Sima Jiaweng
But because of this, she was greatly relieved for her junior sister, Chu Yuanyi. If Mo Yi Bishuang had aspired to the position of mistress of the harem back then, Chu Yuanyi might not have been able to protect Sima Yan until he came of age and ascended the throne so easily.
In Zhongli Wuyan's judgment, Lady Huachi's pragmatism, ability to advance and retreat, and her insight and magnanimity in judging situations were no less than her own. After the great tree behind her, Emperor Dezong, abdicated and Emperor Sima Yan ascended the throne, Lady Huachi immediately withdrew from the limelight, no longer frequently visiting the palace as before, nor engaging in lively social interactions.
Of course, this was partly because Sima Yan's ascension to the throne brought about a new "Shangguan era" in the Great Huan Dynasty. Externally, there was the Grand Secretary Shangguan Jin, who rectified the court and enforced strict discipline, and was deeply respected by the people. Internally, there was Empress Shangguan, a talented woman who was the head of the six palaces—although Empress Shangguan rarely truly exercised the duties of the mistress of the harem in her life, her existence was already proof of a new trend in the dynasty.
Under Shangguan Jin's unwavering surveillance, all demons and monsters would be forced to reveal their true forms. Therefore, Zhongli believed that his request to become a monk and Lady Huachi's timely retirement were both wise moves.
However, what Zhongli Wuyan did not expect was that on the night when the two major forces that determined the stability of the Southern Dynasty—the Shangguan clan representing the power of the prime minister and the Sima clan representing the power of the emperor—were about to break apart, Lady Huachi appeared in front of the Yunlong Palace at just the right time. Because of this action, both the Four Constellations of Tianji and the Shangguan clan owed her a favor.
She later had to admit that some people are truly born with a keen political sense. In comparison, the four of them would probably be ashamed.
The person who appeared before everyone was none other than Mo Yi Bi Shuang, who had long since disappeared from the palace.
Without making a sound, she retracted a bright green vine whip into her sleeve, took a graceful step forward, and placed it between Shangguan Jin and Rong Yuexian. The dark green hem of her gorgeous dress rippled across the ground like waves.
It was precisely her opportune strike that saved Shangguan Jin and Rong Yuexian from their impending doom.
Although both are now seriously injured, and Zhongli Wuyan even took a stab from "Binghuang" for Rong Yuexian, at least they will not be in a situation where they are both seriously injured and die immediately.
Faced with Shangguan Jin's anger, she simply looked at him with a smile, which gradually calmed him down.
The excruciating pain from the impact of the Qiankun Fan on his chest finally caused him to spit out a mouthful of blood.
"I have come here for no other reason than Your Excellency the Grand Secretary."
Mo Yi Bi Shuang parted her lips slightly and spoke softly, while stepping back to reveal the hunched figure of Xuan Huang leaning on the Nine Dragon Staff not far away.
"I originally only served His Majesty the Emperor Emeritus and came to see my son."
Everyone present stared wide-eyed in disbelief, including Rong Yuexian.
If she hadn't remembered her hidden identity, she would have almost stepped forward and, in the manner most familiar to a senior palace eunuch, supported the retired emperor who had long been living in seclusion in the Western Hills, namely Emperor Dezong, the father of Sima Yan.
Rong Yuexian served the emperor for decades under the title of Rong Yu. Her rise from a lowly eunuch to the most powerful woman in the inner palace was entirely due to the patronage of Emperor Dezong, Sima Jinyuan.
As soon as she took a step, the pain of blood rushing backward in her chest and abdomen reminded her that her current identity was not that of the Grand Palace Eunuch, but rather one of the Four Constellations of Heaven, representing justice in the martial arts world.
She finally stopped in her tracks.
A violent cough erupted from Sima Jinyuan. He hunched over, leaning on his cane, and walked step by step toward Shangguan Jin.
Those present were all people who had previously admired the late emperor's countenance, and at this moment, they were all struck by his aged appearance.
No one expected that, only five years after Sima Yan ascended the throne, his father, Sima Jinyuan, had already aged so much.
