Chapter 55: Li Dai Tao Jiang (1)

In the hermitage in front, Su Ling had been here for some time, talking to Zi Rao, his blue shirt handsome and elegant, his demeanor not losing to the past. Seeing Zi Hao bring Li Si in, he immediately stepped forward to pay respects: "Master."

Zi Hao waved his hand to tell him not to be too polite, and asked casually: "Are things handled properly?"

Su Ling replied: "All war horses have arrived in Chu safely in three batches. This time, the selected thousand fine horses have also been sent to the Liefeng Cavalry army. Everything has been arranged properly, please rest assured, Master."

Zi Hao nodded slightly. Although Zi Rao didn't say it clearly, he could guess what she had exchanged with Huang Fei for the war horses of the Xi Kingdom. Since it was a promise she made, he would not oppose it. The situation was still moving forward under control. Small deviations only need to follow the trend to become the desired result. Not to mention that it was Su Ling who handled the matter. Turning around to take a seat, he found that Su Ling was still kneeling and answering, and had not stood up: "What is this for?"

Su Ling lowered his head and said: "I was bold and reckless some time ago, and today I specially came to plead guilty to the Master."

Zi Hao's gaze paused on him, then turned to understand, and looked at Zi Rao beside him: "Before you two calculated me, didn't you discuss how to deal with it, and now what are you pleading guilty for?"

Zi Rao didn't speak, just smiled in the side. Su Ling said: "I... dare not deal with the Master."

Zi Hao took the tea handed by Li Si, took a small sip, didn't speak for a long time, and when he spoke again, he just raised his hand casually and asked: "The two drivers who followed, are they reliable?"

The cold and wide sleeves fell in front of the case, and everyone in the room felt surprised. Originally, I thought that even if he didn't punish Su Ling, he would at least reprimand him slightly to warn others. Who knew it was so lightly revealed. Su Ling's handsome face showed slight surprise, but his heart felt a warm feeling. He had been a monarch and minister for many years, and this trust and understanding between raising his hands, how precious and rare. He didn't resign and plead guilty, stood up and said: "They are family slaves raised by my mansion since childhood, and there is no problem in terms of loyalty."

"Mm." Zi Hao signaled him to take a seat, and the conversation was already entirely about other official business: "How is the situation with Wu Yu?"

Mentioning Jin Wu Yu, Su Ling showed a smile: "In such a short time, all the soldiers are convinced by him. It can be seen that he has a set of leading soldiers, and it should be said that he is above me. With him on Zhongshi Mountain, we have no worries."

Zi Hao said: "Each takes what he is good at. What you can do, he can't do. Zi Rao, do you believe it? In time, Jin Wu Yu will be the second Wenjian of our dynasty?"

He suddenly turned his head and asked, Zi Rao raised her eyebrows, smiled: "If you say so, is Su Ling the second Zhao Gong?"

Zi Hao nodded to her: "Not bad, use Su Ling inside, use Jin Wu Yu outside, the military and national responsibilities in the future can be entrusted with peace of mind."

Zi Rao glanced at him, her eyebrows were thin, and followed up with a sentence: "Although there are these two people, don't think about being lazy." As she said, she handed the two Xiangfei-colored thin notes on the case: "For you, three days later, the Chu King will hold a capping ceremony for Han Xi in the Le Yao Palace. Han Xi wants me to ask you, are you willing to go to watch the ceremony that day?"

Zi Hao took the post. The peach blossoms were spread on half of it, soft gold as branches and jade as leaves, lined with a layer of fine silver gauze, vivid and unique, and the heavy weight made it not difficult for people to estimate the value of this post: "Han Xi's capping ceremony? Why didn't she say it just now, but asked you to ask."

Zi Rao smiled with hidden meaning: "Little daughter is shy, don't know if you are willing to give face, and worry that you will dislike the noise of the ceremony, and worry that it will affect your rest, so she finally sent it to me."

Zi Hao browsed the content of the post, smiled faintly: "The Chu King is very fond of Han Xi, so he is so painstaking for her." He put down the expensive post: "Tell Han Xi for me, just say that I will definitely go to watch the ceremony."

Although the gaze left the post, the mind was still on it. That branch of burning peach blossoms, noble as pearls and jade, bloomed brilliantly on the prosperous national power of Chu that dominated the Nine Domains. How is it not the goal of the talents of the world? Country and tribe, monarch and king, horizontal and vertical, hostile and friendly, can be determined by too many factors. And the most direct and critical one is marriage—this is the unchanging means for the forces of various countries to avoid and achieve maximum profit.

Regarding Ye Xuanshang killing Helian Qi, Zi Hao actually had a deeper speculation, but it had not been confirmed.

