Memoirs of the Heavenly Khan

Chapter 159 The Villain Always Makes His Last Appearance

Luoshui Palace.

Two years ago, the palace walls were not yet closed, but now the palace has been fully restored. Not only that, but two side halls have been added on the basis of the original palace, making it even larger.

Two years later, the emperor and empress dowager went on another trip, demonstrating the harmony between mother and son and showcasing the majesty of the Northern Wei imperial family, which brought peace back to the people of Luoyang who had been living in fear.

After all, the magnificent and luxurious royal procession slowly drove out of Changhe Gate and arrived at the banks of the Luo River on the 40-meter-wide Camel and Ox Avenue, a scene that could be seen by everyone in Luoyang.

In the side hall, Empress Hu was somewhat annoyed.

"Where is Li Shuang? Why doesn't he come to see me?!"

None of his men could answer.

However, there was a seemingly clever eunuch who cupped his hands and said:

"Your Majesty, I went to Zhongyifang and heard that Duke Tang is ill."

"sick?"

Empress Hu was very dissatisfied with this statement, and said:
"Even if he's sick, you have to carry him here!"

Ever since hearing that famous saying, Empress Hu felt a fire burning in her chest, and she was furious.

Since Li Shengui was not in Luoyang and Empress Hu could not find him, she had no choice but to look for Li Shuang.

"Li Shuang isn't coming, so why isn't Mingyue coming either?"

Empress Hu resented the girl in her heart, thinking she was truly heartless.

"I heard that Princess Pingyuan is taking care of the Duke of Tang. I also heard that after their marriage, the Duke of Tang did not leave the princess's room for half a month."

Empress Hu was even more furious upon hearing this.

Li Shengui, look at what others are like!
"Oh, by the way, the princess also asked me to bring a box of food to the Empress Dowager."

"Show me."

The eunuch brought over a food box, and when he opened it, he found a bowl of lotus seed soup inside.

"At least this girl is thoughtful; she remembered what I like to eat."

Empress Hu picked up a spoon, scooped up a spoonful, put it in her mouth, and spat it out before she could even chew it twice.

"Why are these lotus seeds so bitter!"

Empress Hu frowned, about to put down her spoon, when she seemed to remember something and murmured softly.

"Lotus seeds?"

……

Nighttime, the main hall of the imperial palace.

The entourage on this trip consisted of high-ranking officials from the imperial family, nobles of the Jia clan, and the emperor's confidants.

At the banquet, a dance performance ended.

The group, engrossed in their drinking, were completely unaware of Yuan Xu, who appeared somewhat nervous, and Empress Hu, who remained silent on the high platform.

After the singing and dancing ended, Prince Chang Le, Yuan Ziyou, came out.

Gu Hui, the Junior Minister of Ceremonies, stepped forward and bowed, saying:

"Your Majesty, Empress Dowager, I have something to say!"

Empress Hu waved her sleeve and snorted coldly.

"You spoil the mood! I don't want to hear that!"

These words instantly chilled the once lively banquet.

At this moment, all the ministers who were not yet drunk realized that something was about to happen.

In particular, Yuan Xu's attitude was remarkable. He, who had always been subservient to Empress Hu, deliberately went against his mother's wishes in front of the court officials.

"Since Minister Gu has something to say, let's listen to it!"

Having received Yuan Xu's approval, Gu Hui no longer hesitated to speak out of respect for Empress Hu, and said:

"In this day and age, bandits and rebels are rising up everywhere, and the island barbarians, such as Emperor Xiao Yan, invade the north every year, causing the state to be unstable and the ancestral temples to be unable to continue offering sacrifices. This is all because the country has a long-standing ruler, but his power is not being exercised, which allows villains from all directions to covet the imperial throne. If we wish to bring peace to the world, I believe that we should ask the Empress Dowager to return power to Your Majesty in order to appease the people of all directions."

After hearing this, everyone understood: this was an attempt to force the emperor to abdicate!
At this point, the emperor's confidants stepped forward and began to take sides.

Prince Chang Le, Yuan Ziyou, thought for a moment and wanted to step forward, but was stopped by Prime Minister Yuan Yong.

He shook his head, signaling Yuan Ziyou not to move.

