My older brother is Gao Huan.

Chapter 108 It's just a few commoners starving to death.
Luoyang.

Xiyang Gate.

Yuan Yi's residence was right next to Xiyang Gate. Since he sent his confidants to take control of the central army and helped Anagui defeat the Gaoche two years ago, Yuan Yi's prestige in the court has soared!

From that time on, he moved out of Westbourne and into a luxurious mansion outside the palace.

After so long of trepidation, I've finally secured my position, so it's only natural that I should enjoy myself.

Liu Teng, who launched the coup with him, lived directly north of his residence, next to Jianzhong Temple. This was Liu Teng's residence.

today.

Inside Liu Teng's residence, everyone was dressed in mourning clothes, and Liu Teng's memorial tablet was enshrined in the mourning hall.

Yuan Yi came here specifically to pay his respects.

Liu Teng was Yuan Yi's partner in launching the coup. As a close attendant of Empress Dowager Hu, it was Liu Teng who provided information about Empress Dowager Hu's whereabouts and cooperated with him so that Yuan Yi could successfully imprison Empress Dowager Hu in Jiafu Palace.

Liu Teng has now passed away.

Yuan Yi couldn't help but feel melancholy, as he had lost a great help in the palace.

"Fortunately, I had already sent trusted confidants to take control of the central army two years ago, otherwise..."

Apart from Yuan Yi, all the other officials in Luoyang came to offer their condolences, including princes like Yuan Yong.

Looking at Yuan Yong and other princes.

Yuan Yi was actually very insecure. He ultimately gained power by imprisoning Empress Dowager Hu and holding the young emperor hostage, thus becoming a powerful figure in the court.

In order to smoothly seize power, he relinquished some power to Yuan Yong and others.

Now that Liu Teng has passed away, he feels insecure again. Without Liu Teng keeping an eye on things in the palace, he feels that his control over the palace will decrease.

But then I thought about it.

"The Imperial Guards and the Central Army are both under my control, so what is there to worry about?"

………………

Inside the palace.

Since being imprisoned several years ago, Empress Dowager Hu has been living in Jiafu Palace. Palace maids still serve her in her daily life, and her food, clothing and other necessities are all of the best. In this respect, she still enjoys the treatment of an empress dowager.

only……

They had lost their freedom and could only move around in the Jiafu Hall. The thing they did most of the day was to burn incense and chant sutras in front of the Buddha statue.

outside the temple.

The young emperor Yuan Xu arrived outside the Jiafu Palace with his close attendants.

"I, the Emperor, pay my respects to the Empress Dowager. I have come to pay my respects to the Empress Dowager."

Unable to see each other, Empress Dowager Hu still intended to send a palace maid out to deliver a message, as usual.

The moment the door to Jiafu Hall was opened.

Yuan Xu, who was kneeling on the ground, suddenly stood up and rushed over, trying to rush into Jiafu Hall!

The imperial guards, who were on guard, hurriedly tried to obey Yuan Yi's orders and stopped Yuan Xu.

Yuan Xu was furious. He glared at the two men and roared, "How dare you! I am the Emperor of Great Wei! Who gave you the audacity to obstruct the Emperor?!"

They saw that the Imperial Guards were about to speak.

Yuan Xu raised his hand and slapped the imperial guard across the face. "Get out of my way! Or I'll exterminate your entire family!!"

After that slap, the two Imperial Guards naturally stopped interfering, but they still gave a wink to their fellow Imperial Guardsman in the distance. The comrade understood and immediately ran out to deliver the message.

Yuan Xu arrived at Jiafu Hall.

Contrary to expectations, the mother and son did not share a deep bond; in fact, their relationship was quite ordinary.

Yuan Ke had no children until Empress Dowager Hu gave birth to Yuan Xu. In order to prevent Yuan Xu from being harmed by other concubines in the harem, especially Empress Gao, Yuan Ke immediately ordered that Yuan Xu be placed under guard. Every day, someone he designated had to go to take care of him, and even his birth mother, Empress Dowager Hu, was not allowed to see him.

Because of this, the mother and son missed the most crucial years for developing their relationship.

"Your Majesty, what is your purpose in forcing your way in?"

"Mother, Liu Teng is dead."

Upon hearing this news, Empress Dowager Hu disregarded her dignity and let out a maniacal laugh. "Good riddance! All that trust I placed in him..."

Empress Dowager Hu felt a sense of exhilaration, as if she had finally gotten her revenge!

