Chapter 123: The court session was peaceful...?
Zhao Liangxu waved her hand and said, "Of course, it's not about killing everyone indiscriminately. It's just about cleaning up the mess properly so that no one who escaped can have a chance to rise again."
"Isn't this how everything should be done?"
Zhao Liangxu continued, "Furthermore, the way to deal with the dissatisfaction of the officials is very simple. Such matters should naturally be planned in advance, and only when there is a suitable reason can actions be taken. Some minor matters can be dealt with by acting first and reporting later. As for this matter, Your Majesty should trust Eunuch An. He is not a reckless fool."
She looked at Li Ying with a smile.
"But if there is a reason that the ministers cannot help but believe, then defection is only a matter of a moment."
Seeing that Anhe was staring at her, Zhao Liangxu tilted her head, letting her light-colored eyes squint in their narrow sockets.
"I was just joking, Eunuch An."
For the first time, Li Ying realized that Zhao Liangxu also had the potential to be a villain.
She smiled, but her words were decisive and unwavering, reminding Li Ying of An He in Zhao Liangxu.
Only then did he realize that Zhao Liangxu and An He were a couple who shared meals and were close friends.
How could someone who can associate with Anhe be indecisive?
They must have some similar tastes.
Even if Li Ying had many doubts and was unwilling, he could only do as An He said, write a secret report in his own hand, and send the report outside the city overnight.
He also had a persistent unease in his heart.
Why did Anhe suddenly want to be honest with him?
Are you really not going to choose someone else to replace him?
How could a powerful eunuch like Eunuch An possibly allow the puppet under his control to be a cunning and intelligent person?
After handing the secret report to his subordinates, An He turned to look at Li Ying.
"Your Majesty, are you afraid?"
Li Ying almost thought An He's words were a threat, and that An He's next words might be aimed at her hidden thoughts.
But Anhe only said this with a hidden meaning.
He was still discussing official business with Li Ying: "Your Majesty should prepare well tomorrow. You have only seen the General's majestic appearance in the court, but I imagine that soon you will see him brought to justice."
His tone was soft and rising, making him sound exceptionally loyal and kind.
Li Ying was quite flustered at the moment, unable to discern whether An He's words had any hidden meaning.
When these words reached Li Ying's ears, he always felt a warning in them, which sent chills down his spine.
Just as Li Ying was about to force a smile and answer An He, Zhao Liangxu grabbed An He's jade belt and tugged at him.
"Alright, that sounds like we're sending someone on their way tomorrow."
Anhe glared at her.
Zhao Liangxu said to Li Ying, "Your Majesty, just listen to the literal meaning. Eunuch An will explain the other matters to you later."
Seeing that Li Ying still looked confused and reluctant, Zhao Liangxu added, "Your Majesty can believe that there is solid evidence of Zhou Feng's treason. With your intelligence, you should be able to figure it out."
Upon hearing this, Li Ying tried her best to calm herself down and began to ponder.
Zhao Liangxu should be... more believable.
At least Li Ying couldn't think of any valid reason why Zhao Liangxu could harm him.
If she wanted him to die, she wouldn't have needed to save him that day at the Qianqing Palace.
Moreover, Li Ying knew that An He had been keeping track of Zhao Chengxin's movements, so she understood that Zhao Chengxin's idea of ​​committing atrocities in the capital to restore the country would never be realized.
Anhe is a step above Zhao Chengxin.
Zhao Chengxin was always under An He's control; he couldn't cause any major trouble.
Based on Li Ying's own observation, Zhao Liangxu wouldn't be foolish enough to work for Zhao Chengxin, so Zhao Liangxu's camp should belong to Southern Zhou.
If she wanted to live a good life, she wouldn't need to harm herself.
After all, even a puppet emperor is still an emperor.
Li Ying's trust in Zhao Liangxu largely stemmed from that one sincere act of saving her, an incident that inevitably led Li Ying to place great trust in her.
However, what reinforced this trust was his guess, based on the information he had, that Zhao Liangxu had no motive to deceive or pretend, and no motive to harm him.
