The Emperor's eyes held a flicker of impatience.
The clamor of the court officials ceased, and the hall fell silent.
The Emperor sneered, "When he spoke to me, I still thought the court officials might understand, that it wasn't necessarily to the point of his departure. But today, I finally understand. I cannot keep him by my side, and none of you can keep him either!"
The Emperor leaned his back lightly against the cold dragon throne.
The golden dragon on the throne pricked his back: "He now requests to leave the court, and that alone causes you to quarrel before me like this. If he were to stay and reveal the truth to you, wouldn't you quarrel even more fiercely? Perhaps some would even want to kill him directly? His departure from the court is for my peace of mind, and even more so for yours!"
"Your humble臣 dare not die a thousand deaths!"
Everyone could tell that the Emperor was angry.
They rushed to apologize, but their apologies could not extinguish the Emperor's wrath.
The Emperor snorted coldly, "I finally understand why, although my father was a wise ruler in his youth, the current court affairs are still deeply entrenched in bad practices. You officials, who eat the court's salary, perhaps spend your days focusing on these matters?"
He had understood this when he was the Crown Prince: "Who might harm me today, who deceives you tomorrow. Instead of wasting time on this, you might as well think about how to reform the court and make the Great Yue dynasty better!"
In truth, the Emperor also knew that he should not have said these words.
Without the support of the court officials, he would not have reached this point, nor would he have ascended to the throne adorned with golden dragons.
But he truly couldn't help himself.
Let alone Mu Changxi, in his many years in the capital, had he ever truly been happy for a single day?
Every day was suppressed, and every day his heart was burdened with many heavy thoughts.
Constantly experiencing those struggles, he understood Mu Changxi's feelings better than anyone.
Facing the now bowed court officials, although he had just ascended the throne, he already felt weary: "Enough. I am merely informing you of this matter. Since Prince Chang has already left the court, it matters not how much you argue."
He rubbed his forehead: "This matter need not be mentioned again. Today, I will entrust the affairs that Prince Chang handled to you. I hope you will share my burdens and solve problems for me, just as Prince Chang did."
"Your humble臣 obeys!"
Seeing the Emperor's anger reach such a point, who dared to say anything more?
The court officials lowered their heads and began to accept the matters that Mu Changxi had originally managed.
As they accepted them, they discovered something amiss—
How had Prince Chang accumulated so many affairs in his hands, having only returned to the capital for just two years?
Although none of them were major issues, the sheer volume of small matters meant that it was not something one or two people could completely handle.
Only now did they realize how much responsibility Mu Changxi had shouldered in the capital!
Even the court officials who had felt it was improper for Mu Changxi to have an incident now remained silent.
After everyone accepted the matters from Mu Changxi's hands, the Emperor, looking at their complex expressions, finally saw a slight softening in his icy gaze: "Once you have accepted these matters, do them well. Especially those who thought poorly of Prince Chang, if you cannot handle these affairs well, do not blame me for being impolite!"
With that, the Emperor, looking somewhat weary, rubbed his forehead: "If there are no other matters, you may be dismissed. I have many things to attend to, and I hope you will not be idle, just as I am not!"
"Your humble臣 retires!"
The court officials dared not say anything more. Fortunately, things were now calm, and there were no further matters to worry about.
—
After the court session, the Emperor finally felt a sense of peace.
He shook his head and asked the eunuch beside him, Eunuch Du: "Look at these people. One moment they are speaking ill of Prince Chang, and the next they feel they cannot handle those affairs. If everyone in the court were like this, wouldn't I be exhausted to death?"
Hearing the Emperor's complaint, Eunuch Du smiled and covered his mouth: "Your Majesty has always trusted Prince Chang, which is for the best."
"Alas—he trusts me too!"
The Emperor frowned slightly and whispered, "He trusts me, even willing to believe that the Empress was not responsible for that matter. It is the Empress who is indebted to them as a couple, and it is I who am indebted to them as a couple!"
Mentioning that matter, Eunuch Du's expression also turned somewhat grim: "Alas... this servant also does not wish to believe that the matter was truly instigated by the Empress. However, Your Majesty, since the grand ceremony yesterday, you have not seen the Empress. Her Highness has sent people to inquire several times. I wonder if tonight?"
"No!"
The Emperor's gaze gradually turned cold: "By the way, I ask you. Have Prince Chang and his Consort already left the capital?"
"Yes."
Eunuch Du nodded: "They left at dawn. They departed quietly in a small carriage, without alarming anyone. Only the Consort sent a letter to the elder Madam Song, generally informing her of her departure."
"Alas!"
The Emperor sighed again: "Actually, he told me long ago that once the situation was stable, he would leave the capital. But I persuaded him to stay, and he agreed. If it weren't for that matter involving the Empress, he would certainly not have been so resolute in his decision to leave. I have never doubted him, yet he leaves to avoid suspicion. For me, from now on, there will be no one to speak with in this vast capital!"
"Alas!"
Eunuch Du sighed along with the Emperor: "The Empress also acted with your best interests in mind. And it was also her mother's idea. The Empress is simply too weak-willed, which is why she believed others. But she is, after all, the Empress. If Your Majesty has time, it would be good to visit her! Lest outsiders gossip, and the Empress becomes even more sorrowful."
"Mm, I understand."
The Emperor's resentment towards the Empress would likely not be easily resolved.
That night, the Emperor still did not go to the Empress's chambers.
And early the next morning, the Emperor issued a decree stating his intention to enrich the harem and hold a selection of consorts.
This was good news for everyone, except... the Empress.
Upon receiving this news, the Empress could barely eat her breakfast.
She put down her chopsticks, and the palace maid beside her looked helpless: "Your Highness, His Majesty is... still angry with you! He has not come to your chambers, and the gossip circulating in the capital these past two days has been quite unpleasant!"
The Empress, however, gave a bitter smile: "Is it not my own fault? I crossed His Majesty's principles, and I should not have listened to my mother! His Majesty is a man who values loyalty and righteousness; I should have known this long ago!"