Chapter 919: Imperial Palace Night Banquet【2】

The Minister of Works' Mansion.

This was already the second time this year that Yuan Kui had moved out of the Minister of Works' mansion.

All the attendants and maids of the Minister of Works' mansion were busy tidying up the miscellaneous items in the mansion.

Wearing a set of gray casual clothes, Yuan Kui stood in front of the Minister of Works' mansion.

Being dismissed from office was nothing out of the ordinary for Yuan Kui.

Especially since Liu Hong had started selling offices and titles, the rotation of the Three Excellencies and Nine Ministers had become as common as a daily meal.

Because every time one took office again, one had to pay taxes.

This was also a means for the Emperor to accumulate wealth.

Therefore, the rotation and dismissal of the Three Excellencies were nothing out of the ordinary.

However, this time it was caused by the failure of his struggle with Duan Yu.

For Yuan Kui, and even for the entire Yuan clan, this was a great humiliation.

The Yuan clan, known as the "Zhong" surname of the world, had actually lost in a struggle against Duan Yu, who had only risen for two years, and ended up being dismissed from office.

Although this was not a fatal blow to the Yuan clan,

it was a naked humiliation.

Beside Yuan Kui, who was dressed in gray casual clothes, stood two young men.

One of them was Yuan Shu, who had just been recalled from outside the city and was wearing the standard armor of the Tiger Ben Army.

And the other was the first-in-line heir of the Yuan clan, the future head of the Yuan clan, who was slightly older than Yuan Shu and currently held the position of Grand Coachman, one of the Nine Ministers, Yuan Ji.

At this time, Yuan Ji was wearing a white robe, his face was like jade, he wore a jade crown, and had a jade pendant tied to his waist.

Compared to Yuan Shu standing on the side, he could be described as elegant and graceful.

Although he was not as tall as Yuan Shao, his demeanor was steady.

Compared to the angry Yuan Shu, Yuan Ji appeared calmer.

"Uncle, what kind of thing is that Duan Yu, to dare to ride on the heads of our Yuan clan."

Yuan Shu gritted his teeth and said: "A barbarian martial artist, to be so bold, he truly does not know how to die!"

Yuan Ji, standing on the side, remained silent, his expression still calm.

Yuan Kui took a deep breath and said: "Do you think that Duan Yu alone could really do anything to me?"

"This is the Emperor's will; the Emperor's will is hard to defy!"

"Because of the Yellow Turban rebellion, the Emperor lifted the Proscription of Partisan Prohibitions. Although the rebels have been settled, the Emperor cannot continue to implement the Proscription. He must use the hands of others to deal with us, and that Duan Yu is the Emperor's blade."

"The Emperor wants to use Duan Yu to balance the Yuan clan."

"This is the Emperor's will."

"For the recent period, Gonglu, you must not step out of the Tiger Ben Army even once; do not give anyone a chance to seize a handle. The Tiger Ben Army must be firmly controlled in our hands; this is the foundation for the Yuan clan to stand in Luoyang."

"Gongdao." Yuan Kui turned his head to look at Yuan Ji on the side.

"I am here, Uncle." Yuan Ji bowed slightly.

"You are the same; stay indoors as much as possible and do not give anyone a handle."

"For the recent period, do not come to my mansion either."

"But one thing: whether inside the palace or outside the palace, all movements must be kept in hand, and people must be sent to inform me at all times."

"Also..."

Yuan Kui's eyes narrowed as he said: "Monitor every move of Duan Yu. Before Duan Yu leaves Luoyang, every move of his must be strictly monitored."

"Including where he goes and who he meets; nothing must be missed, no matter how small."

"I was careless before and never took Duan Yu seriously, but now..."

"He has already endangered the foundation of the Yuan clan."

Yuan Ji nodded: "Uncle, rest assured, I understand."

"Hmm."

Yuan Kui nodded and said: "I trust you and Benchu to handle things. Go."

The Mansion of the Bearer of the Gilded Mace, Fu Wan.

Fu Wan, who had almost run home like he was fleeing after the court session, had barely sat down on his chair for long.

The gatekeeper butler hurried into the backyard and came before Fu Wan.

"Master, someone has come from the palace, saying there is an edict to be delivered."

"Ah?"

Fu Wan had just wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, and the expression on his face froze.

No way!

Is it coming this fast?

Could it be that the Emperor is going to dismiss him from office too?

Fu Wan was so scared that his hands began to tremble.

Just now in the court, he had seen with his own eyes Yuan Kui being dismissed, while Duan Yu, who had killed Wei Ban, was completely fine and very likely about to be promoted.

To be honest, he really did not want to offend Duan Yu at all.

If he hadn't been forced to speak in the court just now, he would have wanted to act like he knew nothing.

"This damn Wei Ban, you can die if you want, why did you have to drag me down with you?"

Fu Wan was so anxious he was about to cry.

"Go... go... go invite them in." Fu Wan hurriedly stood up and walked toward the hall.

Before long, the Lesser Huangmen Zuo Feng, holding the imperial edict, arrived before the hall.

Zuo Feng first glanced at Fu Wan, then asked directly: "The Emperor has an edict for the Princess of Yang'an and the Princess of Yangdi to receive the edict."

Hmm?

Fu Wan, who was preparing to kneel on the ground to welcome the imperial edict, was stunned.

Not looking for me?

"What are you still standing there for?" Zuo Feng said impatiently to Fu Wan: "Why don't you hurry up and find them?"

"Oh, oh, oh." Fu Wan turned around hurriedly, as if he had been granted a pardon.

If this were in the past, if Zuo Feng dared to speak like this, Fu Wan would definitely not have had this attitude.

But now.

As long as they weren't looking for him, that was fine.

Before long, Fu Wan's wife, the Princess of Yang'an, and the Princess of Yangdi walked leisurely from the back house into the main hall of the front courtyard.

The twenty-year-old Princess of Yangdi, Liu Xiu, followed behind Liu Hua, looking very timid.

She walked with her head down, staring only at her toes.

And Fu Wan was hiding on the side of the main hall, peeking out.

It seemed as if he was afraid that there would be something in the imperial edict that would implicate him.

The Lesser Huangmen Zuo Feng, standing in front of the main hall, unfolded the imperial edict in his hand and read it aloud.

"The Emperor has an edict: The Princess of Yangdi, Liu Xiu, is twenty years old and has not yet been married. I have been busy with state affairs and have been negligent. Now, I have found a good match for her..."

Hmm?

Fu Wan, who was peeking out, was stunned.

Bestowing a marriage?

This Lesser Huangmen came to read an imperial edict bestowing a marriage?

Bestowing a marriage for Liu Xiu?

Ever since Liu Xiu left the palace, she had been living in his house.

It had been almost ten years, but she had never been married.

Fu Wan had originally planned to find someone of appropriate age from his clan to marry Liu Xiu. ===== CHAPTER 921 =====