"Whoosh!"
A gust of wind blew past. Dark clouds hung low in the sky, and it was dark. The King of Song's mood was as gloomy as the dark clouds above his head.
"Recuperate at home" was a simple phrase, but it was a chasm that stood between him and the Imperial Court. This was not an order, nor did it say that he had done anything wrong. It was just a kind and "concerned" advice that excluded him from the court.
"The Emperor's decree cannot be disobeyed." No matter how much preparation he had made and how many plans he had made, they were all for naught at this moment.
"I didn't expect …"
The King of Song clenched his fists and slowly closed his eyes. His heart was cold.
He had been in the court for more than 20 years, and the emperor and his officials knew each other well. However, this was the first time that The King of Song had encountered such an imperial edict. The content of the imperial edict was simple, without any unnecessary embellishments.
From this imperial edict, The King of Song felt a chill. The Holy Emperor had clearly expressed his attitude in this way.
"The King of Song, receive the imperial edict!"
Eunuch Yu raised the imperial edict high and looked at The King of Song coldly.
"Yes. Thank you, Eunuch Yu!"
The King of Song respectfully received the imperial edict from Eunuch Yu.
Holding the imperial edict in his hand, The King of Song sat in the main hall for a whole day in a daze.
"The King of Song, receive the imperial edict!"
Eunuch Yu smiled coldly and handed over the imperial edict in his hand. This was the second day that The King of Song had received such an imperial edict. The content had not changed a single word!
The third day. The fourth day! …
In the beginning, The King of Song was still ambitious. He wanted to contact the officials and make a big move in the court to stop the Holy Emperor.
However, after several days, The King of Song's heart had turned cold.
"Your Highness, this is not good!"
Lu Ting stood by his side, looking worried.
"This is already the fifth day. His Majesty seems to be determined not to let you attend court. Without you in charge of the Ministry of Justice, the imperial court, and the Ministry of War, the current situation is very bad. "
"It's still fine in the royal court. There's Lord Wang Gen to oversee the proceedings. However, there were a lot of trivial matters in the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of War that needed someone to take care of. In His Imperial Highness's absence, someone else would automatically take over His Imperial Highness's responsibilities. At present, the Prince of Qi's side was already making large movements, dispatching someone to take over His Imperial Highness's responsibilities. If this continues, Your Highness will slowly be ostracized by Prince Qi. "
Although The King of Song couldn't attend court, Lu Ting could. However, he was merely a Grand Scholar and had no real power in the imperial court.
In this regard, he could only watch and worry helplessly.
"I know …"
The King of Song sat alone in the main hall, looking absent-minded. The real situation was far worse than what Lu Ting had described. The King of Song knew that His Majesty was using this method to slowly ostracize him from the imperial court.
This was different from any other time. This time, The King of Song felt a cold and hard heart.
In his twenty-odd years of being a politician, this was the first time The King of Song had lost his power in the imperial court.
"The imperial edict has arrived!"
Eunuch Yu held the imperial edict in his hands and strode forward with his head held high. His signature mocking smile hung on his lips as he arrived as promised.
"By the will of the heavens, the Emperor declares: The King of Song has overworked himself by worrying about the affairs of the nation. He is hereby ordered to rest at home and not to attend court without my decree! Hereby. "
"Rumble!"
Hearing this, the expressions of The King of Song and Lu Ting changed drastically. This imperial edict was almost identical to the one before, just that a few words were added: "Not to attend court without my decree!"
It was just a few simple words, but the meaning was completely different from before.
"How could this be?"
Lu Ting widened his eyes and looked at Eunuch Yu in shock.
"As expected, as expected. I knew it would be like this. I knew it would be like this! … "
The King of Song's heart turned cold, as if he had received a huge blow.
'Without Zhen's decree, he is not allowed to attend the court'. These simple words were the harshest blow to King Song. Although the edict did not point out the fault of The King of Song, nor did it strip him of his title, these few simple words were equivalent to effectively expelling The King of Song from the imperial court.
From now on, without the Holy Emperor's decree, The King of Song was not allowed to attend court. Not to mention participate in the imperial court.
"Your Highness, receive the edict!"
Eunuch Yu's face was pale. He held the imperial edict with one hand and handed it over with a mocking smile.
A eunuch in the palace actually dared to mock a prince of the royal family. This was more than just audacious. If not for the Holy Emperor's decree, how would he dare to do this?
"Thank you, Eunuch Yu."
The King of Song's face was ashen as he respectfully received the imperial edict from Eunuch Yu's hands.
"Your Highness, The King of Song, forgive me for speaking out of turn, but regarding the matter of Consort Tai Zhen, you're on your own!"
Eunuch Yu said this with a sneer, then turned around and left.
If the master was unhappy, the servant would naturally be unhappy as well. Right now, everyone in the palace knew that the number one person who opposed the Holy Emperor and Consort Tai Zhen being together was The King of Song, Li Chengqi.
The eunuchs in the palace were bound by a common enemy. Eunuch Yu naturally wouldn't be friendly toward The King of Song either.
