By the time the court officials left the main room, Xun Fan’s room was already a mess. Ji Yuan, who had been hiding somewhere, stepped over fallen tables and chairs to enter.

Servants looked at him in surprise and tried to stop him from entering. Xun Fan, half-reclining on the bed, said: “Let Chamberlain Ji in.”

Only then did the servants lead Ji Yuan around the gauze curtain into the inner room.

Xun Fan said: “All of you withdraw. Guard outside—don’t let anyone in.”

The servants acknowledged and withdrew.

Ji Yuan picked up a chair from the floor and set it opposite the bed, bowing to him: “Duke Xun shows great righteousness. Ji is deeply grateful.”

Xun Fan showed no expression: “I don’t do this seeking your gratitude.”

Ji Yuan lifted his robe and sat down: “I know. Duke Xun does this for the realm’s stability.”

Xun Fan: “I hope that in the future, you all will continue assisting the General as before, and not become villains.”

Ji Yuan confidently smiled: “Naturally. Then let’s discuss the abdication.”

Xun Fan sat up fully, staring intently at Ji Yuan: “His Majesty is gentle and kind. Even after abdicating, he should retain the honor of a Son of Heaven.”

“Of course.” Ji Yuan agreed immediately: “The General is benevolent and will certainly treat His Majesty well. We also wouldn’t dare show His Majesty disrespect.”

Xun Fan: “The Prince of Langye’s line is still imperial clan. They should also be treated well.”

Ji Yuan also agreed: “As long as they obey laws and don’t rebel, my Lady won’t begrudge them money.”

Xun Fan paused before saying: “The Sima clan was once the imperial family, and the Cao clan too. Both clans’ ancestral worship shouldn’t be severed.”

Ji Yuan paused but also agreed: “Once His Majesty comes of age, I’ll ask the General to find him a worthy wife. But as for Prince Chenliu’s line…”

He said: “After Prince Chenliu died of illness, the one who inherited the title, Cao Guo, was an adopted heir from a branch line. After years of warfare, no one knows where he is. I’ll advise the General to send people to search. If we can’t find him, we can only look for descendants of Duke Cao and select one line to inherit.”

Xun Fan pressed his lips together, saying softly: “Prince Chenliu had ill fortune and couldn’t leave even one child. I hope His Majesty can have descendants.”

Ji Yuan caught his probing tone and said with a half-smile: “Duke Xun, rest assured. On this point, the General is far more honorable than the Sima clan. As long as His Majesty’s health is sound, he’ll certainly have children and grandchildren filling his halls in the future.”

Xun Fan’s old face reddened. Though the reason Cao Huan had no children was difficult to determine, he was a noble son with wives and concubines. Logically, he shouldn’t be unable to produce even one child. The probability of infertility should be quite small.

Never mind others—even Xun Fan didn’t believe Cao Huan just happened to be that person.

Moreover, the palace had assembled imperial physicians with the nation’s most advanced medical technology. Could they really not help him have one child?

What Xun Fan was doing now was bringing out another former dynasty’s descendant to share some of the young Emperor’s pressure, hoping Zhao Hanzhang would treat them both well.

Based on Ji Yuan’s understanding of Zhao Hanzhang, she wouldn’t refuse such matters, so he could answer on her behalf.

Next, the two discussed some details—such as what specific honors the young Emperor should receive after abdicating. Fields and servants were the two most important things, ensuring the young Emperor’s future livelihood.

Also, the specific procedures for the young Emperor’s abdication.

The young Emperor’s reign had been very short. During his tenure, he hadn’t done anything bad. If calculated by the method of attributing all achievements during one’s reign to oneself, he could even be called accomplished.

During his reign, they repelled the Xiongnu, recovered the north, and unified north and south…

So they couldn’t say he failed Dajin and therefore abdicated. The blame could only fall on his ancestors—and in fact, this pot truly belonged to his ancestors.

Heaven showed solar eclipses and floods as warnings. So for the realm’s stability and the people’s safety, he was willing to abdicate to Zhao Hanzhang and so forth…

Ji Yuan pressed: “When do we start?”

Xun Fan looked down at his thigh. By now, probably the entire city knew about the Emperor proposing abdication. If they didn’t start soon, people’s hearts might waver and someone might develop rebellious thoughts.

So he said: “Tomorrow is still a rest day. The day after, early in the morning, I’ll enter the palace to draft the edict.”

This edict absolutely couldn’t come from Zhao Hanzhang’s hand. Among those around the Emperor with the courage to draft such an edict, only he remained.

Ji Yuan was satisfied and stood to take his leave. Before going, he still couldn’t help reminding: “Duke Xun, Censor Xun seems to have different views from you. Living under the same roof, please take care.”

Xun Fan’s face tightened as he said impolitely: “This is the Xun family’s business. I won’t trouble Chamberlain Ji to worry about it.”

