Chapter 7: Prince Li Xuanye

It was the Crown Prince, Li Xuan Ye.

"Today's studies are leisurely," he calmly reported, "Your son was concerned about the Emperor's illness, so I came to check on you."

"The physical illness has improved, but the heartache has come again," the Emperor smiled, "I'm sure you've heard about the Prime Minister's family affairs. We discussed it for a long time but couldn't come to a conclusion. Your timing is perfect. In your opinion, how should we handle it properly?"

Li Xuan Ye was slightly taken aback.

The Minister of Justice and the Grand Master of Splendor, who had been arguing incessantly, stood up straight, bowed their heads slightly, and waited quietly.

The venerable Minister of Works and Minister of Education pretended not to know anything and quietly turned their toes.

The atmosphere suddenly became mysterious.

Li Xuan Ye glanced at the tired expression of the Emperor and furrowed his barely visible eyebrows, "Has the Emperor not taken the medicine yet? Your son will serve you the medicine first."

The eunuch Cao De quickly brought a black lacquered and gold-embellished tray and presented the medicine, "This was just prepared by the Imperial Pharmacy. Please take it, Your Majesty."

Li Xuan Ye personally held the translucent jade-like blue and white porcelain bowl and scooped a small spoonful, tasting it gently. Seeing that the temperature was suitable, he said, "Your health is the priority, Your Majesty, please take the medicine first."

The Emperor's complexion softened a lot, nodding with a smile, "Alright."

The Empress had passed away, leaving behind a pair of young children. The current Emperor personally raised the two children by his side.

As a result, the relationship between the Crown Prince and the Emperor was particularly close, without the usual distance between a sovereign and his subject.

The deep affection between father and son was observed keenly by the courtiers, who were unsure whether to leave or stay.

As soon as the medicine was half-drunk, the Crown Prince glanced at the courtiers and said calmly, "Today, the officials are also tired. You may all retire."

The courtiers had been waiting for this moment, and they all bowed as if granted a general amnesty, "We take our leave."

The Empress Dowager wanted to impeach the Prime Minister, and the Emperor wanted the officials to stand up and express their opinions.

Who would dare to risk their lives?

In an instant, everyone in the hall left cleanly.

The sky was getting dim, and the palace maids quietly lit the palace lamps, then retreated silently.

The gentle and warm orange light and the atmosphere became much more peaceful and harmonious.

After serving the Emperor the medicine, Li Xuan Ye took a golden basin brought over by the eunuch Cao De, soaked a handkerchief in water and gently wrung it out. He first wiped his hands and then personally wiped the Emperor's face.

At this moment, there were no other people in the hall, and the Emperor's words became more straightforward, "These old foxes! As soon as I mentioned supporting Zhao Ziyi, they immediately brought up Pei Gongquan to oppose me..."

He changed the subject, "This matter was mishandled by me in the past, leading to Shen Mu's melancholy end. But who could have expected that Zhao Ziyi would turn out to be so sentimental. Now he has caused such trouble, the Empress Dowager will definitely use this to blackmail me..."

The Emperor recalled the past, and his restless emotions surged again, "This illegitimate daughter of the Zhao family is truly a big trouble."

Li Xuan Ye sat down near the window, and the eunuch Cao De quickly served him tea on his left.

Li Xuan Ye took a sip of tea, looking composed as he said, "Shen Mu was demoted because of his own mistakes. Your Majesty, there is no need to blame yourself."

The Emperor was a benevolent ruler, and seeing that the Crown Prince was only nineteen but already had a decisive and ruthless demeanor, he felt a sense of reluctance and sighed deeply.

If his health were a little better, the court would not have descended into chaos like this, and the future handed over to the Crown Prince would undoubtedly be a peaceful and prosperous one.

Unfortunately, things did not go as planned. The Great Wei was currently facing internal and external troubles, and the Crown Prince could only become more ruthless through constant trials and tribulations.

Li Xuan Ye remained calm, "The ruler is the foundation of the subjects. If Shen Mu were wise, he would understand that everything in the Shen family came from the Emperor. Once he ascended to the position of a high official, he could no longer maintain the demeanor of a scholar. To uphold integrity, one must first have great power. If he lacks this understanding, even if Your Majesty did not demote him, he would still lose in the power struggle."

"Ye'er speaks wisely," the Emperor nodded in approval, recalling the events of the past and gradually becoming more serious, "Indeed, when the power of the Prince of Jiangxia was so formidable, Shen Mu, as the head of the nine ministers, only thought of his own well-being. Even if I did not demote him, he would eventually be targeted by the Empress Dowager's faction."

"So, regarding the matter of Zhao Ziyi, it's best to let the Empress Dowager accuse him openly," Li Xuan Ye smiled and said slowly, "It's best to make the whole court aware that the Empress Dowager cannot tolerate Zhao Ziyi. It will also let Zhao Ziyi himself know that the idea of maintaining integrity as a lone individual is a delusion."

Turning the conversation, he added, "In secret, you should employ a strategy of appeasement towards the Zhao family, to prevent Zhao Ziyi from hesitating and being taken advantage of by the Empress Dowager's faction."

"Exactly! With a few words from Ye'er, the great matter in my heart is resolved!" the Emperor's eyes lit up, and his previously ailing state improved significantly.

He looked deeply at his son and seemed to remember something, "There is another matter. When the old Prince of Jiangxia's family left the capital, it was my intention. Now that Li Jingzong has suddenly returned to the capital, the Empress Dowager is eager to suppress Zhao Ziyi, fearing that she wants to make room for Li Jingzong."

Li Xuan Ye smiled, "In that case, the matter of the Zhao family will be even easier to handle."

Surprised by his son's confidence, the Emperor asked, "Do you have a way to achieve both ends?"

Li Xuan Ye's smile faded, "Let Li Jingzong return to the center, so that these old foxes won't just think about being idle officials."

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"As for Zhao Ziyi, he is indeed a rare talent. However, he is too protective of his own interests. Despite the current tense situation in the court, he still wants to remain aloof. It seems he has inherited the same pride and independence as Shen Mu," Li Xuanye frowned. "It might be better to arrange a marriage between his daughter and the Prince of Jiangxia."

"Marriage?" The Emperor looked at his son, who appeared composed and devoid of personal emotions in his speech, showing his mastery of statecraft. His gaze sharpened.

After a moment of contemplation, he said, "This plan is good, but Zhao Ziyi is a man of deep sentiment. How could he sacrifice his daughter's marriage?"

Li Xuanye smiled faintly, "Father, do not underestimate Zhao Ziyi. If he truly valued sentiment, how could he abandon the daughter of the Shen family when they fell from power? His rapid rise to become the youngest prime minister since the founding of the Great Wei Dynasty by Your Majesty is a result of his deep understanding of political strategy, isn't it?"

"If he agrees to the marriage, it could either align the power of the Prince of Jiangxia with us, or serve as a defense against the attacks from the Empress Dowager's faction. Either way, it's a safe and profitable deal."

"Indeed," the Emperor nodded slowly. "Let Zhao Ziyi restrain the Prince of Jiangxia, and let the Prince of Jiangxia restrain the Empress Dowager's faction... I just wonder about the talent of Zhao Ziyi's daughter. If she is mediocre and impulsive, it might be a case of gaining nothing but losing something."