Rong Si nodded slightly, her eyes full of satisfaction.
"In that case, let’s proceed as planned!"
"Yes!"
"Princess, there’s another report."
At this mont, another person ca in from outside and handed Rong Si a secret letter.
Rong Si glanced at it, and her expression imdiately turned cold.
"Hmph!" She threw the report fiercely to the ground and said coldly, "How did Lu Zhi manage such a task? To actually lose fifty thousand elite troops due to a mont of carelessness? Despicable and hateful!"
Aunt Yin felt a tremor in her heart, "Your Highness, what about the Eldest Young Master?"
Speaking of Li Qingmu, Rong Si’s expression softened: "That child is clever and promptly stopped the losses. He has already led the army back now. Though we lost elite troops, at least we are the victors. There’s only a slight loss of vitality this ti. We will restore our strength and fight again next year!"
This is the remarkable aspect of Li Qingmu. Lu Zhi and others wanted to capitalize on their victory, but he pointed out various dangers without stopping them, allowing the army to suffer losses but preventing the Liang Army from continuing to move south. This way, he gained both benefits and prestige while maintaining a balance between the two nations.
He really put much thought into it.
...
Qianyang Palace.
The Little Emperor Rong Zhuo was drinking dicine.
Amidst the chill of spring, he unfortunately caught a cold these past two days, feeling dizzy and feverish, with his whole body lethargic, unable to attend morning assembly for several days.
Having missed morning assembly, naturally, he knew nothing of the matters there. Fortunately, he had a few loyal individuals who would tell him about the affairs of the court.
"The Eldest Young Master won a major victory at the front, capturing Dazhou’s Five Northern Counties and reaching a peak of prestige. Your Majesty, I believe the Princess will surely take action next."
Speaking was an old minister nad Wu Zhi, straightforward like his na, a veteran of three reigns and a pillar of the late Emperor, absolutely loyal to Rong Zhuo.
Due to his seniority, Rong Si could not easily affect him.
At this mont, he discussed the court’s affairs, analyzed them briefly, and reached this conclusion.
The Little Emperor rubbed his sleepy eyes, asking muddled, "Elder Wu, what do you think the Princess will do?"
"I believe they will support the Eldest Young Master to ascend! To beco... the ruling king! Even..."
Wu Zhi didn’t finish the sentence, but the intent was already apparent within.
As a woman, Rong Si was not appropriate to directly govern, but what if she supported her son? Do not forget, Li Qingmu also bears the bloodline of the Daliang Imperial Family.
Moreover, he has changed his na to ’Rong Mu’ and seeks to inherit the throne, which is entirely feasible!
In such a way, Rong Zhuo’s situation becos perilous.
Rong Zhuo also realized this, so he completely opened his eyes, no longer with the previous confusion but with a hint of cleverness.
"Elder Wu, the Princess will definitely take action against ."
Rong Zhuo blinked, with a bit of sparkle shining through his eyes. He was the Emperor, but he was still young, smarter than most, yet ultimately still just a child.
He knew the imperial family was ruthless, but this felt too ruthless, didn’t it?
For power, his aunt herself wanted to harm him in this way?
Rong Zhuo felt a little helpless looking at Wu Zhi, this was his father’s entrusted loyal minister, utterly devoted to him. Now, he could only turn to him for help.
He couldn’t trust anyone else.
Wu Zhi sighed, "Perhaps Your Majesty’s current illness is an opportunity."
"An opportunity?"
"Indeed, the Princess’s power is at its peak; we can’t confront it directly. Your Majesty should feign illness and refrain from attending court, thus perhaps evading the Princess’s harm."
Rong Zhuo lowered his head; maybe this was the only way.
"Cough, cough..."
He coughed gently, pulling up the quilt to cover his little head: "Elder Wu, I’m feeling so unwell, about to faint, please leave so I can rest well."
The Little Emperor no longer referred to himself as "I"; he was just a helpless child now.
Sotis being small is indeed a sin because being small invites countless people to swarm over and bully, humiliate you.
But similarly, being small is sotis also a form of protection; when you are small and pitiful, it evokes sympathy, causing people to give you leeway, then treating you as air, seeing but not noticing.
What Rong Zhuo needs to do now is to minimize his presence so that his aunt can’t do anything to him.
"In that case, I will withdraw now, Your Majesty, rest well!"
"Mm!"
The Little Emperor responded softly, and Wu Zhi made his bow and left.
Just as he walked out of the Qianyang Palace gate, he encountered Aunt Yin.
"Elder Wu!"
Aunt Yin respectfully greeted Wu Zhi.
Wu Zhi didn’t slight her, nodding slightly.
Wu Zhi, after all, was a veteran of three reigns, while Aunt Yin was just a female official—a position not on the sa level—yet she could behave so freely, Wu Zhi still had to give her face, as she was close to Rong Si.
Actually, Wu Zhi usually didn’t want to give her face, but given the current special circumstances, everything had to be held back, or a single misstep might lead to disaster.
"Elder Wu, may I ask about His Majesty’s health? The Princess is concerned about His Majesty’s health, and sent to visit."
Visit? Ha, here to act as a death talisman, perhaps?
Wu Zhi sneered inwardly, outwardly solemn: "His Majesty’s health is not good, has already retired for the night."
This was a refusal!
Aunt Yin nodded, "Alright, in that case, I will return later."
Then she departed.
Wu Zhi watched her retreating figure, snorted lightly, and walked in the opposite direction.
Aunt Yin returned to Rong Si’s Fengming Palace and bowed, saying, "Princess, His Majesty is resting, so I did not go in."
"Oh? Resting?" Rong Si blinked, amused, "Was anything said?"
"I t Wu Zhi outside; he said His Majesty’s health is poor and has already lain down."
"Ha, aware of avoiding the lilight?"
Rong Si was definitely a smart woman, seeing the signs at once.
Aunt Yin nodded slightly, "In that case, the Little Emperor knows the gravity of it and when to advance and retreat, then Princess, should the plan proceed?"
Rong Si thought for a mont and said, "If he can continue to feign illness and finds himself unable to preside over state affairs, handing over imperial power, then allowing him a chance is not out of the question, after all, he is the Princess’s nephew."
"In that case, I understand!"
Aunt Yin rose and left.
Rong Si smiled slightly, looking out at the sunny scene, bringing Mu’er back was indeed the right decision, as it brought her one step closer to her goal.
Subsequently, the Little Emperor Rong Zhuo claid he was not well and couldn’t attend court, staying nested within Qianyang Palace, never erging.
Many ministers went to visit him, but found indeed his complexion pale and devoid of blood, looking sickly, even to the point that his lucid monts beca increasingly rare.
The Imperial Physicians were frazzled with work, diagnosing the Little Emperor, but couldn’t determine a cause, only exchanged blank stares.
Finally, it was State Preceptor You Su who examined, stating the Little Emperor might have a latent ailnt, triggered by this cold, needing proper rest.
Thus all unnecessary personnel withdrew from Qianyang Palace, leaving only the Little Emperor and a few attending palace maids and eunuchs.
This was essentially a soft confinent.
The Emperor was confined, yet Daliang Palace was not in turmoil; rather, there was great excitent because the army led by the Eldest Young Master was soon to return in triumph!
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