Memoirs of the Heavenly Khan

Chapter 518 What Can He Do?
Luoyang City, Xianyang Palace.

As one of the Three Dukes, Hu Sichun enjoyed different treatment in the court than other dukes and ministers.

However, at this moment, he did not seem like a prime minister, but rather like an old man sitting under the shade of a tree in front of his house, talking about something that seemed unimportant.

"Your Majesty, that is the case."

On his throne, Yuan Baoju looked at the document sent by Hu Sichun with a mixture of vigilance and fear.

He gazed at Hu Sichun.

This sickly northerner, who was said to be almost dying, usually stayed at home in retirement, but now his actions were earth-shattering.

Yuan Baoju didn't understand what benefit he would gain from doing this.

"What do you want to do!"

In his panic, Yuan Baoju uttered something that someone of his status shouldn't have said.

Hu Sichun was not surprised, but she also did not show much emotion.

"This thief has been arrested and is being interrogated. Who would have thought he would confess to such treasonous acts? I am at a loss as to what to do, so I have come to report this to Your Majesty!"

Yuan Baoju gritted his teeth, looking at this person who was pretending to be confused, and really wanted to say, "Why don't you just kill him!"
In the end, however, Yuan Baoju did not speak out, but instead restored the dignity befitting an emperor.

Over the years, Yuan Baoju has learned nothing else in the palace, but he has mastered the art of pretentiousness to perfection.

If someone unfamiliar with him were to look at him like this, they would definitely think that Yuan Baoju was a very dignified emperor.

"I have long known of Zheng Yan, this treacherous man. He is cunning and deceitful, and his words are not to be trusted. Perhaps he is doing this to disrupt the court."

Hu Sichun did not refute Yuan Baoju's words.

"Your Majesty is right!"

After Hu Sichun finished speaking, he paused, and just as Yuan Baoju was about to say what the next steps would be, he spoke again:

"However, the matter of the assassination of the Liang emperor has caused a great uproar in the court and among the people. I believe that regardless of whether it is true or false, this traitor should be handed over to the relevant authorities for questioning in order to appease the public."

Upon hearing this, Yuan Baoju's anger was stirred, and he said:
"Husichun, what is your purpose in stirring up trouble!"

Yuan Baoju was furious, but Hu Sichun remained the same.

"Your Majesty is terrified! If Your Majesty does not wish to interrogate, please issue a clear decree."

"you!"

Yuan Baoju stood up in anger, but in the end he just waved his sleeve and suppressed his rage.

"I am tired. This matter will not be discussed further. You may leave now!"

This time, Hu Sichun obediently listened and left.

Yuan Baoju watched Hu Sichun's retreating figure, spat, and hurriedly went to the inner palace to find Yi Fu Shi.

At this moment, Yifu was weaving cloth. Seeing Yuan Baoju like this, she couldn't help but ask:

"Your Majesty, why are you in such a hurry?"

Yuan Baoju recounted what had just happened, but Yifu remained silent.

Why do you remain silent?

Yuan Baoju wanted to discuss countermeasures with Yifu to put his mind at ease, but her appearance only made him more worried.

Yi Fu looked at Yuan Baoju and asked:

"What does Your Majesty wish to do?"

"Suppress this matter!"

As he spoke, Yuan Baoju said with great dissatisfaction:

"This Hu Sichun is almost in his grave, I don't know what he's thinking, bringing this matter up again and stirring it up."

Mr. Yifu shook his head and advised:

“Husichun must have a reason for daring to do this. If Your Majesty suppresses it, it may not be the best course of action.”

"Why?"

Yifu chuckled, somewhat helplessly.

"These northerners followed Erzhu Rong south and committed heinous crimes. Their current obedience is not their true nature. His Majesty says he will suppress them, but how can he possibly do so?"

"What can Husichun do?"

Yuan Baoju was quite disdainful, and Yi Fushi was somewhat surprised to see him like this.

"With the Northern army wiped out, Husichun has lost all support in the court and has been recuperating in his residence for years. What else can he do!"

"Your Majesty, please calm down and wait a moment."

After much effort, Lady Yifu managed to persuade Yuan Baoju to calm down, but by evening, a maid brought news.

"Your Majesty, Hu Sichun has returned to his residence and is hosting a grand banquet for his guests."

Yuan Baoju, who was eating, picked up some food with his chopsticks and replied.

“This fellow is even hosting a banquet, who would go!” Yuan Baoju’s interruption made the maid hesitate, but Yi Fu waved her hand, indicating that the maid didn’t need to pay attention.

"How is it?"

"All the high-ranking officials in the court have gone; there are over a hundred of them!"

Upon hearing this, Yuan Baoju dropped his chopsticks on the table, utterly astonished.

"Who is there?"

"The Duke of Yan, the Duke of Lai, the Duke of Liang, and also the Minister of Works, the Minister of Agriculture, and the Minister of Ceremonies..."

"enough!"

Before the maid could finish speaking, Yuan Baoju roared, startling her so much that she dared not utter another word.

Yuan Baoju picked up his chopsticks, intending to eat some food, but instead threw them on the table.

"Not a single official in the entire court is willing to share the emperor's burdens!"

Seeing Yuan Baoju in such a state, Yifu became even more astonished—

It turns out that people change after being emperors for a long time.

……

Prime Minister's House.

Hu Sichun, looking quite drunk, returned to his study from the banquet.

The Prime Minister's residence was very large, and Hu Sichun, who once lived there, felt extremely empty.

But tonight, seeing those high-ranking officials and old acquaintances come to his residence again, Hu Sichun felt that the once empty Prime Minister's residence was no longer so lonely.

Even though Hu Sichun knew that these people hadn't come here for her sake.

"My lord, do you really want to become enemies with the Yuan clan?"

In the darkness, Hu Sichun ignored his advisor's words and simply said:
"It's not that I want to be enemies with the Yuan family, but that I have no choice!"

"I do not understand!"

Hu Sichun gave a wry smile and said:
Do you think I had a choice?

"Then why doesn't our lord head south? I'm afraid that Ohno Sou will eventually not tolerate our lord."

Hu Sichun shook her head and said:

“Even if I were Hebasheng, I would still have returned!”

……

Jinyong City.

The lake water was serene, shimmering under the moonlight.

With palace lanterns in front, two veiled women walked along the lakeside and arrived at a tall building.

Li Shuang sat on the top floor, surrounded by no one.

The two women climbed the steps and came to Li Shuang, taking off their veils and coats.

One was Yi Fu Shi, and the other was Yi Fu Shi's maid, Xiao Yuan.

"What brings the Empress here?"

In the empty attic, Li Shuang was wiping his sword.

"King Qin!"

Yifu bowed, maintaining her dignified demeanor.

In contrast, Li Shuang showed absolutely no manners.

Seeing Li Shuang's state, Yi Fu pleaded:

"Can't we let Qin'er go?"

Li Shuang ignored him and continued wiping the sword in his hand.

"Your Majesty is overthinking it. Whether the Crown Prince is guilty or not depends on whether the officials have found evidence during the interrogation."

"King Qin!"

Yifu made a plea.

Li Shuang stopped wiping the sword in his hand and said:

"Exiled to Sichuan, never to return to Luoyang for the rest of my life!"

After Li Shuang finished speaking, he ignored Yi Fushi and walked out.

Inside the room, Yifu closed her eyes, tears welling up in them.

……

(End of this chapter)