He did not immediately inquire about the purpose of the two's visit to the capital city. Instead, he expressed concern, "You haven't had dinner yet, have you? Let me ask Uncle Feng to make arrangements."
Hearing Minister Hao's words, He Zhiran felt warmth in her heart.
Logically, they had rushed to the capital from the northwest, so they must have had some urgent matter. Her father should have asked about the reason first.
However, he did not. Instead, he inquired if they had eaten dinner.
This showed that in Minister Hao's heart, his daughter's well-being was more important than anything else.
"Father, we've already eaten on the way. How has your health been recently?"
Minister Hao let out a bitter laugh. "This old bones of mine are doing alright, but the situation in the capital is dire. Why did you choose to come at such a time?"
Especially with Mo Jiuye's status as an exiled member of the Mo clan, his reappearance here must mean he has an important task to undertake.
At this point, Mo Jiuye felt there was no need to hide anything, especially since his wife planned to persuade her father-in-law to resign from office. By revealing the Mo clan's plight, he could also let the old man see the empress' true colors.
Just as he was about to speak, they vaguely heard some movement outside.
Uncle Feng's footsteps were quick, so he should still be some distance from the study, but the sound had already carried over.
"Sir, someone from the palace has arrived."
Upon hearing that someone from the palace had come, Minister Hao's expression darkened, and he began to look around.
Mo Jiuye and He Zhiran didn't need to think to know that if the palace had sent someone, it must have been on the empress' orders, undoubtedly intending to use some tricks at this moment to make Minister Hao join her faction.
Without Minister Hao's prompting, Mo Jiuye quickly pulled He Zhiran behind the screen.
The study had no back door, and the only place they could hide was behind this screen.
At the same time, the two of them had the idea that if the visitor dared to do anything against Minister Hao, they would not let them succeed, even at the risk of being exposed.
They had just hidden when the study door was pushed open from outside.
Uncle Feng tried to stop them, but one of the eunuchs pushed him aside, nearly causing him to fall.
Even so, Uncle Feng still tried to prevent these people from barging into the study.
"You have quite the audacity to barge into the minister's study."
Seeing Uncle Feng's stubbornness, the eunuch prepared to lay hands on him.
Minister Hao shouted coldly, "Stop, who gave you the gall to be insolent in front of me?"
The visitors were three eunuchs, and Minister Hao was not unfamiliar with them.
"Eunuch Liu, what business brings you to my residence at this late hour?"
Seeing Minister Hao's hostile tone, Eunuch Liu sneered, "Well... Minister Hao has grown quite forgetful, didn't the empress remind you a few days ago that she would send someone to your residence to discuss matters with you?
I, your humble servant, am here on the empress' orders to have a chat with the esteemed Minister Hao."
As he spoke, Eunuch Liu's beady eyes scanned the study.
After all, Mo Jiuye and He Zhiran were hiding behind the screen, so it was no lie that Minister Hao felt uneasy at this moment.
Just as he was thinking of stopping Eunuch Liu from continuing to look around, Eunuch Liu spoke again.
"Since I've come all this way, surely Minister Hao won't mind letting me sit for a while?"
In fact, Minister Hao had already made up his mind to die if necessary. If not for Mo Jiuye and He Zhiran's presence, he would have been too lazy to play word games with the likes of Eunuch Liu.
Unfortunately, for the sake of his daughter and son-in-law's safety, he had to grit his teeth and negotiate with the other party.
Not only that, but out of concern for Mo Jiuye and He Zhiran's safety, Minister Hao's forehead was already beaded with sweat.
This scene only made Eunuch Liu feel more smug when he saw it.
He even cursed Minister Hao in his heart: No matter how tough you act normally, when the empress gets serious, you're still just as afraid and sweating.
With this thought, Eunuch Liu looked at Minister Hao with even more disdain.
He swaggered into the study with the two eunuchs, sitting directly in the main seat at the desk, while the two eunuchs stood properly at his sides.
In the past, a lowly eunuch would never have dared to put on such airs in front of Minister Hao, showing just how precarious Minister Hao's current situation was.
Minister Hao did his best to steady his thoughts and stood up straight.
"Eunuch Liu, everyone in the court knows that I only listen to His Majesty's words and have never involved myself in the disputes over the crown prince selection. If you've come today to persuade me otherwise, you might as well save your breath!"
He had already prepared for the worst. Even if forced to abandon his neutrality, he would never join the faction of that treacherous empress.
That fourth prince was just a pawn used by the empress to seize power!
Even if the fourth prince truly had the legitimate imperial bloodline, so what?
How could an infant rule the country?
In the end, power would still fall into the Xue family's hands, no different from usurping the throne!
He, He Yuanming, had led an upright life. Even in death, he would never stoop to colluding with such people.
Eunuch Liu paid no heed to Minister Hao's attitude, for no matter how he faced him, or even if the empress and Prime Minister Xue spoke to him directly, his attitude would be the same.
As long as he completed his task for the day, that was enough.
Eunuch Liu took out a small porcelain vial from his robe and placed it unhurriedly on the desk.
"Minister Hao, the empress has given you two choices today. The first is that from now on, you only need to follow the orders of the empress and Prime Minister Xue. Your high rank and wealth will be preserved, and you will enjoy endless glory and riches in the future.
Once the fourth prince secures his position, you will be a grand minister-level meritorious official.
However, if you continue to stubbornly defy the empress..."
He pointed to the small porcelain vial on the desk.
"This is also the empress' love for you, giving you a final dignity."
Mo Jiuye and He Zhiran, hidden behind the screen, could not see the vial on the desk, but from the sound of it hitting the table and Eunuch Liu's words, they could tell that the empress had given Minister Hao an ultimatum.
Today, unless he agreed to join the empress' faction, he would have to consume the poison in the small vial.
In short, whether he lived or died was up to Minister Hao's whim.
Perhaps Minister Hao had foreseen this day long ago, for he showed no fear when faced with the vial on the desk.
"I've already said, those who walk different paths cannot scheme together. Moreover, whether this life of mine lives or dies is for His Majesty alone to decide. Since ancient times, the palace ladies have been forbidden from meddling in politics. On whose orders is the empress acting to try to take my life?"
Eunuch Liu sneered twice, slamming his hand on the desk.
"He Yuanming, don't try to dodge the issue. Since you're unwilling to join the empress' faction, I advise you not to struggle in vain. Consume the poison on the desk so that at least your family and servants won't be implicated."
