Chapter 441: Who is eligible to inherit the throne

"Prince, your majesty has called for the madam."
Lin Shuping came to Liu Zhao and whispered.
Liu Zhao frowned, "Do you know the reason?"
"It is said that His Majesty is worried about the refugees outside the city, so he summoned his wife to ask about the specific situation."
Liu Zhao slowly shook his head, "The situation of the refugees outside the city is the same as that of the household department. The emperor's grandfather summons Xiao Jiu at this time, I am afraid it is not that simple."
Lin Shuping whispered: "My son, is your majesty watching the emperor's grandson?"
"No nonsense."
Lin Shuping quickly pleaded guilty, and then secretly glanced outside the door, no one overheard.
He added: "The son doesn't think so, it doesn't mean that other people don't think so. The lady's ability is second to none among the many emperor grandwives. Your majesty has always valued the lady. Now at a very moment, your majesty suddenly summoned his wife. No deep meaning."
Liu Zhao stared at Lin Shuping, "Even if you have a deep meaning, you have to hide your guess without revealing any trace."
The son's eyes are so scary.
Lin Shuping shivered, "The old slave remembers the son's teachings."
Liu Zhao said again: "Go outside and watch, don't let anyone in."
"Old slave obeyed."
Yamen of the Ministry of War come and go.
Liu Zhao sat in the detention room like an old monk entering Ding. No one knew what he was thinking.
...
Gu Jiu went all the way to Xingqing Palace smoothly. After being informed, he followed the servant to the bedroom to see the emperor.
I knew that Tianzi had hemiplegia for a long time, and when I saw it with my own eyes, I realized that Tianzi's condition was more serious than she had expected.
"Grand daughter-in-law, see your majesty!"
"No ceremony. Get up and talk."
"Thank your Majesty."
Gu Jiu stood up, his head lowered slightly to show respect.
The corner of his eye was watching the movements of the emperor.
The emperor's right hand can't play, so he can't review memorials, and can only be ghostwriter.
But listening to the voice, the emperor speaks clearly. It is much better than the rumors of vagueness.
It seems that the imperial doctors of the Imperial Hospital have shown their true ability to regulate the body for the emperor.
"What's the situation outside the South City Gate?"
The emperor asked calmly.
Gu Jiu bowed slightly, "Your Majesty, everything is going according to plan. At present, half of the refugees have moved into the new house. The remaining half of the refugees will move into the new house by March or April next year at the latest after this winter. ."
"Oh! You surprised me. I didn't expect things to go so smoothly. You not only solved the food problem of the refugees, but also let them live in a new house. What a great thing!"
"Thanks to your majesty, the refugees will have the opportunity to live in the new house."
The emperor wanted to laugh, but couldn't.
He chuckled twice. Since the stroke, he has rarely been happy.
"You are very capable."
Gu Jiu looked frightened, "grand-daughter-in-law is just a little better luck than ordinary people."
The emperor beckoned, "Get closer, let me take a good look at you."
Gu Jiu felt a strange feeling in his heart, and subconsciously raised his head to look at the emperor.
The emperor has kind eyes.
She looked at Chen Dachang again.
Chen Dachang stood by the bed, like a piece of wood. When his Majesty didn't need him, he would consciously reduce his sense of existence.
Gu Jiu took a deep breath and stepped forward slowly.
"Get closer."
Gu Jiu continued to move forward until he was two steps away from the dragon bed.
This is a relatively safe distance.
Tianzi raised his head, with muddy eyes, searching on her face, as if to find something.
Immediately afterwards, Gu Jiu heard a proposition.
"Have you ever thought about what will happen to the project outside the South City Gate when the new emperor succeeds?"
Gu Jiu was shocked.
Even Chen Dachang, who was calm and restrained, changed his expression slightly.
Gu Jiu's mouth was dry, "Your Majesty will live forever."
In addition, any answer is death.
The emperor laughed hard, "It seems that you also know very well that the project outside the South City Gate can be carried out smoothly because I am supporting you. When I am gone, the new emperor may not be willing to give it to you. The opportunity allows you to continue to operate outside the South City Gate."
