Chapter 1325 - 1269: Life Has Lost All Meaning (Part 2)
Zhao Hanzhang smiled with satisfaction and turned to Xun Fan, saying, "Grand Tutor, take care of your injuries. I will escort Your Majesty back to the palace."
Zhao Hanzhang strode outside, and the Little Emperor hurried to follow. He wanted to bring up the abdication again, but seeing Zhao Hanzhang sitting opposite with a frosty expression, he dared not speak, returning to the Imperial Palace in silence.
Rather than entering the palace, Zhao Hanzhang sent the emperor to the palace gate and said, "I will only escort Your Majesty this far."
The Little Emperor opened his mouth, but could only watch her leave in a daze. He wanted to cry, truly wanting to abdicate; Great General, believe me.
With a frown, Zhao Hanzhang returned home, where Yuan Li had already received the news and was waiting at the General’s Mansion.
Zhao Hanzhang stopped and asked him, "Who gave the knife to the emperor? Xun Zu or Qiu Zhi?"
"I inquired through the hidden lines. Before receiving the bundle, the emperor was always in the main hall with Qiu Zhi around; only Xun Fan and Xun Zu had access to him, but the knife belonged to Qiu Zhi."
Understanding the situation, Zhao Hanzhang was about to enter when Yuan Li whispered, "Lady, Qiu Zhi has sinister motives. Should we..."
Zhao Hanzhang turned her head to look at him.
Yuan Li silently lowered his head.
Zhao Hanzhang, expressionless, said, "Hand Qiu Zhi over to Zeng Yue for detention, and send him to the Ministry of Justice tomorrow for punishment according to the law. He cursed me, and for that alone, I should endure the penalty. Yuan Li, you have done too much."
Yuan Li knelt to plead guilty.
Zhao Hanzhang said, "The greatest problem before me in Jin was occupying a position without governing effectively. I hope it doesn’t turn into a situation where one governs without official authority under my watch."
Yuan Li’s face turned slightly pale, and he bowed his head deeply.
Zhao Hanzhang turned and walked inside, "Both are actions that harm the nation."
Ting He brought refreshments and seeing him kneeling, said, "The lady has already left."
Yuan Li was already kneeling, motionless, "I am guilty, I should kneel."
Ting He no longer concerned herself with him and turned inside, "Lady, Yuan Li is kneeling outside."
"Let him kneel," Zhao Hanzhang called her trusted aide inside, saying, "Go summon Ming Yu and Zhao Shen, and send someone to keep an eye on the Xun Mansion. As soon as Ji Yuan comes out, have him come to see me immediately."
The trusted aide complied and went to call the others.
Zhao Hanzhang sat in the study lost in thought. Did the Little Emperor suddenly decide to abdicate on his own accord, or had Xun Fan already discussed it with him?
Was it a spur-of-the-moment decision made under pressure from her today, or was it a thought-out plan?
With so many people present, it would be impossible to completely erase this event. So, should she continue, seize the moment, or retreat temporarily, waiting for the next opportunity?
Zhao Hanzhang shook her head; no, there wouldn’t be a better moment than now.
Just like in war, opportunities diminish after each attempt, and who knows if unexpected events might arise when seeking the next chance?
Right now, she still has the ability to control all unexpected situations.
Ji Yuan, in the room left behind at Xun Fan’s place, was thinking the same.
As Zhao Hanzhang and the Little Emperor departed, the remaining ministers rushed before Xun Fan, asking him, "Was the Grand Tutor behind the emperor’s sudden abdication? How can it be so hasty? Why not discuss it with the ministers?"
Others charged at Xun Zu, "Did you quietly pass the short knife to the emperor? Are you trying to harm the emperor? Tell us, did you secretly side with the Zhao Family and conspire with them on all this?"
The silent Ji Yuan could not help but speak out, "Imperial Censor Wang, your words are incorrect. To say Grand Tutor Xun is aligned with the Zhao Family holds some evidence; Imperial Censor Xun... he is not, he definitely is not!"
No one in the Zhao Family’s camp would be such a fool.
"You!" The disdain on the opponent’s face was too obvious, making Xun Zu’s face flush with anger.
The ministers, whose reason had fled, only then realized Ji Yuan was still there and quickly pushed him outside, "Ji Shizhong, why aren’t you escorting the emperor back to the palace? Hurry and bring back the emperor and Great General..."
Forcing him out of the room.
Ji Yuan broke free in the courtyard, tidying his sleeves, saying, "Alright, alright, I understand you all need to conspire in private, I won’t delay you. But don’t forget, many people were present today. Besides me, a Zhao Family minister, there were also guards and eunuchs from the palace. The emperor’s abdication cannot be concealed. I advise you all, once such an issue has started, it can’t be abandoned midway. Otherwise, the Sima Family already lacks credibility, and now the Little Emperor may follow in the footsteps of his ancestors."
Wei An’s face changed repeatedly, and after watching Ji Yuan leave the courtyard, hurried back inside.
Everyone was pressing Xun Fan, as was Xun Zu, whose mind was in a fog. Just the thought of the Little Emperor’s words cutting off all his paths made him want to go mad, "Brother, how could you let the emperor say such things? Since you understood his intentions, you should have dissuaded him."