Not long ago, the Chu King refused the marriage between Helian Qi and Han Xi with the Shao Yuan Jun as an excuse. After Helian Qi was killed by Ye Xuanshang, the Chu King once issued an edict to comfort him, but did not hold anyone accountable. Now that I think about it, Huang Fei's actions at that time were a response to the Di Du, but it might not be borrowing a knife to kill someone, so as not to cause trouble for the Helian family in this matter. Princess Han Xi, the only sister of the Chu King, will marry the person who will bring the greatest benefits to Chu, or the

Huang Fei was watching, the King of Chu was watching, and he was also watching. His layout in the Chu Guo required Huang Fei, and Huang Fei similarly needed to use this external force to achieve his own goals. In this game of chess, who was whose pawn, and who was whose ally, was not yet clear. And perhaps, it would never be clear.

Across the half-lit room, Zi Rao saw that string of serene obsidian beads turning silently between Zi Hao's fingers beneath his plain white wide sleeves. She was very familiar with this action of his; whenever he had matters to deliberate in his heart, or before he was about to make some important decision, he would subconsciously play with this string of beads.

"If you had been able to attend that day, regardless of whether you saw anyone else, the Chu Guo would have wasted its efforts this time."

Zi Hao turned his head, his gaze sweeping across her faint smile, as light as a breeze, and then vanishing without a trace. "Li Si, call Shang Rong."

Li Si immediately went out to pass the message. Zi Hao closed his eyes in his seat to think quietly. Before long, he heard footsteps entering, so he ordered faintly, "Since there is already a young master from the State of Mu in Shangying, there is no need for Crown Prince Yu to attend Princess Han Xi's coming-of-age ceremony in three days."

Shang Rong understood the intent upon hearing this and bowed. "This old servant understands; I will send someone to handle it immediately."

"Send an order to the Di Du to issue a decree congratulating Princess Han Xi on her coming-of-age, grant her the title of Eldest Princess, and incidentally confer a title upon the King of Chu."

"Yes."

"Also," Zi Hao opened his eyes, his voice methodical, "immediately promote Princess Qie Lan to Queen of the Jiuyi State, grant the Jiuyi tribe five hundred miles of fiefdom and three cities, and promulgate this decree to the world within three days."

"Yes." After receiving the order, Shang Rong looked up and asked, "Master, the Jiuyi State is located in the center of the Zhao, Xi, and Chu states and the Wangyu, surrounded on all sides. It seems there is no land left to grant. Please give further instructions, Master, so that this old servant can inform the Duke of Zhao clearly to draft the decree."

Zi Hao said, "The land south of Xichuan belonging to the Wangyu may all be granted to her."

Once these words were spoken, everyone nearby was slightly surprised. Five hundred miles of fiefdom was not a small favor, but it was justifiable; however, there had never been a precedent for dividing the Wangyu to grant to a marquis state. Su Ling was about to speak when he suddenly remembered something, and a look of realization appeared on his face. He looked up and saw the Nine Princess's red lips curled slightly, a smile that was not a smile, clearly having perceived something as well.

After Su Ling and the others left, Zi Hao remained silent and lost in thought. After a long time, he looked up and said, "Zi Rao, I remember you said that Uncle and Daozhang Qiaoku are staying in a villa at the Shao Yuan Jun Mansion."

Zi Rao tilted her head slightly. "If you want to see Uncle, it would be best to do so during the grand ceremony in three days. Just let Han Xi make some arrangements; a special visit would only fall into the eyes of those with ulterior motives."

A smile appeared in Zi Hao's eyes, flashing faintly under the light. "You are more thoughtful than I imagined."

For Princess Han Xi's coming-of-age ceremony, the elites of various states gathered in the Chu capital, and among them, Princess Qie Lan was specially invited. The three-year Jiuyi War, the true and false bond between senior brother and junior sister, and whether Huang Fei and Qie Lan had ever had other special agreements, were related to the balance of several parties and had to be confirmed. The person who knew this best was Uncle, and the one who could influence it was also Uncle. It was only natural for him to make a personal trip at this time.

Since he was already here, he would not give the Chu Guo any chance to form an alliance with other states. Therefore, he valued Han Xi, therefore he enfeoffed Qie Lan, and therefore he had to have a deep and detailed talk with Uncle. Zi Rao's clear eyes were crystal clear, as if wanting to see into the depths of his heart, and she asked with a smile, "Is the five hundred miles of Wangyu a reward, or a betrothal gift?"

The spirit stone bead string in Zi Hao's hand paused slightly, and subtle emotions like floating clouds drifted across his deep eyes.

(End of Chapter)