Chapter 778: Chapter 487: Welcoming Your Majesty Back to the Palace (6k)
Follow me into the palace... Zhao Douan took a deep breath and quipped:
"Your Majesty, returning to the palace in such fashion, I wonder how many eyes will be startled. After today, what kind of storm will arise in the Nine Roads and Eighteen Prefectures."
Not long had passed since the Empress’s ascension. Besides a select few like Xuan Yin, Prince Jing, and Mu Prince who might know or guess, the vast majority of the world was still unaware of this event.
"Let us hope this storm can be quelled swiftly." Xu Zhenguan said softly.
Even she understood in her heart that resolving the Eight Princes’ Rebellion entirely would not be simple or easy.
The monarch and minister teamed up, walked out of the inn, and as they descended the stairs, they happened to meet the inn’s waiter coming up.
He stared dumbfounded at the man and woman draped in dragon robes and official attire, extraordinarily handsome and graceful, and the water kettle in his hand clattered down the stairs, rolling away.
Not just him, but the shopkeeper and the guests on the first floor were also caught as if by an immobilization spell, dazedly watching the monarch and minister leave.
Then it was the pedestrians on the street who cast surprised glances.
Zhenbao did this intentionally... She wanted to expose herself to the public eye, even if the citizens did not recognize her true appearance, they would know the dragon robe, which in the city no one dared to wear presumptuously.
By this, she sought to stabilize the people’s hearts and boldly announce her return.
However, just as the monarch and minister walked a few steps out.
Suddenly, from the crowd ahead, a member of the Inner Shadow Guard came rushing madly, without hesitation, and knelt on one knee on the street:
"Your Majesty, things are dire, Li Yanfu is leading a large group of martial artists, already headed towards the Imperial Palace..."
What? Zhao Douan was stunned, then turned to meet Zhenbao’s gaze, both seeing shock in each other’s eyes.
"Quickly follow me into the palace!"
Xu Zhenguan’s face changed slightly, ignoring the attention gathered, raised her hand to pull Zhao Douan along to move.
Zhao Douan suddenly said:
"Accounting for the time to transmit the intelligence, by now, Li Yanfu might already have broken into the palace, it may be too late."
Xu Zhenguan, however, remained composed:
"It’s not too late, he won’t succeed that easily."
...
...
Inside the palace, within the hall convening the Court Meeting.
Early in the morning, the officials gradually arrived, and by now, nearly everyone was present.
Ma Yan was among the late arrivals, and as he stepped into the grand hall, his gaze swept around, failing to find Li Yanfu, seeing only Grandmaster Dong and Yuann Li, each sitting on a chair, closing their eyes to rest.
In the grand hall, only two people were seated, while the other officials all stood, as a show of respect.
"Grandmaster," Ma Yan stepped up, walking to Dong Xuan’s side, and whispered:
"There is something I wish to consult the Grandmaster about."
Dong Grandmaster, exhausted from days of busyness, slightly snoring with his head tilted up, suddenly opened his eyes and asked curiously:
"What is it?"
Ma Yan took a letter from his sleeve and handed it to him:
"It concerns the recent anomalies within the ’Prime Minister’s Mansion’."
With Li Yanfu not yet present, Ma Yan, knowing he wasn’t adept at the schemes of the court, wanted to discuss and communicate early with the temporary manager of the "cabinet," the Emperor’s Master.
"Oh?" Grandmaster Dong perked up, took the letter, opened it for a detailed read, and then his face twitched, his gaze sharpened:
"Is this true?"
Ma Yan nodded: "Though not thoroughly verified, the Prime Minister’s Mansion is making suspicious moves at this time, we must be wary."
Grandmaster Dong’s heart sank, instinctively casting his gaze towards the Imperial Censor on the other side, who also had his eyes closed in rest.
Recalling when Yuann Li had mentioned being wary of the Li Party yesterday after the court dispersed. Did he really predict correctly? But could Li Yanfu really dare to act recklessly in the Capital?
Dong Xuan wasn’t sure, but compared to Yuann Li, whom he also needed to guard against, Ma Yan’s words as a eunuch were undoubtedly more believable —
Ma Yan was almost impossible to join forces with the Eight Princes, just as the Dong family, who strongly supported the Empress’s throne, had no retreat.
"Mr. Yuan, come take a look." The Old Heavenly Master pondered briefly, called Yuann Li over to speak aside, and handed him the letter.
This scene fell in the eyes of the officials present but did not surprise anyone.
Yuann Li looked over the letter, his eyes narrowed, exhaled slowly and said:
"The worry has come to pass."
He turned his head to Ma Yan, his gaze sharp:
"Is this intelligence from a few days ago?"
Ma Yan nodded:
"Therefore, I thought if the Li Party was to take action, they wouldn’t delay too long, as secrecy is key, such a grand scale of ’mobilizing troops’, is highly unusual, I suggest that when he enters the hall, we confront him directly, regardless of his response, let our Imperial Court guard him, to prevent any trouble."
"Do you also think the Li Party may not remain peaceful? What can they dare to do? What can they do? The six imperial guards within the city are sufficient to suppress anything." Grandmaster Dong’s forehead vein twitched, breathing slightly rapid.
Yuann Li suddenly said:
"Three years ago, during the Xuan Sect Coup, the reason it nearly succeeded was because the Great Commander of that time, Qi Yuchun, betrayed."
Thunk!
Mentioning this matter, the other two were both struck in their hearts, involuntarily dragged back to their memories of that time.
That day, it was midwinter, snowflakes were in the air, though different from today, the somber sky was eerily similar.
After the Xuan Sect Coup, the Empress ascended to the throne, abolishing the position of "Great Commander," with the six commanders of the imperial guard becoming equal rank, each overseeing a region, balancing each other.
And Yuann Li mentioning it now carried implications that made one have to ponder deeply.
Grandmaster Dong’s face twitched, gritting his teeth said:
"If that’s the case, then let him come and be questioned on the spot, under such circumstances, with the Empress’s return uncertain, we cannot let any chaos occur!"
To rashly move against the serving Prime Minister, in itself, carries significant risk.
Yet Dong Xuan weighed the pros and cons, and still made such a decision.
Yuann Li did not verbally rebut, merely his gaze flickered, Ma Yan remained calm, turning to look toward the grand hall’s entrance.
With his cultivation in the Worldly Realm, as long as Li Yanfu came, he wasn’t afraid of any storm he might cause.