My older brother is Gao Huan.

Chapter 461 Abolition
Gao Yu hadn't had such a peaceful night's sleep in a long time; the fatigue and negative emotions accumulated from leading troops into battle were almost completely swept away.

Despite her young age, Yuan Mingyue is quite capable; that's what a talented player is like.

Her face had some tear stains.

It's also Gao Yu's fault for not controlling his strength after being happy last night, and for using too much force, but it also reflects how young he really is.

With a little pressure, it's as if you can squeeze water out of it, leaving a fingerprint.

"Are all princesses like this? Or are all princesses of the Yuan clan like this?"

Gao Yu recalled the scene from last night. Yuan Mingyue was probably frightened by him at first, and she tremblingly 'held the thunder' and obediently cooperated.

She does resemble Yuan Miao somewhat; what she says is completely different from her body's instincts, and only after a certain moment will she lie in her arms like a well-behaved kitten.

"Prime Minister...Prime Minister."

Someone outside is shouting.

"What's the matter?"

"The Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, along with his relatives and civil and military officials, wished to see the Prime Minister."

"Understood, let the palace maid in."

"promise."

With a creak, the palace door was pushed open, and sunlight streamed in, making the interior even brighter.

The palace maid lowered her head, afraid of seeing something she shouldn't, and carefully stepped forward to help Gao Yu get dressed.

"The princess must be well taken care of last night."

After saying that, Gao Yu hurriedly walked out.

Yuan Mingyue had already woken up. She looked at Gao Yu's departing figure with a complicated expression and a hint of confusion in her eyes.

She had no idea what her fate would be or how Gao Yu would treat her.

As a woman, I have no control over my own destiny in this world.

………………

The Bronze Sparrow Terrace was temporarily serving as the emperor's temporary palace. Gao Yu walked out from the residence of the women of the inner palace.

Everyone had different expressions, but they all pretended not to understand what was going on.

Yuan Xiu was merely a figurehead emperor, while Gao Yu was the true emperor in power. The Great Wei Dynasty was already a mere shell of its former self.

It was even inferior to the Han Dynasty during the reign of Emperor Xian of Han.

For four hundred years, the Han Dynasty nurtured scholars. Even though it existed in name only, there were still a group of loyal ministers who admired the Han scholars and wanted to support and rebuild the Han Dynasty.

What about the Great Wei?
The last group of loyal and righteous men who were willing to die for the Great Wei had followed Yuan Ziyou to their deaths on Tongtuo Street outside the Luoyang Imperial Palace. The rest were nothing but opportunists who changed their allegiance with the wind. They didn't care at all about the survival of the Great Wei.

Besides...

Everyone has a scale in their heart.

Gao Yu had previously treated Yuan Xiu with utmost courtesy and adhered to the proper conduct of a subject. It was Yuan Xiu who was ungrateful and insisted on completely wearing down Gao Yu's patience, causing Gao Yu to develop a dislike for him.

"Greetings, Prime Minister!"

"No need for formalities. What brings you all to see me?"

No one spoke.

Instead, Sima Ziru spoke first, "Prime Minister! This matter concerns the face of the Imperial Family..."

"Just tell me."

"I heard rumors back in Qinghe that Your Majesty seemed to be having an affair with Princess Pingyuan, committing an immoral act. At the time, I thought it was just someone trying to tarnish Your Majesty's wisdom, so I ignored it..."

"However, in the past few days I have received rumors, and after investigation I have found that this matter is not just a rumor, but is indeed true! Your Majesty is indeed having an affair with Princess Pingyuan."

Gao Yu remained expressionless, merely glancing at the crowd.

He looked at Gao Huan, who seemed to be giving him a meaningful look.
Could it be them?

Gao Huan seized the opportunity to speak!
"Prime Minister! This matter is of great importance. If His Majesty has indeed committed such an immoral act, I too will be held responsible. I beg the Prime Minister to punish him severely!"

Gao Huan immediately knelt down to beg for forgiveness. Yuan Xiu was the emperor he had strongly advocated for, and since Yuan Xiu had acted immorally, Gao Huan should also be punished.

This……

Is this a way for him to "sacrifice his own family for the greater good" in order to intimidate others and establish his authority?

Gao Huan raised Gao Yu single-handedly, showing him immense gratitude. As his elder brother, Gao Huan also had his own power base.

If Gao Huan is already 'controlled' and 'dealt with' by Gao Yu, then others will naturally be more cautious and restrained.

From any perspective, could there be anyone in this world with a closer relationship than Gao Huan and Gao Yu?
Gao Yu was still hesitating.

Gao Huan, who was looking down, kept giving him meaningful glances. Gao Yu sighed inwardly and then spoke.

"Your Majesty has committed such an immoral act; how can the blame be placed solely on the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat? We are all at fault!"

"My lord, I'm guilty..."

Everyone bowed down and begged for forgiveness.

Gao Yu then said, "Now is the time when people are in need. The Ministry of Personnel needs the Minister of Personnel to take charge. However... the Minister of Personnel failed to correct His Majesty's mistakes. He is hereby fined one year's salary and demoted one rank as a warning to others."

"Prime Minister! Brilliant!!"

Gao Huan responded loudly.

A punishment that is raised high and then gently lowered.

His official position remained unchanged, and he continued to occupy the most powerful department, the Ministry of Personnel.

Salary?

Leaving aside whether the imperial court can actually distribute the funds right now, even if it could, could someone of Gao Huan's status really expect to live off his salary?

The most damaging thing is losing one rank in nobility.

But it's really not a big deal.

Today you might be demoted one rank, but tomorrow you could achieve a great merit and be promoted one rank.

at the moment.

Yuan Xiu has already been stripped of even the power to "draw a pie in the sky." Currently, his official positions and titles are severely inflated, so what difference would a demotion make?
With power in Gao Yu's hands, he could easily find a pretext to add Gao Huan's title at any time.

This is downgraded by one level.

This can be understood by the general public as...

Gao Yu wants to tighten the issuance of 'noble titles' and can no longer allow them to be granted indiscriminately as before.

Is this already preparation for a change of dynasty?
Apart from Yuan Huiye and other relatives who inherited their fathers' titles, Gao Yu is currently the person with the highest title in the court, the Duke of Zhou.

He was just one step away from becoming a king.

"Prime Minister, you are wise!!"

Everyone echoed in unison.

At this moment, Yuan Huiye and Yuan Zhi spoke up, "Prime Minister! The current emperor has committed such an immoral act. How can the throne of our Great Wei be occupied by such an immoral person?"

"Your subject proposes that the current emperor be deposed and a virtuous person be appointed from among the imperial clan. Only in this way can the people of the world be convinced and the spirits of our ancestors in heaven be comforted!"

Yuan Huiye and Yuan Zhi were different from Gao Huan and other ministers.

Both of them held official positions in the imperial court, but they also had another identity.

The two of them are highly qualified and prestigious members of the royal family!

When Yuan Fasheng rebelled in Pengcheng, Empress Dowager Hu dispatched Yuan Huiye with a large army to quell the rebellion.

When Chen Qingzhi led his army on a northern expedition, Yuan Huiye also led his army to resist, but they were defeated.

Yuan Huiye's qualifications speak for themselves.

As a member of the imperial clan, he requested the emperor's removal and installation on the grounds that the emperor had lost his virtue.

The nature is completely different.

(End of this chapter)