The Golden Palace.
The Empress, dressed in a black and gold dragon-embroidered robe and wearing a nine-tassel crown, sat on a dragon throne. Her phoenix eyes held a murderous glint, and her beautiful face was as cold as frost. She exuded an aura of power without anger.
The officials stood inside the main hall, where two ancient bronze incense burners shaped like cranes on either side emitted wisps of smoke, creating a hazy, fragrant atmosphere.
Qin Chuan has come to court today.
I didn't want to come, but the Empress wouldn't allow it.
He guessed that today's court assembly must have something to do with him.
As expected, from the very beginning, ministers kept coming forward to impeach him.
"The Imperial Preceptor is disrespectful and immoral, unworthy of the title. Your Majesty should dismiss him from his post and exile him..."
"I second that proposal!"
"I second that proposal!"
"..."
The Empress's expression turned grim. She knew that Xiao Yue's recent investigations and confiscations of officials' property had put too much pressure on them, and they were about to rebel.
If you can't impeach her, impeach Qin Chuan and use that to slap her in the face.
However, the fact that more than one hundred officials wanted to impeach Qin Chuan made things very difficult for her.
Qin Chuan glanced furtively at Li Zongmin, the Right Chancellor beside him. He saw that Li Zongmin's round, plump face, which appeared refined, suddenly revealed a sly smile...
Alright, it was you who did it!
Qin Chuan immediately understood: the old man was holding a grudge against him for kicking Li Zongmin off the stage a few days ago...
In addition, he offered the Empress a plan to confiscate the property of all officials to replenish the national treasury. Xiao Yue, that woman, didn't know to be careful and confiscated the property of thirty officials at once. How could this not cause a great deal of panic?
Unable to deal with the empress, the officials joined forces to bring her down.
Having figured out the key points, Qin Chuan felt no fear.
He can just resign. After all, his role is to give the Empress advice. He doesn't need to have the title of Imperial Advisor to offer advice...
After some officials finished speaking to Qin Chuan, the Empress did not say anything about Qin Chuan's matter. Instead, she took out a letter from Loulan and said:
"I have a letter from the prince of Loulan requesting a marriage alliance. What do you, my lords, think? Should this marriage be arranged?"
Unexpectedly, at this critical juncture, the Empress has unleashed a powerful move.
Qin Chuan thought to himself, "Thank goodness, I don't have to listen to these old guys cursing me anymore."
The Empress has never mentioned the matter of a marriage alliance...
He immediately became interested and wanted to see what was going on.
Sure enough, upon hearing the Empress mention the marriage alliance, the ministers who had been busy criticizing Qin Chuan immediately fell silent and shifted their attention to the matter.
The ministers were abuzz with discussion.
"Loulan has always been a diplomatic ally of our dynasty. If we can establish a marriage alliance with Loulan, it will greatly help in resisting the Xiongnu. Our dynasty and Loulan will support each other and no longer fear the Xiongnu invasion!"
"I agree. This marriage alliance will greatly benefit our cause!"
"I second that proposal. A marriage alliance with Loulan would be a truly joyous occasion!"
"I also agree to the marriage alliance."
"We all agree to the marriage alliance!"
Seeing that the court officials all agreed to the marriage alliance, the Empress's phoenix eyes swept over Qin Chuan, "What does the Imperial Advisor think?"
Qin Chuan snorted coldly and said, "What's the use of a marriage alliance! Peace is won with every punch and kick, dignity resides only on the edge of a sword, and truth lies only within the range of cannons..."
Upon hearing this, the Empress nodded silently.
Many of the officials dared not utter a sound.
After all, news of Vice Minister Song's great victory against the Japanese pirates along the southeast coast had already reached the imperial court, and the low casualty ratio was almost unbelievable to the officials.
Song Lian, a civil official, led troops to fight against the Japanese pirates, and he actually fought so well.
Is that book, "Qi Jiguang's Art of War," really that miraculous?
