him repent for the rest of his life.
"Sigh..." Mei Qingxue let out a long breath. The war on the border had gone smoothly, and Du Guqing had been successfully established as the crown prince. But now she started to worry.
Which emperor didn't have a harem?
In the future, Du Guqing would also have one. If he did, she would have to leave.
Her little thoughts had long been noticed by Du Guqing. He knew that this little woman cared about the world, but in fact, she was a bit petty.
He kept his own plan to himself. The people in the South of the Yangtze River were overjoyed when they heard that the Prince of Rui had been established as the crown prince. The streets were as lively as during festivals, even though it wasn't a special occasion.
"I'm going back to the South of the Yangtze River. You stay here."
"Why?" Du Guqing was puzzled. "The people in the South of the Yangtze River have helped us so much. How can we just leave?" Mei Qingxue remembered that there were several places where bridges needed to be built. During the flood season every year, the water level rose very high there.
When the grain was collected, the people had taken out their own rations. How could Mei Qingxue just leave without repaying this kindness?
Take from the people and give back to the people. Mei Qingxue understood this better than anyone else. This time when she went back to the South of the Yangtze River, she planned to teach the people how to grow rice in paddy fields. Once the farmers had their own fields, they would naturally support you.
"Grandpa, why did the princess only leave the eldest and second brothers in the capital? I want to stay too!" Guo Ming grabbed the old duke and refused to let go. "If you also leave, who will help the princess guard the South of the Yangtze River?"
"But I want to fight the enemy with my brothers!"
"Fighting the enemy is a good thing, but the reason why you are not allowed to go is that the South of the Yangtze River also needs you." Mei Qingxue walked in as she spoke.
"Greetings to the crown princess." Everyone knelt down to greet Mei Qingxue.
"Get up quickly. I came back alone without any entourage. Just act as you did before. Otherwise, I'll feel uncomfortable." Mei Qingxue quickly walked over to help the old duke up.
"Yes."
"Just in time. I was just about to ask you to teach these younger brothers of yours the art of war."
"Ah?" Mei Qingxue opened her mouth in surprise. How could she have such ability?
The old duke thought she didn't want to, so he said, "If it's too difficult, forget it."
But Mei Qingxue could see from the old duke's eyes that he really wanted to hear it.
"Okay, then I'll just say a few words." Mei Qingxue thought for a while and then nodded. "Where is the difficulty for a military strategist? The difficulty lies in how to make the military strategy divine. The art of war is static, but people are dynamic. Military operations are based on deception to achieve victory. It's all about one word, change." The old duke also nodded and murmured, "Change, change." Then he laughed out loud.
"What a wonderful word, change."
Seeing that the younger brothers were looking confused, "You'll understand in the future. Read more books."
"Thank you, sister - in - law, for your guidance!"
Guo Ming was the eldest among the remaining cousins at home. He stood up first and bowed to Mei Qingxue to express his gratitude.
"Okay. No need for so much courtesy." "Grandpa, Qingxue has something to talk to you about. Let's go to another place?" Mei Qingxue said. The old duke was from the South of the Yangtze River. It was just right to leave the affairs of the South of the Yangtze River to him. She knew very well that he wanted to contribute his remaining strength at his age. She even knew about the old man's eagerness to jump into the battle on the battlefield.
"Okay." The old duke knew that Mei Qingxue must have something important to talk to him about.
Immediately, he led Mei Qingxue to the study. "Please accept my bow, crown princess!" He immediately lifted his robe and was about to kneel.
"Grandpa, you're not going to let me sit down." Mei Qingxue said deliberately. She also needed the old man's help now. This grand bow from the old man made her not know where to put her hands and feet.
"Okay, okay." The old duke slowly stood up. His leg injury hadn't fully recovered, and kneeling just now had pulled the painful part.
"Grandpa, slow down..." Mei Qingxue reached out to support him. "Granddaughter - in - law, just tell me quickly what you want the old man to do." The old duke said eagerly.
"It's like this. There are several bridges in the South of the Yangtze River that need to be built and repaired. I can't find a suitable person to manage the money for the bridge construction. I'd like you to handle this matter. On the one hand, you'll have something to do so that you won't be bored at home. On the other hand, you're one of our own. The money is not a small amount. I can only feel at ease if one of our own is in charge."
"So that's it," the old duke pondered for a moment. "Do you want the old man to go to the construction site to supervise?"
"No. There are people in charge of the construction. The money is the most important thing." If she let the old duke go to supervise the work, he would be exhausted in a few days. Wouldn't Concubine Qin and Du Guqing blame her?
Watching over the money was the best. He just needed to sit beside and watch when people were calculating the accounts, and there would be no problem. In the early years, this grandpa was a merchant, and he was definitely good at managing money.