Princess Promotion

A palace servant trotted into the hall and reported, "Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager is here."

As soon as he finished speaking, an old woman with gray hair slowly walked in from the door.

Although the years have left many traces on her face, one can still vaguely see her stunning beauty when she was young.

The old woman was dressed in a plain and elegant palace dress. Although her dress was simple and elegant, the arrogance and sharpness in her eyes made people dare not look directly at her.

Yao Chuguang glanced at Bai Yehan, and Bai Yehan immediately tactfully excused himself.

In a flash, only Yao Chuguang and the Empress Dowager were left in the huge imperial study.

Yao Chuguang smiled softly and was the first to break the silence and said, "Grand Empress Dowager, why are you here?"

The Empress Dowager did not speak in a hurry. Instead, she looked around and walked to a chair nearby and sat down.

Then he slowly raised his head and looked at Yao Chuguang and said, "You are still the same, still speaking so directly."

Yao Chuguang said unconcernedly, "You haven't changed either. You start finding faults as soon as you open your mouth."

When the Empress Dowager heard Yao Chuguang's words, she didn't get angry but changed the subject, saying, "I know you don't like to beat around the bush, so I'll be frank. I know Fu Hongxuan's whereabouts."

Even though the Empress Dowager had very little contact with Yao Chuguang, she still knew more about him than outsiders.

Yao Chuguang hated people beating around the bush the most. The powerful and influential always insisted on being concise when speaking and doing things.

Although there is an element of showing off in doing this, the main reason is to avoid leaving any handle.

For example, if you like the blooming flowers on the branches, you can directly instruct the servants to pick them for you and say, "These flowers are blooming so beautifully." People with good taste will consciously pick the flowers for you.

If it is found out later that this flower was planted by a noble person, it is a crime to pick someone else's flower without permission.

If you personally order your servants to pick the flowers, the flowers in your hands will become evidence of your crime.

On the contrary, if you just gave a compliment, you could say that the servant was ignorant and wanted to please you by picking the flowers without permission.

Things can be sorted out in an instant, and you can attack or defend.

Everyone knew this tacitly until Yao Chuguang appeared.

Without beating around the bush, he would ask directly: "Do you want to pick flowers?"

As long as you insist on being yourself, people around you will have no choice but to accommodate you.

The normal procedure should be to chat about family matters with the Empress Dowager first, and then casually shift the topic to that side.

But this method works for others, but it will only backfire on Yao Chuguang.

Yao Chuguang had no idea that the Empress Dowager had repeated her from beginning to end in just a few breaths.

But it was indeed a bit surprising that the Empress Dowager seemed unusually straightforward this time.

Yao Chuguang asked calmly, "It seems the Grand Empress Dowager is here to negotiate terms. Tell me."

The Grand Empress Dowager said leisurely, "Your Majesty's new policies are too radical. Governance requires a gradual and orderly approach, not quick success."

Yao Chuguang lowered his eyes and asked casually, "Do you mean that if I abolish this land reform, you will release Fu Hongxuan?"

The Grand Empress Dowager frowned in thought and spoke slowly, "Your Majesty's words are binding. This policy will benefit both the country and the people. However, you are being extraneous. After all, those old ministers are descendants of the heroes who fought alongside our great grandfather in his conquests."

"We must take some care of it, lest the world criticize us for being ungrateful. Who would be willing to serve the court in the future? The foundation we have diligently built for our descendants will be destroyed in the blink of an eye."

At this point, the Empress Dowager looked at Yao Chuguang and said, "Your Majesty, please consider our past friendship and recruit a few of them and remove a few of the old ministers."

After the words were spoken, the imperial study fell into deathly silence.

The smile on Yao Chuguang's face disappeared completely, and his wishful thinking was loud and clear.

Yao Chuguang can abolish the farming policy for Fu Hongxuan, and then continue to implement it under a different name after Fu Hongxuan returns safely.

It's the same old thing, just a superficial delay.

But obviously this kind of text trap could not fool the Empress Dowager.

Just let Yao Chuguang issue the imperial decree and open the back door for those nobles. No matter what decrees Yao Chuguang issues later.

Those people just need to take out the imperial edict and everything will be safe.

Yao Chuguang put down the imperial brush in his hand, folded his hands, rested his elbows on the table, and looked at the Empress Dowager with his chin resting on the back of his hands.

"There's one thing I really don't understand. Since you're here to negotiate with me, wouldn't tying up Li Yinhan be more valuable than Fu Hongxuan?"

The Empress Dowager said slowly, "Mr. Yu, the army under Li Yinhan's command cannot match that of Fu Hongxuan. Privately, Li Yinhan is the second son of Duke Li. If he gets into trouble, the Duke's son can immediately take his place."

The Empress Dowager paused at this point, glanced at Yao Chuguang, and then continued, "Your Majesty, Li Yinhan is your elder brother, and Fu Hongxuan is your beloved."

In a nutshell, these two men are very important to Yao Chuguang.

But Li Yinhan has a father and brother, so if something happens, there is someone who can take his place immediately.

Fu Hongxuan was a bachelor, and if he died, Yao Chuguang would have no way of finding a replacement.

Therefore, kidnapping Fu Hongxuan is more cost-effective than kidnapping Li Yinhan.

Yao Chuguang slowly lowered his eyes and remained silent.

The Empress Dowager said calmly, "You can deny it and say that you and Fu Hongxuan were just having a casual affair. With your current status, you can have any man you want."

"No matter how much others say about this matter, it's useless. You can deceive others, but can you deceive yourself?"

Yao Chuguang surprisingly did not deny it, but nodded in agreement for the first time, saying, "Your guess is correct. I do have feelings for Fu Hongxuan. You could say he's the only man my heart fluttered in the first half of my life, and perhaps he will be the only man my heart flutters in this life."

The Empress Dowager's pupils dilated slightly. She expected Yao Chuguang to deny it, or to admit that she liked him a little.

But it's definitely not like this now. It's a direct and enthusiastic admission. It's more than just love.

For the only time in her life, Yao Chuguang actually fell in love with that man!

Yao Chuguang slowly lowered his unconsciously clenched fists, and looked at the Empress Dowager with a rare pleading look in his eyes.

Begging?!

The Empress Dowager's body trembled slightly, and for a moment she wondered if she had seen it wrong because of her old eyesight.

This is Yao Chuguang, not to mention now, even when she was a princess.

Even when facing Emperor Qi, he never lowered his head.

Soon the Empress Dowager's words were verified. Yao Chuguang took a deep breath and said, "Grandmother, I have never asked anyone for anything in my life. I beg you to help me pass on a message to him."

The Empress Dowager's heartbeat quickened involuntarily. Her eyes showed suppressed excitement and a hint of disappointment as she asked, "What did you say?"

Yao Chuguang raised his head slightly to calm the turmoil and struggle in his heart, and the next second he regained his usual composure.

His eyes were calm and his tone was steady as he spoke: "Tell Fu Hongxuan to rest assured. I will fill up the Yellow Springs Road and see him off!"

All emperors throughout history, regardless of their personalities and talents, have one thing in common.

A favor may not necessarily be repaid, but a grudge will never be left unreturned.

Yao Chuguang is naturally no exception!