Both Prime Ministers Wang and Zheng were extremely intelligent, and they immediately understood after hearing Cui Hong's words.
Praise to death?
How could Empress Xie truly experience the wonders of power?
Hmm!
That's an excellent idea.
"As I grow older and my energy wanes, I inevitably become lax in handling state affairs."
Wang Yu stroked his gray beard and said calmly.
"..." Prime Minister Zheng Xian was the youngest and healthiest of the three prime ministers.
He is under fifty years old, with good eyesight and hearing, and never catches a cold or cough throughout the year.
Even with his thick skin, he couldn't bring himself to say that he was "old" or "sick".
Furthermore, if they wanted to flatter Empress Xie to the point of ruin and temporarily relinquish power, they couldn't leave her with absolutely no way out.
Of the three prime ministers, at least one should be retained.
The other two were merely "recuperating from illness," not actually retiring from their posts.
"From now on, the council hall will be entirely in the care of Prime Minister Zheng!"
Wang Yu and Cui Hong said with smiles.
"Prime Minister Wang and Prime Minister Cui, rest assured, I will certainly take good care of the court!"
Zheng Xian cupped his hands in greeting, indicating that he would do his best.
The three gentlemen's decision to "temporarily avoid the limelight" wasn't just a ploy to flatter Xie Yuan to his detriment; it was also a way to teach Xie Yuan a lesson.
They wanted Xie Yuan to know that the vast imperial court, and especially the central council chamber, could not be easily controlled by just a few female attendants.
We still need these respected and experienced veterans to take the helm!
"Sigh, I just hope the Xie family won't cause too much trouble."
"Women are all like that, they act too willfully."
"Yes, yes, I hope the Xie family won't get carried away and make a mess of the court!"
The three old foxes sighed, feigning loyalty.
Their mindset was somewhat complicated; they hoped Xie Yuan would be seduced by power, but they were also afraid she would cause big trouble and scare them!
...In the end, it's all Helian Jue's fault.
Even if he were to establish a crown prince and have the empress oversee the country in his place, it would be better than simply pushing a woman into the court.
Helian Jue's erratic behavior and Empress Xie's lack of virtue have put these court officials in a difficult position!
...
The next day, Wang Yu also took sick leave, citing old age and poor health.
Of the three senior figures in the council, only Zheng Xian remains.
As for Jeong Hyeon, the only remaining prime minister, he also began to slack off.
If you can lie around like a couch potato, then lie around.
If it gets too outrageous, I'll just flip it over slightly, pretend it's okay, and then continue slacking off.
The council hall was almost at a standstill, and the entire court was thrown into chaos.
There's a backlog of government affairs to handle, and no one is available to serve.
Government orders could not be issued in a timely manner, and memorials from below could not be uploaded!
Xie Yuan: ...
Oh my god, is this a strike?
But why?
Is it all because of Cui Hong's "sick leave"?
Xie Yuan said, "I'm innocent! I didn't force him!"
Furthermore, even if Cui Hong wasn't the main cause of Princess Xinping's affair, he still bears some responsibility.
Those who make recommendations are inherently subject to certain joint responsibilities.
Moreover, Cui Hong can honestly say that he had absolutely no ulterior motives in recommending Yang Jiazi.
The imperial dignity is inviolable. In the rigidly hierarchical ancient times, Xie Yuan, as the superior, only reprimanded Cui Hong a few times and confiscated three months' salary, which was already very lenient.
If you throw a tantrum over this and take the opportunity to strike, tsk tsk, such a narrow-minded person doesn't deserve to stand in the imperial court.
"Could it be because of the lady-in-waiting?"
Xie Yuan couldn't help but wonder about the intentions of the three old foxes.
But she quickly dismissed the speculation, saying, "Impossible! The female attendant has been attending court for half a month now."
"Their best time to strike is in the first three days."
"It's been half a month already, it's unlikely that we'll bring this up again!"
Xie Yuan tried hard to figure out why the three prime ministers had suddenly adopted this "non-violent non-cooperation" approach.
"Fine! If I can't guess it, I can't guess it!"
Xie Yuan wasn't a stubborn person; if he couldn't think of something, he simply wouldn't try to think about it.
As for the current predicament, Xie Yuan is not worried at all.
She not only had female attendants under her command, but also talented people she brought back from Lingnan.
Most of these talented individuals were discovered by Helian Jue, who personally visited them to persuade them to leave their seclusion.
After Helian Jue ascended the throne, he did not immediately give important positions to his subordinates, not because he did not want to, but because he was waiting for an opportunity.
And here comes the opportunity!
"Are those great scholars and senior officials all at the Hongwen Academy?"
Xie Yuan summoned Zheng Yurong. Zheng Yurong was different from Luo Peiyu. Luo Peiyu was an Embroidered-Robe Envoy, walking at the intersection of black and white.
Zheng Yurong was Xie Yuan's first female official.
Although Xie Yuan did not officially appoint Zheng Yurong as a female attendant, in her Jiaofang Palace, Zheng Yurong was definitely her most trusted and relied-upon assistant.
"Your Majesty, all the senior officials are present!"
Zheng Yurong answered respectfully.
"very good!"
Xie Yuan nodded in satisfaction, stood up, and went directly to the Hongwen Hall.
Before issuing a formal decree, Xie Yuan still made it a habit to have a proper conversation with the person involved.
Even after these past few years since his transmigration, Xie Yuan still retains many of the ideas he had in his later life—
Recruiting personnel requires a two-way selection process.
She would ask the person in question for their opinion if she felt that a certain official was suitable for a certain position.
The person involved, number one: "Your Majesty, do you wish to allow this old man to enter the Secretariat?"
His name was Gu Heng, a famous minister of the Southern Dynasty. He was exiled to Lingnan because he offended the last emperor of the Southern Dynasty.
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