When the officials from the Ministry of Rites learned of the death of the Imperial Astronomer, Sir Miao, they left in a hurry, their expressions complicated.
The chief eunuch indicated for Xu Liangshou to follow him into the side room and sat down on a chair. With a dark and ugly expression, he said, "Do you know what to do next?"
Xu Liangshou said respectfully, "Please enlighten me, eunuch."
The chief eunuch lightly tapped the table and said, "I don't know the art of stargazing, so I'll listen to you."
After a moment of silence, Xu Liangshou said, "Gonggong, do you really want me to write it?"
The leader of the eunuchs was extremely anxious and shouted, "What are you waiting for? Hurry up and get this done!"
Xu Liangshou no longer hesitated. He walked to the table and wrote down eight words.
"The Dark Moon has invaded the stars, and the country will not be at peace!"
…
…
Many years ago, the Imperial Astronomer of the Tang Dynasty observed the sudden darkening of the starry night and wrote these words. Many years later, when the moon appeared in the night sky, the official of the Imperial Astronomer wrote another eight words without even looking at it.
The chief eunuch's expression was extremely ugly. It was so gloomy that it seemed like water was about to drip out. The anger in his eyes was like a flame. He gritted his teeth and said, "What does Lord Xu mean by this?"
Xu Liangshou said calmly, "I am the deputy of the Imperial Astronomer. After the death of His Excellency, according to the laws of the Tang Empire and related regulations, the order of succession does not need to be discussed by the court. Since you want me to comment, I will do it. What's wrong with that?"
The head eunuch was so angry that he laughed. Pointing at Xu Que's nose, he laughed dryly and said, "What a good Lord Xu."
Xu Liangshou's expression suddenly turned serious. He knocked away the eunuch's skinny finger and shouted sternly, "I called you Gong-gong and asked you to clarify. Calling yourself lowly official is just giving some face to the nobles in the Palace! I am a dignified fourth-rank official. How dare a mere eunuch like you treat me with such disrespect! "
"How dare you! How dare you! "The chief eunuch trembled in anger." Do you want to die?! "
Xu Liangshou's face was as cold as ice as he shouted, "Die? Do you really think that the laws of the Tang Empire are just for show? Let me tell you and the noble behind you that I am not Sir Miao. I do not have an unfilial son who accidentally killed people in a street brawl, nor do I have an elder brother-in-law who is corrupt and takes bribes! I'm all alone! It won't be that easy for me to die! Get lost! "
As soon as he finished speaking, he slapped the eunuch's face heavily. The applause was resounding.
…
…
The Imperial Center Administration of the Tang Empire was responsible for managing the cultivators on behalf of the imperial court. In the hearts of ordinary people and even ordinary officials, this institution seemed very mysterious.
But the location of the Imperial Center Administration was not mysterious. It was just a little remote. It was in a small building four miles to the east of Vermilion Bird Avenue, facing the garden of the Military Ministry.
After the continuous rain, it seemed that it would not rain again in a short period of time. But today, there was a yellow paper umbrella on the table on the third floor of the Imperial Center Administration. The surface of the umbrella was slightly wet.
He Mingchi held a piece of snow-white silk cloth and carefully and slowly wiped the water droplets on the umbrella, as if he did not see the sweat on Zhuge Wuren's forehead.
Zhuge Wuren was the chief official of the Tang Empire's Imperial Center Administration. Everyone knew that he was a loyal dog of the Empress. When the new Emperor ascended the throne, his situation inevitably became passive and panicky.
"As the saying goes, every emperor has his own ministers. Lord Zhuge should have known about the changes in the situation long ago. Why are you still running around in vain? Do you want to overthrow the edict of the late emperor? It's very unwise. "
He Mingchi put the silk cloth into his sleeve, raised his head, and said calmly to the opposite side.
Zhuge Wuren looked at the young man in Taoist robes opposite him, and the sweat on his forehead increased. He had never thought that his whereabouts these days were all under the other party's control.
He was actually very familiar with He Mingchi. In the past few years, as the main source of power for the Imperial Center Administration, the Southern Gate Temple, He Mingchi had always been responsible for cooperating with him. He had always respected He Mingchi, but it was mainly because he respected his sect and his teacher, who was the Nation Master. It was not until today that he realized that he was wrong.
What He Mingchi respected the most was himself.
"What are you trying to say, Master He? I'm just drinking tea and chatting with some old friends. If you want to frame me and overthrow the edict of the late emperor, I can't accept it. "
Zhuge Wuren's voice was a little hoarse.