Gu Jiu was in a cold sweat, she couldn't guess the deep meaning of the emperor's piercing the window paper.
Are you testing her or watching her jokes?
"Don't be afraid, I don't intend to scare you." The emperor suddenly comforted Gu Jiu.
Gu Jiu felt weird at the moment.
This is not the emperor in her mind.
The emperor in my impression, how can I care about others?
"Thank you, Your Majesty." She showed weakness appropriately.
The emperor took a breath and continued: "Outside the Nancheng Gate, you are running very well. Tens of thousands of refugees can be properly resettled. This is a great achievement. No one can obliterate your credit. But just in case. , I still have to make some preparations in advance."
Gu Jiu felt uneasy.
She glanced at Chen Dachang secretly.
Obviously, Chen Dachang didn't know in advance that the emperor would talk so deeply, and he had no scruples.
"Do you have any thoughts outside the South City Gate, just put it forward."
Gu Jiu took a deep breath, "Outside the South City Gate, it's up to your Majesty to call the shots."
"Oh! Don't you worry that after a hundred years, the new emperor will embarrass you and forbid you to continue to operate the project outside the South City Gate?"
Gu Jiu said: "In order to run the Nancheng Gate, my grandson-in-law raised hundreds of thousands of taels and borrowed 3 million taels from the Shaofu Bank. If someone in the palace prevents the grandson-in-law from continuing to operate, millions of dollars will be borrowed. , Grandson-in-law is not 100%."
"You threaten people with money, it may not work." The emperor seemed very happy. Perhaps it was because Gu Jiu didn't play tricks and kept telling the truth.
Gu Jiu bowed and said, "Besides, it's the court's turn to worry about how to settle the tens of thousands of refugees outside the city."
The emperor nodded, "For the court officials, refugees are the most annoying thing. They hope that even if they starve to death, they will starve to death at home. Don't add chaos to the government, and don't go out and flee to cause trouble.
However, no one is willing to wait for death. If the people cannot live in their hometowns, they can only flee famine and become refugees. In the past, the refugees who fled to the capital had to die on a meal of gruel every day.
When the weather became warm in the spring, the government forced them out. Year after year, it's all over here. During this period, no one cares how many refugees died of disease and starvation. It is you who changed this status quo. "
Gu Jiu was frightened, "grand-daughter-in-law needs a lot of labor to build a house. There are a lot of young and strong labor among those refugees, which is a waste."
The emperor nodded approvingly, "You’re right, leaving those young and strong laborers without them, sitting and watching them go up the mountain as bandits, it is not only a waste, but also corrupts the country’s community. You can organize the young and strong labor among the refugees and tell them to keep themselves safe. very impressive."
"The grand-daughter-in-law is not as good as your majesty said. The grand-daughter-in-law just happened to happen and did what she was supposed to do."
In front of the emperor, Gu Jiu still has to be humble.
The emperor smiled, "Just in case, I plan to be in a county outside the South City Gate in advance. Don't hesitate to tell me what you think."
Gu Jiu's heart beat faster and her palms were sweating.
I'm coming!
Finally, it is going to be outside the county in Nanchengmen.
She took a deep breath, and said as calmly as possible: "Your Majesty really wants to be outside the county at Nanchengmen. Grandson-in-law has only one request."
"Say!"
"The grand-daughter-in-law hopes that someone I recommend will be the first county magistrate. The Nanchengmenwai project will continue, and the grand-daughter-in-law does not want anyone to hold it back."
The emperor smiled, "You don't hide yourself at all."
Gu Jiu lowered his head and said, "Before your majesty, my grandson-in-law dare not play a trick."
The emperor asked: "Who do you want to recommend as the first county magistrate?"
Gu Jiu took a deep breath, suppressed his emotions, and said as calmly as possible: "Grand-daughter-in-law recommended Gu Yu as the first county magistrate."
"Why recommend him?"
