Chapter 80 left them with no choice.
Lu Yuandao died on his way to exile, supposedly because he was robbed by bandits, but anyone with a discerning eye could tell that wasn't the case.
Sometimes, some things don't need solid evidence.
As long as most people are willing to believe it, then the "truth" becomes an indisputable fact.
Everyone knew that Lu Yuandao was just taking the blame for the Second Prince, and even the Emperor didn't punish him too much.
But now Lu Yuandao is dead. Regardless of how he died, the court and the public have long believed that Cui Shiliang was afraid that he would reveal too many secrets, so he sent someone to silence him.
Even when the Emperor privately discussed this matter with Eunuch Xu, he stroked his beard and sighed, "Cui Shiliang's move was a bit too hasty."
This incident subtly altered the political situation in the Central Plains.
Those officials who had initially maintained a neutral stance now dared not approach Cui Shiliang again.
After all, in just a few months, Pei Guyan, Zheng Chong, and Lu Yuandao, three ministers who followed him, all met untimely ends.
Even the trusted confidants whom Cui Shiliang had personally promoted began to have second thoughts in private, fearing that one day they would become pawns to be sacrificed and follow in Lu Yuandao's footsteps.
Cui Shiliang was truly at a loss for words.
If he were to stand up and defend himself by saying "I didn't do it," wouldn't that be tantamount to admitting that Lu Yuandao's confession was at his instigation?
This predicament—being caught in a bind whether he sticks his neck out or not—left him utterly bewildered.
Even the usually cunning Prime Minister Su couldn't sit still any longer.
He has been feeling a chill on the back of his neck lately and is constantly worried.
In the last case involving the Second Prince, he had already openly offended the other party in order to protect himself.
Now that Cui Shiliang can even "silence" Lu Yuandao, although he can't touch him for the time being due to his seniority, who can guarantee what will happen in the future?
If the second prince were to actually ascend the throne, he would probably be the first to turn against him.
Has Cui Shiliang done far too many things like kicking someone when they're down and driving them to their deaths?
On the day he returned home after court, Su Jingzhi dismissed his attendants and specially called his daughter into his study.
He leisurely brewed tea and handed it to Su Qingci, then asked a few questions about trivial matters in the household. His words were full of the casual chatter between a father and daughter.
After exchanging a few pleasantries, Su Qingci grew impatient. "What exactly does Father want to say?"
Su Jingzhi put down his teacup, his face darkening: "I am your father, how can you be so impatient when you talk to me?"
Su Qingci looked at him coldly, "Father, I am not as leisurely as my second brother and third sister, who can spend their days in the manor enjoying family happiness with you. I have official business to attend to and must go to report to His Highness."
"Your Highness, Your Highness!" Su Jingzhi was most annoyed by her constant use of the word "Your Highness," and his tone was tinged with anger. "All you ever talk about is Your Highness! I ask you, between me and the Princess, whose side are you on?"
Was she his daughter, or Li Yuanzhao's woman?
Su Qingci raised her eyes, her gaze calmly meeting his eyes: "Father, why don't you ask yourself first, whose side are you really on?"
Su Jingzhi was taken aback when she suddenly brought this up, and was momentarily speechless. "Me? I naturally stand on His Majesty's side."
"Your Majesty?" Su Qingci pressed on without any politeness, "And what happened after Your Majesty passed away?"
"You—!" Su Jingzhi slammed his hand on the table and stood up abruptly, then realized something and lowered his voice, "How dare you say such disrespectful words?"
Su Qingci pressed on, "Why does Father continue to deceive himself? The change of emperors has been a common occurrence since ancient times. His Majesty is already old. Has Father never thought about what will happen after his death?"
His thoughts were exposed by his daughter's words, and a hint of panic flashed across Su Jingzhi's face. He quickly composed himself and sat down, his tone softening. "That's why I called you here to discuss this."
Su Qingci looked at him, then suddenly curled her lips into a smile. "My father is a master strategist who never makes a losing deal. Now that he has offended Prime Minister Cui, he must be trying to use me to switch allegiance to Your Highness, right?"
Su Jingzhi's face turned pale and then red from her words. He pointed at her, too angry to speak: "You...you little brat, how dare you speculate about your father like this!"
