mtl008 Chapter 251 Imprisonment in the Imperial Clan Court
Chapter 251 Imprisonment in the Imperial Clan Court
After the two were led out of the main hall, Shen Yuxi spoke again, his gaze sweeping over the assembled officials below: "I need to discuss today's matter carefully with my trusted ministers before drawing any conclusions."
"My Cangling may seem peaceful now, but it is actually beset by internal and external troubles. If we make the slightest mistake, we will be doomed. My beloved ministers should go back and think it over carefully. If you have any good ideas, you can come to the palace and discuss them with me in detail."
The ministers all agreed and then left the court one after another. Shen Yuxi then got up and walked to the Imperial Study. Before long, several trusted ministers hurriedly arrived.
Inside the Imperial Study, the fragrance of sandalwood wafted through the air, yet it could not conceal the solemn atmosphere.
Shen Yuxi sat behind his desk, tapping his fingers lightly on the surface, and broke the silence first: "You all saw that woman today. What she said involved many aspects of agriculture, commerce, and foreign affairs, and she also claimed to be from a foreign country. I find it difficult to weigh the pros and cons. What are your opinions, my ministers?"
The Minister of Personnel stroked his beard, pondered for a moment, and said, “Your Majesty, although that woman is a woman, her speech is extraordinary, and the strategies she proposed are not entirely unreasonable. However, her foreign identity is indeed suspicious. I am worried that if we rashly believe her, we may be plotted against by other countries. But if we ignore her completely, we may miss a good opportunity. It is a really troublesome situation.”
The Minister of Revenue nodded in agreement, his face full of worry: "Your Majesty, what worries this old minister is the Commercial Law. There are many variables in its implementation, and the national treasury is currently empty. If it is to be implemented, where will the manpower and resources come from? And will it really bring the results she claims? These are all unknowns. But if we don't try, we don't know when this economic predicament will be resolved."
The Minister of War crossed his arms and said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, I think that the woman's idea of coordinating agriculture, commerce, and military preparedness sounds easy, but it's difficult to implement. What if it affects conscription and leads to a depleted army? What if there's any trouble on the border? On the other hand, if it can truly strengthen the country, it would be a good thing, but the risks are considerable."
As Shen Yuxi listened to the ministers' analysis, his brows furrowed even more. He sighed softly, "How could I not know that this matter is thorny? Cui Zhihao openly protected her, which must have been because he was moved by her words."
"But as the ruler of a country, I cannot make a decision based solely on a momentary feeling. The woman has been temporarily detained in the Imperial Clan Court. I only wanted to buy some time to think things over carefully, but time is of the essence. I can afford to wait, but Cang Ling cannot."
Upon hearing this, the trusted ministers also fell silent, each bowing their heads in deep thought, trying to find the most suitable solution from this tangled mess.
At this moment, the Grand Secretary, who had been silent all along, slowly rose, his gaze steady: "Your Majesty, perhaps we should take a two-pronged approach. On one hand, we should secretly send people to thoroughly investigate the woman's background and origins, making sure the details are accurate;"
"On the one hand, she ordered the Ministry of Revenue, the Ministry of Works and other relevant government departments to calculate the cost of the reform and estimate its effectiveness, according to her instructions."
"As for Choi Ji-ho, we can question him privately first to ascertain his true intentions before making a decision. In this way, we can both prevent problems before they arise and avoid missing a good opportunity."
The Grand Secretary's words were like the sun breaking through the clouds; everyone nodded in agreement.
A resolute glint flashed in Shen Yuxi's eyes: "As you say, my dear minister. I will give them three days to get to the bottom of this."
"For the next three days, the woman and Cui Zhihao should be properly settled in the Imperial Clan Court. Their food, clothing, and lodging should not be neglected. What I want is the truth and the chance for Cangling to survive. I hope all my beloved ministers will do their utmost."
After speaking, he looked firmly at the map, as if he could already see the thorns and the dawn of the future.
Meanwhile, Shi Wanxia and Cui Zhihao, who were imprisoned in the Imperial Clan Court, were also under the guard of the Imperial Guards, awaiting their unknown fate.