After Eunuch Yu left, the great hall fell into a long silence.
Looking at the imperial edict in The King of Song's hands, everyone's heart felt heavy.
Everyone knew that the most prestigious' Supreme Harmony Palace 'in the Central Plains would be out of reach for The King of Song from now on.
Unless he received a decree from the Holy Emperor, he would no longer have the right to step foot into it.
Lu Ting looked at The King of Song by the side, his heart filled with worry.
No one had expected that the matter of Consort Tai Zhen would develop to such an extent. Originally, everyone thought that their greatest enemies were the Yao Clan and King Qi, who supported Consort Tai Zhen. As long as they defeated them in the court battle, they would be able to change His Majesty's mind.
But at this moment, everyone realized that their true 'opponent' had always been one person, and that was the current Holy Emperor.
And the Yao Clan and King Qi were merely obeying the Emperor's decree.
"Unexpected, unexpected! … "
The King of Song slumped in the great hall. He seemed to have suffered a huge blow. Being ostracized in the royal court and losing his authority wasn't the biggest blow to The King of Song.
What dealt The King of Song the biggest blow was that the wise and resourceful King of the Tang dynasty, whom he had always regarded as the wisest emperor in the history of the Tang dynasty, was actually going to ostracize him from the royal court for the sake of a woman.
This was what The King of Song couldn't accept.
Even though losing his authority in the royal court was unbearable, it was still difficult for him to turn around and support Consort Tai Zhen. This matter concerned the loyalty of an emperor and the reputation of an official. It was impossible for The King of Song to turn around and support Consort Tai Zhen!
"… It seems like that lad has guessed correctly!"
Suddenly, there was a long sigh, and Lu Ting's familiar voice sounded in The King of Song's ears.
"Academic Lu, what do you mean by this?"
The King of Song raised his head and asked in astonishment.
Lu Ting's words came out of nowhere, and there was no end to it either. No one knew what he meant.
"Your Highness, do you still remember Wang Yan's third son, Wang Chong?"
Lu Ting shook his head. There was an indescribable feeling in his voice.
"I do. Didn't I meet him at the Four Quarters Embassy? Why would Academic Lu bring this up? "
The King of Song asked in astonishment. He couldn't understand why Lu Ting would bring up that child at such a time.
"Back then, when we were leaving, I paid special attention to him. I have a feeling that that child knew that we would fail."
Lu Ting said frankly.
"How is that possible?"
The King of Song abruptly straightened his body with a look of disbelief on his face.
The matters in the royal court were treacherous, and it involved many aspects. Until the very last moment, even officials like them who had been immersed in politics for decades wouldn't know the outcome.
How could a teenager like him be so certain of the outcome?
Lu Ting only smiled and didn't say anything.
Lu Ting's personality was one of those who loved to guide talented juniors. And Wang Chong's capability wasn't just limited to talent.
Probably, even Wang Chong himself didn't know that Lu Ting had paid much more attention to him than he had imagined.
"Your Highness, do you still remember that he asked about the matter of Consort Tai Zhen? Now that I think about it, that child was actually trying to dissuade us. Perhaps it was because he knew that we wouldn't succeed. Thus, he decided to use another method. "
Lu Ting said.
The King of Song was taken aback, and a grim expression finally appeared on his face. If that child was really as Lu Ting said, then he was truly extraordinary.
Thinking about it carefully, back then, Wang Chong did seem to be trying to dissuade him.
It was just that in that situation, whether it was himself or Lu Ting, it was impossible for them to listen.
"Academic Lu, what do you mean? Do you want me to turn around and support Consort Tai Zhen? "
The King of Song's expression turned ugly.
"Your Highness, I don't want you to change your attitude and support Consort Tai Zhen. But don't you think that child had hidden meaning behind his words? He kept hinting that he wanted us to meet Prince Shou, Li Mao.
"I have a feeling that he knows something. His Majesty's attitude towards the matter of Consort Tai Zhen is too strange. It's completely different from before. I feel that maybe we really should go look for Prince Shou. Perhaps we can find out something different. "
Lu Ting said.
The King of Song was silent, and his eyes revealed a grim expression.
If it was in the past, he wouldn't have even thought about Lu Ting's words. But after so many things had happened, and after receiving five imperial edicts, the King of Song's attitude had changed greatly.
The Holy Emperor's attitude was too strange. The King of Song had never thought that he would go this far for a woman. In the past, the King of Song didn't know much about Consort Tai Zhen.
He only knew that she was the wife of Prince Shou, Li Mao.
If it was in the past, he definitely wouldn't take a second look at this woman. But now, the King of Song suddenly had a strong desire.
He really wanted to know what kind of woman could cause such a change in the Holy Emperor.
Time passed slowly, and the hall was silent.
Lu Ting didn't rush him. He just stood at the side and silently waited for the King of Song's opinion.
Sigh! — —
After some time, a long sigh came from the hall.
"Help me prepare. I'm going to Prince Shou's residence to meet Jin 'er! "
"Yes, Your Highness!"
Lu Ting smiled knowingly. He quickly got up and walked out.
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