Chapter 129: Senior Brother Xiu’er, Betraying The Organization!
Qian Lai was so angry he was about to speak, but then he heard a very sharp and clear voice coming from the head of the table: “His Majesty has arrived! The Empress Dowager Cheng has arrived!”
Qian Lai immediately rose with the civil and military officials, bowing towards the main seat.
“Long live His Majesty, long live, long, long live! Long live the Empress Dowager, long live, long, long live!”
For a moment, the previously noisy Minghua Hall became quiet with these extremely loud shouts.
The Emperor was not old, about the same age as Cheng Zhaoyang, his build was thin and weak, and his expression was timid. He was like a dog led by the nose, not even daring to look directly at the ministers below.
Empress Dowager Cheng was the exact opposite. Her beauty was unparalleled, her radiance was dazzling, her demeanor was dignified and generous, and her movements were poised. Her eyes drooped, which did not make her seem gentle, but rather added a touch of majesty.
What was truly remarkable was that she had no cultivation, yet she was nearly two hundred years old and looked no different from a twenty-year-old.
At this moment, her gaze was fixed on Ming Zhaoshuang and the other two.
It was none other than the fact that everyone else had bowed, and only the three of them were still sitting there blankly.
Only Fei Changxiu was quick-witted and nimble, and managed to bow before them without their knowledge, abandoning them ruthlessly.
Ming Zhaoshuang: “…”
Fortunately, they also reacted quickly. Upon meeting Empress Dowager Cheng’s gaze, they immediately bowed. Although their bows were crooked and uneven, at least they were not so abrupt.
Ming Zhaoshuang stomped on Fei Changxiu’s foot and said, “Good one, Senior Brother Xiu’er, abandoning the organization.”
She didn’t hold back her strength, and Fei Changxiu’s face turned red with pain. He hurriedly opened his mouth and said, “Ouch, Junior Sister, please be gentle…”
Empress Dowager Cheng naturally saw their little antics and smiled, shaking her head, and said unhurriedly:
“Rise, all my ministers.”
As soon as she said this, the banquet became lively again. One after another, spiritual food was passed from the palace maids to Ming Zhaoshuang and the others, making them eager to eat, and they ate without stopping.
Although they all came from great sects and did not eat ungracefully, their etiquette was not as strict and detailed as that of the imperial court, which caused Qian Jiawu beside them to sneer:
“Truly a group of crude villagers with no manners. Empress Dowager…”
According to Great Sui etiquette, the Emperor usually ate first, and then the ministers below could start eating.
Before she could finish speaking, Cheng Zhaoyang interrupted her: “Miss Qian, if you have any opinions, you can tell my aunt directly. Don’t show off down here.”
“Zhaoshuang and the others are guests invited by me, Cheng Zhaoyang! If you dare to say another word, don’t blame me for not giving face to the Qian Clan!”
Qian Jiawu’s cheeks puffed out in anger. She slapped the desk with hatred, making a loud noise.
For a moment, the civil and military officials looked over, thinking she was about to say something.
Empress Dowager Cheng’s brow furrowed slightly: “General Qian, is there something wrong with your youngest daughter?”
Cold sweat broke out on Qian Lai’s forehead. He glared at Qian Jiawu, then grinned and said, “Nothing, nothing, my daughter just accidentally knocked over a plate.”
Qian Lai was not afraid of Cheng Zhaoyang, nor even the entire Cheng Clan, but he was afraid of this Empress Dowager who came from the Cheng Clan.
A large part of the reason Empress Dowager Cheng was able to control court affairs for over thirty years was her decisiveness and ruthlessness.
While the daughters of noble families were content to stay in their courtyards and give up cultivation, Empress Dowager Cheng, behind everyone’s back, had already raised her cultivation to the Nascent Soul Stage before entering the palace.
Later, when the truth came out, facing the pressure from the imperial family and the noble families, she did not hesitate to sever her own meridians, becoming the Empress of Great Sui, and earning the favor of the late Emperor.
After the late Emperor’s death, she became the Empress Dowager of Great Sui and, with the help of a eunuch, supported a young emperor, jointly controlling the court.
Within three years, Empress Dowager Cheng had dismembered that eunuch, consolidating all power.
To satisfy her tyranny, she also reorganized the Ministry of Justice and heavily relied on cruel officials, causing all officials to live in fear.
Later, as the young emperor gradually grew up and intended to share power with her, it was a pity that he had half of the Cheng Clan’s bloodline in him, and was personally killed by his aunt.
Because of this, her father, Old General Cheng, had a huge argument with her, pointing at her nose and scolding her.
“What exactly do you want to do! A hen crowing at dawn is an omen of misfortune for the nation, and a woman wielding power, how lamentable!”
Then, Old General Cheng was dragged away and imprisoned in the Ministry of Justice for three months.
When he came out, he had a broken leg and still limped when he walked.
Such a person is ruthless to her own people, and even more so to others.
The second emperor she supported was born to a woman of the Jin Clan. The Jin Clan attempted to seize power from her, and within five years, the Emperor was deposed. The Jin Clan remains the most downfallen of the Four Great Clans to this day.
The third emperor she supported is the bloodline born to a woman of the Qian Clan.
Therefore, the Qian Clan’s disciples are extremely arrogant, attempting to offend heavenly might, while also fearing attracting Empress Dowager Cheng’s attention and giving her an opportunity to deal with them.
Fortunately, whether it was because the Qian Clan only acted wildly in front of Cheng family members and not in front of her, or because her previous thunderous methods had caused her and the Cheng Clan to appear estranged, Empress Dowager Cheng not only did not suppress the Qian Clan, but instead continuously pressured the Cheng Clan, nearly forcing Chancellor Cheng into a corner.
The Qian family then understood a principle: it was not related to competing for power with the Cheng Clan, but it was not allowed to compete for power with Empress Dowager Cheng.
Empress Dowager Cheng heard this, looked at Qian Jiawu, nodded with satisfaction, and said meaningfully:
“The daughters of your Qian Clan are becoming more and more beautiful. I find them very satisfactory. I wonder when they will be able to enter the palace to accompany me.”
General Qian’s eyes lit up at this. He hurriedly said, “My youngest daughter already had her coming-of-age ceremony two months ago and has not yet been betrothed. If Your Majesty wishes, my daughter can enter the palace at any time!”
Empress Dowager Cheng smiled, then pointed to the other young ladies of noble families in the hall and said, “You all come as well. The Emperor will reach his adulthood in half a year, and the palace should be lively. As for the Cheng Clan, let it be. Not a single young woman is obedient and gentle enough to meet my desires.”
“Don’t you agree, Marquis Changning.”
As she spoke, her gaze swept over Cheng Zhaoyang, with scrutiny.
Cheng Zhaoyang rose and replied neither servilely nor arrogantly: “What does Aunt mean by this? Zhaoyang has guarded the border for Great Sui for five years. To put me among ordinary women is one thing, but why am I so disliked by Aunt?”
The civil and military officials watched this scene with trembling hearts.
The Cheng Clan truly broke ties with the Empress Dowager when the former Emperor was deposed, and as a result, they have not been favored by the Empress Dowager all these years.
They had originally thought that placing Cheng Zhaoyang in the foremost position of military generals was a prelude to the Empress Dowager showing favor to the Cheng Clan, but now it seemed it was to instigate infighting between the Cheng and Qian Clans.
After all, since Old General Cheng passed away, the position of Chief Military General has been held by a member of the Qian Clan.
Ming Zhaoshuang watched, utterly confused, when the cup in Empress Dowager Cheng’s hand flew out and hurtled directly towards Cheng Zhaoyang!
“Presumptuous!”
