Huo Qixiao had prepared for so long, all for this moment. He put on a look of trepidation, finished speaking in one breath, and his face turned pale, his expression completely terrified.
Emperor Rui stared at Huo Qixiao without blinking, a trace of suspicion rising in his heart towards him. This was the first time in the years they had officially interacted that Emperor Rui suspected him.
This was because he was unwilling to believe that Huo Sizhun would rebel. At least, he had not noticed any signs of rebellion from the other party. It was known that since his ascension to the throne, not everyone in the court had been convinced of his legitimacy, especially the dukes, marquises, and scholar-officials.
Those behind them had originally stood for different princes. Although they could not change the final outcome of the succession, it did not prevent them from tripping up the new emperor with minor obstacles or maintaining different opinions on the national policies and strategies proposed by the emperor. In short, they just wanted to make the emperor unhappy.
However, Huo Sizhun was different from others. He truly adhered to his original intention, as he had said, only to fulfill the dying wish of the late emperor. As long as the policies proposed by Emperor Rui were beneficial to the country, he would strongly support them.
Even not long after Emperor Rui ascended the throne, he began to frequently plant his own people in the court. Other officials were quite dissatisfied with the emperor's actions because his planting of people meant the dilution of their interests.
However, as the King of Parallel Lines, he understood that Prince Rui, as a newly ascended emperor, not only had weak foundations but also the feeling of not having enough people in court and not feeling secure.
Therefore, Huo Sizhun showed absolute understanding and support for the emperor's actions. If he truly had the intention to rebel, then the emperor's act of planting his own people would be nothing less than a challenge to the King of Parallel Lines. How could Huo Sizhun possibly agree to that?
It is difficult to paint a tiger or a leopard without painting its bones; it is difficult to know a person's face but not their heart. Could it be that everything Huo Sizhun had shown over the past six months, his support and understanding, was all just an act?
Emperor Rui held his forehead and fell into deep thought. After he recalled all that had happened over the past six months, he felt his mind become even more chaotic.
Before ascending the throne, he was already a sensitive and overthinking person. Now that he occupied the supreme position, this habit of overthinking and suspicion had only grown worse.
Emperor Rui remained silent. Huo Qixiao, kneeling below, was also unsure of the emperor's current thoughts. This was because he did not know if the emperor would still unconditionally believe him as he had before.
Or perhaps he was gambling this time, gambling on whether the Huo Sizhun father and son, or even the entire King of Parallel Lines' mansion, held more importance in the emperor's heart.
Time passed, and the imperial study was filled with an eerie silence. One knelt, and the other sat; one half-closed his eyes, and the other lowered his gaze.
Although it was not a static scene, it gave the impression that the two were like sculptures.
After a few more minutes, Emperor Rui finally sighed heavily. "This matter... this matter shall be discussed later!"
"Yes, Qixiao obeys." The emperor did not reprimand him, nor did he outright deny his words. Huo Qixiao could not help but feel relieved.
Although he had not managed to convict Huo Sizhun and Huo Qiyuan in one fell swoop, the emperor's words of discussing it later meant that a seed of doubt had been sown in the emperor's heart.
With this, the matter had essentially succeeded in part. As long as he predicted one or two other matters in the coming time and then fanned the flames, causing them all to align, there would be no fear that the emperor would not believe him.
Huo Qixiao did not linger after speaking. As soon as he left the imperial study, the emperor summoned the Dragon Shadow Guards from the shadows. "From today onwards, you will follow Huo Qixiao out of the palace. You must observe his every move, especially paying attention to whether there is any personal grudge between him and Huo Sizhun. Report back to me immediately after you have clarified this."
"Yes!"
As the Dragon Shadow Guard who had just received the order withdrew, the emperor summoned another shadow guard.
"Do you have the confidence to infiltrate the King of Parallel Lines' mansion to monitor Huo Sizhun's every move without being discovered?"
The question from Emperor Rui made the Dragon Shadow Guard pause for a moment, then he knelt to apologize. "Reporting to Your Majesty, infiltration should be possible. However, the King of Parallel Lines' mansion is filled with experts. Even if the Shadow Guard Commander went personally, I fear it would be impossible to leave no trace and retreat safely. I beg Your Majesty's forgiveness!"
