Chapter 94 Crisis of Overshadowing the Master
Inside the Hall of Preserving Harmony, the lights shone brightly, as if the sun were high in the sky.
This victory banquet, held to celebrate the Regent's triumphant return, was as lavish as a state banquet. Delicacies were served in a continuous stream, dancers moved with the suppleness of snakes, and the melodious sounds of string and wind instruments filled the air.
However, beneath this seemingly peaceful and prosperous surface, a suffocating undercurrent is surging.
Shen Jin sat in the high seat, toying with a jade cup in his hand, his expression indifferent. Jiang Mianmian sat beside him, with a pile of freshly peeled shrimp shells in front of her. She seemed to be eating happily, but in reality, her ears were perked up like antennas, constantly alert to any movement around her.
Something's not right.
Something's really wrong.
[That old hag was furious at the palace gate just now, how come she's all smiles like an old chrysanthemum in such a short while?]
The Empress Dowager, seated high on her phoenix throne, was radiant with health as she raised her cup in a distant toast to Shen Jin.
"The Regent's northern expedition has enhanced our national prestige, a great fortune for the country and its people! In my opinion, even the founding emperor could not have achieved such brilliance!"
The moment these words were spoken, the entire room fell silent.
Comparing the regent to the founding emperor?
These words sound like a compliment, but they are actually putting Shen Jin in a very difficult position! They are implying that he has the appearance of an emperor and the ambition to rebel!
"Your Majesty flatters me."
Shen Jin said calmly, "I am merely fulfilling my duty and dare not compare myself to the founding emperor."
"Oh! Your Highness is too modest!"
Among the Empress Dowager's supporters, a newly promoted Vice Minister of Rites stepped forward and loudly proclaimed with a fawning expression, "Your Highness's achievements are unparalleled, and now the people only know the Regent, not..."
He seemed to have let something slip, glanced in horror at the young emperor on the dragon throne, then knelt down with a thud and slapped himself in the face.
"Your Majesty, I have misspoke! I deserve to die! But... Your Highness's achievements are truly unprecedented! In my opinion, ordinary rewards are insufficient to demonstrate Your Highness's merits. Perhaps... Your Majesty should bestow upon Your Highness the 'Nine Bestowments' as a sign of respect!"
"boom--!"
It was as if a thunderclap had struck inside the main hall.
Nine bestowals!
That was standard equipment for powerful ministers in ancient times before they usurped the throne! Wang Mang suffered from it, Cao Cao suffered from it, and Sima Zhao suffered from it too. Whoever took it would be forced to abdicate the emperor next!
This is blatant flattery that could be used to kill someone!
This is forcing the young emperor and all the officials to force Shen Jin to be labeled a "traitor"!
The young emperor, Shen Xingchen, sat on the dragon throne, and the chicken leg in his hand suddenly lost its appeal. Although he was young, he had heard the Grand Tutor tell the story of the Nine Bestowments.
He looked at Shen Jin with a flustered expression, his eyes filled with helplessness and a hint of fear after being provoked.
Imperial Uncle...do you really want to be emperor?
Jiang Mianmian forgot to chew the shrimp meat in her mouth.
Holy crap! That's a vicious move!
This is pushing Shen Jin to the brink! If he accepts, it's tantamount to harboring wolfish ambitions; if he refuses, it's seen as a sign of weakness and a disrespect to the Emperor!
These civil officials kill without a knife, relying solely on their words!
[Chen Jin, don't back down! Fight back! Show them what it means to say 'I don't care!']
As Shen Jin listened to her inner cry, a hint of warmth flickered in his originally cold eyes.
He slowly put down his wine cup, his gaze sweeping over the kneeling Vice Minister of Rites, and then looking at the Empress Dowager with an "expectant" expression.
"Nine Bestowments?"
Shen Jin chuckled softly, his voice low but carrying a chilling arrogance, "If I wanted that chair, would I have waited until today? Would I still need these empty titles?"
"You..." The Empress Dowager's expression changed.
"I am acting as regent because the Emperor is young. When the Emperor assumes full power, I will return the reins of power and go with the Princess... to enjoy the scenery."
Shen Jin reached out and grasped Jiang Mianmian's hand, their fingers intertwined. "As for those so-called 'respects'... in my eyes, they are not as precious as a grape peeled by the Princess."
