Chapter 120 Purge is the Best Solution. I need you, and not just...
We arrived at the East Pavilion.
Feng Changshi, who was standing at the door waiting for orders, saw Yu Nie approaching gracefully and stepped forward.
The emperor's favorite gave a bow, and Yu Nie wondered if it was just her imagination, but she felt that Feng Changshi had been much more polite to her lately.
Feng Changshi lowered his voice, afraid of disturbing the people inside.
"Your Highness, what brings you here? Is there something important?"
"It's not really an important matter." She then told him that she had heard about the banditry in the three prefectures and that the emperor had imprisoned Li Xing. She was really worried that the emperor would be angered by this, so she went to the palace specifically to see for herself.
Feng Changshi, the emperor's favorite eunuch, was the palace's top eunuch, whom even the empress sometimes asked to say a few good words to Zhao Yunfu. He had seen all sorts of people.
He can tell at a glance who is telling the truth and who is lying.
He glanced at Yu Nie briefly, then looked back into the pavilion.
Two tall, lacquered red doors were ajar, and it was clear that someone inside was discussing something important.
Looking at the closed palace doors, Yu Nie asked softly, "Attendant Feng, is the Emperor... angry about Li Xing?"
Feng Changshi's expression was respectful, but his behavior revealed a hint of worry: "Oh dear, Your Highness is absolutely right. However, His Majesty is not angry at the moment, but he is undoubtedly talking to Minister Wang and Vice Minister Chen about the matter of Li Huangmen."
Regarding Li Xing's matter, Zhao Yunfu did not arrange for any members of the aristocratic families to get involved.
According to his usual style, there should have been a balance of power between the two sides.
The bias shouldn't be so obvious; at the very least, the gentry and the other side should each send representatives to show fairness.
Upon thinking about this, Yu Nie suddenly had some doubts.
Does Zhao Yunfu not fear that his actions will arouse suspicion and dissatisfaction among the gentry?
Before she could speak, Attendant Feng glanced around to make sure no one could hear him, then leaned in half a step closer and whispered thoughtfully in her ear, "Your Majesty is determined to severely punish Eunuch Li. As you know, the Li family is a powerful clan. His Majesty's actions may cause some people to have doubts. After such a thunderous crackdown, there must be some kind of conclusion, right?"
Yu Nie understood these words perfectly; clearly, Zhao Yunfu was currently focusing his efforts on appeasing the other aristocratic families.
After all, the Li Xing affair had caused such a great uproar that the other aristocratic families would inevitably feel a sense of unease, fearing that they would be the next to suffer.
From Zhao Yunfu's perspective, the most important thing right now is to completely dispel their doubts, stabilize the morale of the aristocratic class, and prevent the situation from becoming turbulent again.
Seeing that she remained silent, Feng Changshi assumed she didn't understand the intricacies of the situation and kindly explained it to her:
"His Majesty is telling the remaining families that his anger is not directed at all the aristocratic families, but only at Li Xing and his cronies who have deceived the emperor and caused a great disaster. At the same time, he is making it clear to them that there is no need to panic, and that the stability of the court still depends on them as pillars of the government."
After saying that, Feng Changshi sighed: "If the crimes committed by Li Huangmen are confirmed this time, it will truly be a cause for lamentation."
Upon hearing this, Yu Nie thought to himself: It's one thing for ordinary people not to know about people like Li Xing, but how could someone as close to the emperor as him not know the character of these people?
Despite her thoughts, a look of regret appeared on her face as she softly echoed, "Who can argue with that? My imperial brother values the Li family so highly, promoting Li Xing to the position of Attendant Gentleman of the Yellow Gate and entrusting him with the important task of disaster relief. Who would have thought he would betray my imperial brother's trust like this?" Her tone was filled with indignation as she finished speaking.
Feng Changshi, who was standing nearby, praised her for truly caring about Zhao Yunfu, saying that since the incident that morning, no one else had come to inquire about his well-being.
