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S T E L L A R C L O U D
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O R A N G E S T A R
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Y E L L O W S T A R
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G O L D S T A R
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R A I N B O W S T A R
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T H E S U N
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Male outsiders could not easily enter the harem. And even if they had to, they would need the Emperor"s decree or verbal order. However, Empress Dowager Zhuang clearly had such power herself.
Grand Preceptor Zhuang was brought into the Renshou Palace by Eunuch Qin. Eunuch Qin handled matters in a proper manner with an appropriate smile, making it difficult to guess Empress Dowager Zhuang"s purpose for summoning someone into the palace.
Perhaps something good had happened.
Grand Preceptor Zhuang went to the study in the side hall. Empress Dowager Zhuang had already been reviewing memorandums all morning, but there were still some that had not been approved due to a backlog of several days.
"Empress Dowager." Grand Preceptor Zhuang smiled and entered, saluting respectfully.
However, Empress Dowager Zhuang ignored him and leisurely continued to review the stack of memorandums in her hands.
Grand Preceptor Zhuang thought Empress Dowager Zhuang hadn"t heard him, so he took a step forward and repeated, "Empress Dowager?"
"Aijia is not deaf." Empress Dowager Zhuang replied indifferently, without even lifting her eyelids. She placed the memorandumshe had just reviewed into a pile that could not be presented to the Emperor.
Grand Preceptor Zhuang"s expression finally changed slightly.
But then he thought about the news he had heard earlier that morning— that a department supervisor favored by the Emperor had hanged herself, and the Emperor suspected Empress Dowager Zhuang was responsible, so he came to the Renshou Palace to make a fuss. Perhaps Empress Dowager Zhuang was in a bad mood because of this?
That was what Grand Preceptor Zhuang thought.
Empress Dowager Zhuang continued to review seven or eight more memorandums before speaking in a faint voice, "You have been very arrogant recently."
"Hmm?" Grand Preceptor Zhuang was puzzled by her sudden words and looked at Empress Dowager Zhuang in surprise. "Empress Dowager, why do you say that? Has this official done something wrong?"
Empress Dowager Zhuang replied calmly, "Your hands have reached too far. There are some people that you cannot touch."
Grand Preceptor Zhuang was stunned and replied, "This official doesn’t understand."
"If you don"t understand, let Aijia explain it to you." Empress Dowager Zhuang said coldly. "Zhuang Family has a century-old foundation, with generations of scholars and high-ranking officials. It is not an exaggeration to say that it is the number one clan in the capital. However, in recent years, Aijia"s favor has gradually cultivated your arrogant and complacent character. Do you think that no matter what you do, Aijia has to cover for you? Yes, Aijia is a member of the Zhuang Family, and you are Aijia"s kin. As long as Aijia is in power, Aijia will protect you. But have you ever thought about how long Aijia can protect you?"
Grand Preceptor Zhuang"s expression changed abruptly, "Empress Dowager..."
Empress Dowager Zhuang said impatiently, "When the bow is full, it will break, when the water is full, it will overflow. You only see Aijia"s rise, but you don"t see the collapsing building and the lone tree unable to support itself behind it. Aijia is getting old and doesn"t have many years left. You are also getting old. The talents of the Zhuang Family are withering, and the direct descendants are no longer competent. Only Zhuang Yuheng has some potential, but even this child is being raised into ruin by you!”
"Empress Dowager!" Grand Preceptor Zhuang lifted his robe and knelt down with a face full of trepidation, but the confusion in his eyes was more than anything else.
He didn"t understand why Empress Dowager Zhuang was saying all these, nor did he understand why she was destroying their own prestige.
Not to mention that Empress Dowager Zhuang still had at least ten years to live, but even if not, Ning w.a.n.g was gradually growing stronger, and as long as he inherited the throne, there was no reason why the Zhuang Family could not continue to flourish for another century.
However, walls had ears and some things were better left unsaid.
"Empress Dowager, please don"t say that. You’re someone who will continue to bring blessings to the nation and the people for a hundred years."
"Humph, blessings? If Aijia hadn"t been saved by Xiao Liulang and Lady Jiao of the Gu Family, I"m afraid Aijia would have already died and been buried!"
Grand Preceptor Zhuang seemed to have suddenly been enlightened, and looked at Empress Dowager Zhuang with great astonishment, "Empress Dowager... is blaming this official for suppressing Xiao Liulang? He is His Majesty"s person! How can I allow him to grow in the Hanlin Academy?"
Empress Dowager Zhuang slammed the doc.u.ment in her hand on the table, "Do you still need to tell Aijia whose person he is!?"
Grand Preceptor Zhuang was intimidated by Empress Dowager Zhuang"s powerful presence. He hadn"t seen her so angry in many years.
