Chapter 69 Kill the chicken to warn the monkey, Kite (Please subscribe! Please vote monthly!)

After finishing breakfast.

The chariot set off.

A seemingly endless line of vehicles was swiftly heading towards Bianliang.

One hour later.

As they approached the Capital of Bianliang.

Citizens surprisingly appeared in the suburbs to welcome them.

This was completely out of line.

Zhao Ji’s face turned dark immediately.

He promptly ordered the officials who incited the citizens to come welcome them to be thrown into prison.

To be known, the route and time of the chariot’s return are confidential and no notification was given to the local officials, yet these regional officials still found out.

What does this indicate?

It indicates that the news has already been leaked.

The matter of Saint Emperor Mountain was probably the same.

"Investigate for me, see who has leaked My movements to others." Zhao Ji said to Wei Xian.

As he finished speaking.

A minister who was traveling along suddenly broke out in cold sweat.

The official thrown into the prison was from his family.

Originally, he intended for this official to show face before His Majesty and seize the opportunity to impress, but things turned out quite differently.

He couldn’t conceal it anymore, and directly walked out, kneeling before Zhao Ji, pleading for forgiveness.

But Zhao Ji had been holding back his anger for the past few days, with nowhere to vent.

This minister was unfortunate enough to touch his sore spot.

He was also thrown into prison together.

The chariot continued to move.

The officials quietly started to discuss.

Inside Cai Si’s chariot, Gao Qiu sneakily slipped in.

As soon as he sat down, Gao Qiu said: "Prime Minister, what’s wrong with His Majesty today? Is it not a good thing for officials to bring citizens to welcome him? Why did His Majesty get so angry and throw them all into prison?"

There was another thing Gao Qiu didn’t say.

Which was that subordinates coming to greet is an implicit expectation in official circles, isn’t it?

For instance, when a Capital Official is appointed to a county city, although the route and time are uncertain, upon arrival at the county city, they naturally discover that officials of varying levels have long been waiting outside the city.

If there are no officials coming to greet you.

Then you should be cautious.

The official position you are taking might be a tricky one.

If officials are acting like this, what more for the Emperor.

Given the many ministers around the Emperor, there are naturally those who seek advancement.

If the Emperor intends to visit somewhere to enjoy, the ministers around him would certainly notify local officials to prepare.

This kind of thing has happened before.

Although Cai Si’s chariot could not compare to the Empress’s Phoenix Chariot from the outside.

Inside, it was much more luxurious.

With a complete set of tea utensils, a small desk and bookshelf, small but complete, it was essentially a miniature study.

Cai Si took a sip of tea and said: "I heard that His Majesty transferred Wang Ze from the Palace Guard Department to the Guard Infantry Department?"

"His Majesty mentioned it, but the specific paperwork will only be available once we return to the Capital. It seems like it’s settled." Gao Qiu wasn’t sure why Cai Si asked about this, as it didn’t relate to the current matter, but since he asked, Gao Qiu continued to say:

"Wang Ze rose too quickly and doesn’t yet understand these political networks, what to say and what not to say; he messed up the investigation matters and got directly demoted to the Guard Infantry Department, effectively a two-grade demotion."

Although the Guard Infantry Department and Palace Guard Department are equivalent in rank.

The authority is not comparable to the Palace Guard Department.

Wang Ze was originally the Deputy Commander of the Palace Guard Department.

The second-in-command of the Palace Guard Department.

But now, he’s demoted to Chief of Staff of the Infantry Department.

In some ways, it’s good; Gao Qiu also worried one day Wang Ze might climb over him.

After all, he felt Wang Ze was increasingly favored.

While his own favor in Zhao Ji’s eyes was not as before.

Upon hearing this, Cai Si chuckled and said: "You only know one side, but not the other. Let me ask you, which side is Lord Liu on?"

"The Crown Prince." Gao Qiu replied.

"More accurately, he’s under the Grand Commandant." Cai Si put down the teacup and said meaningfully.

Gao Qiu immediately understood: "Killing a chicken to scare the monkeys."

Cai Si chuckled, poured Gao Qiu a cup of tea, and said: "I didn’t say that."

"I understand, truly I do."

...

Outside Bianliang City.

Just as the chariot arrived, Xiao Yunqi led the remaining palace officials to welcome them.

"Minister Xiao Yunqi, pays respects to Your Majesty!" Xiao Yunqi bowed deeply.

Unlike his treatment towards other officials, Zhao Ji stepped down directly from the Dragon Chariot, supporting Xiao Yunqi as he bowed, and smiled: "Imperial Father-in-law, dispense with the courtesies. I wonder if the Capital has been well these days without Me?"

"Thanks to Your Majesty’s great fortune, all is well." Xiao Yunqi ceased with the pleasantries and straightened himself.

"All is well then, indeed with my Imperial Father-in-law here, I can rest easy." Zhao Ji held Xiao Yunqi’s hand, patting the back of it with his palm, with an expression indicating Xiao Yunqi as a trusted advisor.

Finally, they entered the Capital together.

Chatting and laughing.

Chen Mo, riding on horseback, caught a glimpse from afar.

Although he can’t read faces, he wanted to say, this Imperial Father-in-law harbors rebellious intent!

This Xiao Yunqi is a veteran of two reigns.

He even outlasted the Late Emperor.

...

After entering the city, because Xiao Yunqi was looking for Xiao Yunxi for a matter.

Xiao Yunxi let Chen Mo not to follow, asking him and Cai’Er to return to the palace first.

Upon entering the Imperial Palace, Chen Mo told Cai’Er: "Cai’Er, you return to Weiyang Palace first; I’ll go to the Ministry of Internal Affairs to see if there are any medicinal herbs that are nourishing, to prepare some dinner for Her Majesty."

It was almost noon by now.

Xiao Yunxi went to Xiao Mansion, certainly having lunch there.

This gave Chen Mo the whole afternoon to prepare some time-consuming dishes.

Besides, he could also search for suitable fabric to make stockings.

After some searching, he indeed found something.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs had this thing called Ice Silkworm Silk, extremely valuable, but its touch was reminiscent of a woman’s skin, perfect for making stockings.

However, this Ice Silkworm Silk was extremely costly, not something everyone could possess.

Yet the Empress was one among those who could possess it.

Finally, Chen Mo left basic designs of stockings with the Shangyi Bureau and then left.

After all, although he knew about stockings, he didn’t know how to make them.

As for the ingredients he requested from the Ministry of Internal Affairs for the Empress, the eunuchs there immediately assured that they would personally deliver them to Weiyang Palace, without troubling Chen Mo to handle it himself.

Thus, Chen Mo could take it easy.

Just as he was about to return to Weiyang Palace, he suddenly thought of a pastime—kites!

If he manages to make a kite, he might make the Empress quite pleased.

And making kites was something Chen Mo could do since he was a child, not difficult.

Frame, paper, string, and so on.

Finding these materials in the Imperial Palace wasn’t difficult either.

For the frame, bamboo would do.

Chen Mo originally planned to go to Shenxiao Temple, since it had a large bamboo grove.

But he suddenly remembered there was also a bamboo grove in the Imperial Garden.

Missing one or two bamboo pieces wouldn’t be noticed.

Therefore, Chen Mo decided against going far.

He headed to the Imperial Garden.