Perhaps, those who lose their power and halo, and are no longer fawned upon, will age quickly. This is because they previously amassed too much of the prestige and glory they built for themselves using the achievements of others.
Mo Yi Bi Shuang stood silently to one side, as if she had never been there at all.
The four constellations of Tianji, led by Rong Yuexian, put away their weapons and remained silent.
They gradually moved aside to make way for Shangguan Jin.
The main character has arrived.
Ultimately, today's events are a matter between the Sima and Shangguan families. And the root of this matter can indeed be traced back to the late Emperor Sima Jinyuan.
It can be said that without the mediocre and almost dull Sima Jinyuan, there would be no Shangguan Jin, the renowned prime minister who won the battle of crossing the Yangtze River for the Great Huan Dynasty.
What people often ridicule is that Emperor Dezong, Sima Jinyuan, reigned for over a decade and made only one wise decision.
That is, Shangguan Jin, who was originally a hermit of the Shangguan family and guarded the cemetery, was forcibly summoned out by imperial edict. This violated two heavenly rules of the Shangguan family, namely that "the tomb keeper should inherit martial arts and should not serve as an official" and "civil officials should not lead military affairs". He was appointed as the Grand Secretary in charge of the government and military affairs, making him the first person in the Great Huan Dynasty to hold absolute power.
It can be said that Sima Jinyuan's mediocrity only served to highlight Shangguan Jin's extraordinary talent. The vast vacuum left by the monarch's inaction provided Shangguan Jin with a stage to maneuver and manipulate events.
By the later years of Emperor Dezong's reign, the court had reached the point where "everything had to be discussed with the Grand Secretary in advance."
When Sima Yan ascended the throne, Shangguan Jin was also like a "father figure".
It can be said that Shangguan Jin's unprecedentedly concentrated power was bestowed upon him by Emperor Dezong. Because of this high degree of power concentration, Shangguan Jin's prestige was the highest among prime ministers in hundreds of years, second only to Gu Yi. Under this prestige, the Southern Dynasty achieved unprecedented unity, winning the war against the invasion of the Northern Qiang and the southward migration of the Hu horses, bringing Shangguan Jin's personal achievements to their zenith.
In a sense, it was Emperor Dezong's mediocrity and laissez-faire attitude that led to Shangguan Jin's enduring fame. Perhaps the relationship between Emperor Dezong and Shangguan Jin can be considered, in another sense, a relationship of mutual support and recognition.
Shangguan Jin's expression gradually changed from shock and even bewilderment to calm.
Sima Jinyuan's appearance at this moment, though unexpected, would remind him of the past, but it would not make him forget the purpose of his trip.
He glanced at Mo Yi Bishuang beside him and said, word by word, "Whoever comes today must give me an explanation regarding Yanxiu's death." He then looked at Chu Yuanyi lying on the ground and said with unusual calm, "I don't care whether the rumors about Yanxiu are true or false. Whatever she did, Sima Yan will only go further. If a life of my Shangguan family can be taken just because of these crimes, whether true or false, then Sima Yan should have been condemned to death long ago."
Even Zhongli Wuyan was shaken to her core upon hearing this.
It turns out that there really are such reliable relatives in the world who, regardless of whether their daughter has truly violated her reputation or damaged the family's honor, are determined to seek justice for her.
In fact, Sima Yan's reckless behavior and indulgence in sensual pleasures over the years were already well-known to everyone, both in and out of the palace. If Shangguan Yanxiu could be considered a poor wife, then Sima Yan was even worse.
This was already common knowledge, even before Shangguan Yanxiu married into the Empress's palace.
When the imperial edict designating Shangguan Yanxiu, the talented and beautiful pearl of the Great Huan Dynasty, as Empress Wu was issued, the entire court and aristocratic families were shaken and sighed with regret. What they lamented was that the arrogant, immoral, and ignorant son of the Sima family insisted on marrying the elegant, refined, and talented woman from the Shangguan family.