Sweat beaded on his forehead as he cupped his hands and lowered his head, "This official dare not."
Empress Dowager Zhuang said in a cold voice, "Aijia is talking about state affairs, political affairs, and family affairs, but you only hear private matters! Aijia"s painstaking efforts have come to naught! Aijia won"t say any more! As siblings, Aijia will give you some words of advice: Achieve fame and success, then retire in glory!"
Grand Preceptor Zhuang clenched his fists, his eyes like torches, "What a good ‘retire in glory’! Doesn’t this just mean that the efforts of the Zhuang Family for generations would be in vain? The Zhuang Family has been at the helm of the imperial court and has made unparalleled contributions to the State of Zhao. Which of the great achievements of the State of Zhao isn’t due to my Zhuang Family?"
Empress Dowager Zhuang"s gaze was cold as ice, and her powerful aura rushed forward like a torrent, "All credit belongs to the Qin family, so does every inch of land of this country. Uttering such treasonous words, Grand Preceptor Zhuang, are you rebelling!?"
Grand Preceptor Zhuang"s heart shook. He was stunned for a moment before cupping his hands and bowing, "This official has misspoken."
Empress Dowager Zhuang coldly withdrew her gaze, "That"s all Aijia has to say, you may leave."
"......Yes, this official will take his leave!" Grand Preceptor Zhuang stood up.
When the hot wind of the sixth month blew and hit him, he suddenly felt his back soaking with cold sweat.
After Grand Preceptor Zhuang left, Eunuch Qin brought a cup of tea into the room.
As he guarded the door of the study, he naturally overheard the conversation inside. He placed the freshly brewed hot tea next to Empress Dowager Zhuang and said with emotion, "This servant didn"t expect Your Majesty to have such long-term considerations for the Zhuang Family. This servant’s perspective was too narrow and thought that inviting Grand Preceptor Zhuang to the palace this time was only to help Senior Compiler Xiao vent his frustrations."
Empress Dowager Zhuang picked up the scroll on the table and coldly snorted.
What bulls.h.i.t long-term considerations.
It was all just empty talk.
"If Aijia only tells him one thing, no matter how trivial it is, it becomes a big deal. But if Aijia tells him several major things, then Liulang"s matter becomes a trivial matter, and if it"s just a trivial matter, there"s no need to worry about it."
Eunuch Qin looked bitter and resentful, "Uh... This servant is simply too dull-witted."
Empress Dowager Zhuang suddenly remembered someone complaining and falling flat on their face, making her in a very good mood. She even had a bit of patience for Eunuch Qin, "Aijia heard that you have recently raised a small turtle?"
Eunuch Qin smiled awkwardly, "Your Majesty"s information is really accurate."
Empress Dowager Zhuang said casually, "It"s not that Aijia has accurate information, it"s just that the turtle crawled to Aijia’s feet that day. Aijia looked at it and noticed it was different from the one you raised before."
Eunuch Qin had no other hobbies apart from raising turtles. As the saying went, turtles could last for thousands of years. This turtle was also a species of turtle called tortoise. Tortoises’ lifespan is longer than that of a normal turtle, and he thought that raising a tortoise might also help him live a long life.
Empress Dowager Zhuang said casually, "It has been raised quite well. Cook it into a soup tonight."
"What?" Eunuch Qin"s face changed dramatically.
"What"s wrong? Can"t bear to let it go?" Empress Dowager Zhuang sighed, "These days, Aijia has been having trouble with this *tortoise. The Taoist Master said that eating one can dispel the bad luck. But in case Aijia can"t eat it, she must send it away. From now on, the Renshou Palace will no longer be allowed to raise any turtles or tortoises." [T/N: *It can also mean b.a.s.t.a.r.d, or a stupid person.]
Eunuch Qin said grievously, "Then, this servant shall cook Dequan into a soup for Your Majesty."
"Who wants to eat that thing?" Empress Dowager Zhuang was simply using it as a metaphor.
Suddenly, Eunuch Qin was enlightened, "Ah... Senior Compiler Xiao is that tortoise..."
Empress Dowager Zhuang"s icy gaze swept over him!
Who was the tortoise?!
Aijia was talking about you, old tortoise!
"Cough, cough!" Eunuch Qin was embarra.s.sed, "This servant is not good at speaking, and might indeed be stupid... But..." He got back to the topic, "Your Majesty’s move is quite brilliant indeed."
Empress Dowager Zhuang sneered.
Was it really brilliant?
In fact, her words were not completely empty talk, it was just that the Zhuang Family would never be willing to retire at the height of their career, and even if they were willing, they could no longer do so.
They had been unable to get out of this vortex for a long time.Raz P."s Thoughts
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