The Ming Dynasty's Five Hundred Years

Chapter 282 Glory
Li Qi could tell that Li Xianmu was currently at a critical juncture in his thinking, a period that might last for many years.

Historically, such a period has been called—enlightenment!
Once you understand it, your entire mindset will change dramatically; if you don't, you'll live in constant torment.

History is at a crossroads between the ancient and the modern era.

Li Xianmu possessed immense power.

Li Xianmu was born into the Li family, a family of time travelers, and was taught by Li Qi for ten years.

Li Xianmu is undoubtedly the most brilliant protagonist of this era, possessing immense power within him capable of changing the world.

Li Qi raised his hand, and a faint glow of incense danced on his fingertips. He was imbued with a transcendent divinity. "Wait a few more years, and I will be able to break free from the shackles of this prop and enlighten you."

When Li Qi raised his hand to feel the radiance transforming his soul, Li Xianmu seemed to sense something and looked up at the heavens. Everyone in the entire Li family felt as if a breeze had brushed against the back of their heads. This feeling was fleeting, like an illusion.

The heaviness in Li Xianmu's heart vanished in an instant.

……

royal palace.

Zhu Zhanji informed Empress Hu and Consort Sun of his final decision. The two women, disregarding their usual discord, both changed drastically. Empress Hu was particularly pale, as her younger brother could not compare to her father.

Empress Hu was gentle and virtuous, and she knew she was out of favor. Although she was saddened, she dared not say much. Consort Sun, on the other hand, cried out, "Your Majesty, how could this be?"

Zhu Zhanji sighed, “My dear consort, my teacher is keeping a close eye on this matter, intending to use it to intimidate the court officials. Your brother and the emperor’s father both ran into this. I can’t possibly offend my teacher because of this, can I?”

Besides, neither your father-in-law nor your brother is in mortal danger. Nanjing is a fertile land; I will arrange their food, clothing, and daily necessities. In a few years, when a general amnesty is granted, we can grant them special favor and release them.”

This was a complete replica of the Li family's path back then, and Li Xianmu couldn't say much, since the Li family had also managed to survive and rise to prominence in the same way.

Only after Zhu Zhanji said this did Consort Sun stop crying. However, she gained a deeper understanding of Li Xianmu's power. For the emperor to punish two powerful relatives of the empress instead of letting them go was no ordinary favor.

Empress Hu's position was unstable, so she had no time for such thoughts, but Consort Sun's eyes flashed with deep apprehension. She gently touched her lower abdomen, thinking, "Won't such a minister become a powerful minister in the future?"

However, she wasn't stupid; she knew the emperor trusted Li Xianmu implicitly and wouldn't reveal it.

……

The next day.

With an imperial edict issued from the palace, a large number of Imperial Guards went to Changping and arrested all the officials in Changping. Only then was the matter of the Changping Imperial Mausoleum completely exposed.

For a time, the capital was filled with unease and panic. The turmoil reached its peak when the Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, who was also the emperor's father-in-law, was taken away.

Countless people are discussing it.

"The emperor's father-in-law actually embezzled the imperial tomb's funds; he is truly audacious!"

"It's not just the Emperor's father-in-law; Consort Sun's younger brother, that notorious playboy, was arrested in Changping."

"The fact that the Embroidered Uniform Guards dared to attack these two people is truly audacious."

"I bet the Imperial Guards will release these two by tomorrow at the latest. Isn't that a slap in the face to His Majesty the Emperor?"

"No one will gamble with you, isn't that inevitable? The emperor's father-in-law and brother-in-law, embezzling a little silver, are they really going to be punished?"

No one expected that the Embroidered Uniform Guard would be so audacious as to arrest the Emperor's father-in-law and Consort Sun's brother. Most people thought that the Embroidered Uniform Guard would have to release the man respectfully today or tomorrow at the latest, and the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard would even have to go to his door to apologize.

After all, how could a mere lackey of the emperor dare to offend the imperial relatives?

But a day later, the Imperial Guards still did not release the man and continued to arrest people.

Only then did some people belatedly realize that the emperor had actually agreed!
This perception has caused quite a stir.

After reviewing the matter again, a huge shadow appeared behind all the events—Li Xianmu, Minister of Personnel and Grand Secretary!

At first, the capital was silent, but then it erupted in uproar, with countless discussions echoing throughout the city's streets and alleys.
"It was actually the Grand Secretary who made the move!"

"No wonder the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Court of Judicial Review dared to attack the Emperor's father-in-law."

"No wonder His Majesty the Emperor did not let the Emperor's father-in-law off the hook."

"It should have been thought of long ago. How many people in the Ming Dynasty would dare to do such a thing? Even the other ministers of the Six Ministries and Grand Secretaries of the Cabinet, who are not afraid of ordinary imperial relatives, probably wouldn't dare to offend them casually."

"That's right. Ministers of the Six Ministries come and go, but imperial relatives have existed for ages. How could ordinary people dare to offend them?"

