I am not Yuan Shu

Chapter 205 Sikong, Recording Shangshu Affairs

When Yuan Feng said this, he deliberately paused and stared at Liu Li with sharp eyes, as if he wanted to see through his heart.

Liu Li felt a little frightened by Yuan Feng's gaze, and felt even more uneasy.

Then, Yuan Feng continued, "As for those on the list of deposed officials, some are blatant traitors, some are hidden traitors, some are blatantly helping the tyrant, and some are secretly pandering to the eunuchs and plotting against Your Majesty. These are all real.

Your Majesty may not know that Wang Fu, Cao Jie and other treacherous people slandered your Majesty for having the intention to usurp the throne, and then prepared to arrest and interrogate your Majesty. When the announcement was issued, few people in the court, both civil and military, spoke up for your Majesty, and they all sat and watched your Majesty suffer. Among them, these people were the most hateful.

At that time, there were very few people who spoke for Your Majesty and worked for Your Majesty, and the Yuan family was the backbone among them. Your Majesty can think about it. Without the Yuan family and the loyal ministers on the reward list, would Your Majesty still be able to sit on the throne and speak freely today?"

Yuan Feng said this without any dignity or warmth, it was simply a naked threat.

His voice echoed in the empty hall, deafening like thunder.

Liu Kui was so frightened by Yuan Feng's words that his face turned red and white, and a strong feeling of fear surged in his heart.

He stared at the two lists and felt that there seemed to be some mistakes in the bright future he had originally thought of, and some unexpected new situations had emerged.

He originally thought that he would be able to control everything after ascending the throne, but he did not expect to fall into such a passive situation. This emperor was completely different from what he had imagined.

Moreover, when Liu Kui discovered that there was no future arrangement for Yuan Feng and Yuan Shu on this list, he became even more worried.

He didn't know what was going on with Yuan Feng and Yuan Shu, and why they didn't put forward their demands on the list.

Why don’t these two main contributors write down their own needs?

What are their needs?
Could it be... related to the throne?
Once this idea appeared in his mind, it grew wildly like weeds. Liu Kui felt as if he was caught in a huge whirlpool and couldn't extricate himself.

He didn't know how to make a decision, let alone where his future would go. He could only sit on the throne blankly, holding the two lists tightly in his hands, his heart filled with confusion and helplessness.

Yuan Feng and Yuan Shu stood quietly aside, waiting for Liu Kui's response.

After a while, Liu Kui seemed to face the reality, swallowed his saliva, and spoke cautiously.

"I... also know all these things. I thought too much. I was wrong. But, Yuan Taifu and Yuan Qing, why are your names not on this list?"

Yuan Shu didn't say anything, but Yuan Feng gave the answer.

"My son has not yet come of age, so he is not suitable for a court position for the time being. Please ask the court to confer him a title of nobility."

"As for me... Your Majesty, what position do you think I am qualified to take?"

Yuan Feng threw the question back to Liu Kui, making Liu Kui suddenly realize that this might be a fatal question. If he did not answer it well, it would probably have some impact on his life.

So, how to answer this question?

What position can Yuan Feng hold?
What is the highest position he can offer?
Three Dukes.

Among the Three Dukes, there seemed to be candidates, for example, Yuan Wei was a Situ, Li Xian was a Taiwei, and Zong Ju was a Sikong, but it seemed... there were some changes?

Liu Kui seemed to have discovered something interesting. He picked up the list of dismissals and took a look at it. He saw the words "Li Xian was dismissed from the position of Grand Marshal" and "Zong Ju was dismissed from the position of Minister of Works".

And there seems to be another one on the reward list...

That’s right! Duan Xing was appointed as the Grand Commandant!
That leaves us with...

Sikong!

That's it!

there is only one truth!
The correct answer to this life-threatening question is - Yuan Feng wants to be Sikong!
After getting the correct answer, Liu Qi felt happy for a moment, but what followed was... worry.

Yuan Wei is already the Situ, and Yuan Feng is going to be the Sikong. Two people within three kilometers are members of the Yuan family. This... isn’t this a bit too much?

However, he was not very willing to discuss this issue with Yuan Feng. He was worried that if the issue was clarified, his throne would be unclear again.

"Taifu Yuan has worked hard and made great contributions, and has done me a great favor. I think Taifu Yuan should be promoted to the rank of Three Dukes, and be granted the title of Minister of Works, so that he can be regarded as a pillar of the country!"