When He Mingchi walked slowly into the Imperial Center Administration, he did not hear any warning. His voice was almost hoarse, because he knew that no matter what he said, it would be difficult to be heard.
"The reason why the late emperor agreed to the Empress's suggestion to let you be the supervisor of the Imperial Center Administration was because you were an ordinary person. You did not sympathize with cultivators, nor did you have the innate reverence other ordinary people had for cultivators. This was an advantage, but also a fatal weakness."
He Mingchi said, "After so many years, which cultivator in the Imperial Center Administration would sincerely obey you? Once you don't have the authority in your hands, you can't order them at all."
Zhuge Wuren felt that the person sitting in front of him was a poisonous snake. He said, "I really did not expect that the Southern Gate Temple's infiltration of the Imperial Center Administration would be so terrifying. But don't forget, I am still the supervisor. Although those people did not dare to stop you from coming to see me, they did not have the guts to help you kill me."
He Mingchi looked at him with pity and said, "I am a cultivator. Although I am not as great as Ning Que and Chen Pipi, why would I need help to kill an ordinary person like you?"
Zhuge Wuren shouted sternly, "I don't believe you have the guts to kill an official of the imperial court!"
He Mingchi said, "I do not dare, but Lord Zhuge, do not forget that the new Emperor has already ascended the throne. He only needs to issue an imperial decree to take away your official position. By then, what will you have left?"
More beads of sweat appeared on Zhuge Wuren's forehead. He said, "In that case, what are you waiting for?"
"His Majesty has just ascended the throne, and he wants to kill the Empress's loyal dog. This will not look good in the eyes of the court officials. Moreover, you have been in charge of the Imperial Center Administration for many years. I believe you have some secrets and unknown powers. His Majesty does not want unnecessary losses because of the conflict between the emperor and his officials."
He Mingchi looked at him and said with a smile, "So His Majesty wants you to resign."
Zhuge Wuren stared at him and said mockingly, "Do you think I am so stupid?"
"This has nothing to do with stupidity. It has to do with the current situation. Even if you still have some trump cards that are not in our control, the general situation is already in our control. You can't overturn the sky. "
He Mingchi stopped smiling and said, "Lord Zhuge is grieving over the death of the previous Emperor and is suffering from a serious illness. He sincerely asks to resign. His Majesty and Her Highness will pity you for your hard work and allow you to live in Chang 'an. If His Majesty takes away your official position, you will be sent to another county."
Zhuge Wuren's hands trembled slightly when he heard this.
"It seems that Lord Zhuge is also very clear about the difference. Yes, you have followed the Empress all your life and done many dirty things. You have ordered cultivators around like pigs and dogs and offended many sects. If you do not have the support of the imperial court, as long as you leave Chang 'an, you will only be left with a dead end. "
After saying this, He Mingchi picked up the Yellow Paper Umbrella from the table and put it under his armpit. He walked out of the Imperial Center Administration.
…
…
There was no sound of wind or rain outside the hall tonight. Li Yu felt a little uncomfortable and her mood was a little unsettled. She read a few memorials but could not calm down. She did not even clearly see what was written in the memorials.
Now that her brother had ascended to the throne, her position as Regent should have been invalid. However, both the new Emperor and the officials of the two factions in the imperial court had a tacit understanding and asked her to continue to be the Regent.
The Emperor wanted her to continue to review the memorials because he believed in his sister's ability in government affairs and to express his gratitude and closeness. The officials of the Princess's faction insisted on this because they did not trust the new Emperor's ability in government affairs. As for the officials of the Empress's faction, who knew what they were secretly thinking?
Li Yu casually flipped through the thick memorials. Suddenly, her fingers froze and her expression became solemn. This was because at the bottom of the memorials, she saw Zhuge Wuren's resignation.
The candlelight shone on the table and the screen, as well as on her uncertain face. Looking at the resignation of the loyal dog of the Empress, she thought of many things that had happened in the imperial court recently.
Since the new Emperor ascended the throne, Chang 'an seemed to be stable, but in fact, there were undercurrents surging under the surface. Those ministers and generals who were still loyal to the Empress often contacted each other privately. The contents of their conversations could be guessed without asking.
There was also a big dispute in the imperial court. The palace was determined to change the year name as soon as possible and completely confirm the matter of the new Emperor's succession. The officials of the Empress's faction, on the other hand, used the reason that the former Emperor's coffin had not returned and the Empress Dowager was far away in the Wilderness, strongly requested for the change to be delayed, at least until the former Emperor was buried.
