Chapter 882 Love and Hate
Although Cao Dejiang was very happy about the imperial examination, the miscellaneous matters involved were also a headache for him.
"The Empress still has to take care of the war in the northwest, so we have to worry more about the examinations in various places. Later, I will ask Mr. Huo and others to come to your house to discuss the specific details of the next step. After we finalize it with the Empress, we can implement it as soon as possible to avoid wasting manpower."
Liang Guangyi glanced at Cao Dejiang.
Cao Dejiang frowned: "What are you looking at? This is something the Queen has instructed you to do. Don't try to shirk your responsibilities. I've been so busy lately that my head hurts. It's all your fault for being blind. What kind of people have you picked in the past? One thing after another, never stopping at all..."
Liang Guangyi listened to Cao Dejiang cursing, and saw him glaring at him with impatience, just as he had been sarcastic and merciless when he had opposed him in the court in the past. His originally restless heart suddenly settled down, like a rootless wind finding a bond.
Liang Guangyi raised his lips and sneered back, "I'm blind, but you're not necessarily clear-headed either. You secretly sent Wang Huailu to me along with Your Majesty, but you ended up raising a traitor. If it weren't for the Queen's tricks, this kingdom would have been lost to you long ago."
"You!" Cao Dejiang glared.
Liang Guangyi sneered: "What do you mean by you? Stop being so sarcastic to me. Bring people over here soon, and don't let me down."
After saying that, he rolled his eyes at Cao Dejiang, turned around and left.
Seeing him so angry, Cao Dejiang couldn't help but curse him as "old bastard", but when his eyes fell on his straightened back and his high-spirited clothes, a smile appeared on his face. Liang Guangyi, who had already left in front, also raised the corner of his mouth slightly.
The palace road was extremely quiet. The blood on the ground had long been wiped clean, and there was no sign of what had happened last night.
The dazzling sunlight fell on the glazed tiles, making them sparkle. Feng Qiuli followed Liang Guangyi half a step behind. When they were almost at the second gate, Liang Guangyi suddenly stopped when he saw the people waiting in front of the palace gate.
"Chiyu, I have taught many people in my life. I call myself a half-master of the world. I hold the power of aristocratic families in the court. I have been conceited and arrogant for half my life, but I have never seen as clearly as you do. Perhaps what you said that day was right. You don't have to regret it. The person you choose will not make you regret it either."
Feng Qiuli, whose courtesy name is Chiyu.
Feng Qiuli's body was still stained with blood, and his face was calm and relaxed, yet also a bit cold and resolute. He turned sideways and said respectfully to Liang Guangyi, "I have always adhered to your teachings, choosing a wise ruler to assist and benefit the world. I will not regret my choice today, and neither will you."
He abandoned the honor of his family, betrayed his years of persistence, and conspired with the Queen to destroy the family's transcendence, hoping that it would bring him a unified country and peace and prosperity in the future.
Liang Guangyi slowly raised his head, as if answering Feng Qiuli, but also as if answering himself.
"I hope I won't regret it."
Feng Qiuli didn't say anything more to comfort him. She just glanced outside and said, "It's dawn. Will the students take the teacher back home?"
Liang Guangyi smiled and said, "Okay."
…
"Your Majesty, Lord Cao and Prime Minister Liang have left." Pan Xi came back to report and whispered the conversation between Cao Dejiang and Liang Guangyi.
Tang Ning couldn't help laughing after hearing this: "It turns out that old enemies understand each other best."
Hua Wu helped Tang Ning to her feet and couldn't help but whisper, "Your Majesty, those people from that aristocratic family are not good people. Liang Guangyi has bullied you many times before. He was the biggest troublemaker before Your Majesty ascended the throne. Now that the aristocratic family has finally been suppressed, why do you still want to keep him?"
Anyone can see that the aristocratic families now have no confidence anymore. Even if the Queen Mother did not kill them all this time, no one from the aristocratic families except Feng Qiuli can touch the core of power.
Everyone thought that after Prince Hui and his men were caught, and after Min An and others were dealt with, Liang Guangyi would definitely not stay in the court to hold the power of the Right Prime Minister. But who would have thought that the Queen Mother not only kept him, but also specially asked Cao Dejiang to "enlighten" him.
Hua Wu, who had grown considerably, had a face full of confusion: "Why didn't Your Majesty take this opportunity to deal with Liang Guangyi?"
"Why should we deal with him?"
Tang Ning chuckled, "He's been the head of the civil service for many years. He's exceptionally capable and resourceful. His insights into state policy far surpass those of others. Right now, we need him, but Your Majesty and I are both tied up. If we leave him idle at home, where can I find such a capable person?"
"Besides, the court is stable only with him. Without Liang Guangyi, it would be troublesome."
Hua Wu widened her eyes and said "Huh?" in confusion.
Pan Xi had already tactfully retreated. Yue Jian sorted out the things on the table. Seeing that Hua Wu hadn't figured it out, she came over and knocked her on the head: "Don't you understand? What the court needs is balance."
"The aristocratic families were defeated, but Her Majesty deliberately spared the Shi and Li families, as well as Liang Guangyi and Lord Feng, because she didn't want only the clean stream to remain in the court. Although many of those people came from humble backgrounds and their original intentions might be honest, everyone is greedy. If there is no one in the court who can restrain them, they will sooner or later become the second aristocratic family under the dominance of one family."
Yue Jian was not good at political intrigues in the past, but after following His Majesty and the Queen for a long time, she began to understand some of it.
"Now that the power of the aristocratic families has been greatly weakened, they are now under the control of His Majesty. Keeping Liang Guangyi in the court will not only help His Majesty and His Majesty relieve their worries, but also use him and the Qingliu faction to check and balance each other, so that the court can also be more stable."
Cao Dejiang has been immersed in the court for many years and is extremely wise. He saw through the Queen's thoughts, so no matter how he dealt with Prince Hui and others before, or how he treated the Shi family lightly, he never said anything to take advantage of the situation and kill all the aristocratic families.
Tang Ning saw Hua Wu's round eyes and chuckled, "Cao Dejiang and Liang Guangyi have been fighting for most of their lives. They may seem like old enemies, but their friendship is actually different from others."
Although they took different paths, their wishes were the same.
Hua Wu said "Oh" thoughtfully: "Is this what the storybook says, love and hate each other?"
Tang Ning burst out laughing, patted the little girl's head, turned to Yue Jian and asked, "Where are Sister Yue and the others?"
Yue Jian said: "When the palace was in turmoil, they went to Shoukang Palace. Miss Qian brought people to protect the Empress Dowager."
After a pause, he continued:
"Princess Hui and Miss Wang have also gone there."
Tang Ning thought of the Empress Dowager who had previously offered to use her own funeral rituals as a pretext for the situation, and of Lady Qin's assertion that she would soon die. Her expression darkened. "What are they doing in Shoukang Palace? Didn't I tell you not to disturb the Empress Dowager?"
Yue Jian quickly said, "It was the order of the Grand Empress Dowager."
Tang Ning's face looked a little bad, and he walked out of the imperial study: "Let's go to Shoukang Palace."
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