"It's even possible..."
"Su Wansan's son is still alive."
Zhao Cheng looked at Yan Zheng in the cell and said, "Mr. Yan, investigate Cui Wuming and the survivors of the Su family. Treat this as the top priority for Yiwen Society."
Yan Zheng nodded and said, "Yes."
Yan Yilun, gripping the bars of his cell, shouted, "Zhao Cheng, are you done talking? Tell me quickly, how did you detoxify Deng Yanjiao?!"
Zhao Cheng glanced at Yan Yilun and asked, "Why should I tell you?"
Yan Yilun's eyes widened, and he shouted, "Didn't you say that if I told you, you would tell me?"
Zhao Cheng said, "I've changed my mind. For someone as vicious as you, letting you die would be too good for you. I'll keep the secret to the antidote so you'll suffer and suffocate!"
Yan Yilun shouted, "Zhao Cheng, you broke your promise! You *@%#@%&!!!"
"It's been a long time since I've heard such cheerful singing. You continue, I won't keep you company any longer."
After saying this, Zhao Cheng snorted coldly and strode away.
...
In the same month, the new Imperial Palace was completed, and Yuan Xiu held a grand banquet outside the palace to entertain his officials.
Zhao Cheng's share was not owed to Yuan Xiu, which filled Yuan Xiu's pockets and gave him confidence. Even if he frequently held banquets, he no longer needed to worry about Xu Shouli's opinion.
The Imperial New Palace had many recreational facilities, and Yuan Xiu officially moved his sleeping quarters there. The close officials who visited the Imperial New Palace were all surprised, because although there were recreational facilities for adults, most of them were for children.
The Empress was only pregnant, yet the Emperor was already eager to create a happy environment for his son to grow up in.
Won't.
The Imperial Palace was built in two phases. When construction began, even the Empress was just a child, so the Emperor could not have imagined that far ahead.
After carefully considering the emperor's experience of ascending to the throne, the ministers realized that the emperor had obviously built these facilities for his own amusement.
He wants to make up for his missing childhood.
For Yuan Xiu, the Imperial Palace was a major event. This time, he hosted a large-scale banquet for civil and military officials, basically inviting all officials of the fifth rank and above in the capital.
The officials were seated according to rank and status. After Mu Shanyue retired, Wen Tai sat in the head seat. Although the recent anti-corruption campaign had removed many officials from the left-wing faction, Wen Tai remained energetic and indifferent.
Prince Xin, Yuan Li, was also summoned back to Changsui by Yuan Xiu. He sat next to Wen Tai, and behind him were Xu Shouli, Luo Mingyi, and other important officials from the Six Ministries.
After drinking together for a while, Yuan Xiu got up and walked towards the officials, stopping in front of Luo Mingyi.
"Minister Luo, I must thank you!"
Luo Mingyi quickly stood up, saying in a flustered manner, "Your Majesty is too kind. This is my duty!"
Yuan Xiu patted Luo Mingyi on the shoulder and said with a smile, "I promised you that if the Imperial Palace can be completed on schedule, I will bestow upon your mother the title of Lady of the Imperial Decree. Two ladies of the same family, it would be quite a remarkable story!"
Overwhelmed with emotion, Luo Mingyi knelt down, tears streaming down his face, and said, "Your Majesty, I thank you for your great kindness!"
"Please rise quickly." Yuan Xiu helped Luo Mingyi up, took the wine cup from the palace maid, and looked at the officials, saying, "You are all pillars of the Great Jing Dynasty. I toast you!"
"Congratulations, Your Majesty!!! Long live the Emperor!!!" All the officials rose and drank together.
Yuan Xiu withdrew, walked to the front of the officials, raised his hand and said, "Although today is not a court assembly, I have something to announce at this time."
The officials immediately stood at attention, knowing from Yuan Xiu's attitude that something important was about to be announced.
One moment the scene was one of singing and dancing, the next it resembled a solemn imperial court.