“Father, there’s no need to be angry.” Su Qingci suppressed his smile. “This is common practice in officialdom. It’s understandable to seek advantages and avoid disadvantages.”
She paused, then continued, "If Father truly intends this, he might as well be more explicit with me. I can then convey a message to His Highness on your behalf. His Highness has always been eager to recruit talented individuals and is not the kind of person who would abandon someone after they have served him. If he knew that Father was willing to serve him, he would surely not refuse."
He remained silent for a moment, then finally sighed, his voice tinged with helplessness: "How... do you intend to speak to His Highness?"
Su Qingci knew that her father had made up his mind.
She nodded slightly: "Father, you only need to wait patiently. With your abilities, Her Highness will not be blind to this, nor will she wrong you."
That's all I have to say.
Su Qingci stood up and bowed: "If there is nothing else, I will take my leave now, as I need to return to handle official business."
Su Jingzhi waved his hand, watching her turn and leave, his eyes filled with complex emotions.
He suddenly realized that this child, whom he had always regarded as a "mere woman," had already been tempered in the court and was more insightful than him.
In the study, after hearing Su Qingci's retelling, Li Yuanzhao sneered, "He certainly knows how to seek advantage and avoid harm."
Su Qingci showed no discomfort upon hearing His Highness's evaluation of her father. Instead, she expressed her agreement: "Nowadays, anyone in the court with a modicum of insight should be able to see which way the wind is blowing and know who to follow."
Li Yuanzhao looked up at her, his gaze deepening. "That's not necessarily true."
Su Qingci was somewhat puzzled: "Why? Prime Minister Cui has lost power, the Second Prince is mediocre and incompetent, and Your Highness is now favored by the Emperor..."
Looking at His Highness with disbelief, she asked, "Could it be... simply because you are a woman..."
“These court officials are not all like your father, who hastily chose sides out of fear of retaliation from Prime Minister Cui.”
Li Yuanzhao interrupted her, "Although they no longer dare to rely on Cui Shiliang, they will never easily choose me. This is not only because I am a woman, but also because I have helped my father suppress the powerful families and consolidate power over the years. They are afraid that if I really ascend to that position, it will shake their foundation and cut off their power."
Her gaze was sharp. "Moreover, ambitious ministers would rather choose a mediocre ruler than a wise and decisive one. Because if the ruler is incompetent, they can only let things be, and that's how they can hold onto their power more tightly."
Su Qingci suddenly realized, and following her words, she thought, "That's why the Second Prince seems so dissolute and absurd, yet so many people are willing to support him."
She originally thought that with Prime Minister Cui's reputation collapsing, people in the court would naturally turn to their side, but she didn't expect that this was not the case.
"So what do we do next?" Su Qingci asked hesitantly.
"What to do?" Li Yuanzhao's lips curled into a smile. "Naturally, we'll leave them with no choice."
Su Qingci felt a chill run down her spine and instantly understood.
The reason why everyone is hesitant at this moment is simply because there are still options available.
If the path of the Second Prince is completely blocked, then the people of the world will have no choice but to turn their attention to His Highness.
At that time, people will naturally rush to attach themselves to them.
Li Yuanzhao suddenly changed the subject and asked, "Has Qi Sheng's body been disposed of?"
The man had come to me seeking justice for his sister, offering his own life in exchange for it.
Now that Cui Jiulang is dead and the Cui family is about to perish, his life was not wasted, and he died a worthy death.
But we should make sure he rests in peace after his death.
"The arrangements have been made, and he has been buried with his sister in a cemetery on the outskirts of the city, thus fulfilling his wish before his death."
Su Qingci replied, adding, "In addition, the servant boy from Grand Tutor Liu's household came to the mansion to resign a few days ago, but you happened to be in the palace at the time and were unable to personally report to him."
Li Yuanzhao frowned slightly: "Resignation?"
“Yes.” Su Qingci nodded. “He said he knew that Your Highness had tried his best to overturn the Grand Tutor’s case, but the world could not tolerate justice. Since the court could not help him, he would take revenge in his own way.”
Li Yuanzhao remained silent for a moment, and finally said simply, "Let him be."
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