novelhk Chapter 1046 Xiao He's Tears, I'm So Anxious!
Chapter 1046 Xiao He's Tears, I'm So Anxious!
The Grand General! That's the supreme commander of the entire army, the nominal head of military officers! Plus, he's the commander of the Fourth Army Group, a position of real power! This means Batu will directly control the most important military force near Xianyang, and have immense say in the deployment and promotion of all troops!
This is hardly a search for cooperation and guarantees; it's clearly an attempt to firmly grasp the military power of the entire empire, or at least the majority of it, in the hands of the siblings! Once this condition is agreed to, even if Gao Lin ascends the throne, he could very well be a puppet whose power is merely a tool of the military! All the hard work Lü Zhi has put into planning everything for her son, isn't it all just a waste of time and effort for someone else?
"You...do you know what you're saying?!" Empress Lü's voice trembled slightly with extreme shock and anger. "This condition is absolutely impossible to agree to! It's not a question of whether I, Empress Lü, agree or not! It's that even if I nodded, the entire court, the veteran generals, and the people of the world would never agree to such an absurd and harsh condition!"
Her face instantly turned ashen, and she directly pointed out the root cause of why this plan was utterly impossible. The imperial court was not a place where Lü Zhi could dictate terms, and military power was an extremely sensitive area where a single move could have far-reaching consequences. If she dared to propose such an arrangement, she would immediately become the target of public criticism. Forget supporting Gao Lin's ascension to the throne; she and her son would likely be torn to shreds by other forces and court officials!
The condition proposed by Yu Shu was less a plan and more a blatant act of defiance, or a means to corner Lü Zhi.
On the other side, in the pitch-black night, a black carriage without any markings made a dull, rapid sound as it rolled through the deserted streets of Chang'an, which were already under curfew. Inside the carriage, Xiao He sat upright, his eyes tightly covered by a thick black cloth, and his hands bound behind his back.
He could only perceive the carriage's every turn and every jolt by leaning his body and catching the faint sounds with his ears. A faint, distinctive scent, a mixture of sandalwood and cold iron, permeated the air—the hallmark of the Green Robe Society. Like the shadow of the empire, they acted in secrecy, directly obeying the highest authority.
Xiao He's heart, like the swaying carriage, was adrift and uncertain. His Majesty had been missing for over half a month, and undercurrents were swirling in the court. Although the four princes hadn't openly broken ties, they were each actively recruiting retainers and court officials. He, the Grand Secretary, was exhausted from trying to maintain the superficial balance and the empire's daily operations.
Is being "invited" away by the Green Robe Society in such a secretive manner a blessing or a curse? Is it that some young master has finally lost his patience and is going to make a move against this high-ranking and powerful minister in order to control the cabinet? Or... has he received news of His Majesty?
The carriage finally came to a stop. He was helped down by two silent guards in blue robes. His feet touched the solid ground, feeling the smooth stone slabs before a few steps. The air suddenly became warm and moist, carrying a sweet, warm fragrance, a stark contrast to the chill of the autumn night outside. He was led through several doorways, the touch of his feet changing from stone slabs to soft carpet. The surrounding silence was replaced by an almost stagnant tranquility, typical of a grand mansion.
The blindfold was removed, and the sudden light made him squint. After a moment, he could see his surroundings. It was an extremely spacious and luxurious study, with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves of rosewood lining all four walls, displaying countless bamboo slips and silk books. The air was filled with a unique scent, a mixture of the fragrance of ink and a warm, pleasant aroma. Thick carpets from the Western Regions covered the floor, their patterns intricate and their colors vibrant. In one corner of the room stood an ancient-style bronze incense burner shaped like a crane, from which wisps of smoke rose.
Before him, behind a large desk covered with bright yellow brocade, sat not any of the young masters he had expected, but... a child dressed in ordinary clothes, not yet ten years old—the Fourth Young Master, Gao Qun.
Xiao He's heart sank. It was indeed a power struggle between the princes! Gao Qun was known among the four princes for his meticulousness and ruthlessness, and he had close ties with military generals. How could he have mobilized the Green Robe Society? Had this force, which His Majesty had painstakingly cultivated and which was directly under the imperial power, already been infiltrated and controlled by the princes? A chill crept up Xiao He's spine. If this were true, the empire was in grave danger!
He forced himself to remain calm, straightened his slightly disheveled robe sleeves caused by the bindings, and bowed slightly to Gao Qun. His voice was slightly hoarse: "This old minister, Xiao He, greets the Fourth Prince. May I ask why the Fourth Prince has 'invited' this old minister here in such a manner? The Green Robe Society is His Majesty's personal army, directly answering the Emperor's call. No subject can act on its own. Is the Fourth Prince's action inappropriate?" His words carried a questioning tone, as well as a probing tone, attempting to ascertain Gao Qun's true intentions and capabilities.
Gao Qun looked at Xiao He with no expression on his face. He simply waved his hand and did not answer his question directly. Instead, he turned to face a huge screen at the inside of the study and respectfully reported, "Father, Prime Minister Xiao has arrived."
Father? !
These two words struck Xiao He like a thunderclap! He trembled violently, jerked his head up, and stared intently at the screen depicting the vast landscape of China. Father? Gao Qun addressed the person behind the screen as Father? In the entire world, the only person whom the Fourth Prince Gao Qun could call Father was… the Emperor Gao Yao, who had been missing for half a month and was being searched for by the entire court!
Impossible! Absolutely impossible! If His Majesty were here, why would he need to be so secretive? Why would he need to use the Green Robe Society? And why would he need to be summoned to the Fourth Prince's residence?
Just as Xiao He's mind raced with astonishment and doubt, a voice he knew all too well, tinged with weariness yet still imbued with supreme authority, slowly drifted from behind the screen:
"Xiao He, it's been a while since I last saw you. How have you been doing as the Grand Secretary?"
The voice was not loud, but it was like a great bell, striking Xiao He's heart!
It's the King! It really is the King's voice!
In an instant, Xiao He felt a rush of heat to his head, his eyes instantly welled up with tears, and his vision blurred. He could no longer care about the etiquette between ruler and subject, or the decorum of the court. He staggered forward a few steps, went around the desk, and rushed to the screen.
Through the gap in the screen, he could clearly see that the figure sitting upright on the soft couch, with a ruddy complexion and eyes that were still as deep as an abyss, was quietly watching him. Who else could it be but Gao Yao!
"Your Majesty... Your Majesty!" Xiao He's voice trembled violently. He suddenly knelt down, touched his head to the ground, and choked out, "Your Majesty... Your Majesty has finally seen you! Heaven has eyes! Heaven has eyes! Your Majesty is safe and sound. This is a blessing for the country and a fortune for all the people!" The worry, anxiety, and fear that he had suppressed for half a month turned into ecstasy and excitement at this moment. He could no longer hold back his tears, which slid down his cheeks and dripped onto the expensive carpet.