If you were cold and aloof in your past life, why are you crying in this one?

Overnight, the Langya Wang clan seemed to be overwhelmed and unable to breathe.

The dying emperor was so excited that he couldn't sleep all night. After decades on the throne, he was experiencing the thrill of power for the first time.

Unfortunately, he was nearing the end of his life.

But he wanted to leave a country where the emperor was the most respected figure for the Xiao family's descendants.

Re-examining old cases was a trump card that the emperor had been planning for a long time;

This was his only right to judge the loyalty of his subjects from the perspective of a monarch.

……

Under the diligent treatment of the imperial physicians, Prince Xiao Jing gradually recovered.

The person who ignited the conflict between the royal families was completely unaware of what was happening outside.

The Prince of Huainan, who was observing from the sidelines, looked at his pale-faced son and told him to take good care of himself and not to get involved in outside affairs.

Upon learning that Wang Shi had been humiliated, Xiao Jing was instantly filled with a sense of vengeful pleasure, and a thin blush rose on his cheeks.

"Father, this is such a great opportunity. Why don't you help His Majesty completely seize control of the Langya Wang clan and render them powerless to fight back?"

Xiao Jing felt a sense of satisfaction at the thought that the once powerful Wang family was now in imminent danger. He hoped that the Xi family's military power would also be taken back, so that they would be at the mercy of others.

Thinking of the gentle and beautiful Xi Lingxian, a fire suddenly ignited in Xiao Jing's heart.

The Prince of Huainan sneered, "Shut up. I know you too well. You're just after that girl from the Xi family."

He didn't want to get involved in any of that.

Watching the battle unfold, there's no reason to do anything to whoever wins.

When news of Prince Xiao Jing's awakening spread, the original assassination attempt had long since evolved into a purge of the Langya Wang clan.

Nobody cares about the truth anymore.

The removal of Wang Jue from his post as governor of Jiangzhou further intensified the already turbulent struggle.

Wang Jue was Wang Dun's most prized eldest son and the recognized successor of the Langya Wang clan. Taking action against him was tantamount to declaring war on the Langya Wang clan.

Every day, Xi Lingxian would listen to her elder brother talk about the turbulent situation and changes in the court. While she was cautious, she was also a little schadenfreude and watching the excitement unfold.

In his previous life, this guy was sitting comfortably on the sidelines, enjoying smooth sailing and being respected by everyone.

No one would dare to associate him with such a humiliating event as being stripped of his official position and dismissed from office.

Xi Song listened attentively, and inadvertently glanced at Xi Lingxian across from him, noticing that the corners of her mouth were curved.

He rubbed his eyes, looked again and again, and was sure that his sister was really gloating.

"What are you laughing at, sister? Our two families are in this together now."

Xi Lingxian coldly snorted, "If it weren't for that, I would have gone to the Wang family long ago and humiliated them to their faces."

Xi Song shrank back, "...Who from the Wang family offended you?"

"Their whole family has offended me."

Xi Song looked at Xi Rui, who shrugged.

"Big brother, does the second brother of the Wang family have a backup plan? Otherwise, he's too patient."

Xi Lingxian: "Do you think he's a god? That he can just conjure up any trick he wants?"

Xi Rui: "I think it's a bit risky. Wang Jue's most important position is the governor of Jiangzhou. If he had any backup plan, he wouldn't give up even that."

Jiangzhou was the "waistline" of the Yangtze River defense line and a place where soldiers gathered. Whoever controlled Jiangzhou controlled the balance between the upstream and downstream areas.

Given any other option, the Wang family would never have abandoned Jiangzhou.

"Young Master!"

The gatekeeper of the Xi residence hurried along, looking anxious.

"Something's happened!"

Xi Rui had prepared for the worst in his mind over the past few days, and was still relatively calm at the moment.

"Tell me slowly, what happened?"

"The heads of several powerful families and all their clan members who were officials in the court spontaneously knelt before Xuanyang Gate to plead for mercy on behalf of the Langya Wang clan."

For a moment, Xi Rui doubted his ears. "What...what did you say?"

The steward spoke excitedly, his eyebrows dancing with excitement, "Young Master, you heard right. The eldest son of the Pei family of Hedong has come to deliver a message, asking you to go along as soon as possible. It's a matter of appearances and making a good impression. The more people, the better."

Xi Lingxian: "Weren't they all indifferent just a few days ago? How come suddenly? Is it because His Majesty reopened Wang Zhang's old case?"

The steward said, "Not only that, but I heard from the young master of the Pei family that Diao Huai, a minister from a humble background who is close to His Majesty, is urging His Majesty to abolish the nine-rank system and select officials based on their abilities."

???

"Young Master, don't think about that. Right now, you need to get to Xuanyang Gate as soon as possible."

Upon hearing this, Xi Rui perked up. With everyone united, what couldn't be accomplished?

