northernbook Chapter 198: Zheng Liang vs Yang Luoyang
Chapter 198: Zheng Liang vs Yang Luoyang
Two months flew by in an instant after Yang Lingxin was exiled from the palace. Throughout this period, Master Jiang devoted himself wholeheartedly to treating His Majesty and restoring him to his former state of good health.
However, the extended exposure to the slow poison administered by Yang Lingxin had inflicted severe damage upon His Majesty's body. It required extensive efforts on Master Jiang's part to eliminate the toxins from his system, employing his specialized decoctions, conducting frequent acupuncture sessions, and providing therapeutic massages.
Due to the unfortunate incident involving Master Jiang's trusted assistant physician Bai Jiang, he became extremely cautious and prohibited anyone from approaching His Majesty. He took it upon himself to single-handedly prepare the medicines and administer treatments.
Even after Yang Lingxin's departure from the palace, Zheng Liang remained exceedingly vigilant and ensured stringent security measures to safeguard His Majesty, preventing any anonymous attacks from taking place.
While His Majesty focused on his recovery, Zheng Liang continued with the responsibility of overseeing the affairs of the royal court as the interim sovereign of the Empire. He diligently fulfilled the duties expected of both the Crown Prince and the future heir to the throne.
The ministers were astonished by Zheng Liang's exceptional work efficiency and his ability to handle the workload independently.
While there were individuals who initially questioned his capacity to govern the Empire, they quickly reconsidered upon witnessing the unwavering support bestowed upon him by His Majesty. With the full backing of the monarch and the authority to make decisions autonomously, no one dared to challenge his reign.
While some individuals were satisfied with Zheng Liang's management of the Empire, certain ministers grew discontented and frustrated with the power bestowed upon him. Compared to His Majesty, Zheng Liang displayed a lack of trust and closely monitored the flow of treasury funds, ensuring that his orders were carried out diligently.
This level of scrutiny and accountability caused considerable discomfort among those accustomed to freely indulging in personal gain by embezzling from the royal palace's official treasury.
Yang Luoyang was among those individuals affected by these changes.
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"In that case, Minister Yang's presence and responsibilities in the finance department would no longer be necessary, considering his purported busyness and exhaustion."
"This is what His Highness has instructed me to convey to you," the man concluded.
A wave of humiliation washed over Yang Luoyang, his face reddening with anger and indignation. The fact that Zheng Liang had stooped so low as to resort to threats left him seething. He let out a bitter laugh, a mix of frustration and disbelief at the situation.
After successfully removing Yang Lingxin from the picture, Zheng Liang may believe he has the power to do the same with Yang Luoyang and seize control of the Empire. However, Yang Luoyang refuses to accept defeat.
While he may have taken a temporary step back following the incident involving Yang Lingxin, he has not relinquished his ambitions. He harbors a lingering determination to dethrone Zheng Liang, ensuring that his own chosen puppet assumes the position of power and rules over the empire.
Yang Luoyang tightly clenched his fist, aware of the need to regain his composure. He took a deep breath, reminding himself not to act hastily and inadvertently give Zheng Liang the upper hand. He recognized that the current matter, although frustrating, did not warrant escalating conflicts between them.
Yang Luoyang resolved to handle the situation with tact and prudence, choosing his battles wisely.
Furthermore, if Zheng Liang were to dispatch his personnel to search through the finance department, it would pose a significant risk. Yang Luoyang could not allow them to lay hands on crucial documents he had concealed from His Majesty.
Considering the issue at hand relatively minor, Yang Luoyang sternly instructed his subordinate, saying, "Redo the report and include the necessary documents as requested."
"However, if this report is rejected again, I will hold you responsible and punish you for your incompetence. Understood?" he shouted at the man.
The man frowned, his gaze shifting to the file in his hands. The burden of this task had now fallen upon him. He let out a tired sigh, contemplating what the future held for him.