Everyone could see that this marriage was unlikely to have a good ending.
But no one could refute the fact that this marriage was a matter of course.
After all, this is not just about the preferences of one or two people, but also about the fate of the Great Huan Kingdom and the balance of political power.
Not only could outsiders not interfere, but Shangguan Yanxiu and Sima Yan themselves could not interfere either, and even Shangguan Jin would find it difficult to object. This was because blood ties and marriage were the strongest guarantee for the alliance of forces.
No matter how much Shangguan Yanxiu and Sima Yan were at odds, the next emperor of the Great Huan Dynasty would be a grandson of the Shangguan family. This was the greatest sincerity the imperial family could offer.
The instigator of all this was Emperor Dezong, Sima Jinyuan.
If he hadn't made it a condition for inviting Shangguan Jin to serve in the government, the Shangguan family wouldn't have so easily agreed to come out of seclusion and help the world.
The position of supreme power and absolute authority is a coveted goal for ordinary aristocratic families, and even for those from humble backgrounds. But for the Shangguan family, which has weathered a century of storms, served the emperor, and produced generations of virtuous prime ministers, renowned officials, wise empresses, and virtuous concubines, the bitterness and sweetness of such a position have been thoroughly tasted over the past hundred years.
If those in power truly keep the survival of the nation and the existence of the people in their hearts day and night, their lives will be filled with constant anxiety and hard work, as if walking on thin ice.
Unless someone is simply enjoying the inflated sense of self-satisfaction that comes with power, the ability to command absolute obedience, and the adoration of everyone. The Shangguan family, however, is clearly not among them.
Only by firmly binding the honor and disgrace of the Shangguan family to the Great Huan Dynasty, and out of their concern and cherishment for family ties, will Shangguan Jin, Shangguan Yanxiu, and future generations of the Shangguan family bravely and resolutely embark on the great ship of the late Huan Dynasty. And this great ship, since the reign of Emperor Zhongzong, had already been declining, with the virtuous gradually retiring and the wicked rising.
Shangguan Jin's words were resounding, while not far from the crowd, the Yunlong Palace was still brightly lit and bustling with people. The sounds of string and wind instruments drifted out from time to time, but they were all muffled and discordant.
This place is only a few dozen steps away from Yunlong Palace. With such a commotion, no one in the palace came out to check what was going on. It can be imagined that the people in the palace must be so drunk that they are staggering and unrecognizable.
Just as Sima Jinyuan was about to speak, he burst into another violent cough. He turned around with difficulty, pointed at Mo Yi Bishuang, and gestured for her to come forward.
Upon seeing this, Shangguan Jin's surprise turned into displeasure.
He was surprised because he had not expected Sima Jinyuan's health to be so poor, and displeased because Sima Jinyuan, in his twilight years, would trust a sycophantic woman so much.
Throughout his life, he was strict and self-disciplined, adhering to the diligent and conscientious work style he had when he was a tomb keeper. Therefore, he never really liked social queens like Lady Huachi who were enthusiastic in socializing and good at currying favor.
Mo Yi Bi Shuang obediently stepped forward, leaned close to Sima Jin Yuan's lips, and nodded repeatedly as she listened to what he said.
Then, Sima Jinyuan shoved the tin staff in his hand into Mo Yi Bishuang's hand, gesturing for her to give it to Shangguan Jin.
To everyone's surprise, Mo Yi Bi Shuang's posture in accepting the staff was quite strange. This Lady Hua Chi, whose rank was comparable to that of a prince and whose favor was no less than that of any concubine in the six palaces, took a step back with great care, then lifted her skirt and knelt down. Under the watchful eyes of so many people, she performed the grand ceremony of three bows and nine kowtows before raising both hands to receive the nine-dragon staff from Sima Jin Yuan.
But her next move was even more surprising.
She raised the Nine-Dragon Staff high with both hands, knelt respectfully before Shangguan Jin, bowed deeply, and then raised her head.
She said, word by word, "Your Majesty, please grant the Grand Chancellor the Nine Bestowments and the rites of abdication."
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