He made the trust self-consistent as much as possible, and then believed it with a clear conscience.
I'm still so young, yet I've already considered things carefully enough.
Li Ying thought to herself.
And Eunuch An...
Compared to his mother, who abandoned him and then tried to use his tenderness to manipulate him after he became emperor, Eunuch An was at least the one who gave him a chance.
He had always known his mother's thoughts, but he still couldn't help but want to feel her care, even if it was fake.
Everyone around him showed concern because of his status and his undeserved title of emperor, but only Anhe was someone who actively chose him.
The combination of intimidation and appeasement at least proves that he was effective.
If what Zhao Liangxu said was true, Li Ying even had an unrealistic idea.
Perhaps Eunuch An did this because he wanted to see a more useful side of him?
He remained bewildered.
However, Zhao Liangxu and her companion did not stop because of Li Ying's confusion. After sending out the secret report, Zhao Liangxu told Li Ying everything about her connection with Zhou Feng.
Let him know what to say during the morning court session.
Time was tight, and everything was done quietly at night.
In ancient times, the morning court session would begin at dawn.
Anhe barely slept all night, only getting a short break to rest when Li Ying changed into her court robes.
He had only closed his eyes for a short while when he heard light footsteps approaching him, accompanied by the rustling of fabric.
Anhe opened her eyes and noticed a glimpse of dark blue cloth in front of her.
Those were the clothes of an ordinary eunuch.
Anhe frowned, about to reprimand him.
Who is so unruly to enter the palace without being announced?
However, when he looked up along the clothes, he saw Zhao Liangxu's face.
The words he was about to say got stuck in his throat.
"What are you doing?" Anhe asked in surprise.
What is the purpose of this outfit?
Zhao Liangxu was tall and thin, and he deliberately dressed up so that his face was not prominent. At first glance, he would only be seen as a young eunuch who was more effeminate than the average eunuch.
"Of course I'll sneak into the morning court session. Otherwise, do you think I'd be quietly waiting for your results in the back hall?" She definitely wanted to be there.
"That won't do, it's too dangerous!" Anhe's first thought was to refuse.
Who knows what might happen at the morning court session?
Zhao Liangxu disagreed: "If we're talking about danger, you and Li Ying are the obvious targets right above the main hall. Dressed like this, standing next to a pillar, I'm even less likely to be discovered."
Anhe opened her mouth to refute Zhao Liangxu, but saw that Zhao Liangxu had an attitude of "you can explain, but I will do as I please".
He realized that Zhao Liangxu wouldn't easily change her mind.
Anhe could have argued with Zhao Liangxu again, but in the end he didn't say anything to refute her. He just stared at Zhao Liangxu and said, "Stand by the pillar near the head of the house, don't stray too far from our home."
The arrangements inside the hall had already been made, and the closer one was to the head of the hall, the safer the security.
The palace maids and eunuchs inside the palace also take turns on duty, and their faces are different every day, so there is no need to worry that Zhou Feng will notice anything amiss.
*
The front hall was where court sessions were held, and it could accommodate many court officials. The hall itself was also more magnificent and resplendent.
Zhao Liangxu stood next to the first pillar inside the hall.
Even though the main hall is spacious, not every part is open with doors and windows. There are always places that are slightly dark. Zhao Liangxu stood in a corner with her head down, and her presence was barely noticeable.
After all, ministers wouldn't deliberately pay attention to the appearance of a mere eunuch.
Anhe will be careful.
He stood beside Li Ying, still wearing that dark red python robe. He held a whisk in his hand, a cold smile on his lips as he looked down at the civil and military officials of Southern Zhou.
In the eyes of the ministers, this was Anhe's provocation as always.
An arrogant and cunning eunuch held the Southern Zhou dynasty firmly in his grasp.
He also frequently spoke rudely during court sessions, abusing his power to commit all sorts of treacherous acts and spread falsehoods to mislead the emperor.
