Chapter 177
Chapter 177
When Jiang Suizhou was lying sick these days, he had been mulling over this matter. Since he transmigrated here, he had become a butterfly flapping its wings, reversing the original history around a corner. Now, everything had long changed from the original timeline.
He knew that history must be respected, but now that he was here, he felt that the people in history today needed more respect.
He didn’t want to let the wicked continue to do evil, let the loyal officials and generals still end up badly, and let the people of the dawn suffer torment —— More importantly, he couldn’t just watch Huo Wujiu live like in his previous life, supporting his evil-hearted cousin as the Emperor, and going to Yangguan alone to guard a deserted place, where his most vivid and angry memories remained.
He wanted his beloved Huo Wujiu to be as reckless and bright as he had always been all his life.
That being the case, he had a lot of things to do. Since he was bent on doing it, he’d better carry it out to the end.
His thoughts only existed in his heart, and he did not tell Huo Wujiu. Huo Wujiu naturally knew nothing about it. At this time, he was holding a pen. He was feeling impatient, but he forced himself to write the list of names one by one.
Jiang Suizhou watched quietly for a while, then while listening to his writing, Huo Wujiu spoke.
“When this is done, you should rest for a couple of days.” Huo Wujiu said. “There’s nothing more important. I can do it all.”
Jiang Suizhou, however, gave him a look.
“Not everything is over yet,” he countered, “Don’t try to lock me up.”
Huo Wujiu was totally helpless. Although he was not at ease or happy, he dared not voice it out. He could only vent his temper on Li Changning, blaming him for the mediocre effect of the medicine he prescribed, which made Jiang Suizhou still unwell.
Li Changning knew best how difficult it was for a person stuck in love. Hence, when listening to Huo Wujiu’s reproach, he just treated it as a gust of wind blowing past his ears.
It was only after Huo Wujiu left that he whispered to Wei Kai.
“If a canine is emotionally unstable, always tearing objects and howling for no reason, that is a sign of courtship,” he said.
Wei Kai didn’t understand: “What did you say?”
Li Changning smiled lightly and meaningfully.
“Nothing,” he said. “I’m just telling you. Not only can I cure people, but I also know something about animal diseases.”
Jiang Suizhou had compiled a list of all the officials in and outside the capital in the past few days.
Some of them were dauntless, but they were extremely capable. He found all of them. He used either power to coerce them or lured them with benefits, and then let Huo Wujiu’s soldiers and officers keep them under strict supervision. In this manner, they took over the affairs of each county in succession.
With the dispatch of these officials, Huo Wujiu was able to gradually withdraw his troops, and all his soldiers were evacuated outside the city for defense. After a few days, Southern Jing was gradually restored to its original order.
After all, for the people, the role of parental officials was much greater than that of the Emperor. As long as someone was sitting in the government office under the blue sky, the one in the throne room didn’t matter.
And the same was true in Lin’an City. The officials of various ministries gradually returned to their positions under Jiang Suizhou’s selection. They were frightened by Huo Wujiu these days, and felt in danger. However, with Jiang Suizhou’s presence again, most of the officials found a backbone and gradually returned to the imperial court.
The only ones left who were not dispatched were either the core members of Pang’s faction or the old ministers of Southern Jing under Qi Min’s party.
For Qi Min, Jiang Suizhou was a little reluctant to give him up.
He knew that Qi Min was talented, highly respected, and was killed in history under Pang Shao’s might. He couldn’t bear the country to be without Qi Min. What was more, now that people in the dynasty were on tenterhooks, he also needed Qi Min to take a post.
After dealing with the important matters, he personally went to Qi Min’s residence.
He hadn’t fully recovered. Too much movement would render him ashen-faced again. Huo Wujiu did not agree with him leaving the palace, but he could not stop him, so he finally followed him and got on the carriage to Qi’s residence.
The Minister of Ceremonies’ manor was currently heavily guarded.
When Jiang Suizhou got off the carriage and entered the residence, he found that the people in the manor were silent and did not dare to raise their heads.
However, although the Qi Manor was lifeless, it was still in order, so it is clear that Huo Wujiu wasn’t treating them harshly. He was keeping a tight rein on them, though.
Jiang Suizhou, together with Huo Wujiu, went straight into Qi Min’s courtyard under the guidance of a servant.
The courtyard was very simple, with a small courtyard full of sycamores. When Jiang Suizhou stepped up the stairs, Huo Wujiu walked forward before him, pushing the door for him, and holding his arm with one hand.
His action was quite domineering and brooked no opposition. However, every one of his actions exuded caution, like a dragon guarding his treasure.
Jiang Suizhou just let him be and went into Qi Min’s bedroom.
Qi Min was now sitting under the closed window, holding a text in his hand.
When he heard the sound of the door and footsteps, he didn’t lift his head. He just let a servant quietly flip to another page of the book and gently asked, “General Huo, having kept this old man for so many days, can you finally not hold back?”
After saying that, he put the book down on the table.
“If you’re here to persuade this old man to submit, then you can return by all means. If you want my life, then you are free to take it.”
He finished speaking and raised his eyes, looking toward the door.
Then, his calmness and composure, as if he was facing death with no regrets, froze on his face.
“Your Highness Jingwang?” He immediately stood up and was about to speak, but then looked behind Jiang Suizhou.
The two people, who were supposedly incompatible as fire and water, and couldn’t live under the same air, were standing side by side. The rebel general Huo Wujiu, who killed the Emperor, was even supporting His Highness Jingwang with one hand and with extreme caution, as if he was protecting some fragile treasure.
Qi Min’s gaze bounced between the two for a few moments, and his tongue somehow failed him.