My older brother is Gao Huan.

Chapter 146 Tianbao's Desire to Improve

August 30th.

Inside the Taiji Hall in Luoyang.

With a joyful expression, the young Emperor Yuan Xu picked up an official document and couldn't help but speak.

"Good! Good! Good!"

"King Guangyang truly deserves to be called a pillar of the nation. He led his army to a great victory over the rebels at Zhefu Ridge, beheading five thousand and causing the rebels to flee in disarray!"

Yuan Yong quickly stepped forward and began to flatter him with a smile.

"May the Heavenly Emperor bless the Great Wei! The victory in this battle is due to Your Majesty's ability to recognize and utilize talent. Without Your Majesty's support, even if the Prince of Guangyang had a thousand schemes in his mind, he would have nowhere to put them to use. With Your Majesty's wisdom, how can the Great Wei not prosper!"

"Your Majesty is wise!"

The court officials all joined in the shout.

This greatly pleased the young Emperor Yuan Xu.

After being a puppet emperor for so many years, he finally began to feel that he was truly regarded as the Son of Heaven, and his heart was filled with pride. This is how a Son of Heaven should be.

Yuan Yi had a gloomy face and didn't say a word. He was extremely aloof and could be said to be showing no respect to the young emperor.

Previously, he had defied public opinion and sent Li Chong, Cui Xian, and others to lead troops north to suppress the rebels.

result?

Cui Xian was the first to fall, and a major defeat ruined Li Chong's plan, leaving him with no choice but to retreat.

As the nominal Grand Commander of the Northern Expedition, Li Chong would naturally be held responsible for any mistakes made by his subordinates.

Therefore, Li Chonggang submitted a memorial stating that he was unwell.

His position as Grand Commander was immediately stripped.

It was the young emperor Yuan Xu who directly ordered Yuan Shen to succeed Li Chong as Grand Commander.

His chosen men suffered several defeats against the rebels and were at a loss.

The young emperor's men achieved great victories as soon as they took office.

As the tide receded, his prestige as a powerful minister had declined significantly. If this had happened two years ago... if he hadn't spoken up, which minister would have dared to echo Yuan Yong's words?

All of this made him sense a dangerous signal.

But there was no chance for it to flare up.

Yuan Xu, however, would not miss this opportunity to strike at Yuan Yi. He looked at Yuan Yi with a smile and asked.

"King Jiangyang, now that King Guangyang has rendered such a service, in your opinion, how should he be rewarded?"

Yuan Yi clenched his fists, suppressing his anger, and bowed, replying, "Your Majesty, I don't think it's appropriate to reward him."

"Oh?"

Yuan Xu smiled and retorted, "If those who have rendered meritorious service are not rewarded, wouldn't the court be disheartening to see this happen?"

It's disheartening to not reward those who have made contributions.

There are many people in the Great Wei who should feel disheartened.

Yuan Yi dismissed this as nonsense, instead speaking with righteous indignation, "Although the Prince of Guangyang has inflicted a great defeat on the enemy, he has not annihilated them. The enemy is still putting up a stubborn resistance. If the court were to reward him lavishly now, the Prince of Guangyang would be distracted and unable to concentrate on fighting the enemy."

"In my opinion, Your Majesty should order them to press their advantage and completely annihilate the rebels before rewarding them."

“The King of Jiangyang is right.”

Yuan Xu smiled faintly, "Then let us do as the Prince of Jiangyang said and send an imperial edict to the Prince of Guangyang."

Yuan Yi's expression changed drastically.

Got cheated!
Why is this young emperor getting more and more cunning?
The edict explicitly stated that Yuan Yi refused to allow the emperor to bestow rewards, which is tantamount to pushing Yuan Shen, a prince who currently appears to be extremely capable, to the opposite side of Yuan Yi.

The young emperor was trying to win him over, but he was actually pushing him away.

But once the words are spoken, how can they be taken back?
Yuan Yi could only swallow this bitter pill and grit his teeth, saying, "Your Majesty is wise!"

After the court assembly ended.

