My older brother is Gao Huan.

Chapter 410 Your Majesty, please do not make a mistake!

"Damn it! Damn it! They keep saying they're thinking of me and the Great Wei, but they're all wolves in sheep's clothing, no different from Narzhu Rong!"

"No!"

"Even more disgusting than that traitor Erzhu Rong!"

After the court session ended, Yuan Xiu stormed back to the 'harem', like an enraged beast, venting his anger.

The palace maids and guards remained silent, terrified of angering His Majesty.

Yuan Xiu really went for it; his fist, as big as a clay pot, was something most people couldn't withstand.

"What has made His Majesty so angry?"

A soft, delicate voice rang out.

The palace maids and guards exchanged glances, a strange look flashing in their eyes. Before Yuan Xiu could even speak, they all wisely took the initiative to leave.

When Yuan Xiu turned around in anger, his rage immediately dissipated.

The visitor was Princess Yuan Mingyue, daughter of Prince Yuan Yu of Jingzhao.

Back when Emperor Xuanwu (Yuan Ke) was still in power, Yuan Yu, the Prince of Jingzhao, was serving as the governor of Jizhou. He attempted to rebel, but the rebellion was quelled. Yuan Yu and his wives and concubines were all put to death, but their children were spared.

During Yuan Ziyou's reign, Yuan Mingyue married Hou Min, a Gentleman Attendant at the Palace Gate, but Hou Min died young, and Yuan Mingyue became a 'widow'.

She was exceptionally beautiful, especially her foxy eyes, which were incredibly alluring and captivating.

When Yuan Xiu ascended the throne in Ye City, Yuan Mingyue came to pay homage as a member of the imperial clan, mainly because she wanted to continue to enjoy the privileges that came with that status.

However, she caught Yuan Xiu's eye at first glance and was promoted to Princess Pingyuan.

In the harem.

Do not……

In fact, everyone in the court knew about the scandalous affair between Yuan Xiu and Yuan Mingyue, but they all kept quiet about it.

The palace maids and guards all understood this, fearing they might see something they shouldn't, so they would voluntarily avoid Yuan Mingyue whenever she appeared.

"Who else could it be?"

Yuan Xiu was furious. "So, the Heavenly Strategy General."

"Ok?"

Yuan Mingyue was taken aback. "Isn't General Tian Ce leading troops in battle? How could he have angered His Majesty?"

"When the late emperor was alive, he often said that the General of the Heavenly Strategy was the pillar of the country. Now that the situation is so difficult, Your Majesty also needs to rely on the General of the Heavenly Strategy to maintain the situation."

"Ah."

Yuan Xiu sneered repeatedly, "He's the most despicable! He puts on a righteous act, pretending to be a loyal minister. Look at those people in the Tian Ce Mansion! Which loyal minister's subordinate would dare to commit such a treasonous act?"

Yuan Mingyue stepped forward, took Yuan Xiu's hand, and smiled sweetly to reassure him, "It seems that the Tian Ce Mansion made this decision on its own?"

"Does it matter?"

Yuan Xiu wasn't entirely brainless. "Even if Gao Yu was completely unaware, Yang Yin and the others were with him day and night and were his close advisors. Didn't their actions show that they had figured out what Gao Yu was thinking?"

"Even if Gao Yu doesn't have this intention, his subordinates will make him have it."

To be fair.

Yuan Xiu didn't have much of a problem with Gao Yu, even though he had only met Gao Yu once.

But Gao Yu didn't put on airs at all; on the contrary, he gave him plenty of face and showed him all the proper courtesy.

Yuan Xiu needs to rely on others, but Gao Yu can do that, so what more could you ask for?
But he knew it.

Even if Gao Yu doesn't want to improve, his subordinates will push him to.

and so……

This time, their request for the title of king has nothing to do with Gao Yu anymore, and it doesn't matter whether Gao Yu instructed them or not.

Everyone below wanted him to improve, and Gao Yu couldn't stop him, nor could he.

"The Great Wei... may truly be doomed."

There was a hint of sadness in Yuan Xiu's voice when he said this.

"Your Majesty! How can you say such discouraging things?"

"Since ancient times, what dynasty has never fallen... I just never expected it."

