GBP Chapter 243 The Queen Mother calmed down!
Chapter 243 The Queen Mother calmed down!
In Kunning Palace.
Su Mengjiao observed Ye Chen's expression and found that even after hearing that Duke Fuguo Cao Chang was coming, Ye Chen remained calm after his initial surprise.
"Your Majesty, do you have any way to deal with the Duke of Fuguo?"
Su Mengjiao asked doubtfully.
Even she had to be extremely careful with a representative of military honors like the Duke of Fuguo.
Not to mention, this time Duke Fuguo came to demand an explanation.
Su Mengjiao had no good way to deal with it.
"Queen Dowager, I don't have any good solutions, but if an enemy comes, we will fight him; if water comes, we will block it with earth. Even if he is a representative of military honors, he is still a minister, and I am the king. What do I have to fear?"
Ye Chen smiled slightly and said.
"Your Majesty, the Duke of Fuguo's purpose in coming to the capital is undoubtedly to call for justice. If things get out of hand, not only will it be embarrassing for everyone, but it could also cause trouble on Dayu's borders."
Su Mengjiao shook her head. When she heard that Ye Chen wanted to use his status to pressure the Duke, she felt that Ye Chen was really naive.
It is impossible to make this general, who commands a large army, surrender with just a few words.
"Then Queen Mother, what do you mean?"
Ye Chen narrowed his eyes and asked doubtfully.
"Emperor, I think we can take a step back. The evidence against Cao Tao and Cao Kun is irrefutable. We can dismiss Cao Tao from his post and have him reflect on his mistakes, but we can reduce Cao Kun's entire family to exile."
"Duke Fuguo has been guarding the border for many years. Even if he has no merit, he has worked hard. Let's give him some face."
Su Mengjiao coughed lightly, her tone somewhat helpless.
Hearing this, Ye Chen snorted lightly.
"Queen Mother, I think you are wrong."
Ye Chen shook his head and said, "If I forgive the second son of the Cao family, who will forgive the countless innocent souls on the Qinling Mountains and the miners who died there?"
"Empress Dowager, do you know what life was like for these miners? Do you know how many mass graves there are in the Qinling Mountains?"
"I spared Cao Tao, but only temporarily. But I cannot let Cao Kun go again!"
Ye Chen's tone was very firm.
He took a step back before because of Yang Dechang's plan. He was forced to follow suit in order to maximize the benefits he would gain.
But at this time, he had not yet met the Duke of Fuguo.
Just let him make some compromise arrangements. What's the difference between this and admitting defeat without even fighting the battle?
Besides, what he had said before was the imperial edict. How could he take it back?
This is really undermining his dignity.
He is the emperor.
"Your Majesty, but that Duke Fuguo."
"Empress Dowager, even if Duke Fuguo is domineering, I must meet him first."
Ye Chen shook his head, his tone still firm.
Seeing him like this, Su Mengjiao could only sigh.
"Emperor, Duke Fuguo commands a hundred thousand troops on the southern border. This force cannot be underestimated. When you meet with him, you should be more polite. Dayu's northern border is already in jeopardy, and we cannot allow any more trouble to happen in the south."
Su Mengjiao instructed again.
"Oh, don't worry, Queen Mother."
Ye Chen narrowed his eyes slightly.
He thought that if the Duke of Fuguo was really domineering and insisted on touching his bottom line, he would definitely break up with him.
But he also has to find a way to stabilize the other party after the breakdown.
"Empress Dowager, how long will it take for Duke Fuguo to arrive in the capital?"
Ye Chen asked Su Mengjiao.
"It should be in three days."
"Empress Dowager, I think the policy of the imperial examination should be implemented tomorrow."
Ye Chen then said.
"Emperor, you can handle this matter as you wish."
Su Mengjiao had no objection, and with her intelligence, she vaguely realized that Ye Chen might want to do something through the imperial examination.
But she still supports it.
"By the way, Queen Mother, you haven't eaten yet, right? How about we eat together?"
Seeing that Su Mengjiao had nothing else to do.
Ye Chen suddenly said.
Su Mengjiao was slightly stunned, then nodded. She was also a little hungry.
However, Su Mengjiao's imperial meal and Ye Chen's imperial meal are completely different.
After all, although Ye Chen advocates frugality, he still eats as many as twenty plates of food every time.
Su Mengjiao eats as many as forty dishes every day.
Therefore, different chefs usually cook for Ye Chen and Su Mengjiao.
"Pass the meal around."
Su Mengjiao gave an order.
Immediately, a eunuch came up with a tray.
Dishes of delicious food were soon placed on the table.
At first, Su Mengjiao was only focused on eating the dishes in front of her, until she accidentally saw a plate of red roast duck in front of Ye Chen. The roast duck had been sliced and could be eaten wrapped in a thin pancake.
She tried two bites.
Then she lost interest in the dish in front of her.
"Emperor, where did your cook come from?"
Su Mengjiao picked up the ivory chopsticks, took two bites of the fried cake, wiped her mouth elegantly, and asked.
"Oh, Queen Mother, I taught that chef how to cook. If you like it, I can teach your chef."
Ye Chen smiled slightly.
Although Su Mengjiao was very elegant when eating, her speed was not slow at all, and she did not eat less at all.
If Madam Xue is a simple foodie, then Su Mengjiao is an elegant foodie.
There is a difference between the two, but the difference is really not that big.
It’s just that one eats better and the other eats more beautifully.
"Your Majesty, are these dishes also the ideas of yourselves?"
Su Mengjiao was quite emotional.
Is there anything this emperor doesn’t know?
"It was my idea. The food in the palace is really monotonous. I've been eating it for so many years and I'm tired of it."
Ye Chen smiled and said to Su Mengjiao.
Hearing this, Su Mengjiao also agreed.
She was also tired of eating it.
"Then I'll leave first."
Ye Chen stood up and was about to leave.
Su Mengjiao looked at Ye Chen's back with complicated feelings.
Although she and Ye Chen had to stand together to fight against the powerful officials, she often couldn't see through Ye Chen's thoughts.
In the past, she always felt a headache when facing Yang Dechang.
But Ye Chen was able to gain the upper hand repeatedly when facing Yang Dechang.
Su Mengjiao sometimes wondered if Ye Chen was pretending to be stupid for the past ten years?
Ye Chen pretended to be stupid, but in fact he was secretly observing and thinking, which enabled him to use power and strategy so skillfully.
If it doesn’t make a sound for more than ten years, the next time it makes a sound it will shock the world!
Su Mengjiao even felt a little scared.
Only those who truly control power can understand how terrifying Ye Chen is.
It's only been over a month.
Su Mengjiao, who had controlled the entire inner city of the imperial palace for several years, was surprised to find that apart from the emperor's seal in her hand, she could no longer suppress Ye Chen.
Su Mengjiao was even somewhat relieved that she was not Ye Chen's enemy.
Therefore, seeing that Ye Chen was not too surprised by the arrival of Duke Fuguo, but instead showed a firm attitude, Su Mengjiao's heart calmed down and she was no longer so panicked.