Chapter 630: Trust

"Prefect Liu is going to enter the palace!"

"He's going to enter the palace!"

Liu Zheng was in the horse carriage; these people of Jinghua could not hold themselves back one by one, running around to spread the news.

Good grief...

Does this mean they are all waiting to watch him make a spectacle of himself?

He naturally knew.

Whether Xie Tianyao could live for another year had too great an impact on the situation of Longyan.

If he could truly live for another year, it would mean that the schemes of the various interest groups in Longyan would all have to be overturned and started over.

Crown Prince Xie Fang was also in his own horse carriage. Right at the entrance of the Imperial Palace, seeing Liu Zheng and Grand Eunuch Zhou get off the carriage, he strode over to welcome them: "Prefect Liu, today the whole country is watching. Our Longyan hasn't been this united in a long time! His Majesty's health is a matter of great importance; I hope Prefect Liu can work a miracle!"

"We hope Prefect Liu can work a miracle!"

People from one horse carriage after another stepped down and said in unison.

Liu Zheng was somewhat between laughter and tears.

Whether this group of people truly wanted him to work a miracle or wanted him to hurry up and treat Xie Tianyao to death, there was naturally no need to say.

He knew.

Before he set off to enter the palace, the city defense guards had already been swapped out. This was precisely to ensure the internal stability of Jinghua in case of any sudden emergencies.

Therefore.

The group of people gathered outside the Imperial Palace today were, firstly, here to put on a show; with Xie Tianyao's life at stake, how could they not come to put on a show and offer prayers?

Secondly, they were indeed here to watch the spectacle.

It was very simple.

If this Prefect Liu were to treat the old Emperor Xie Tianyao to death today, he wouldn't even be able to leave the Imperial Palace!

If Xie Tianyao died, he would be the first to die!

Therefore.

There was no way these people would miss such a good show. Besides Xie Fang, various Feudatory Kings, Regional Commanders, and Zhu Zhen and others stepped off their carriages one after another.

They said the same things to Liu Zheng.

Liu Zheng cupped his hands and bowed deeply: "Everyone, Liu Zheng will do his best!"

"Then we shall leave it to Prefect Liu!"

The crowd responded in unison.

Inside the Imperial Palace, horse carriages other than the Emperor's were not allowed, so they had to walk the whole way. This should be considered Liu Zheng's first time truly entering the palace, and only then did he realize just how large it was inside... buildings like a forest, grand in scale. How could this be a palace? It was practically a city!

He was even a bit impressed that Grand Eunuch Zhou could be so familiar with such a place; he felt like he was walking through a maze, and if it weren't for Grand Eunuch Zhou leading the way, he would have been lost long ago!

Twisting and turning.

After estimating that they had walked for about an hour, the two finally arrived at the Yangxin Hall of the Imperial Palace.

Xie Tianyao was inside!

"Your Highness the Crown Prince, our people on the city defense side have already begun to move..."

At this moment.

A subordinate of Crown Prince Xie Fang whispered.

Xie Fang gave a cold smile: "Don't make the move too big. I heard that Prefect Liu and the Prince of Qin met in secret last night, and the city defense is controlled by that old fox, the Prince of Qin. Just ensure that if something happens, we don't lose!"

"Yes!"

On Zhu Zhen's side.

Under this scorching sun, at his age, he could not withstand such exposure. He could only retreat back into the horse carriage, where a basin filled with ice cubes was placed. Only then did the temperature inside the carriage drop significantly.

"My lord... if this Prefect Liu today..."

Several people nearby were filled with worry.

Zhu Zhen gave a faint smile: "It is a good thing if His Majesty lives for another year..."

The crowd looked at each other in dismay.

Everyone hoped for Xie Tianyao to pass away smoothly, yet you say it's a good thing?

Zhu Zhen nodded: "Everyone, 'a new emperor brings a new court'—who is this saying for? Is it not for us Scholar-officials? As for the Noble Class, as long as they are secure, who among them cannot be a carefree prince? But what about us?"

Several people turned pale at the same time.

