Chapter 103 Stormy Waves
There was silence in the court. The names of the generals mentioned were like stones thrown into a deep pool, and did not cause any ripples in Xiao Jin.
He sat upright on the dragon throne, his eyes seemingly unfocused, his fingers tapping unconsciously on the armrests, and he did not respond to any of the suggestions.
Amidst this suffocating silence, Yu Cheng, a cabinet minister long considered a pillar of the imperial party, stepped forward with a steady voice, breaking the impasse. "Your Majesty," he said, bowing slightly, his words earnestly. "Your Majesty has been skilled in archery and horsemanship since childhood, possessing exceptional martial arts skills. In recent years, he has made significant contributions to government and military affairs, a feat witnessed by both the government and the public. While he may have made mistakes due to his youthful impatience, even a flaw can easily outweigh a flaw. With your talent, strategy, and prestige, I believe you are well-qualified to lead the capital's forces and stabilize the region."
When these words were spoken, everyone in the court was shocked, especially Prime Minister Su and his party, who almost suspected that they had heard it wrong!
Everyone knows that Yu Cheng is Your Majesty's confidant and has never had a close relationship with the King of Qin. He also knows that Your Majesty has always been wary of the King of Qin! Why would he suddenly come forward and strongly recommend the King of Qin?
This is simply unbelievable!
However, what is even more shocking is yet to come.
Xiao Jin, who was sitting on the throne, slowly raised his head upon hearing this, squinting his eyes as if trying to see where Yu Cheng was going. He raised his hand and rubbed his forehead, his expression showing obvious fatigue and helplessness. After a moment's hesitation, he slowly nodded.
"My dear Minister Yu... you are absolutely right." His voice was a little hoarse, but it carried clearly throughout the hall. "My fifth brother... Prince of Qin, Xiao Yan, is truly a man of both civil and military talents, and has been a great help to me for many years. The 100,000 troops of the Beijing Camp are of great importance, so I will leave them under the command of the Prince of Qin... I can rest assured."
This time, not only Prime Minister Su's party, but also many neutral ministers were completely confused. His Majesty actually agreed?
At such a sensitive moment, handing over such important military power to the King of Qin, who has always been regarded as a potential threat?!
Xiao Yan himself was even more shocked. Countless thoughts flashed through his mind in an instant. He was confused and tried his best to guess what kind of deep meaning or trap was hidden behind his brother's sudden "trust".
Before he could think it over, Xiao Jin's gaze, trying hard to "stare," had already turned to him, and his voice carried a weight that was almost a trust: "Fifth brother, the burden of the Beijing camp is heavy, and it concerns the safety of the country. Do you... dare to take it on?"
Xiao Yan's heart trembled. The opportunity was fleeting. No matter what his royal brother's intention was, he had to take control of the military power first!
He immediately stepped out of the line, knelt on one knee, and spoke in a loud and firm voice, with unquestionable determination: "I dare you! I am honored to be entrusted with such an important task by your Majesty. I will do my utmost to rectify the capital camp, strictly guard the capital, share your worries, and ensure the eternal stability of Daye! I will not refuse even if it means death!"
"Okay... in that case, I'm relieved..." Xiao Jin seemed to have unloaded a heavy burden. He let out a long sigh, and his voice was filled with fatigue that was hard to conceal.
He held onto the armrests of the dragon throne and stood up with some difficulty, "Today... let's stop here.
"I have been feeling unwell and low in spirits lately. Starting today, I will suspend my attendance for five days to rest and recuperate. Unless it is an extremely urgent matter, no one is allowed to enter Yanying Palace to disturb my peace!"
For the next five days, Emperor Xiao Jin did not appear. All his orders were conveyed by eunuchs, and he himself stayed in the Zhaixing Tower, the home of the newly promoted Concubine Yun.
…
Inside the Cining Palace, the scent of agarwood lingers.
