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墨書 Inktalez
To be honest, Li Xuan Zong has already become a wise ruler in the hearts of the ministers and the people, but now such an undignified incident has emerged, like a blot of ink on a white cloth, strikingly noticeable and hard to accept. However, this issue of lust does not significantly tarnish Li Xuan Zong's reputation. Although the ministers feel uncomfortable, it is merely a lapse in decorum, and after all, how many men are not lustful? The ministers had little to say, even as the emperor dismissed today's morning court session. Elder Brother Li walked slowly out of the palace behind a group of ministers, knowing that soon he would no longer have to endure these early morning court sessions.
That evening, Li Xuan Zong experienced another haunting episode, but no one else seemed to notice anything unusual about him. He felt that he was being tormented by Evil Spirits, and immediately issued an edict summoning Taoists and monks from across the country to help him exorcise the demons. He neglected state affairs, leaving a pile of unresolved issues. The ministers were at a loss and elected several representatives to plead with the emperor to address the state matters promptly. Among these representatives was Li Family Brother, along with Prince Qirui.
"How did you manage that?" Prince Qirui asked Elder Brother Li in a serious tone.
Elder Brother Li smiled slightly. "It's a business secret; I cannot disclose it to you."
"You rascal!" Prince Qirui chuckled lightly and did not press further. Unlike Li Xuan Zong, he knew that Elder Brother Li had capabilities; he wasn't trying to win him over but rather sought to undermine him, which would only provoke backlash and ultimately lead to his own downfall. This was actually quite good; as a member of the royal family, did Prince Qirui truly lack ambition? Of course not; it was just that he believed his reputation did not afford him the opportunity to rise to the top. However, Elder Brother Li had opened a new world for him—if he couldn't be emperor, being someone who could influence the emperor was also quite appealing. He could treat the emperor as a lucky charm while taking charge himself!
Prince Qirui spoke with warmth, and Elder Brother Li calmly accepted it. He understood Prince Qirui's intentions and leaned slightly in his favor for the sake of Yue Yunfei and Mo Yan, the Princess.
Currently, Li Xuan Zong was extremely irritable; haunted by visions and plagued by an unshakeable fear in his heart, his condition was evident. How could he possibly have the mood to handle state affairs when even meeting a few people felt like a struggle?
"Get out!" As soon as several ministers opened their mouths, Li Xuan Zong impatiently interrupted them, throwing things around and ordering them to leave.
The ministers felt helpless; today's emperor was far from his former brilliance—he was nothing short of mad. Yet even if he were mad, he was still the emperor. One minister bravely stepped forward despite risking his life and said, "Your Majesty, we do not wish to disturb your peace; it's just that state affairs are piling up like mountains. Without your decisions, many matters cannot proceed."
"Am I feeding you all just for you to loaf around?" Li Xuan Zong hurled a teacup across the room. "If you can't handle things properly, how dare you come to me!"
The teacup struck one minister on the forehead, blood mingling with tea as it trickled down his face, leaving him looking utterly disheveled. It was unclear whether he harbored resentment or not, but Elder Brother Li noticed a fleeting look of dissatisfaction in his eyes. Looking back at Li Xuan Zong, who now appeared pale with dark circles under his eyes—he looked more like a ghost than ever before—Elder Brother Li sighed as he recalled their first meeting when Li Xuan Zong had been so spirited.
"But... but many matters are beyond our authority to decide," the minister stammered nervously.
"Is it that you want me to delegate power to you?" Li Xuan Zong rubbed his temples. "Fine, I will grant it."
He thought about being the emperor; he could delegate power but also reclaim it whenever he wished. However, his opponents—like Elder Brother Li—had long prepared traps for him; he would never be able to reclaim power again.
"From now on, state affairs will be handled jointly by the Prime Minister and Prince Qirui, while military matters will be overseen by Li Wei Feng." After making this decree, Li Xuan Zong ordered the eunuchs to escort all the ministers out. Although he felt some trepidation towards Elder Brother Li, he had to admit that Elder Brother Li was capable. He believed that what he did remained hidden from view; since Elder Brother Li had not revealed his plans yet remained "loyal," he felt secure in granting him power.
After achieving initial success, some of the pests around him needed to be dealt with. Elder Brother Li did not want to describe Huang Zhitang as a nail; that would be an insult to nails. Elder Brother Li had never intended for Huang Zhitang to die; he simply wanted to transfer him to the Border, where he would never return in this lifetime. How could Huang Zhitang accept this? He rushed to Elder Brother Li's side and said, "You cannot belittle me; I am a man of the Emperor!"
