Chapter 682 Deep Fear
This time, however, the emperor remained silent for a long time.
Outside, a fierce wind was blowing, with lightning and thunder; the wind seemed to be about to rip the roof off the entire hall.
"Father?"
"Xuan'er, the power of the Gu family should have been reduced long ago. Do you think I didn't want to reduce it? Do you think the late emperor didn't want to reduce it? It was just that he couldn't!"
“But Father, both the Gu and Pei families originally assisted Emperor Gaozu in conquering the country. The Pei family has been weakened to the point of being relegated to a remote corner and has no real power. They even have to send their sons to the capital as hostages. Why can’t the Gu family follow the same procedure?”
The emperor shook his head: "Because the Pei family voluntarily relinquished their military power back then, while the Gu family did not. Otherwise, why do you think the Pei family was granted the title of king? Why did they have their own fiefdom? They all obtained it by exchanging military power."
Xiao Qingxuan tentatively suggested, "Then could we also enfeoff the Gu family as kings, give them a fiefdom, and tell them to stay away from the capital from now on, just like the Pei family, who only left one hostage in the capital?"
The emperor shook his head again: "Do you think Gu Rongchang is a fool? The Pei family was indeed glorious for a time. They were the first non-royal prince in Dafeng, and everyone envied them."
"But now their title of Prince is just a formality. Their power is worlds apart from that of the Gu family. Without military power and without business acumen, the Pei family is nothing!"
“The Pei family’s hostage in the capital, Pei Lin’an, is also terminally ill and will not live much longer. The Pei family is willing to leave their son here alone, but the Gu family would never do that.”
The emperor and the crown prince knew perfectly well why Pei Lin'an was so critically ill—when Pei Lin'an was young, he was sent to the capital as a hostage, and in order to eliminate any future threat, the emperor ordered someone to administer a rare poison from the Western Regions to him.
Pei Lin'an was the last male descendant of the Pei clan. Killing him would be tantamount to severing the Pei clan's roots completely.
From now on, there will be no more non-royal kings who will annoy the emperor; only the Xiao family can be called kings!
Pei Lin'an was lucky; he didn't die and has lived to this day.
However, it's coming soon; he's about to die.
The emperor now only regrets that the rare poison was too precious. No other poison he obtained afterward was as effective. Otherwise, he would have made sure to use it on the entire Gu family!
Xiao Qingxuan knew that it was impossible to confer the title of a non-royal prince upon the Gu family now. After all, the Duke of Zhenguo already held immense power in the court. How could he possibly agree to give up all his power and influence to become some kind of idle prince?
He mentioned these things merely to set the stage for what he would say later.
"Father, then we may only have one last option left."
The emperor glanced at him, and he knew perfectly well what his son was referring to—the execution of the entire family!
However, this is not an easy task. First, a list of serious crimes committed by the Gu family, including the confiscation of their property and the extermination of their clan, must be compiled.
But the problem is, how could Gu Rongchang possibly give him that opportunity!
"The power of the Gu family is so great that even I am extremely wary of them. At least half of the civil and military officials in the court have secretly pledged allegiance to Gu Rongchang!"
"The Gu family's disciples are all over the world. Even Huo Yuanchu, the general who is now guarding the Northwest for me, is a disciple of the late Duke Zhenguo! Huo Yuanchu's martial arts skills and fighting abilities were all taught by the late Duke Zhenguo!"
"Therefore, the last method should be approached gradually and not rushed."
At this point, if the Gu family were accused of the heinous crime of having their property confiscated and their clan exterminated, even the emperor would fear that the Huo family would retaliate against him!
If the northwest falls and the Xiongnu launch a large-scale invasion, he will suffer a greater loss than gain!
He wasn't even rightfully chosen to inherit the throne. When the previous emperor passed away, the throne wasn't passed to him. He seized it by force with the help of the Gu family. He had killed several of his brothers. He was already being criticized by those pedantic officials. If he were to exterminate the entire Gu family, he would be drowned in their spittle!
The emperor pondered for a long time, but kept shaking his head.
Xiao Qingxuan was very disappointed to see his hesitant expression.
Is Father Emperor getting old and losing his former decisive and ruthless edge? He has almost killed all his own brothers, but now he is hesitant to kill Gu Rongchang.
What's so difficult about destroying the Gu family? Is Gu Rongchang really that scary? Is the Gu family really that scary?
Why not just fabricate a letter, frame them for treason, and have their entire family executed?
Just like the letter he forged today from Shen Wantang to Xiao Qingyuan, who will investigate it thoroughly? Who dares to investigate it thoroughly? Anyone who dares to raise objections will have their head chopped off!
——
The Duke's Mansion.
In the study, Gu Rongchang sat at the head of the table, looking at his son with a cold expression.
"Qianhan, today's events have indeed wronged your wife, but fortunately, her punishment was not too severe. So let's leave it at that. Don't harbor any resentment towards the Emperor."
"If I am dissatisfied, what should my father do?"
"Qianhan, you've been too popular lately. This isn't a good sign."
Gu Qianhan sneered: "That's right, it would be a good omen if the emperor could just find some excuse to wipe out the entire Gu family."
Gu Rongchang's expression changed: "What nonsense are you spouting!"
"I don't believe you didn't sense the Emperor's fear and suppression of the Gu family."
"If you can sense it, then of course I sensed it a long time ago. It's normal for the emperor to be wary, and that's exactly what I want—for him to be wary of our Gu family. But I'm also aware that I won't go too far. As long as we maintain a balance, we'll live in peace. I'm warning you, don't break this balance, or you'll be a sinner against the entire Gu family!"
Gu Qianhan originally didn't want to waste any more time arguing with Gu Rongchang, because he had already tried in his previous life and Gu Rongchang simply didn't believe him or listen to him.
He felt that the emperor would not touch the Gu family, nor would he dare to, because he had never harbored any rebellious intentions. Therefore, he felt that the emperor would not use such a thing to frame him.
But tonight, Gu Rongchang braved the rain to enter the palace and rescued Shen Wantang from that cannibalistic palace, which made Gu Qianhan more patient with him.
"Father, do you know that the Emperor forged a letter today?"
"Forged? What letter?"
“A letter written by A-Tang to Xiao Qingyuan.”
Gu Rongchang was stunned: "How is this possible? Are you sure the letter is forged? And it wasn't written by your wife to Xiao Qingyuan?"
"Does my father think I'm so stupid that I can't even recognize Ah Tang's handwriting, and can't even tell if my own woman likes a fool like Xiao Qingyuan?"
Gu Rongchang was speechless for a long time after being choked by him.
Of course he knew that his son was exceptionally clever, with a hundred schemes in his head all day long. Who could fool him? It would be good if he didn't get fooled!
He coughed lightly and voiced his doubts: "Why would the Emperor forge your wife's letter when he's perfectly fine? Is he just bored? What good would it do him? Oh, to fabricate a green hat for you and disgust you? To vent his anger for Xiao Qingyuan? How childish!"
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