Ji Yuan walked out of the main room and saw Xun Zu blocked outside the courtyard. He gave him a slight smile and walked right past him.

Xun Zu watched him leave with a gloomy expression. Only after he’d gone far did he look away and ask the servant blocking him: “Can I report to brother now?”

The servant bowed and went to ask Xun Fan.

Xun Fan let him in.

As soon as the brothers met, before Xun Zu could question him, Xun Fan said sternly: “Kneel!”

Xun Zu paused, then still knelt down.

Xun Fan asked with a dark face: “Why did you privately give His Majesty a weapon?”

Xun Zu: “Duke Cao served as regent for twenty-four years yet didn’t dare claim the throne. Zhao Hanzhang’s respect toward His Majesty exceeds his toward Emperor Xian. She’s still young—we can take our time. But I don’t understand why brother is so eager to have His Majesty abdicate to her?”

Xun Fan: “I’ve already given my reasons. Now I’ll give you another reason—His Majesty has no will to compete. He has none!”

Xun Fan said in a low voice: “Even Emperor Xian had the will to seize power, so Han ministers went forward one after another giving their lives for him. But His Majesty himself has no fighting spirit. How many old ministers are willing to die trying to help him seize power now?”

“Didn’t you see what happened in the room today? People like Xiahou Ren and Tao Wu already lean toward Zhao Hanzhang. After she kept her promise this time, they’ve completely turned to her. Even Wei An and Yuan Xin, who usually follow you, though they don’t say it, respect her in their hearts. Continuing like this—are you really working gradually, or is she working gradually?”

Xun Zu opened his mouth, struggling to say: “There are still more loyal and righteous people in this realm.”

Xun Fan said expressionlessly: “Precisely because there are more loyal and righteous people, His Majesty’s throne is even more unstable. Gaining position improperly brings endless troubles. In eighty years, Dajin hasn’t won the realm’s trust. Instead, morality has collapsed and nobles indulge in drunken dreams, escaping worldly affairs. Do you think in the next thirty years, you alone can accomplish what people like Duke Zhao and Master Fu couldn’t?”

Xun Zu couldn’t speak.

Xun Fan: “Let it end here.”

Xun Zu sat dejected on the floor, asking quietly: “What about Qiu Zhi? He was captured by Zhao Hanzhang. I, I probably won’t last long either.”

Xun Fan thought for a moment, then shook his head: “She’s someone who considers the big picture. She won’t arrest you at this time. This matter will most likely be made minor, then dismissed. Even Qiu Zhi’s problem isn’t major.”

Reaching this point, Xun Fan snorted coldly: “Lucky for him. This was his instigation, wasn’t it? I deeply resent him.”

Xun Zu didn’t respond.

As soon as Ji Yuan left, he was picked up by Zhao family army guards waiting outside: “The General is waiting for you at the mansion.”

Ji Yuan was also eager to discuss matters with Zhao Hanzhang and hurried over.

By the time he reached the General’s Mansion, the sunset was nearly down. Entering the courtyard gate, he saw Yuan Li kneeling on the ground. His steps paused slightly, then he pretended not to notice and walked past him into the study.

Yuan Li was different from others. If it were another colleague, he’d definitely plead for them.

But Yuan Li… he controlled things too important and too classified. The underground contacts that had once been in Ji Yuan’s hands had all been transferred to Yuan Li, who had reorganized them.

This should all have been Zhao Hanzhang’s idea.

Ji Yuan didn’t want to test Zhao Hanzhang’s limits. Yuan Li’s position meant he could only be a solitary minister. It was better for everyone if they had less contact.

Even so, after entering and bowing, Ji Yuan couldn’t help saying: “My Lady, Yuan Li is still kneeling outside.”

Seeing everyone had arrived, Zhao Hanzhang said: “Let him in.”

Ting He went out on the order.

Soon Yuan Li limped in, bowed, then silently stood to the side.

Seeing Zhao Hanzhang had only called these few people, they knew she didn’t want too many to know yet. Ji Yuan also instinctively lowered his voice and repeated his conversation with Xun Fan.

Ji Yuan looked at Zhao Hanzhang: “If there are no accidents, the day after tomorrow His Majesty will abdicate to you, My Lady. You should refuse again.”

He paused before saying: “Though you already refused once today, that was in private, so it doesn’t count. You still need to refuse three times.”

This would proclaim to the realm the legitimacy of her ascension. Though hypocritical, it was useful!

Zhao Hanzhang nodded in agreement. Next was making some preventive preparations to guard against accidents.

Many accidents in the world arose from relaxing vigilance. She didn’t want accidents at the final step, so necessary preparations had to be made.

Zhao Hanzhang gave this task to Zhao Shen and Zeng Yue—one outside, one inside. Zhao Shen commanded the Zhao family army outside the city to prevent accidents. Zeng Yue commanded the Imperial Guards and personal guards inside the city to ensure everyone’s safety.