In fact, the emperor knew this answer well. He just couldn't help but ask one more time. "Enough! I understand. You may withdraw."
With everyone else gone, Emperor Rui was once again alone in the room. He felt extremely lonely, as if since he grew up, his heart had never truly been at peace.
When he was a prince, he was forced to have no other choice. If he didn't contend, he might have been discarded like a chess piece, just as in the assassination attempt.
But once he truly participated in the struggle for the throne, the difficulties and assassinations he had to face were even more unpredictable. Not only could every word and action of his not have any mistakes, but he also had to live in constant fear every day.
Emperor Rui thought that after this incident, Huo Qixiao would wait a few more days before entering the palace again. To his surprise, only two days later, a shadow guard came to report that Huo Qixiao was waiting outside the palace with an anxious expression, wanting an audience with the emperor.
Could it be that Huo Qixiao had predicted something else? Thinking of his ability to predict, Emperor Rui dared not delay any further. "Go and bring him in."
"Yes!" The shadow guard leaped to the exit of the secret passage and brought Huo Qixiao, who was waiting in a hidden passage outside the palace gate, into the palace.
"Qixiao, why are you so eager to enter the palace? Did something happen?" As Emperor Rui asked this question, he couldn't help but feel a little apprehensive. He was worried that Huo Qixiao would bring up the previous matter again.
"Reporting to Your Majesty, Qixiao suddenly had a severe headache yesterday, and then my vision became blurry. Immediately after, I saw many people dead in the western district of the capital, and the cause of death was - the plague." Huo Qixiao did not mention Huo Sizhun. Bringing up the matter of rebellion too frequently at this time would only arouse Emperor Rui's suspicion.
It was also after he returned that he suddenly remembered that it was around this time in his previous life that a small-scale plague had broken out in the capital. Huo Qixiao recalled that over a hundred people had died from that plague.
It was eventually Miss Chu family who brought the medicinal solution obtained from a divine physician, which resolved the problem. It not only curbed the increase in the death toll but also averted a catastrophe in the capital.
It was precisely because of this incident that Chu Ruoqiao became famous in the capital in his previous life, becoming a living Bodhisattva talked about by everyone, saving people from hardship. By the time he was beheaded, the Da Yu Dynasty had entered a period of chaos, but the common people continued to highly respect Chu Ruoqiao.
Emperor Rui, who had initially felt relieved at not hearing him continue to speak about Huo Sizhun, suddenly straightened up from his dragon throne when he came to his senses. He walked up to Huo Qixiao with a look of urgency and a solemn expression on his face.
"What did you say? There is a plague in the capital? Then, then all the people in the city will be plunged into catastrophe! What should we do?"
"Your Majesty need not be too anxious. Although this plague is fierce, we have learned of it in advance. As long as Your Majesty makes arrangements in advance and takes more precautions, the casualties can be minimized, and the capital will not be overrun by the plague."
Emperor Rui's originally gloomy face improved somewhat upon hearing this. "Then have you accurately determined the specific location of the plague in the west of the city?"
"For now, I can only ascertain it is in the west of the city. I was unable to determine the specific origin of the plague. Qixiao is incompetent; I beg Your Majesty's forgiveness." Huo Qixiao appeared contrite and bowed to the emperor to apologize.
Emperor Rui personally stepped forward, reached out, and helped Huo Qixiao up. He patted his shoulder and said earnestly, "Qixiao, please rise quickly and do not belittle yourself. Your ability to predict the plague in advance allows me to make arrangements in a timely manner, not only averting a great catastrophe in the capital but also saving the people from suffering. I should be thanking you!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your understanding. Then Qixiao shall take his leave. I will go to the west of the city to make arrangements in advance, and then Your Majesty can send officials to the west of the city to provide medical treatment and prevent the plague."
Huo Qixiao rushed into the palace and then rushed out again. Emperor Rui's mind was temporarily disturbed by the matter of the plague, and he had no intention of thinking about Huo Sizhun's rebellion.
He sent eunuchs to the residences of the dukes and marquises to summon his trusted ministers to the palace to discuss the prevention of the plague. However, unlike usual, Emperor Rui did not first seek Huo Sizhun's advice.