Those who stepped forward were all the emperor's confidants and members of the Yuan clan; there was no need for them to rush to express their opinions at this time.

Yuan Xu glanced at Yuan Ziyou, but he avoided his gaze.

At that moment, Yuan Xu was furious, but then he heard what Empress Hu said.

"Does His Majesty think so too?"

Although Yuan Xu was quick to criticize behind her back, he was somewhat timid when he actually faced Empress Hu.

"I think there's some truth to what they're saying," Empress Hu said, looking at the crowd with a cold smile.

What if I don't agree?

"Then don't blame us for being disrespectful to the Empress Dowager!"

As soon as the sound rang out, a large number of eunuchs wielding short swords surged into the main hall.

These were all eunuchs from the emperor's palace, and now, standing before a group of high-ranking officials, they were somewhat timid. Some of them were even trembling.

Empress Hu chuckled.

"A bunch of eunuchs want to succeed? Does His Majesty have no one else to rely on?"

No sooner had she finished speaking than two of Empress Hu's trusted imperial guards generals led a hundred armored soldiers into the main hall.

The eunuchs, who were already afraid, put down their short blades and prepared to surrender when they saw these armored soldiers.

But Empress Hu had no intention of letting them go.

"Kill all of you, you bunch of traitors!"

The soldiers were about to make their move when suddenly they felt as if all their strength had left them, and they collapsed.

Empress Hu was somewhat surprised by this scene; the situation was beyond her expectations.

"How is this going?"

Unrestrained laughter came from outside the hall, and Li Shuang led his armored soldiers into the hall.

Yuan Xu was overjoyed upon seeing this.

"Minister Li, you've finally arrived!"

Li Shuang ignored him. Behind him, a group of armored soldiers, armed with weapons, surrounded them.

Empress Hu questioned:
"Li Shuang, what's the deal with my armored soldiers?"

"They've been drugged!"

What is a sleeping potion?

Empress Hu's question made everyone around Li Shuang, including Hou Jing, burst into laughter.

"What are you laughing at?"

This was the first time Empress Hu had seen Li Shuang act like this, so unrestrained.

"What are we laughing at? I should be asking you that!"

"Li Shuang, how dare you speak to me like that!"

"What do you mean 'I'? Look at the state of this world! Give me back what I am!"

"you……"

Empress Hu was so angry she couldn't speak, while Yuan Xu nodded silently beside her.

"And you, why are you nodding? Don't you have any problems?"

Yuan Xu was furious and said:
"How am I doing?"

"As an emperor, all he thinks about is fighting for power with his mother all day long, completely disregarding the fate of the country. Does that make him any kind of emperor?"

Li Shuang led his armored soldiers forward step by step to the high platform, where he pushed the emperor and empress dowager aside.

"And then there are those high-ranking officials who only know how to enjoy the people's wealth, completely disregarding the suffering of the common people. I will punish them right here and now..."

Before Li Shuang could finish speaking, someone suddenly rode a horse and carried the emperor's staff, galloping into the palace.

"Your Majesty, Empress Dowager..."

The man stared in surprise at Li Shuang, who was occupying the main seat.

"Just tell me what you have to say!"

"Qi King Xiao Baoyin has rebelled in Chang'an and declared himself emperor. The traitor Yuan Shen has defeated the Prince of Beihai in Xiangzhou, seized Ye City, and also proclaimed himself emperor. The rebel leaders Du Luozhou and Ge Rong have already submitted to Yuan Shen, who is leading an army of 200,000 and will soon be approaching Luoyang."

"He also said that if His Majesty and the Empress Dowager wanted to live, they should hand over Ōno Sō."

Who is Ohno Sawa?
The Sinicized nobles were somewhat unfamiliar with this name.

Li Shuang, seated on the throne, held Empress Hu's hand in one hand and Yuan Xu's hand in the other, clasping their hands together.

"Today I want to say to the most esteemed members of the Great Wei: if we do not unite, the Great Wei will perish!"

Below the high platform, Yuan Ziyou felt a sense of relief, murmuring:
"Ohno Sō was trying to kill us just now, wasn't she?"

Yuan Yong closed his eyes, not wanting to pay attention.

"Clap your hands!"

……

(End of this chapter)