boyutpedia Chapter 1187 It's all acting
Chapter 1187 It's all acting
"Qing'er, my performance at the morning court just now should not have given me away, right?"
Inside the Li Zheng Hall.
After the morning court session, Wu Zhao returned to the palace and sat in front of the dressing table. She asked with a smile while letting Shangguan Qing'er take off the complicated ornaments on her head.
Shangguan Qing'er took off a golden hairpin and said with a smile, "If I hadn't known in advance that Your Majesty was deliberately being disrespectful, even I would have been frightened."
"Although Zhang Yi is a smart man, he doesn't know Your Majesty. I think what you just said must have frightened him."
After a pause, he seemed to feel that he was somewhat of a flatterer, and explained:
"Our people are keeping an eye on him. His Majesty can see everything he does in Kyoto."
Wu Zhao nodded slightly after hearing this: "Very good, let's delay it as long as possible this time."
The longer it drags on, the more beneficial it will be to the situation on the front line.
Now the Qin army has no food left. Even if they kill horses to satisfy their hunger, they won’t be able to hold out for long.
Fifty thousand people would need too much food in a day. It would be impossible to eat them all without killing hundreds or thousands of war horses every day.
As more war horses were killed, the combat effectiveness of the Qin army would naturally decline.
Why are cavalry so powerful?
Of course, it was because the war horses’ charge speed was too fast for the infantry to resist.
Without war horses, the Qin army was just like ordinary infantry.
Now the Zhou Dynasty has 70,000 to 80,000 troops on the front line, and with Chu Ning's personal command, victory is a foregone conclusion.
While he was deep in thought, a voice of the imperial guards appeared outside the palace: "Your Majesty, Zhang Yi has left the palace and is going to visit the Prime Minister's residence."
Go find Di Ying.
Wu Zhao smiled as she heard this: "Chu Ning is right. After I get angry, Zhang Yi will definitely try to ask other officials for help, and the first one to bear the brunt will naturally be the prime minister."
She stretched, glanced at herself in the mirror, and slowly stood up.
"It looks like I'll be able to sleep well for the next two days. Qing'er, go call Xiuning over. I want to see how she's doing with her homework these days."
"Yes!" Shangguan Qing'er responded and retreated.
As for Zhang Yi, he has Prime Minister Di to deal with him.
Although Zhang Yi was a smart man, Di Ying, as the prime minister of the Zhou Dynasty, was no less talented than Zhang Yi.
Wu Zhao believed that Di Ying could delay her for two days.
She doesn't have to worry about Zhang Yi these two days.
At this moment, Zhang Yi had already arrived at the Prime Minister's Mansion.
Di Ying's mansion is located on the prosperous East Street in Luocheng.
Zhang Yi rode his horse across the street and arrived in front of the Prime Minister's Mansion. Looking at the crowded gate, his face suddenly looked a little ugly.
In the huge Prime Minister's Mansion, people were constantly coming in and out.
Not only that, there was a group of officials queuing up at the gate of the mansion waiting to be summoned.
Zhang Yi narrowed his eyes, a hint of coldness flashed across his face, he turned over and dismounted, and took the initiative to step forward and salute the group of officials:
"May I ask, my Lords, why are you waiting here?"
Someone recognized Zhang Yi's identity and returned the greeting, "So you are the Prime Minister Zhang Yi of the Great Qin. You may not know that His Majesty has been in a bad mood these days, and all matters of the court have been handed over to Prime Minister Di to handle."
The other officials sighed upon hearing this: "Yes, there are too many government affairs piled up in the past few days, and Prime Minister Di is busy from morning till night."
"We have really been thankful for Prime Minister Di these past few days, otherwise we really don't know how to handle the things we have on hand."
"Yes, Prime Minister Di is hardworking and never complains. He is truly a role model for our generation."
The words of the officials made Zhang Yi realize that something was wrong.
If Di Ying was busy dealing with government affairs, how could he have time to see him?
After all, the peace talks were a matter between him, the empress, and the Ministry of Rites. As the prime minister, Di Ying could completely ignore the matter.
However, now that things have come to this, he has come to the other party's mansion, so he has to give it a try.
Thinking of this, Zhang Yi bowed to the officials and said solemnly, "My Lords!"
As soon as he opened his mouth, everyone who was originally talking fell silent.
Zhang Yi said with a righteous look on his face: "Right now, our army is fighting with your army on the front line. We cannot be careless about such a big event.
This time, I came here for the peace talks between the two countries. I hope you will give me some convenience and let me meet with Prime Minister Di first."
The Zhou Dynasty officials looked at each other.
After all, Zhang Yi was the Prime Minister of Qin. He spoke to them so humbly and treated them with great courtesy, so they naturally would not refuse.
An official immediately shouted: "Since Prime Minister Zhang is here for peace talks between the two countries, he should naturally meet with Prime Minister Di first."
"That's right. This is a major issue for both countries and we cannot neglect it."
"Someone, please make way for Zhang Xiang."
At once, everyone made way.
Zhang Yi breathed a sigh of relief, bowed to everyone, and then entered the mansion.
The servant guarding the door knew Zhang Yi's identity and naturally did not dare to neglect him, and immediately welcomed him into the mansion.
"Master, Prime Minister Zhang of Qin is here." The servant led Zhang Yi outside the living room and shouted.
"Alas, I am sorry for not welcoming you, my distinguished guest!"
Di Ying hurriedly came out of the hall to greet him, bowed and saluted, and said ashamedly: "Prime Minister Zhang is here to visit, why didn't you send someone to inform us in advance, so that I can go to the door to greet him."
Zhang Yi sighed and said, "Prime Minister Di, I came here to ask for an important matter. I hope you will not be offended by my coming here without an invitation."
Di Ying's face straightened up: "No, Prime Minister Zhang came to our court to promote the friendship between our two countries. Why should I be surprised? Please come in, Prime Minister Zhang."
Led by Di Ying, the two came into the hall.
The maid brought the fragrant tea, and immediately the aroma of tea filled the air.
But Zhang Yi had no mood to drink tea. When the maid left, he couldn't wait to say:
"To be honest, the reason I came here this time is for peace talks."
"With Her Majesty the Empress' attitude today, I'm afraid this matter will be difficult to accomplish."
Seeing Zhang Yi speak so directly, Di Ying felt it was not good to pretend anymore, so he put down the teacup in his hand and said in a deep voice:
"Your Majesty has been in a bad mood these past few days. When encountering some things, he always handles them in an extreme way."
"How about this? After two days, I will introduce Prime Minister Zhang to you. Maybe after your Majesty calms down, this matter will be able to turn around."
In two days?
Zhang Yi can wait, but the soldiers on the front line cannot.
Zhang Yi's face changed slightly, revealing an embarrassment: "Prime Minister Di, if the peace talks are successful as soon as possible, it will be good for both you and me.
Don't let others benefit from the quarrel between you and me. Prime Minister Di, please do your best to facilitate this matter."
He couldn't wait two days.
He must meet Wu Zhao immediately.
But Di Ying showed a helpless look on her face: "Prime Minister Zhang still doesn't quite understand the temper of our emperor. Since the emperor has made a decision today, she will definitely not change her mind today."
"Only after two days, when His Majesty is in a better mood and I slowly guide him, maybe he will meet with Prime Minister Zhang."
I agreed to meet, but I didn’t promise that the talks would be successful!
Since he had promised the Crown Prince of Chu, Chu Ning, that he would definitely delay Zhang Yi, he naturally had to do his best to delay time.
Seeing that Di Ying was not interested, Zhang Yi could only sigh, stand up and bow:
"In that case, then there is the Prime Minister Lao Di."