If Liu Teng hadn't betrayed her, how could she have been imprisoned in Jiafu Palace for so many years?
"Your Majesty, the Prince of Jiangyang has been in power for the past few years, appointing his relatives and favoring treacherous officials, causing widespread resentment among the court officials and unbearable suffering among the common people! I intend to execute him and bring Your Majesty back!"

Empress Dowager Hu was greatly alarmed; after all, she was just a woman.

Moreover, she knew very well that she had successfully staged a coup and killed Empress Gao's entire family back then...

Within this imperial palace, whoever is the commanding general and in charge of the imperial guards is the one who can launch a coup.

"My son, you mustn't act rashly! The Imperial Guards and the Central Army are both in the hands of the Prince of Jiangyang. How can you possibly kill them?"

"I have already privately discussed this with Prince Gaoyang, Yuan Yong, and others..."

Time was of the essence, so Yuan Xu explained his plan and hurriedly left Jiafu Palace.

He is indeed not yet able to contend with Yuan Yi.

Not long after Yuan Xu returned to Xianyang Palace, he heard hurried footsteps. Sure enough, it was Yuan Yi who had received the news and rushed over.

Yuan Yi's face was full of anger. "Your Majesty! Why did you not listen to me and insist on forcing your way into Jiafu Palace?"

Yuan Xu, however, had lost the arrogance he had shown when he reprimanded the Imperial Guards. Instead, he explained in a very humble manner, "I originally did not intend to force my way in. It was only when I heard the Empress Dowager crying inside the palace that I forced my way in. After entering and seeing her, I learned that the Empress Dowager and I had not seen each other for several years. She missed me so much that she cried incessantly after hearing my voice."

Yuan Yi, on the contrary, felt somewhat embarrassed...

Yuan Xu then said, "Yesterday, the King of Rouran sent an envoy, wanting to lead his people south, saying that Rouran suffers from disasters every year, and the grasslands are littered with corpses of the starving. He submitted a memorial requesting the court to provide grain and fodder. I wonder what the King of Jiangyang intends to do?"

Upon hearing this...

Yuan Yi perked up.

Yes.

When the Rouran envoy arrived, he still brought a large number of treasures to offer to Yuan Yi.

Yuan Yi was known for doing things for money, so naturally he had to speak up for Anagui.

He answered immediately.

"I originally intended to discuss this matter at tomorrow's court meeting. Since Your Majesty has inquired, my suggestion is to send a prince as an envoy of the court to receive him, and to order the various prefectures along the way to collect provisions to support the Rouran King."

"This will demonstrate the might of our Great Wei and also appease the hearts of the Rouran."

Yuan Xu countered, "Does the Prince of Jiangyang know that last year there was a severe drought, and the provinces were filled with starving people, with some even resorting to cannibalism? Yet the Prince of Jiangyang is asking the court to gather grain and supplies to aid the Rouran?"

Yuan Yi shook his head and said, "Your Majesty... we are just a few common people; if we starve to death, so be it."

“But if the people of the grasslands, like the Rouran, cannot survive, they will have to go south to plunder. If that happens, the court will have to raise grain and supplies for the Six Garrisons to defend against the enemy, which will cost even more.”

"Right now, all we need to do is gather some provisions to appease the Rouran and prevent them from launching an attack on our border. Wouldn't that be wonderful?"

"The people of the Central Plains, if you suffer a little more, even if you curse me, I will bear the infamy!"

Yuan Xu sneered repeatedly.

Who exactly is the emperor of the Great Wei?
But in the end, he didn't dare to say it out loud. Instead, he softened his stance and said, "Then we will do as the Prince of Jiangyang said and hold another court meeting with the ministers tomorrow."

After Yuan Yi left.

Yuan Xu then angrily overturned the table in front of him.

I've been a puppet for so long.

He'd had enough!
As the emperor of the Great Wei, he wanted to reclaim the power that rightfully belonged to him!

[At the invitation of an old classmate, you went to a construction site to perform a ritual, which angered the evil spirits there. Possessed and controlled by the evil spirits, you climbed to the rooftop and ultimately fell to your death.]

[After your death, your soul drifted to the underworld, becoming a wandering ghost. Undeterred, you persevered and successfully passed the underworld's examinations, becoming a glorious underworld official!]

[You served diligently in the underworld for ten years. Just then, the higher-ups of the underworld sought to reopen the path between the living and the dead, and you were chosen to return to the mortal realm.]

…………

Chen Yang: "No, buddy, I'm not dead yet!"

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(End of this chapter)