It's really hard to just farm peacefully.

Chapter 188

Jiang Yan couldn't believe it: "Lower limbs—completely broken?"

Xiao Niang hissed, "It's just what you think."

Jiang Yan clenched her jaws tightly, determined not to laugh out loud at the old emperor's plight. She pretended to be very serious and asked, "Have the two missing princesses been found?"

"When I left the capital, I had not yet found any trace of him."

Jiang Yan handed the bamboo cup to Xiao Niang and Mu Niangzi, then took another sip of the hot water before saying, "...I hope they can be rescued soon."

Madam Mu sneered, "I don't know when the people in the imperial city will be able to take care of them. Let's just hope they can get out of this predicament on their own."

Jiang Yan raised her eyebrows slightly: According to the order, it’s time to start the drama of succession.

Xiao Niang continued Mu Niangzi's words, "In fact, some superficial efforts were made. The princes who went to the imperial farm that day separated some of their guards to continue the search, while the rest escorted them and the late emperor's body back to the imperial city.

The capital was extremely busy that night. The princes and dignitaries were in the imperial city to keep vigil, but people were coming and going at home.

The late emperor had only rested for a day when they started fighting in front of the coffin over who would succeed him, almost knocking over the incense, candles, and fruits being offered.

The next few days were filled with even more violence, with the open and covert fighting becoming increasingly intense. By the seventh day, the princes' troops were already impatiently fighting outside the imperial city."

Speaking of this, Xiaoniang felt a little sad: "Many people in the capital were unable to escape in time and lost their lives."

"I remember it clearly. The armistice was on August 21st. On the evening of the 20th, several adult princes stationed at the rear died suddenly. Only the three-year-old son of the late emperor and Concubine Wu survived."

Jiang Yan blurted out: "Holding the emperor hostage to control the princes!"

Although Northern Jin lacked vassal states, Lady Mu agreed. "So, on his first day in office, Prime Minister Wu issued a decree to confiscate the property of the low-ranking officials who had previously impeached him and execute them."

Jiang Yan couldn't understand: "No one objects?"

"Of course there were, but most officials who had the ability to stop it felt they had been on the wrong side. Now that the matter has been settled, there's no need to upset the prime minister over a few petty officials."

Xiao Niang: “Two days later, an official in the capital who was powerful enough to rival Wu Xiang was shot dead in the street.

Fearing that Wu Xiang would continue his attack, several other officials, believing they were in danger, attacked Wu Xiang and his residence.

Jiang Yan was a little nervous: "Did it succeed?"

“No, Prime Minister Wu was only slightly injured due to the full protection of the guards, but his only son was seriously injured.

When the attack failed, those officials simply fled the capital with their families, leaving behind only a few marginalized individuals to be purged by Prime Minister Wu.

Madam Mu interrupted, "The people implicated as the guesthouse lady told you before are the families they have placed in the county."

The three of them calmed down and sat around the fire. Jiang Yan looked at the dancing flames for a while and felt that the Wu family was so cruel. Such vicious people... Jiang Yan's voice was a little hoarse:

"I've been out and about these past few days, and I haven't heard anyone around me talking about these things. They must be afraid. Madam Mu, Madam Xiao, are you two really not going to cause any trouble by telling me this?"

Lady Mu smiled valiantly, "We're in the middle of nowhere now. If you don't tell me and I don't tell you, who would know? Besides, if the whole capital knows about it, you wouldn't be much of a problem if you told me more."

Jiang Yan solemnly promised: "I will keep this a secret."

Unable to contain his curiosity, he immediately asked, "Madam Mu and Madam Xiao, how come people in your capital are so familiar with these details? The people in our county can't even find out the county magistrate's surname or how many children he had."