Elder Brother Li smiled slightly. "It is precisely because I know you are one of Li Xuan Zong's people that I am transferring you to the Border. You should thank me for not directly taking your life."
"You, you..." Huang Zhitang stared at Elder Brother Li, too frightened to speak.
"What about me?" Elder Brother Li replied. "Should I not know that Li Xuan Zong secretly cultivated you to monitor me and seize my military power? Or should I not know that you covertly harmed my family, causing my sister to give birth prematurely and nearly resulting in three deaths?"
Huang Zhitang was horrified; everything he had done was known to Elder Brother Li. No wonder the Emperor feared him so much! Huang Zhitang was also a capable person, and since Elder Brother Li had already exposed everything, he understood the worst outcome and calmed down. "You know everything; no wonder the Emperor fears you so much!"
Elder Brother Li scoffed. "My abilities are not what make him fear me; it is merely the so-called imperial heart of Li Xuan Zong. He will not allow anyone to be stronger than him. Huang Zhitang, do not expect too much from me; sparing your life is already my mercy."
"I must thank General Li for his mercy. However, General Li, you are just a general after all. When the Emperor returns to power, how will he view today's events?" Huang Zhitang sneered.
"You should not place your hopes on Li Xuan Zong," Elder Brother Li said calmly. "Do you think he still has a chance to return to power?"
Huang Zhitang was taken aback. "What do you mean?"
Elder Brother Li did not respond further and ordered his guards to escort Huang Zhitang out, commanding him to leave the capital by dawn or face the consequences.
After delegating all administrative duties, Li Xuan Zong was surrounded by Taoists and monks performing exorcisms, but it was futile. Every night, Evil Spirits continued to appear on schedule. Perhaps due to their frequent contact with him, those around him could also see the Evil Spirits. Consequently, rumors spread that the Predecessor Emperor and the Emperor's deceased brothers had transformed into Evil Spirits seeking revenge on Li Xuan Zong! Due to several instances of supernatural occurrences, the people of the Great Zhou Dynasty believed in and feared ghosts immensely. This ghostly incident in the palace was seen as a sign of dissatisfaction from above towards Li Xuan Zong, withdrawing their protection over him; otherwise, as a son with dragon energy protecting him, how could ghosts easily approach?
Rumors of the Emperor being abandoned spread throughout the Great Zhou under the influence of those with ulterior motives, even reaching Northern Liang. The Northern Liang army began to stir restlessly; however, Elder Brother Li had already made arrangements by sending newly developed crossbows and explosives to the border Marshal. They bombarded Northern Liang's vanguard troops, leaving them dazed and fleeing back to their territory, never daring to challenge Great Zhou again.
Not only Northern Liang but many within the Great Zhou royal family were also restless; however, they were suppressed by Prince Qirui and Elder Brother Li working together. Meanwhile, Li Xuan Zong could no longer sustain himself mentally or physically; after collapsing, he never woke up again. A country cannot be without a ruler for a day; under the joint efforts of the Queen and Consort as well as Prince Qirui and Elder Brother Li, the two-year-old First Prince ascended the throne as Emperor. The ministers were divided among themselves; in order not to let power fall solely into one person's hands, they accepted Elder Brother Li's establishment of a cabinet and council within the city, successfully transitioning Great Zhou from absolute monarchy to constitutional monarchy. The emperor became a symbol of the state but no longer held real power. Elder Brother Li did not join the cabinet but instead handed military authority over to Yue Yunfei, pushing him into the cabinet. There were ten members in total; Prince Qirui represented the royal family while Jiang Family's Young Master represented the merchant class in the cabinet as well. The Queen and Consort Jiang both became Empress Dowagers; although the royal family lost real power, they lived even more comfortably than before—except for—
"Your Highness!" A palace maid entered and reported, "I inform both Empress Dowagers that the Retired Emperor has awakened."
As the Xian Empress set down her glass chess piece, she looked at the Jiang Empress Dowager, who was snacking on sunflower seeds. "Have you finally awakened? Sister, let’s go see our Retired Emperor!"
The Jiang Empress Dowager smiled and stood up. "Sure, sister."
