Chapter Thirty-Two: The Game

  Looking at the old god-like Fang Cong, Yang Lian knew that he couldn't open up a gap from him, although he didn't know what Fang Cong had gotten, but he knew it was something he couldn't provide.

  And so, this originally harmonious meeting ended like that, without any results being discussed.

  Looking at the sun that had already risen, Yang Lian knew that his time was limited. He had to unite all possible forces and drive Li Xuan out today. In the last day's time, Yang Lian visited various ministers of the government, cabinet ministers, and officials in Beijing.

  Although he had been subjected to cold shoulders and discrimination, Yang Lian's heart was unwavering, his heart filled with fighting spirit. For just one entrustment, the entrustment of Emperor Taichang who was no longer in this world at that time.

  When you were alive, you looked at me with different eyes, believed in me, and valued me. You entrusted your posthumous affairs to me, I will definitely not disappoint you, even if I am torn apart, I must live up to the value you placed on me. Since you treated me as a national scholar, I must repay you as a national scholar.

  This is Yang Lian's feelings towards Tai Chang Di, for so many years, from the imperial examination to becoming an official, he has never been taken seriously by anyone. For more than 20 years of his career as an official, he was just a sixth-grade official in charge of household affairs, a small official in the capital city who was as insignificant as a dog. Only that person, only him, was willing to believe in himself and entrust everything to me.

  Yang Lian still remembered the expression of Emperor Taichang at that time, when he was handed over to his bed, holding his hand, with such sincere words and pleading eyes, which still lingered in Yang Lian's mind. At this moment, Yang Lian had made up his mind, if he couldn't fulfill your last wish before death, then he would have no choice but to die.

  All day long, Yang Lian kept persuading, going in and out of various government offices, receiving cold shoulders and disdainful looks everywhere he went. Yet he remained undaunted. In his heart, the gaze of that person kept flashing before him, a conviction supporting his unwavering determination.

  It seemed that heaven had taken pity on this man, and it also seemed that these people were moved by Yang Lian. Many officials followed behind Yang Lian, walking towards the Forbidden City, walking towards that palace.

  They came to the front of the gate and arrived at the square. Under Yang Lian's leadership, all these people knelt down on the square.

  Yang Lian looked at the palace with a resolute expression, took off his hat and removed his official uniform, neatly placing it on the ground, and put his official hat on top of the uniform. After doing all this, Yang Lian faced the direction of Emperor Tianqi in the imperial palace and made three bows and nine kowtows, perhaps in his heart, this was his last time kneeling to his monarch.

  When everything was done, Yang Li suddenly stood up and shouted loudly towards the imperial palace: "Today, unless you kill me, if you don't move out of Qianqing Palace, I will not leave even if I die."

  Just as the square in front of the palace was bustling with people, inside the palace it was quiet, everyone lowered their heads and didn't speak, doing their own things in an orderly manner.

  In the Ciqing Palace, Crown Prince Zhu Youxiao was eating grapes, biting into each one that Li Lan had peeled for him, his eyes lightly closed in silence.

  Li Ran's mood at this time was not so calm, and she often looked up to the outside, her expression was also somewhat anxious, as if waiting for something.

  "Lan Er, what are you waiting for?" He gently opened his eyes and lightly grasped the woman's hand, saying softly.

  "Your Highness, don't you want to go out and take a look? It's already...". Li Lan didn't know what to say to the prince in front of her, who had a completely carefree expression on his face. Was he not afraid that his throne would be snatched away by someone else?

  Gently stroking the woman's hand, which was as smooth as jade, Zhu Youxiao smiled softly and said slowly: "What are you looking at? Are you watching those ministers perform their loyalty or Li Xuan's ugly face?"

  Li Ran was suddenly speechless. What's to see? Is there anything good to look at? She is his woman, he doesn't worry about it, why should she worry about it? All she needs to do is believe in her man.

  Still one peels the grapes, another eats them, everything seems to have not changed. The Crown Prince Zhu Youxiao still has his eyes slightly narrowed, a very enjoyable look, and Li Lan on the side is also smiling and chatting, as if all this has nothing to do with himself.

  At this time, the Qianqing Palace was a different scene. The doors of the warm pavilion were tightly closed, and from inside came the sound of women's curses and the sound of things being smashed. The eunuchs and palace maids standing outside were all silent as cicadas in winter, not even daring to lift their heads, fearing they would be implicated.

  Inside the warm pavilion, there were two people at this time. One was Li Xuan Shi, who had already been greatly disturbed, and the other was her most trusted eunuch, Li Jinzhong.

  Li Xuan is raging, while Li Jinzhong stands by in a daze, their fates seemingly already sealed.

  "You're not sending someone, but you've found a match for Fang Lao, right? How did things end up like this?" Seemingly relieved of some of the depression in his heart, Li Xuan's servant slowly calmed down and looked at Li Jinzhong, who was loudly scolding him.

  "Your Majesty, I have sent someone to find Fang Zongzhe and told him that as long as you are in power, we will definitely drive out all the Donglin Party members from the court. Fang Zongzhe also agreed, but it seems he hasn't been of much use." Li Jinzhong's face was also filled with indignation. As the Grand Secretary and Minister of the Imperial Cabinet, he had been made a laughing stock by a mere sixth-rank official like Fang Zongzhe. If he himself had such power, how could things have developed to this point? At this moment, Li Jinzhong's desire for power surged even more fiercely.

  "It's not that the deceased is a useless thing, but after ascending to the throne for only a month, he promoted a large number of Donglin Party members. The Grand Secretary of the Imperial Cabinet couldn't even restrain these Donglin Party members, what could this useless thing do with these people? Even in death, he doesn't rest in peace." Li Xuan's servant clearly knew that this matter couldn't be blamed on Fang Congzhe, but rather on that deceased man who had only been emperor for a month and yet managed to fill the court with so many Donglin Party members.

  As for Li Xuan's words, Li Jinzhong didn't say anything. Some things can only be heard and thought about, but not said. After a moment of contemplation, the eunuch slowly spoke: "Your Highness, this is no longer the time to discuss the reasons behind things. We need to think of a solution, what should we do?"

  "Right, think of a way, think of a way, Li Jinzhong, what's on your mind, speak up quickly." This woman who had been struggling all her life with a ruthless heart and cruel hands was now at her wit's end, and could only cast a pleading glance at Li Jinzhong.

  "The root of the matter lies with the prince, no matter how much noise these people outside make, it's all for the prince. As long as the prince agrees to crown the princess as empress dowager, even if he temporarily moves out of the Qianqing Palace, that's nothing. You should know, the Cining Palace is much larger and more comfortable than the Qianqing Palace." Li Jinzhong's eyes flickered with an inexplicable light, and his mouth was also curled up in a cold smile.

  Today I dropped out of the public author new book list, and now it's time for me to start sprinting. At this moment, I need your support, collection, recommendation, and clicks! The updates have been a bit unstable over the past few days due to some personal reasons, but starting from tomorrow, everything will be back to normal, with three updates per day.

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