The Emperor intended to follow Wei’s example by abolishing the position of Chancellor and establishing a Cabinet instead—this was no small change for the court of Jin. She still remembered that in her previous life, the Emperor had not abolished the position of Chancellor even until his death. Since ancient times, whenever an Emperor wished to strengthen centralized authority and imperial power, he would implement reforms and changes. Even if it wasn’t complete reform… he would certainly undertake great endeavors.

But this Emperor was now aged and muddled, obsessed with pursuing immortality…

Could it be that he wanted to pave the way for his successors?

As for what Uncle mentioned about the Emperor’s fall from his horse, she had always harbored doubts about this incident, but having no one in the palace, she didn’t know the details of the Emperor’s fall.

“Before the御史 presented the personal letters from the Left Chancellor and Second Prince to the Emperor, did something happen in court that made the Emperor intend to abolish the position of Chancellor?” Bai Qingyan asked again.

After all, Bai Jinxiu was not in the court and knew quite limited information, but Dong Qingping was different… Dong Qingping was a court official and naturally knew more details.

Dong Qingping greatly admired Bai Qingyan’s keen insight into political affairs. He nodded and said: “The Emperor wanted to build the Nine-Tiered Platform for that Imperial Teacher… to pray for the nation’s prosperity and longevity. All the court ministers agreed, calling the Emperor wise and enlightened. Only Chancellor Lu advised against it, and his advice was quite tactful, without any extreme or offensive language. He only said that Jin’s national treasury was currently tight, and priority should be given to the people’s livelihood and the provisions and supplies for frontier soldiers. The Emperor had already spent enormously on renovating the traveling palace, so the construction of the Nine-Tiered Platform could be delayed for a few more years. Otherwise, if construction began immediately… it might cause public resentment to boil over. Later, the Grand Astrologer observed celestial phenomena… requesting immediate construction of the Nine-Tiered Platform, but was impeached by Chancellor Lu along with the Censorate, accusing him of accepting bribes.”

Indeed…

The Emperor wouldn’t abolish the Chancellor position without reason. Without Grandfather Bai Weiting, the Emperor’s true nature gradually emerged, becoming increasingly impatient with anyone who advised or hindered his plans. Removing the Chancellor position to establish a Cabinet, strengthening centralized authority, and further enhancing imperial power—this wasn’t for reform and change, nor was it to pave the way for future rulers. The Emperor wanted all affairs under Heaven in Jin to be decided by him alone, no longer constrained by others.

He wanted no one in Jin to dare oppose him anymore, so that whatever he commanded… no one would dare disobey.

Chancellor Lu was a very tactful person, most skilled at protecting himself wisely, but Chancellor Lu still had principles in his heart and wasn’t completely indifferent… He didn’t merely focus on flattering the Emperor and pleasing him first. So his words of advice must have put the Emperor’s interests first, yet even so, the Emperor still couldn’t tolerate him.

The current Emperor was becoming increasingly unrestrained.

She pressed her lips together. Thinking of the Imperial Teacher made her think of Prince Liang.

The Imperial Teacher came from Prince Liang’s residence, but few knew… This Imperial Teacher was founded by Li Mao’s son, Li Mingrui.

Bai Qingyan recalled what Bai Jinxiu had told her earlier—that the Censorate had impeached Li Mao for his connection to the Second Prince’s treason case years ago. After it was clarified that the letters were forged, Li Mao never returned to court. Even when Prince Liang requested Li Mao’s return to court, Li Mao submitted a petition to retire due to old age.

At that time, Bai Qingyan wondered whether Prince Liang wanted to use Li Mao’s authority as Left Chancellor… for his benefit, and Li Mao couldn’t refuse, so he claimed illness to avoid court.

Now it seemed that Li Mao appeared to be helping the Emperor abolish the Chancellor position to reduce obstacles.

But what benefit would this bring Li Mao? Or perhaps… Li Mao now simply wanted to act according to the Emperor’s wishes?

Bai Qingyan’s hand stroking the chess piece paused as she suddenly developed an absurd suspicion.

She looked up at Dong Qingping: “The Crown Prince returned to the capital yesterday. Today… did anyone bring up the construction of the Nine-Tiered Platform again?”

