I Can Control My Ancestors

Chapter 639: Chapter 94: Turmoil in the Shadows, Stirring Winds and Clouds

This matter stirred up a storm across the entire court, as nobody could have predicted that Gu Xuan would incite a reform controversy just upon his return to the capital.

Yet, upon deeper reflection, it actually makes sense.

After the chaos in the Great Tang, even with the intervention of the Gu Clan, the impact on the situation was still significant.

Now is indeed the best time for new policies.

But, what use is it for the court officials to understand this issue?

Not everyone is a gambler.

With vested interests at stake, nobody would be willing to gamble on an uncertain future.

As for the upright individuals in the court, there is no need to say more.

This is the nature of the imperial court.

When the person sitting on the throne is wholeheartedly devoted to goodness, the atmosphere in the court follows suit. But as the court atmosphere changes, these individuals become rebels.

At least for now, this group of people is ultimately not enough to change the grand scheme of things.

....

Gu Yi did not do much.

Being a modern person and having witnessed historical changes over hundreds of years, his understanding of human nature is far beyond what it used to be.

As the saying goes—

"Cunning plans of bad people are no match for a moment of inspiration from fools."

Whether it is Li Heng or those inept officials in the court now, none can stop his progress.

He only needs to wait for the right opportunity.

In the following days, the entire court was in constant turmoil.

Gu Xuan didn’t even leave Champion Marquis Mansion once, yet he invisibly stirred the winds of the court.

One minister after another submitted petitions, urging Li Heng to stop Gu Xuan from implementing new policies.

These people seem to have already sensed the unstoppable force that is Gu Xuan, and despite their multitude of thoughts, they are not foolish enough to attack Gu Xuan directly.

They only targeted Li Heng as the Emperor.

In their eyes, he is the only one who can stop Gu Xuan.

They even approached Li Fuguo.

They wanted to convince Li Heng to drag out the matter at all costs.

This fit perfectly with Li Fuguo’s intentions, being an eunuch without roots, his lifelong pursuit is power and wealth.

Reform would certainly affect him.

Under these circumstances, Li Fuguo also got involved.

Let’s not forget, Li Fuguo is Li Heng’s trusted confidant.

Having followed Li Heng for many years, he knows Li Heng’s character extremely well and uses methods different from others who would threaten the empire on a whim.

He only said one sentence to Li Heng.

"Is this Great Tang, ultimately the Emperor’s realm, or the Gu Clan’s realm?"

This question is very traditional.

During the early Han Dynasty, Emperors Huan and Ling spoke of this..... During the Yan Han, the Furious Emperor frequently mentioned it. These matters are now documented and serve as precedent.

Even if not everyone knows it, all scholars in the world are aware.

For emperors deemed as wise rulers.

This is a bloody example.

Even for emperors who are incompetent or lack great ambition, the answer to this question is obvious.

But for someone like Li Heng, it is entirely different.

Let’s not forget what kind of emperor he is.

In the original history.

He ascended the throne by colluding with eunuchs, which stabilized the Great Tang, but his suspicion of court officials led to heavy reliance on eunuchs, his favoring of the harem, and eventual degradation to a puppet of the powerful eunuchs, dying in fear during a palace coup.

Just looking at this series of actions, it is enough to understand his character.

—Greedy for power yet incompetent.

By throwing out this question at such a time, Li Fuguo almost instantly hit Li Heng’s heart, along with the thorn that had just been pressed down inside him came rushing back.

Moreover, Li Fuguo’s means were not just limited to this.

Just like in original history, he teamed up with Empress Zhang again, using positions of intimacy and trust to continuously convey various situations to Li Heng.

There’s no house, country, or realm, nor the safety of tens of thousands.

The only core issue is whether this realm is Li’s or Gu’s.

Added to this are the continuous petitions from the ministers.

Under these circumstances, no matter how wise Li Heng could have been, he would inevitably be influenced, not to mention he was never a wise emperor.

Li Heng ultimately made a decision, starting to deliberately ignore the various issues related to the reform.

Gu Xuan did not leave Champion Marquis Mansion.

He had no intention of summoning him at all.

In essence, he wanted to let the matter cool down.

Actually, Li Heng himself couldn’t clearly explain his current mindset—he wasn’t particularly resistant to reform, what he truly wanted was to suppress Gu Xuan’s momentum to establish his own authority.

It’s a thought entirely out of his control.

Even though it was of no benefit to him whatsoever, he was willing to do it.

Under such circumstances, the so-called reform matter unexpectedly came to a halt, despite having quite a few supporters.

But without Gu Xuan stepping forward personally, progress was difficult.

...

Champion Marquis Mansion.

Gu Xuan stood on the steps, his expression calm, nodding slightly to the officials exiting one after another:

"Your kindness, my heart feels comforted."

"What was discussed today concerns the nation’s constitution, it’s no small matter."

"There’s no need for urgency."

"..."

Gu Xuan did not rise, thus sending off the gathered ministers, his expression still calm.

For the various situations in the court, Gu Yi had already predicted them.