Novel Lived
Chapter 36
Chapter 36 The Left Prime Minister’s Shocked!
At this moment, in the grand Tai Chi Hall of the Great Zhou imperial palace, the entire court of civil and military officials had gathered, faces filled with concern as they deliberated on how to address the unrest in Qingzhou.
The hall was noisy with discussions, until the emperor, Gu Changsheng, sitting solemnly on the dragon throne, spoke with an aura of authority:
“A disorderly court! Is this what you’ve become?” His voice carried a hint of anger, silencing the officials immediately.
Once the hall had quieted, Gu Changsheng’s fingers gently tapped the armrest of the throne as he gazed over the court, his tone calm but firm:
“The Qingzhou unrest is of great importance. Does anyone among you have a solution? Speak freely.”
A gaunt old man, dressed in official robes, stepped forward from the ranks of civil officials, bowed, and spoke with a loud voice:
“Your Majesty, the unrest in Qingzhou is critical. With rogue cultivators causing havoc within and the barbarian army of millions threatening from without, we must act swiftly. I suggest the court gather its forces and send troops and experts to quell the chaos in Qingzhou and resist the barbarian invasion. Moreover, Your Majesty could issue an imperial decree, ordering the local princes and royal sons to dispatch reinforcements to ease the court’s burden.”
This was Liu Wu, the Right Prime Minister. His proposal caused many officials to nod in agreement.
The internal rebellion could be easily handled, but repelling the massive barbarian army required the cooperation of all regional powers. It seemed like a reasonable approach.
Gu Changsheng, however, remained expressionless. He knew all too well that a mere decree would hardly prompt the regional princes and royal heirs to willingly send troops for such a dangerous mission.
Nevertheless, the Qingzhou chaos had to be resolved swiftly; if not, other forces in the realm might seize the opportunity to undermine the Great Zhou court, leaving the empire vulnerable.
After a long pause, his eyes narrowed slightly as he spoke in a low voice:
“Very well, we shall proceed as the Right Prime Minister suggests. The court will soon dispatch troops and experts to quell the unrest in Qingzhou, and I shall issue a decree commanding the local princes and royal sons to immediately send reinforcements to defend against the barbarian invasion.”
“Your Majesty is wise!” echoed throughout the hall as the officials voiced their unanimous approval.
Even the Empress Dowager, who usually opposed Gu Changsheng, remained silent, her expression cold and detached. Her beautiful eyes flashed with a strange light, causing an uneasy stir among those who noticed.
Gu Changsheng inwardly smirked at this. He knew that the Empress Dowager was the mastermind behind the Qingzhou unrest, but her plans would not come to fruition this time.
As he pondered, the Empress Dowager’s icy voice suddenly cut through the air:
“Your Majesty, I wonder which minister you deem fit to take on the heavy responsibility of quelling the Qingzhou unrest?”
Her words shifted the focus of the entire court, all eyes falling on the two prime ministers, Liu Wu and Xue Wuyan.
Qingzhou’s rebellion was of great significance, and only a seasoned official like one of the prime ministers could handle such a task.
Already aware of the Empress Dowager’s schemes, Gu Changsheng did not hesitate. He turned to Left Prime Minister Xue Wuyan and spoke softly:
“Left Prime Minister, I shall entrust you with this mission.”
Xue Wuyan was momentarily stunned but quickly composed himself. He stepped forward, bowed deeply, and proclaimed, “Your Majesty, I shall not fail your trust.”
The court observed quietly, but the Empress Dowager’s heart filled with cold laughter. She planned to eliminate not only Gu Changsheng’s forces but also Xue Wuyan during the Qingzhou campaign.
Once her plan was executed, she would remove Gu Changsheng and install a new emperor from among the princes. By then, the entire Great Zhou dynasty would be under her control.
However, she knew she had to act covertly, ensuring that even the old saint residing in seclusion within the imperial palace would not suspect her involvement.
“Dismissed!” Gu Changsheng stood and swept out of the hall, indifferent to the dangerous glint in the Empress Dowager’s eyes.
As he left, the ministers bowed and called out in unison, “Long live Your Majesty!”
Once Gu Changsheng’s figure disappeared, the ministers began to disperse.
As Xue Wuyan prepared to leave, he was stopped by the leader of the secret guard, Commander Qing Long.
“Left Prime Minister, His Majesty has summoned you.”
Understanding that this must be related to the Qingzhou situation, Xue Wuyan nodded and followed the commander.
…
Guided by Commander Qing Long, Xue Wuyan soon arrived at the doors of the imperial study. He was greeted by rows of soldiers clad in golden armor, their formidable presence indicating their strength as warrior-princes.
These were not the Empress Dowager’s imperial guards, which startled Xue Wuyan.
The emperor had clearly gained full control of the palace, with even the commander of the city defenses, Lu Tao, now in his service. This meant that the entire royal city was under Gu Changsheng’s command.
“Your Majesty, the Left Prime Minister has arrived!” the commander announced at the entrance.
“Let him in.”
A deep, authoritative voice echoed from within.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
The commander replied, opening the grand doors to the imperial study.
Xue Wuyan stepped inside and found Gu Changsheng seated on the dragon throne, radiating imperial majesty. The aura of authority surrounding him was vast, as deep and unfathomable as the sea.
The sight of such power caused Xue Wuyan to tremble inwardly. If he hadn’t known better, he would have mistaken the man before him for the late emperor, Gu Qiangu.
It was clear—he had greatly underestimated this young emperor.
“Minister Xue Wuyan greets Your Majesty! Long live the Emperor!”
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