Chapter 322

As soon as these words came out, the court immediately started to discuss. Some ministers who were already dissatisfied with the aristocratic families’ monopoly on business nodded slightly, secretly agreeing with the emperor’s proposal; while those ministers from aristocratic families had gloomy faces and whispered to each other, obviously not satisfied with this proposal.

Xu Su frowned and was the first to refute: “Your Majesty, who is in charge of this regulatory agency? If they are all your majesty’s confidants, then it is just a change of name and substance, and it is still a suppression of our family.” His words were sharp and went straight to the heart of the matter.

Feng Xiaochen was well prepared. He said calmly: “The selection of the regulatory agency will be decided by me and you, my dear ministers, and we must be fair and just. I believe that as long as we work together, we will be able to find a solution that satisfies all parties.” His eyes were sincere, trying to convince everyone.

Then, Feng Xiaochen proposed that in terms of military affairs, the number of private soldiers of each family could remain unchanged, but they must receive unified training and dispatch from the court on a regular basis to enhance the overall defense of Sun and Moon City.

This proposal also caused an uproar, with the aristocratic families worried that it would weaken their military autonomy, while some ministers who supported the emperor believed that it was a necessary move to strengthen central power.

Facing everyone’s doubts and oppositions, Feng Xiaochen patiently explained the original intention and benefits of each proposal.

He spoke sincerely, using reason and emotion to try to maintain his own authority while making the noble families feel his sincerity.

He knew very well that in this game of power, compromise and balance were necessary means. Only in this way could he gradually take back the power that had been hollowed out by the aristocratic families without causing large-scale conflicts.

After some heated debate and bargaining, the two sides finally reached a compromise.

In the selection of members for commercial regulatory agencies, the emperor and the aristocratic families each hold half of the seats to ensure checks and balances of power.

Although this plan did not fully meet Feng Xiaochen’s expectations, it also allowed him to successfully regain some power from the ministers of the aristocratic families.

He knew very well that this was just the beginning and there was still a long and difficult road ahead, but at least he had taken a solid step in this game of thrones.

After the meeting, the ministers left the court one after another.

Xu Su walked at the end. He looked back at Feng Xiaochen who was sitting high on the dragon throne. A complex emotion flashed in his eyes, including reluctance, anger, and a hint of vigilance.

He knew that from today on, the emperor was no longer a puppet that could be manipulated at will. In the future, the contest between the Xu family and the emperor would become more intense.

Feng Xiaochen looked at the ministers’ departing backs, feeling mixed emotions. He knew very well that this power struggle was far from over, and today’s compromise was only temporary, as the noble families would never give up their vested interests easily.

But he is not afraid. After this period of preparation and planning, he has enough confidence and strength to face future challenges.

After returning to the bedroom, Feng Xiaochen sat on the couch tiredly.

Crimea walked in and looked at the emperor’s slightly haggard face with concern in his eyes: “Your Majesty, you have worked hard today.”

Feng Xiaochen waved his hand and said, “Crimea, you also saw what happened today.

Although the aristocratic families compromised on the surface, the resentment in their hearts was probably even deeper.

We must speed up our pace and further consolidate our power.” His eyes revealed a firm determination.

Crimea nodded and said, “Don’t worry, Your Majesty, I will do my best to assist you.

We also need to maintain close contact with the Harik family, whose support is vital to us.”

Feng Xiaochen pondered for a moment and said, “Yes, the Harik family is our important ally. However, we cannot rely entirely on them and must develop our own strength. Go and select some loyal and reliable young people and train them secretly. They may become our right-hand men in the future.”

Crimea took the order and left. Feng Xiaochen leaned back on the couch and closed his eyes to rest. The scenes from today’s court kept appearing in his mind, and he was secretly thinking about his next plan.

He knew that in this world full of conspiracies and power struggles, only by constantly strengthening himself could he have the last laugh in this cruel game.

In the following days, Feng Xiaochen began to implement the new plan.

On the one hand, he strengthened his control over regulatory agencies to ensure that business activities were carried out according to his vision.