The reason for putting filial piety first was very sufficient. Neither Li Yu nor His Majesty could stop it. They could only agree with the suggestion of the court officials and decided to send a team to Helan City to welcome the coffin when the rain stopped.
Li Yu was very clear about the importance of changing the year name to the throne. This was originally the first major event after the new Emperor ascended the throne. In the end, they were forced to return without accomplishing anything. Therefore, she guessed that her brother would be very angry. However, she did not expect that he would start to act without her knowing.
Under the illumination of the candlelight, she carefully read Zhuge Wuren's resignation. She wanted to see something deeper in the details of the resignation, but she found nothing.
…
…
Because the former Emperor's coffin had not returned, the new Emperor did not move into the main hall. He still lived in the side hall of the previous years. However, the side hall now was much more lively and prosperous than the main hall.
Tonight, the palace suddenly became quiet again. Other than the two most trusted chief eunuchs guarding the door, there was no one else in the quiet hall except for the sister and brother.
"Back then, I heard from my father that ruling a country is like frying a small fish. Don't flip it casually. Let nature take its course and act cautiously. Don't be impatient."
Li Yu looked at her brother and softly persuaded, "You are now the Emperor of the Tang Empire. As long as you go with the flow, those clowns can't shake you at all. Why do you act rashly?"
Li Huiyuan said with a smile, "I was wondering what it was that made you so nervous and cautious. It turned out to be a resignation. Yes, I sent someone to make Zhuge Wuren resign. Everyone in the Tang Empire knows that the sinister villain is a dog of that woman. I don't want to see that hateful face in the palace again."
Li Yu looked at his expression and knew that he did not take her words to heart. She said solemnly, "You have to know that Chang 'an cannot be broken from the outside. The only danger comes from within. Your Majesty, you are now Chang 'an. As long as you don't mess up, you can last for thousands of years. "
Hearing these sincere words, Li Huiyuan lowered his head and was silent for a long time.
Then he looked up at Li Yu and said, "In fact, I also understand this. But as you said, the danger of Chang 'an is inside. During the two days when the edict was read, the Minister of the Ministry of Rites went to the Southern Gate Temple and Zhuge Wuren went to the Academy. Don't you know what they want to do?"
Li Yu was silent. She was not worried about the Southern Gate Temple, especially after the death of the Nation Master Li Qingshan. It was impossible for anyone to know what happened that night. However, the Academy had never expressed its attitude, which was what really made her feel uneasy.
The Academy had always been closed. Not to mention the ministers loyal to the Queen, even the messengers she sent could only see the ordinary staff of the Academy. Not even a professor could be seen.
If it was because of the death of the Headmaster of the Academy, it was understandable that the Academy was closed. But what were the professors doing? What were the people on the Second floor of the Academy who were qualified to influence the imperial court doing now?
"Sister, those people can't be reconciled. They would rather die than admit that father chose me to succeed the throne. They will only think that we are weak if we are lenient to these unscrupulous people!"
Li Huiyuan looked at his sister and said fiercely.
Hearing this, Li Yu's heart trembled. In fact, until this moment, Li Huiyuan really thought that the name on the edict was his. He had no idea what she had sacrificed for it.
At this time, Li Huiyuan's self-confidence was like a kind of mockery to her, a mockery of herself. She suddenly felt sad and tired. She didn't want to continue this topic, but she suddenly remembered the news she had heard when she was walking in the palace. She frowned and said, "What about the Imperial Astronomer?"
Li Huiyuan was startled and didn't know how to answer.
Seeing this, Li Yu knew that it was true. She scolded him severely, "Miao Kechi was upright and had a good reputation in the imperial court. You actually sent an internal official to force him to death. Do you want to turn against the officials?"
Li Huiyuan lowered his head and was silent for a long time. Then he said, "I did make a mistake in this matter."
Li Yu knew that her brother had a very stubborn side. She didn't expect him to admit his mistake so quickly. She couldn't help but be stunned. However, before she could react, Li Huiyuan raised his head.
He said calmly and firmly, "But I won't regret it, because I want him to die."
Li Yu looked at him and asked, "Why? Why … why? "
"It was Miao Kechi, the old bastard, who annotated those damn words and forced you to marry far away! I will never forget the night you knelt in front of father's palace. I will never forget the tears you shed on the night before you got married. "
Li Huiyuan looked at his sister and said coldly, "… So he must die."
…
…
(There are two more chapters.) (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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