Chapter 42: Support the Dragon Throne, Intimidate the Court (Request First Subscription)

——Yanguang Fourth Year, fourth month, Renzi Day.

The sky was slightly gloomy.

The wind howled, as if rain were coming.

Chongde Hall.

Though it was not yet time for morning court, the imperial palace was already filled with serious tension.

Yesterday, Empress Dowager Yan had issued an edict in her capacity as regent.

Ordering Liu Yi to abide by the late Emperor's final decree and ascend the throne today at court.

Of course, she had taken precautions.

Even though Gu Xi had done nothing last night, she remained exceptionally cautious.

Empress Dowager Yan had made complete preparations: should any disturbance arise within the palace today, her controlled Imperial Guards would act immediately.

If Gu Xi did not resist, then so be it.

The overall situation was settled.

The court ministers' allegiances would shift instantly.

She could slowly strip Gu Xi of power—no matter how you looked at it, she would win.

Time passed slowly.

The ministers arrived in sequence; Liu Shou and others showed no change in expression.

Yet Yang Zhen and other officials had gathered outside the palace gate, waiting for Gu Xi to arrive.

"My lords."

Yan Xian stood at the palace gate, coldly scanning the crowd, a sneer of contempt on his face, "Why cling so stubbornly?"

"The late Emperor's final decree stands here—everything is already settled…"

"What purpose does your resistance serve?"

Deng Zhi stared coldly at Yan Xian, his eyes brimming with murderous intent, about to retort.

But at that moment, the clear sound of rolling wheels approached from afar.

Everyone instinctively turned to look.

A carriage slowly halted before the palace gate.

The next moment, Gu Xi stepped calmly out, holding a precious sword in his hand.

Seeing this, all present were startled.

Yan Xian's brows instantly knitted; he hurried forward and demanded sharply:

"Grand Tutor, what is the meaning of this? How dare you enter court armed?"

Gu Xi's expression remained calm, his gaze deep as a abyss as he looked at Yan Xian and spoke coldly:

"The late Emperor and Empress Dowager Deng once granted me the privilege of ascending the hall with sword and sandals, being addressed by name in court, and not hastening upon entry."

"You block me today—"

Gu Xi's tone grew even colder: "I would like to ask, why may I not enter court with my sword?"

In an instant, Yan Xian's expression darkened.

He remembered.

It was after Gu Xi's northern campaign against the Southern Xiongnu and Xianbei rebellion, when Liu Hu and Deng Sui had bestowed this honor upon him.

At the time, there had been more than just these privileges.

But Gu Xi had declined them all.

Over the years, he had never invoked them.

Now that he mentioned them, everyone suddenly recalled.

"Grand Tutor."

Yan Xian frowned and shook his head, "Today is the new Emperor's ascension. Is this not inappropriate, Grand Tutor?"

His gaze grew even sharper.

Yan Xian could never allow Gu Xi to enter armed.

Who in the realm did not know Gu Xi was more than just a civil minister skilled in governance?

Whether his northern campaign years ago, or his later suppression of rebellions—

Gu Xi had always demonstrated formidable martial skill.

He simply never had the habit of personally leading troops into battle.

"What is inappropriate?"

Gu Xi smiled faintly, then glanced at Yang Zhen and the others, ignoring Yan Xian's reaction entirely: "Why must you all wait here?"

"If you are unwilling to enter the palace, why not return to your mansions?"

At these words, everyone's expressions changed.

They seemed to have guessed something.

Gu Xi said no more; he turned directly toward the palace entrance.

After a moment's hesitation, Yang Zhen and the others followed him without delay.

Yan Xian's face grew even more grim.

He stared tightly at Gu Xi, his hands trembling involuntarily.

It was pure, instinctive fear.

A man of Gu Xi's stature had never been someone he could face alone.

Though he considered himself bold.

But at such a moment, only fear remained.

Gu Xi walked into the palace like this.

The imperial palace carried an inexplicably heavy atmosphere.

