Chapter 265: Returning to the Lake and Regaining Sight
Mu Jiangshui didn't specialize in statecraft since she was a child, but when her brother was teaching, she audited some and then taught some on her own.
But the upbringing she received in the emperor's house since she was a child is different from that of ordinary families, so she basically knows what kind of king a country needs.
Of course, she never thought that she would become the monarch of one country, and the reality is that she became the monarch of two countries.
From her father, the emperor's brother to her husband, she has learned a lot, but she can't support it alone. Fortunately, she also has Wen Yutai, a trusted confidant and friend, who has always been by her side to assist.
Mu Jiangshui also has a very clear understanding of her own level, she feels that in terms of her ability to govern the country, she must not be able to catch up with her husband, so she pinned her hopes on her son, hoping to cultivate a qualified successor to the empire.
During Mu Jiangshui's eighteen years in politics, although her ability was limited, she has always been conscientious and diligent, on the one hand, she set a good example for her son, and on the other hand, she did not have time to be sad and miss her deceased husband. During this period, the biggest problem she encountered was not governing the country, because in terms of national governance, Wen Zhantai could give her a lot of useful advice. It's how to turn two countries into one.
Since Wen Yutai was originally the prime minister of the Yue Kingdom, he had to be very careful in his every move, and he was paid special attention to by the British officials everywhere.
Mu Jiangshui knew that Wen Yutai had tried his best to be fair and just, but such an end was that both sides were not people, and the left and right were not pleased. In addition, she herself is also a temporary regent, and in order to stabilize the court, her only way is to let her son participate in politics as soon as possible.
Therefore, in this context, Yuan Chenhao began to study government affairs at the age of ten, took charge of himself at the age of fifteen, and married the daughter of Wu Zheng, a British official, at the age of sixteen, all of which had political considerations.
When Yuan Chenhao cleared the most difficult level, the battle with the secret country, she was very relieved to give up the throne to her son, and she lived in the Jifu Hall near the imperial tomb, so that she could often go to see the emperor.
Originally, she thought she could let go with full authority, but power is such a thing, and it is not easy to let go when it is touched.
Just like now, she advertises to the outside world that she no longer interferes in government affairs, but there are always people who take the opportunity to visit her, and blow a few words in their ears by the way. She is actually very relieved of Yuan Chenhao, even if he lacks experience in governance, she thinks it is normal. Her only concern was the heir.
This child was as diligent in political affairs as his father, and although he was married at the age of sixteen, he was now twenty-one years old, and the emperor had not yet been born. In the past, in order to stabilize the rule of various state capitals, and also to experience Yuan Chenhao's governing ability, Mu Jiangshui asked Yuan Chenhao to stay in each state capital for about a month, so even if he got married, he was not in the imperial city all year round, and it was understandable that he had no heirs.
However, now that Yuan Chenhao has been on the throne for more than half a year, the queen's stomach still hasn't moved, so she is bent on expanding the harem for her son. Unexpectedly, Yuan Chenhao would use this as a condition to let her support the salt and iron franchise.
This incident sounded a wake-up call for Mu Jiangshui, it turned out that Yuan Chenhao was more important to political affairs than the imperial heir, which made her feel a little confused. In addition, those officials who had interests in collusion with the salt and iron merchants fanned the flames in her ears, accusing this policy of having many faults, and pointed the finger at Wen Yue, and even told her about Wen Yue's overnight stay in the imperial study.
As a result, Mu Jiangshui's impression of Wen Yue was extremely bad, in fact, she didn't particularly mind the matter of the salt and iron franchise, what she minded most was that she felt that Wen Yue had affected Yuan Chenhao's sense of responsibility for the succession of the royal family.
However, when she talked to Wen Yue today, she found that this person was not as unbearable as others said.
Moreover, at this time, she suddenly remembered that Mu Ziyu had told her last time that this Wen Yue's mansion was just separated from King Mu's mansion by a wall, and the relationship between the two seemed to be quite good, and Mu Ziyu also entrusted Wen Yue to help persuade Yuan Chenhao to pay attention to the issue of the imperial heir.
After a brief conversation, she felt that Xiaoyue was modest and polite, full of wealth, and a well-informed person, not a miserly villain, nor a sloppy man.
Maybe I can really help myself through Satsuki, but I don't have to.
So, she continued to probe: "Wen Yue, why don't you enter the court as an official?"
Xiao Yue shook her head, she didn't like to be an official in the first place, and at the moment she was still worried about Wen Youyou's affairs, and said in a low voice: "Caomin is an idle person who has no interest in political affairs. ”
Mu Jiangshui remembered the first time she met Xiaoyue near Cao Hongyan's house, in fact, when she first met, she felt that the relationship between this person and Cao Hongyan should not be shallow, because the temperament of the two was somewhat similar. Cao Hongyan is also a person who doesn't like to be an official, so now that she heard Xiaoyue say this, she didn't persuade her.
"Then what is your relationship with the emperor?"
Xiao Yue cautiously replied: "The emperor is a person who loves the people like a son, and he loves the grass people, and the grass people really can't reciprocate, but if the emperor needs the help of the grass people, the grass people will definitely be full of liver and brains, and they will never give up." ”
Mu Jiangshui smiled in front of Xiaoyue for the first time, she took a sip of tea, wiped the corners of her mouth with a gauze towel, and then said, "So, you and Hao'er are close friends?"
Xiao Yue lowered her eyebrows and said: "The emperor's identity is so noble, becoming the emperor's best friend, the grass people don't dare." ”
"Hahaha. Mu Jiangshui smiled and said, "Wen Yue, you are such an interesting person, as talented as you, most people are arrogant, but you are so low-key." It's a real rarity!"
At this time, the palace maid happened to pass by with a food box.
"Xiaohe, put the pastry in front of Mr. Wen. ”
"Yes, Queen Mother. "This girl named Xiaohe has fair skin, sharp hands and feet, and she is not young when she looks at her face.
She put the porcelain plate containing the pastries in front of Xiao Yue, and said softly, "Master Wen, please use it slowly." ”
"Thank you, girl. Xiao Yue looked at the full plate of pastries and felt even more hungry, but she was still a little hesitant, not knowing if this would be the Queen Mother's temptation of her.
Seeing Xiaoyue's cautious appearance, Mu Jiangshui smiled slightly and said, "You eat, the mourning family rewarded you." ”
Hearing the word appreciation, Satsuki knew that even if there was poison in the pastry, she had to eat it. So, I let go of my hands and feet, grabbed a piece of bread in front of me and stuffed it into my mouth.
Mu Jiangshui looked at her very lovingly, and did not speak to affect her eating, but silently drank tea on the side and observed her.
After Xiaoyue filled half a plate of pastries into her stomach, she said: "This pastry doesn't seem to be much, if you eat it, it will be swollen when you drink some tea, you drink some water first, and then eat." ”
Xiao Yue sounded a little familiar to her, and she couldn't help but feel a little sad when she remembered that her mother would have such advice since she was a child.
At this moment, outside the wooden pavilion, the sun has set in the west, the wind on the lake is one after another, and even the cicadas seem to be asleep, leaving only the rustling sound of the weeping willows caressing the lake.
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