The attendant’s reaction wasn’t quick enough, and he didn’t understand immediately, but this didn’t prevent him from first memorizing it, then passing the message to Zhao Ju, and finally pondering it carefully himself before suddenly understanding.

Zhao Ming had already begun preparing contingency plans. He immediately submitted a memorial to the Emperor impeaching Gou Chun, while simultaneously reporting this matter to Zhao Hanzhang.

The Emperor and Gou Xi’s side still needed Zhao Hanzhang to handle, as Zhao Ming wasn’t yet qualified enough.

Moreover, Zhao Zhongyu was still in Yanzhou.

It was precisely because Zhao Zhongyu was in Yanzhou that Zhao Hanzhang was somewhat restrained, but it was also precisely because he was in Yanzhou that many things she wanted to do became possible.

For example, with Zhao Zhongyu in Yanzhou, Zhao Hanzhang couldn’t openly break with Gou Xi, and Gou Xi would exercise some self-restraint.

Once Ming Yu left, Zhao Zhongyu went to the palace to find the Emperor. The one who could preserve their father and son’s lives under Gou Xi’s fury was only the Emperor.

As long as they got past the peak of Gou Xi’s rage, what came next would depend on Zhao Hanzhang’s methods.

Zhao Zhongyu first went to a side hall, glanced around, and asked, “Where is Chamberlain Zhao?”

An official immediately stood up and bowed, “Earl Shangcai has not entered the palace today.”

Zhao Zhongyu pursed his lips and said gently to him, “When on duty in the palace now, we go by official rank rather than noble rank. Next time, just call him Chamberlain Zhao.”

He continued, “Send someone to summon him to the palace. Have him take the shift while you all temporarily take a break.”

The officials acknowledged this. After Zhao Zhongyu left, they smiled. Once Zhao Ji entered the palace, they left cheerfully.

Everyone knew that Zhao Zhongyu was angry and planned to punish Zhao Ji by making him work overtime.

Hmph, previously Zhao Ji had relied on his father and niece’s authority to push plenty of work onto them. Today they could finally take legitimate revenge.

Hah, being able to rest and still collect their salary—who would prefer to work?

Human bodies all contain genes for laziness. It’s just that smart people overcome laziness, while particularly smart people redirect it, turning things like studying and working into hobbies.

Only officials of the Great Jin would act on laziness without thinking, freely indulging their nature. This was called following the will of heaven. Ha ha ha ha…

In any case, they very naturally slacked off, piling all the work on Zhao Ji’s desk. When he was summoned to the palace and they all stood up to take their leave, they happily arranged to go drinking together.

Zhao Ji was speechless.

He also wanted to throw down his responsibilities, but unfortunately, he didn’t have the courage. As long as Zhao Zhongyu was around for one day, this mountain would press on him for one day.

Zhao Ji resentfully processed his work while cursing inwardly, his eyes becoming two shades more sinister.

Zhao Zhongyu knew none of this. After confirming his son had entered the palace, he occasionally sent some work down to him. If it wasn’t finished, he wasn’t allowed to leave the palace.

So that night, Zhao Ji was kept on overnight duty, and Zhao Zhongyu also remained in the palace, chatting pleasantly with the Emperor and staying overnight in the palace.

Gou Xi didn’t discover Ming Yu had fled that day, as he was passed out drunk in tender embraces.

Zhao Zhongyu in the palace received the news and sighed deeply. To be so immersed in the benefits brought by power and authority—he was no different from Prince Donghai.

The Emperor didn’t know about Ming Yu’s escape, but seeing Zhao Zhongyu sigh, he asked about it.

Zhao Zhongyu didn’t hide it, bowing as he acknowledged “Yes,” saying, “I heard General Gou has acquired another hundred female servants, including many beauties. Today he held a feast in his garden with song and dance, and by now has already passed out drunk.”