Jiang Mianmian: [...]
[Brother, I'm very touched, but could you please stop using me as a shield? I'm under a lot of pressure right now!]
However… I give this Versailles performance a perfect score!
"good!"
Jiang Mianmian suddenly threw down the shrimp shell in her hand, stood up, and looked at the Vice Minister of Rites with an "innocent" expression:
"My lord, you just said that the prince's achievements are so great that they threaten the emperor, is that right?"
"Then let me ask you, when the Prince drove away Northern Yan, didn't that save your life? When the Prince controlled the floods, didn't that save your hometown?"
"If Your Highness really wanted to rebel, wouldn't it have been better to lead your troops straight into this hall when you entered the city? Why would you need to sit here listening to your nonsense?"
"You people..."
Jiang Mianmian shook her head, looking disgusted. "She's just too full and has nothing better to do! She's got more tricks up her sleeve than a lotus root!"
"Since Your Excellency believes that the Prince's merits are too great and there is no reward to bestow..."
Jiang Mianmian's eyes lit up. "Then why don't we give all your hundreds of acres of fertile land, as well as the gold and silver treasures in your storeroom, to the Prince? Anyway, the Prince doesn't mind having too much money!"
"puff--"
Some upright ministers below couldn't help but laugh out loud.
The Vice Minister of Rites' face turned a deep shade of liver: "This...this is outrageous! How could the Princess Consort be so...so mercenary!"
"What's wrong with being mercenary?"
Jiang Mianmian said righteously, "It's still better than you hypocritical villains! You enjoy the peaceful life brought by the prince while stabbing each other in the back. Have you all lost your conscience?"
[I felt so good venting!]
To deal with this kind of moral blackmail, you have to use magic to defeat magic! Talk to him about money; it'll make him feel utterly vulgar!
Shen Jin looked at the woman standing in front of him, defiant and defiant like a mother hen protecting her chicks, and the icy coldness in his eyes completely melted away.
His achievements overshadowed his master?
As long as she is present, this act of trembling before the Lord will become a shield protecting the Lord.
"Enough!"
Seeing that this tactic had failed, the Empress Dowager slammed her hand on her phoenix throne and shouted sternly, "How can a woman be allowed to run wild in the imperial court!"
"Regent! Is it your 'duty' to tolerate the Princess's rant in court?"
The Empress Dowager's eyes turned incredibly sinister; she no longer concealed her true intentions and revealed her true motives.
"Since Your Highness says you don't want to rebel, then so be it!"
"To appease the people, and to prove the prince's innocence..."
The Empress Dowager stared intently at Shen Jin and said, word by word:
"Your Highness, please hand over the Tiger Tally!"
"As long as you hand over military power, I will trust you!"
The atmosphere inside the hall instantly froze to freezing point.
The Tiger Tally.
This is tantamount to pulling out the tiger's teeth or breaking the eagle's wings.
Once he relinquishes his military power, Shen Jin will be like a fish on a chopping board, completely at the mercy of others!
Jiang Mianmian's heart skipped a beat.
Has this old hag gone mad?
[To force a resignation at this critical juncture? Where does she get the confidence? Could it be...?]
Jiang Mianmian keenly sensed that something was amiss in her surroundings.
The guards who were originally standing in the hall had been replaced by a group of unfamiliar faces. Moreover, the doors and windows of the hall... seemed to have been quietly closed.
A strong sense of crisis instantly enveloped her heart.
[There's an ambush!]
Shen Jin had obviously noticed it as well.
He didn't look at the Empress Dowager, but instead picked up his wine cup and drank it all in one gulp.
"What if I... refuse to hand it over?"
As he finished speaking, he slammed the wine glass in his hand heavily on the table.
"Smack!"
A crisp sound.
It was as if it were a signal.
Suddenly, from behind the curtains surrounding the main hall, came the sound of hurried footsteps and the clanging of armor.
Countless archers emerged from the shadows, their cold arrows aimed directly at Shen Jin and Jiang Mianmian in the center of the hall.
"Not paying?"
The Empress Dowager stood up, a victorious grin spreading across her face. "Then don't blame me for... cleaning house!"
"Guards! The Regent is plotting a rebellion! Execute him on the spot!"
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