"Don't leave yet." Emperor Ling turned to look at Yuan Kui, his tone slightly displeased. "Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, now we can properly discuss the collection of disaster relief supplies!"
Yuan Kui lowered his head and remained silent, deciding to play dead to the end. "Your Majesty, this old minister's eyesight is failing, and I've just recovered from a serious illness. I can't think of a suitable solution in time. Please allow this old minister to recuperate; this old minister truly cannot continue."
"Since the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat is incompetent, why not resign? If you're old, then resign and let others take your place, instead of occupying the position without doing anything," Lu Ming mocked from the side. This scoundrel had taught him a lesson, letting him know that even in ancient times, the human heart could be the most treacherous thing.
Although he hadn't lost anything and had indirectly achieved his goal, he still felt a sense of displeasure—the displeasure of being schemed against.
If it weren't for a stroke of luck, he probably would have really suffered.
Moreover, the plague in Anding County looked like it would be difficult to handle.
Yuan Wei frowned, avoiding Lu Ming's gaze. Even a cunning old fox like him felt his actions were dishonest.
However, he had no choice. For the sake of the Yuan family's longevity, he had to sever ties.
"Oh? In your opinion, General of the Household, who is more suitable to succeed this old minister?"
"Don't try to trap me! Who succeeds is His Majesty's decision, you old fox! You even had Yuan Shu ask me to treat your illness before, and now you're setting me up! Ungrateful, despicable, and shameless! Hmph, I wish you'd be run over by a carriage the moment you step outside!" Lu Ming's words were utterly merciless, his venomous expression revealing his naivety.
Only in this way could he conceal his despicable nature.
A naive, clueless, and loud-mouthed person wouldn't be associated with any insidious or despicable deeds.
His disguise was so perfect that while others laughed at him, he remained completely oblivious to the deception.
A chorus of boos erupted in the court.
Some felt Yuan Wei was despicable, while others felt Lu Ming deserved it.
Most, however, viewed it as a spectacle. The Yuan family had indeed held high office for four generations, enjoying immense prestige and influence, with disciples and former officials throughout the land.
But they had also made many enemies. Seeing the Yuan family fall from grace was naturally something to be happy about.
Yuan Wei was enraged. This young man had absolutely no sense of humility, did he?
"During my tenure, I resolved the Yellow River floods, the disaster in Yingchuan, and the turmoil in Jingzhou. You only know how to talk about saving the people; I truly did it!"
"Ugh!" Lu Ming looked at Yuan Wei with disgust. "Disgusting! You really know how to pat yourself on the back. The Yellow River has been managed year after year, yet it still floods every year. What merit do you have? All you do is spout empty rhetoric. Do you even know what flood season and drought season are? Do you know what water level is? Do you know that dredging is worse than blocking? No, you don't! It's because there are so many people like you who occupy positions without contributing anything that His Majesty entrusts you with important matters of state, and you..."
"You're a useless wretch, otherwise, where would the Yellow Turban Rebellion have come from? This responsibility should be yours! You haven't accomplished anything, and you take credit for the work your subordinates did. Hah, aren't you just surrounded by Yuan family protégés and former officials? Who knows, maybe the fate of this empire will depend on your whims, Lord Yuan! Does this mean His Majesty will have to listen to you from now on? Oh dear, what's the difference between you and Wang Mang?"
"Insolence! Don't slander me! You! You! Slander! Slander!" Yuan Wei trembled with rage. This was utterly devastating, a blatant tearing away of all the Yuan family's pretense!
Some things are better left unsaid in private.
Now it seems they really are no different from Wang Mang.
"Heh heh, Wang Mang was humble before his usurpation. Oh dear, Yuan, have mercy! I'm afraid I'll offend you and die an unjust death. Oh dear, Lord Yuan, you wouldn't actually want to emulate Wang Mang, would you?" Lu Ming acted like a clueless fool who saw right through his opponent but kept shouting.
Completely disregarding the consequences, he seemed more like a roughneck, only interested in seeking revenge.
Everyone's expression changed. This was no joke. This was tantamount to digging up ancestral graves!
Zhao Hou's expression also changed, his eyes flickering as he looked at Lu Ming's arrogant expression.
Recalling his wife's assessment of Lu Ming, "Shrewd enough, but lacking in vision," he wondered. Did this kid really not know the power of the Yuan family?
Only Yang Biao watched the show from the sidelines, still smiling, not because he saw Yuan Wei in trouble, but because he felt this was all part of Lu Ming's scheme.
As an outsider who rarely interacted with Lu Ming, he knew very well how this young man had gotten to where he was.
Once could be luck, twice could be coincidence.
But three times, four times—these were no longer coincidences.
It seemed more like a strategy, a carefully planned strategy.
He remembered his father's assessment of Lu Ming: "A hidden dragon lies dormant in the abyss, but once it soars, it will rise to the sky—irreversible. It's better to befriend him than to antagonize him!"
The interests of powerful families?
What interests could there be? It's all about protecting one's own family's interests.
The fall of the Yuan family was good news for the Yang family.
If there was truly no conflict, it was the Yang family who had no conflict with Lu Ming.
"You! You!" Yuan Wei was furious. This brat, was he really not afraid of death?
Or did he really not know how to bow his head?
The Yuan family bullied you, that was your good fortune; you dared to resist, that was your ignorance!
Lu Ming wasn't afraid of Yuan Wei's reaction. Instead, he sneered, "Since Lord Yuan has nothing to say, that means he admits it! Heh, but this is just my guess. Why doesn't Lord Yuan have all the members of the Yuan family resign, along with me, and never hold office again? That way, the rumors will be dispelled. What do you say, Lord Yuan? Do you dare?"
This was practically a ruthless strategy! What do you mean, never hold office again! Sending a proxy is no substitute for taking the position yourself. With his high position, he could easily manage things. What if someone harbored disloyalty? Emperor Ling was also eager for the Yuan family to leave, but he couldn't do without them for the time being. So he spoke up, "You insolent fool! Anmin, have you drunk too much? Speaking nonsense in court! Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, my son-in-law is young and inexperienced, and likes to talk nonsense. Don't take it to heart. You will draft the document to have the Three Auxiliary Regions and wealthy merchants of Chang'an contribute money and supplies to the court for disaster relief. Surely, with your abilities, Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, you can accomplish this!"
Can't accomplish it? Difficult to handle? Then don't do it! If Yuan Kui dares to refuse now, it won't be a simple matter of retiring to his hometown. What he might do next is truly unpredictable.