Chapter 1231: Chapter 1231: Monarch and Minister Aligned in Intelligence
No wonder Emperor Chu liked to talk with Song Zhiyuan and regarded him as his top confidant and loyal minister. Besides their youthful friendship, it was because of Song Zhiyuanās remarkable intelligence, always hitting the mark.
In other words, he could always scratch the itch.
Like now, upon hearing Song Zhiyuanās words, Emperor Chu excitedly said, "You noticed it too?"
"Could it be that the Emperor did as well?"
They exchanged glances, each slightly raising an eyebrow, both with that look of "Indeed, we are the only ones in sync."
In the eyes of Eunuch Zhou and others attending, no concubine could compare to the favor Prime Minister Song enjoyed; the Emperor could live without a concubine but not without Prime Minister Song.
Look at this warmth, the winter sun couldnāt compare to the intensity of their gaze.
"What do you think, tell me about it." Emperor Chu looked at him with great interest.
"I think that the recent incidents in the capital over the past two years regarding the Xia clan might be the handiwork of that young prince?"
In Emperor Chuās eyes, a spark flickered: "I also pondered that point. Just as you said, Cabinet Minister Ning was full of wit and strategies, hiding for many years in pursuit of great ambitions, unlikely to blunder recklessly. The closer to the end, the more cautious one should be. Yet suddenly, they became audacious, their actions resembling the impulsiveness you described, likely the young manās work."
Song Zhiyuan: "If not, then is Cabinet Minister Ning running out of time?"
After all, at seventy, he might not have many years; waiting any longer, would he still have time to perform?
"If not due to a lack of time, then thereās a conflict of interest between them." Emperor Chuās gaze deepened, saying, "I fear that the young one has grown, with wings spread, wanting to truly take charge himself."
Song Zhiyuan was startled, pondering the likelihood of this possibility.
Emperor Chu said calmly, "That young remnant, by calculation, should not yet be over thirty. Since the remnants of the Xia clan have existed for many years, there must be a leader to rally the old troops, and if Cabinet Minister Ning isnāt truly dead, heād still need to control the organization, serving beside the young man, or else the justification for restoring Xia wouldnāt hold. Now that the young lad has grown up, with any ambition, heād hardly content himself as a mere puppet but would instead secretly plot, ignoring the eldersā advice, making clumsy moves repeatedly."
Seize the Emperor to order the vassals.
Song Zhiyuan nodded frequently, thus, it matched up.
A thought flashed in his mind, quickly grasping it, he said, "If itās truly the case, Your Majesty, this could be an opportunity. Consuming their internal struggle, the organization would fall apart without attack."
"If that young lad is this foolish, heās of no threat. Itās Cabinet Minister Ning who, as long as he lives, maintains the organizationās cohesion. Supporting one remnant, be it one or two, the Xia lineage isnāt exclusive to him, their clan is still there, always young ones, easier to manipulate, rather than cleaning up messes frequently as now."
Emperor Chuās eyes narrowed: "At worst, thereās still a legitimate heir too, having a new emperor born, acting as Regent King isnāt domineering? Therefore, this old fox must be unearthed even if it means turning the ground upside down."
It has to be said, with their dissecting discussion, they guessed about 99% of the situation on the Xia remnantās side.
"Your Majesty, an urgent report from Wuxing, eight hundred miles away." Just as Emperor Chuās words fell, a guard donned in military attire kneeled in front, presenting an urgent report.
At this time, Mister Ning, clutching his chest with furrowed eyebrows, looked at the gloomy sky, feeling a bit uneasy in his heart.