Gu Jiu calmly said: "He has a reputation for being a member of the court, and he has been following his father’s experience for many years. He has a good understanding of people’s livelihood and economy. He is also experienced in dealing with petty disputes. With his knowledge and talents, he cannot be a high official of the court, but he He is definitely the best candidate for the county magistrate. No one is more suitable for this position than him."
"Oh! Where is he now?"
"He is now working as a errand in the household department, a small official of the eighth grade."
The emperor smiled, "The eighth-rank young official, serving as the seventh-rank county magistrate is not shocking. I will consider the person you recommend."
Gu Jiu couldn't hide his excitement, "grand-daughter-in-law thanked your majesty for the brother Gu Yu."
"Don't be too happy. Many people are staring at the position of the county magistrate outside the south gate of the county. Your clan brother, who has a trivial fame, has no other advantage besides being rich in experience."
Gu Jiu said hurriedly: "These grand-daughters know everything. Therefore, your Majesty needs to bother."
The emperor stared at her, "Are you sure I will help you?"
Gu Jiu blinked, "I believe your Majesty does not want the resettlement of the refugees outside the Nancheng Gate to be abandoned halfway. Moreover, as the news of the capital spreads throughout the world, in the future, more and more refugees will flow into the capital.
Without grandchildren, these refugees would be like in the past, with a meal of gruel every day, they would be driven out at the beginning of the spring, and they would either die or fall into trouble. "
The emperor said twice, "You are not modest at all."
Gu Jiu hurriedly lowered his head, "Grandson-in-law is just telling the truth."
The emperor waved his hand and told everyone who was waiting to step back.
Chen Dachang looked startled and uncertain.
"Get out!" The emperor was a little impatient.
Chen Dachang led the people and hurriedly bowed back.
What does the emperor's move mean?
Just leave Madam Zhao alone in the bedroom to speak, what does the emperor want to say? Is it to explain what happened?
Or does it matter to the crown prince?
Various thoughts in Chen Dachang's mind turned, and there was a hidden worry in his heart.
The emperor drove him out and left someone alone to talk, which is extremely rare.
He was faintly disturbed.
Gu Jiu is also anxious.
What does the emperor mean?
What do you want to say if you leave her alone?
Is it too late for her to leave now?
Don't give propositions!
She has only a small life, she really doesn't want to die.
She also hopes to live a long life.
"His Majesty?"
"Don't panic, I just have something to say."
At this moment, the emperor is a sickly old man. The majesty of the emperor is completely useless.
"Sit, stand tired. I look up at you and feel tired."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Gu Jiu sat down on the round stool beside the bed, very upright.
The emperor took a breath and talked a lot today.
"Among so many princes, who do you think is suitable for inheritance?"
Gu Jiu: "..."
She had said not to give her a proposition. How dare she answer such a terrible question. She is not tired of life.
She looked terrified, "The establishment of the crown prince is related to the country's society and the fortune of the country. The grandson-in-law and the woman, how can they discuss this matter. Your majesty might as well call the courtiers to discuss it together."
"It's okay! There is no third person here. Just say whatever you want. I forgive you. Even if you say King Lining is the crown prince, I understand."
The emperor looked at Gu Jiu expectantly.
Gu Jiu was under great pressure, "grand-daughter-in-law doesn't understand national affairs, and I don't know who is suitable to inherit the Datong."
"Oh? How do I feel you are not telling the truth."
"The grand-daughter-in-law is really telling the truth, and the grand-daughter-in-law dare not deceive your Majesty."
The emperor smiled, "I want to hear your true truth."
Gu Jiu lowered her head. How dare she tell the truth about this kind of proposition.
"If you don't tell the truth, how can I let you go."
The emperor suddenly increased his tone, seemingly threatening.
Gu Jiu felt wronged.
"Your Majesty really wants to hear his grandson-in-law tell the truth? But the truth is not pleasant."
The emperor tried to make a smiling face, "I live to this day, do you think I still care about words? I only want to hear the truth, not flattery."
