An Open Scheme Forces Tian, While All Plot Against Qiu

Assistant Minister Tian?

At this form of address, the gathered officials turned their eyes toward one spot. At the end of their gazes was Tian Youqing's gloomy face.

During this court session, Tian Youqing had kept an unusually low profile and said not a word. Had no one mentioned him, many might have forgotten he was even there.

In fact, not just today—over the past several days, Tian Youqing had been rather low-key. His circumstances resembled Zhang Lian's, both suffering from the aftermath of that palace coup.

However, compared with Zhang Lian, Tian Youqing's situation was far more complicated.

Zhang Lian was old, and a great clan stood behind him. Even if he retired, he would merely lose his power and position; his personal influence would remain. Tian Youqing, on the other hand, was still young and had never risen particularly high in office. In terms of connections and influence, he could not be mentioned in the same breath as Zhang Lian. If he were dismissed from officialdom at such a time, his future would be ruined in one stroke.

How could a man with ambition in his breast endure that?

That palace coup had originally come about because Tian Youqing had been led astray by outside forces. At the time, he too had been bewitched by greed, believing that by supporting the new ruler and becoming a dragon-following minister, he could leap over Pan Xiang, Cen Bo, Zhang Hou, and the others in a single bound, becoming the true number two of the New Party—or even go a step further and lay his hands upon that position—

Among those serving as officials, if given the chance, how many did not yearn for that position? With the old ruler gone, Tian Youqing no longer had any misgivings. Yet he had