He thought he had answered the question very well.

But he didn't expect that there was no joy on Yuan Feng's face.

He just nodded slightly, and then asked another question. "But if it's just Sikong's words, I can't share your worries very well. I hope to share your worries better, relieve your worries, and appease the world. What do you think?"

Liu Kui was stunned.

He looked carefully at the reward list and the demotion list again, trying to find some clues, but he couldn't find any.

How come there is a second question after the fatal question?
Yuan Zhouyang, you have no moral principles!
You sneak attacked me, an old emperor who has been on the throne for less than a day!

Liu Kui was extremely anxious and helpless, so he could only look for help to Yuan Shu, who had been acting as a background board beside him.

Yuan Shu noticed Liu Kui's sparkling eyes asking for help.

"Your Majesty, I think Yuan Sikong has made great contributions and is loyal to the emperor and the country. He is also the hope of the world. He is the best candidate for the country's prime minister. Therefore, I suggest that Yuan Sikong should be appointed as the Minister of the Secretariat, take charge of the central government, and share your worries."

Yuan Shu didn't want to waste any more time here, so he directly told Liu Kui the answer to this fatal question.

I have talked about this question before!

If you can't even get this score, then don't ever tell others that I taught you and that I never had a useless student like you!

Liu Kui obviously knew Yuan Shu's "good intentions", but although he was not a politically savvy person, he also knew what the four words "record the affairs of the Shangshu" meant.

After several generations of emperors in the Eastern Han Dynasty, the administrative power of the Three Dukes was finally stripped away from the institutional level, and this administrative power was handed over to the Shangshu Tai of low rank, which was then directly controlled by the emperor.

In fact, it was to return the administrative power of the three officials to the hands of the emperor, thus consolidating the imperial power.

The three dukes were left with only a respected status, a mansion, and a little remaining power over personnel.

Once the three dukes added the four words "Lu Shangshu Shi" after their titles, it was tantamount to returning the administrative power that had been stripped away from the institutional level with great difficulty to one of the three dukes.

Isn’t this the prime minister?
Being one of the Three Dukes is not enough for Yuan Feng, he also wants to be the prime minister?
Is this appetite a bit big?
Liu Kui stared at Yuan Shu, but Yuan Shu withdrew his gaze and stopped talking.

Yuan Feng continued to stare at Liu Kui without saying a word, with some strange meaning in his eyes.

Liu Kui seemed to understand something.

After a while, Liu Kui silently picked up the pen and added an entry to the reward list.

Then he took the imperial seal and the emperor's seal and stamped them, confirming that the two lists had real legal significance and were officially approved by the empire's supreme ruler.

Yuan Feng took the list with satisfaction, reviewed it, and confirmed that it was correct. He then respectfully saluted Liu Kui and turned to leave.

Yuan Shu glanced at Liu Kui, who had a dazed look on his face, and turned away.

For the time being, Liu Kui is no longer of any use. In the next few days, Liu Kui can have a good rest and recuperate.

This palace will become Liu Kui's birdcage for a long time in the future. Liu Kui's personal safety and complete freedom will be under the control of the Yuan family.

There is no doubt about this.

But then again, Yuan Shu felt that what Yuan Feng said was right.

If Yuan had not intervened, Liu Kui would not even be qualified to be a puppet emperor.

He would probably wither away as quickly as a dead leaf in autumn, and his family of more than a hundred people, young and old, would be like a candle in the wind and would soon be blown out. In the end, not even a hair of the whole family would be left. How could they have the worry-free life and peace they have today?
The sunlight shines through the sparse clouds and shines on the bluestone road outside the Zhangde Hall, creating a mottled effect.

Yuan Shu walked on this unfamiliar road with mixed feelings.

From this perspective, he felt that everything the Yuan family had now was taken for granted. After all, it was the power of the Yuan family that allowed Liu Kui to sit on the supreme throne, even though he was just a puppet.

The only thing that puzzled him was Yuan Feng's sudden change.

This change is like a sudden cold snap in spring, catching people off guard.

Just yesterday, Yuan Feng was still an image of a Han minister who was concerned about his country and his people, with a furrowed brow, as if he was carrying the burden of the entire world. He was still worried that he would become a Han traitor who would be cursed for all eternity. His eyes were full of worry and uneasiness, as if he would be swallowed up by his inner struggle at any time.

But today, everything has changed.

(End of this chapter)