It was known that since Prince Rui ascended the throne, for any major or minor matter in the court, Emperor Rui would ask for Huo Sizhun's opinion.
Although Huo Sizhun often did not express much opinion, even when attending as an observer, he mostly deferred to the emperor's own opinions. However, in order to show respect for Huo Sizhun, the old minister of the King of Parallel Lines, the emperor would always send someone to invite him.
Huo Qixiao later learned that although the emperor summoned over a dozen ministers this time, he deliberately bypassed the King of Parallel Lines. He understood that his plan had succeeded by half. It seemed the emperor had begun to believe that Huo Sizhun truly harbored intentions of rebellion.
Emperor Rui and the ministers remained in the imperial study for an entire afternoon. The next day, the emperor announced in court that due to the changeable weather and lower temperatures than previous years, many people in the city were showing symptoms of colds.
Therefore, starting from tomorrow, the court would dispatch a large number of personnel, with each patrol lasting five days, to set up stalls for decocting medicinal soup in various districts of the capital and at all city gates, offering free medicine to the common people.
Upon this announcement, the ministers in the court began to discuss amongst themselves. Those who were already looking for opportunities to find fault with Emperor Rui now had something to talk about.
Some of them said that the emperor's actions were a waste of the court's money. Others questioned whether the emperor's actions were more about winning over the hearts of the people and that he was not truly thinking of the well-being of the common people.
Finally, the situation reverted to how it was before. Half of the emperor's supporters naturally offered unconditional support, while the other half, the remaining ministers, held differing opinions.
They argued for a whole morning, yet the support for this decision did not reach a majority. Helplessly, Emperor Rui had to ask Huo Qixiao for his opinion again. "King of Parallel Lines, what are your thoughts on this matter?"
Faced with this sudden news, Huo Sizhun found it quite strange because he had not heard any rumors about it before. And for any previous matter, the emperor would usually inform him in advance. Could it be that the emperor had forgotten this time?
Never mind! Regardless, it would not be a bad thing for the emperor to administer medicine to the common people. For the common people, seeing a doctor and taking medicine was originally not a small expense, and even a cold could be a deadly illness.
Moreover, in Huo Sizhun's heart, he had never had any intention of controlling the court. Therefore, he was not particularly concerned that the emperor had not informed him of this matter in advance as he usually did.
Huo Sizhun would wholeheartedly support anything that benefited the common people. "Reporting to Your Majesty, I believe Your Majesty's proposal is excellent. Since ancient times, the common people have been the foundation of the realm. I am willing to request a decree to personally oversee and arrange this matter, ensuring that every commoner can receive Your Majesty's grace."
"So, the King of Parallel Lines also approves of my proposal? Then what do you all think?" Although the emperor smiled as he said this, Huo Sizhun felt an indescribable feeling in his words.
"Since the King of Parallel Lines approves, I naturally dare not have any other objections."
"I approve!"
"I also approve!"
As soon as the emperor asked, the ministers who had been nitpicking earlier all changed their tune and vied with each other to express their approval.
"Good! Good! Excellent!" Emperor Rui uttered several "good" words consecutively, but his tone did not seem to express the happiness of others agreeing with him. Instead, a hint of gritting his teeth could be heard.
The ministers were full of questions. This should not be the case. They had all expressed their approval, so why was the emperor unhappy?
Huo Sizhun looked up and subtly glanced at the emperor on the dragon throne. He always felt that something was amiss with the emperor during this period, but he couldn't quite pinpoint what it was!
The entire court was filled with unspoken thoughts, each guessing what the emperor was thinking.
At this moment, Emperor Rui, who was being analyzed by the ministers, felt as if a raging fire was burning within him. His internal organs were burning hot and painful, even pressing on him to the point where he felt breathless.
Emperor Rui's heart was burning with anxiety. His hands, placed on his legs, were clenched into fists. Only when his hands had gone numb and painful did he slowly release them.
No! Even if his back molars were ground to dust from anger, it would be useless. He could do nothing now. He could not lose composure in court, nor could he reveal the slightest flaw in front of Huo Sizhun.