Chapter 108: The Decisive King
Cui Zongyan originally thought that after Cui Shuyun and Marquis Fu'an got married, he would be able to make further progress in officialdom.

In this way, he realized his ideals and ambitions.

But unexpectedly, after the Ming King issued an edict to grant the marriage, he did not change the official position of his "relative".

Although he received some help in his work, after all, some colleagues who had no background or shallow background did not dare to offend him, the father-in-law of Marquis Fu'an!
But at the same time, he also suffered a lot of exclusion, some from the prince's faction and even from the Zhao faction.

At first, Cui Zongyan thought it was because Cui Shuyun and Fu'an Hou had not yet officially married!

In addition, he was troubled by Cui Shuyun's rebellious mood at the time, so he didn't care too much about these trivial matters at work!
But when he returned to Jiangnan to deal with matters related to Cui Shuyun's marriage and returned to the court to report, he suddenly found that the exclusion and oppression he suffered at work had not decreased but increased!

It was not until two days ago that he could no longer bear it and went to the home of his in-law, the Minister of Personnel Ai, to inquire about the situation, and finally got the answer.

It turned out that Zhao had long intended to marry Zhao Qingya, Zhao's legitimate daughter, to Marquis Fu'an, in order to strengthen the ties between the two families.

This matter was no secret in the capital city in the past!
In other words, the Cui family's roots are in Jiangnan, and he entered the capital to serve as an official only after Fu'an Hou was conferred the title and the relevant rumors disappeared. That's why he didn't know the relevant news!

Several of his good friends didn’t know that he didn’t know the news!

I thought he didn't care, that's why he pushed for his daughter to be married to Marquis Fu'an!
After all, Zhao's thoughts were once a hot topic in the capital, and it was no secret!

In this way, Cui Zongyan and his Cui family became the ones who slipped through the net of this news.

He and his legitimate son Cui Ronghe were also sandwiched in the court!

As the father-in-law of Marquis Fu'an, he was not only unwelcome in the prince's faction, but also in the eyes of the Zhao faction.

Cui Zongyan was depressed all night because of this!
Unexpectedly, just two days later, things took a turn for the better.

Queen Zhao actually trusted Cui Zongyan so much.

Let him take Princess Min'an to Xuzhou to meet Sister Yun, and discuss state affairs with Marquis Fu'an!
This…

This is great news!
With the approval of Queen Zhao, the Zhao faction would certainly no longer ignore and treat him coldly as before.

His work will certainly go more smoothly.

Only when work goes smoothly and there is support from others can there be political achievements and continue to move up.

And if he gets the approval of Marquis Fu'an during the political exchanges with him...

If everything Queen Zhao said came true...

A few years later, when Marquis Fu'an ascended the throne, Cui Zongyan might not be able to become the Zhao family of today.

By then, his political views, ambitions, and ideals...

Do you still need to worry about not being able to achieve it?
If we think further ahead, decades later, a child with his bloodline, Yun Jie'er's legitimate son, may not be able to sit on that position that everyone is fighting for...

At that time, Cui Zongyan’s life will be truly worthwhile and he will have no regrets!

However, Cui Zongyan is ultimately a shrewd old fox. Although he is fantasizing about the future, he has not forgotten to base himself in the present.

After all, now is the foundation of everything.

Thinking back, Cui Zongyan immediately thought of the unreasonableness of Queen Zhao's request: Why didn't Princess Min'an go to Xuzhou herself if she missed her brother? Why did Queen Zhao look for him, Cui Zongyan, and Cui?

The Zhu and Zhao families are powerful and have many experts. Either of them would be a better choice than the Cui family to escort Princess Min'an to Xuzhou.

Moreover, Princess Min'an is an unmarried adult princess who has reached the age of marriage.

Princess Min'an and Cui have no direct relationship, and people's words are scary, so it's better to stay in a melon field and walk among the plum trees!
Queen Zhao risked such a great risk, and even put the reputation of Princess Min'an at risk, just to give Cui Zongyan the opportunity to meet Yun Jie'er and exchange political views with Marquis Fu'an?

Stop being funny!

Queen Zhao is not a saint. She can’t be so kind, nor can she be so boring!

"Queen, when will we set off? How many maids and servants will County Lord Min'an take with him? How many carts of baggage will he bring? How many guards will the palace arrange? And how many guards should I arrange for?"

But in the end, Cui Zongyan was still confused by the huge profits.

I chose to “turn a blind eye” to some unreasonable things!
He bowed and clasped his fists, asking Queen Zhao for some more detailed information!

Isn’t it just risk-taking and gambling?

It’s not like Cui Zongyan hasn’t gambled before!
When he was young, Cui Zongyan won the bet!

After Cui Zongji became the head of the Cui family, he brought extremely generous rewards to Cui Zongyan.

This time, Cui Zongyan believes that he will win the bet!
When Marquis Fu'an becomes King Ming, it will bring him far greater benefits and rewards than before.

