Chapter 29: Packet Capture
Xiao Jin's voice was like ice-cold thunder, hammering down heavily: "The late emperor is my biological father! How could I not know?! No one is perfect! When the new policy was blocked, I had no choice, so how could I be plotting a rebellion?!"
His gaze was like a knife, sweeping across the silent ministers, each word piercing their hearts: "Daye is now impoverished and weak, and its borders have only been established for three years! You are forming cliques for your own selfish desires, and vainly trying to undermine me?! Have you read the books of the sages and become dogs?!"
Yun Zhao held his breath, a chill ran up his spine from the soles of his feet, and the palms of his hands holding the pen were covered in cold sweat.
She was shocked: [He is so clear-headed?!]
"Your Majesty, please calm down! We would never dare to do that!" The ministers knelt in fear, and only suppressed breathing could be heard in the hall.
"Don't dare?!" Xiao Jin slammed his palm on the dragon table, shocking everyone. "Why don't you dare?! The concubines of the previous dynasty and the harem wish they could eat me alive! The late emperor gave me the Qingyun Sword to kill traitors! Today, I am only trying to redress the injustice done to Yu Cheng, a loyal minister who has been wronged for ten years, and you are trying to obstruct me in every possible way. Do you think I am a clay sculpture or a wooden sculpture?!"
"Anyone who speaks nonsense again will be executed immediately in front of the palace!"
[Kill! These termites deserve to be killed!] Yun Zhao's heart was filled with excitement.
The old minister Yu Cheng was already in tears.
Several supporters took the opportunity to shout, "Your Majesty is wise!"
Taking advantage of the dead silence, Xiao Jin shouted sternly, "Issue an order! Yu Cheng has been wrongly accused for ten years, but there is no evidence. He is reinstated! He will be the Junior Guardian of the Jin Crown Prince and the Grand Secretary of the Dongge, and he will manage the government alongside Su Xiang!"
[Good! Yu Cheng is a real talent! He finally did something right!] Yun Zhao almost clapped his hands in admiration.
"Emperor! You must not do that--!" A sharp and piercing rebuke tore the brief peace apart!
The ministers who were about to stand up were thrown down again.
Empress Dowager Zhou, dressed in bright yellow court robes, stormed into the palace with a fierce look on her face. She sternly demanded, "Emperor! How dare you disobey the late emperor's order? Yu Cheng is a traitor and a traitor; his death deserves no pity! In redressing his innocence, have you ever taken me seriously?!"
[Old witch! You're afraid that Su will lose power, so you dare to interfere in politics!]
Xiao Jin's face was as gloomy as water. "The Queen Mother is old and in poor health. She shouldn't work hard. Come, respectfully escort the Queen Mother back to the palace to recuperate!"
"I see who dares!" Empress Dowager Zhou screamed, her voice weak but fierce. "I have the late emperor's order! If the emperor disobeys, he can abdicate!"
[Abdicate? Nonsense! If I had this thing, I would have taken it out long ago! Otherwise, there wouldn't have been the subsequent poisoning and rebellion!]
Yun Zhao sneered in his heart.
Xiao Jin's lips curled up slightly, and he spoke slowly and dangerously, "Empress Dowager, the late Emperor also issued a clear order not to interfere in government affairs. The Prince of Qin is currently in Jiangnan providing disaster relief. The journey is dangerous, and bandits are rampant. Instead of worrying about this, Empress Dowager, why not go to the Buddha and pray devoutly for your brother?"
[A sure kill! Using the King of Qin to poke her vital point!] Yun Zhao secretly praised.
Queen Mother Zhou's face instantly turned pale as paper, and her fingers, like dry branches, trembled as she pointed at Xiao Jin: "How dare you! Don't forget your throne...!"
Prime Minister Su, who had been silent the entire time, finally lost his patience and interrupted with a change of tone: "Your Majesty! The Empress Dowager is in poor health and is in a trance. I implore you to send her back to Ci'an Palace to recuperate!"
[If this continues, the Queen Mother's position will be in jeopardy! ]
Xiao Jin suddenly stood up, his voice icy cold: "Issue an order! The Queen Mother is mentally unstable and has spoken nonsense. From today on, she will be confined to Ci'an Palace to recuperate! No one is allowed to disturb her without my order!"
When Queen Mother Zhou was forcibly "invited" to leave, she glared at Su Yuan and finally shut up unwillingly.
The hall was dead silent. Yun Zhao looked at Prime Minister Su's lowered head, his heart heavy. "We've suppressed it for now... but these jackals have suffered a great loss and will surely be preparing an even more vicious counterattack! Can the dog emperor withstand it?"
"Lord Yu, stay. The rest of you—step back!" Xiao Jin's voice carried unquestionable pressure, bringing this thrilling court meeting to an end.
