In the city of Chang 'an, the warm sun is shining brightly. On Zhuque Street, vehicles are bustling with traffic, presenting a bustling and prosperous scene. The shops along the street stand in close rows, and the signs of time-honored brands sway gently in the breeze.
In the silk and satin store, the embroiderers were flying their needles and threads, and exquisite Shu brocade and Suzhou embroidery gradually took shape in their hands, attracting the nobles and high officials to stop and select frequently. In front of the spice shop, the exotic fragrance wafts through the air, mingled with the bustling aroma of street snacks, tantalizing the senses of passers-by.
Children were laughing and chasing each other on the street, tightly grasping the sugar figures they had just bought in their hands. Their clear laughter echoed through the streets and alleys.
In the restaurant, diners were toasting and chatting about the new dynasty's policies benefiting the people, their words brimming with praise for the new emperor Li Muyang.
However, beneath the surface of this prosperous era, there are pairs of eyes shining with jealousy and resentment in the shadows.
Ke Chahan, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, was born into a prominent family. Since childhood, he was well-read in poetry and books, and was proficient in playing the zither, chess, calligraphy and painting. He could write poems, songs and odes with ease. The glory of his family and his own talent should have forged a glorious path for him to serve the country, but greed and ambition grew freely in his heart like a malignant tumor.
Every time he looked at Li Muyang, who was full of vigor and vitality in the court, endless resentment welled up in his heart.
In his distorted perception, the Tang Dynasty was supposed to be the domain of the Ke family, but now it had been "stolen" by Li Muyang. This unwillingness was like a raging fire, burning his heart day and night.
In the dead of night, Ke Chahan sat alone in the study. The candlelight flickered, reflecting his gloomy face. His gaze wandered among the portraits of his ancestors hanging on the wall, his fists clenched tightly, and his nails deeply embedded in his palms. The glory of the Ke family must not be lost like this. This world will eventually return to the hands of the Ke family! He murmured in a low voice, his tone full of determination and madness.
The conspiracy of Ke Chahan quietly began. He first turned his gaze to the down-and-out nobles in the capital who were dissatisfied with the new Dynasty. These nobles, who once held immense power and enjoyed prosperity and wealth in the old dynasty, saw their privileges greatly weakened after the establishment of the new dynasty, and their wealth gradually dissipated like flowing water.
Kochahan met them secretly in a secluded courtyard. In the courtyard, the moonlight was as clear as water. All around was silent, with only a few lanterns emitting faint light, illuminating the faces of the people.
Ko Cha-han spoke passionately, like a fierce Wolf inciting rebellion: "Now the new emperor is in power, and the new policies he implements are targeted at us everywhere." Our former glory and status have been completely deprived by him. Are we supposed to be like stray dogs, bullied by others?
His words were like sharp blades, piercing everyone's hearts and making them gnash their teeth one after another, with the flames of revenge burning in their eyes.
In order to enhance his power, Kocha extended his evil hand to the small tribes on the border. His confidant, carrying a large amount of gold and silver treasures, crossed the high mountains and deep valleys and arrived at the tribal tent.
Inside the tent, the atmosphere was warm and wild. Ke Chahan's trusted confidant, facing the tribal chief, spoke with great wit and did everything possible to tempt him: "As long as you send troops to invade the border of the Tang Dynasty and succeed, the wealth of the Tang Dynasty will be at your mercy and the land will be divided up by you." The prosperity there is beyond imagination. There are mountains of gold and silver treasures, fertile and vast land, and countless beautiful women for you to enjoy.
The tribal leaders, who were already salivating over the prosperity of the Tang Dynasty, saw a sudden burst of greedy desire in their eyes upon hearing these words. They brandished their long knives and let out wild cries, without hesitation agreeing to Ke Chahan's request.
In the imperial court, there was still a peaceful scene. The new emperor Li Muyang would get up before dawn every day and arrive at the court early to discuss state affairs with his ministers. He was deeply concerned about the people and paid particular attention to the hardships of their livelihood. He actively implemented various new policies, committed to reducing the taxes of the people, building water conservancy projects and encouraging agriculture and sericulture.
He often went on patrol in disguise, delved into the lives of the common people, listened to their voices and helped them solve problems.
However, he was not at all aware that a huge crisis was quietly approaching, and a dark shadow was gradually enveloping the entire court.
Gu Lingxi, the deputy minister of the Dali Temple, was born into a family of scholars. Since childhood, he was exceptionally intelligent and had a strong interest in the law. She was well-read, held justice in her heart and was determined to avenge the people. While handling daily affairs, Gu Lingxi keenly sensed something amiss. Some memorials concerning people's livelihood are extreme in their language and full of incitement between the lines, which are quite different from the normal demands for people's livelihood.
She carefully studied these memorials and found that the words used and the logic were highly suspicious, as if there was an invisible hand manipulating them behind the scenes.
Then, she noticed that the atmosphere in the court had become subtle. The eye contact between some ministers was frequent and subtle, as if they were secretly planning something. With years of experience in handling cases and a sharp intuition, Gu Lingxi realized that a shocking conspiracy was quietly brewing.
Gu Lingxi decided to launch an investigation. She disguised herself, put on a simple dress and mingled into the marketplace.
