Chapter 356 Zhao Hede 17
A glimpse of the whole picture reveals that just by looking at Lian'er, who tried every possible means to be transferred to Zhaoyi Palace, one can understand the attitude of everyone in the harem towards Zhao Zhaoyi being crowned Queen.
In the Weiyang Palace, everyone understood that the emperor had blindly doted on Zhao Zhaoyi, who had only been in the palace for two years. Naturally, no one thought that anyone could break through the siege and take away what was in Zhao Hede's pocket.
But Wang Zhengjun still had some concerns. She was worried that Zhao Hede would become even more unscrupulous after becoming the queen, and would then become more aggressive in pestering the emperor, further confirming her son's reputation as a tyrant.
Moreover, the Empress is the mother of the nation, different from the Empress Consorts. She holds great significance and is a role model for all women in the world. How can the people be convinced by letting a woman who only knows how to flatter the Emperor take the position?
As she thought of this, her head became heavier. When Lady Gongsun led Wang Mang in, she noticed that her face looked strange.
"I see the Queen Mother. Is she still troubled by the question of your majesty's choice of a queen?"
Wang Mang was moved when he heard this. Seeing his aunt nodding slowly, he understood that she still did not agree with His Majesty making Zhao Zhaoyi the empress. His mind raced, and he took the initiative to speak and take over the conversation:
"In fact, the court officials also had some complaints about Zhao Zhaoyi's appointment as Empress."
"Oh? What did the court officials say?"
“They believed that rotten wood could not be used as a pillar, and that a lowly person could not be a ruler. All the ministers believed that Your Majesty should choose a concubine with both good character and outstanding moral character as the empress. Some ministers also believed that since Zhao Zhaoyi had no heir, she was not worthy of being the empress.”[1]
These reasons were exactly what Wang Zhengjun was thinking. She nodded secretly, and her heart became more determined. However, "The emperor is now determined to make me the empress, and I don't know how to make him change his mind."
Wang Mang replied respectfully, "Unfortunately, my nephew's position is too low to speak out in a letter to the Emperor to relieve the Empress Dowager's worries. However, I would like to recommend someone, the Imperial Counselor Liu Fu. He is known for his integrity and is highly respected by the court officials. I can convey the Empress Dowager's wishes to him, and if he can come forward, the Emperor may be willing to accept his proposal."
"That's all I can do."
Wang Zhengjun herself had never had any ideas. Since Wang Mang was a family member specially recommended to her by her brother Wang Feng before his death, she thought his idea must be right.
She never thought about what would happen to Lord Liu Fu, who spoke frankly and made suggestions, if the emperor got angry. She just handed the matter over to Wang Mang for full handling.
When Zhao Hede heard the latest news that Yu Kezi brought from his brother, her eyes almost rolled to the sky.
"This kind of political literacy is simply a disaster. Compared to her, I don't know if I can be considered a demon concubine."
"After all, I only harmed the emperor. I didn't harm any of the loyal and capable ministers of the previous dynasty."
This campaign of "persuading the emperor to choose a virtuous wife" was led by Wang Mang, a political rookie who had just stepped onto the political stage, instructed by the "virtuous and tolerant" Empress Dowager, and implemented by the stubborn and upright Lord Liu Fu. Unsurprisingly, it was completely messed up in the hands of three idiots with poor political acumen.
Then, the Wang family once again made all the ministers of the previous dynasty understand the importance of having a good family. As the source of power and great mascot of the Wang family, Wang Zhengjun, with her impeccable status as the emperor's mother, had no problems.
Wang Mang, a Minister of Rites, did not even have the qualifications to write a letter to advise the emperor, but he still managed to escape unscathed thanks to his impeccable surname. In the end, only the upright minister Liu Fu became the emperor's punching bag.
This big fool Chun even remembered to say "thank you" when the Queen Mother and Xiao Yu came to visit him.
Zhao Hede chuckled and had no intention of saving such a fool. She estimated that even if she came forward to persuade the emperor, he would still be arrogant to her, which was not what she wanted.
She simply turned around and asked her brother to report Wang Mang, accusing him of taking advantage of the opportunity to enter and leave the palace to instigate the empress dowager to interfere in government affairs, deceive ministers, and seize power.
There was no real evidence to support this charge, but as the saying goes, what matters is not right or wrong, but the emperor's intentions. One must have a keen political sense. Why was the emperor so angry with Minister Liu Fu alone, imprisoned for only a few days, and then executed?
Could it really be because of Liu Fu's advice? You know, Liu Fu is a "remonstrator" who is "always" famous for his uprightness!
The real reason why this remonstration made Liu Ao so angry was still the irreconcilable contradiction between royal power and the royal relatives.
The emperor was clearly angry at the empress dowager and the Wang family for not only interfering in government affairs but also in his family affairs and preferences.
In Liu Ao's view, this was a naked provocation and temptation. For a middle-aged emperor, the pain of being offended but unable to do anything about it could drive him crazy.
"Your Majesty, please forgive my brother. He was young and ignorant... It was only in the heat of the moment that he committed such a heinous act. I, your concubine, no longer have any extravagant ambitions for the position of empress. As long as I can be by Your Majesty's side, I am content..."
Without waiting for Wang Zhengjun to come, Zhao Hede took the initiative to go to the Xuanshi Hall and cried in Liu Ao's arms, looking panic-stricken.
Liu Ao didn't expect that the first time his beloved concubine came to him was for this matter. Although she didn't mention it in her words, it was clear that she was afraid of Wang's threats. The anger that had been pent up in his heart for many years had reached its peak, but he could only suppress his emotions and said in a deep voice:
"I will handle this matter myself, you don't need to worry."
"But my brother reported to Minister Wang..."
"Your brother is simply reporting to me what he has seen and heard truthfully. What's wrong with that? If everyone in the court were as outspoken and loyal as your brother, I would be overjoyed."
The implication of this statement is interesting. If Zhao Ke was a loyal minister, then what about Wang Mang, whom he reported? Or what about the Wang family?
Zhao Hede knew it very well. She touched her belly and couldn't tell that she was two months pregnant. She didn't intend to say it out now.
After all, the Zhao family has only been in power for a short time. Although Zhao Ke is now fighting against Wang Mang, who has not yet made a name for himself, and it is said that he is not as arrogant and extravagant as the other members of the Wang family, so his relationship with the other members of the Wang family is average, but to the outside world, I am afraid that the Wang family will not allow anyone to challenge their authority.
Sure enough, at the court meeting five days later, Liu Ao's face turned as black as charcoal when faced with the memorials from nearly 70% of the court members who were accusing Zhao Ke and even his father Zhao Lin, and he actually interrupted the court meeting halfway.
At this time, Wang Feng had passed away, and his successor Wang Yin was relatively loyal. However, he could control the other sons and nephews of the Wang family, but he could not control his two younger cousins and their followers, and some of them were ministers who followed the crowd and tried to curry favor with the Wang family.
Seeing that things had come to this, he had no choice but to persevere. Moreover, he believed that he understood his nephew Wang Mang, and privately believed that this was a deliberate revenge by the Zhao family.
The Wang family has been in a high-handed position for too long, and even the cautious Wang Mang did not take this matter seriously.
Seeing that the emperor had not spoken, Wang Yin actually made a direct ruling on the matter and wanted to put Zhao Ke in jail.
This undoubtedly made Liu Ao slap Hede hard in front of him.
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