On the other hand, he personally participated in the training and dispatch of the army, and gradually established his prestige in the army.

At the same time, he also increased his attention and investment in people’s livelihood, built water conservancy facilities, improved farmland irrigation conditions, and reduced the tax burden on the people. These measures won wide praise and support from the people, making Feng Xiaochen’s reputation among the people increasingly high.

The aristocratic families were not idle either. They were secretly accumulating strength, trying to find an opportunity to regain their lost power.

Xu Su even summoned the core members of the Xu family to discuss countermeasures.

In the luxurious yet solemn secret room of the Xu Mansion, the flickering candlelight cast distorted shadows of the people on the wall, like a group of dormant shadow creatures.

Xu Su sat upright in the main seat, his face as gloomy as the sky before a storm. His eyes were like a sharp dagger, flashing with cold light, revealing a chilling determination and ruthlessness.

Around him, the core members of the Xu family were either frowning in thought or whispering to each other, and everyone’s face was filled with anxiety and unwillingness.

“Father, the emperor’s power is growing stronger and stronger. If we don’t find a solution, the status of our Xu family will be in jeopardy!”

Xu Feng’s face was filled with anxiety, and beads of sweat on his forehead flickered in the dim candlelight. His hands unconsciously clenched, his knuckles turned white from the force, and there was a slight tremor in his voice that was hard to conceal.

Xu Su snorted coldly, and the voice seemed to come from the depths of hell, filled with endless resentment.

“Humph, this emperor is only in power for a while, does he really think he can turn the world upside down? His foundation is still shallow. As long as we find the right time and give him a fatal blow, our family will still have the final say in Sun Moon City!”

As he spoke, he slammed the table. The candlesticks on the table shook a few times and a few drops of wax rolled down, as if they were silent sacrifices in this power struggle.

At this time, a white-haired elder spoke slowly. His voice was hoarse and low, as if it was wrapped in the vicissitudes of time.

“Master, I have heard that the emperor has been secretly cultivating a force of his own recently. If this force is formed, it will be extremely disadvantageous to us.

The most urgent task is to find out their details as soon as possible and take precautions in advance. “The elder’s eyes were filled with worry, and he narrowed his eyes slightly, as if trying to catch the slightest clue about the emperor’s power in the air.

Xu Su nodded, a sinister look flashing in his eyes.

“You are right. I will leave this matter to you. You must find out the emperor’s every move as quickly as possible. Even the slightest movement cannot be missed. In addition, we must strengthen our contact with other families and bind everyone together to fight against the emperor together. The situation is critical now and we cannot afford to be negligent.”

Every word Xu Su uttered seemed to be squeezed out from between his teeth, carrying with it a strong sense of oppression.

The door of the secret room slowly opened with a heavy creaking sound, and Xu Su led everyone out one after another. Their figures looked particularly solemn in the dim corridor, like a group of death warriors about to rush to the battlefield.

Xu Su’s heart was burning with rage. He knew very well that Emperor Feng Xiaochen was no longer a puppet who could be manipulated by others, but a very threatening opponent.

If you want to regain the lost power, you must do whatever it takes.

A few days later, in an elegantly decorated yet mysterious courtyard, a secret meeting quietly began.

The heads of the Xu family, the Hongchen family and other aristocratic families gathered together, all with caution and alertness on their faces, and when their eyes met, it seemed as if countless invisible undercurrents were surging.

The courtyard was so quiet that it was a bit depressing, with only the rustling of leaves in the breeze, as if playing the prelude to this power game.

Xu Su was the first to break the silence. He stood up, put his hands behind his back, and paced slowly in the courtyard. Every step seemed to be stepping on everyone’s heart.

“Everyone, the emperor’s power is expanding, and the interests of our family are under unprecedented threat. There must be a mysterious force behind him, and we must find this force and root it out!”

Xu Su’s voice was firm and powerful, echoing in the courtyard, shaking people’s hearts like a huge bell.

Ji Hongchen, the head of the Hongchen family, frowned, with a hint of doubt and worry in his eyes.