Zhu Zhen laughed heartily: "So, don't be anxious... definitely don't be anxious. It is we Scholar-officials who are easily abandoned by fate, but in fact, it is also we Scholar-officials who are the most resilient... Don't you see that whether it is the Crown Prince exerting his power or the Prince of Qin defecting, they are extremely hostile when they meet, but they cannot directly target us Scholar-officials, can they?"

The few people listened and nodded repeatedly.

Zhu Zhen sighed: "If we cannot dominate, we must adapt to the situation... If we cannot help the prince we support ascend to the throne, then we drift with the tide and watch the changes, understand?"

The crowd could only nod one after another.

"Besides..."

Zhu Zhen gave a desolate smile: "Even if the Eleventh Prince we support ascends to the throne... won't we old ones still be disposed of in various ways?"

The others felt their hearts turn cold upon hearing this.

This was political struggle... this was 'a new emperor brings a new court'! After every emperor ascends the throne, they will build a team that truly belongs to them... Therefore, even if Xie Ming really ascends, would he still treat old men like Zhu Zhen as his confidants?

Dream on!

What the Emperor would worry about is whether these old fellows would seize control of the government and sideline him after he ascends...

Since ancient times, the succession of imperial power has been a bloody affair.

But Zhu Zhen and these Scholar-officials had absolutely no other Method; knowing it was a Huoshan, they had to move forward. Only in this way could they ensure the interests of their vast families and ensure their descendants continued to hold the positions they wanted in Longyan.

Inside Yangxin Hall.

The light was very dim.

The gloom obscured the opulence here; even with Grand Eunuch Zhou leading the way, they were still searched at least three times before entering to ensure Liu Zheng was not carrying any weapons, only then did the Imperial Guard let the two of them in.

Walking inside, a faint scent of top-grade agarwood assailed his nostrils, and Liu Zheng took a deep breath.

This was, after all, the Emperor's residence.

The place where the most supreme person in the entire Longyan Dynasty lived.

Even he, upon walking in, was cautious and careful, not daring to even lift his head.

"Are you looking for Me?"

Suddenly, a burst of laughter rang out.

Liu Zheng looked toward the sound and saw a massive jade bed placed horizontally behind a screen where agarwood smoke curled.

Xie Tianyao, wearing a dragon robe, was looking at him with a smile that was not quite a smile.

"Your humble subject pays respects to..."

Liu Zheng hurriedly knelt and bowed.

"That's enough, that's enough, come sit over here!"

Xie Tianyao waved his hand.

In front of him was a chessboard; the Emperor played on a different kind of board, made entirely of Khotan nephrite, and there was a cattail hassock on this side of the board, upon which Liu Zheng sat down cautiously.

Xie Tianyao took in his every movement, unable to help but burst into hearty laughter: "I thought there was no one under heaven who could keep you, Prefect Liu, in check!"

Liu Zheng hurriedly gave a wry smile: "Your Majesty is too kind to this young one... Under the vast heaven, is there any land that is not the King's? To the shores of the earth, is there any subject who is not the King's? Liu Zheng's heart as a subject is as clear as the sun and moon."

Xie Tianyao could not stop laughing.

He was very satisfied with Liu Zheng's attitude.

He seemed truly delighted to be able to keep this young man in check.

He glanced at Liu Zheng, then slowly lowered his head to tidy up the chaotic chess game; Liu Zheng wanted to offer help, but was interrupted by a look from Grand Eunuch Zhou, so he hurriedly sat up straight, not daring to even breathe loudly.

While tidying up, Xie Tianyao chuckled and said: "You should know in your heart why I summoned you to the palace today, right?"

Liu Zheng hurriedly nodded: "Your Majesty, why don't we..."

Xie Tianyao did not even lift his head, waving his hand lightly: "Just a moment ago, I went through a bout of agony, feeling like I was dying; I've already chased away those annoying imperial physicians—is the timing set?"

Liu Zheng felt a jolt through his entire body.

He had not expected this.

That Xie Tianyao would be so frank and open with him today.

How could this not be a form of trust?