The blood and skulls of their clansmen woke the Qinghe County families up from their stupor. Especially in this chaos, no matter how much they tried to stir up public opinion, they still could not gain the sympathy of the people. They only attracted the disgust and disdain of the people, which shocked them even more.
In the years that followed, they discovered even more shocking things.
Those who were chosen to be sent to Chang 'an to be empress were the most outstanding and intelligent women of the Qinghe County families. They had received many years of education in their families. However, other than the Empress Dowager Song who had been imprisoned during the Conghua period, all the empresses were known for being virtuous and quiet in the Chang' an Imperial Palace. They were extremely silent when it came to court matters and rarely spoke up for the Qinghe County families. It was only then that the families realized that these intelligent empresses had already understood the general trend of the world.
No country could escape the laws of history, and the invincible Tang Empire was no exception. With the long period of peace and the impossibility of endless wars, this big empire gradually became rigid and decayed with the passage of time. However, for some reason, compared to the glorious empires recorded in the history books of Qinghe County, this law of history had a much weaker effect on the Tang Empire. The speed at which the empire became rigid and decayed was very slow. Every time a major change was about to happen, there seemed to be some kind of force in the dark that would fix the overturned carriage of the Tang Empire and forcibly drag it back to the right path.
As the Tang Empire grew stronger, the majesty of the royal family became more and more unshakable. After many years of suppression, the people of Qinghe County had long returned. Most importantly, the Academy had quietly replaced part of the role of the imperial examinations. The families of Qinghe County no longer had the supreme glory they had a thousand years ago, and their power and authority were much weaker than before.
But the families of Qinghe County were, after all, families of thousands of generations. As they sincerely surrendered and changed their attitude towards Chang 'an, they gradually returned to the stage of the world with the tacit consent of the royal family.
Today, the families of Qinghe County still had power that could not be underestimated in the imperial court. They also worshiped many scholars. Although they were still far from military power, no one knew if there was a Grand Cultivator in the Knowing Destiny State hidden in the depths of these secluded ancestral temples of thousands of generations.
Therefore, even today, it was still the most beautiful dream of many men to be able to marry the daughter of the Qinghe River. The first wife of Zeng Jing, the Grand Secretary of the Imperial Library, was the daughter of the Cui Clan of the Qinghe River.
However, how could the families of Qinghe County, who once had limitless glory in the world, who once occupied most of the seats in the court, and who had produced several West-Hill Divine Priests, be reconciled to the current situation?
The aristocratic families were a cold existence. They instinctively wanted to seize more benefits. Therefore, although they did not dare to rebel and were so low-key that they were almost forgotten by the world, they still yearned to have a higher status and more power in the Tang Empire. Over the past few centuries, Qinghe County had produced another nine Empresses. This was the result of their efforts. More than a decade ago, they had tried to make Qinghe County have another Empress.
At that time, the current Emperor had just ascended the throne, and the Empress had unfortunately died of illness. The eyes of the Qinghe County officials were bloodshot. They were like vultures staring at rotten meat. They used all the power in the imperial court and the countryside to send the most outstanding and intelligent girl of the seven families to the palace. After some planning and spending a lot of money, the Emperor finally met the girl, and then a heart-stirring story was born.
However, the Qinghe County officials had racked their brains to create this seemingly beautiful situation. However, they did not know that a bigwig named Lotus had already started a similar plan before them.
Lotus won, and the Saintess of the Diabolism became the current Empress.
Lotus also lost, because the Empress fell in love and had long forgotten the mission of the Diabolism.
The Qinghe County officials were even more defeated. Not only did they lose their hopes, but they had also seriously offended the Empress, which was equivalent to offending the Prince and General Xiahou.
The only one who had truly won was the Emperor.
…
…
Although the dukes of Qinghe County had lost badly, the fact that they dared to plot this showed the strength and confidence of these families. One must know that the Zhong family, which was the most powerful in Yangguan City, was only the weakest of the seven families in Qinghe County.
For more than a decade, because they had offended the Empress and other bigwigs in Chang 'an City, the families in Qinghe County became more and more low-key. Especially the elders in the family, they did not dare to enter the capital. This situation only changed after the Imperial Astronomer made the famous Night Curtain Covering the Stars.
Everyone knew that the Tang Emperor and the Empress had a deep relationship, and the Empress still looked radiant. She must be in good health and would not die early. Naturally, the East Palace would not have a chance to change hands to Qinghe County. However, fortunately, the Emperor still had a very favored Princess.
Now, the families in Qinghe County could not be on good terms with the Empress, so naturally they began to support the Princess without hesitation. More accurately, they supported the Prince Li Huiyuan whom the Princess assisted.
In a quiet mansion in the Southern City of Chang 'an, a calm old man sat in the study of the backyard. This old man's surname was Song, and he was a Minister of Offerings in the Song Clan. Even in the imperial court, he had an official status.
Twenty years ago, Minister of Offerings Song was a visiting professor in the Imperial Center Administration. However, he knew very well that this status was more of a reward from the imperial court to the Song Clan in Qinghe County. Therefore, he had never cared about the affairs of the Imperial Center Administration, and had never even entered Chang 'an City. However, he finally came today.
General Xia Hou was about to retire, and the power of the Empress seemed to have been severely weakened. However, in the eyes of the dukes of Qinghe County, this move had successfully resolved all the conflicts that had accumulated over the past decades. They did not want to see Xia Hou leave Chang 'an City with a smile.