"no!"

However, the two words "Queen Zhao" were like a bolt from the blue, shocking Cui Zongyan, who was full of confidence and ready to make another big effort and another big gamble, to his core!

"No?"

Cui Zongyan looked at Queen Zhao without giving up, with strong doubt in his words.

What does no mean?
As a princess, and a legitimate daughter of the king whose biological mother is Queen Zhao, would there be no palace maids or servants accompanying her to serve her when she went to Xuzhou Prefecture to visit her biological brother?
Is there no imperial guards protecting him?
Will there be no baggage?
Did Cui Zongyan hear it wrong, or did Queen Zhao say it wrong?
"That's right, Master Cui, you heard it right, there is nothing!

The reason Xiumin left the palace this time was because she missed her brother too much and threatened to commit suicide, so the queen had to agree!

There are no baggage and no palace servants!

In order to ensure a smooth exit from the palace, under the coercion of Xiumin, I even knocked out Lord Cui's legitimate son and brother's son, and let Xiumin pretend to be he and brother's son and follow Lord Cui out of the palace!

For the sake of his son's safety, and considering that Xiumin is Wu Ge'er's biological sister, and that Xiumin has no ill intentions and only wants to see her biological brother, Lord Cui reluctantly agreed! "

As Queen Zhao spoke, she made the positions of everyone present very clear.

The reason why Zhu Chengwu was able to arrange everyone's role clearly in Fu'an Marquis Mansion was due to the influence of his mother, Queen Zhao Yushan.

Otherwise, Zhu Chengwu was just an ordinary person in his previous life, how could he be so strong and domineering and have such excellent acting skills?

"Queen, this..."

Cui Zongyan understood what Queen Zhao meant. Queen Zhao wanted to secretly send Princess Min'an to Marquis Fu'an in Xuzhou.

Such behavior is against etiquette and the laws of the court!

"Queen, does the King know?"

Cui Zongyan asked carefully.

"What do you think, Master Cui?"

Zhao Yushan looked at Cui Zongyan with a half-smile in her eyes.

If the King knew, why would he hide it so secretly?
"Queen, why do you do this?"

Cui Zongyan couldn't understand why Queen Zhao acted this way.

He must find out what difficulties and dangers he might encounter on the way to send Princess Min'an to the Marquis Fu'an Mansion.

"Brother Wu is in Xuzhou City, and my father is also in Xuzhou City!
Now Brother Wu has been exposed!
Minan is still unmarried!
If what I have predicted is correct, the King is already considering arranging a marriage for Min'an in order to restrict Wu Ge'er!
Min'an must leave before the king's decree is announced!"

Queen Zhao explained why she asked Cui Zongyan to replace Princess Min'an and send her away.

"Queen, will doing this..." Cui Zongyan hesitated and tried to persuade her.

"Master Cui, your family is now my last hope!

After the news came from Xuzhou City, Zhao had already been targeted by the king's men!

There is no time now!
Once the king and the prince finish their conversation, the decree for marriage should arrive!

Lord Cui, the king is old! Let's go to Xuzhou!
Go to Xuzhou to meet your sister Yun, and go to Xuzhou to meet my brother Wu, who defeated the two great national masters, Duke Yan and Marquis Xibei, and has become the first martial arts legend since the founding of the Ming Dynasty!"

Zhao Yushan's words were bewitching.

Cui Zongyan was stunned!
He was silent for a few breaths, his expression unchanged, but in his heart he felt as if he had suddenly realized something.

Did Marquis Fu'an defeat the two great masters of the country, Duke of Yan and Marquis of Xibei, in martial arts?
It’s incredible!
but…

If this is true, then everything can be explained!

No wonder Queen Zhao hurriedly summoned Ronghe and me into the palace!

No wonder Queen Zhao seemed so confident that Marquis Fu'an would succeed to the throne!

No wonder Queen Zhao wanted to send Princess Min'an away!

No wonder Queen Zhao was so sure that the king would grant Princess Min'an a marriage!

For a martial arts legend like Sanfeng Taoist, using the people around him to "lock" him up is indeed the best choice.

"Zong Yan is willing to relieve the queen's worries! Help the county lady out of her difficulties! Send the county lady to Fu'an Marquis's Mansion safely!"

Queen Zhao revealed some key information again. After Cui Zongyan understood the whole story, he straightened his face and bowed to answer.

For these old foxes in officialdom, interests and confidence are indeed the most important.

Queen Zhao sneered in her heart as she looked at Cui Zongyan, who immediately changed his attitude and made up his mind after she revealed the news that Zhu Chengwu had defeated the two masters, Duke of Yan and Marquis of Xibei, and said.

Before, she had appealed to his emotions, reasoned with him, and tempted him with power, but Cui Zongyan had never made up his mind.

But now that he knew that Zhu Chengwu's chances of winning had greatly increased, he immediately bowed and made the promise.