Yu Nie simply smiled faintly: "Attendant Feng is too kind. His Majesty is my elder brother. Seeing him get angry and harm his health, I, as his younger sister, naturally worry about him."
Feng Changshi: "The deep affection between Your Highness and His Majesty is truly touching. If His Majesty knew how much Your Highness cares for him, he would surely be more gratified than anything else."
As soon as he finished speaking, the heavy palace doors in front of him creaked open from the inside.
Wang Chang and Chen Boxia walked out slowly, one after the other.
Both men looked extremely serious, showing none of their usual calm and composed demeanor.
Wang Situ, walking ahead, had deep furrows between his brows, looking preoccupied. Following closely behind, Chen Boxia, the Imperial Censor, also wore a worried expression, his gaze slightly lowered.
The two were startled when they saw Yu Nie waiting outside the door. They quickly composed themselves and bowed in greeting.
"May Princess Shunhe be well."
Yu Nie's gaze swept over the two men's faces, then he slowly nodded and said in a steady voice, "Minister Wang, Vice Minister Chen, there is no need for such formalities."
After exchanging greetings, the other two maintained their bowing posture.
Wang Situ spoke first, respectfully saying, "We have important matters to attend to and cannot disturb Your Highness. We will take our leave now."
They had nothing to say to each other; polite formalities were enough.
"You two are busy with official duties, and I'm sure you're both working hard." She replied politely, "I just happened to be going into the palace to visit my brother. Since you two have other matters to attend to, please go ahead and do your work."
"Thank you for your compassion, Princess."
The two bowed again in unison, lowered their eyes, took two steps back, and then turned and left along the corridor.
Yu Nie stood still, watching the two figures gradually disappear into the distance, his originally peaceful gaze suddenly darkening.
She, who was usually good at reading people, failed to discern anything from the other person's eyes.
Only after the two people had completely disappeared around the corner at the end of the corridor did Yu Nie slowly withdraw his gaze.
She turned her head and glanced thoughtfully at the palace gate behind her.
Feng Changshi stood respectfully to the side, bowing, and said, "Your Highness, please come in. His Majesty may be looking forward to seeing you right now, so you can chat with him for a while and relieve the fatigue of official duties."
Yu Nie: "Thank you for your help in conveying this message, Attendant."
Feng Changshi gestured for them to enter, and the two stepped into the pavilion one after the other.
Stepping inside, one is enveloped in an almost stagnant silence.
Feng Changshi walked to a spot not far from the imperial desk, bowed, and reported in a calm tone: "Your Majesty, Princess Shunhe has come to pay her respects."
Zhao Yunfu did not look up.
Yu Nieyi bowed slightly towards the throne and said, "Shunhe greets Your Majesty."
Zhao Yunfu grunted in agreement: "Get up."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
She stood up, raised her eyes slightly, and saw the person in the seat leaning back in the large dragon throne, pinching her brow, while a maid was massaging her shoulders.
His gaze fell on Yu Nie, his voice tinged with weariness: "Why did you decide to come to the palace today, my royal sister? Is there something going on in the palace, or is there something else you want to tell me?"
"I heard about what happened to Li Huangmen and know that Your Majesty is furious about it. I am very worried, so I came to the palace."
She said, "Although national affairs are important, Your Majesty's health is even more crucial to the foundation of the nation. Please take good care of yourself and do not overwork yourself."
After speaking, she lightly raised her hand to Cuiwei, who was attending her behind her.
Cuiwei understood and immediately presented the soup bowl that she had been carefully holding.
She took the soup bowl from his hands and turned around: "I thought that Your Majesty must be feeling very troubled right now, and probably wouldn't even have time to drink water, so I had someone ride back to the palace to fetch this pear juice. I made this pear juice myself, filtering and cooling it. It's mixed with honey to soothe the heart and lungs, and it's especially good for relieving heart fire and moisturizing the throat. I hope Your Majesty will do me the honor of having some, so that it might ease your mind a little."
