Although everyone anticipated this, when they personally heard the news from Liu Xiu, the court was still in shock.
It should be noted that the court is currently dominated by the Hebei and Nanyang clans.
Even though Liu Xiu, after unifying the country, has promoted many from the Guanzhong clans to balance the court.
But these newcomers have always struggled to shake the foundations of the Hebei and Nanyang factions at the core of power.
The reason being, the Hebei and Nanyang clans both aided Liu Xiu in achieving his empire, establishing significant deeds.
This achievement naturally placed them above others.
Moreover, in Liu Xiu's realm, after years of cultivation, they have become deeply entrenched, and are not easily shaken.
Especially the Hebei clans.
Because Liu Yang did not revolt, the Hebei clans have not been purged, and their internal interests are deeply entangled.
Especially after Liu Jiang was established as Crown Prince.
These people have increasingly become his supporters, holding the majority in court.
Now witnessing Liu Xiu truly intending to depose Guo Shengtong.
This group naturally had to take action.
Almost on the same day, a flood of petitions against the decision was presented to Liu Xiu.
But Liu Xiu couldn't be bothered to deal with them at all.
He gave the most direct response.
Which was directly abolishing the titles of Guo Shengtong's brothers.
The era has changed, and Liu Xiu is no longer the emperor who had to rely on the Hebei clans.
After many years of unification and through various powerful measures, he had firmly grasped imperial power.
With Gu Xiao having already gone to Hebei, Liu Xiu feared no threats.
Indeed, with this measure, the entire court immediately fell silent.
No matter how unwilling these people were, when facing an emperor like Liu Xiu who held real power, they could only concede.
Although they all wanted to seek advantages.
They dared not directly confront him.
They could only console themselves with the thought "at least the Crown Prince hasn't been deposed yet".....
....
Jizhou State, Julu.
Gu Xiao's fief was located in this Julu region, including Julu, Yingtao, Ren County, Pingxiang, and other places.
Unlike those long-standing great clans.
The current Gu Clan, though a rapidly rising new power, faced the challenge of having few members.
Moreover, Gu Xiao had long been stationed in Luoyang.
The various affairs of the Hebei fiefdom had to be managed by his brother, Gu Chen.
Notably, Gu Yi did not use Gu Xiao's status to seek any official position for Gu Chen, even declining Liu Xiu's gracious offer to bestow a title upon Gu Chen.
The reason was simple.
——Gu Chen's abilities were unremarkable.
And critically, he had no significant opinions or initiative.
If he were to hold office, being Gu Xiao's brother, he could easily be exploited by those with malicious intent, thereby indirectly harming the Gu family's reputation.
In this era, reputation is vital to a family's prosperity or decline.
The Gu Clan is currently in a crucial starting phase and cannot afford any mistakes.
For this reason, Gu Yi simply had Gu Chen return to Hebei and arranged for him to marry into a prominent Hebei clan.
It must be said, this was indeed a wise decision.
Though the Hebei clans had their own motives for assisting the Gu Clan, their help was indeed significant for the Gu Clan.
In just a few short years.
The Gu Clan had thoroughly taken root in Hebei.
Out of concern for Gu Xiao's health, Gu Yi did not rush him on the journey.
When he arrived in Julu, officials from Hebei and members of major clans, having already received the news, were there waiting.
These people specifically came to welcome Gu Xiao.
And leading them;
———was King Zhending, Liu Yang!
In principle, the King Zhending is a Vassal Prince.
Not to mention real power, at least in terms of status, he surpasses Gu Xiao.
But during the Jianwu era.
In the presence of Gu Xiao, the most favored and highest-ranking first merit, no one dared to put on airs.
Not even Liu Yang.
Liu Yang was indeed not young anymore; several years had passed since their last meeting, and he was now full of white hair.
However, his aura as a superior was even more pronounced.
As soon as Gu Xiao stepped down from the carriage, Liu Yang laughed heartily and loudly said:
"Long time no see, Champion Marquis, your spirit remains undiminished, even more heroic than before!"
After a round of pleasantries.
Gu Yi silently observed everything, noticing the smile on King Zhending's face, but from his deep eyes, it was clear that Liu Yang was angry about Gu Xiao's appearance in Hebei.
Indeed... although the news of Liu Xiu deposing the Empress hadn't arrived yet.
For these old foxes, when Gu Xiao appeared in Hebei, the result was self-evident.
He naturally harbored anger towards Gu Xiao.
But since he chose not to act directly, it already indicated Liu Yang's stance at the time.
Gu Yi did not interfere but silently watched.
Sure enough, after several rounds of drinks, Liu Yang had the major clan members leave, leaving only himself with Gu Xiao to express his thoughts.
"Grand Commandant, the Empress has written to me, saying she has sent people to visit you several times, but each time was turned away by you."
"I am truly puzzled, why is Grand Commandant unwilling to help the Empress?"