Yuan Xu couldn't stop laughing whenever he thought of Yuan Yi's embarrassed state.

"What makes Your Majesty so happy?"

"Ziyou, you have no idea... the way the Prince of Jiangyang looked at the court meeting today, hahahaha."

Seeing the young emperor so smug, Yuan Ziyou helplessly reminded him, "Your Majesty, be careful with your words... The Imperial Guards and the Central Army are still under the control of the Prince of Jiangyang. Although Your Majesty has regained much imperial power, you are still ultimately subject to the Prince of Jiangyang."

"The more this is the case, the more Your Majesty should be patient and treat the Prince of Jiangyang with the utmost respect, so that he will lower his guard, rather than allowing him to embarrass himself in public at court. You must not push him too far."

Gao Qian also chimed in with a reminder, "Your Majesty must refrain from acting too hastily."

The central army and the imperial guards are both under Yuan Yi's control. If he's really pushed to the limit, he might do something desperate...

That would be bad news for the young emperor.

Although Yuan Xu was pleased with himself, he was still willing to listen to advice and quickly nodded, saying, "It seems that I have indeed been too complacent lately..."

"Your Majesty, it is time to pay our respects to the Empress Dowager."

"Hey……"

Yuan Xu sighed, “It’s not that I don’t want to pay my respects to the Empress Dowager, but that she is too aggressive. She knows that I only like Consort Pan in the harem, but she still forces me to take a woman from a high-ranking family as my concubine.”

“If Your Majesty wants to completely regain power, you must act in this way. The Empress Dowager is not wrong.”

"Forget it."

Yuan Xu helplessly spread his hands and said, "Ziyou is absolutely right. I will go and pay my respects to the Empress Dowager now."

………………

Yuan Yi returned to his residence.

He summoned Erzhu Rong to his side, and Yuan Hongye, Yuan Fasheng, and others left Luoyang.

Within Luoyang, among those who could be considered Yuan Yi's confidants and were recognized by him as capable, there were only a handful, including Erzhu Rong.

Before long, Erzhu Rong, who was on duty in the palace and was still wearing armor, was brought before him and bowed respectfully.

"I've met the king!"

"No need to be polite."

When Erzhu Rong looked up, he saw Yuan Yi's gloomy face and guessed that something must have happened at the court meeting today.

But he didn't want to speak up.

Yuan Yi abruptly overturned the table in front of him, "Damn it!"

"What has angered Your Majesty so?"

"Your Majesty has gone too far! You are making fun of me in front of all the ministers. The more I tolerate you, the more you take advantage of me! If this continues, how can I possibly have a place in the court?"

“Previously, His Majesty did not dare to openly challenge me, nor did he have such methods.”

Erzhu Rong timely reminded her, "It must be the Empress Dowager..."

"I humbly believe that the Holy Dynasty governs the world with filial piety, and Your Majesty and the Empress Dowager are able to meet because Your Majesty is a loyal and filial person, and cannot bear the thought that Your Majesty and the Empress Dowager, mother and son, are both alive but cannot meet."

"But instead of being grateful to Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager and His Majesty have joined forces to deal with you!"

"Your Majesty! We must not be weak and back down any longer!"

"The affairs of the world should rightfully be in the hands of Your Majesty!"

Yuan Yi squinted, seemingly plotting something.

"Yes, Tianbao's words resonate deeply with me."

"It shouldn't have been... Your Majesty, Empress Dowager, it was you two who forced me to do this!"

"Tianbao, go and summon everyone. I have important instructions to give!"

"Here!"

Erzhu Rong responded loudly.

But he was overjoyed!
Yuan Yi clearly wanted to stage another Xuan Guang coup.

If Yuan Yi can regain power...

By then.

He could then advance further through Yuan Yi's hands, just like Yuan Fa Seng!
He was given the title of Imperial Envoy, Grand General of the Three Offices, and Commander-in-Chief of all military affairs.

With these three items in hand, he can better develop the Erzhu clan's power upon returning to Xiurongchuan.

(End of this chapter)