Chapter 406 Lady Hui
Although Pu Tonghe didn't explicitly say he was abandoning Ma Mingqian, everyone present was intelligent enough to understand the implication behind his words. However, the Prime Minister remained silent after hearing his words, making no further comment.
Seeing this, Pu Tonghe sneered inwardly, but said with regret on his face, "Those who do great things do not concern themselves with trifles. They must be able to harden their hearts and make decisive decisions about the people and things they must give up."
He sighed and said, "Prime Minister, let's make our move tonight. If we wait any longer, we might both be finished."
The Prime Minister's facial muscles were tense; Pu Tonghe, sitting opposite him, could even hear the grinding of his teeth. Silence filled the room. After an unknown amount of time, the Prime Minister's strained voice rang out, "Fine, do it."
Pu Tonghe frowned upon hearing this; he dared not get involved. He didn't want the Prime Minister to one day remember Ma Mingqian's kindness and harbor resentment towards him. He said somewhat awkwardly, "The assassination attempt failed, and I might be plagued by bad luck. Besides, my manpower at the Dali Temple is insufficient; you should handle it."
The Prime Minister raised his eyes, his sharp gaze fixed on him. Pu Tonghe did not back down, his eyes meeting his indifferent gaze. Their eyes met, both seeing the other's coldness and selfishness. After a moment, their gazes simultaneously receded. The Prime Minister dusted off his robes and said, "I can handle this, but Zishi, the assassination failed. Whose responsibility is it? Why did Jiang Yu target Mingqian?"
Pu Tonghe's face turned cold. "Fine, it was my fault for incompetence. I will apologize to the Prince myself. Is that alright?"
As he spoke, he stood up, looked down at the Prime Minister, and said in a deep voice, "Prime Minister, we have worked together for many years, and we know each other well. I understand and sympathize with your loss of your child, but there is really no need to escalate this to the point of tearing each other apart."
One was the Prime Minister, and the other the Minister of Personnel; their positions weren't too different. They were both long-serving members of the Prince of Lingnan's retinue. Although the Prime Minister usually took the lead in many matters, Pu Tonghe wasn't particularly afraid of him.
So he spoke these words with great composure. But to the Prime Minister, these words were not so pleasant. However, he also knew that both the Prince of Lingnan and he himself needed Pu Tonghe, and he couldn't afford to fall out with him now.
The Prime Minister suppressed his resentment, softened his expression, and said, "I love my son dearly, and I hope you will understand."
He offered a way out, and Pu Tonghe naturally wouldn't hold back any longer. He reached out and patted the Prime Minister on the shoulder, saying, "It's all for the greater cause. Your Highness will remember it."
After saying that, he strode away, his expression darkening as soon as he stepped out the door. Jiang Yu used Ma Mingqian as a scapegoat; he didn't care about Ma Mingqian's life or death. But if Jiang Yu knew about such a secret matter, then how many of his own affairs were Jiang Yu's doing?
He had to reassess Jiang Yu's abilities. When Jiang Yu first entered the court, he, like most officials, didn't take this woman seriously. No matter how talented she was, she was still just a woman.
Women's perspectives are often confined to domestic affairs and private matters, lacking a broader vision for governing the world; when faced with problems, they are easily swayed by their soft hearts, lacking the ruthlessness to make decisive moves. In the treacherous power struggles of the court, even talented women are ultimately unlikely to achieve great things.
However, as Jiang Yu accomplished one major feat after another that shook the court, his opinion of her changed. But even then, he only placed her on the same level as himself. But today's assassination attempt—not only did Jiang Yu escape perfectly, but she also decisively used Ma Mingqian as a scapegoat for revenge.
Is it possible for him to do that?
He felt he couldn't do it. He couldn't calm down immediately after escaping death, nor could he devise a plan for revenge right away. He couldn't match Jiang Yu's composure and decisiveness in the face of danger.
Furthermore, the Emperor must know about the powerful weapon Jiang Yu possesses. So, how many such powerful weapons do they have? And how many even more powerful weapons? With such a weapon in the Emperor's possession, what are the chances of the Prince of Lingnan succeeding?
Although he knew he couldn't get off the King of Lingnan's ship, he couldn't ignore these things and had to find a way out for himself.
With these thoughts in mind, he hurried away. The Prime Minister sat in the dimly lit room for a long time. Although he was cold-hearted and capable of making ruthless choices, it didn't mean he wasn't heartbroken.
Ma Mingqian didn't grow up by his side, but he still passed the imperial examination and became a Jinshi. None of his eldest son, eldest grandson, or any of his descendants living in the Prime Minister's residence passed the imperial examination. Although he didn't publicly acknowledge this son, he was proud of him and genuinely loved him.
The Office of Transmission is in charge of reporting public opinion and is the mouthpiece of the central government. Although the councilor is only a fifth-rank official, he handles documents and observes the court's movements, making him closest to the power dynamics. With his talent, he will surely be promoted after several years of dedicated work, and it is not impossible for him to become prime minister like him in the future.
But now he has to personally plan and end his life, how can he not feel heartbroken?
"Jiang Yu!" The Prime Minister gritted his teeth and shouted the name, his knuckles clenched so tightly they turned white, his voice filled with icy hatred.
First, his eldest grandson was exposed by Jiang Yu for his crimes and ended up being beheaded and displayed to the public! Now he has turned his attention to his son, on whom he has placed high hopes. How could he not hate him for all of this?
"I will remember this grudge, and one day I will make you pay a hundredfold!" the Prime Minister muttered through gritted teeth, then got up and returned to his residence through the secret passage.
After arriving at his study, he summoned his trusted confidants and issued a series of orders, the purpose of which was to have Ma Mingqian die at Dali Temple that night.
One by one, his trusted confidants received their orders and left. The prime minister sat listlessly in his study, his back involuntarily hunched. As people grow old, their thoughts turn to their descendants, and he had personally sent his most prized son on his way.
"Prime Minister." The steward's voice came from outside. The Prime Minister sat up straight, his face regaining its usual calm. "Come in."
The steward bowed and carefully entered the study, announcing, "Prime Minister, Madam Hui has arrived."
The prime minister frowned, sat there in silence for a long time, and then said, "Bring her to the study."
"yes."
The butler left, and a moment later led an elderly woman in her fifties into the study, before quietly leaving as well.
"Kunlang." Madam Hui knelt down with a thud, her face streaked with tears, the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes still damp. Her gray hair was disheveled, and her clothes were stained with dust, indicating that she had rushed here.
Seeing her like this, and thinking of his dying son, the Prime Minister's eyes welled up with tears. He rose and bent down to help Lady Hui up, but she shook her head, her body trembling as she knelt there, refusing to get up.
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