Yuan Xiu sighed. The Great Wei's legacy was most likely to end in his hands.

But then I thought, isn't there Yuan Gong in Luoyang?
The two of them were in the same boat, so they wouldn't be completely ashamed when they met their ancestors in the afterlife.

"His Majesty……"

Yuan Mingyue reminded her, "Why don't you think of other ways?"

"You mean..." "Things have come to this point, how much worse can things get?"

"That's fine."

Yuan Xiu seemed to have thought of something and quickly ordered someone to invite Sima Ziru over.

Sima Ziru was actually a spy left by Gao Huan in the court. Since Gao Huan himself could not stay behind, he sent Sima Ziru to replace him.

"Greetings to Your Majesty."

After Sima Ziru was brought to the palace, he immediately bowed and paid his respects.

"Ziru."

Yuan Xiu gave a polite smile and moved closer to him in a friendly manner. "I have a thought about the matter of bestowing a title upon the General of Heavenly Strategy, and I would like to consult your opinion."

"Your Majesty, it doesn't matter."

"After much deliberation, I believe that General Tian Ce has indeed made a great contribution and deserves a rich reward."

Sima Ziru did not respond. He knew very well that Yuan Xiu's sudden change in attitude meant that he still had something to say.

"However……"

Yuan Xiu glanced at him and chuckled, "There's another great contributor to this battle!"

"Oh? Please enlighten me, Your Majesty."

"That is He Liuhun!"

Sima Ziru's expression remained unchanged; he had long seen through Yuan Xiu's little scheme.

It's nothing more than trying to sow discord between the two Gao brothers, using this as a way to keep them in check.

After all, Gao Huan and Gao Yu had a falling out over the matter of supporting the new emperor, and almost turned against each other.

"Since General Tian Ce is to be granted the title of King, I also want to grant the title of King to He Liuhun. The two of them are brothers, so I don't think they would have any complaints. What do you think?"

Yuan Xiu was confident and prepared.

Sima Ziru was a staunch supporter of Gao Huan, the kind of person who would stick with Gao Huan to the death.

Sima Ziru had no reason to refuse Gao Huan's request, as she had been forcibly elevating his status.

however……

Sima Ziru immediately raised his hands, cupped them in a salute, and said, "Does Your Majesty wish to hear the truth?"

"Ok?"

"Your Majesty, I urge you not to make a mistake."

"With a formidable enemy at hand, we should unite as one to resist this powerful foe. Your Majesty's actions are tantamount to destroying your own defenses."

Yuan Xiu was dumbfounded.

Things took an unexpected turn.

Sima Ziru actually refused?
"Your Majesty is aware of your predicament, and please rest assured that I will go and discuss the matter with Military Advisor Yang myself, and will not cause Your Majesty any trouble."

"However... Your Majesty, I must remind you that once words are spoken, they are like water spilled and cannot be taken back. I hope Your Majesty will think twice and not make a mistake, otherwise it will be too late to regret it."

Sima Ziru left in a hurry.

He couldn't help but feel disappointed in Yuan Xiu.

When did this happen?

Still thinking about playing the balance of power, thinking about holding others back?

You want to divide up the spoils before you've even conquered the land?

He hurriedly went to see Yang Yin briefly.

“Zunyan, I understand what you’re thinking, but I still have to advise you: some things can’t be rushed. You have to take it one step at a time. You can’t get fat in one bite.”

"Let's take a step back and not push His Majesty too far. He is, after all, the emperor, and the title of Son of Heaven rests on his shoulders."

"If we raise the banner of righteousness now and push the emperor too far, wouldn't that give others a pretext to criticize us, making us no different from that traitor Erzhu Rong?"

Yang Yin chuckled lightly, "It was I who was too impatient."

He stated his bottom line for coming here.

He certainly didn't expect Gao Yu to be made a king in one fell swoop.

That's why they made such an outrageous demand right from the start.

They simply understood the simple principle that "aiming high will yield a moderate result, while aiming for the middle will result in a low result."

After hearing this, Sima Ziru nodded, "It's not too excessive. If we bring it up again at tomorrow's court meeting, I will persuade His Majesty to agree."

(End of this chapter)