That old emperor dared to seize his military town—he'll get his just desserts!

When Xi Rui arrived, a large crowd was already kneeling in front of Xuanyang Gate.

The respected heads of the families and elders spoke solemnly and forcefully.

"Your Majesty, I personally witnessed the Wang Zhang case while I was in court. Your Majesty determined it to be a purge of corrupt officials rather than a rebellion. If Your Majesty changes your mind now, where is Your Majesty's wisdom? I humbly beg Your Majesty to reconsider."

"Your Majesty, the Yongjia era was turbulent, and the Central Plains were in ruins. It was the Langya Wang clan who foresaw the opportunity and took the lead in advocating the strategy of moving south to Jianye, thus opening up a new future for the nation from a desperate situation. How can Your Majesty forget such an unparalleled achievement?"

……

The achievements of the Langya Wang clan were listed in detail: assisting in the southward migration, helping to establish the state, and personally visiting Gu He to win the hearts of the Wu people; as for the Wang Zhang Rebellion, it was a righteous act by loyal ministers to correct the policy of not divorcing, and it was a way to cleanse the court of corrupt officials.

Some officials even dug up the imperial edict that His Majesty had used to appease the Wang family, which clearly stated, "Although the troops have rebelled, we still commend your sincerity. Your honors and rank will be high, and your subjects will not be disloyal." A ruler's words are not to be taken lightly; how can they be changed so easily?

The emperor in the Taiji Hall was shocked by this sudden change and found it hard to believe that these people who had been watching from the sidelines just a few days ago were now joining forces with the Langya Wang clan to oppose the imperial power.

Even emperors have pride; if officials want to kneel, then let them kneel.

He will never give in easily.

However, as the officials withdrew from court, the situation gradually spiraled out of the emperor's control.

The vast majority of officials in the court came from powerful families under the Nine-Rank System. They banded together, making the court an empty shell, the country unable to function, and the emperor even less than a puppet.

What truly brought down the emperor were his trusted ministers, who, at the crucial moment, failed to stand up and criticize the powerful families who were coercing the emperor.

The reason is simple: Wen Yuan and Diao Huai's fathers were both forced to assist Wang Zhang and accompanied him during that turmoil.

They absolutely could not allow the emperor to characterize Wang Zhang's subordinates as traitors, otherwise their loyalty would also be tainted.

In the arena of power, once a subject's loyalty is tainted by suspicion, he is destined to remain a target of the ruler's distrust.

The outcome was predictable.

The fact that powerful families suddenly united to force the emperor to abdicate is easier to understand.

They are all beneficiaries of the Nine-Rank System, and their mutual support has led to their current success.

The emperor's intention to suppress the Wang family was crystal clear: to strengthen imperial power. But how could aristocratic families who had gotten involved with and tasted the power of the Wang family be willing to let go?

They might allow the emperor to teach the Langya Wang clan a lesson, but if they were to be completely overthrown, who knows if they wouldn't be next?

They tacitly approved and made every effort to maintain the political model of "the emperor doing nothing while the aristocracy holds power," and never allowed it to be broken.

Having briefly tasted power, the emperor was reduced to a puppet, losing everything.

The stalemate lasted only two days, and the emperor, whose life was nearing its end, was furious but helpless.

Ultimately, the world belonged to the gentry, not the emperor.

All the disadvantages of the Langya Wang clan collapsed instantly, and all their glory and power returned, even more so.

Wang Jue, who was dismissed from his post as governor of Jiangzhou, was directly promoted to governor of Jiangzhou.

The governor was only in charge of administrative affairs, while the prefectural governor was in charge of both administrative and military affairs.

At the Wang family's victory celebration banquet, Wang Dun frankly stated that he was extremely satisfied with his son's handling of the political maneuvering in this contest with the emperor.

He supported the Nine-Rank System and won over powerful families; he used the old case of Wang Zhang to sow discord between Diao, Wen and others and the emperor.

By uniting the major and minor aristocratic families with the most tangible benefits to oppose the emperor, they were invincible.

All around him were praises for Wang Jue as a "young prodigy, skilled in strategy."

Xi Rui sat beside Xi Jian, staring dumbfounded at the deep-set man in the main seat.

Recent events flashed through his mind, and he finally understood what it meant to have victory firmly in hand, completely convinced of his superiority.

I need to tell my sister when I get home, so she knows how formidable Wang Erlang is.

A beautiful woman loves a hero. Wouldn't the younger sister change her opinion of Qingyu and gradually develop admiration and love for him after hearing this?

Xi Rui never intended to use his sister to achieve anything, but through this incident, he deeply realized that in chaotic times, the Xi family could not remain unscathed on its own.

He knew he didn't have the cunning to navigate political maneuvering, and he wasn't entirely confident he could protect his younger siblings on his own.