They absolutely couldn't let this matter continue to ferment. Otherwise, they wouldn't even be able to save their own lives in the end, let alone rule this dynasty.
Other officials who got the news also thought it wasn't right to go on like this. After much thought, they decided to take the initiative.
So, on a sunny afternoon, a group of people found Concubine Rui, who was sipping tea.
Seeing that woman still having the leisure to taste tea at this moment, the prime minister among them couldn't hold it in anymore.
"Your Highness Concubine Rui, haven't you heard the news outside?"
Concubine Rui looked blank, as if she really didn't know anything. Seeing this, they suddenly began to doubt whether following Concubine Rui could really achieve their grand aspirations back then.
"What news? I haven't been out these days. Where could I have heard any news?"
The prime minister twitched the corner of his mouth and had to read out all the news he had collected recently.
"That's more or less how things are. General Zhao is about to return. What does Your Highness Concubine Rui plan to do? Should we continue with our plan?"
They thought that what they said would make Concubine Rui a bit nervous, which would also prove that she was still thinking of ways to deal with the situation.
However, the woman in front of them calmly took another sip of tea, then gently put the teacup aside.
"Sure enough, the things grown in the Western Regions are more fragrant than those in the Great Liang. It's worth my special trip here."
A group of ministers were almost driven to tears by her words. What kind of cards did this woman have to be so calm?
Thinking this, the prime minister couldn't hold back and asked. The answer he got almost made him spit out a mouthful of old blood.
"I've never said that I have any great cards. I'm so calm because I think this rumor is completely unbelievable."
These words directly stunned all the ministers. They had never thought of this possibility.
But then, the prime minister thought it was unlikely.
"I've been observing the movements of the Zhao family every day. Recently, their main family has indeed been preparing a grand banquet. As for the content of the banquet, no one knows. But if we combine the news we've got now, we can clearly tell that this banquet must be for welcoming General Zhao."
"Heh, don't you all think this news came out too suddenly? Maybe someone is playing tricks behind the scenes to mislead you. Besides, you are all experienced people. Why are you still so impatient?"
Her lecture made all these old officials blush. Unfortunately, what she said was the truth, and they had no way to refute it.
Helplessly, the prime minister had to first admit his mistake.
"We didn't consider things carefully enough. We didn't expect there to be a conspiracy in it. Then what do you think we should do next, Your Highness Concubine Rui?"
"Wait."
After she casually dropped this word, she returned to her palace, leaving a group of confused ministers.
Everyone looked at each other, not quite understanding the meaning of Concubine Rui's words.
Inside the room, Qiao Meng sneered at the stupidity of those ministers.
"They can't even see through such a small trick. Your Highness actually cooperates with them. Aren't you afraid they'll mess things up and drag you down?"
"Not afraid. I've already found a way out for myself. If these things are true, then when the king comes back, I'll tell him that all these people are trying to rebel. I was just testing these ministers for his sake."
Qiao Meng looked surprised. This was the only time she had lost her composure since she entered the palace.
"Your Highness is truly skillful. Are we just going to sit back and watch the show next?"
"Right. I also want to see if these people are worthy of cooperating with me."
While things were calm here, on the other side, people were already restless.
"It's been so long. Why haven't we heard back from the people we sent?"
"Master, you've been getting more and more impatient recently. It's not good for you to stay in this position."
Being reminded like this, Zhao Jin felt even more irritated.
"Qing'er and Concubine Ning are two weak women alone in the palace. If something happens to them, I won't even have a chance to regret. I don't know what's going on with Du Heng. He hasn't replied for so long."
Yes, he thought that like himself, as an elder brother, Du Heng should be very worried about his sister's safety, so he sent him a letter.
But he probably won't know for a long time that Du Heng has long been on Concubine Rui's side.
Just as he was anxious, the people he sent finally sent back news.
"Master, we've recorded all the people who went to see Concubine Rui today on a list, and we've also eavesdropped on their conversation."
After the shadow guard reported, Zhao Jin gritted his teeth. "Fortunately, I didn't have high hopes for those people from the beginning. I've already had backups for their positions. Immediately arrange for those people to take over the positions of those old fools."
He was really angry. His younger sister had shown kindness to them back then, but unexpectedly, they turned against her for fame and fortune.
The butler said helplessly, "This has become the norm. Master, you should just get used to it. But what we should think about most now is how to bring the princess back."
Yes, it was definitely not safe for the princess to stay in the palace all the time, and she was still poisoned by a gu.
After thinking for a moment, Zhao Jin made a decision.
"Immediately send someone to pick up all those people from the camp."
The butler frowned and didn't quite agree with this idea.
"Master, have you forgotten? Every previous head of the family has specifically instructed that those people can only be summoned in special circumstances. Now..."
As the butler of the Zhao family, he had the obligation to remind his master of what decisions should be made at what times, so he also knew the origin and existence of those people.
Before he could finish speaking, he was directly interrupted.
"If this isn't a critical moment when my little sister is in such a situation, I really don't know when it should be considered a critical moment."
The butler was speechless. He couldn't refute this sentence. Thinking of the young lady he had watched grow up, now suffering alone in the palace, he gritted his teeth and turned around.
"This old servant will immediately go and bring out all those people."
Zhao Jin watched his departing back, clenching his fists. "Sister, I will never let anything happen to you. Big brother promised you that he would protect you for a lifetime. Ning'er, you must also be okay. I've already forgiven you."
When the butler came back, there were many shadows following behind him.