What in-laws, what positions!
In the face of victory, nothing is worth talking about!
These old foxes in officialdom may not necessarily stand on the side of their in-laws, classmates, or friends, but they will definitely stand on the side of the winner!
"Thank you, Master Cui!

Xiaoyu, take your brother and go to the inner room and change out of your court robes!
Min'an, go to the other side and quickly disguise yourself as Hege'er. After Xiaoyu hands you Hege'er's court robes, put them on immediately and leave the palace with Lord Cui!
Xiaoyu, take Min'an's jewelry and personally escort Lord Cui and Min'an out of the palace. You must subtly reveal Min'an's jewelry on your body to draw everyone's attention to you!

Let them doubt that you are the real Min An!"

Although Zhao Yushan sneered at the behavior of Cui Zongyan, an old official, in her heart, she still bowed to Cui Zongyan in a dignified manner to thank him for his great help.

Then, several people took action according to the original plan.

Before being taken into the inner room by the palace maid Xiaoyu, Cui Ronghe looked at his father Cui Zongyan with surprise and confusion.

It seemed as if he was asking his father why he "sold" him so easily?

Staying in the palace would be very dangerous!

Maybe he will have to face the furious King Ming who fails to find Princess Min'an and discovers the truth!

Although Queen Zhao's words reduced the responsibility of Cui's father and son to a minimum!
But who knows whether the King will accept such an argument?

Will he become so angry that he doesn't know right from wrong?
But when Cui Ronghe saw the determined look in his father Cui Zongyan's eyes, he knew that his father had made up his mind.

The decision will not be changed!

In desperation, Cui Ronghe had to walk into the inner room and take off his court clothes under the guidance of Zhao Yushan's personal maid Xiaoyu!

While people in Jiaoshu Palace were busy at a feverish pace, in Qinzheng Palace, Prince Ming and the Crown Prince, as expected by Queen Zhao, started talking about the marriage of Zhu Xiumin, the prince's legitimate daughter.

"Father, since you have decided to personally restrict my third brother, why did you still betroth Sister Min'an to the Fang family?
Brother Xuedao is the most important supporter of his son, so you betrothed Sister Minan to his son...

Once he has any hesitation in his heart!

That son..."

Crown Prince Zhu Chengzhi did not understand why King Ming insisted on marrying his third brother's sister to the legitimate son of Fang Xuedao, his most important supporter!
"Brother Wu is the most close to Min An!
Before, I was planning to rely on this relationship to open a gap and slowly persuade Wu Ge'er to give up the fight for the throne and support you!

I also hope that you can use this relationship to slowly let go of your suspicion of Wu Ge'er and the Queen, and give them a good ending...

but…

However, the situation has changed now!
But it still works!

I have laid the groundwork for so long in the early stages and created so many opportunities for Min'an and Xuedao's son. It won't be too abrupt to grant them a marriage now!

And if Wu Ge'er really wants my position, he will most likely not allow his younger sister Min'an to marry Xue Dao's son, thus becoming more and more entangled with the Fang family and you...

Min'an's marriage is the most reasonable reason to recall Wu Ge'er back to the capital, and it is also the most likely reason to recall Wu Ge'er back to the capital!

Wu Ge'er is too strong now!

We can’t let him stay in Xuzhou to develop and become stronger!

Once Wu Geer returns to Beijing...

I will persuade all the national masters to join forces!"

Facing the son of his first wife, the successor he had chosen, King Ming explained the reasons for his actions.

Now facing the crown prince, King Ming no longer needs to remain mysterious!
"Father, are you going to take action directly?"

The prince was shocked by the simplicity, brutality and decisiveness of the King.

You must know that King Ming has always been doing things in a subtle and silent way, and he is very fond of his son, Marquis Fu'an!
But now...

“Brother Wu is very patient and smart!
It was not exposed until now!
I'm old!

You can't suppress him!

Time is on his side!

If I don't take action now while I still have some power and am able to persuade all the great masters who guard the country!

Drag it on, you don’t stand a chance!”

Ming Wang said it very bluntly!
The determination is also very firm!

This is the style of the king of the Ming Dynasty.

Good things, you can fight for them from me, if I like them, I can give them to you. But if I don't give them to you, you can't take them away!
If you insist on snatching it, then be prepared to face the thundering wrath of King Ming!
Decisive and ruthless, heartless and without loyalty! This is also the important lesson that King Ming taught the prince at the last moment of his life!
The King hopes that the prince can learn this and be able to do this.

After the prince ascends the throne, if the Fang family, the Chang family... the prince can remember what his predecessor did today, and not be unable to take action because of the Crown Princess and Princess Changning!
There was another reason why Prince Ming arranged the marriage between Princess Min'an and the eldest son of the Fang family, but he did not tell the Crown Prince.

That is, King Ming cannot allow Zhu Chengwu and the Zhao family to have closer ties.

(End of this chapter)