Especially in the last six months, with the Empress seriously ill, he focused his main efforts on the security of the palace, and Liu Jin infiltrated a considerable number of the capital's troops.

He must find outside help.

Zhang Yong went directly to Li Dongqian's residence to convey the emperor's edict.

Li Dongqian's expression was solemn as he stroked his beard and pondered.

Zhang Yong said, "The Emperor is preoccupied with the Empress and pays no attention to anything else."

A glint of light flashed in Li Dongqian's eyes.

He immediately sent a memorial impeaching former Grand Secretary Su Jian.

The Cabinet's proposed opinion was to "postpone the promotion of Grand Secretary Su Jianxie and retain his original jade belt and robes."

Liu Jin was overjoyed, feeling that Li Dongqian was tactful enough and had finally bowed down to him.

As for Li Dongqian's opinion on Chen Xiong, the Earl of Pingjiang, he simply gave him face and adopted it.

Finally, Chen Xiong, the Earl of Pingjiang, was punished by being exiled to Hainan with his family, and his imperial edict was revoked.

In order to implicate Li Dongqian, he also ordered the officials of the Censorate and the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of War to thoroughly investigate the imperial edicts of civil and military officials who had been dismissed from their posts, or who had been exiled to the army and were now idle, and to revoke them.

They publicly announced that this was the opinion of Chief Minister Li.

The current Minister of Personnel and Minister of Justice are both concurrently held by Zhang Cai, Liu Jin's most trusted confidant, making the matter extremely efficient.

Soon, officials submitted a memorial requesting that the imperial edicts of former Grand Secretaries Su Jian and Xie Qian, as well as former Ministers Ma Wensheng, Liu Daxia, Han Wenxu, and others be destroyed.

The original jade belt and clothing were also examined and ordered to be returned to the authorities.

Subsequently, the Ministry of Personnel investigated and reported that a total of 675 civil officials should have their imperial edicts revoked.

Su Jian and Liu Daxia were originally political enemies; one was close to Empress Dowager Xiaosu Zhou, and the other was close to the late emperor.

Now they've all been defeated by Liu Jin with a single blow.

The physical harm may not be significant, but the humiliation is extremely strong, damaging one's personal reputation and honor.

Those whose imperial edicts were revoked were scattered throughout the Great Liang Dynasty. They were all pillars of their families, some of whom had governed a region, while others had held high-ranking official positions.

Even after resigning from his post and returning to his hometown, he still had to suffer such humiliation.

Throughout the entire Liang Dynasty, both in the court and among the common people, there were countless officials, gentry, and noble families who wished they could devour Liu Jin's flesh raw.

Liu Jin was cunning by nature and escaped assassination attempts multiple times.

All eyes were on Emperor Zhengxuan, Lu Xingjian.

News of the emperor's distress over the empress's serious illness and his neglect of state affairs also quietly spread.

...

On New Year's Eve, the Duke of Baoguo's mansion was brightly decorated, and the family sat around preparing for their reunion dinner.

The dishes were kept warm by covering them with porcelain bowls, and a small red clay stove was burning underneath.

The aroma of the food filled the restaurant, making everyone even hungrier.

Everyone sat quietly around the table, their faces devoid of joy.

Wen Shuyi glanced at the empty seat next to her and frowned slightly.

My husband, Gu Ziyu, hasn't been home for more than half a year.

They won't even come back for the New Year's Eve reunion dinner.

He had written a letter before and returned home these past two days. The steward waiting at the city gate said he saw him enter the city during the day.

After entering the palace, he never came out.

The sound of a baby crying came from the next room.

Lady Baoguo looked at Wen Shuyi and said, "Mrs. Wen, please take the child back to your room first."

There was still no sign of the banquet starting.

Wen Shuyi's eyes reddened, but she dared not disobey and bowed her head in response.

In the past six months or so, her family has experienced tremendous changes.