In a small teahouse, she heard several common people chatting among themselves: "I heard that the new emperor is going to increase taxes. How are we going to live like this?" Gu Lingxi was startled. She knew well that the new emperor was wholeheartedly devoted to the people and had no intention of increasing taxes. This was clearly someone deliberately spreading rumors in an attempt to disrupt public sentiment.
To uncover the truth, she delved into every street and alley, engaging in heart-to-heart conversations with peddlers and common people, and patiently collecting clues. She also took advantage of her position in the Dali Temple to review a large number of case files and materials, not missing any detail.
After a painstaking investigation, Gu Lingxi finally discovered the source of these rumors - Ke Chahan, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites. As the investigation deepened, she was shocked to learn that Kochahan was secretly colluding with various forces, attempting to stage a coup to overthrow the rule of the new emperor.
Gu Lingxi was well aware that this matter concerned the security of the country and was urgent. She immediately began to collect evidence. She risked her life and sneaked into Kechahan's residence many times, searching for clues in hidden places such as the study and the secret room. Finally, in the hidden compartments of Ke Chahan's study, she found some secret letters and account books, which detailed his collusion with down-and-out nobles and border tribes. Every word was like a bombshell, confirming her guess.
Meanwhile, the situation at the border is becoming increasingly tense. The small tribes frequently invaded the border of the Tang Dynasty, committing all kinds of evil deeds such as burning, killing, looting and plundering. The people at the border were displaced and their cries were deafening. Emergency documents from the border rushed to the capital like snowflakes. Li Muyang urgently summoned his ministers to discuss countermeasures.
In the court, the ministers expressed their opinions freely and argued until their faces turned red. Some advocated sending troops to suppress in order to demonstrate the majesty of the Tang Dynasty. Some advocate peace talks to avoid the suffering of the people.
Ke Chahan, however, was standing by the side, pretending to offer advice but in reality secretly fanning the flames, attempting to push the Tang Dynasty into a deeper predicament. He spoke earnestly and put forward some suggestions that seemed reasonable but were actually full of hidden mysteries, attempting to mislead the new emperor's decision.
Just when the situation was extremely critical, Gu Lingxi finally sorted out all the evidence. At an early morning court session, with a determined expression, she strode out of the formation and publicly exposed Ke Chahan's conspiracy.
The imperial court was instantly in an uproar. Ministers cast shocked glances one after another. Some looked astonished, while others were filled with righteous indignation. Li Muyang sat on the dragon throne, his face as dark as ink, and glared angrily, "Ke Cha Han, do you know the crime?"
Ke Chahan, however, was still stubbornly resisting, quivering, "Your Majesty, this is all due to Gu Lingxi's false accusation. I am extremely loyal to Your Majesty, as clear as the sun and the moon, and have no intention of rebellion at all." Gu Lingxi remained calm and composed, presenting each piece of evidence in her hand one by one and elaborating in detail on her investigation process as well as the conspiracy of Ke Chahan.
Starting from spotting the suspicious points of the rumors, she delved deeper step by step into the investigation. How to find the key clues and how to confirm the crime of Ke Chahan, every detail was clear and conclusive. Ke Chahan's face gradually turned deathly pale. Beads of sweat as big as beans rolled down his forehead. His legs went weak and he collapsed to the ground.
Li Muyang flew into a rage and immediately ordered the arrest of all of Ke Chahan and his followers. After interrogation, they confessed to the crime without reservation. Li Muyang severely punished these conspirators. Ke Chahan was sentenced to the torture of being torn apart by chariots and was immediately executed.
Once arrogant and overbearing, Ke Chahan was now like a stray dog, lying limp on the ground, his eyes filled with fear and despair.
Taking this as an opportunity, Li Muyang rectified the imperial court, strengthened the supervision and assessment of officials, and ensured the integrity and honesty of the court.
Meanwhile, Li Muyang strengthened the defense of the border, dispatched capable generals to the frontier, and meticulously planned the strategy.
Under the command of General Li Yunfei, the Tang army fought bravely and repelled the invasion of small tribes like tigers descending from the mountain.
Li Muyang also formulated a series of policies to strengthen the management and construction of the border areas, pacify the people, restore production, and bring peace and prosperity back to the border areas.
After this crisis, the new Dynasty became more stable. Li Muyang highly praised Gu Lingxi for her intelligence and loyalty. Not only did he bestow upon her generous rewards, but he also entrusted her with important tasks, allowing her to continue contributing to maintaining justice and stability in the imperial court. The emperor trusted Li Yunfei even more and bestowed upon him a large amount of cloth and grain, making Li Yunfei and Gu Lingxi even more loyal to the new emperor. After the common people learned the truth, they trusted and supported the new emperor even more, and the cohesion and centripetal force of the new Dynasty were unprecedentedly enhanced.
After going through the baptism of this storm, the Xin Dynasty has become even more prosperous and flourishing, and has embarked on an even more glorious chapter.
This thrilling story has also been passed down from mouth to mouth among the people and has become a topic of conversation during their leisure time.
In the streets and alleys of Chang 'an, the elderly often tell this story to children, teaching them to be loyal and kind, and to believe in the power of justice.
This period of history during the Xin Dynasty also became an important turning point in the development of the Tang Dynasty, laying a solid foundation for its prosperity in later generations. It constantly reminds people that justice may be late, but it will never be absent. The virtuous will always be protected in times of crisis, while evil will surely be punished as it deserves.