Chapter 132 The political situation in the imperial court is indeed changing rapidly.
This trip to Hebei Province was far more challenging than any previous disaster relief effort.
In addition to comforting the disaster victims, it was also necessary to quell the riots, so Li Yuanzhao was to lead his team to set off the next day.
Before her departure, she made a special appeal in the court to "raise funds," earnestly requesting that officials and wealthy households in the capital generously donate grain to the disaster victims to help them overcome the difficulties.
At first, everyone hesitated and watched.
Firstly, there had never been any donation of grain for disaster relief before; secondly, the situation in Hebei Province was still unclear, so who would be willing to give up their own property to fill the country's hole for no reason?
To everyone's surprise, the Pei family took the initiative to donate 100,000 strings of cash and 1,000 shi of grain. Su Jingzhi, who was known for his "frugality" and was even a bit stingy, also donated 50,000 strings of cash.
With these two families taking the lead, the other officials and wealthy households could no longer sit idly by.
In an effort to curry favor with the Emperor and the Princess, they all vied to express their opinions.
In less than half a day, more than 500,000 strings of cash worth of supplies were raised.
In order to appease Li Yuanzhao, who had just been released from confinement and was now shouldering heavy responsibilities, and also to reward meritorious officials and stabilize the morale of the court, the emperor issued several decrees in quick succession.
First, the Minister of Justice, who had been exiled, was recalled to the capital and reinstated to his original post.
Furthermore, all other officials who had been implicated and demoted because of Li Yuanzhao were reinstated and promoted.
In order to reward the Pei and Su families for their noble deeds in this fundraising, Pei Huaijin and Su Qingci were specially promoted.
Pei Huaijin was promoted from Zhongshu Sheren to Libu Shilang, in charge of the promotion and evaluation of all officials.
Su Qingci rose from a fifth-rank Hanlin Academician to become the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice.
Although the title of Hanlin Academician was prestigious, it was merely a nominal position with no real authority, only responsible for drafting and compiling documents, and the academicians did not even have the right to participate in court discussions.
The Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice was a genuine fourth-rank official position, who not only participated in court discussions but was also responsible for drafting laws and adjudicating cases, wielding considerable power.
On the day the decree was issued, everyone couldn't help but sigh at how rapidly the situation in the court could change.
Just a month ago, the Cui family was at the height of its power, but in the blink of an eye, it collapsed.
The eldest princess, who was thought by everyone to have "lost power and was doomed," was suddenly not only released from confinement, but also gained even more power than before.
The following morning, banners fluttered and armor gleamed in front of the gates of Kyoto.
Li Yuanzhao, clad in soft armor, rode a tall horse, followed by three thousand light cavalry led by Shen Churong, and dozens of wagons laden with donated money and grain.
Before setting off, she reined in her horse, tilted her head slightly, and looked over the surging crowd in front of the city gate to her father, whose figure on the city wall looked slightly aged.
When their eyes met, a barely perceptible glint of cold light flashed in her eyes, and she immediately looked away and turned her horse around.
"Set off!"
With her command, the army marched in a mighty force toward Hebei Province.
No sooner had Li Yuanzhao left than Li Yuanshu could not contain himself and hurriedly went to the palace to see his father, the emperor.
Upon entering Yanying Hall, she saw Imperial Physician Lin massaging her father.
It's obvious that his old headaches have flared up again.
Li Yuanshu had an idea and pretended to use the same trick again, cutting off pieces of flesh to make medicine.
Little Bell said, "The princess's constitution is yin, and her flesh is cold, which clashes with the properties of the medicine. Taking it will worsen His Majesty's condition."
Upon hearing this, the Emperor frowned and waved his hand, saying, "Don't cause trouble, go down."
Li Yuanshu was both angry and annoyed by her father's merciless reprimand and expulsion, and her pretty face turned bright red.
She secretly speculated that since this Physician Lin was recommended by Li Yuanzhao, his words today must be because Li Yuanzhao knew about her secret efforts to win over Lin Xuean and deliberately instructed him to embarrass her and retaliate against her.
Absolutely outrageous...
