Four Seas Cloud Moon

Chapter 159 Sisters Helping Sisters

Han Bing looked around and said solemnly, "The matter between Your Majesty and Zhang Hui is now known to everyone! Qian Duoduo and Zhou Fanlin will definitely not miss this opportunity and will definitely publicize it. If Your Majesty lets Zhang Hui down, it would be the same as letting down the entire world!"

Lu Xiaotian listened to Han Bing's words, his heart simmering with rage. He glared at Han Bing fiercely, his teeth itching with hatred. He thought to himself: You old bastard, not only did you not come to help, but you added fuel to the fire and exaggerated it! How despicable!

At this moment, a clear and resolute voice rang out, "Lord Han is quite right. Your Majesty must not betray a woman's deep affection, nor must you disappoint the high hopes of the people!" Everyone looked in the direction of the voice and saw Ji Yaohua slowly and gracefully enter the palace. Upon learning of Lu Xiaotian's situation, both Ji Yaohua and Princess Yue were deeply concerned. Princess Yue, due to her privileged status, could not easily leave the palace, as a careless move could easily exploit her. Ji Yaohua, on the other hand, enjoyed greater freedom, which was why she hurried here.

Ji Yaohua had just overheard Zhang Hui's words while standing outside the door. Taking a closer look, she found Zhang Hui to be quite pretty and charming. Furthermore, during her time in the palace, she had heard that the Zhang family enjoyed considerable prestige among the aristocratic families. More importantly, Liu Shishi, Princess Yue, and Ling'er all had close relationships and harmoniously interacted with one another, while she, on the other hand, felt like an outsider, unable to fit in. So, she thought, why not take this opportunity to help Zhang Hui? If she succeeded, Zhang Hui would undoubtedly be grateful. Then, she would have a reliable companion in the imperial court!

Ji Yaohua stepped forward, took Zhang Hui's hand and said, "Don't worry, sister. His Majesty is not a heartless person. I will report to the queen after I go back. There will definitely be a place for you in the harem!"

Zhang Hui smiled sweetly and said, "Thank you, Concubine Sister!"

Let’s go, let’s not delay His Majesty’s political affairs!

As night fell, all was silent, and moonlight streamed down the courtyard like water. Ji Yaohua, dressed in a lavender dress, glided gracefully into the moonlight, her graceful figure like a fairy descending to earth. When she reached Lu Xiaotian's room, she gently knocked on the door.

Lu Xiaotian heard a knock on the door and quickly rose to open it. Seeing it was none other than Ji Yaohua, his face lit up with joy. The two exchanged a smile before entering the room. After Ji Yaohua settled herself down, she began to recount recent events at court. Her words were clear and coherent, unraveling the complexities of government.

Lu Xiaotian listened quietly, occasionally interjecting a few words to express his own opinions. Time slipped by unnoticed. Suddenly, Lu Xiaotian stood up, walked directly to Ji Yaohua, and without hesitation, stretched out his arms and gently embraced her. Ji Yaohua was startled at first, but soon relaxed, enjoying Lu Xiaotian's warm embrace.

Lu Xiaotian didn't wake up until noon the next day! Lu Xiaotian had already made all the necessary arrangements; the next task was to conquer the Second Prince. At this crucial moment, Han Cheng stepped forward, volunteering to fight and signing a military order, promising to capture the Second Prince alive and present them to His Majesty as a token of his loyalty. Thus, Han Cheng led a mighty army of 100,000 men and marched towards the Zhang family.

By this time, the Zhang family was in turmoil, as key figures like Qian Duoduo and Zhou Fanlin had already fled. Only the Zhang family remained, struggling to hold on. While the Zhang family boasted numerous soldiers and generals, they had gained power through the rebellion of Zhang Guangzheng. Their reputation was now shaky, their words were unjust, and there was widespread opposition within the family. Crucially, Zhang Guangzheng was still alive.

The Zhang family's army had never participated in actual combat and its combat effectiveness was relatively weak. Moreover, Zhang Guang, the person the Zhang family relied on the most, was currently with Lu Xiaotian. The Zhang family immediately fell into panic.

Faced with the overwhelming onslaught from Hancheng, the Zhang family's defenses quickly collapsed. After several rounds of fierce fighting, most of the Zhang family members and their subordinates were dead. Zhang Guangzheng gazed at the horrific scene from afar, his heart aching like a knife. After all, this was the blood and effort of generations of the Zhang family! To see this end, how could he not be heartbroken?

Fortunately, the Zhangbei lineage ultimately survived the catastrophe. Though dwindling in number, less than one-tenth of its former strength, they remained loyal to Zhang Guangzheng, respectfully addressing him as head of the family. Zhang Guangzheng, fully aware of the weight of his responsibility, vowed to restore the Zhang family to its former glory.

Of the four great princes who once dominated the court and dominated their respective regions, only two remain. Lu Xiaotian, who had weathered many vicissitudes of life and finally returned to the court, was determined to completely overhaul the corrupt court the moment he stepped into it.

During his long absence from the capital, some ministers harbored sinister intentions, believing their time had come. Unable to contain their greed and ambition, they emerged from the court like clowns. However, Lu Xiaotian was unwilling to engage in further debate with these treacherous officials. With a single blow, he mercilessly slew all the heinous criminals.

It wasn't that Lu Xiaotian was a murderer by nature, but he knew that if these hidden dangers weren't eradicated, they would become a cancer that would erode the foundations of the imperial court. Even if it meant bearing a little infamy, he was determined to restore a clear political environment to the world.

However, even more daunting problems arose. Those ministers who had swayed like fence-sitters, though spared their lives, were severely punished—demoted three ranks. After a thorough investigation, he was surprised to discover that truly talented officials were incredibly rare. This situation stemmed from the then-current system of official selection, which relied on recommendations from relatives. This meant that even those from impoverished families, despite their profound knowledge and talent, struggled to realize their ambitions.

Faced with this predicament, Lu Xiaotian fell into deep contemplation. After repeated deliberations with important officials at court, he ultimately made a series of earth-shaking decisions: first, he merged the two states into a single nation, naming it "Luoshen Kingdom"; then, he established the capital in the prosperous city of Luoyang. Subsequently, he vigorously embarked on major initiatives such as improving the legal system, implementing a unified script, a standardized wheel gauge, and standardizing weights, measures, and currency. Furthermore, he ordered the exchange of officials and abolished the corrupt recommendation system, replacing it with a fair and just imperial examination system.