Chapter 1037: Falling Thunderstorm
Shangjing City was a familiar haunt.
Over the years, Chen Changsheng had returned time and again, though long stretches separated each visit. Shangjing City's layout had changed repeatedly, just as the masters of the city had changed over and over.
In his earlier years, he certainly would have strolled through the Imperial Palace. Just like on his very first visit, he would have wandered the grounds to take in the sights, marveling at the splendor so many in this world would never get to see.
But there was no splendor left to see. One only had to look at the faces of Shangjing City's commoners to realize their former vitality was gone, replaced by a constant dread of national collapse and family ruin. The emperor was young and ignorant of state affairs, allowing the Imperial Harem to meddle in politics. Every official decree and memorial had to pass under the empress dowager's eyes, requiring her approval before proceeding.
If the state's internal affairs were in such shambles, the war effort was even worse. Rations and pay were severely lacking. If not for the full support of the Tang Family Trading Firm spending hundreds of thousands of taels, the soldiers on the front lines wouldn't have even had a bite to eat.
The war was dire, and the Imperial Court was utterly incompetent.
How could anyone see hope in this? Countless officials sighed in despair. They had thought that with Li Linheng dead, the Imperial Court would no longer be under one man's absolute rule. Who could have expected an empress to suddenly seize control?
Those in high positions sought only personal gain, while those capable of speaking out bowed to despotic power. Officials who lacked the right to attend court could only fret in secret alongside the commoners. Countless memorials had been submitted, but without exception, not a single one ever reached the emperor's desk.
In just a few years, the once-glorious Imperial Court of Great Xiang now showed the same signs of decline as the Jing had in its final days.