Dong Qingping knew that Bai Qingyan had grasped his meaning. He placed a piece and nodded: “Exactly! The Grand Astrologer claimed that, observing celestial phenomena, the construction of the Nine-Tiered Platform must begin for His Majesty to awaken.”

“Absurd!” Bai Qingyan threw the piece in her hand into the chess box, her chest heaving violently.

The dignified Emperor of Jin was treating the nation’s government as child’s play!

Connecting all the events, Bai Qingyan finally understood everything. She had truly overestimated this Emperor…

She thought he wanted to strengthen centralized authority and imperial power to accomplish great things, but in the end… it was all just to build a Nine-Tiered Platform!

The Emperor had probably initially wanted to use force, removing the Chancellor position, centralizing power in his hands, so that no one could prevent him from building the Nine-Tiered Platform. Li Mao, perceiving his intention, withdrew to avoid trouble, unwilling to be like Chancellor Lu and become the target that would displease the Emperor, yet also unwilling to enthusiastically support the Emperor as he had in the past.

After all, this matter would exhaust the people and drain the treasury. If things went poorly in the end, not only would the Emperor use him as a scapegoat… but he would also bear infamy after death. So Li Mao simply hid at home to enjoy leisure.

As for the Emperor, when he discovered that removing the Chancellor position and restructuring the government was extremely difficult to implement, and his desire to build the Nine-Tiered Platform was urgent, he staged a fall from his horse and urgently summoned the Crown Prince back, thinking that the Crown Prince’s filial piety would surely lead him to build the Nine-Tiered Platform.

Bai Qingyan was so angry that her palms trembled.

Without further investigation, she knew this Nine-Tiered Platform should be what the Emperor intended to use for seeking elixirs of immortality.

For the sake of a Nine-Tiered Platform, a nation’s Emperor feigned falling from his horse and losing consciousness, nearly causing great disaster!

If Bai Qingyan hadn’t been in Dengzhou at that time, and if Fu Ruoxi had truly followed the Empress’s words to lead troops to the capital and enthrone Prince Xin, what immortality would the Emperor seek? The day Fu Ruoxi led troops into the city would probably be the Emperor’s death anniversary.

How was the Emperor’s behavior any different from King You of Zhou in ancient times?!

Dong Qingping lowered his eyes to pick up the pieces on the board, tossing them into the chess box with a long sigh: “If Jin allows such an Emperor to govern for a few more years, our national fortune… may well come to an end.”

“No, that’s not right…” Bai Qingyan looked at the board where Dong Qingping was collecting the black pieces and suddenly spoke. “Before the Emperor lost consciousness, he asked Grandmother to return to the palace to manage affairs. Grandmother guarded the Emperor’s bedchamber so tightly that not even water could leak through. If the Emperor was feigning unconsciousness, Grandmother… could not possibly have failed to notice.”

She picked up the teacup beside her. This matter… already had a general outline in her mind.

However, she still needed to see Fu Ruoxi once to be certain.

“Uncle, once Fu Ruoxi’s matter is understood, I must return to Shuoyang. Afterwards, if anything happens in court, please find a way… to inform Second Sister Jinxiu of court affairs, and Jinxiu will naturally send word to me!” Bai Qingyan solemnly bowed deeply to Dong Qingping.

Bai Jinxiu was ultimately a woman of the inner quarters, and having been pregnant recently, then encountering danger and giving birth prematurely, her information inevitably had gaps. But with Uncle’s assistance, it would be completely different.

Since Dong Qingping had called Bai Qingyan over today and said so much, he intended to send messages to Bai Qingyan in the future. He nodded: “Good, Uncle understands.”

Leaving the Dong family residence, Bai Qingyan went to the Crown Prince’s mansion, preparing to ask the Crown Prince for a favor—to visit Fu Ruoxi in prison to confirm her suspicions.

After all, Fu Ruoxi was now a serious criminal, and without the Crown Prince’s permission, Lu Jin probably wouldn’t let her visit.

But just as Bai Qingyan arrived at the Crown Prince’s mansion gates, she encountered Quan Yu, who was just leaving the Crown Prince’s mansion.

Seeing Bai Qingyan, Quan Yu quickly stepped forward to pay his respects.