Prime Minister Su Yuan dismissed all the palace servants and faced Queen Dowager Zhou alone. At this moment, he was no longer the cautious prime minister in the court, and Queen Dowager Zhou was no longer the high-ranking queen mother.
Empress Dowager Zhou lazily nestled in Su Yuan's arms, her fingertips unconsciously twirling around his belt. Her tone was filled with both pleasure and uncertainty. "Brother Yuan, do you think... is the Emperor truly blind? Yesterday, I called that Concubine Yun in for questioning, and she trembled as she said, 'Your Majesty really can't see clearly in Zhaixing Tower, often needing assistance and guidance. And at night, he drinks excessively, often becoming manic and restless, shouting and calling for violence... It seems the madness he brought back from the cold palace has truly recurred.'
Su Yuan gently stroked the empress dowager's still smooth back with one hand, frowning slightly, appearing more cautious: "He still refuses to let the imperial physician treat him properly? And he hasn't secretly taken any medicine?"
"Indeed," Queen Mother Zhou affirmed. "He seems to be competing with everyone, insisting on proving that he's not sick or in pain. But the more he does this, doesn't it just make his cover-up all the more obvious?"
Su Yuan pondered and said, "Then... Yuan, what are your plans? This is indeed a rare opportunity."
A hint of coldness and ambition flashed across Empress Dowager Zhou's beautiful eyes. "Of course, we'll proceed according to our original plan! The Yun family has completely lost its power and no longer poses a threat. Humph, I went to great lengths to push our A-Yan onto the throne so that he could take over smoothly in the future. But he's become so powerful now that he's disobedient and has been disrespectful to me!"
Su Yuan, after all, was a shrewd and calculating person. He warned, "A Yuan, don't be impatient. Wait five more days. Some key points must be confirmed again and again. If the emperor is acting this time, if you and I act rashly, we will be doomed!"
Empress Dowager Zhou was somewhat reluctant. She looked up at him, her eyes revealing the resentment and longing of years of waiting. "Brother Yuan, I can't wait any longer! I want to be with you openly until we grow old! We're both already in our forties. How many more decades can we wait? Back then, for the sake of my family's future, I had to sever my ties and enter the palace to marry that dying old emperor! He knew of our friendship long ago, yet he summoned me to the palace and humiliated me... Haven't I endured enough hardship in these twenty years? How much longer must we delay?"
"A Yuan..." Su Yuan looked at the tears in her eyes and softened his tone, but he still remained rational. "I also want to be with you day and night as soon as possible, but the more you are at this moment, the more you must remain calm. When the King of Qin ascends the throne, you will still be the unparalleled queen mother. Nothing will change, and we can..."
Queen Mother Zhou interrupted him, her eyes gleaming with longing for future power: "When the time comes, A Yan will definitely make you the regent! You can enter and leave the palace freely, and no one will dare to stop you. Our A Li will be the empress who rules the country, and the prince she will give birth to in the future will be the legitimate crown prince! My A Yan will never be like he is now, constantly on guard against me like a thief!"
Su Yuan looked at her excited expression and finally nodded. He took her into his arms and whispered, "Okay, I understand. I'll make arrangements as soon as I get back. You must pay close attention to everything in the palace, especially the emperor and that Concubine Yun. I won't be coming into the palace for the next few days to avoid arousing suspicion. On the night of the event, you will stay in the Cining Palace and close the palace gates tightly. You must not come out. I will take care of everything."
Upon hearing this, Empress Dowager Zhou blushed, and with a hint of girlish pouting, she put her arms around his neck and said, "Okay, I'll do as you say. Then... don't leave tonight. Anyway, that little bastard won't be attending court these days, so no one will bother him..."
Su Yuan lowered his head and kissed the plump red lips, temporarily putting all calculations and risks behind him.
The swaying palace lanterns illuminate the beauty of the room, but also conceal the terrifying storm that is about to sweep across the entire palace.
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