Chapter Fourteen: The Foolish Woman

  These literati saw the queen in power, and this was something they could not accept. The idea of Emperor Taichang was impossible to achieve, let alone that Emperor Taichang had just destroyed their hopes, how could these ministers possibly allow the emperor to have his way.

  Another awkward silence, Emperor Taichang suddenly became somewhat angry and shouted loudly: "What do you people mean? Are you willing to express your attitude or not?" After finishing speaking, he started coughing violently.

  The ministers below still did not utter a word, for these ministers who had just gone through the Wanli era, the blow to their morale was not small. It was no longer the time when the imperial court opened up the roads of speech, and the consequences of being straightforward in the imperial court were very serious, and it was likely that they would be beaten to death in front of the palace gate. Moreover, most of the Qi, Zhe, Chu party people standing on the imperial court at this time, those Donglin party people who took wind and bone as their priority had not yet truly grasped the speech of the imperial court.

  If they oppose Li Xuan at this time, the future crown prince will ascend to the throne and be young in age. Then he can wait for his family to be destroyed! Women have always been unaware of what it means to be kind-hearted and soft-handed. Didn't Emperor Wu of Han fail to protect the Dou family from Empress Dowager's hands back then? That was the wise and brilliant Emperor Wu! In the hearts of these people, the best outcome for this emperor is a mediocre one. Even these officials are more inclined to think that he is an incompetent ruler. Who would dare to come out and oppose him in such an environment?

  But to say that they are in favor, no one dares to do so. In this era of the Great Ming Dynasty, it is an era where words fill the sky, even if no one says anything on the imperial court. However, among the scholars, it is just a matter of flattering and deceiving, which would lead to national chaos. That would be a stinky reputation that would last for 800 miles, and even future generations would be scolded. No one dares to take this step. Even if they want to surrender, they have to wait until the dust settles and then make their move. At this time, no one is so foolish.

  The Taichang Emperor barely held back his cough, looking at the officials below who were exchanging worried glances. He suddenly stood up and pointed at them, unable to say a word. Moreover, the emperor's body seemed to be swaying, as if he was about to collapse. At this moment, all eyes of the officials fell on Fang Zongzhe, the chief assistant. If they had infuriated the emperor to death in court, these people would really go down in history, but whether that would be good or bad was unknown.

  At this time, Fang Zongze was also helpless. At this time, the Donglin Party on the court had already shown a trend of counterattack. As the core of the Qi-Zhe-Chu Party, he really couldn't get trapped in it at this time. Otherwise, it would definitely become the target of the Donglin Party's attack. He was about to retire soon, but he couldn't leave behind a bad reputation either!

  He looked around in a circle and finally his eyes fell on one person. He gave that person a look, then turned back.

  Just as Emperor Taichang was about to burst into a loud scolding, a man suddenly walked out, lifted his clothes and knelt down, saying in an unwilling tone: "Your Majesty, I have something to say."

  The Emperor of Taichang saw that someone had finally stood up, and his anger in his heart slightly reduced. He slowly sat back down, his voice hoarse as he said: "Since Sun Ai has something to say, then let him speak!"

  It was Sun Ruyu, the Minister of Rites, who came out. A man in his fifties, he bowed and thanked the emperor before slowly standing up. He looked at Fang Congzhe with a profound gaze, and after seeing Fang nod slightly, Sun said: "This is indeed the emperor's family matter, we as subjects should not interfere. If the emperor wants to do it, then so be it!"

  Emperor Taichang could clearly feel the discontent in Sun Ruoyu's heart and was unwilling to delve deeper into this matter, so he gave such a reply. These ministers have always said that the emperor's family affairs are national affairs, and only when they disagree but cannot do anything about it will they return family affairs to the emperor.

  Although Emperor Taichang was somewhat dissatisfied with the result, fortunately, he also passed it. He let out a light sigh and opened his mouth to say: "Do all of you think so?"

  His Majesty's ministers looked at each other, they knew it was time to compromise now, or else they would not be able to get down the slope. The ministers knelt down under Fang Cong's lead and shouted loudly: "The Emperor is wise."

  The Emperor Taichang was delighted at this moment, and the matter had finally been settled. It was not in vain that he had favored Li Xuan's servant girl, and even if he had a day like that, it would be considered a deal with her.

  The Emperor Taichang stroked the dragon throne beneath him once again, unsure if he would ever have another chance to sit there. His eyes were filled with reluctance as he looked up at the Crown Prince not far away, his emotions complex and conflicted.

  He let out a soft sigh, and just as Emperor Taichang was about to speak, a person suddenly emerged from behind the screen in the great hall. This person did not pay respects to Emperor Taichang nor acknowledge the many officials below, but instead walked directly to the crown prince's side.

  "Come with me." He pulled the prince's hand and walked out, saying loudly, his voice full of anger, as if there was endless grievance in his heart.

  Until the crown prince and that person disappeared, Emperor Taichang and his ministers came to their senses, staring at Emperor Taichang in disbelief. But Emperor Taichang just shook his head, not saying a word, although his face looked bad, he didn't say a word after all.

  Seeing the emperor's attitude, all the ministers below also lowered their heads and stopped speaking.

  Looking at the woman in front of him, Ye Xiang's heart was filled with a cold smile. Although she had ambitions to become Empress Lu, she didn't have that kind of cunning. If Emperor Taichang could hold on for a little longer, this woman might really have been able to become a powerful woman who dominated an era. Unfortunately, her dreams would never come true.

  At that time, the spoiled Zheng Guifei did not have such a thing, just thinking of her own son pushing onto the throne. A woman without children dared to have such an idea. It is worth knowing that the Ming Dynasty system was the most perfect except for the Qing Dynasty, unless the emperor allowed it, no one could monopolize power.

  This is also why, in the Ming Dynasty, there were only eunuchs who held power, but not a single one of them could do harm to the emperor. Because their power was given by the emperor, once the emperor wanted to take it back, no matter if it was the treacherous Liu Jin or the cunning Wei Zhongxian, they could only wait for their heads to be chopped off.

  This woman, who was holding onto unrealistic fantasies, Ye Xiang couldn't help but feel a little sympathetic towards her at this moment. Even if he wasn't around, her plan wouldn't have been possible anyway. And now that he had arrived, it was even more impossible for her scheme to succeed, or else he would be the one to die. Heaven had given Ye Xiang another chance, and he definitely wouldn't let it slip away.