By the time the two Empress Dowagers arrived at the Retired Emperor's chambers, Li Xuan Zong had already eaten and regained his spirits. He had learned from his trusted aides about everything that had transpired during his coma. Hearing that he had gone from being a healthy emperor to a Retired Emperor, with all his powers divided among the cabinet and council, Li Xuan Zong was furious. He jumped out of bed, ready to confront Prince Qirui and others to reclaim his rights. However, his aides restrained him, informing him that two Empress Dowagers were currently in control of the palace. Without a joint decree from both Empress Dowagers, no one could leave the palace, not even him, the Retired Emperor.
"When did I become subject to women?" Li Xuan Zong fumed. Upon seeing the Xian Empress and Jiang Empress Dowager approaching hand in hand, realization dawned on him. "Ah, so you two have already conspired together!"
Both the Xian Empress and Jiang Empress Dowager smiled slightly and offered a brief greeting to Li Xuan Zong without denying his accusation. Enraged, he spat blood. "What have I done to deserve this from you?"
The Xian Empress shook her head. "Your Majesty, I only wish to save you."
"Save me?" Li Xuan Zong laughed in anger. "I am an emperor; what do I need saving from?"
The Xian Empress sighed. "Your Majesty, you fear General Li's abilities yet covet his wife. Do you think General Li can tolerate that?"
"How do you know this?" Li Xuan Zong gritted his teeth, disbelief etched across his face as he realized she had seen through him.
The Xian Empress sighed again. "I am your wife; no one knows you better than I do."
She was a very clever woman. When Elder Brother Li approached her, she recognized him as one of the 'immortals' who had helped her before. Thus, she agreed to cooperate with Elder Brother Li even before the Jiang siblings did.
"Our cooperation is based on ensuring your safety," the Wise Empress explained calmly about her collaboration with Elder Brother Li.
"Ensuring my safety?" Li Xuan Zong scoffed. "I am an emperor; why would I need someone else to spare my life? A mere Li Wei Feng cannot accomplish anything; I could eliminate him in an instant."
"Your Majesty, it’s time to face reality. General Li is not simple; you must have understood this long ago; otherwise, you wouldn't be so wary of him and secretly arrange many contingencies against him," the Wise Empress said. "Unfortunately, you still underestimate General Li. His abilities are beyond mortal comprehension; if you clash with him head-on, it will only lead to your downfall. Moreover, regarding General Li's mysterious wife—since you covet Lady Li, you should realize she is extraordinary as well. Her skills may surpass those of General Li; otherwise, she wouldn't have introduced bicycles or glass manufacturing methods. Your Majesty, when facing ordinary people, victory is assured for you. But against immortals, defeat is all but certain."
"You must be joking! Li Wei Feng is just a farmer from a remote mountain village. How could he possibly become an immortal?" Li Xuan Zong scoffed.
"Your Majesty, Aoyama Village is not an ordinary village. Have you forgotten about the Waterwheel Operator's Well? And the sweet potatoes that are high-yield crops all come from Aoyama Village. It is a place of great talent and good fortune; it wouldn't be surprising if more immortals emerged from there," the Wise Empress replied. "When I was kidnapped and nearly killed by villains, it was actually General Li and his companions who saved me. My injuries healed quickly thanks to their immortal medicine, and it was General Li's methods that allowed me to descend in front of everyone. They can fly!"
The notion of "flying" struck Li Xuan Zong hard: "I don't believe it! Even if he is an immortal, so what? I am the emperor; I have protection. Even if he is an immortal, I can still kill him."
"The truth is, Your Majesty, you not only failed to kill General Li, but you were also utterly defeated," Jiang Empress Dowager couldn't hold back and retorted.
Li Xuan Zong suddenly turned to glare at Jiang Empress Dowager: "If you hadn't spoken, I would have forgotten about you! Haven't I treated you well? How could you betray me?"
Jiang Empress Dowager nodded: "You have indeed treated me well, but so what? You only liked me for a moment. Once you grow tired of me, what will happen to my situation in the palace? It’s better to be the most respected woman in this country, as the biological mother of the emperor, who has not been cast aside."
"I see your ambition now," Li Xuan Zong gritted his teeth.
Jiang Empress Dowager smiled lightly and did not argue; after all, she had already secured her benefits. Her son had become emperor—though merely a figurehead—her brother held real power!
"What about Haiming? He is your accomplice, isn't he? Where is he? Is he afraid to come see me?" Li Xuan Zong recalled that another person was missing.
The Wise Empress and Queen Jiang both showed a hint of envy: "Young Master Hai is luckier than us; he has gone to live in the immortal realm!"
As the New Year arrives, may joy abound with family reunions; may happiness flourish with many friends; may health and joy multiply; may blessings increase with smooth sailing; wishing you many good things!
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