Chapter 511 Rewards
The emperor's return to the palace is the top priority at the moment. We don't know whether the emperor will summon his ministers to discuss matters in the future. Who dares to complain about being hungry?
Everyone tightened their belts and waited outside the study of the Qianqing Palace. As for the empress and the Liao prince, the former was "served" by Cui Yijun to the Kunning Palace, and the latter was surrounded by the Jinwu Guards and "rested" in the Hongde Hall.
The emperor leaned on the big kang by the window, looking as if he had aged ten years, his face full of fatigue.
Wang Yuan didn't dare to say a word. With a thick white cloth wrapped around his neck, he quietly served tea to the emperor.
The emperor waved his hand and said, "Go down and have a rest!"
Wang Yuan couldn't help but have tears in his eyes.
This shows that the Emperor still wants to use him!
It's no wonder that he and Song Yantang stood together.
He retreated with tears in his eyes.
The room was quiet, with only the crown prince standing before the emperor with his hands lowered, his attitude respectful.
The emperor laughed at himself and said, "I knew he wouldn't dare to kill me, but I didn't expect you to think of this way to save me! But, if you confine Prince Liao in Prince Liao's mansion, aren't you afraid of raising a tiger to cause trouble?"
He stared at the prince with a very sharp look.
A thin layer of sweat immediately broke out on the prince's back.
He thought for a moment and said seriously, "Before, I was so focused on rescuing my father that I didn't think about this. Now that my father mentioned it, I thought that when my fifth brother was in Liaodong, he had all the advantages but still couldn't succeed in the coup. Now that he has lost his help and is imprisoned in the Liao Palace, if he can cause trouble again, it will be because of my lack of virtue and incompetence, and I can't blame anyone else."
The emperor was very surprised.
His feelings towards the prince have always been complicated. He was afraid that he would be as opinionated and disobedient as the Liao prince, and he was also afraid that he would be too weak and submissive to handle important tasks. But the prince at this moment was neither arrogant nor submissive, and he seemed very simple and down-to-earth, which made him look at him with new eyes, and he felt relieved as if a huge stone had been lifted from his heart.
Maybe, I should try to let go of some things!
The emperor closed his eyes and said, "Let Wang Yuan come in and serve me! I'm tired, you can leave now!"
He didn't sleep for two days and one night.
The prince did not dare to disturb her, so he responded respectfully, left the study, and stood facing the wind. Only then did he feel his back was wet.
He couldn't help but let out a long sigh, and when he looked up, he saw that the corridor was crowded with princes and ministers. They were looking at him with wide eyes, as if waiting for his decision.
The prince secretly groaned.
The incident of Prince Liao caused such a big disturbance that it was impossible to whitewash it and pretend that nothing had happened. But if Prince Liao's crimes were announced to the world, his uncles and brothers would know that Prince Liao was imprisoned for treason, and they would probably be ready to make a move one day. Should they let him be on guard against thieves for a thousand days? This time, he discovered Prince Liao's conspiracy because of Ji Yong, and he was able to escape the disaster because of Song Mo's loyalty. If there is a next time, will he be so lucky?
The prince had a splitting headache.
He simply called Ji Yong and Song Mo to the side to talk.
Ji Yong said, "What's so difficult about this? Just say that the emperor is ill and secretly summoned Prince Liao back to the palace to take care of him. It doesn't matter whether the common people believe it or not. Over time, everyone will forget about it. Your Highness doesn't need to take it to heart."
Is that so?
The prince looked at Song Mo.
Song Mo smiled and said, "Master Ji is right."
Could my idea be wrong?
Ji Yong stood aside with a humble look on his face, but muttered something in his heart.
The prince smiled and said, "Then let's do it this way! Let the people in the Ministry of Public Security prepare a draft, and when the emperor has rested, we can post it to the whole country after he has read it." He said, with a bit of sadness between his brows, "But if this is the case, I'm afraid I won't be able to ask for credit for everyone."
Who wouldn't do this kind of thing, playing the long game to catch the big fish?
Ji Yong hurriedly said, "This is our responsibility. Your Highness, you are embarrassing us."
Song Mo also said: "The Jinwu Guards were responsible for protecting the Forbidden Palace, but now someone has sneaked in. They deserve to be put to death. How dare they take credit for it?"
The prince was worried about not having anything to reward the people who saved him. After hearing what the two said, he was moved and said, "Don't worry, if there is a chance, I will definitely ask for titles for you two!"
What's the point of talking about these empty things now?
Ji Yong was impatient and said with a smile, "I'll go to the Xingren Division! As for the several ministers, I'm afraid I'll have to ask Lord Song to guard His Highness - I don't know how many people are counting on this to get promoted and make a fortune!"
Go and talk to those old men in the cabinet!
I'm too lazy to keep you company.
He glanced at Song Mo.
Song Mo stood there with a smile, still looking calm and composed.
Ji Yong couldn't help but feel angry.
The prince said, "Then let's go and see Ming Ming!"
Ji Yong nodded and left.
Song Mo accompanied the prince to the emperor's chamber to discuss matters before the emperor returned to the palace.
Upon hearing that the Crown Prince had decided to conceal the Prince of Liao's treason, Liang Jifen's attitude was not only tough but also fierce: "How can this be possible?! The Prince of Liao committed an unforgivable crime! If this matter gets out, where will the face of the royal family be? Where will your majesty be?"
Song Mo already had a thing on Liang Jifen's mind, so if he didn't take action now, when would he?
He interrupted Liang Jifen with a smile: "Sir Liang, why didn't you say anything when His Highness asked you to find a way to welcome the Emperor to the palace? When the Emperor returned to the palace, you started to find fault. This is the Emperor's family affair, so you should not interfere. His Highness the Crown Prince has his own thoughts."
