The rebuke from Emperor Xia and the Director of the Imperial Observatory caused all the officials in the court to fall silent. Even Yan Taichang, who had made this suggestion, had a sudden change of expression.
He pushed the fifth prince to preside over the conference to fight for the power of the Imperial Observatory. It was normal for the Imperial Observatory to react.
But Emperor Xia, who had been watching the struggles among his ministers coldly, actually had such a reaction, which was definitely beyond Yan Taichang's expectations.
The other ministers also raised their eyebrows.
They all knew very well that the theory of astrology was largely just a toy for those in power. As long as prosperity prevailed, even if Mars moved, human destiny would suppress it.
The so-called sweeping away of the evil spirits in the southern region was just a rhetoric. Yan Taichang's real purpose was to let the Fifth Prince represent Emperor Xia to preside over the conference and seize the Imperial Observatory's dominance over the conference.
This would not only enhance the prestige of the Fifth Prince, but also allow him to legitimately intervene in the affairs of the Imperial Observatory, thus increasing the foundation for the Fifth Prince's future fight for the throne.
They had no intention of getting involved in the struggle for imperial power, but they absolutely supported the idea of limiting the power of the Imperial Observatory.
However, they never expected that the current result seemed to be beyond their expectations.
Sitting on the dragon throne, Emperor Xia had an extremely gloomy expression.
I thought it was just a court struggle, but it turned out that Yan Taichang was involved in the struggle for imperial power.
If it were just that, it would be just a small matter.
Emperor Xia never minded his descendants fighting overtly and covertly for imperial power, just as he had always watched his subjects fight for power.
He had enough confidence in himself to be able to control everything, so he was not afraid of the chaos among his descendants.
But Yan Taichang should never have involved himself in what happened in the three states of the southern region and claimed that there were unusual movements of Mars in the three states of the southern region.
The ministers in the court were unaware of the truth behind the disasters in the three southern states, but how could he and the Director of the Imperial Observatory not know?
Behind these seemingly disastrous events, it is the Supreme Taoist who is saving the world.
The evil dragon was slain in Dongting Lake, and the heavy rain that was brought down by the rain-praying magic was calmed down, so that the three hundred miles of flood water returned to Dongting Lake and the disaster was minimized.
A war broke out between the monsters in the mountains of Yunfu and the Yunzhou Zhennan Army, but it did not cause many casualties. Instead, the Supreme Taoist killed the evil leader of the Xuehe Yuantu Sect, Kuang Tianjie, in the process.
Killing a giant demon from the realm of true immortality is enough to save countless lives. The casualties in that war are insignificant in comparison.
Later, when the Yunfu monsters besieged the Yunfu market, the Supreme Taoist appeared in person to drive the monsters away.
All these deeds are enough to prove that this Supreme Taoist is definitely a decent person. This is also the reason why the Imperial Astronomical Observatory changed its previous wait-and-see attitude and chose to contact the Supreme Taoist with the help of the Palace Patriarch of Rongcheng Dayutian.
These things can only be done in secret and cannot be made public.
However, with Yan Taichang's words that the Purple Star of the Three Provinces in the Southern Region was dimming and there was a sign that Mars was guarding the heart, he directly beat the Supreme Taoist into the Mars disaster god who brought chaos to Daxia.
Emperor Xia felt his heart tremble and his eyes were filled with anger.
Imagine if you were the supreme Taoist who saved the world. When you heard that the Minister of Rites, the head of the Nine Ministers in the court, labeled you as the demon god Mars, would you have any good feelings towards this court?
Even if it is just Taichang's personal opinion, since it has been placed in the court, it represents the will of Daxia.
If it was said in private, there was still the option of blocking the news, but if it was said directly in front of all the officials in the court, there was no possibility of blocking the news at all.
What's more, that supreme Taoist has reached the great path of earthly immortality, and his realm has long been unfathomable. Maybe the words just spoken in the court have been understood by him.
The attempt he and the Imperial Observatory were making with great care to carefully contact the Supreme Taoist might be ruined in an instant because of Yan Taichang's selfishness.
Thinking of this, Emperor Xia looked at the Imperial Observatory with eyes filled with anger.
Feeling the gaze of Emperor Xia, the Imperial Observatory's face became serious and he stepped out from the head of the ministers and said:
"Your Majesty, I have something to report!"
"explain!"
“I have received news from the Imperial Observatory that Yan Taichang had a private meeting with the Ambassador of Yingzhou a week ago.
The ambassador of Yingzhou is troubled by the decline of humanity in Yingzhou and the presence of hundreds of ghosts wandering at night. He wishes to ask Your Majesty for a talisman from the Lord of Mount Tai to suppress the ghosts.
