"I'm talking about how to deal with the current situation."
Ji Xuan was very dissatisfied with Grand Secretary Zhong's perfunctory attitude.
What he wants are solutions, not impractical empty talk.
"Your Majesty," Grand Secretary Zhong said, looking troubled, "this old minister has no good solution either."
Upon hearing this, the temperature around Ji Xuan instantly dropped several degrees.
"Does Minister Zhong know that if we let them continue to cause trouble, both the imperial court and the common people will be in complete chaos?"
Internal strife within powerful families is a good thing, provided it's within a controllable range.
But now, it has clearly gone beyond that range.
"This old minister is incompetent," Zhong Ping said, looking very troubled. "I really can't think of a solution."
Even if he did, he wouldn't dare say it.
Those people are at their most frenzied. If we go against them now, the An family's present will become the Zhong family's future.
Anjia suffered severe damage in just two days, severely undermining its foundation. Even if it can overcome the difficulties, it will take five or six years to recover.
The prerequisite for recovery is that An Qingyun can live until that time!
The cost was too high; Zhong Ping dared not gamble with the entire Zhong family.
"Alright," Ji Xuan waved her hand, "You can go now."
"This old minister takes his leave!"
Upon hearing this, Grand Secretary Zhong, without even looking at Ji Xuan's reaction, hurriedly retreated, fearing that if he lingered even a moment longer, he would be called back.
After Zhong Ping left, Ji Xuan's eyes became deep and unfathomable.
"Your Majesty," Eunuch Yuan said slyly, "with the nation in peril, it is rather inappropriate for Grand Secretary Zhong to retreat like a tortoise."
On the one hand, he really disliked Grand Secretary Ji Ji and tried his best to seize every opportunity to trip him up, wanting to get rid of this extremely annoying enemy.
On the other hand, he also really disapproved of Grand Secretary Zhong's lack of responsibility.
The capital is in chaos because of the powerful families' meddling, and grain prices are soaring, yet he continues to deal with things perfunctorily as before, which is truly out of step with the times.
If it weren't for the fact that the emperor needed capable people, he probably wouldn't have been so patient long ago.
“An old fox,” Ji Xuan said, her expression unreadable. “Ignore him for now.”
He'll regret it sooner or later.
"Your Majesty," Eunuch Yuan said cautiously, "the powerful families are now buying up grain on a large scale. Shouldn't we think of something to do?"
"Let them receive it," Ji Xuan beckoned Xiao Yuanzi closer, whispered something, and then instructed, "Remember to personally deliver the secret letter to General Wang."
"Yes, ma'am."
The old man's dark pupils were filled with a sharp light, and he could hardly contain his excitement. After bowing respectfully, he immediately turned and left.
Cui Mansion.
With the imperial court remaining silent for a long time, Cui Minghao grew uneasy.
"Brother Liu, have you noticed anything unusual?"
"No, Brother Cui, have you discovered anything?"
“No,” Cui Minghao frowned, “but things going too smoothly is unsettling.”
"It wasn't exactly smooth sailing," Liu Ziyue shook his head. "The An family is like a mad dog, biting indiscriminately. We've suffered heavy losses too. As expected of the Grand Secretary's family, they do have some resources."
They had just vandalized the shop in the morning, and by the afternoon, the shopkeeper had already deployed people to guard it, filling the shelves to the brim with goods. They were even able to turn the tables on these people. Their methods were truly admirable.
"Speaking of Grand Secretaries, didn't your Liu family also produce one?"
“It’s different,” Liu Ziyue said, pursing his lips. “My husband doesn’t have a good relationship with the family and has been dragged down for decades. He’s been harboring resentment for a long time. It’s good enough if he doesn’t take the opportunity to kick us while we’re down.”
The family had been on guard against this, fearing that their already difficult situation would worsen. Fortunately, he was not in Beijing.
"No matter what, we are still of the same clan and lineage, and blood is thicker than water."
"If you were betrayed by your family and lost even your own flesh and blood, would you still say such things?"
Now that things have come to this, he's not afraid to expose it directly, since these things have long been an open secret, but no one has dared to discuss them.
Thanks to Liu An's influence, the Liu family transformed from an insignificant third-rate family into a first-rate aristocratic family. Although they lost the favor of Grand Secretary Liu, the benefits to hundreds of family members were well worth it.
Upon hearing this, Cui Minghao chuckled awkwardly twice.
Not only will he not, but he will also fight his family to the death and take revenge with all his might.
"Since you have control over Liu Xun and his mother, can't you use them to your advantage?"
“I’m afraid that’s difficult too,” Liu Ziyue said, even more embarrassed than Cui Minghao had been. “The mother and son were also forcibly assigned to him by the clan.”
Cui Minghao: ......
I had completely forgotten about it.
I can't blame myself, after all, this is truly bizarre.
Born into the Liu family, Grand Secretary Liu was destined for a tragic life!
The Liu family is also strange. Such a promising person, they don't think about currying favor with him, but instead try to control and manipulate him. Aren't they afraid of being turned against them one day?
At this moment, Cui Minghao labeled the Liu family as stupid as donkeys.
For some reason, he began to be wary of Liu Ziyue.
If you don't keep a close eye on this kind of incompetent teammate, they will definitely drag everyone down with them.
"It seems that it won't work out with Grand Secretary Liu."
Upon hearing this, Liu Ziyue breathed a slight sigh of relief, "Yes."
He didn't hesitate to expose his family's dirty laundry, which finally made the Cui family give up their idea.
At this point, it would be best if Liu An didn't get involved.
Firstly, they didn't trust Liu An, who wasn't close to the family and might even take advantage of their misfortune.
Secondly, even if things were exposed, a bloodline would still remain. Regardless of whether Liu An was willing to admit it or not, he would still bear the surname Liu.
The meat can rot in the pot, but it can't be given away to outsiders. No matter how much they fight among themselves, it's still a fight among family members. If it's given to outsiders, that's a different story.
“Our families still have some influence among the common people, but we are rather weak in the imperial court,” Cui Minghao said, rubbing his forehead in exasperation. “We are in a very passive position right now, and we must think of a solution.”
Thinking back to the heyday of these aristocratic families, they occupied ninety percent of the important positions in the court, with the Cui family even having two Grand Secretaries.
But now...
The highest-ranking person in the Cui family was only the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice; even the Minister hadn't achieved that position.
Although An and Liu were both senior ministers from prominent families, one was turned against his family, and the other was already estranged from his family.
Unbeknownst to them, their influence in the court was diminishing, yet they remained oblivious, clinging to their past glory and legacy with self-satisfaction.
Looking back suddenly, Cui Minghao broke out in a cold sweat.
The Ji family has unknowingly devoured so much of their power; it's terrifying.
"No, we absolutely cannot sit idly by and wait to die!"
Feeling a sudden sense of crisis, Cui Minghao became as alert as a black lion protecting its territory.
"Haven't we already started our counterattack?" Liu Ziyue asked, puzzled. "Why is Brother Cui so nervous?"
“This is just a facade,” Cui Minghao said in a deep voice. “In fact, we have no one left to rely on in the court.”
As for those he secretly bribed, he didn't trust them.
They were only related by marriage; if they could be bribed by them, they could naturally be turned against the court. In critical moments, it's still the people on your own side who you can rely on.
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