"You..." Liang Jifen's face turned red with anger.
He was a successful candidate in two imperial examinations, and was very knowledgeable. Later, he became a prime minister. He had not been ridiculed like this in many years. He could not help but get angry. He knew that a new emperor would appoint new ministers, and he should hold back his anger at this moment. But when he thought that Song Mo, a boy who had not even reached the age of twenty, dared to accuse him in front of the prince, he could not help but retort: "What are you talking about, Lord Song? How can this be the emperor's family affair? Prince Liao is plotting treason and shaking the foundation of the country. He should be punished as a warning to others..."
Yao Shizhong lowered his head, with a slight smile on his lips.
I originally thought that Song Yantang was just a descendant of a meritorious family, but I never expected that he was so ruthless in stirring up trouble.
The prince has just come to power and it is time for him to establish his authority. The prince may not like Liang Jifen's stubbornness.
He glanced at the prince.
The prince's face looked unhappy indeed.
A smile flashed in his eyes, he stroked his sleeves, and was about to speak up, but who knew that Dou Shishu, who had been sitting next to him without saying a word, suddenly said, "Sir Liang, the Liao prince is plotting rebellion, and no one in the world is more distressed than Your Highness. But Your Highness is kind-hearted and filial to his parents. For the safety of the emperor, he did not care about gains and losses, and successfully welcomed the emperor back to the palace. Sir Liang didn't say it beforehand, and then pursued right and wrong afterwards. What's the point?" He said, and bowed to the prince, "People in the world like new things and hate old things. It is common sense for the people to talk about the abnormality in the capital. The more we ignore it, the less the people will take it to heart; the more serious we are, the more curious the people will be. I think Your Highness's idea is very good!"
The prince looked relieved.
Yao Shizhong regretted not seizing the opportunity and said hurriedly, "I also think your Highness's idea is good." He added, "Your Highness has been very tired these days, and we cannot disturb him. However, this matter cannot be delayed any longer. I think your Highness could send someone to spread the news while waiting for the Emperor to wake up before posting a notice to the world. This way, you can do both without any delay."
Dai Jian regretted it so much that he wished he could turn into a needle and fall to the ground so that no one could see him. He hunched his shoulders and said nothing.
Muchuan and others all agreed.
The prince was very happy and handed the task of spreading the news to Song Mo.
For several days, Song Mo either rested in the government office or in the palace.
Since Prince Liao came to the capital to attend to the emperor's illness, not only did he not receive any reward, but he was also given many shameful tasks - how to relocate the dead and injured Jinwu Guards, what pretexts to use to ask for pensions from the Ministry of Revenue, and how to repair the damaged palace gates. Song Mo wished he could have three heads and six arms.
Dou Zhao had no choice but to send some spare clothes and food over from time to time.
The wife of Marquis Changxing and others came to visit her one after another, hoping to hear some news from the palace from her.
Dou Zhao used the excuse that she was pregnant and should not work hard to send these people back.
By the time the autumn wind started to blow, Song Mo's affairs were almost done, and an imperial decree was issued from the palace that the emperor was unwell and the crown prince would be in charge of the country. The emperor would move to the West Garden Palace on September 2nd.
Dou Zhao was stunned and asked Song Mo, "Did you know about this in advance?"
"I just heard about it." Song Mo groaned, "I'm afraid it was a temporary decision made by the emperor."
Dou Zhao said: "Will Prince Liao return home?"
Prince Liao has been in the palace these days, while the Empress is in Cining Palace. The third princess once went to the palace to ask to see the Empress, but was reprimanded by the Empress Dowager, who told her not to go around making trouble for no reason and sent a palace nanny to watch her and make her copy the "Rules for Women" a hundred times as a punishment.
The third princess was extremely ashamed and angry, but she had no choice but to close the door and refuse visitors like the other female members of the royal family, and she dared not go anywhere.
"That depends on the emperor's mood." Song Mo said, "Although Prince Liao lives in the Qianqing Palace, the emperor doesn't care about him. The eunuchs in the palace dare not serve him tea, food, or help him wash and change clothes. It is said that he has lice on his body."
"No way?" Dou Zhao widened his eyes.
"It's true." Song Mo said, "A phoenix without feathers is worse than a chicken. Sometimes they are even worse than ordinary people!"
"He deserves it!" Dou Zhao had no good feelings towards King Liao, whether in his past life or this life.
Song Mo went to see Jiang Baisun: "I mentioned your case to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince two days ago, saying that if it weren't for you reporting the news, we would never have known that Prince Liao had come to the capital. The Crown Prince asked me to ask you, what are your plans? If you want to revive your family's reputation, I'm afraid you'll have to wait a few more years; if you just want to return to Haozhou, he can ask the emperor for this favor."
Jiang Boxun's external injuries have almost healed, but his internal injuries will take more than a year or so to heal.
"I'd better go back to Liaodong!" He said with a smile. "Liaodong will surely become a mess without the Liao King. The Liao King's son is only five years old this year and knows nothing. The Koreans will not miss this good opportunity. Instead of waiting for the prince to plead for me, it is better for me to lead the children of the Jiang family to fight on the battlefield. We in the Jiang family have never been greedy for life and afraid of death. Only on the battlefield can we truly revive the Jiang family's reputation! That is a glory that cannot be wiped out by the emperor or the prince!"
Song Mo's expression changed slightly, and he said, "You'd better discuss this matter with your aunt first!"
All the adult male members of the Jiang family are in Liaoning.
Casualties are inevitable on the battlefield.
If something unexpected happens, what will the Jiang family do?
Besides, Jiang Baisun had never been to the battlefield.