On the way back, the two stopped by the Imperial Palace to report to the Supre Emperor.
The Supre Emperor had already learned from the lieutenant general about Pri Minister Xun’s execution, but it was only after confirming again with Lu Yuan and ng Qianqian that he finally believed the downfall of this "generation’s paramount minister" who had nearly stolen his empire.
The sword that had hung over his head for many years was finally taken down at this mont.
As he let out a long sigh, he suddenly felt that he had aged considerably.
The ministers had already left.
The spacious East Hall was left with only Fu Dequan by his side.
Fu Gonggong had accompanied the Supre Emperor through countless trials and tribulations, even staying by his side during his confinent in the monastery.
How could Fu Gonggong not understand what the Supre Emperor was thinking?
The execution of the traitorous minister had closed one Chapter, but for the Great Zhou’s empire, the crisis was far from over.
ng Qianqian, who had hardly slept a wink the night before and had just fought a battle outside the city gates, felt a wave of drowsiness hit her the mont she entered the warm East Hall. Without realizing it, she dozed off with her head on the table.
Seeing her carefree deanor, the Supre Emperor’s solemn expression lightened, and he couldn’t help but laugh: "This girl can fall asleep anywhere. Since when has my Zhaoming Palace beco her napping spot?"
With his laugh, the weight in Fu Gonggong’s heart was lifted.
Ah, it had to be the Young Madam Lu.
Fu Gonggong chuckled and said, "Once the Young Madam Lu steps into the Zhaoming Palace, it’s as though she’s returned to her own ho and feels completely at ease."
"At ease? I’d say brazen."
Although his words seed critical, there was a rare trace of indulgence in the Supre Emperor’s expression.
The Supre Emperor was always strict with his sons, gentler with his daughters, but the only one truly spoiled beyond asure had been Princess Wanping.
To Fu Gonggong, the way the Supre Emperor looked at Young Madam Lu today wasn’t much different from how he looked at Princess Wanping.
What could they do? Young Madam Lu was the old matriarch’s treasured darling, and Young Madam Lu herself was also outstanding—managing to amuse the Supre Emperor even in her sleep.
The Supre Emperor gave Fu Gonggong a aningful glance.
Fu Gonggong understood imdiately and retrieved the Supre Emperor’s cloak.
Just as he was about to place it on her, Lu Yuan said sternly, "She is my wife. I ask the Supre Emperor to uphold proper decorum."
The Supre Emperor grabbed the horsetail whisk from Fu Gonggong and gave Lu Yuan a sharp whack with it.
This was a slap that Lu Yuan totally deserved.
The Supre Emperor doted on ng Qianqian as though she were his own granddaughter, while this insolent brat dared to impose propriety on the Supre Emperor? Truly deserving of a punishnt!
"You, co take a walk with ."
The Supre Emperor said to Lu Yuan in a low tone.
Grumbling inwardly, Lu Yuan reluctantly followed the Supre Emperor out of the East Hall.
Fu Gonggong draped a cloak over ng Qianqian and instructed the Palace Attendants to bring over two charcoal braziers to place by her side.
"What? Worried sothing might happen to her in Zhaoming Palace?"
The Supre Emperor, seeing Lu Yuan’s constant glances back as he walked, was tempted to give him another whack.
But then he glanced down. A dignified Supre Emperor holding a eunuch’s horsetail whisk—what kind of image was that? He decisively tossed the whisk back to Lu Yuan.
Lu Yuan caught the whisk effortlessly and gave a casual flick.
The Supre Emperor couldn’t help but be reminded of the careless and slightly roguish Miao King. The two of them carried the exact sa air. How had he never noticed before that this young man was quite the scoundrel?
The Supre Emperor snorted coldly, "Now that you’ve toppled the Pri Minister, you’re too lazy to even pretend anymore?"
He thought Lu Yuan would at least respond with so polite words, but unexpectedly, Lu Yuan candidly admitted, "Mmhm."
The Supre Emperor: "..."
With a serious tone, the Supre Emperor said, "Don’t think that with Xun Xiuyuan dead, you can rest easy. How to pacify the border army, how to handle his private army, and how to suppress the ten lords—every single issue will be no easier than dealing with Xun Xiuyuan."
Lu Yuan replied nonchalantly, "When the carriage reaches the foot of the mountain, there will always be a road."
"What road?"
The Supre Emperor asked irritably.
Lu Yuan said, "The Shang Family twins have already been rescued from the Thousand chanism Pavilion. With them, we can naturally pacify the border army."
The Supre Emperor continued, "What about Xun Xiuyuan’s private army? Even though he’s dead, his forr subordinates might rally under the banner of avenging him and join forces with the ten lords to stage a rebellion."
Lu Yuan said seriously, "The private army is indeed a tough issue. I’ll think of a plan when I return—either integrate them into our forces or eliminate them completely. We can’t give them any chance to stage a rebellion!"
A rebellion?
Impossible.
They didn’t even have military pay, so how could they start a rebellion?
Loyalty and integrity?
If they had those virtues, would they have beco Xun Xiuyuan’s private army in the first place?
Of course, there was no way Lu Yuan would say this out loud. Revealing it would an surrendering the military pay.
And just as his household was about to have three more mouths to feed, giving up the gold would definitely leave them strapped for resources.
Reviews
All reviews (0)