698 The Cold Autumn Palace (2/2)
”This has nothing to do with stupidity, only with the current situation. Even if you still have trump cards not under our control, we have gathered control of the general situation. You cannot change anything now.”
He Mingchi straightened his expression and said, ”Lord Zhuge suffered from a serious illness because of his great grief for the Emperor's death. He has sincerely asked to resign. His Majesty and the Princess would take into account your hard work and allow you to remain in Chang'an. If you want His Majesty to take your office forcefully, then you will be sent to serve in the counties.”
Zhuge Wuren's hands trembled when he heard that.
”It seems that Lord Zhuge knows the difference between the two. Indeed, you have followed the Empress all your life and have done many shameful deeds. You ordered cultivators around like they were pigs and dogs and have offended many sects. Without the imperial court's backing, you will die once you leave Chang'an.”
With that, He Mingchi picked up his yellow oil-paper umbrella and stuffed it under his arm and walked out of the Imperial Center Administration.
There was no sound of wind and rain outside the temple tonight, but Li Yu was unused to it and felt a little restless. She still could not settle down after reading a few memorials to the throne; she did not even read the words on the memorials clearly.
Now that her brother had ascended the throne as Emperor, in principle, her position as governor should have been invalidated. However, both the new Emperor and the officials of the two sects in court have all asked her to continue her governance.
The Emperor had asked her to continue correcting the memorials to the throne because he believed in his royal sister's administrative abilities. It was his way of expressing gratitude and to show that they were close. The officials who supported the Princess insisted on this because they did not really trust in the Emperor's abilities. And who knew what the Empress' supporters were plotting?
Li Yu flipped through the thick memorial to the throne. Suddenly, her fingers froze slightly, and her facial expression became grave because she had seen Zhuge Wuren's resignation letter at the bottom of the memorials' pile.
Candlelight shone on the desk and screen as well as on her face tinted with uncertainty. Looking at the resignation of the Queen's loyal dog, she recalled many things that had happened in the court recently.
Since the new Emperor took over the throne, Chang'an city seemed to be stable. However, undercurrents flowed beneath the surface. Ministers and generals who remained loyal to the Queen often communicated privately about matters that one could easily guess even without asking.
There was also a big dispute during court. The palace was determined to change the year as soon as possible to confirm the ascension of the new Emperor. The Empress' faction used the excuse that the deceased Emperor's remains had yet to return and the fact that the Empress was still in the Wilderness to request for the change to be postponed until the deceased Emperor was buried.
Filial piety was sufficient reason, and neither Li Yu nor the Emperor could stop it. They could only agree with the suggestions of the court officials and send a team toward Helan City to welcome the coffin when the rain ceased.
Li Yu knew very well the importance of the change of the year to the throne. This was the first large event since the new Emperor's reign. However, they were forced to stop before anything was done. She guessed that her younger brother would be very angry, but did not expect that he would act without her knowing.
She carefully examined Zhuge Wuren's resignation by the candlelight. She wanted to see if she could see more details through the wording in the letter, but did not find anything.
Since the coffin of the deceased Emperor had not yet returned, the newly throned Emperor did not move into the main hall, but lived in the side hall as he had in previous years. However, the side hall was much more lively and lavish than before.
The palace was suddenly silent tonight. Other than the two most trusted eunuchs who guarded the doors, there was no one else but the two siblings in the quiet hall.
”I heard father talk about what the dean had said then, 'Governing a large country is like frying small fish. Don't turn it over casually, let things happen naturally, act cautiously, and never be impatient.'”
Li Yu looked at her younger brother and said softly, ”You are now the Emperor of the Tang Empire. You have to act as the situation calls. Those small fries cannot touch you. Why did you rush to act?”
Li Huiyuan said with a smile, ” I thought it was something else that had made my royal sister so nervous and cautious. So it was only a letter of resignation. Yes, I sent someone to make Zhuge Wuren resign. Everyone in the Tang Empire knows that that sinister villain is a loyal dog of that woman. I don't want to see that hateful face again in the palace.”
Li Yu looked at his expression and knew that he had not taken her words to heart. She said gravely, ”You need to know that Chang'an city cannot be breached from the outside. The only danger is from the inside. Your Majesty, you are now equal to Chang'an city. As long as you don't mess with yourself, you can live forever.”
Li Huiyuan bowed his head and remained silent for a long while when he heard this.
Then he looked up at Li Yu and said, ”I understand this, but just as my royal sister had said, the danger to Chang'an is within it. Within two days of the reading of the edict, the Minister of Rites went to the Southern Gate Temple. Zhuge Wuren went to the Academy. Do you not know what they want to do?”
Li Yu was silent. She was not worried about the Southern Gate Temple. No one would know what happened that night, especially with the passing of Nation Master Li Qingshan. However, the Academy had not made its stand, which was what made her truly uneasy.
The Academy had shut its doors. The loyal subjects of the Empress could not enter, and even the messengers she sent only saw the regular staff of the Academy. They did not even manage to meet with a single professor.
If it was because of the death of the Headmaster, the closure of the Academy was understandable. But what were those professors doing? What were those people on the second floor of the Academy who were qualified to influence the court doing?
”Royal Sister, those people would not just let the matter rest. They would never acknowledge that father chose me to succeed him. If we treat them benevolently, these heartless people would only think that we are weak!”
Li Huiyuan looked at his sister and said viciously.
Li Yu's heart trembled when she heard that. In fact, until this moment, Li Huiyuan had really thought that it was his name on the edict. He did not know what she had done.
Li Huiyuan's self-righteousness was like a form of mocking to her. It mocked her. She suddenly felt weary and did not wish to continue the topic. She suddenly thought of the news she heard when walking around the palace and said with a slight frown, ”What happened at the Imperial Observatory?”
Li Huiyuan froze slightly at the question and did not know how to answer.
Li Yu knew that what she had heard was true when she saw that. She scolded sternly, ”Lord Miao Kechi had always been righteous and maintained a good reputation in court. How can you coerce an official to force him to death? Do you wish for the officials to turn against you?”
Li Huiyuan bowed his head and remained silent for a long time, saying, ”I was indeed wrong in this.”
Li Yu knew that her younger brother was stubborn, and did not expect him to admit to his mistakes so quickly. She could not help but be shocked. However, before she could reply, Li Huiyuan looked up.
He said calmly and firmly, ”But I will not regret it, because I wanted him to die.”
Li Yu looked at him stupefied and asked, ”Why? This...why?”
”Miao Kechi had written those damned words back then and forced you to marry far away! I will never forget that night when you knelt before father's palace. And I will never forget the tears you shed the night before you got married.”
Li Huiyuan looked at his sister and said coldly, ”...That's why he had to die.”