Yan Ji had already ordered mourning lanterns and mourning cloths hung everywhere.

Under these circumstances, this so-called new monarch's ascension seemed strangely absurd.

Even when the late Emperor Liu Long ascended the throne in former years,

it had never been this ridiculous.

Gu Xi first scanned the room, then slightly shook his head and walked forward again.

Yang Zhen, Deng Zhi, and others all followed behind Gu Xi.

Although Gu Xi said nothing,

they seemed to have sensed something, their expressions also growing strangely solemn.

This commotion was too loud.

Everyone had already noticed Gu Xi.

Upon seeing the sword in Gu Xi's hand, as if triggering some fragile nerve, their expressions changed drastically.

Sword and sandals on the palace steps?

All ministers recalled the honors Emperor Liu Hu and Deng Sui had once bestowed upon Gu Xi.

In past times, no one would have cared.

But what was this meant to be today?

The military power of Luoyang now rests entirely in the Empress's hands!

Gu Xi's so-called regent status,

without military power to bolster it, was far too fragile.

Yet Gu Xi's expression remained utterly calm.

He stepped into the palace without changing his expression, first glancing at Liu Yi seated on the dragon throne, then at Yan Ji behind the curtain, his expression hardening.

"Grand Tutor!"

"What are you doing?!"

Before Gu Xi could speak, Yan Ji demanded first.

Everyone was staring intently at Gu Xi.

Gu Xi remained silent.

His gaze fixed on Yan Ji, he slowly raised the weapon in his hand and thundered: "The late Emperor Xiaohe entrusted me, Gu Xi, with his final charge."

"Crown Prince Liu Bao is the legitimate heir to the throne!"

"Yan Ji forged imperial edicts and disrupted the imperial succession—do you seek to overthrow the Han dynasty's Jiangshan?!"

Gu Xi's voice exploded like Lei Ting throughout the hall.

Everyone's expressions changed!

No one had expected a man as clever as Gu Xi to do something like this!

To accuse openly??

If Gu Xi had still held military power in past times, they might have understood.

But now?

Deng Zhi and others were utterly stunned.

What is Gu Xi doing?

Even Yan Ji had not anticipated this turn of events.

She froze for a moment.

Then her brows knitted tightly as she snapped: "Gu Xi! How dare you slander me?!"

"Is this treason?!"

"Come! Seize him at once!"

Several palace guards changed expression; seeing Gu Xi's piercing gaze, fear surged across their faces.

Gu Xi's prestige was indeed too high.

And most crucially—the timing was too rushed!

If Yan Ji had had time to cultivate her own loyalists, perhaps this could have been avoided.

But how many days have passed since then?

Gu Xi looked at the palace guards in the hall, his eyes growing colder: "I was entrusted by the late Emperor Xiaohe with his dying breath—to safeguard the very foundation of the state in this perilous, egg-on-a-stack situation."

"How dare you, vermin, conspire with traitors?!"

His voice rang like Lei Ting; the palace guards lowered their weapons, standing in terror.

Everyone stared, dumbfounded, at this scene.

Everything had happened too, too fast.

Seeing that none of them dared move, Yan Ji's expression shifted again; she shouted once more: "Seize Gu Xi!"

"Heavy rewards await!"

Great rewards produce brave men.

One captain, seemingly finally steeling himself, gritted his teeth and charged forward with weapon raised.

But Gu Xi was no mere civil minister skilled in governance.

His martial prowess was certainly no weaker than that of ordinary generals.

Without a moment's hesitation, Gu Xi drew his sword and thrust straight forward, his speed as swift as lightning.

Thwack!

The man hadn't even managed to strike before he collapsed straight to the ground.

Just then, a sharp clang of a weapon hitting the floor rang out abruptly.

An old soldier suddenly dropped his weapon and fell prostrate, weeping: "This humble general... this humble general once followed the Grand Tutor on the campaign against the Qiang; I would rather die than dare rebel against the Han!"

He would rather accept punishment than raise a hand against Gu Xi.