His Majesty was unwilling to meet with the ambassador from Yingzhou, so the ambassador secretly contacted Yan Taichang, hoping to find the Taishan Lord's edict from Yan Taichang.
The Taishan Lord's Talisman is a treasure of the underworld and the foundation of the inheritance of the city gods of Great Xia. I have reason to suspect that Yan Taichang has leaked the secret of the Taishan Lord's Talisman.
I beg your Majesty to issue an order to arrest Yan Taichang and Ambassador Yingzhou to prevent the secret of the underworld treasure from being leaked!"
Yan Taichang suddenly widened his eyes and said angrily, "You are slandering me! I have absolutely no connection with the Yingzhou ambassador. Your Majesty, please understand!"
Xia Di's majestic voice was a little cold, and he said in a deep voice:
"Yan Xu leaked the secret of the underworld treasure, was dismissed from his post as Minister of Rites, and his entire family was exiled to Manzhou.
Yan Xu will be taken to the imperial prison to investigate the incident and executed in the autumn."
There was a slight pause, and Emperor Xia's voice became a little more gentle.
"As for the Yingzhou ambassador, let's kill him as well!"
As soon as he finished speaking, two soldiers wearing silver armor and holding weapons stepped into the Golden Palace. The anger on Yan Taichang's face had turned into deep fear.
The Three Dukes and Nine Ministers of the Humane Dynasty are all important officials of the country. If they are dealt with arbitrarily, it will inevitably lead to national unrest and shake the foundation of the dynasty.
As the head of the Nine Ministers, he is in charge of offering sacrifices to the gods and ghosts of heaven, earth, and humans, and is in charge of the city gods in the underworld. His status is extremely respected.
Even if he intervened in the struggle for imperial power, it would be impossible for him to be directly imprisoned on trumped-up charges. The things involved were by no means as simple as they seemed.
It is even possible that not only he is implicated, but also the Fifth Prince, whom he favors.
"Your Majesty, I am guilty. Please let the Fifth Prince go!"
"This matter was done by Old Chen on his own will. It has absolutely nothing to do with the Fifth Prince!"
"Your Majesty, please show some leniency!"
The shrill roar of Yan Taichang gradually faded away, and all the officials in the court felt a chill.
They knew very well that there was no way that Yan Taichang would be able to return to the country and live beyond tomorrow while in the imperial prison.
And what Yan Taichang said made everyone feel chilled to the bone.
The fifth prince is the most talented prince in the royal family. His cultivation has reached the initial stage of Qi training and he is regarded as one of the heirs to the throne.
This incident not only caused the Minister of Rites, one of the head of the Nine Ministers, to be imprisoned, but it also had the potential to endanger the fifth prince.
Just as the ministers were in a state of confusion, Emperor Xia, sitting on the dragon throne, said in a low voice:
"What happened today must not be spread outside."
However, a Taichang who was imprisoned had wide implications. How could such a matter be kept completely secret?
The symbolic significance of Emperor Xia's words is far greater than their practical effect.
"Retreat!"
The ministers bowed and left the Golden Palace.
In the empty hall, only Emperor Xia and the Director of the Imperial Observatory were left.
"The matter of the Supreme Daoist must not be leaked. This accident can only be caused by the Imperial Observatory's plot to take over the position of the Grand Master of Ceremonies."
Xia Di's voice was flat, as if he was stating a fact.
The meaning is very simple, that is, to let the Imperial Observatory take the initiative to bear the responsibility for designing and murdering Taichang, and to reduce the negative impact as much as possible.
The Imperial Observatory bowed nonchalantly:
"Yan Taichang is in charge of the affairs of the City God of the Underworld, and the Imperial Astronomical Observatory is not at ease.
Now that Yan Taichang has taken the initiative to intervene in the struggle for imperial power and has been caught, it is only natural for the Imperial Observatory to add fuel to the flames."
Emperor Xia nodded with satisfaction.
Afterwards, the Golden Throne Hall fell into silence again.
The Imperial Observatory was looking directly at Emperor Xia behind the pearl curtain, and Emperor Xia seemed to be hesitating about something.
Finally, the Imperial Observatory spoke:
"Your Majesty, the Fifth Prince may be behind the incident of Mars guarding the heart.
Your Majesty can even give up the Minister of Rites, and would rather shake the dynasty's fortune than cause that person's dislike, but you softened your heart in front of the prince?"
Emperor Xia was silent.
After a long while, Xia Di's voice became emotionless and indifferent.
"He is your disciple, go and see him off!"