The deliberations could, for the moment, be considered to have ended on a sour note.
But their repercussions would continue to spread.
Elder Wang's explosive proposal would not be laid to rest simply because he had rejected it. Someone would certainly support Elder Wang's scheme.
After all, ruthless as the scheme was, was it not also the best solution available?
Or rather, the best solution for those who currently benefited from the existing order.
After the meeting ended, Zhao Xuan did not remain in the council hall as he usually did.
He was already a little tired, a sense of mental and physical exhaustion spreading through his heart.
In truth, Zhao Xuan was unquestionably the greatest beneficiary of the plan Elder Wang had proposed.
As a person, he had merely followed his heart in making his choice.
But as an emperor, Minister Wang's scheme was actually the proper course.
Coldness and ingratitude were the virtues an emperor ought to possess above all others.
Having made his choice, Zhao Xuan rather felt as though he had fastened a noose around his own neck.
Zhao Xuan returned to the Hall of Mental Cultivation and waved away the palace maids and eunuchs inside, his expression grave.
Naturally, the eunuchs and palace maids who served at the emperor's side needed no lessons in reading his expression.
They hurriedly lowered their heads and walked out, keeping their footsteps as quiet as possible, then closed the doors behind them.
However, a white-haired old man wearing pale red eunuch robes remained in the hall, standing motionless where he was.
He watched Zhao Xuan throw all imperial decorum aside, head straight for the imperial bed, and bury his head in a pillow.
In the past, he would have spoken up to remind him.
But now...
Lin Wen said