With a sigh, Rong Xuan said, "There is no making without breaking. After a long period of peace, corruption will easily breed in the world. We all know about these issues, but who dares to bring them up to discuss countermeasures with the officials?"
Historically, there had been times when the interests of the ruler and officials were compatible, and times when their interests were in conflict. The relationship between a ruler and the ministers was not as simple and pure as the books described.
Even for Rong Xuan, if the Emperor hadn't treated him as well as before, and he indeed didn't have much ambition, he would have changed long ago.
When Yan Du was invited by the Emperor to take up the position back then, he was so grateful, and he did work hard for the Emperor and Great Qi in the first few years. Alas, people changed. After being the Right Prime Minister for two years, his thoughts became complicated.