My father was impeached for repeated dereliction of duty. His official position was first reduced from the second-rank Vice Commander to the fourth-rank Commander of the Zhenlu Guard, and then he was imprisoned in November.

She knew that her father was implicated by the Duke of Baoguo's mansion and was not tolerated by the Ninth Prince Liu Jin.

Currently, Gu Ziyu is the closest person to the emperor in the Gu family.

She had hoped to meet Gu Ziyu during the New Year's Eve dinner and beg him to intercede on her father's behalf.

You should know that ever since her last falling out with Gu Ziyu, Gu Ziyu has been avoiding her whenever she sees her.

He didn't even come back to see her when she gave birth.

This year I've been even busier away from home, rarely returning.

His tenderness and consideration for her during those months of pregnancy seemed to be just a fleeting moment.

Wen Shuyi gently coaxed the child to sleep.

When the third drumbeat sounded, it was still so quiet outside that only the wind was howling.

She gently closed her eyes, and two lines of clear tears rolled down her cheeks.

A self-deprecating smile curled at the corner of his lips.

Her marriage to Gu Ziyu was, in fact, an arranged marriage.

She was forced to marry into the imperial court in order to win over the border troops.

She knew that Gu Ziyu's efforts to be kind to her during that time were only out of guilt.

Now, because of her hatred and misunderstanding of Empress Su, his slight guilt has vanished, and naturally he doesn't want to see her.

It's only the children who suffer.

What did he do wrong?

...

Crane Shadow was absent-minded in the room, muttering to herself:

"Why wouldn't Your Majesty let me into the palace?"

For the past six months, she has repeatedly asked to return to the palace, but has been refused each time.

Even when she stood at the entrance of Shenwu Gate, the guards refused to let her in after checking her waist token, saying it was the Empress's decree.

Crane Shadow was distraught and dejected.

Her proudest identity was that of the Empress's trusted head maid, the kind who could assist her in managing the harem.

She was clearly loyal and had never betrayed the Empress, so why was she rejected by the Empress?

Liu Qi raised an eyebrow and looked at her intently, his gaze carrying a hint of scrutiny:

"What did you do to hurt the Queen's feelings?"

He Ying shook her head hurriedly, looking at Liu Qi with a bit of panic.

During the past six months of living and working together, the two rode horses across the border regions together and also experienced raids by the Tatars.

As the Tatar's greatsword came slashing at her, she hysterically met it with a long spear:

"I'll fight you to the death!"

She thought she was going to be killed.

As a result, the Tatar's head was cut off, and blood sprayed all over her, stinking, sticky, and warm.

The Tatar's body fell, revealing Liu Qi's taut, ferocious face.

Only after Liu Qi wiped the blood from her face did she burst into tears, clinging to Liu Qi and refusing to let go.

He was nervous about her.

He cares about her.

He saved her.

Liu Qi didn't push her away, but instead gently patted her back with a complicated expression.

From then on, she used the fact that he had saved her life as leverage to coerce him into marrying her.

Liu Qi simply shrugged and didn't say anything more about refusing.

She originally intended to go to the Empress to discuss marriage, but unexpectedly, she couldn't even enter the palace.

She actually knew.

The day after the Grand Princess of Yixing left, the Empress allowed her to leave the palace and no longer required her to serve her personally.

Because of that box that pricked her, but no problem could be found.

That's unfair.

The Empress was too harsh on her.

She has never done anything to wrong the Empress.

I was just a little sad and lethargic for a few days because of Liu Qi's rejection.

If I had to say something, she was actually a little jealous of the Empress.

She could have a man who loved and pampered her like that.

There wasn't even a single woman in the harem with a formal title, so no one could take away her favor.

She is a woman too.

She also wanted to enjoy the feeling of being pampered and cared for by a man.

She would be satisfied even with just a little bit.

Unfortunately, the men either used her or rejected her ruthlessly.

Unlike Yan Rong, she was not a traitor.

She was loyal to the Empress and never betrayed the Empress's kindness towards her.