139: Passive opposition

After Li Shun left, the imperial court immediately erupted into chaos.

"Chancellor Liu, what should we do? Are we really going to relocate the capital?"

"Chancellor Liu, please make a decision; we will all listen to you."

"Yes, yes..."

A little less than half of the officials were observing, while a large portion had a clear and blatant attitude, wishing they could directly cheer for Chancellor Liu.

Liu Chongshan, despite his esteemed position as Chancellor, wielded power unscrupulously, effectively sidelining the monarch, manipulating court affairs, and issuing all decrees himself, enjoying immense influence.

For example, the last time the young emperor went south to Qing Province, Liu Chongshan repeatedly raised objections and haggled with the young emperor for three rounds before he reluctantly agreed.

At this moment, Chancellor Liu was surrounded by the crowd, his usual air of complacency gone, replaced by an unpredictable mood.

The young emperor, after one trip, has become ambitious!

He's learned to worry about the country and its people, huh~

It's time to let the young emperor hit some walls and realize the difficulties of the world.

Thinking this, Liu Chongshan stroked his greying beard and said in a deep voice.

"Everyone, please calm down. His Majesty is young and impetuous, misled by evildoers. As his subjects, we must do our utmost to support the Foundation of the nation."

"For today, let's all return to our residences. Three days later, this old man will host a banquet at the Chancellor's manor, and we will discuss countermeasures in detail."

Upon hearing this, the officials nodded in agreement.

Seeing that everyone was on his side, Liu Chongshan nodded with satisfaction, then turned to Grand Tutor Wang.

"Grand Tutor Wang, would you honor my humble abode with your presence tonight?"

Grand Tutor Wang's expression was complex, and he finally let out a long sigh.

"This old man will certainly go."

***

The night was deep, and candlelight flickered in the study of the Chancellor's manor.

Chancellor Liu placed the teacup heavily on the table, a few drops of tea splashing out: "Grand Tutor, you suddenly undermined the young emperor's Face in court today, I'm afraid your previous diligent performance will be for naught."

Wang Guanli, that old fox, for the past few years, outwardly remained loyal to His Majesty, but behind the scenes, he did not exert effort, did not take sides, maintaining an air of incorruptibility and elusiveness.

Why did he suddenly stab him in the back today?

Something is up.

Liu Chongshan thought about it but couldn't figure it out.

However, for him, it was ultimately a good thing.

"Chancellor Liu,"

Grand Tutor Wang interrupted, "You and I have been friends for decades. This old man has a question to ask—these past years, have we truly been wrong?"

Chancellor Liu frowned: "What do you mean?"

"The matter of Qing Province is probably not false."

Grand Tutor Wang took out a secret letter from his sleeve.

"This was sent by my student from Qing Province via express horse. Thousands of people have personally witnessed Lord Chuping's divine manifestation. The common people who fled from Yan Province to Qing Province have also received protection."

Chancellor Liu took the letter, his expression growing uglier with each line he read: "This..."

"Chancellor Liu, we always thought His Majesty was young and ignorant, but this time..."

Grand Tutor Wang's voice trembled, "Perhaps we really were wrong."

"Nonsense!"

Chancellor Liu slammed the table and rose abruptly, "Even if there really are gods, so what? The relocation of the capital concerns the Foundation of the court; how can it be treated as a game? The lives of those commoners..."

He stopped mid-sentence, suddenly realizing his slip of the tongue.

Grand Tutor Wang looked at Chancellor Liu in shock; at this moment, he suddenly understood something.

Liu Chongshan's opposition to relocating the capital was never for the sake of the court's Foundation, but because his network of influence, cultivated in the capital for decades—those land holdings, shops, and connections—would all vanish with the relocation.

"Chancellor Liu, you..."

Grand Tutor Wang's voice was so soft it was almost inaudible; he felt a deep weariness.

"Why must Grand Tutor be like this? Don't you also oppose the relocation of the capital? Your Wang family is also a prominent family in the capital. I imagine Grand Tutor can understand this Chancellor's painstaking efforts."

With his selfish motives exposed by Wang Guanli, Liu Chongshan didn't bother to overthink it; it was a case of the pot calling the kettle black. They were both old foxes; how could he not know what Wang Guanli was thinking?

Liu Chongshan's words were like a sharp dagger, piercing directly into the most secret corner of Grand Tutor Wang's heart.

The candlelight cast flickering shadows on his wrinkled Face, and Grand Tutor Wang's aged hand unconsciously tightened its grip on the hem of his robe.

"Chancellor, you are mistaken."

Grand Tutor Wang slowly raised his head, a hint of sharpness flashing in his cloudy eyes, "This old man opposes the relocation of the capital because I personally witnessed the tragic state of the southern migration during the late emperor's reign. Thousands starved, exchanging children for food..."

His voice choked for a moment, "Now, His Majesty intends to move a million people!"

Liu Chongshan sneered and paced to the window.

The moonlight stretched his shadow long, like a lurking venomous snake: "Grand Tutor Wang truly cares for the common people. Unfortunately, human power is ultimately limited!"

This sentence seemed to carry a hidden meaning, which Wang Guanli didn't immediately grasp, only thinking that Chancellor Liu was also worried about the human condition.

Now, hearing such a sigh, Grand Tutor Wang also felt a pang of sadness.

"I presume Chancellor Liu feels the same. May I ask, Chancellor Liu, if His Majesty insists on relocating the capital this time, what do you intend to do?"

"What to do? Nothing! It just so happens that this official is also tired. After three days, it will be time to close my doors to guests and recuperate."

"Grand Tutor, please return."