Demoness, where are you Fleeing to?
Chapter 652 - 532

Chapter 652: 532

At this point, they are perhaps just half a step away from the truth.

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Early the next morning, Li Xuan entered the palace at dawn, fully dressed in ceremonial attire.

Today is Yu Hongshang’s first day as regent, it must be treated with the utmost seriousness, he needed to support his girlfriend.

However, as soon as Li Xuan entered Chengtian Gate, he noticed numerous officials from Jingying and the Dudu’s mansion, all giving him cold stares.

These people used to greet him enthusiastically when they saw him in the past, being incredibly respectful and sycophantically flattering him to the utmost degree.

But today, when these people saw him, they all harbored a kind of coldness and alienation.

Some of the more naive ones even harbored a hint of schadenfreude and pity.

Li Xuan was surprised, wondering when these guys’ greasy politeness suddenly evaporated.

At this time, a young man wearing a Duke’s attire, walked up to Li Xuan and said, "Marquis of Guanjun, you must be careful. Last night, my uncle Huangfu Xuanji and General Liang Heng were rushing around the capital, meeting with various nobles all night. They are very likely to launch an attack against you at the court meeting today."

Li Xuan turned to look at the young man, and immediately recognized him as the current Huangfu Mao, the Fuguogong.

After Huangfu Shenji was killed in the Tumu Fort, Huangfu Mao took over the title at the age of nine, and it’s been thirteen years since then.

"Fuguogong?" Li Xuan was slightly surprised, but then he laughed and held his fist towards Fuguogong: "Thanks for the warning, I will be careful."

Huangfu Mao looked at Li Xuan thoughtfully, then self-deprecatingly said, "It seems that I am meddling, Marquis of Guanjun is obviously well prepared."

"I knew about General Liang’s nature, so I made some preparations beforehand. Doesn’t the Art of War say, ’The victorious strategist only seeks battle after the victory has been won, whereas he who is destined to defeat first fights and afterwards looks for victory.’"

Li Xuan smiled, then said solemnly, "But the fact that Fuguogong is reporting to me at this time shows your character, and I am very grateful."

"I just can’t stand the actions of my uncle."

Looking at the direction of General Liang Heng and Huangfu Xuanji, Huangfu Mao said with a tinge of disdain and rejection, "The rectification of the Weisuo farmland by the Marquis of Guanjun and the Shaobao was something my father regretted not being able to achieve before he died. He tried to correct this malpractice several times, but because Wang Zhen held absolute power and the Emperor was suspicious, he could only let it go."

Li Xuan’s expression became solemn immediately: "Fuguogong understands the overall situation!"

"It’s just that they understand their interests. As nobles, we share the same prosperity and adversity with the country. If the nation is in trouble, can we, as nobles, be well? The authority of the Dudu’s mansion comes from the soldiers of Weisuo. If the Wiesuo Institute collapses, the Dudu’s position in court will fall drastically and it will become a vassal of civil officials.

The soldiers of Weisuo in the world were those who followed the Great Ancestor and Emperor Taizong in their conquests, who gave meritorious service to the Jin Dynasty. But now their descendants are impoverished, just like commoners, which is not good for the Jin Dynasty. But those fools just don’t understand this principle, no, they do understand it, they just don’t care."

Huangfu Mao shook his head, "However, not all of us Jingnan nobles are short-sighted. Although I, Huangfu Mao, am weak, I am willing to contribute my meager strength for the rectification of the Farmland by Marquis of Guanjun."

He held his fist towards Li Xuan, then left Li Xuan. Although they were both from the military, they didn’t stand together.

Although Li Xuans holds the marquis title, he holds the respect of a duke, and is now of the rank of the Dudu Qianshi.

However, due to the suppression of Huangfu Mao’s two uncles, he still holds only the title of duke and has no official posts.

When all the officials in the court were standing in the hall, the Princess of Changle entered the hall under the protection of many Attendants and palace maids as seven bells rang.

Her seat is arranged on the right side in front of the throne, equivalent to the specification of a prince, with a curtain in front.

At this time, Qian Long, the chief eunuch of the Sili Bureau, stood up, sweeping the ministers with cold eyes.

"His Majesty is ill and needs two months of rest. The Princess of Changle obeys the Emperor’s decree and manages the court during His Majesty’s rest period with the right to handle national affairs. If anyone dares to show disrespect, they will be beheaded without mercy."

There was a stir in the court.

Although the ministers had heard about the Emperor’s decree for the Princess of Changle to rule yesterday, witnessing it personally and hearing it, was still a bit hard to accept.

It was only after the Minister of Rites walked around the crowd with the iron mace for maintaining court order in his hand that the noise in the hall subsided.

The Chief Eunuch Qian Long of the Sili Bureau snorted: "If there is any business, the officials should rise and make it known, if not, they should retreat."

The Princess Changle, Yu Hongshang, said softly, "I am young and inexperienced. I have taken on this job of ruling due to my father’s illness, out of necessity. However, the important policies of the court are related to the welfare of hundreds of millions of people, and I really dare not act arbitrarily.

Please put national affairs first and for the sake of the Emperor and the people, help me to ensure the people’s wellbeing and stabilize the court."

Her stance was very modest, and her words were very well chosen, which immediately eased the dissatisfaction on the faces of many ministers in the court.

But at the moment Yu Hongshang finished speaking, General Zhenshuo, Liang Heng stood up.

Your Highness, I, General Zhenshuo, Zongbing of Datong, Liang Heng, Marquis of Wuqing, hereby accuse Marquis of Guanjun, Li Xuan, of belittling superiors, wielding power arbitrarily, abusing power, deploying troops and horses at will in the capital, causing hundreds of houses in the west of the city to collapse and be destroyed, his crimes are extreme!

Furthermore, while Marquis of Guanjun was serving in the Dudu’s mansion, he made private exceptions to the law, indulged himself all day long, and neglected his duties!"

Li Xuan glanced at Liang Heng, a cold light flashed in his eyes.

He thought to himself: They’re finally here, but is that all General Liang’s got?

Next, he saw a blue-robed Imperial Censor stand up and say, "I, Liang Wei, accuse Earl Chengyi, Li Chengji, of nepotism, using his position for personal gain, embezzling public funds, accepting bribes during his tenure as Tidu of Caojiang Navy and Zongdu of canal transportation. There are seven real instances of these, the evidence is irrefutable—"

A seriousness finally flashed in Li Xuan’s eyes.

He thought to himself: These people targeting his father, Earl Chengyi, really did hit at his roots.

At this time, the entire court was silent. The gaze of all the court officials was sweeping between Li Xuan and Liang Heng.