“Brother Xu is right, but we have investigated carefully before. Sun Moon City is our territory. Logically, any disturbance should not escape our eyes. But we have no clue about this mysterious power. It is really puzzling.”

As he spoke, he shook his head gently, and the wrinkles on his face became more and more obvious, as if they were traces of power struggles engraved over the years.

The other patriarch, Wang Meng, slammed the table hard and spoke loudly.

“No matter what, we can’t just sit there and wait for death! Since we can’t find out the cause alone, let’s gather the strength of all our families and conduct a carpet search. I don’t believe that this mysterious power can disappear out of thin air!”

His voice was like thunder, his face showed an innate arrogance, and veins bulged on his sturdy arms, as if he was ready to deliver a fatal blow at any time.

Everyone nodded in agreement, and for a moment, the courtyard was filled with discussions. They began to discuss the action plan in detail, and everyone expressed their opinions, striving to formulate a foolproof plan. Some people suggested starting with the emperor’s confidants and checking them one by one; others suggested increasing surveillance in every corner of the city and not letting go of any suspicious places.

At this moment, a spy in black hurried into the courtyard, knelt on one knee, and whispered a few words in Xu Su’s ear. Xu Su’s face instantly became extremely gloomy, and a trace of shock and anger flashed in his eyes.

“What? The emperor is actually contacting some civilian forces in secret in an attempt to expand his sphere of influence?” Xu Su’s voice unconsciously rose a few degrees, his hands clenched into fists, the blue veins on the back of his hands were clearly visible, as if they would burst at any time.

When everyone heard the news, they couldn’t help but gasp.

Li Jihongchen’s face turned pale and his lips trembled slightly.

“The emperor’s ambition is greater than we imagined. If he succeeds, our family will probably be doomed.”

There was a hint of despair in Ji Hongchen’s voice, and his eyes revealed deep worry about the future.

The burly patriarch of the aristocratic family had a look of disdain on his face and sneered.

“Humph, they are just a bunch of rabble, what can they accomplish? Our family has been operating for many years and has a deep foundation. How can we be afraid of a mere emperor? As long as we work together, we will be able to completely crush his conspiracy!”

His voice was full of confidence and heroism, and his face was filled with a fearless expression, as if in his eyes, the emperor’s forces were nothing more than a group of ants.

After a heated discussion, everyone finally reached a consensus.

They decided to set up a special investigation team, with each family sending its most elite personnel to conduct a comprehensive surveillance and investigation of the emperor’s every move.

At the same time, they will strengthen control over their respective family’s sphere of influence to prevent the emperor’s influence from infiltrating.

Soon after the brightly lit but turbulent meeting of the aristocratic families came to an end, Patriarch Norton of the Harik family left the venue with slightly heavy steps.

His back was stretched out in the dim corridor and cast on the cold wall, like a trapped beast, revealing a hint of worry.

The face that was full of vigor and vitality in the past was now covered with dark clouds, his brows were tightly twisted into the shape of a “川” character, the wrinkles on his forehead were as deep as ravines, and each line concealed deep worry.

His eyes were no longer as firm and bright as before, but became somewhat wandering, sometimes confused, and sometimes flashing a hint of determination.

He knew very well that the situation this time had somewhat exceeded his initial expectations. The strength and decisiveness displayed by Emperor Feng Xiaochen in the court,
It overturned his previous understanding of this puppet emperor.

The emperor who once trembled in fear and was submissive under the control of the aristocratic families is now like a phoenix reborn from the ashes, emitting a chilling light.

As Norton walked, he recalled every detail of the court. Feng Xiaochen’s sonorous words, majestic eyes, and calm demeanor all made him feel an unprecedented pressure.

He couldn’t help but start to doubt whether his original decision was too hasty. Their Harik family did their utmost to support the emperor, hoping to use the emperor’s power to break the blockade of the aristocratic families and gain more room for development for the family.

But now it seems that the emperor has greater ambitions. His goal may not only be to regain power, but to completely control the entire Sun and Moon City and become the true master of this land.

(End of this chapter)