Yuan Li would provide them with intelligence. Ji Yuan and Ming Yu would naturally charge ahead, working with the young Emperor’s faction to arrange related matters.

After discussing these things, Ji Yuan asked: “How will the General handle Qiu Zhi and Xun Zu?”

Zhao Hanzhang snorted coldly: “For Xun Fan’s sake, I’ll spare Xun Zu this once. As for Qiu Zhi, send him to the Court of Judicial Review first thing tomorrow morning to be punished for insulting a superior.”

Severely punishing Xun Zu and Qiu Zhi now would only make the old ministers’ faction anxious and cause complications in the settled matter.

So Zhao Hanzhang didn’t make things difficult for Qiu Zhi and deliberately gave him to Zeng Yue rather than Yuan Li.

Zeng Yue truly didn’t make things difficult for Qiu Zhi—he only locked him in a dark room for one night. When brought out the next day, they found he was quite frightened and could only have people carry him to the Court of Judicial Review.

The Court of Judicial Review official on duty had only just heard some wild rumors today. Before he could determine their truth, he received Qiu Zhi and was momentarily confused.

So they crowded into Qiu Zhi’s cell to ask him: “What exactly happened at the Grand Tutor’s residence yesterday?”

In just one night, Qiu Zhi had been frightened until his face turned deathly pale, looking ten years older. His hands and feet were still weak.

The Court of Judicial Review officials examined him inside and out, frowning: “No injuries—no external or internal wounds.”

“Looks like he was frightened.”

“Yuan Li frightened him?”

“Possibly.”

“So have you all heard that rumor? About His Majesty…” The rest went unsaid, but their eyes were lively—everything was understood without words.

The officials present at the Xun residence yesterday weren’t many. Though after leaving they leaked the news, most people were half-believing, half-doubting.

Even when colleagues they worked with daily swore the information was genuine, they still looked skeptical.

But perceptive officials still noticed something different. Last night the city gates closed early. During curfew, the patrolling Imperial Guards seemed to increase. Lying in bed, they faintly heard the sound of Guards marching in unison—and very densely at that.

Also, though today was still a rest day, the restaurants and wine shops that officials and nobles usually frequented had surprisingly few customers—hardly anyone went to eat and drink.

So… was that rumor true?

The news spread more and more, with more and more people confirming: “I heard Censor Xun held a blade forcing His Majesty to agree to abdicate.”

“That’s backwards. It was His Majesty holding a blade forcing Censor Xun.”

The young Emperor’s laziness—these officials understood it best.

They also understood the young Emperor. He was only twelve. If he were ten years older, he might have ambitions for power. At twelve, without heroic aspirations, naturally he’d be averse to studying and working.

They themselves often didn’t want to work—they just wanted rest days.

So they understood.

“Regardless of who forced whom, yesterday His Majesty certainly publicly stated he wanted to abdicate to the General. Only the General refused.”

“Refusal is proper, but who knows when it will be brought up next.”

Everyone’s eyes met, both anticipating and worried.

Actually, the current situation wasn’t bad. The General served as regent, and everyone followed her orders anyway.

But if she ascended, would it be easier for ministers to receive rewards for their work?

After all, now there were still occasionally factional disputes—quite annoying.

If… what old ministers, neutral parties, Zhao faction—everyone would be her ministers.

Many people anticipated this but could do nothing.

The young Emperor suffered in the palace for a day. Seeing the palace had strengthened security but the people around him were no different from usual, and Attendant Dong also reassured him: “Why worry, Your Majesty? You’ve already said such things—the General absolutely won’t be angry about the short blade. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have given you her own short blade.”

Attendant Dong smiled: “I heard this blade was a birthday gift from Minister Fu to the General.”

Under his comfort, the young Emperor relaxed somewhat but was still anxious: “I don’t know how Third Uncle is doing. Will Second Uncle be implicated?”

Attendant Dong didn’t dare guarantee this, nor did he dare seek information outside. Master and servant could only silently wait for officials to return from holiday and attend morning court.

The young Emperor himself hadn’t expected Xun Fan would enter the palace before morning court to find him.

“Write an abdication edict?” The young Emperor walked quickly forward: “I’ll write it?”

“No, I’ll write it.” Xun Fan said: “I’ll write this edict. After the General refuses, next time Your Majesty will write it. Then the time after that, you’ll personally give her the imperial seal, and she’ll agree.”

The young Emperor had read too few books and wasn’t old enough to fully grasp the adults’ hypocrisy: “Have you asked the General? Does she truly want to ascend? That day she refused me so disdainfully…”

Xun Fan sighed: “She’ll agree. I had Chamberlain Ji persuade her.”

The young Emperor breathed a sigh of relief: “That’s good, that’s good.” Finally, he could hand over this hot potato and heavy burden.