Chapter 875: Falling into a Passive Position

Zhang Yuzhen finally gave birth to a son.

Both mother and child are healthy.

Li Tun was overjoyed, bestowing all sorts of rewards, and once he dove into Penglai Gong, he was unwilling to come out.

Min Weizhong also took a deep breath; early in the morning, he had arrived at Kunning Palace.

"Brother."

Queen Inhyeon had also not slept all night, her face haggard. But at this moment, several palace maids were already beside her, helping her dress and groom. As the Queen of the Li Dynasty, now that the King had an heir, she could not avoid going over to offer her congratulations and pay a visit. This was a great joyous occasion for the nation, and as the Mother of the Country, it was her duty. It was just that, now that both sides had completely torn off the mask, and she herself was infertile, the desolation and pain in Inhyeon's heart could still be imagined.

"Yes, Brother."

Queen Inhyeon endured the heartache, ordered people to prepare many gifts and various medicinal meals, and slowly walked toward Penglai Gong.

Watching Queen Inhyeon leave, Min Weizhong slowly closed his eyes.

Especially since he had been thrown into the Heavenly Prison a while ago and had only just been released yesterday, only to encounter such a blow.

Looking at her own biological brother, Min Weizhong, she could not help but feel her eyes redden.

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Min Weizhong recalled his agreement with Liu Zheng and sighed: "Things have reached this point; the Queen should still go and see, so as not to leave behind gossip about jealousy for the world to talk about."

A son and a daughter.

The difference is truly too great.

If it were a daughter, the Westerner Party would definitely have been merciless this time, driving that demoness Zhang Yuzhen out of the palace and never giving them a chance to turn things around.

He knew.

A new wave of court infighting was about to begin.

He once again felt that this Liu Zheng from Longyan was truly so miraculous. It was as if he had known early on that what Zhang Yuzhen was going to give birth to was a son.

Thinking of this, he could not help but take another deep breath.

At this time, even if he did not adopt Liu Zheng's strategy, it would not do.

It is just that.

But this time it was a son.

Everything would be set in stone.

Unless the Westerner Party truly launched a large-scale rebellion, otherwise, everything could no longer be changed.

Li Tun, having a son in his old age, was so excited that he directly summoned the civil and military officials to the court.

Min Weizhong and the others could feel the undisguised joy on Li Tun the moment they arrived. Li Hang, Zhang Xuan, and the others were all beaming with joy, looking arrogant and conceited. All of a sudden, the Southerner Party had finally raised their heads in triumph.

"Hmph!"

To retreat in order to advance.

How to retreat to advance—this was still a matter of great nuance in the imperial court.

Sure enough.

Once these words were spoken.

Min Weizhong's expression changed on the spot: "Your Majesty, absolutely not!"

"Your Majesty!"

Min Weizhong's face was gloomy.

Once all the civil and military officials had arrived.

Sukjong Li Tun gave a wink, and only then did the eunuch beside him loudly chant: "Consort Zhang has given birth to a son, a joyous and celebratory occasion, with merit for the present and benefit for the state; I shall grant a general amnesty to the world, to—"

Min Weizhong said in a deep voice: "Your Majesty, the lawbreaker Li Shouyi was just thrown into prison, and the people are greatly pleased. To grant a general amnesty now, would that not give such ambitious and wolf-hearted scoundrels a chance to see the light of day again? It would grieve our kin and gladden our enemies!"

Li Shouyi was a confidant of Li Hang whom Min Weizhong had just captured a while ago; this was a major case that involved deep connections and struck directly at the Southerner Party. If a general amnesty were granted and this person were released, this was absolutely not something Min Weizhong wanted to see.

A group of the Westerner Party's underlings also chimed in one after another.

The people of the Westerner Party immediately followed suit.

Li Tun's expression turned ugly at that moment.

Li Hang let out a cold snort and stood up: "The birth of a Prince is a fortunate event for the Li Dynasty; what is wrong with a general amnesty?"

Including Li Hang and the others, they also lowered their heads.

How long has it been?

How long has it really been since Min Weizhong began controlling the government, and the King, Li Tun, usually didn't even dare to let out a fart? But today—

"Audacious!"

In the past, when Min Weizhong came out to oppose Li Tun, Li Tun never dared to have any complaints. However, today was different; hearing these words, Li Tun was instantly furious.

This sudden outburst actually startled all the civil and military officials present.

Li Tun endured his trembling body; he also knew that he must take this opportunity to fiercely suppress Min Weizhong's tyranny. He said, almost through gritted teeth: "This matter is decided as such; whoever dares to say another word, I will not spare him!"

"Your Majesty is wise!"

"Your Majesty is wise!"

He actually looked coldly at Min Weizhong and shouted: "Lord Min, does my son not deserve a general amnesty?"

"Hmm?"

A sharp glint flashed in Min Weizhong's eyes, and his whole body shook: "Your subject, I dare not."

Just like that.

Zhang Yuzhen's son was enfeoffed by Li Tun as the Wonja. The Wonja is the uninvested Crown Prince, which is to say, the true heir apparent!

The Westerner Party, represented by Min Weizhong, suffered a total blow.

The crowd could only kneel and bow one after another.

Min Weizhong was so angry that he clawed at the ground with both hands, his whole body trembling.

For a brief moment, he wanted to snap back at Li Tun again, but he held back because of what the Vice Minister Liu had said.

Min Weizhong, is he just giving up like this?

That's not right!

Li Tun frowned, pacing back and forth in his Yangxin Hall.

Unexpectedly.

Min Weizhong did not continue to make things difficult over this matter; he seemed to have resigned himself to his fate and accepted the result.

Even Li Tun had not expected this.

Min Weizhong is quitting?

Planning to tuck tail and run?

This actually made things rather difficult for Li Tun. His plan was that if Min Weizhong dared to be presumptuous again, he could take the opportunity to switch the ruling party from the Westerners to the Southern Faction.

He felt something was wrong!

In fact, from his fundamental perspective, he had hoped that Min Weizhong would take some action and be even more arrogant and domineering. That way, not only could it provoke resistance from the Southern Faction, but he himself could sit on the mountain and watch the tigers fight.

But now.

Li Tun narrowed his eyes slightly and said indifferently, "Summon him!"

"Yes!"

Zhang Xuan came alone.

With Min Weizhong acting so submissive, he actually lost the opportunity to take action.

"Your Majesty, Lord Zhang has arrived."

The eunuch by his side came in to report.

"Lord Zhang, there is no need for such formalities."

Li Tun chuckled and made a gesture of Correction.

Zhang Xuan smiled obsequiously: "This old subject congratulates Your Majesty; the Prince is healthy and strong, truly a blessing for our Li Dynasty!"

On the way here, he had been muttering to himself.

He knew that the King had always wanted to deal with the Westerners; even Zhang Xuan found it inconceivable that Min Weizhong would be so submissive this time. In such a situation, the King should be beating the dog while it's down; if that were the case, he shouldn't have just summoned him alone—at the very least, Li Hang, the leader of the Southerner Party, should have been summoned as well.

Therefore, when he entered the Yangxin Hall, he specifically looked around, and upon not finding Li Hang or anyone else, he performed a Correction and prepared to kneel on the ground.

Finally.

Li Tun could no longer hold back: "Lord Zhang, how do you view the current situation in the imperial court?"

But since the King did not speak, he could only wait quietly.

Li Tun beamed with delight when he brought this up, and the two exchanged a few pleasantries.

Zhang Xuan also knew that since Li Tun had summoned him alone, there must be an important matter to discuss.

It's coming!

Zhang Xuan's entire body stiffened, and his breathing nearly stopped.