Chapter 347: If she’s doing well, I won’t bother her (Part 1)
When Li Shaojun and Sheng Heng arrived, Li Rui was dealing with official affairs in his study.
He held a sinecure in the Ministry of Revenue, a job of little significance.
This position had been arranged for him by the late Emperor as compensation for the years Li Rui spent in exile among the common people.
Though the Emperor of Houtang, Li Mu, disliked his long-lost elder brother, he was quite vain and very concerned about his reputation.
Worried that overt actions against Li Rui would tarnish his own standing, Li Mu did not strip him of his official post after ascending the throne.
Although he held a sinecure, Li Rui was kind, diligent, and genuinely concerned for the people. During his years back in Chang’an, he built a strong reputation, and many scholars spoke highly of him.
But they dared to praise him only in private, not daring to openly associate with him.
On the one hand, this was because Li Xianyun had for some reason become a thorn in the side of Houliang as a hostage; on the other hand, it was due to Li Rui’s delicate relationship with Li Mu.
If not for Li Rui’s time among the common folk, as the late Emperor’s legitimate eldest son, he would have been the rightful heir to the throne.
It was for this very reason that Li Mu harbored deep animosity towards Li Rui and suppressed him both openly and covertly.