"Guards! Guards!"

Watching this scene, Yan Ji let out another furious roar.

The imperial guards outside the hall swarmed in.

But when they saw the target was actually Gu Xi, every one of them froze.

The Yan clan disciples, however, kept shouting to seize him.

But who would dare to act rashly?

One must remember, Gu Xi had personally commanded the Central Army.

No one knew how many of those soldiers had once followed Gu Xi into battle.

And most critically—

Gu Xi had resolved the locust plague, earning a debt of grace from all under heaven.

This was something everyone knew.

How could a mere handful of Yan clan disciples, only just promoted, make them obey an order to take down Gu Xi?

Yan Ji was somewhat dumbfounded too.

She had never, ever expected such a thing to happen.

Although everyone knew Gu Xi's renown had soared to the heavens, already like Gu Kang of old, beyond what any minister could compare to.

That was precisely why today she had deliberately picked out from the Central Army those who were usually the most obedient.

So how could this still happen?

It was as if time itself had come to a standstill.

Inside the hall, there were clearly one after another tense, Heavy and Coarse breaths.

Yet it gave people a feeling of extraordinary stillness.

Gu Xi swept his gaze over the Central Army soldiers; seeing their hesitation, he knew this was a good opportunity and immediately spoke again.

But just at that moment—

Yan Xian had finally arrived.

At this point, how could he still care about so much?

He snatched a bow and arrows from an imperial guard.

Drew the bow and let fly!

All of this happened far too quickly.

The sound of something tearing through the air rang out sharply.

The arrow shot straight toward Gu Xi's face.

But just then, a sudden fierce gust of wind swept into the hall.

In an instant—

Candle flames went out one after another, and the curtains billowed.

The entire hall instantly grew several shades darker.

And that flying arrow, affected as well, passed straight by Gu Xi's front and shot squarely into the dragon throne where Liu Yi sat!

—Boom rumble rumble!

At the same moment, a peal of thunder suddenly erupted.

This tremendous crash finally jolted everyone present back to their senses.

Every one of them underwent a drastic change of expression.

Omen-reading and superstition were things that, in such an era, were destined never to be entirely erased.

At such a critical moment, for something like this to happen—

Was destined to make the ministers and every one of those imperial guards overthink.

Gu Xi hadn't expected such a coincidence either, but he reacted swiftly after all, and immediately let out another sharp shout:

"The will of the heavens is plain as day; you traitors, even ghosts and gods will not spare you!"

"Do you still want the heavenly calamity of those days to descend again?"

Watching the imperial guards' expressions all change drastically—

Gu Xi raised his sword and pointed straight at Yan Xian and the others: "Seize the bandits, to soothe the wrath of the heavens!"

Heavenly calamity—

This could truly be said to be something feared by every single commoner throughout the Han.

Even though many years had already passed—

The heavenly calamity of those days still lingered like a nightmare.

Once these words were spoken!

At last, the situation completely reversed!

Gu Xi's renown ultimately played too great a role; as soon as the first imperial guard moved, the rest of the guards surged straight forward one after another!

Charging straight at Yan Xian and the Yan clan disciples.

A chorus of roars and scolding voices erupted instantly.

Upon the Grand Stair, Yan Ji stared at the scene in utter shock, unable to believe it.

She suddenly turned her gaze once more toward Gu Xi.

She immediately noticed Gu Xi's piercing gaze.

In that instant, she felt fear once again.

Liu Shou and the other officials who had sided with the Yan clan now turned pale, wanting to flee but daring not to.

Gu Xi paid them no mind.

He merely gestured to Deng Zhi and the others, whispering to each of them in turn.

He meant to seize control of the Imperial Guard!

He could not leave behind a single threat!

Then he summoned Yang Zhen and whispered to him in his ear.

Yang Zhen's eyes lit up.

He swiftly left the palace.

Not long after, he entered slowly with Cao Teng, leading Liu Bao.

The moment they saw Liu Bao.

