The current political landscape is dominated by one prime minister and six ministers. Since Prime Minister Murong was framed and killed by Yun Zong, the newly appointed Prime Minister Zhang is a complete follower of Yun Zong.
Among the Six Ministries, the Minister of Personnel, the Minister of Revenue, and the Minister of Personnel were all on good terms with Yun Zong;
The Ministry of Works was just a place to do the work; nobody wanted that position, so someone without connections got it.
The Minister of Justice is a neutral, kind-hearted man. He is old and has failing eyesight, and it is estimated that he will retire to his hometown in a few years. No one dares to offend him.
And the Ministry of War...
The Minister of War appears to be a pro-emperor, but according to Xi Chenzhou's private investigation, he had long been in cahoots with Yun Zong!
Cloud Computing...
Xi Chenzhou curled his lips, raised his teacup towards the fair-skinned, beardless middle-aged man opposite him, and scoffed softly, ignoring the man's sudden surprise.
Just then, a palace attendant outside the hall announced loudly, "His Majesty has arrived—"
The entire hall was filled with people kneeling to greet him. Yun Zong was always excellent at this kind of public appearance. Just by looking at his respectful appearance, who could imagine the wolfish ambition in his heart?
A moment later, Tong Su entered the hall, casually waved her hand to signal everyone to rise, and took the seat of honor, saying, "Tonight is the Mid-Autumn Festival. I will celebrate with all my ministers. You need not be bound by formalities. Drink to your heart's content and take your seats!"
The guests thanked the emperor and rose to take their seats. Yun Zong raised his hand, and a group of dancers twirled into the hall, their clothes light and their ribbons fluttering. Palace servants carried in the food and respectfully stopped in front of the tables of the princes and ministers to select and arrange the dishes.
Inside the palace, gold and silver lacquer were inlaid, lights shone brightly, and the air was filled with the fragrance of clothes and the sounds of singing and dancing. The Empress leaned casually on her throne, her bright yellow dragon robe tailored to fit her perfectly, her figure graceful and slender. The heavy tassels of her crown could not conceal her national beauty, her face as beautiful as a painting, bright and noble.
Inside the palace, the dancers were graceful and charming, their movements delicate and graceful. Tiny bells were tied to their wrists and ankles, and as they danced, the fragrance of cosmetics filled the air, the bells jingled, and their alluring eyes captivated the soul.
Yun Zong raised his eyes and sneered.
The Northwest Army, having endured the harsh conditions of the frontier for so long, had never seen anything like this before. They were bound to be seduced by the extravagance and lose all sense of time. No one is immune to the allure of wealth, sex, and power; as long as the rewards are sufficient, they can easily erode any pride they may have!
Just as he had expected, several Northwest Army generals were now blushing. The older, more composed ones kept their heads down and drank without looking, while the younger ones were restless. Some of them secretly glanced at the steps, while others stared intently at the dancers, almost mesmerized.
Yun Zong smiled.
But before he could finish laughing, Xi Chenzhou suddenly put down his wine cup, the bottom of which made a crisp "click" as it hit the table.
The Northwest Army generals seemed to have heard some serious signal. They immediately straightened their backs and became alert. No one looked around anymore, and they all obediently lowered their heads to eat.
Yun Zong's smile vanished instantly, replaced by a look of deep apprehension.
—Was Xi Chenzhou's prestige among the soldiers in the Northwest really that high?!
This is not a good sign.
Tong Su watched the play below with great interest, eating her meal in a daze, her eyes occasionally glancing furtively at the newly appointed Marquis of Zhenbei. Servants kept bringing her fine wine, and she unknowingly drank quite a bit, gradually feeling dizzy and lightheaded.
"Why is this wine so potent today?" She frowned. "I didn't drink much... Qinghe, help me out for some fresh air."
Qinghe quickly agreed and carefully helped Tongsu leave the main hall to get some fresh air in the corridor.
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