The revitalization of the Tang Dynasty began with the Ganlu Incident.

Chapter 17: Grandma

As Li Ang stepped down from the palanquin, his gaze fell upon the eunuch before him.

They quickly retrieved the person's background from their memories.

Liang Chengmin, the adopted son of Liang Shouqian, a former lieutenant of the Shence Army, is a man of low profile.

He began serving Empress Dowager Guo during the reign of Emperor Muzong, serving as an Inner Attendant in the Inner Palace and concurrently as the Palace Attendant in charge of managing the lower-ranking palace women.

His adoptive father, Liang Shouqian, was a famous eunuch in his early years. Before the original owner ascended the throne, Liang Shouqian served as the Right Army Lieutenant and participated in supporting the original owner's ascension to the throne.

However, due to a falling out with Wang Shoucheng, he requested to retire and died suddenly in his residence. He was posthumously awarded the title of Grand General of Yangzhou, which can be considered a relatively dignified ending.

Perhaps thanks to Empress Dowager Guo's protection, Wang Shoucheng did not pursue him relentlessly, and so Liang Chengmin has remained in Xingqing Palace until now.

Upon entering the hall, one sees an elderly woman dressed in a light blue phoenix robe sitting regally in the main seat on a soft couch.

At this time, Guo should have been over fifty years old. Her temples were already gray, and fine lines had crept onto her forehead. She held a string of white jade prayer beads in her hand, gently turning them while silently reciting scriptures, which made her appear even more graceful and kind.

"Grandson pays respects to the Empress Dowager."

With the original owner's memories intact, Li Ang was very familiar with this set of etiquette. He took a slight step forward, bowed, and spoke in a very gentle tone before Empress Dowager Guo.

However, he waited for a long time but still did not hear Empress Dowager Guo speak.

With a sense of doubt in his heart, Li Ang raised his head slightly. Before he could speak, he saw Empress Dowager Guo stop holding the Buddhist prayer beads and open her eyes.

"What's wrong, Erlang? You've lost even this much patience?"

His tone was calm and even, but Li Ang keenly sensed the underlying dissatisfaction in his words.

A thought flashed through his mind, and he quickly understood.

So, Li Ang bowed again and said, "Your grandson dares not. The matter the other day was due to my lax management of my subordinates, which caused turmoil in the palace and disturbed Your Majesty. Your grandson has come to apologize."

Upon hearing this, Empress Dowager Guo's expression finally changed. She raised her head, her eyes showing a mixture of helplessness and disappointment.

"Even the son of a wealthy family will not sit under a dangerous roof; this is a principle that even ordinary people know."

"Is Qiu Shiliang worth such a risk and such despicable methods?"

These two simple words revealed Empress Dowager Guo's view on this coup.

At this moment, Li Ang could also see that the old lady was angry.

Therefore, he didn't argue, but obediently lowered his head, looking like he was waiting to be scolded.

"Please teach me, Grandmother."

Seeing this, the anger on Empress Dowager Guo's face subsided considerably, replaced by a more complex expression.

After a moment, she sighed and said.

"I know that you are an ambitious child who takes your grandfather and Emperor Taizong as your role models in everything you do, and you are determined to eradicate the eunuchs and restore the imperial power."

"But things in this world should always follow some rules. As the emperor, how will the world view you for carrying out such a clandestine ambush?"

Li Ang lowered his head, remaining silent with an expression of deep agreement, showing no intention of arguing whatsoever.

This isn't an act; it's real.

In his view, the so-called Ganlu Incident was indeed a meaningless coup.

Just as Empress Dowager Guo said, political opponents should be dealt with using political means.

During the late Tang Dynasty, the order was chaotic, and the imperial power gradually lost its original authority due to the provocations of various forces.

The original owner's actions were tantamount to drinking poison to quench thirst.

The emperor, a figure of great power, could assassinate a Shence Army lieutenant without trial or judgment, without any reason. It was as if he himself had thrown the imperial system under his feet and trampled it to pieces.

If Qiu Shiliang had truly threatened his life, that would be one thing, but the problem is that before the Ganlu Incident, Qiu Shiliang had no such intention at all.

