However, it was surprisingly difficult to find someone on their own side who could speak for them in the court.
Even though he didn't want to admit it, Cui Minghao knew that they were really in big trouble this time.
"No one can be used?" Liu Ziyue was shocked. "How is that possible? There are so many scions of powerful families in the court, how could there be no one to use?"
“Starting from Emperor Wenzong, the Ji family began to value the eunuch faction, and the power of aristocratic families in the court was gradually diminished. Now, they especially trust the eunuch faction, and the power we originally held has been further divided up. The situation has changed drastically, and we are no longer comparable to what we were before!”
"Really?" Liu Ziyue became serious.
"You can think about it carefully."
The powerful families had already contributed to the country, and the Ji family had learned from the lessons of the previous dynasty, especially guarding against the dictatorship of maternal relatives, which provided them with even better conditions.
When the eunuch faction was first introduced, no one took it seriously. They were a group of sycophantic lackeys who might not even be literate and posed no threat.
By the time they realized what was going on, it was too late to eradicate the problem, so they could only try their best to suppress and exclude the other party.
Unfortunately, this still allowed this group to gain a foothold in the court.
"Why don't we make peace with His Majesty?" Liu Ziyue said nervously. "It's just canceling the preferential treatment in the imperial examinations, which isn't a big loss."
"What do you know?" Cui Minghao's face instantly turned ugly. Looking at Liu Ziyue who had spoken, he wished he could slap him to death. "The loss is indeed not very big, but it broke the rules. If they can cancel the preferential treatment for the imperial examination today, they can treat the aristocratic families like pigs and dogs tomorrow. What will we use to gamble then? Do you want the events of the previous dynasty to repeat themselves?"
Why did they support Mao Zedong's rebellion at all costs? Wasn't it because they couldn't stand being treated like fat sheep and slaughtered one after another?
They've just had a good period, and now they're doing this? Won't it further suppress them?
If it were him, he wouldn't stop after tasting such benefits; the previous dynasty was the best example. Therefore, Cui Minghao had no hope for Ji Xuan at all.
"What should we do then?" Liu Ziyue asked anxiously. "If there's no one in the court to protect us, who will protect us? Are we really going to fight it out?"
Although everyone knew the situation was perilous, no one really wanted to fight to the death.
It was just a reform of the imperial examination system; in the end, it didn't have much impact. It's really not worth sacrificing your entire family for it.
Moreover, the rise of a powerful family requires many factors; once it falls, it is nothing short of a pipe dream to rise again.
The Liu family had only recently risen to prominence, and they understood the hardships they had endured better than others, and were even less willing to accept this situation.
Things are different now. They no longer have anything to restrain Liu An, and they can no longer use people so easily as before.
"Can you withstand it?"
“Of course we can’t resist,” Liu Ziyue shook his head. “We can’t really rebel. If we have to take action now, we can only respond indirectly.”
The Ji family's rule is now secure, and they are no longer the rebel army that needed their support. After all, a noble family is not the royal family, and they still have to abide by the principles of loyalty between ruler and subject.
“It’s a pity,” Cui Minghao said with great regret, “Back then, Emperor Taizu refused to allow us to raise a private army.”
The conditions that were clearly agreed upon at the beginning have turned into a ban. The Ji family's despicable behavior has been brewing for some time.
It's hateful that he's been deceived by appearances all this time, only realizing this now.
"It's a real shame."
Although Liu Ziyue responded in this way, he did not take it seriously.
Only an idiot like Emperor Taizu would agree to such outrageous conditions. Back then, powerful families could cobble together an army of 100,000 just by offering bribes. If they could legitimately maintain their own private armies, the Ji family's throne would collapse.
If that were the case, the Liu family would probably have been out of the picture long ago.
"The most urgent task is to win over the officials."
It's a pity that people don't appreciate women these days, otherwise a honey trap would have been a good idea. It's a pity that the Cui family girl entered the palace, only to waste her life.
The more Cui Minghao thought about it, the more dissatisfied he became with Ji Xuan.
If the timing hadn't been wrong, he really would have liked to rebel.
"I'll leave this to Brother Cui."
Ever since leaving southern Henan, An Ge Lao had a bad feeling.
Sure enough, he encountered an ambush as soon as he left the city. The attackers were aggressive and their attacks were deadly. If he hadn't been prepared, he might have really been killed here.
Afterwards, Grand Secretary An looked at the messy scene and fell into deep thought.
Although the An family has offended powerful families, they dare not harm him. This action seems to deliberately provoke hatred between the two sides.
Immediately, a figure appeared in my mind.
"Qi Yong, this sect will settle all accounts sooner or later!"
Even when he's in Shandong, he can still cause trouble; if he were to come back...
Thinking of this, Grand Secretary An's expression became solemn.
Although he usually showed disdain for eunuchs like him, he was actually very wary of them.
Such unattached people are the most cunning, acting without restraint, and their methods are ruthless and vicious, extremely hurtful.
For example, even though he has clearly analyzed that the aristocratic family is not the murderer, he still can't help but have doubts.
It's like buying a seed, which is always ready to sprout.
"Your Excellency, shall we continue our journey?"
"Can't you speak properly?" Upon hearing the words "on the road" after just surviving an assassination attempt, Elder An immediately flew into a rage. "That's called traveling. If you can't speak properly, then don't speak at all."
"Your Excellency, please calm your anger. I know I was wrong."
"Alright, let's not waste any more time, let's get on the road!"
"yes!"
In the town.
Ever since hearing about the Western Regions, Manager Jin has been restless.
Knowing full well that going west was unreliable, they were still blinded by the prospect of profit. The mere thought of the possibility of something going wrong made it impossible for them to suppress their restless hearts.
Finally, they gathered the old comrades together.
After weathering many storms, the group at Wuweilou has become even closer. Although they are in a small workshop, they are more motivated than before, and almost everyone is giving their all to contribute to this small group.
"There's something I want to discuss with you." Although Manager Jin appeared calm, he was actually very nervous inside.
As a businessman with over thirty years of experience, regardless of his success or failure, his desire for wealth is more urgent than that of ordinary people.
"Shopkeeper, what is it?"
Even after he left Wuweilou, everyone still called him the manager as always.
This is not just a title, but also a form of recognition and remembrance.
"Do you want to buy Wuweilou?"
Although my life is fulfilling now and I can make money, I still can't let go of the past.
Wuweilou embodies all their hard work and has spent most of their lives there. Leaving it suddenly, even if they are open-minded, they still cannot let go.
That's why I opened a restaurant without thinking twice.
“Of course I want to,” Qiushan’s eyes were slightly moist. “Back then, the family only gave us an empty house. We had to buy every bowl and chopstick. It took decades of hard work to grow the restaurant. I used to think I could work at Wuweilou for the rest of my life, until I got too old to work.”
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