Reborn as Murong Fu: This Time I'm the Protagonist

Chapter 480 News
Murong Fu smiled and said, "The Empress Dowager is old. It is impossible for her to be cured and live a long and healthy life. But I am 70 or 80 percent sure that she can survive this and live another year or two."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Dun felt inexplicably annoyed: "You know perfectly well that the current Empress Dowager is ruling from behind the curtain and is backing the old faction. It can be said that as long as the Empress Dowager is alive, we will never be able to rise to power. Yet now you actually say that you want to extend the Empress Dowager's life by another year or two? What are you thinking?"

Murong Fu smiled faintly, neither confirming nor denying: "Then, according to Prime Minister Zhang, how should things develop? Does this mean that similar incidents involving Prime Minister Cai Que will happen again and again?"

Zhang Dun was stunned for a moment.

Cai Que served in the same court as Zhang Dun and was also a student of Wang Anshi. He was a prime minister at the same time as Zhang Dun. After Emperor Shenzong of Song died, Cai Que was demoted around the same time as Zhang Dun. However, the difference is that Zhang Dun is still alive and well, while Cai Que was tortured to death during his frequent exiles. This has become an inescapable blood debt between the old and new parties.

"The Empress Dowager has held power for eight years, and all the members of the New Party in the court have left. For many years, the Emperor has had no solid foundation. If the Empress Dowager were to suddenly pass away, what do you think would happen?"

Zhang Dun thought for a moment, then felt a chill run down his spine: "You mean that the old faction in the court will frantically suppress us new scholars in these last few days?"

Zhang Dun muttered to himself, "Although the palace has tried its best to cover up the Empress Dowager's critical illness, there are no secrets that stay hidden forever. Even you, far away in Suzhou, were able to find out the news. These old foxes who have been in court for a long time and whose power is deeply rooted cannot possibly not have noticed. Since His Majesty ascended the throne, the Empress Dowager has been ruling from behind the curtain. In addition, he is still young. If he acts rashly in a fit of anger, I'm afraid..."

Zhang Dun didn't continue, but the two understood each other's meaning.

Aside from the founding emperors, most emperors, though seemingly glorious, actually lived on thin ice, cautiously maintaining a fragile balance in the court. This has been true throughout history. Even the founding emperor of this dynasty, in his later years, was still constrained by the powerful Prince of Jin and even considered moving the capital, ultimately leaving behind the unsolved mystery of the "shadow of the candle and the sound of the axe."

The emperor sitting on the throne now is only eighteen years old, which in later generations would be equivalent to just graduating from high school. For many years, he has lived under the enormous shadow of his court officials and his grandmother, and his heart has long accumulated countless resentments. He is not a peaceful person either. In history, he died suddenly at the age of twenty-five, and the cause of death is questionable. Now, if he were to cause any trouble, Murong Fu would not be surprised at all.

Murong Fu said, "That's right. So, for the public good, the Empress Dowager must hold on for a while longer, at least until His Majesty has complete control of the court. For the private good, the Empress Dowager is the current emperor's grandmother, and this filial duty must be fulfilled no matter what."

Both of them tacitly avoided saying the whole story.

Zhang Dun said, "But if you do that, you will have no place to stay in the court. The new party will not take you in, and the old party will not accept you either."

Murong Fu laughed freely: "My trip to the capital this time is not for personal gain or honor. As long as it benefits the country, what is there to worry about? Besides, I am just a wandering swordsman, used to living a carefree life. If I were to be bound by an official hat, I would feel very uncomfortable."

Although Zhang Dun knew that this young man was flattering him, he still felt a sense of respect for him for a moment. He said solemnly, "You have such a heart that cares about the country and the people. I really admire you. I just hope that you can be consistent in your words and deeds."

That night.

After midnight, there was a soft knock on the wooden door of Murong Fu's room three times, followed by another soft knock three times a moment later.

Murong Fu flicked his sleeve, and the door opened automatically from the inside without any wind.

"Master, you've finally arrived! Ah Zi thought you didn't want her anymore and had forgotten about her!" A petite figure stood outside the room. She wore a purple gauze dress, and silver bells swayed on her wrists, making a clear, low sound. A pair of fair, delicate feet were exposed, and her ten dainty little toes were painted red with cardamom, giving her a playful yet slightly wild look.

The person who arrived was none other than Azi, whom Murong Fu had sent away back then.

Two years later, Ah Zi had clearly grown taller. Now that she was an adult, she looked even more like Ah Zhu. However, compared to Ah Zhu, one was as lively as a little fox, while the other looked like a seemingly harmless little snake. If you really thought Ah Zi was some kind of innocent white lotus, you would probably be tricked until you were left with nothing but bones.

Azi giggled as she shuffled in, gently closing the door behind her. She gave a fawning smile, saying, "Don't worry, Master, I was careful the whole way. Nobody was following me."

As he spoke, he maintained a fawning smile on his face.

Murong Fu said, "You don't need to be so nervous. I've already killed that old monster Ding Chunqiu. And I'm not as difficult to deal with as that old monster Ding. As long as you do what I asked you to do well, you'll be rewarded handsomely."

As he spoke, he casually tossed a yellowed booklet in front of Azi: "This is the second half of the cultivation technique I gave you before. Practice it carefully and don't make a mistake. Don't practice those second-rate evil martial arts that Ding Chunqiu taught you anymore."

Upon hearing this, Azi was overjoyed. Over the past two years, she had diligently practiced the cultivation method given to her by Murong Fu, and had truly experienced benefits that were almost unimaginable before. Now, being bestowed with the complete cultivation method, she was even more delighted.

At this moment, she genuinely felt that serving Murong Fu as a maidservant wasn't so bad. After all, compared to Ding Chunqiu, that hot-tempered and perpetually cunning old man, Murong Fu was young, handsome, and generous. If she could gain his favor through her intelligence and talent…

Azi's thoughts began to drift away.

Murong Fu asked, "How's it going with the intelligence network I asked you to establish in Bianliang these past two years?"

Azi smiled and said, "Master, don't worry. In Bianliang now, even if I can't say I know everything about what's going on in the palace, I can say I know a little bit about it. If you want to find out anything, you'll get it in three days at most."

Murong Fu said, "Alright, I don't need you to go back and investigate anything. Just spread a message that the entire city of Bianjing will know about it by this time tomorrow. That will be your achievement. Can you do that?"