Censor Song Ke stood respectfully in front of the old man and said bitterly, "Third Ancestor, the imperial court has already made a decision. Everyone knows His Majesty's intentions. No matter how we persuade him now, there are not many colleagues who are willing to submit a petition with me. Although it is not wrong to spread rumors, this matter involves the General, and we have to be careful."
Minister Song frowned and thought of the glory of his family in the imperial court. He said in a slightly hoarse voice, "Back then, the General Xian was a member of the family, and contacting a dozen censors to submit a petition was a small matter. It was not as difficult as it is now. Don't make it too difficult. If it doesn't work, then forget it."
Censor Song did not dare to say more, but his expression was clearly much more relaxed.
"Now it seems that we can only pin our hopes on Mr. Thirteen."
The old Minister of Offerings said expressionlessly, "If this really happens, the Academy will definitely break off relations with General Xiahou. By then, how can the Empress' son ascend to the throne?"
Censor Song was not a cultivator. Although he knew that many ministers in the imperial court came from the Academy, he still could not understand what the old ancestor was saying. He thought to himself, "What right does the Academy have to decide the succession of the throne?"
The old Minister of Offerings sighed and said, "Mr. Thirteen was not afraid of the laws of the Tang Empire. He killed Huang Xing and Yu Shuizhu on the rainy street because he was strong enough and was confident that no one would be able to use against him. However, in front of Xiahou, the strong and the weak are easy to deal with. If I were him, I would not know how to do it either. No matter how fast his state improved in the past two years, he is still no match for Xiahou. Xiahou can kill him with one finger."
Censor Song was confused and asked subconsciously, "Should we help Mister Thirteen in secret?"
The old Minister of Offerings glanced at him and slightly furrowed his white eyebrows. He lectured, "Xiahou is the Academy's method. If Ning Que forcefully breaks the rules, the Academy will not help him, but they will not stop him either. The most likely scenario is that they will watch quietly from the side. However, that is because Ning Que is a student of the Headmaster of the Academy. If we interfere in this matter, do you really think that the Academy will not dare to do anything to Qinghe County?"
Censor Song smiled awkwardly. In his heart, he thought, "If the family does not dare to interfere in this matter, then there is no reason for you to come to Chang 'an City."
The old Minister of Offerings guessed what his distant nephew was thinking, but he did not give any explanation. He slowly closed his eyes. He did not need to pretend to be mysterious at this moment because he was really thinking hard about how to defeat Xiahou on behalf of Mr. Thirteen of the Academy.
If Ning Que did not understand, then this battle would never happen. If the old Minister of Offerings did not understand, then the families of Qinghe County and Her Highness would not be able to benefit from this matter.
…
…
The confusion of the officials of Qinghe County was also the confusion of many people in Chang 'an City. As the rumors of Ning Que's parentage spread within a very limited range, the bigwigs in the imperial palace and the mansions of princes and dukes were all frowning and thinking about what Ning Que would do without the support of the Academy.
Those bigwigs who had vaguely guessed the inside story, like His Highness the Prince, were not fooled by Ning Que's seemingly frivolous and roguish disguise. They all knew that Ning Que had strong self-control, was very rational, and even appeared cold and heartless because of his rationality.
At a time when there was no hope, logically speaking, Ning Que should not do anything. The bigwigs thought hard for a long time for Ning Que, but they could not find any hope. Therefore, they gradually relaxed and felt that Chang 'an City would be peaceful this autumn. There would not be any problems between the Academy and the military.
At this moment, a piece of news from the General's Mansion spread to the imperial palace and also to the mansions of the princes and dukes. It made these bigwigs confused and uneasy.
General Xiahou had invited Mr. Thirteen of the Academy, Ning Que, to his mansion tonight.
In the house by the Yanming Lake.
Ye Hongyu looked at Ning Que, who was in the shadow of the locust tree. She looked at his expression and suddenly said, "Now I know why you need power."
Ning Que said, "You are indeed the Grand Master of the Judicial Department of the Divine Hall. You escaped from the Peach Mountain and lived in seclusion in Chang 'an City, but you still received such secret information."
Ye Hongyu said, "Of course you must avenge your father's death, but now is obviously the most inappropriate time. You can't even beat me now, how can you kill Xiahou?"
Ning Que said, "When did I say that I wanted to kill Xiahou?"
"Feeling."
Ye Hongyu said calmly, "This autumn lake, the house by the lake, Sangsang's cooking, your breath, and the smell of the garden all tell me that you are preparing to kill."
Ning Que shook his head and said, "Killing is against the law of the Tang Empire. Teacher and Eldest Brother do not allow me to do so."
Ye Hongyu said, "Then why do you still want to go to the banquet?"
Ning Que said with a smile, "Why should I not go if I can eat for free? I can't beat him now, nor can I kill him, so I can only eat all the delicacies in the General's Mansion. It can be considered as revenge. "
Ye Hongyu naturally did not believe his words. She said, "If there is really a dispute between you and Xiahou, the Divine Hall will benefit a lot from it, so I will not stop you."
Ning Que said, "I asked Sangsang to prepare supper, so I will come back alive."
…
…
(After writing these two chapters, I suddenly felt that my mind was as empty as a wild field. I was shocked and frightened, so I hurried to organize the details of the later chapters. I know it is taboo, but I can't help but say that I have not been in a good state these days. What I wrote feels a little long-winded. I want to correct it, so I will start from the next chapter. I will try my best to think about it. Please continue to support me. (To be continued. If you like this work, please come to Qidian.Com to vote for me. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
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