She turned and went to the Imperial Concubine's Brocade Palace.
Inside the brocade palace, the imperial concubine sat on a couch, her face full of worry.
When her daughter came in, she merely raised her eyelids slightly and sighed repeatedly.
Li Yuanshu also knew how much of a blow her mother would be to her uncle's suspension from his post.
This also seriously affected his carefully planned scheme.
Li Yuanshu knew in his heart that with his current strength, if he rashly competed head-on with Li Yuanzhao and Li Yuanyou for the position of crown prince, it would be tantamount to throwing an egg against a rock, with no chance of winning.
It might even become an appetizer in a fight between two tigers, devoured without leaving a trace.
Therefore, her plan was to use the Cui family's influence in the court to help her mother and brother to join forces and bring Li Yuanzhao down from power.
Once her simple-minded and easily manipulated older brother takes the throne, she will be able to use their sibling bond, along with the connections and power she has accumulated, to interfere in politics and control the situation.
If I wait for my brother to have another child, I will pass away early.
At that time, she would be able to "hold the emperor hostage to command the princes" as the Princess Regent, and become the person who truly holds great power in the court.
Sooner or later, I will be the one to call the shots in this world.
If the time is right, it is not entirely impossible for him to "go a step further" and ascend the throne as emperor.
But now, plans can't keep up with changes. Despite all her calculations, she never expected that the situation would change so drastically in less than a month.
Li Yuanzhao was not only released from confinement, but was also entrusted with an important mission and sent to Hebei Province.
If she goes there and makes a great contribution, and then uses this opportunity to be enthroned as the crown prince, wouldn't all my previous plans be in vain...?
Thinking of this, Li Yuanshu walked to the bedside, supported the worried concubine, and gently comforted her: "Mother, please don't worry anymore, or you'll ruin your health."
The Imperial Concubine's eyes suddenly reddened, and her voice was hoarse: "Your brother is trapped in Weizhou, his life hanging in the balance, and your uncle has been dismissed from his post and imprisoned in his residence. How can I not be worried?"
As she spoke, tears streamed down her face. Her former elegance and grace vanished, leaving only despair and helplessness.
"Don't worry, you still have me." Li Yuanshu held the Imperial Concubine's hand tightly. "My brother is a lucky man, he will surely return safely. Uncle's matter is not insurmountable, I will find a way to handle it..."
The imperial concubine looked at her suspiciously and asked, "You? What can a girl like you do?"
Li Yuanshu was speechless for a moment, and her temper flared up instantly. "Mother! Can't you see it now? My brother is a good-for-nothing! If it weren't for you and Uncle protecting him so wholeheartedly and insisting on sending him to provide disaster relief, how could our Cui family have fallen to this state today?"
She took a deep breath, a glint of ruthlessness flashing in her eyes: "Besides, if he really dies in Weizhou, who else can you rely on besides me? Why won't you even look at me? I'm smarter than him, more resourceful than him, I can also support the Cui family, even..."
"Shut up!" Before she could finish speaking, the Imperial Concubine trembled with anger and slapped Li Yuanshu hard across the face.
The Imperial Concubine pointed at the palace gate, her voice hoarse with anger: "How could you say such a heinous thing? That's your own brother, born of the same mother! You actually cursed him to die? Get out of here! I don't want to see your vicious heart again!"
Li Yuanshu covered his burning cheeks and looked at the Imperial Concubine in disbelief.
Her mother had never laid a finger on her as she grew up, yet now she was so heartless as to beat her for the sake of her troublemaking brother.
A mix of grievance and anger welled up inside her. Her eyes were red, but she stubbornly refused to shed another tear: "Me, a vicious person? I was just telling the truth! If you hadn't been so stubborn, how could the Cui family have ended up like this?"
"Get out!" The imperial concubine's lips trembled with anger as she grabbed a teacup from beside the couch and threw it at her.
The teacup crashed to the ground with a loud bang, scattering shards of porcelain everywhere.
Looking into the Consort's eyes, Li Yuanshu knew that further argument would be futile.
She gritted her teeth, turned around abruptly, and rushed out of the Brocade Palace without looking back.
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