BXBX NOVEL Chapter 5 - Great Zhou Ancestral Tradition! Taking power!
The middle-aged official, named Li Yang, was the Minister of Revenue, a second-rank official, holding significant power. He was a trusted supporter of the Empress Dowager and a loyal lackey. He had no loyalty to the emperor of the Zhou Dynasty.
Without the Empress Dowager’s backing, someone like Li Yang, at his age, would have found it hard to reach the position of Minister of Revenue. Relying on the Empress Dowager’s support, he had ruthlessly suppressed loyal officials in the court, eliminating dissent and securing his position.
Such a treacherous and malicious person needed to be eradicated today. More importantly, the position of Minister of Revenue was too crucial to be left in the hands of the Empress Dowager.
As Gu Changsheng considered the situation in court, a calculating look flickered across his face. His expression hardened, and he cast a cold glance at Li Yang, the Minister of Revenue, before sneering, “Minister of Revenue, were you implying just now that I, being young, am unfit to bear the great responsibility and unworthy of being the Emperor of Zhou?”
“Minister of Revenue, you are truly audacious!”
“Not only are you questioning me, but you are also doubting the late Emperor’s final decree.”
“Minister of Revenue, are you intending to defy the imperial edict?”
Gu Changsheng’s gaze grew icy as he stared intently at Li Yang. A powerful and unprecedented imperial aura slowly emanated from him, sweeping across the entire Tai Ji Hall. His voice deepened.
At his words, the entire court fell into silence. The civil and military officials were dumbfounded, their expressions revealing shock. They hadn’t expected Gu Changsheng to be so domineering, directly invoking the late Emperor’s decree. With this, who would dare oppose the Emperor?
Li Yang, the Minister of Revenue, felt the overwhelming imperial pressure emanating from Gu Changsheng. His face grew tense, and his breathing became rapid, as though he were suffocating.
How could this be?
In his eyes, Gu Changsheng had always been a worthless prince at the innate level of cultivation. But now, the imperial aura emanating from Gu Changsheng was so terrifying that it made Li Yang feel a slight pang of fear.
It was important to note that although he was a civil official, his cultivation was not weak, having reached the seventh tier of the King Realm.
Among the ranks of the Zhou Dynasty, in the absence of greater powers, he could be considered strong. Yet now, facing Gu Changsheng, he felt an unprecedented pressure, and his body involuntarily trembled slightly.
Seeing Li Yang, the Minister of Revenue, cowering and appearing disheveled under Gu Changsheng’s intimidation, the Empress Dowager frowned with displeasure.
She had not anticipated Gu Changsheng invoking the late Emperor’s decree to counter Li Yang’s challenge, nor had she expected such imperial authority from someone so young.
However, the Empress Dowager was not overly concerned. Nearly seventy percent of the officials in the court were loyal to her. Gu Changsheng had no real power or influence, so he couldn’t cause much trouble.
After a while, Li Yang’s complexion slowly recovered. He looked up at Gu Changsheng, who was seated on the dragon throne, his heart filled with frustration. He, the grand Minister of Revenue, had just been intimidated by the newly ascended “useless” emperor, embarrassing himself in front of the entire court.
After a moment of thought, Li Yang glanced at Gu Changsheng, then made his plan and spoke humbly but firmly:
“Your Majesty, this old minister is not defying the late Emperor’s decree.”
“It’s just that Your Majesty is still young and has just ascended the throne. I fear it may be difficult for you to manage state affairs.”
“Thus, I respectfully request that Your Majesty follow proper protocol and allow the Empress Dowager to take charge of state affairs temporarily.”
As soon as these words fell, almost seventy percent of the officials stepped forward from their ranks, bowing slightly toward Gu Changsheng, expressing their support:
“Your Majesty, the Minister of Revenue speaks wisely.”
“Your Majesty is still young and may find it difficult to handle state affairs. We humbly request that Your Majesty follow protocol and allow the Empress Dowager to take charge of state affairs temporarily.”
“We humbly request that Your Majesty follow protocol and allow the Empress Dowager to take charge!”
Seventy percent of the court officials spoke in unison, their voices echoing through the hall. These ministers knew that by doing this, they were fully antagonizing the new emperor.
However, being loyal to the Empress Dowager’s faction, they were not afraid of future retribution from the emperor.
“How could a mere child hope to compete with me? Foolish dreams.”
“Even if you are the emperor, without power or influence, what can you do?”
The Empress Dowager smiled coldly as she watched the scene, entirely disregarding Gu Changsheng.
If Gu Changsheng knew his place, things would remain peaceful. If not, there were nine other princes in the Zhou Dynasty. She wouldn’t hesitate to replace him.
As more and more ministers stood to support the Empress Dowager taking power, Gu Changsheng’s expression grew colder. His eyes swept over the court with indifference as he sneered, “You all make a valid point.”
“According to the ancestral teachings of the Zhou Dynasty, when a new emperor is young and under eighteen, the Empress Dowager may take charge of state affairs.”
The officials looked confused by these words, unable to understand why Gu Changsheng’s attitude had suddenly shifted. Just moments ago, he had seemed defiant, and now he was yielding. This unexpected change puzzled the court.
Had the new emperor realized the strength of the court’s opposition and decided to submit?
“But have you all forgotten?”
“I turned eighteen half a month ago.”
“If the Empress Dowager wishes to take charge of state affairs, I’m willing to comply.”
“But, do you ministers know the price of defying the ancestral teachings of the Zhou Dynasty?”
Gu Changsheng’s expression remained calm and indifferent as his mocking voice echoed through the hall.
The court officials were stunned, their expressions darkening. There was indeed such a rule in the Zhou Dynasty. Their previous reasoning, that Gu Changsheng was too young and that the Empress Dowager should take charge, was completely invalid.
If Gu Changsheng had been under eighteen, they might have had ways to deal with him. But in the face of the ancestral teachings, neither the emperor nor the ministers could defy them.
If the Empress Dowager continued to insist on taking charge, it would be a violation of the ancestral teachings. If that happened, the reclusive Saint Ancestor of the royal family might intervene personally, with unimaginable consequences.
For a moment, the court fell silent, unsure how to respond.
Seeing the ministers stumped, the Empress Dowager’s face grew dark. She took a deep breath to calm herself, her eyes narrowing as she glared at Gu Changsheng. She hadn’t expected the young emperor to so easily turn the situation to his advantage.
“Since the new emperor has reached eighteen, I will, of course, not overstep or violate the ancestral teachings of Zhou.”
“From today, the Zhou Dynasty will be ruled by the new emperor, who will handle state affairs.”
The Empress Dowager’s voice was cold as it echoed through the hall. She had hoped to manage state affairs legitimately, but she couldn’t defy the ancestral teachings. Her concern wasn’t the teachings themselves but the reclusive Saint Ancestor.
With the Empress Dowager’s statement, the ministers had no choice but to agree, ceasing their opposition.
Gu Changsheng’s expression remained mocking, a cold smile playing on his lips.
Even if I wanted to hand over power, the Empress Dowager doesn’t have the courage to take it!
Although his power and influence still couldn’t compare to the Empress Dowager’s, this was the first step toward seizing control.
In the original timeline, he had been toyed with by the Empress Dowager until his death, never gaining true power.
Seeing the smug look on Gu Changsheng’s face, the Empress Dowager’s expression turned icy, a frosty gleam flashing in her eyes.
Nearly seventy percent of the court officials are loyal to her. Even if Gu Changsheng managed to take control, what can he do? I have countless ways to deal with him.
[Ding! The host has ascended to the throne and taken control of state affairs, altering the original plot. Reward: 20,000 Plot Points!].