This statement perfectly encapsulates the reality of the Ming Dynasty: civil officials, as a whole, wielded immense power. The Six Ministers and the Left Censor-in-Chief essentially held power above all other civil and military officials, with only a few dukes comparable to them. But!
However, this kind of power is unstable and may be lost at any time, while the power of the imperial relatives is stable and almost unchanging, and is even passed down from father to son, generation after generation.

Therefore, generally speaking, high-ranking civil officials and imperial relatives are like two peas in a pod, afraid of each other, and neither wants to provoke the other.

But Li Xianmu was different. He was one of the very few imperial relatives who held a high-ranking civil official position. Moreover, the Li family did not abandon military service for civil service. From Li Shanchang onwards, the Li family had always been civil officials.

Since Li Xianmu became the Grand Secretary of the Cabinet and concurrently the Minister of Personnel, his immense power has been the subject of much discussion. However, it was only today, when even the Emperor's father-in-law and brother-in-law were suppressed by him, that people were shocked to discover that their views were still too shallow.

……

Li House.

Li Xianmu leaned on the railing and gazed into the distance, with several people standing behind him.

"No one will know about the clashes and exchanges between me and His Majesty, nor will anyone know that the Emperor's father-in-law and brother-in-law will not suffer any real harm. They will only see that even the Emperor's father-in-law was forced into exile under my power."

"Did you know from the beginning that the Emperor's father-in-law and uncle-in-law Sun would not be severely punished by His Majesty?"

"His Majesty is a wise ruler, and also an emperor who values ​​human relationships."

"But to just let the ringleader go and severely punish the other accomplices... this is..."

Li Xianmu remained silent, while others remarked, "His Majesty's leniency will certainly spare some people, but it's also a good thing for us. At least we won't be stripped of our titles and honors for minor mistakes, nor will we face execution."

Upon hearing this, Yu Qian fell silent, his face showing a thoughtful expression.

No minister would like a harsh and ungrateful emperor, but sometimes it seems that only emperors like this can better handle national affairs. Among the emperors in ancient times who were compassionate and righteous, and who were able to govern the country very well, Emperor Taizong of Tang, Li Shimin, is probably the benchmark.

But Li Shimin...

The only one below three generations!
Seeing that Yu Qian would not say anything more, Li Xianmu spoke again: "After this battle, my prestige will soar once more, and almost no one in the court or the public will dare to challenge my authority. As long as I do not touch their fundamental interests, many people will silently agree to the policies I have promulgated."

And this is what I truly want: a court where even the opposition remains silent.

"They won't stay silent forever."

"That's natural. They won't stay silent forever, because what we're going to do will definitely touch their interests. But they will hesitate and linger on some minor matters, calculating whether it's necessary to be my enemy and whether the cost can cover their losses."

Li Xianmu turned around and laughed loudly: "That's enough. When has the so-called era of a gathering of wise men and a clean and upright court ever appeared?"

This is enough to save me half the effort, so I don't have to deal with everything in the court and argue with them endlessly.

This only wastes precious time and effort.

Li Xianmu never sought the best; as long as the conditions were roughly met, he would immediately begin the project. This was Li Xianmu's governing philosophy.

"What are your next plans, Uncle-Master?"

"Naturally, I will display my power and prestige in front of all the officials, so that the world can see my authority and the grand court assembly will begin again."

……

Only magnificence can project power!
Without brilliance, one cannot demonstrate one's power!
The enormous sedan chair came from the end of the straight road. When Li Xianmu stepped down, he looked around at his ministers and naturally exuded an air of superiority.

"Gentlemen, it's been a long time."

The officials stepped forward to pay their respects. After entering the palace, the officials did not go to the main hall, but the emperor sat on his throne in the square in front of the Fengtian Hall.

It was springtime, and the gentle spring breeze soothed people's hearts, warming them and dispelling the chill between the three palaces and between the emperor and his lord, even carrying a faint fragrance.

Li Xianmu stepped forward to report the details of the embezzlement at the imperial tombs. In the silent hall, only Li Xianmu's voice echoed.

After reporting, Li Xianmu turned to face the assembled officials and shouted, "Bring this guilty subject here!"

The Imperial Guards escorted a group of officials dressed in prison garb forward.

At the very front were naturally the Emperor's father-in-law, Hu Rong, and the Emperor's brother-in-law, Sun Guangzong. Their faces were rosy, indicating they had not suffered any hardship. Their flushed cheeks were probably due to overwhelming guilt in front of so many people, which could be described as social death.

A commotion arose among the court officials, with hushed conversations breaking out. Even the Imperial Censor in the palace was taken aback and failed to stop it.

No one expected this to happen. How could these sinners be brought to the grand assembly?
What is this going to do?
Countless people stared blankly at Li Xianmu standing on the steps. An unbelievable thought appeared in everyone's mind, and then they forcefully threw it out.

impossible!
They quietly looked up again, trying to see something on the emperor's face, but to their disappointment, they only saw a cold and indifferent expression, without the slightest intention to stop him.

It turned out to be true!
They turned their attention back to Li Xianmu, waiting for him to speak—a speech that was destined to shock the world!
(End of this chapter)