Yuan Xiu turned to the side, pointed to the Imperial New Palace behind him, and said, "You all know that I have moved my sleeping quarters to the Imperial New Palace, but you do not know that I have set up a new central platform in the Imperial New Palace."
"The Central Secretariat?" The officials looked at each other, wondering what this was.
Yuan Li, sitting in the front row, remained calm and showed no doubt.
"The Night Pill has been destroyed."
"The Southern Zhou also made peace with the Great Jing."
"Special Envoy Zhou sent me a message saying that the countries of Dayue, Teluntu, Abile, and Jinran have praised our dynasty highly and wish to maintain friendly relations with Dajing for generations to come."
"Although Hou Cang has little interaction with Da Jing, it is a tiny country and not worth mentioning."
"This is the situation abroad."
As Yuan Xiu recounted his story, the officials nodded subconsciously, all feeling a sense of pride.
"As for the domestic situation, the Xishan Dam was completed, the three counties of New Taipei City were well managed by General Wang, and the Ministry of Revenue, under the management of Minister Xu, did not delay in disaster relief efforts in various regions."
"The anti-corruption efforts have been progressing well recently, and we need to continue implementing them in all counties."
"My Great Jing Dynasty is now a time of peace and prosperity! Therefore, I have decided that there will be no need for daily court assemblies. I will hold court with my ministers once every ten days in the Tianze Hall, and the daily reports from the officials will be handled by the Central Secretariat with the assistance of the Left Chancellor!"
Upon hearing this, the entire room fell silent.
But almost everyone's eyes were on Wen Tai.
The left-wing officials looked on with horror.
The Emperor is... about to take action against the Left Chancellor!
The emperor established the Central Secretariat in his own palace to facilitate close control of power. Although he claimed that the Central Secretariat assisted the Left Chancellor, this assistance could also be a form of de facto powerlessness.
This is an attempt to seize power!
Yuan Xiu continued, "Xuzhong County under the rule of Prince Xin is economically prosperous and its people live in peace and contentment, which shows that Prince Xin has the talent to govern the country."
"I need not reiterate the contributions that Marquis Qingdong has made to the Ministry of Revenue in the past two years."
"He Yin is an upright man who is fair in rewarding and punishing. Chen Changyun is efficient and adept at mediating disputes."
"I have decided to appoint Yuan Li, Xu Shouli, He Yin, and Chen Changyun as central ministers!"
At this point, Yuan Xiu glanced at Wen Tai and smiled, "The four of you must do your best to assist the Left Prime Minister!"
"yes!!!"
The four men stood up and bowed to Yuan Xiu and Wen Tai in turn.
Wen Tai's expression was somewhat stiff, but he still managed a smile and returned the greeting to the four, saying, "We are all ministers of the same court, and we are all working to govern the Great Jing better. There is no question of assistance."
Chen Changyun smiled and said, "The Left Prime Minister is too modest. I hope you will take good care of me in the future."
Wen Tai was in the front row, and the officials could only see his back, but even from a distance, they could feel the chill emanating from him.
The emperor was extremely particular in choosing these four people.
Yuan Li is a prince; his political achievements are not relevant, his status alone is enough.
Xu Shouli and He Yin's achievements are evident to all.
Although Chen Changyun held the lowest official rank, he was the emperor's closest advisor.
There will be no objection from the officials if these four are chosen as central ministers.
The officials didn't have it, but Wen Tai did.
Although he remained amicable towards the four men, he took a step closer to Yuan Xiu and said, “Your Majesty’s statement that the Great Jing is now peaceful and prosperous is true. However, I believe that peace and prosperity are not static; they require the maintenance of officials of all ranks, and even more so, the wisdom of the monarch.”
"If the monarch is diligent, the empire will prosper. If the monarch is negligent, the empire will be in danger!"
Hiss!!!
A collective gasp filled the room.
Faced with the imminent loss of his power as prime minister, Wen Tai did not choose to remain silent but instead openly challenged the emperor!
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