Yan Ji collapsed fully to the ground, her face filled with despair.

The sounds of fighting had now ceased.

The Yan clan's sons were all bound beneath the Grand Stair, only able to emit muffled whimpers.

Everyone was staring intently at this scene.

Liu Bao had barely stepped into the hall when he ran straight to Gu Xi's side.

Gu Xi immediately bowed and supported Liu Bao.

Then, before all eyes, he slowly led him toward the Grand Stair.

The hall grew even quieter.

Only the faint sound of footsteps remained.

Everyone stared tightly at the scene, watching as Liu Bao, still a child, pulled Gu Xi step by step up the Grand Stair.

"Grand Tutor! You cannot—"

Yan Ji, slumped on the ground, grew even more terrified.

But how could Gu Xi care what she thought?

At this moment, Liu Yi had long since fled in terror to a corner; the dragon throne, symbol of supreme authority, sat there untouched.

Gu Xi drew Liu Bao to stand before the throne.

Then he stopped, lifting Liu Bao onto it.

As Liu Bao sat upon the dragon throne,

everyone's hearts jolted sharply.

Gu Xi gazed at Liu Bao, and at last, joy surfaced in his eyes.

He did not hesitate for a moment.

He immediately set down his long sword, and before the eyes of the ministers, knelt before Liu Bao.

"Your servant, Gu Xi, pays homage to Your Majesty!"

Liu Bao instinctively rose to help Gu Xi up.

But Gu Xi gently shook his head, signaling him not to move.

After solemnly performing the full kowtow,

he rose again, sword in hand, standing beside the Son of Heaven and addressing the ministers in a loud voice:

"All ministers, pay homage to the new sovereign!"

—————————

"In the fourth year of Yan Guang, the Emperor passed away in the Northern Palace.

Empress Yan concealed the death and secretly allied with the eunuchs Fan Feng and Jiang Jing, forging an imperial edict to depose Crown Prince Bao as Prince of Jiyin, secretly summoning Prince Yi, son of Prince Hui of Jibei, to the capital, plotting to steal the imperial throne.

At the time, the inner palace was heavily guarded; Yan's brothers Yan Xian and Yan Jing held spears within the Forbidden City.

On the day the new sovereign ascended, Grand Tutor Gu Xi, clad in plain robes and bearing a sword, entered the Forbidden Palace directly; his footsteps rang out, shaking the Nine Courts.

Gu Xi's eyes flared, his beard bristled; he pointed his sword at Empress Yan and roared: 'In the past, Emperor Xiaohe entrusted his most trusted ministers to me; Crown Prince Bao is the rightful heir to the lineage. You, a woman meddling in state affairs, forged edicts to disrupt the succession—do you seek to topple the Han dynasty?'

Empress Yan turned pale and shrieked: 'Gu Xi is plotting rebellion! Seize him at once!'

The tiger-armed guards hesitated, unmoving.

Gu Xi raised his head and roared: 'I received the late Emperor's blade as his final trust—to protect the state's foundation from peril! How dare you vermin defy the Heavenly Mandate!'

His voice rang like Lei Ting; the Imperial Guard lowered their weapons, trembling in awe.

Yan Xian, enraged, drew his bow and shot an arrow at Gu Xi—suddenly, a fierce wind swept through the hall, extinguishing the candles and flipping the curtains; the arrow veered off and fell beside the imperial throne.

Gu Xi stood unharmed, raising his sword and crying: 'Heaven's will is clear! You are traitors—punished by gods and spirits alike!'

The ministers trembled; the Imperial Guards all dropped their weapons and knelt.

Gu Xi then ordered the arrest of Yan Xian, Fan Feng, and others, binding them all beneath the Grand Stair, and personally lifted Liu Bao onto the dragon dais, seating him facing south.

Gu Xi led the ministers in kowtowing twice, their shouts shaking the hall, echoing to the clouds.

——Records of the Later Han Dynasty: Biography of Gu Xi

(End of Chapter)