Looking out the window at the sky, Shi Wanxia secretly pondered that she believed that her knowledge and thoughts would eventually find a place to be put to use, and even though she was in a difficult situation at the moment, she would definitely find a way to turn things around.
Choi Ji-ho comforted her from the side, his words full of determination, as if as long as the two of them worked together, there was no difficulty they could not overcome.
The entire Cangling Kingdom is like a lone boat sailing on a vast sea before a storm. Every decision made in the court will determine whether it sails towards the light or is swallowed by the giant waves and sinks into endless darkness. Everything is still in this ever-changing situation, waiting for the final decision.
With steady but slightly heavy steps, Cui Zhihao stepped into the gate of the Imperial Clan Court, his heart filled with mixed feelings.
He never imagined that he would step into this place, which was originally used to imprison members of the royal family who had committed wrongdoings, in such a way in his lifetime.
Looking up, one sees mountains and water complementing each other in the garden, with babbling streams meandering by, exquisite pavilions scattered among them, and exotic flowers and plants vying for beauty, their rich fragrance filling the air, like a paradise on earth.
But Choi Ji-ho had no heart to appreciate the scenery. He knew that beneath this magnificent appearance lay unknown variables and crises.
The Imperial Guards, their faces grim, escorted Cui Zhihao and Shi Wanxia straight into the inner courtyard.
Along the way, the clanging of armor broke the original tranquility of the place, like alarm bells striking people's hearts.
Upon arriving at a certain place, they escorted Cui Zhihao and Shi Wanxia into the east and west wing rooms respectively. The vermilion paint on the doors of those wing rooms was mottled, yet it still exuded a sense of antiquity and solemnity.
The moment Cui Zhihao stepped into the west wing, a sense of antiquity washed over him. The furnishings inside were simple, yet complete. The tables, chairs, and beds were all made of wood, gleaming with the patina of time.
Before he could take a closer look, he heard a clang behind him. Turning around, he saw that the Imperial Guards had locked the door. The heavy bronze lock gleamed coldly in the dim light, like an insurmountable chasm, temporarily isolating him from the outside world.
At the same time, Shi Wanxia was also led into the east wing. She gently shook her numb arms, her eyes like those of a nimble deer, quietly surveying her surroundings.
The light inside the room streamed through the carved windows, creating patches of light and shadow, like fragments of time.
Several yellowed calligraphy and paintings hung on the wall, their brushstrokes exuding an ancient charm. The bedding on the bed, though not brand new, was clean and tidy.
In the corner stood an old dressing table. The bronze mirror on the table was somewhat blurry, but it still reflected her slightly tired yet determined face.
Shi Wanxia strolled to the window, her fingers gently tracing the exquisite carvings on the window frame, thinking to herself: This Imperial Clan Court seems like a prison for prisoners, yet it exudes the imperial grandeur in every aspect.
What exactly is the emperor's intention in imprisoning them here? Is he trying to wear down their spirit, or does he have other plans?
She narrowed her eyes slightly, recalling the various disputes in the court. She knew that she and Cui Zhihao were like a lone boat in the eye of a storm. Although they had a place to stay for the time being, the road ahead was still shrouded in mist. She didn't know when the clouds would clear and they could get back on track.
Meanwhile, Cui Zhihao in the west wing was not idle either. He sat on the edge of the bed, his hands supporting his knees, lost in thought.
He knew that his actions today had angered many ministers, but he did not regret it.
Shi Wanxia's remarks ignited his hopes for the future of Cangling Kingdom.
He firmly believed that as long as they could survive this ordeal and make the emperor truly realize the value of what Shi Wanxia had said, Cangling would surely see a turning point.
Thinking of this, he raised his head and looked out the window into the distance, towards the direction of the palace, which was also the direction of hope. He silently prayed that these few days of imprisonment would not become the grave of their ideals, but rather the prelude to rebirth.
Every brick, tile, blade of grass, and tree in this mansion silently witnessed the two people's anxiety and anticipation, and quietly awaited the next scourge of fate.