Moreover, Qiu Shiliang was a middle-aged or younger member of the eunuch faction, and his background and experience were not particularly deep.

Even if he had become a lieutenant in the Divine Strategy Army, the original owner of this body would have had far better ways to deal with him than to resort to such methods.

"Grandmother's reprimand is correct; your grandson knows he was wrong."

Li Ang's words were sincere, which finally calmed the old lady's anger somewhat.

Empress Dowager Guo gently turned the white jade prayer beads in her hand, shook her head, and finally spoke.

"Sit down, and bring some tea and snacks."

The emperor, a man of great stature, has been inside for so long and hasn't even been given a sip of water.

Of all the people in the palace, only Empress Dowager Guo had the confidence to do this.

A palace maid brought over a crescent-shaped stool, and Li Ang sat down next to Madam Guo. The old lady gently twirled her prayer beads and said...

Tell me in detail what exactly happened the day before yesterday.

Judging from her memories, the original owner of this body had a fairly good relationship with her grandmother.

Back when the original owner was still at the Sixteenth Prince's residence, Lady Guo often bestowed gifts upon him and summoned him for audiences.

After the original owner ascended the throne, he would come to pay his respects every few days.

Various delicacies and rare fruits, as well as tributes from all directions, were first sent to Xingqing Palace and then to the Imperial Palace.

More importantly, the empress dowagers of the Tang Dynasty actually had the power to interfere in politics.

As early as after Emperor Muzong's death, some ministers suggested that Empress Guo should rule as regent, but she did not agree and continued to live in the inner palace, only occasionally offering her opinions on some important matters.

The execution of Qiu Shiliang was undoubtedly a major event of this kind.

After pondering for a moment, Li Ang did not intend to hide anything and quickly recounted what had happened that day, albeit with modifications.

"...I dare not deceive my grandmother. I was also hesitant about whether to eliminate Qiu Shiliang and the others. However, Li Xun insisted on doing it. By the time I realized what was happening, Han Yue and the others had already started their plan."

"At that time, the arrow was already on the bowstring and had to be released. The grandson had no choice but to cooperate. But later the grandson discovered that Li Xun's plan to eliminate Qiu Shiliang and others was because he wanted to take over the Shence Army. He was quite regretful."

Fortunately, it's not too late.

"These days, I have only rewarded the low-ranking officials who participated in this matter, and have not punished the other ministers, because I am considering how to handle the aftermath."

This statement is nine parts true and one part false. Basically, apart from the fact that Li Ang is a time traveler, all the other information is correct.

After listening, Empress Dowager Guo paused in her white jade prayer beads, couldn't help but let out a cold snort, and said.

"I told you long ago that Li Xun, Zheng Zhu, and the others were not from proper backgrounds. They could serve as attendants, but not as high-ranking officials. But you were stubborn and thought they were geniuses of our time. Have you finally come to your senses?"

Li Ang lowered his head, still feeling nothing in his heart.

After all, the old lady was scolding the original owner of this body, not him.

In fact, ever since Li Xun and others rose to power, not only many ministers in the outer court, but also Empress Dowager Guo had subtly reminded the original owner of the importance of being close to virtuous ministers and keeping away from petty people, and not to easily trust such unknown people who rose to power through flattery.

Unfortunately, the original owner of this body was so engrossed in figuring out how to eliminate the eunuchs that he trusted Li Xun and others who helped him devise strategies to successfully get rid of Wang Shoucheng and other powerful eunuchs. He simply wouldn't listen to any other advice.

In the end, he naturally reaped what he sowed. After the Ganlu Incident, he became a puppet of Qiu Shiliang and others, and could only sigh helplessly.

After scolding him a couple of times, Empress Dowager Guo saw that the person in front of her was obediently accepting her lesson, and her anger subsided considerably.

Empress Dowager Guo began to spin the white jade prayer beads again, and pondered for a moment.

"Although this is not a good thing to do, since it has been done, there is no need to regret it. Although Qiu Shiliang is not as domineering as Wang Shouchang and others, he is not a loyal person either. Getting rid of him is a good thing."

"But you need to be more careful when hiring people from now on, especially Liu Hongyi and the others. You must appease them properly and not let them take any further actions out of fear..."