Gu Jiu nodded, "I see."
"Then are you willing to tell the truth?"
Gu Jiu thought about it and said, "The grandson-in-law doesn't know about the uncle Wangs, and there is no answer in my heart to say who is suitable to inherit the Datong. This is the truth."
"Where is King Ning?" the emperor asked.
Gu Jiu shook his head, "Grandson-in-law is not sure whether the prince is suitable."
"Listen to you, is no prince suitable?"
Gu Jiu nodded, "In my eyes, no one is suitable for inheriting the Datong. Because no one is born to be an emperor."
The emperor smiled, "If you said this, you didn't say it. You are obviously a speculation."
Gu Jiu looked innocent and said, "This is indeed the truth of my grand-daughter-in-law. My grand-daughter-in-law doesn't think that someone is naturally suitable to sit in that position.
But even after receiving the acquired training, when you really sit in that position, there will still be problems of one kind or another. After all, as an emperor, what is tested is leadership and balance. "
The emperor nodded, "There is some truth to what I said. It seems that I am a failed father and emperor, and I have not been able to train a qualified heir."
Gu Jiu buried his head very low, feeling dying.
She actually said so many rebellious things in front of the emperor, the emperor will not settle accounts after autumn.
The emperor stared at her, "The taller one is taller among the shorter ones. Who is the best among many princes?"
Gu Jiu shook his head, "Granddaughter-in-law doesn't know."
She really didn't know.
She was separated from the princes by a generation, and saw one or two sides throughout the year.
If you don't understand, then you should judge.
She felt that Tianzi's mind must have been flooded. It was not appropriate to ask her a layman for such a major matter.
If you want to ask, you should ask the minister of civil and military affairs.
Although the ministers of civil and military affairs are selfish, they often come into contact with the princes at any rate, and have an understanding of the princes' character and ability.
The emperor smiled, "Don't you know? Actually I don't know."
In the past, the emperor thought he knew every son.
Now, when faced with the inheritance of the throne, when an heir must be selected as soon as possible, the emperor suddenly discovered that he did not really understand his sons.
If you don’t understand, how do you choose?
Gu Jiu couldn't help, so he could only be silent.
The emperor is also silent.
In the palace, the atmosphere was somewhat depressed, making her breathless.
I don’t know how long it took. The emperor opened his eyes and looked at her directly,
Operate the project outside the South City Gate well, do everything with one heart and one mind, and don’t live up to my expectations of you.

"Grandson-in-law follows the order!"
"Get out!"
"Your Majesty, take care of your health, and grandson-in-law retire."
Gu Jiu bowed and left the bedroom, completely relieved.
"come back!"
Gu Jiu trembled all over, looking back at the emperor.
Obviously he was about to leave, the emperor went crazy and called her back again.
The emperor stared at her, "I heard that Liu Zhao didn't take a concubine. Is it your reason or his reason?"
Gu Jiu was stunned for a moment, then came back to his senses in a blink of an eye, and calmly said: "Maybe the grandson-in-law has more reasons."
The emperor frowned, "You didn't let him take a concubine?"
Gu Jiu nodded boldly without denying it.
The emperor was curious, "Why? Liu Zhao is the grandson of the emperor, and he doesn't even have a concubine room around him. It's really outrageous."
Gu Jiu took a deep breath and said courageously: "The grand-daughter-in-law did not let the son-in-law to impose a concubine because the grand-daughter-in-law did not allow anyone to threaten the interests of my children. Concubines and concubines would not do it."
"You think it's pretty beautiful." The emperor said unclearly, "Liu Zhao is the emperor's grandson, and he can't live without a concubine."
Gu Jiu said: "If the son-in-law insists on accepting concubines, then I will do whatever it takes to ensure the interests of me and my child."
"How can you do whatever it takes?"
Gu Jiu chuckled softly, "I have money, and money can make ghosts grind. I shed a lot of money. I don't believe it can't solve a few women."
The emperor smiled, this smile is very natural, "You are confident. Get out!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"