Pei Yuanhui was twenty-one years old when he ascended the throne. Now, after five years on the throne, he has finally managed to eliminate most of the henchmen left behind by the late emperor.
For example, the Zhou family, the Xue family, and the Fu family, as well as many other aristocratic families that have long since disappeared.
Pei Yuanhui wanted to support children from poor families, so he paid more attention to the Song family, which had a shallow foundation, or to families like the Chi family, who could make their way in the future through military achievements.
However, Empress Dowager Zhou was wise and selected Consort Zhou to enter the palace early on. The Zhou family did indeed have capable members, such as the Empress Dowager's own younger brother, Zhou Cheng. But the old Grand Tutor Zhou was so unreasonable and demanding, pressing her step by step, and Empress Dowager Zhou pretended to be confused behind the scenes. It was really despicable.
Pei Yuanhui could not rest easy until the court was thoroughly cleansed, so he naturally wanted to take advantage of this incident to clean up the court in one fell swoop.
Even if he can't completely eradicate them, Pei Yuanhui will at least pull out those few fangs.
He wanted to use Zhou Cheng as an excuse to make a fuss. Zhou Cheng was indeed capable and efficient, especially in the field of river management and water conservancy.
But his sons were all good-for-nothing playboys.
The autumn imperial examinations are just around the corner.
Pei Yuanhui thought for a while, and in addition to choosing Lady Fu to serve him in bed, he also instructed Jinyang to prepare for his departure from the palace to the Imperial Academy.
Oh, and there's one more crucial thing.
Pei Yuanhui twitched the corner of his mouth, revealing utter indifference.
"Since that old man is unwilling to go to Zhaowen Academy, then let everyone in Zhaowen Academy know that he looks down on the academy?"
That old geezer Zhou Yuzhong himself came from the Zhaowen Academy.
Of course, Zhou Yuzhong didn't completely look down on Zhaowen Hall, but rather felt that Pei Yuanhui had given too little.
In the imperial court, most high-ranking officials held multiple positions, which not only demonstrated the emperor's high regard for them but also showcased their abilities.
Furthermore, it also saves on so-called salary.
Whether or not this salary was actually saved, only the Three Departments and the Emperor themselves knew.
...
Because of the affairs of the previous dynasty, Pei Yuanhui summoned Lady Fu that night and then neglected the harem.
Along with the chief eunuch Jin Yang, he also became busy inside and outside the palace. There were some things that the Chi family couldn't help with.
This is the helplessness of military generals.
I heard that Consort Chi's father and brother have gone to war again, but they are not in the same place. This was only after the court officials strongly urged them to leave.
So only Miao Xi, Jin Yang's apprentice, went into the inner palace every day to check on the frail Second Princess and Consort Cao, who was always complaining.
Elsewhere, the officials didn't even ask a single question.
Huo Yiyun, who had just been released from confinement, had tried her best to send soups and broths to the Funing Palace, but the Emperor didn't even give them a second glance.
Not only her, but all the women in the harem who couldn't see the Emperor naturally wanted to send him some soup or liquid, but none of the things they sent made a ripple.
Three to five days would be fine, but if it continued like this for ten days in a row, even Huo Qinghe would find it hard to sit still.
After seeing her younger brother on the Mid-Autumn Festival, she was eager to win the emperor's favor and make him remember her.
But now that the government is like this, she is naturally powerless to do anything about it.
Her sources of information were never very reliable, so Huo Yiyun naturally wouldn't take the initiative to tell her news from the Emperor.
Fortunately, the eunuch whom Wang Mama had helped in the past, who is now a second-class eunuch in the imperial court, was able to pass on the message, so Huo Qinghe vaguely knew something.
But this is also thanks to Wang Mama's efforts in cultivating relationships recently.
Huo Qinghe only kept Granny Wang by her side to talk.
"Judging from what Zhique said, it seems that the Emperor has been ill these past few days, which is why he has no interest in the harem."
Zhi Que is the young eunuch who once received help from Granny Wang and now works in front of the emperor.
Wang Mama's words were like a thunderclap thrown into a calm lake.
Huo Qinghe frowned in puzzlement: "It is customary that if the Emperor is ill, the concubines should take turns attending to him. But why haven't we heard any news about it these past few days? Is there some other reason behind this?"
She could also sense that something was wrong.
Granny Wang nodded slightly, her expression also very serious: "From what Zhique is saying... His Majesty does not want to make a fuss, and even the morning court sessions have never been suspended."
Huo Qinghe still frowned: "If His Majesty is ill, and it's just a minor cold? Then the people serving him are really careless."
This time, Granny Wang shook her head: "I asked that too. But Zhique shook her head and said no. It was indeed a cold, but it seemed to be partly due to being angered by the officials of the previous dynasty. The emperor was diligent in his duties and loved the people, so he dragged his sick body to court, which made the cold... even more serious."
What a strange thing to say, that he was angered to death by the censors of the previous dynasty?
Huo Qinghe had only ever heard such things in storytelling or other popular literature before, and she never expected to actually hear them after entering the palace.
After all, the emperor is the supreme ruler; who can restrain him?
But then Huo Qinghe thought again, wherever there are people, there will naturally be competition for interests, and naturally there will be unavoidable choices and helplessness.
Just like how she was forced to enter the palace.
She thought about it.
"But now that the little sparrow knows, the nanny knows, and I know, then naturally others will know as well. Soon, many people in the palace will know that the Emperor is ill."
Yes, if the Emperor had truly intended to keep it a secret, Huo Qinghe would never know.
After all, her sources of information were never very reliable; she only found out about this after the Emperor had been ill for several days.
"So, what are you planning to do, madam?" asked Granny Wang.
Huo Qinghe shook her head: "I need to let the Emperor know about me, but I can't go too far. The Emperor is ill, so there's not much he can do."
If she goes too far, it might even arouse suspicion from her beloved elder sister.
“You’re right, madam. These past few days, the palaces have been sending soups and broths to Funing Palace. Even if we send them there now, it won’t stand out too much.”
Huo Qinghe rested her chin on her hand, smiling without saying a word; clearly, she already had a plan in mind.
Wang Mama understood: "Then please give us any instructions, madam."
Huo Qinghe picked up the book on the table and couldn't help but sigh.
There is still some connection between the imperial court and the harem.
Her father was a relatively low-profile civil official in the imperial court, but he had worked his way up to his current position after many years in local government.
As she grew older and became more sensible, Huo Qinghe vaguely remembered who her father had apprenticed under and how he had gradually made it through.
It seems to be the Zhang family.
The situation in the previous dynasty was complex, and Huo Qinghe still couldn't understand it.
You should read more books.
Huo Qinghe patted her face with the book, but the ink fragrance made her feel nauseous.
...
The Emperor did not enter the inner palace for ten consecutive days. On the 27th of August, Empress Xue went to the Funing Palace to visit him.
Before noon, news of the Emperor's illness spread like wildfire.
However, Empress Xue said that there was no need for everyone to visit her, and only allowed a few high-ranking concubines to take turns attending to her in the imperial presence.
Firstly, it would be useless for people to be present in front of the emperor, and secondly, it was also to avoid disturbing the emperor's peace and quiet while he was recuperating.
Huo Qinghe received the news and immediately began to take action.
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