Chapter 724: Chapter 724: Driven by Interests!

Everyone was terrified.

Ministers, palace maids, eunuchs...

Everyone in the Golden Hall, almost all at once, lost their breath.

The martial arts skills of this Emperor are truly impressive!

As soon as this thought formed in the minds of the people, they were shocked by the chaos in the hall.

It took a long while before people recovered, gasping for breath.

"Thump, thump..."

Ministers and palace attendants knelt down in a vast wave, trembling all over, with some even wetting themselves, their clothes soaked, yet they dared not move.

Rong Si was also stunned, looking at her son in disbelief, wondering if she was hallucinating. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

How obedient and compliant he was before! Always following her lead, but today, so rebellious, she was caught off guard.

"I am the Emperor, the son of destiny, what I decree is the law of heaven! What, can’t I deal with a few arrogant ministers? Today, any who dare to make a commotion in this court, spare not one, arrest them all! Guards!"

"Clang, clang, clang!"

Outside came a rush of footsteps; a leader of the Imperial Army, of the same rank as Lu Zhi, a Commander, entered.

He was followed by over a hundred soldiers, who rushed in and began to bind the ministers.

"Princess, Princess... uh..."

These ministers tried to call for the Princess to save them, but their mouths were soon blocked.

As these ministers were dragged out like dead dogs, Li Qingmu announced the end of the court session.

Rong Si hurriedly followed Li Qingmu back to his palace, the Changming Palace.

As soon as they entered, Rong Si erupted in fury.

"Mu’er, do you know what you are doing today? Those were loyal and good officials, and yet you arrested them all? Foolish, utterly foolish, release them, you must release them immediately!!!"

Rong Si shrieked hysterically, almost roaring.

Li Qingmu quickly said, "Mother, I know I was wrong, but I am the Emperor, I can’t go back on my word, can I?"

"..."

Seeing Li Qingmu’s obedient demeanor, Rong Si’s anger dissipated like a deflated balloon.

"You’re simply being reckless!"

She scolded sharply, but her eyes were not as fierce as before.

Li Qingmu hurriedly massaged her shoulders and back, gentle as a little lamb, in stark contrast to his commanding and intimidating presence in the court earlier.

"Mother, I know, but... when those ministers pressured me, I was really angry!"

This soft tone left Rong Si with no outlet for her frustration.

"Mother, please sit and calm down, I’ll pour you some tea!"

Li Qingmu helped her sit down and poured a cup of warm tea.

After taking a sip of tea, Rong Si felt much calmer, yet still troubled.

"Mu’er, be honest with your mother, did your voice recover long ago? Have you been pretending all this while, just to lure out the restless ones and capture them in one swoop?"

This question was sharp. If Li Qingmu answered poorly, the bond between them could break.

Li Qingmu responded without hesitation, "Mother is correct, I was probing, I wanted to see who in the court was truly loyal and who harbored ill intentions! In the end, I did find some, isn’t that a good thing, Mother?"

Mother, isn’t that a good thing?

Li Qingmu asked with an innocent and naive expression, which left Rong Si feeling helpless.

If Li Qingmu were truly treacherous, she would be heartbroken but would still muster the resolve. But the problem now was, Li Qingmu seemed so innocent?

As if if she blamed him further, this child would hurt himself!

Ultimately, a mother’s heart is tied to her child, and Rong Si still chose to believe Li Qingmu.

She sighed and said, "Mu’er, a good thing it may be, but do you realize who you are dealing with? These people have followed your mother loyally for years, and now you turn against them suddenly, how will others view your mother?"

"Mother, are they truly loyal to you, or is it something else?" Li Qingmu said softly, "I think their so-called loyalty is just interest! As long as you provide them with benefits, they remain loyal. But what if, someday, you can’t give them what they want? Will they not turn against you like wolves?"

Rong Si frowned slightly, understanding those principles; after all, being a woman trying to govern, she needed to offer enough benefits.

If she couldn’t, they would indeed turn against her.

But Rong Si felt she could manage.

"Mother, the words those officials spoke in the hall were too harsh, I am the Emperor, how can I allow them to scold me to my face? I just couldn’t hold back, but I know I was wrong, I promise it won’t happen again!"

Seeing Li Qingmu’s good attitude in admitting his mistakes, Rong Si finally softened.

"Alright, since things are as they are, we can only leave it be. Your mother will soothe them, but next time you must be patient, don’t be so rash, understood?"

"Yes, I understand!"

As Rong Si left Changming Palace, Li Qingmu watched her retreating figure with a slight smile.

Those people surely couldn’t return to their former positions, otherwise, how would Li Qingmu maintain his reputation?

Even if Rong Si found ways to appease them, it could only be through reassignment to lesser positions.

"Proceed to Zhaoming Palace!"

Li Qingmu was in a great mood, and when happy, he thought of his beloved. He realized he hadn’t seen her in days and must visit tonight.

"Your Majesty, the Princess previously selected many concubines for you. Would you like to..."

Chen Liu suddenly appeared, inquiring.

Li Qingmu frowned, disinterested in visiting their palaces or even glancing at them, a tedious task.

"Chen Liu, did you not hear what I just said?"

"Forgive me, Your Majesty, I will make preparations immediately!"

After the day’s events in the Golden Hall, Li Qingmu’s prestige rose again, and Chen Liu showed him even greater respect.

Elsewhere, Rong Si returned to Fengming Palace, feeling unpleasant. She summoned State Preceptor You Su.

"Lord State Preceptor, don’t you think Mu’er’s royal authority has been growing lately?"

"Oh? What prompts such a statement from the Princess?"

You Su gently stroked his beard with a faint smile.

"Take today in the court, he showed me no regard, arrested those ministers without hesitation, leaving no room for negotiation. This is unlike him, acting in opposition to me! Yet once turned around, he’s back to being a child?"

Rong Si frowned, unable to understand this.

"Haha!" You Su laughed heartily, "Princess, why worry? If something seems amiss, why not test it?"

"Test with whom?"

You Su smiled mysteriously, "Someone right by your side!"