Chapter 1244: YeXi Retire (2/2)
He wants to leave?
Everyone knew that His Excellency Baili was planning to denounce the empress, but didn’t expect him to behave differently than usual. He didn’t speak as fiercely and directly as before but simply begged the emperor to let him leave as an expression of his resentment. This not only pushed the issue into the emperor’s hands, but was, to put it plainly, threatening the sovereign outright! He was pressuring the emperor to make a decision right now. Would he accept the empress’s wasteful ways and ignore the plight of the masses, or accept his appeal? If the emperor allowed him to retire, then he was telling everyone present that condoned the empress’s extravagance and get implicated in her methods, losing the hearts of the people. If the emperor forbade him from leaving, then Baili Yuanlong would have to fight hard to force the emperor to punish him in order to appease his subjects.
In the stillness, Han Yunxi sat in her seat. Long Feiye was equally quiet as he looked at Baili Yuanlong.
“May the emperor show grace and allow this old official to retire!” Baili Yuanlong cried again.
At this, a few officials in the Baili camp all stood up to kneel by Baili Yuanlong’s side. Together they chorused, “Your Majesty, we subjects are too worried about the Northern Li people to partake in tonight’s feast. Please allow us subjects to retire!”
Long Feiye’s eyebrows creased. On one side, Gu Qishao was narrowing his eyes. He had never placed much importance on the Baili Clan, but this was his first time truly studying Baili Yuanlong’s face. Gu Beiyue lowered his head in silence. Right now, many people below were staring at him and waiting for him to take a stance!
Baili Lixiang was kneeling behind Baili Yuanlong. She now shot Xiao Dong a look, her heart getting impatient. We agreed to act together, but what does the Xiao Clan mean by remaining unmoved?
Seeing the emperor remain silent, Baili Yuanlong kowtowed for the third time and begged, “May Your Majesty grant us permission!”
At this point, more loyal hearted, righteous officials behind him stood up to kneel behind Baili Yuanlong. They had never joined the various struggles of the factions at court and always supported the empress and crown prince, but today had utterly disappointed them. They weren’t allying themselves with Baili Yuanlong now, but simply expressing their own stance on the matter. The only reason they hadn’t stood out first was because their ranking was too low to make a difference. Since so many higher-ranking officials had taken the lead, they would naturally join them.
They didn’t add to the conversation, but kowtowed repeatedly and cried, “May Your Majesty permit these lower officials to retire!”
Meanwhile, Long Feiye turned to glance at Xiao An, who had yet to make a move. “Guogong of Cheng, do you want to remain?”
Xiao An felt that the entire situation was more complicated than it seemed, but he couldn’t pinpoint any anomalies. Han Yunxi might be formidable, but she had moments of stupidity too, or pride from being pampered too much. He quickly rose to his feet, walked to the center of the hall, and knelt beside Baili Yuanlong. “I sincerely entreat Your Majesty to permit this old official to retire!”
Seeing this, Xiao Dong and the rest of the Xiao Clan all followed to kneel with him. In a flash, two-thirds of the hundred or so guests in the hall had fallen to their knees. Still, Long Feiye didn’t stir. He studied the people who remained with a thoughtful look.
Time slowly trickled by. Everyone waited for Long Feiye to make his choice. At this moment, a eunuch quickly hurried in from the side and whispered into Long Feiye’s ear.
“Your Majesty, the city’s north and south gates report mass gatherings of commoners. They’re being led by scholar types to denounce esteemed empress!”
Long Feiye immediately grew furious. “What are they saying?”
Scared, the eunuch’s legs gave way as he tumbled to the ground.
“Speak!” Long Feiye demanded.
“They say…they say esteemed empress is being extravagantly wasteful by holding a birthday banquet for the crown prince while ignoring the plight of the people. She’s not…not…” the terrified eunuch’s tongue was twisted into knots as he stammered, “Not worthy of being the empress..no, not worthy of being the mother of the crown prince.”
“Extravagantly wasteful?” Long Feiye laughed coldly. “Empress, is this true?”
Wasn’t this the obvious truth? He still needed to ask? All of the people in the hall felt both alarmed and disappointed. Even the commoners were rioting, yet the emperor was still going to insist on pampering his empress?
Han Yunxi exhaled and rose from her seat. She pulled Rui’er to her as they both knelt in front of Long Feiye. “To reply Your Majesty, there is no such thing. Chenqie has been wrongly accused!”