In the court, the man sitting at the highest position, wearing a purple-gold beaded crown, stared coldly at the two groups of people arguing below.
"Renovating the imperial mausoleum can be regarded as a civil project. No one can say a bad word about Prime Minister Nangong when it comes to war, but when it comes to renovating the imperial mausoleum, it has to be Prime Minister Dongfang!" A man in court robes and an official hat said.
Prime Minister Nangong just snorted coldly. The assistant minister of the Ministry of Works beside him immediately retorted, "We are all solving problems for the emperor. Since the emperor has already decided on Lord Nangong, are you questioning the emperor by arguing here?"
His words left the other man speechless for a moment. Seeing that his side was at a disadvantage, Prime Minister Dongfang bowed to the man at the highest position in the court. His brows frowned involuntarily as he said, "Your Majesty, please think twice. I'm not questioning Your Majesty, nor do I want to compete with Lord Nangong."
His voice was full of vigor but tinged with worry. He looked up at Helian Qi eagerly and then continued, "It's just that the political situation has just stabilized. It's really not suitable to overburden the people and waste money."
After saying that, he let out a deep sigh, as if those words had exhausted all his strength.
The Dongfang family had always respected the royal family and was the leader of the royalist faction. They had carefully assisted Helian Qi after his accession to the throne. But his absurd decision now was really beyond comprehension.
"Oh? Is Prime Minister Dongfang teaching me how to govern the country?" Helian Qi suddenly said in a low voice. His eyes were squinted tightly, as if extremely displeased.
"Yes, Lord Dongfang. Are you dissatisfied with the emperor? Or do you have other... " The old man Nangong added fuel to the fire. Just as he was about to say something more excessive, he was interrupted by Prime Minister Dongfang.
"Enough!" He glared at Nangong with round eyes and roared angrily. Then he bowed to Helian Qi and said, "Your Majesty, please forgive me. I have no such thoughts. Your Majesty's decision represents the will of the people. How could I question it?!"
There seemed to be great helplessness in his tone. His wrinkled face showed exhaustion.
Helian Qi, sitting at the highest position, raised his hand to adjust his crown. Then he stared intently at the old man bowing below and said, "My dear minister, it's good that you can think like this. I'm also doing this for the people and the country. Hahaha!"
After saying that, he let out two wild laughs. Prime Minister Dongfang tightened his lips even more. He couldn't refute the man in front of him at this moment. After all, he was the son of heaven, while he was just an ant crawling at his feet.
"Your Majesty is wise!" Prime Minister Nangong squinted his narrow eyes and bowed while shouting loudly.
Immediately, all the ministers behind him also bowed and shouted in unison, "Long live the emperor! Long live! Long live!!!"
Prime Minister Dongfang watched this scene. Even though he was filled with unwillingness in his heart, he could only bow like everyone else.
After the court session ended, Prime Minister Dongfang walked absent-mindedly on the avenue in the palace alone. The old man Nangong, looking extremely proud, walked towards him. He was puffing out his belly as if he were pregnant for ten months, and his eyes were squinted slyly.
"Aren't you Prime Minister Dongfang? Why are you alone?" He said gloatingly.
Seeing that the man in front of him didn't answer him, he continued, "Just now, the emperor asked me to discuss the specific matters of renovating the imperial mausoleum. We're going to set off after the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet."
Hearing this, Prime Minister Dongfang couldn't maintain his composure for a moment. He hadn't recovered from the fact that the emperor had refused to listen to advice, and now this man in front of him came to show off again.
He roared angrily with full of rage, "Old man Nangong! What can you gain from this? Renovating the imperial mausoleum will consume a great deal of manpower, material resources and financial resources, which will surely lead to public unrest. Are you short of silver? You're not! Then why bother!"
He said it with great passion, as if this tone could make people turn over a new leaf. But the man standing opposite him just sneered and didn't give any other answer.
He took on the task of renovating the imperial mausoleum not to solve problems for the emperor, but to plan a more massive scheme. So he didn't care about losing the support of the people.
Prime Minister Dongfang watched the man in front of him pass by. He couldn't help stamping his feet angrily on the ground. Then he roared at the back of the man, "Nangong Liuyun!!!"
The man whose name was called suddenly stopped. Then his shoulders trembled imperceptibly twice, and a wild laugh came through the air.
"Do you know which imperial concubine is in charge of this Mid-Autumn Festival banquet?" He suddenly turned around and asked.
Hearing his question, Prime Minister Dongfang's heart skipped a beat. Then he thought of his gentle and intellectual daughter. His face suddenly became stiff. Then he heard the man in front of him say, "It's Concubine Shun, a member of our Nangong family!"
There was undeniable confidence and arrogance in his tone. He just wanted to keep hitting the man in front of him and wear down his pride and backbone.
Prime Minister Dongfang tightened his lips even more. His eyes flickered constantly, and he couldn't say a word.
After the old man Nangong completely disappeared from his sight, he put his hand on his cheek, entangled with countless emotions.
He thought of his ill-fated daughter. Although she was the eldest legitimate daughter of the family, she had been bullied by her younger sister since childhood. Now that she was the queen, with the most noble status, she was still being bullied by the concubines in the harem.
Thinking of this, he couldn't help coughing twice. His wrinkled face was full of sorrow. Then he walked towards the palace gate with heavy steps.
When he arrived at the Dongfang Prime Minister's Mansion, Mrs. Dongfang immediately greeted him when she saw the worried man and asked, "My lord, what's wrong? What has made you so worried?"
In front of his wife, Prime Minister Dongfang suddenly lost control and covered his face with tears as he said, "Our Yi'er is suffering in the palace!"
Hearing that it was about her daughter, Mrs. Dongfang immediately became very alert and asked.
Prime Minister Dongfang told her everything about meeting Nangong Liuyun in the palace. After knowing the whole story, Mrs. Nangong's eyes couldn't help getting red and swollen.
She was not only sad that the current emperor had listened to the words of sycophants, but also felt extremely aggrieved for her daughter in the harem.
The old couple were kind-hearted and were well - praised as kind people in the whole capital. They couldn't even argue with others. They sent their daughter into the palace thinking that she could enjoy all the honors, but they never expected it to turn out like this.
Thinking of this, they let out a long sigh.