Zhao Yunfu's gaze fell on the soup bowl, and after a moment, it shifted back to Yu Nie's face, which was filled with worry.
There was a moment of silence in the hall.
A look of surprise flashed across his eyes.
To him, this younger sister was at best a useful pawn. In truth, this was only their third meeting.
The other party had been abandoned in the secondary capital for years, and no one cared about her. If it weren't for the need for a nominal "princess" for this marriage alliance, he would never have remembered that such a person existed.
Bringing her back and settling her in a residence outside the palace, bestowing upon her the honors of a princess, was merely a necessary decoration in a cold political transaction.
He had never imagined that she could care about his family. Although they were siblings, he saw no trace of Hua Ruo, Hua Shu, or anyone else in her.
He paused for a moment on her face, his tone less authoritative than when addressing a subject, and less distant than before. "It's kind of you to go out of your way."
Her lips curved into a gentle smile, revealing a genuine tenderness: "Your Majesty's words are my blessing. However, this pear juice is best enjoyed chilled; if left out for too long, it may lose its original flavor."
Feng Changshi was very perceptive. He stepped forward and respectfully took the cup of pear juice from Yu Nie's hands. He then carried it to the back to conduct the necessary poison test.
After a brief silence, Yu Nie stood still for a moment, her expression carrying just the right amount of worry, and asked softly, "Your Majesty, is that Li Huangmen really..." She paused at the right moment, as if she didn't know how to put it, "This matter must be extremely troublesome. Your Majesty, please take good care of your health and don't worry too much about this."
She said, "Your Majesty, I am ignorant of court affairs. I only hope that this matter can be resolved as soon as possible so that Your Majesty will not have to worry about it."
She skillfully steered the question back to her concerns about the health of those above her, avoiding any suspicion of prying into the details of court affairs. Her eyes were full of worry, showing no trace of "covetousness" for matters of the court.
By first stating "one shouldn't ask too many questions," the suspicion of "interference in politics" was effectively dispelled, thus allaying Zhao Yunfu's suspicions.
"The matter of Li Xing will be resolved soon. I will handle it myself, so my sister need not worry about me." After briefly mentioning Li Xing, he glanced at her and stopped rubbing his temples.
The quiet air inside the hall seemed to freeze for a moment.
His gaze lingered on her face, scrutinizing her.
The immense pressure of the impending empire forced him to execute the plan immediately.
He slowly stood up, his dragon robe drooping down: "The matter I mentioned to you a few days ago, the imperial edict to bestow a marriage upon you and Huan Xun, will be drafted and issued in the next two days."
Caught off guard, Yu Nie's eyes widened slightly: "...What?"
The news came too suddenly. Although she already knew that Zhao Yunfu was going to bestow a marriage upon her, she felt inexplicably nervous. This nervousness had nothing to do with politics, but was more like the throbbing in her heart.
Zhao Yunfu didn't give her much time to react. He took two steps forward and stopped beside the imperial desk.
"The Southern Yin is about to launch a northern expedition, and the local gentry have created such a huge problem. Beset by internal and external troubles, I need the Yan family to quell the rebellion."
He paused, his gaze falling on Yu Nie's face, his eyes filled with a complex expression that made one's heart sink: "But you know what a powerful general with a large army and unparalleled prestige means to the imperial power after the rebellion is quelled. I cannot be unprepared."
"Huan Xun is Yan Yue's adopted son. You will marry into the family and keep an eye on the Yan family's movements. If they make any unusual moves in the future, you must report to me."
Then he revealed an even more important purpose: "I need you, not just to be Huan Xun's wife, not just to monitor his loyalty, but also to ensure that he will serve me and have no other intentions. I need you by his side to keep an eye on him, stabilize him, and control him."
He said, "You are my sister, a daughter of the Zhao family, do you understand?"
She lowered her eyelashes, her face showing gentle and respectful demeanor: "Your Majesty understands. Your Majesty's plans are far-sighted, all for the sake of the country. Your Majesty will respectfully follow His Majesty's will."
