Chapter 896: Li Yuzhu · Mu Yuanxiu Extra (08): Exposed!

Mu Yuanxiu followed Grand Tutor Fei into the study.

The study had an entire wall with bookshelves filled with books.

There were books from Beiyang, Zhao Country, and other nations.

All kinds of books from ancient to modern times were available.

Mu Yuanxiu remembered his past life, when Empress Dowager Hui tricked him into coming to Beiyang; only Grand Tutor Fei treated him well, and when he was upset, he would sit here and read.

Mu Yuanxiu walked to the tall-backed magnolia wood chair, where he used to sit and read.

When he became tired, he would turn his head and look out the window, where a tea tree was planted.

The cold weather in the Northern Desert made it hard for the tea tree to survive.

So he planted it in a pot.

When it got cold, he would bring the pot indoors.

But in this life, there was no tea tree outside the window or inside this study.

Grand Tutor Fei noticed Mu Yuanxiu staring at the window and asked, confused, "Yuanxiu, what are you looking at?"

Mu Yuanxiu snapped back to reality, "The snow in January this year is quite heavy, heavier than in previous years."

Grand Tutor Fei sighed, "Indeed, alas, many cattle and sheep have frozen to death in the Imperial City this year."

Mu Yuanxiu quickly asked, "Are there any remedies?"

"The Empress Dowager is too busy with war to care about the people’s livestock freezing to death," Grand Tutor Fei shook his head and sighed deeply.

"If this continues, there will definitely be unrest in the Imperial City." Mu Yuanxiu looked at Grand Tutor Fei, his brows slightly furrowed.

Grand Tutor Fei also looked at Mu Yuanxiu, "Your Highness, what are your plans now?"

"I want to expose Consort Hui’s brutal dictatorship; would my teacher be willing to help Yuanxiu?" Mu Yuanxiu bowed to Grand Tutor Fei.

Grand Tutor Fei quickly stepped forward to help Mu Yuanxiu up, "This old minister lives on with his old bones just to wait for Your Highness to return. Rest assured, no matter how the situation in the Imperial City unfolds, this old minister will stand by Your Highness!"

Mu Yuanxiu said, "Thank you, teacher, for your support!"

At that moment, the two began to discuss plans on how to overthrow Empress Dowager Hui.

.

Empress Dowager Hui was not in the capital.

The Little Emperor was a paralyzed young boy and couldn’t handle political affairs.

All major state affairs were handled by Assistant Minister Prime Minister Bei.

And Prime Minister Bei was a trusted aide of Empress Dowager Hui.

The factions in the court were always divided into three groups.

The vast majority supported Prime Minister Bei.

Xiao Shan’s former owner, the Southern Prime Minister Xiao Luwen, was ousted and executed by Prime Minister Bei. The newly appointed Southern Prime Minister, although still opposed to Prime Minister Bei, was much weaker than before and merely a figurehead in court.

The other group comprised old ministers from early years, with high positions but little power.

They couldn’t do anything against Prime Minister Bei’s faction.

Mu Yuanxiu consulted Grand Tutor Fei about the court’s situation and had already formed a plan.

.

The next morning, Grand Tutor Fei brought Mu Yuanxiu, disguised as an ordinary Chang Sui, to attend the early morning court session.

According to regulations, each minister is allowed to bring one Chang Sui to the palace.

To serve the ministers during rest in the court session.

Once inside the palace, Mu Yuanxiu separated from Grand Tutor Fei.

He found a room where eunuchs lived, sneaked in quietly, changed out of Chang Sui’s clothes, and went to the Glazed Palace.

He was familiar with all the routes in the palace and avoided the palace guards and eunuchs; no one discovered him.

In the empty rear garden of the Glazed Palace, a few birds chirped among the plum trees.

Unable to find food and hearing footsteps approaching, the birds flew away in fright.

Mu Yuanxiu walked towards two plum trees growing side by side.

He touched the trees and knelt before them, his voice filled with grief, "Mother, I am here to avenge you!"

.

In the court hall, Prime Minister Bei symbolically presided over the meeting.

"If there are petitions, present them; if none, the meeting is dismissed!"

Grand Tutor Fei immediately stepped forward and shouted loudly, "The old minister has a petition!"

Prime Minister Bei raised an eyebrow, "Grand Tutor Fei? Didn’t you keep saying you were ill every day? Why have you come to court today?"

"I have recovered from my illness, and as a minister, it is my duty to alleviate the Emperor’s burdens; why wouldn’t I come?" Grand Tutor Fei flicked his sleeves and laughed coldly.

Prime Minister Bei smiled without warmth, "It’s good you can come, but what petition do you have today, Grand Tutor Fei? More irrelevant matters?"

"The old minister wants to expose Consort Hui for murdering Empress Hui and poisoning the Emperor!" Grand Tutor Fei shouted loudly.

This loud proclamation startled everyone.

Prime Minister Bei raised an eyebrow, "Consort Hui? Which Consort Hui?"

"Of course, it’s the current Empress Dowager Hui! She was the consort of the late Emperor, called Consort Hui in the early years; her sister was Empress Hui. She murdered Empress Hui to gain favor!" Grand Tutor Fei shouted loudly.

The entire court was shocked by Grand Tutor Fei’s words.

Everyone looked at each other.

They started whispering that wasn’t the Empress rumored to have eloped? How could she have been poisoned?

"Grand Tutor Fei, do you have evidence?" asked Duke Qing’an, an old imperial relative from the Mu Family.

Being a matter concerning the Mu Family, he was immediately alerted.

Grand Tutor Fei shouted loudly, "Of course, there is evidence; both witnesses and physical evidence!"

Again, the court burst into uproar.

Prime Minister Bei sneered, "Grand Tutor Fei, quite the audacity! How dare you accuse the Empress Dowager!"

"If anyone doesn’t believe it, they can follow the old minister to a place to see whether I am lying or whether Fei Fei deceived everyone!"

"Utter nonsense! Grand Tutor Fei, I think you have been sick for many days and gone insane, talking gibberish."

The seventy-year-old Mu Family relative, Duke Qing’an, said, "Prime Minister Bei, if it’s true or false, why not see for yourself? Are you trying to cover up something on behalf of the Empress Dowager?"

With Empress Dowager Hui not in the court, everyone dared to speak freely.