Chapter 312 Everyone Talks About Conditions

Madam Xu's heart sank to the bottom.

How could things have turned out this way?

They originally thought that since the imperial family had agreed to establish an empress, Xu Roujia from their household would be the obvious choice.

Whether it's the Empress or a Noble Consort, she's bound to be one of them.

But all of this is contingent on Prime Minister Xu withdrawing...

"Master, at worst Roujia won't go to the palace. We can avoid going to that palace in our manor!"

You've cultivated this situation in the court for so many years, you can't give up so easily!

Several children... need your protection!

"We can't just say that sending Roujia to the palace will ruin your career!" Madam Xu said with difficulty.

Prime Minister Xu shook his head.

He had thought about this question more than once during this period of time.

But in the end, the best outcome would be for him to resign voluntarily.

In just the past two months, the imperial family has promoted three officials from among those with good local performance.

Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Personnel, Ministry of Revenue...

Almost all of them had people planted by the imperial family.

What surprised Prime Minister Xu the most was that the imperial family didn't just place their own close associates in positions of power; they dared to use people from all walks of life...

No matter whose people you worked for before, as long as you are capable and talented, he dares to use you!

It was precisely these things that made Prime Minister Xu feel uneasy.

The current imperial family does not want any more powerful ministers to appear in the court...

"My lady! Even if I don't back down now, the result will be that I'll be sidelined by the imperial family."

The Six Ministers...

Hehe, now apart from the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Works, which other ministry is under my control?

The Minister of Rites, Minister Qian, is now even more slippery than an eel, and spends all his time praising the imperial family.

Let's not even talk about the Minister of Personnel; Lord Shangguan has taken over, and I've heard he's already become very familiar with the affairs of the Ministry of Personnel.

The Minister of War is a man of Chang Shenggong, so no one can interfere.

What surprised me the most was the Minister of Revenue.

The Minister of Revenue was formerly a supporter of the deposed crown prince and had always followed the deposed crown prince's lead.

I originally thought that once the new emperor ascended the throne, he would definitely remove this person from office, or at the very least, transfer him to a less important department or imply that he should resign.

I've already chosen the replacement for him.

And what happened? Our Emperor entrusted the Minister of Revenue with an important position.

"Madam, think about it, what would the people in the court be like if the deposed crown prince were to ascend the throne?" The more Prime Minister Xu spoke, the more confused he became.

While the late emperor was alive, the Crown Prince and the Prince of Qin were locked in a fierce struggle.

However, in the imperial court, there were only two factions fighting fiercely.

He's either one of Prime Minister Xu's men or one of Duke Anguo's men...

Now, the new emperor is eager to make the court a vibrant and diverse place, the more lively the better!

"Master, what should we do now? We can't just back out like that!" Madam Xu was genuinely anxious.

With so many members in the Xu family, whether they are the main family or the relatives from other branches, they all rely on the Xu family as a powerful force.

If Prime Minister Xu resigns, how long can this big tree hold on?

"Madam, what my daughter said back then was actually correct."

Water overflows when it is full, and the moon wanes after it is full!

"The Xu family has been wealthy and powerful for so many years, it's time for them to step back a little," Prime Minister Xu suddenly said.

“Master…” Madam Xu looked at Prime Minister Xu.

"Taking a step back now is for the sake of future growth and expansion."

I can retire now.

But aren't all the children capable of standing on their own now?

I can't shoulder this burden for the Xu family alone; they need to stand up for themselves too.

"If they are doing well, the Xu family will be even better!" Prime Minister Xu said with a smile.

Madam Xu felt a sudden pang of sadness as she looked at Prime Minister Xu's body, which had suddenly become hunched over.

"Don't feel sorry for me!"

I've served four dynasties, after all.

The children are promising and will be able to establish themselves in the imperial court.

And those disciples can all speak up, which is good enough!

Do you expect me to die in the imperial court?

It's fine as it is now! I'm recuperating in the manor, and if the children have any questions or encounter any problems, I can still save face.

But if we wait for the imperial family to expel us...

That would mean losing absolutely no face. Prime Minister Xu immediately understood.

"My lord, are you trading your career for Roujia's position as empress?" Madam Xu asked.

Prime Minister Xu was taken aback!

"Empress position? Madam, you're overthinking it!"

Even if Roujia enters the palace, she will at most become a Noble Consort, not an Empress.

The Xu family is a big tree that attracts a lot of attention. They have already produced an empress and a crown princess. If they produce another empress, then what is the point of talking about withdrawing?

If I'm not mistaken...

This time, the imperial family will only appoint two empresses and consorts.

One was an empress, and the other was a concubine.

One was the daughter of a military general, and the other was the daughter of a civil official.

Roujia was the daughter of a civil official, so the other must have been the daughter of a military general.

"And the children of the military generals in the court are only a handful..."

Prime Minister Xu's expression suddenly changed.

"Master...you mean..." Madam Xu also realized something.

"Since the imperial family wants to negotiate with me, then I can also negotiate with the imperial family!"

Madam, please invite Madam Shen out for tea tomorrow.

No matter what you say, you just need to tell Madam Shen that I can retire.

I'm getting old; my eyesight and hearing are failing, and my mind is starting to go muddled.

It's time for him to go home and enjoy his retirement; let's hand over the court to others!

"But the imperial family still needs to be wary of the power of maternal relatives!" Prime Minister Xu said the last four words almost through gritted teeth.

The current suppression of the Xu family is simply to prevent the maternal relatives from seizing power.

But which of the Shen family and the Shangguan family wasn't related to the maternal relatives?

Prime Minister Xu suddenly remembered what the imperial family had said before: to wait six years before considering the matter of establishing an empress.

Haha, the Shangguan family doesn't have any girls of marriageable age.

But the Shen family has it!

The youngest daughter of the Shen family must be eleven years old this year!

In six years, wouldn't that be the perfect age to enter the palace?

The Xu family can back out, but they can't let others benefit from their success!

"Master, is it alright to say it like that? Won't it make Madam Shen lose her temper on the spot?" Madam Xu was also startled when she heard those four words.

Wasn't the situation the late emperor faced precisely the power of his maternal relatives?

And the late emperor's father...

Wasn't he forced by circumstances to marry Empress Dowager Zheng?

The abuse of power by maternal relatives was a source of pain for several emperors of the Great Yu Dynasty.

"Madam Shen is a smart woman; she knows what I mean!"

She said that the decision to establish an empress was His Majesty's.

But she will play a significant role in whose favor His Majesty ultimately leans.

I just want her to know that her Shen family is also a maternal relative.

Don't worry, Madam Shen won't mind.

"Others can negotiate with me, and I can negotiate with others just as well!" Prime Minister Xu said solemnly.