The man called upon suddenly snapped back to his senses. Looking rather displeased at the woman beside him, he asked, "What is it?"
"Um... nothing. Your Majesty just seemed a bit distracted," replied Consort Shun, her head bowed as she was startled by his displeased look.
Not long after, a eunuch's voice came from outside the palace, announcing, "Your Majesty, the Prince of Nanping requests an audience."
Consort Shun quickly stood up, said, "Your servant takes her leave," and upon seeing Emperor Helian Qi nod, she walked out of Chengan Palace.
Before long, a man in a jet - black long gown entered. Bowing upon seeing Helian Qi, he said, "Your humble brother pays his respects to Your Majesty."
"Quickly rise and come here," Helian Qi waved at him, signaling him to approach.
"Your Majesty, what urgent matter do you have for me?" Helian Rong asked, looking rather puzzled.
Early this morning, someone came to his mansion to convey that the emperor had summoned him, so he had rushed over in a hurry.
Helian Qi, holding a blueprint, said to Helian Rong, "Take a look at this blueprint."
After Helian Rong took it and examined it carefully, he heard Helian Qi continue, "I'm planning to rebuild the imperial mausoleum. This is the proposal blueprint submitted by Minister Dong. I think it's excellent. What do you think?"
Hearing this, Helian Rong frowned involuntarily. Rebuilding the imperial mausoleum would consume a vast amount of manpower, material resources, and financial resources. He wondered why his elder brother had such an idea.
"Your Majesty, I think this matter needs further consideration," Helian Rong replied, still frowning.
"Hehe, there's no need. I think this is a great idea. Brother, think about it. Who in the court is capable of handling this task?" Helian Qi laughed twice, refuting the man in front of him, and then threw out a question.
Helian Rong just sighed, shook his head, and bowed, saying, "Your humble brother doesn't know. Please make your own decision, Your Majesty."
Then he added, "Your humble brother has urgent matters at home. If Your Majesty has no other orders, your humble brother will take his leave."
After seeing Helian Qi nod with a smile, he turned around and strode out of Chengan Palace.
Watching Helian Rong's back disappear completely from his sight, Helian Qi dropped his smile. Glancing at Eunuch Li in front of his palace, his eyes instantly turned cold.
I'm afraid someone won't be able to sit still soon.
Thinking this, he said to the outside of the palace, "Bring me another bowl of that 'fruit juice' I had just now."
Seeing the fruit juice, he thought of that woman. According to Donghua, her foot was severely injured that night, all bloody and torn. She would probably bear scars for life.
An indescribable feeling welled up in his heart. Why did that woman have to be so determined?
On the other hand, Helian Rong, walking on the grand avenue in the palace, was filled with mixed emotions. He always felt that his elder brother had changed a lot since his return.
He could sense that the situation in the previous court was tense, and he also knew that there was great pressure in the harem. But it was truly difficult for him to fully empathize. He could only whole - heartedly support all his elder brother's decisions.
However, regarding the matter of rebuilding the imperial mausoleum, anyone who had experienced court affairs should understand that since Helian Qi had just ascended the throne, expending a large amount of manpower, material resources, and financial resources like this would easily lead to the loss of the people's support.
Thinking of this, he couldn't help but sigh deeply and continued walking towards the outside of the palace.
On the other side.
At the mansion of the left prime minister, Nangong, outside the palace.
The old man Nangong was sitting on the grand master's chair in the reception hall. Below him sat the eldest and second sons of the Nangong family.
There was also a eunuch sitting beside the old man Nangong.
Upon closer inspection, one would find that this eunuch was actually Eunuch Li, the head eunuch of Chengan Palace in the palace!
"Eunuch Li, is there any urgent matter for your visit?" Prime Minister Nangong squinted his already narrow eyes and asked.
"Your Excellency, I naturally have urgent matters to tell you when I leave the palace," replied Eunuch Li in a shrill voice, which was rather ear - piercing.
"Hahaha, really? Then stop beating around the bush," Prime Minister Nangong responded with full energy.
He had always looked down on these eunuchs, but they controlled the information network in the palace, so even though he disliked them, he wouldn't expose it.
"Your Excellency, this information didn't come out of thin air. You should..." Eunuch Li said in a drawling tone and then stretched out his somewhat withered hands as a hint.
"Haha, Eunuch, no problem. Servants—!" Prime Minister Nangong waved his hand.
Before long, two strong men carried a box into the reception hall together. After the box was placed on the ground, one of the strong men lifted the lid.
Suddenly, the room seemed to be even brighter. One could only see neatly stacked silver ingots in the box. A whole box of them, reflecting a dazzling light, looked extremely alluring.
"Eunuch, do you think my sincerity is enough?" Prime Minister Nangong stared intently at Eunuch Li, who was already staring blankly, and asked in a tone of satisfied vanity.
"Enough, enough, enough. Your Excellency is really generous. I'm truly in awe," Eunuch Li's eyes seemed to shine, and he replied obsequiously.
"Then what's your information, Eunuch?" Prime Minister Nangong asked.
"Haha, Your Excellency, don't be impatient. Let me tell you slowly. I heard with my own ears that the emperor is planning to rebuild the imperial mausoleum. He is currently looking for someone in the previous court for this task. Such a lucrative opportunity should naturally go to those who are closer," Eunuch Li continued in his drawling tone.
After hearing this, Prime Minister Nangong stopped smiling. He wasn't thinking about the great profits from rebuilding the imperial mausoleum. Instead, he suddenly thought that if he could seize this opportunity, he could leave the palace and avoid the emperor's surveillance.
Then, if he wanted to take other actions, he wouldn't be discovered, and things would proceed very quickly.
Thinking of this, he couldn't help but burst into laughter, which even startled Eunuch Li beside him. Then he said to the eunuch, "I look forward to Your Excellency winning the emperor's favor."
After hearing Prime Minister Nangong say rather cheerfully, "Thank you for your help, Eunuch," he took his things and left the Nangong mansion.
After his figure completely disappeared from the sight of the Nangong family, Nangong Tianci, the eldest son of the old man Nangong, said, "Father, if we can get this task of rebuilding the imperial mausoleum, then we can..."
Before he could finish his sentence, his second brother, Nangong Yunze, interrupted him, saying, "Brother, be careful what you say. There may be eavesdroppers."
Nangong Tianci was a bit embarrassed and wanted to retort when he heard his father also agree, saying, "Yunze is right. Tianci, you should be more cautious in your actions. Otherwise, if something goes wrong, what will you do?!"