Zhao Yunfu saw that she had given him the answer he wanted; what he needed was a compliant and useful tool. Clearly, she met his requirements.
"Hmm." He was quite satisfied with her reaction.
He sat back on the dragon throne and waved his hand: "I still have state affairs to attend to. You may go back and rest."
"Yes, Your Majesty, I take my leave." Yu Nie bowed again, looked down at the ground, and then quietly withdrew from the East Pavilion.
Just as she left, Attendant Feng returned carrying a soup bowl.
He walked to Zhao Yunfu's side and placed the soup bowl beside him: "Your Majesty, it has been tested and is not poisonous."
Zhao Yunfu looked at the fragrant pear syrup in the bowl but didn't touch it.
Feng Changshi noticed that his master was preoccupied and whispered, "Is Your Majesty worried about the banditry in the three prefectures?"
Zhao Yunfu did not answer immediately, and after a long while he said, "I thought these aristocratic families could restrain themselves, but now they have caused such a big mess. If Nan Yin launches a northern expedition now, wouldn't Bei Ye be stuck in a quagmire?"
Upon hearing this, Attendant Feng's eyes darted around: "Internal and external troubles are the most taboo things throughout history. Li Xing has caused such a mess, yet the other three families are still only thinking about how to get a share of the spoils on the battlefield and vying for power and profit. The commoners and the gentry are constantly fighting each other. Before the army even moves, internal strife has already begun... If war breaks out and the rear is so unstable, wouldn't that be putting the lifeline of the country on the fire?"
Anyone else who said such a thing would only face execution. But Feng Changshi had been by Zhao Yunfu's side since he was young and was one of the few people he trusted.
After a brief pause, Attendant Feng observed Zhao Yunfu's expression. Seeing that he did not rebuke him, he continued cautiously, "This old servant dares to speak frankly, but these aristocratic families, even with the nation in peril, are so ignorant of the bigger picture. If we cannot uproot them and thoroughly eliminate them, I fear that when the whole country is fighting against the enemy, they will be the most vulnerable point."
Fearing Zhao Yunfu might misunderstand, he immediately added another sentence, his words perfectly chosen:
"Of course, this matter is far-reaching and extraordinary. The slightest action will shake the court and the public. This old servant is foolish, but... but the thought that this is ultimately a major threat buried beside Your Majesty makes me very worried. I hope Your Majesty will think it over carefully."
After hearing this, Zhao Yunfu remained silent for a long time.
In the brief silence, a sharp, hesitant glint flashed in his eyes, filled with complex emotions.
“I am well aware of the implications, but this matter cannot be rushed.” Zhao Yunfu slowly waved his hand, his expression as heavy as if he were carrying a thousand-pound burden: “A single move can affect the whole situation. Given the current circumstances, it is not the right time to take action. You may leave now.”
"His Majesty……"
"Go down first."
Feng Changshi certainly understood what he was worried about, but it was best not to say too much and to leave it at that.
Zhao Yunfu, who has always been afraid of a single dominant player, could not possibly make a decision so quickly.
He said no more, bowed properly, and quietly left the East Pavilion, turning back every few steps.
Inside the main hall, Zhao Yunfu was left alone in an instant.
He lost all interest in looking at the memorials on the table and got up to walk to the door.
His gaze passed over the majestic palace, looking towards the distant horizon, his eyes unfathomable.
He proceeded step by step, meticulously planning, but his opponents wouldn't wait for him to be fully prepared.
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Author's Note: It was quite an eventful day. While writing, I went to the bathroom and discovered that the angle valve was leaking. I went downstairs to buy a new one to replace it, but halfway through removing it, my pliers broke. I had to buy a good wrench and spent ages disassembling and reassembling it. Just as I finally got it replaced, the water pipe connecting to the angle valve malfunctioned. It was too late, so I'll have to replace it tomorrow. [Clown] (But I learned a new skill today [glasses])
By the way, starting tomorrow, updates will be at 9 PM as usual.
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