Anhe glanced sideways at the group of people in the middle, then gently looked away from the people next to the pillar.
Fortunately, Zhao Liangxu stayed there safely, so there was not much danger for her.
His gaze lightly touched Zhao Liangxu, without revealing much. Everyone assumed that An He had just glanced at them casually, and they felt quite uncomfortable.
Zhao Liangxu was also observing the people inside the hall.
Near the head of the table, naturally, were high-ranking officials, and coincidentally, the person standing in front of Zhao Liangxu was someone she had seen before.
The tutor, who had a thick, white goatee, was quite old.
He held an important position as a civil official, but he was an old man with little ambition. Although he was extremely dissatisfied with Anhe, it was Anhe who chose him to be Li Ying's tutor, so he reluctantly accepted the position.
After all, he upheld the orthodox tradition, and the Grand Tutor was the person most capable of influencing the emperor's thoughts; the position of Grand Tutor could have great potential.
There's no reason to refuse.
On Zhao Liangxu's side stood civil officials, and on the other side stood military officials. Standing at the very front on the other side was Zhou Feng, dressed in a scarlet robe with official rank.
"What a pity that this red robe doesn't suit An He at all," Zhao Liangxu commented silently.
Zhou Feng's face appeared extremely arrogant in comparison to the other ministers.
However, even from a distance, Zhao Liangxu could see that he still had a gloomy look between his brows, as if things had been going badly for him these past few days.
Was he worried because he had lost contact with Zhao Chengxin, or because the assassins he sent failed to kill An He?
She wanted to laugh.
Zhao Liangxu originally thought that the officials who came to the morning court would be somewhat fearful and cautious in the face of An He and Li Ying, and that the atmosphere of the morning court might be oppressive.
The ministers inside the hall were indeed all dressed in their official robes, standing neatly in rows, holding their tablets, their expressions...
Eager to try?
Zhao Liangxu was somewhat unsure.
She sensed an urgency in the eyes of several high-ranking officials, especially those in positions of power.
Zhao Liangxu realized that this morning court session might not be as solemn as she had imagined.
She recalled what Li Ying had said: during the morning court session, the ministers would take turns offering their opinions and arguing. Matters unrelated to An He would involve the ministers debating with each other, their arguments becoming increasingly heated, and then being ridiculed by An He.
Those of slightly lower rank would slink away and keep quiet, while the most renowned individuals would openly or secretly confront Anhe.
Zhou Feng was the most unscrupulous.
Li Ying, however, seemed to let the words go in one ear and out the other, dozing off on the dragon throne, though she was actually listening with great interest.
Zhao Liangxu withdrew her gaze and obediently pretended to be a little eunuch.
Sure enough, just as Li Ying finished saying the few words he was supposed to say when he went to court, a thin civil official with shifty eyes stepped forward with his tablet in hand: "Your subject has something to report."
Li Ying knew that there would be a lot of trouble at the morning court, but he still had to pretend to be a foolish emperor. He simply waved his sweaty left hand and said, "Please speak, my dear minister."
The thin civil official bowed and said, "In my opinion, the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs is of particular importance as it bears the responsibility of His Majesty's drafting and approval of imperial edicts..." He flattered the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs for a while, then changed the subject.
"But having assumed the responsibility of holding the seal of office and bearing a heavy burden, one should respond to His Majesty's needs, rather than privately associating with disloyal individuals and adding to the chaos."
Zhao Liangxu was deeply impressed. She had never imagined that there were such courageous people in the court who dared to speak frankly about An He's faults.
But those words... seem a bit directed at her?
Zhao Liangxu heard the thin civil official's voice rise and fall in intonation.
"Therefore, I request Your Majesty to order the separation of the woman surnamed Zhao to prevent future troubles."
It was definitely targeted at her.
She was curious about how Li Ying and An He would respond. Li Ying was nervous and didn't want to pay attention to the memorial, while An He scoffed and simply said two words: "Reject the memorial."
"idiot."
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Author's Note: The scene of the court session is not strictly accurate and can be considered a fictional setting.
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