He sighed, “It truly is a pool of wine and forest of meat. But continuing this way is not good. Your Majesty, General Gou’s extravagance consumes Yanzhou’s and the court’s wealth.”

Servants need to eat and wear clothes, don’t they?

Those serving closely, dancing, singing, and playing music need fine robes and beautiful ornaments even more. And there’s the fine wine to drink and delicacies to eat—don’t these require money?

Where does the money come from?

Naturally from Yanzhou’s finances and what’s squeezed out from the Emperor.

Yanzhou’s finances come from the people of Yanzhou, and the Emperor’s side comes from support from all quarters.

After the Emperor moved the capital to Yuncheng, all the provinces and commanderies sent some money and supplies. Even Luoyang, which had just experienced war, had Zhao Hanzhang save from her own mouth to send to the Emperor—all to support him and his court officials.

All this money coming and going would pass through the hands of Gou Xi’s affiliated officials. Some people, to curry favor with Gou Xi, would find ways to skim off portions for him.

Now, even the Emperor could feel it, which showed they were skimming off more and more.

The Emperor’s gaze was profound, but he knew his wings weren’t fully grown. If he acted now, he’d either die needlessly or be confined. Better to temporarily maintain surface harmony and wait for the day…

The Emperor looked at Zhao Zhongyu with deep eyes. Did everyone who became a powerful minister lose their reason and no longer possess their former virtues?

Prince Donghai was like this, now Gou Xi was like this, so what about Zhao Hanzhang in the future?

Prince Donghai in his youth had a good reputation for being modest and approachable, close to the common people. The Emperor had interacted with Prince Donghai before. His modesty and nearly common virtues weren’t fake, which was why when he left the capital initially, so many people followed him.

His power and influence were one aspect, but his good reputation was also the foundation of being trusted.

But after he became Regent, the Emperor was forcibly suppressed by him. He acted arbitrarily and alone. Just the Emperor personally handling government affairs could displease him, and he fell out with Gou Xi, no longer maintaining his former modesty and peace.

As for Gou Xi, he had formerly been upright and incorruptible, known throughout the court. Before entering Luoyang, he could maintain his character, but why did he become tyrannical in governance and indulgent in desires after moving the capital?

The Emperor lowered his eyes, feeling somewhat sorrowful, “Minister Zhao, is it that everyone by my side will eventually become unrecognizable?”

Zhao Zhongyu also felt somewhat sad. Although he wanted Zhao Hanzhang to grasp more power and make the Zhao clan stronger, he even more wanted peace in the realm.

If the court situation were stable and the realm at peace, why would he risk his life fighting for this bit of power?

If only Gou Xi were a bit more modest and fair, if he didn’t have Gou Chun—this younger brother who was bent on harming Zhao Hanzhang’s life and seizing Yuzhou’s territory—he would advise Zhao Hanzhang to take a step back and find a broader horizon.

So if the realm must fall into chaos, he had to ensure the Zhao clan didn’t fall.

Between the realm and the clan, he was unable to choose the realm and could only choose the clan.

Zhao Zhongyu closed his eyes. When he opened them again, he began gently comforting the Emperor, “Why does Your Majesty only look at the likes of Prince Donghai and Gou Xi, and not at loyal officials and good generals like Chamberlain Fu?”

Among current court officials, there were quite a few loyal to the Emperor and Great Jin. They wholeheartedly supported legitimacy, persisting from Emperor Hui’s reign until now.

In fact, Zhao Changyu and Zhao Zhongyu were also among them.

No matter how they schemed for their family, they’d never thought of existing above the Emperor. Even now, Zhao Zhongyu was thinking about helping Zhao Hanzhang control Luoyang and Yuzhou to preserve the Zhao clan through troubled times.

If the Emperor faced danger, the Zhao clan would naturally still have to save him. If they couldn’t save him, they’d still have to support another descendant of the Sima clan to succeed.

Aside from certain individuals, normal subjects didn’t think about changing the Emperor’s surname.