The ministers filed out and the palace door closed heavily, blocking out the noise from the outside world.
Faint voices of discussion drifted into the hall: "Things are different now... The emperor... has grown up!" There was fear and even more reluctance in the tone.
The hall suddenly became so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.
Yun Zhao lowered his head, quickly replaced the hot tea on the imperial desk, and respectfully presented a cup to Yu Cheng.
The warm air slightly dispelled the tension.
Xiao Jin's gaze fell on Yu Cheng, who looked haggard but had a straight back. His previous fury had subsided, and his voice was filled with rare sincerity, even a hint of subtle fatigue. "Lord Yu, I will be relying heavily on you in future government affairs."
He stood up and slowly stepped down the steps. "I have been on the throne for three years, but my foundation is not yet stable. The previous dynasty and the harem have put many obstacles in my way, and nothing goes smoothly. Your Excellency has experienced three dynasties and is well aware of the current problems. I hope you will give me some advice!"
[Tsk, this dog emperor's humble attitude towards learning is quite refreshing.]
Yun Zhao looked at his nose and his nose at his heart, but he couldn't help muttering in his heart.
Yu Cheng's cloudy old eyes instantly moistened upon hearing this, and he struggled to bow deeply in thanks. Xiao Jin had already rushed to him in two steps, holding his arm firmly. "No need to be so polite, sir!"
He spoke faster, his words unmistakable, "I will immediately dispatch the imperial physician to your residence to examine and treat you. The residence is also ready, just across from the Prime Minister's residence—" He paused, his eyes flickering slightly, "Duke Yun and the Ministry of Internal Affairs already began work yesterday, so you can move in safely today."
"Opposite the Prime Minister's residence?" Yu Cheng was stunned, and then he understood the emperor's deep meaning - this meant that he was going to be given an important position and was under the emperor's watchful eye!
A huge shock and a complex feeling of gratitude welled up in his heart. His throat choked with sobs, tears streaming down his face. He bowed deeply, "Your Majesty... Your Majesty is a wise ruler! I, your humble servant... I will devote my remaining body and soul to your service, until my death!"
Xiao Jin's lips trembled slightly, almost imperceptibly.
A wise ruler... This heavy praise came from this old minister of the previous dynasty who had suffered so much injustice, and it touched his heart deeply.
[Being called a 'wise ruler' by this old minister...Isn't the dog emperor going to be laughing tonight?] Yun Zhao secretly complained.
Yu Cheng left in the sedan chair specially granted by the emperor. The curtain fell, separating the inside and outside of the hall.
The trace of emotion on Xiao Jin's face disappeared in an instant. He sat back on the dragon throne without any intention of resting. He picked up the red pen and buried himself in the pile of memorials again.
Yun Zhao did not dare to slack off. He concentrated and calmed down, carefully recording the key points of the emperor's comments.
Suddenly, "Swish!" a sharp sound of tearing cloth was heard!
The memorial in Xiao Jin's hand was twisted and distorted, on the verge of being torn in two! Yun Zhao was startled and instinctively reached out to stop it, his fingertips barely touching the edge of the memorial. "Your Majesty, calm down! This memorial...is not approved. Why destroy it?"
Xiao Jin suddenly looked up, his eyes swirling with rage, threatening to burst forth. He gritted his teeth, each word seemingly squeezed out from between his teeth: "These... bastards! They're so overreaching! When will it be their turn to dictate my harem, who I choose to favor?! This is outrageous! This is absolutely outrageous!"
"A vast harem, dozens of beautiful women..." Yun Zhao lowered his eyes, his heart cold. "How much sincerity is there? It's all just because of the word 'emperor'. Power is rampant, and true love is rare... Thinking about it this way, the high and mighty emperor actually has a bit of pity."
Her thoughts drifted uncontrollably: [His biological mother died young, leaving him helpless. He only won the late emperor's favor through his own talent and wisdom... The Empress Dowager? Ha, she's just trying to support an obedient puppet. Now that puppet is trying to break free, how can that old witch and Prime Minister Su... let it go? They must have more sinister tricks up their sleeves...]
"Yun Zhao!" A low shout filled with suppressed anger suddenly pulled her thoughts back.
She looked up in surprise and met Xiao Jin's bottomless black eyes.
Beneath the raging anger in his eyes, was there a hint of an ignored, unspeakable grievance?
Was he waiting for her response, for her comfort?
Yun Zhao's heart skipped a beat, and a chill instantly ran up her spine. This look, even more terrifying than the thunderous rage just now, made her shudder.
[Oh no! I was caught daydreaming! This tyrant...isn't he waiting for me to coax him?!] Alarm bells rang in her head, and a thin layer of sweat instantly broke out on her back.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
