Must the ancestral system remain unbroken?

The emperor squeezed those words out through clenched teeth.

"Your Majesty, you cannot allow Li Xinge to continue acting with such reckless abandon. Otherwise, the aristocratic clans throughout the realm will follow his example, taking a mile when given an inch. When that happens, Great Zhou may lose every shred of its dignity."

The old eunuch spoke in a low voice.

"Do you think I do not know that?"

Suppressing his anger, the emperor sat back on the Dragon Throne, rubbed his temples, and sighed. "But the aristocratic clans all wear the same pair of trousers. If I move against Li Xinge, they will certainly not stand idly by. If things turn out as they did last time, where will that leave the court?"

Last time, he had merely withheld the joint memorial from Yang Province recommending Li Xinge as Governor of Yang Province, and the aristocratic clans across the realm had banded together to pressure him. In the end, he had been forced to compromise, losing all face.

That affair had remained a thorn in the emperor's heart.

The old eunuch chuckled, a glint of cunning flashing through his eyes. "Your Majesty, things... are different now."

The emperor frowned.

He leaned forward slightly and stared at the old eunuch. "Old companion, what do you mean?"

The old eunuch first waved to the eunuchs and palace maids in the hall, signaling for them to withdraw.

Only after the last person had left did he speak. "Your Majesty, the aristocratic clans helped Li Xinge and joined forces to pressure you last time because they feared you would extend your reach into Yang Province and strengthen imperial authority."

"But they never expected Li Xinge's greed to be like a snake trying to swallow an elephant. He actually intends to pocket Eastern Ridge