The thought that such a tremendous achievement had fallen into Song Lian's hands filled some officials with regret. "If I had known it would turn out this way, I would have rushed to fight the Japanese pirates myself..."
Just as the officials were each lost in their own thoughts, Li Zongmin said with a forced smile, "Hey, Grand Preceptor, you're mistaken. If our Great Gan were to go to war with Loulan again, wouldn't we be surrounded by enemies on all sides? And if Loulan didn't make peace with our Great Gan but instead made peace with the Xiongnu, have you considered the consequences, Grand Preceptor?"
Upon hearing the Right Chancellor's words, all the officials echoed his sentiments.
Qin Chuan wanted to argue with Li Zongmin for a bit more, but the Empress said, "Very well, since all the ministers agree to the marriage alliance, then let's have a marriage alliance with Loulan."
"But who should be chosen for this marriage alliance?"
Li Zongmin bowed and said, "Your Majesty, I believe that Princess Xiao Yue is the most suitable. Princess Xiao Yue is virtuous, beautiful and dignified. Choosing her to marry the prince of Loulan is not only a good match, but also a match made in heaven."
When Qin Chuan heard Li Zongmin say that, he almost wanted to kick him twice!
Xiao Yue has just taken charge of Dali Guard and is tough on you corrupt officials, so you want to send her to Loulan so that you can control everything?
Thinking of this, Qin Chuan said, "I do not agree to Princess Xiao Yue going to marry a foreign ruler."
The Empress seized the opportunity to ask, "Tell me your reasons?"
In truth, she was extremely reluctant to send Xiao Yue to a marriage alliance. Yun and Yue were her right-hand men. Without them, how could she control the court and the capital?
Qin Chuan said, "Xiao Yue is indeed a princess, but she also holds the position of the Grand Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, a high-ranking official of the imperial court. May I ask you gentlemen here, since ancient times, what kind of logic is there for a high-ranking official of the imperial court to go on a marriage alliance?"
"Right Prime Minister, how about we send you to Loulan for a political marriage?"
Upon hearing this, the Empress couldn't help but laugh, and many ministers almost burst out laughing as well.
The Empress nodded slightly and said, "Good! The Grand Preceptor's words are reasonable and well-founded! No one is allowed to mention Xiao Yue's marriage proposal again."
Li Zongmin snorted coldly and said with a forced smile, "Since Princess Xiao Yue cannot be married off, then we can only send Princess Xiao Shan to be married off."
Upon hearing this, Qin Chuan nearly flew into a rage, baring his teeth and saying, "Xiao Shan is only 14 years old, not even 15 yet! Li Zongmin, are you crazy? Sending a minor girl to a political marriage! How could you even say that!"
Li Zongmin sneered, "Among the royal family members in the capital, only Princess Xiao Yue and Princess Xiao Shan are qualified for a marriage alliance. Princess Xiao Shan will be 15 years old next year. What's wrong with sending her to Loulan next spring?"
"you……"
Qin Chuan pointed at Li Zongmin, "That old bastard is indeed cunning."
Xiao Shan will be 15 years old next year, and will be an adult. So what reason is there to object?
Thinking of this, Qin Chuan was furious, but there was nothing he could do.
Li Zongmin's supporters immediately chimed in, suggesting that Princess Xiao Shan be sent for a political marriage.
The Empress's expression shifted uncertainly. Seeing Qin Chuan's furious state, she hesitated whether to issue an edict ordering Xiao Shan to go for a marriage alliance.
A sudden inspiration struck Qin Chuan. He stepped forward and said loudly, "Since the Prince of Loulan has not explicitly stated that he wants a princess or a noblewoman to go for the marriage alliance, I have heard that the Right Chancellor has a daughter named Li Susu, who is virtuous, beautiful and dignified. Why not let Miss Li go for the marriage alliance? Wouldn't that also bring honor to your Li family?"
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