My older brother is Gao Huan.

Chapter 190 Inflation Drives Him Mad
February 15th.

Inside the Jiafu Palace in Luoyang.

Empress Dowager Hu was kneeling in front of the Buddha statue, burning incense and chanting Buddhist prayers with extreme piety.

Zheng Yan and Xu He, standing behind her, looked anxious and even fearful, fidgeting restlessly. However, neither of them dared to interrupt Empress Dowager Hu, and instead waited patiently until she finished reciting a Buddhist scripture.

A palace maid helped Empress Dowager Hu to her feet. When she turned around, she saw the two people who were filled with fear and anxiety. She frowned slightly, waved her hand, and dismissed the people around her.

Only three people remained in Jiafu Hall.

Zheng Yan and Xu He immediately kowtowed and cried out, "Empress Dowager, please save us! If this continues, we may not live to see next year!"

The cries were shrill and noisy, but they were, after all, the people who had kept her company and made her happy every night. Not only were they handsome and loved by her heart, but they also had some special talents. Seeing the two of them looking so pitiful, Empress Dowager Hu, despite her anger, could not bear to see them suffer.

She sighed and looked at Xu He.

"Has the seal been delivered?"

"It has not been officially delivered yet, and Wang Zunye has not yet arrived in Luoyang."

Not long after the New Year, the young Emperor Yuan Xu finally took action against the Imperial Guards once again.

He promoted his cousin, Wang Zunye, who came from the Wang clan of Taiyuan, to the rank of Palace General.

The Commander-in-Chief and the Palace General are a combination. Although the Imperial Guards seem to still be under the control of Yuan Hui, the Prince of Chengyang, who is part of Empress Dowager Hu's faction, the fact that the Palace General was taken over by the young emperor means that the young emperor can cultivate his own core military officers and at least have the ability to protect himself within the palace.

This is why Xu He and Zheng Yan became increasingly apprehensive.

Unlike Yuan Hui, the Prince of Chengyang, he was a prince of the imperial clan. Although he was a member of Empress Dowager Hu's faction, he had never offended the young emperor. Even if he was targeted by the young emperor later, he would only lose his power and could still live a wealthy life in Luoyang. He could still obtain an official position in the future.

But what about the two of them?

Just look at his behavior of constantly cuckolding the late Emperor Xuanwu Yuan Ke and acting as the 'fake father' of the young Emperor Yuan Xu.

Based on this alone, once the young emperor seizes power, he will surely have them torn to pieces to maintain the dignity of the imperial family.

"I am still alive, why are you two so panicked? I will protect you both."

Xu He looked flustered, then gritted his teeth and said, "I'm afraid even the Empress Dowager won't be able to protect us then. His Majesty will be twenty soon..."

Upon hearing this, Empress Dowager Hu was taken aback.

Empress Dowagers are usually able to wield power because the emperor is too young. However, as the young emperor grows older, even if Empress Dowager Hu is unwilling, she will eventually gain power.

Once the young emperor comes of age, he must return the power in his hands to Yuan Xu.

Don't be fooled by the fact that the court officials still obey Empress Dowager Hu's edicts now; that's because the young emperor hasn't come of age yet. In a few years, the situation will be very different.

Zheng Yan also chimed in, "We two have no desire for power or position; we only wish to serve the Empress Dowager. But we fear that His Majesty will not tolerate us and will not even give us the opportunity to serve the Empress Dowager."

Empress Dowager Hu was well aware of this.

Xu He and Zheng Yan are right.

Once the young emperor takes power, he won't need to consider her feelings at all to kill these two people.

There was no mother-son relationship between her and Yuan Xu. In fact, when she brought down Prince Yuan Yi of Jiangyang, she seemed to be working together, but in the end, she tricked Yuan Xu. Yuan Xu was furious and even resented her as his mother.

They might just lock her up in Jiafu Palace like Yuan Yi did.

"This Great Wei empire ultimately belongs to His Majesty. If he intends to act in this way, what can be done?"

“Pan Chonghua has given birth…” Xu He reminded her cautiously.

"How dare you! You two have such audacity!"

Empress Dowager Hu's expression changed, and she spoke angrily.

Xu He and Zheng Yan hurriedly kowtowed repeatedly, saying, "Your Majesty has misunderstood us!"

“What we mean is that His Majesty has always favored Consort Pan. Now that Consort Pan has given birth to a son, His Majesty will surely be overjoyed. We want the Empress Dowager to intercede for us. We are willing to resign our official positions and become monks, just so His Majesty will spare our lives.”

Empress Dowager Hu's anger gradually subsided. She waved her hand and said, "I will protect you two. His Majesty will not forget the bond between mother and son. You two should step back first, and allow me to consider a more comprehensive plan."

"Yes."

Xu He and Zheng Yan walked slowly away and came to the entrance of Jiafu Hall. The two looked at each other.

"We can no longer count on the Empress Dowager."

"We should take a risky approach... We must take the initiative and not sit idly by and wait for our deaths. If Wang Zunye arrives in Luoyang, then our deaths will truly be imminent!"

Zheng Yan's face hardened, and he leaned close to Xu He's ear, saying, "You do this first..."

………………

Yuan Xu rarely goes to Shiqian Hall anymore and spends most of his time in Xianyang Hall.

Xianyang Palace was the palace where emperors of the Great Wei Dynasty handled state affairs. Staying here and becoming the master of this palace meant that you had great power!

"Ziyou, this year! I will completely control the court. After I have control of the court, I will order Erzhu Rong to lead troops eastward to quell the rebellion. Great Wei will eventually return to normal, and I will be able to realize my grand ambitions!"

"Congratulations, Your Majesty."

"Hahaha."

Yuan Xu laughed triumphantly, "Don't worry, once I regain power, I will kick out that Prince of Chengyang and make you a prince. I will then give you an important position to repay your kindness in advising me."

Yuan Ziyou quickly bowed, "Serving Your Majesty is the duty of a subject. Besides, Your Majesty is wise and was only young before. What merit have I made?"

After showering Yuan Xu with compliments and making him happy, Yuan Ziyou finally revealed his thoughts, "Isn't His Majesty being too harsh on the Empress Dowager's faction...?"

"The rebels are currently very powerful. We should deal with the rebels in Hebei first, and then deal with them gradually..."

"To quell external aggression, we must first secure internal stability. Hebei has no natural defenses, and the powerful clans will not aid the rebels. Although the rebels appear to be powerful, the advantage is actually in our hands, and the situation is entirely under our control! How can we unite all the officials and ministers to quell the rebellion if we do not control the court?"

Yuan Ziyou sighed, "Your Majesty is still too impatient. Xu He, Zheng Yan, and the Empress Dowager..."

"Shut up!!"

Yuan Xu, who was usually extremely respectful to Yuan Ziyou, was unusually angry. He glared at Yuan Ziyou and gritted his teeth, saying, "You are not allowed to mention these two people and the Empress Dowager in front of me."

Yuan Ziyou was terrified.

Yuan Xu coldly replied, "I want to get rid of these two as soon as possible! Ziyou, there's no need to say more. Are they just cornered? Do they really think they have the guts to attack me?"

"Once Wang Zunye arrives in Luoyang and Xu He hands over the seal of the Palace General, I will have both of them executed!"

Yuan Ziyou dared not say anything more, and could only kneel down and say loudly, "Your Majesty is wise! With this, all matters are settled, and Your Majesty will revitalize the Great Wei. If the previous emperors knew this in the afterlife, they would surely be extremely gratified!"

(End of this chapter)