Chapter 1653: Father-Daughter Confrontation <<<
Zhao Qinglan nodded slightly and said, "General Su is truly righteous, this palace is greatly comforted."
After finishing her statement, Zhao Qinglan turned to Zhao Xuanji and said in a cold voice, "Zhao Sir, what are your thoughts on this?"
Zhao Xuanji frowned and said softly, "The ancestral precepts forbid the imperial concubines from interfering in politics."
Zhao Qinglan seemed to have known all along that Zhao Xuanji would say such a thing. She said calmly, "Just now, I listened outside the hall for a long time. Now, I'll borrow Master Zhao's words to respond to Master Zhao. In an extraordinary period, extraordinary measures should be taken."
As soon as these words left his mouth, Zhao Xuanji's expression instantly became extremely interesting.
Clearly, he hadn't expected Zhao Qinglan to use his own words against him.
And the other civil and military officials could no longer contain themselves, whispering to each other. This situation was truly baffling.
It is common knowledge that the current empress is the daughter of Zhao Xuanji.
Zhao Xuanji, as the father-in-law of the country, is now not on the same page with the Empress.
The Empress is to listen to government from behind a screen, logically Zhao Xuanji should support with both hands. But now Su Zhen Ting representing the Donggong faction has already agreed, yet Zhao Xuanji is clearly unwilling to let go. Unless there's something fishy going on, what else could it be?
"Silence!"
Zhao Qinglan let out a cold snort, and the entire Taihe Hall instantly fell silent.
Looking back at Zhao Xuanji, Zhao Qinglan said: "Now that the emperor is unable to govern, and the crown prince is not in the capital, the entire government needs someone to make decisions. This palace has said that this is only a special period of regency, and once the crown prince returns, the throne will be immediately returned to him. Lord Zhao need not worry. Besides..."
Zhao Qinglan looked at Zhao Xuanji with indifference and said coldly, "As the national father-in-law of our dynasty and a pillar minister of the court, Lord Zhao should put the overall situation first and consider the well-being of the country and the people. With this palace taking regency, what is there for Lord Zhao to be worried about?"

Zhao Xuanji's hand, hidden in his sleeve, clenched into a fist, then slowly relaxed.
He took a deep breath and said, "Your Majesty is right. The old minister will obey the Empress's command."
Zhao Xuanji was very clear that the Empress standing up at this time to demand veiled governance went far beyond the limits of imperial concubines interfering in politics.
On both logical and moral grounds, he has no reason to object. If he persists in his opposition, it would be a betrayal of righteousness and the will of the people, ultimately unbecoming.
At this point, Zhao Xuanji had a premonition that his attempt to seize power this time would probably not be so easy.
But Zhao Xuanji was not someone who could let go. After realizing that his plan was likely to fail, he had already begun to think about how to make up for his losses in subsequent actions.
Upon seeing Zhao Xuanji's compromise, Zhao Qinglan did not show any signs of delight.
Everything seemed to be self-evident to her.
She truly knew Zhao Xuanji too well. If he didn't have absolute certainty, Zhao Xuanji wouldn't risk everything by stubbornly resisting to the end. There was absolutely no benefit for him in doing so.
After Zhao Xuanji bowed in agreement, Zhao Qinglan turned and walked towards the dragon throne, her footsteps echoing on the golden stairs.
Zhao Qinglan's figure, as she ascended the steps one by one, seemed to grow ever more noble and sacred.

As if an inexplicable aura was gradually gathering around her.

This aura embodies the imperial power of Beijing accumulated over thousands of years.
That is the supreme authority of heaven and earth.
His words carry the weight of heaven's decree.
This is even more so the imperial authority of the Li family, accumulated over hundreds of years, through countless dynasties, and spanning millennia, a legacy of supreme imperial power.

(Editor in charge：)