Chapter 357 A Win-Win Situation
"Your mother is discussing your uncle with you," Empress Dowager Jiang interrupted Chang Hao. Now that she had been discovered, Empress Dowager Jiang stopped pretending. "He is your uncle. If it weren't for his support, could your mother have become the queen? You were made crown prince at birth, which is also thanks to the Jiang family and your mother. You must not forget their kindness."
Chang Hao, with a look of 'restraint,' said, 'This isn't the first time my uncle has rebelled. During Father's reign…'
“I don’t care what your father was like when he was in power. Donglu was remote and desolate. The Marquis of Dongbo was defending the border against foreign enemies. He was living a very hard life. The court was unwilling to provide much support. If he didn’t come up with a solution, how could he survive?”
Empress Dowager Jiang had long been pampered and spoiled in the Yin Shang palace. Chang Hao had no concubines and was indifferent to pleasures, since it didn't matter whether he enjoyed them or not. This was a world of difference from when Emperor Yi was alive. Chang Hao directly gave Empress Dowager Jiang the allowances of his crown prince.
After Emperor Yi's death, Chang Hao did not indulge in extravagance and desire, nor did he approve of the normal life of a king. Instead, he provided his own treatment to Empress Dowager Jiang, so that Empress Dowager Jiang now lived a life that could be described as being provided by the whole country. She became increasingly extravagant and indulgent, and her years in Donglu must have become an unbearable memory.
"The Queen Mother doesn't ask you to recall the Marquis of Dongbo back to Chaoge, but only to send him back to Donglu. Having learned his lesson, he will surely continue to guard the border for the King. Why do you have to worry about so much?"
Empress Dowager Jiang felt that she had already been wronged, and she had not asked Zi Shou to compensate the Marquis of Dongbo for the grievances he had suffered these days.
"So, what does Your Majesty wish to do?" Chang Hao asked, intentionally or unintentionally leading Empress Dowager Jiang toward the situation he desired. "Does it mean that I wish to release Jiang Hengchu without charge or to allow him to live a life of luxury in Chaoge?"
Empress Dowager Jiang's eyes lit up. How could she not have thought of this? What was the point of going back to Donglu? It was better to live a life of luxury in Chaoge than to go back to Donglu and suffer, having to defend against foreign enemies and risk her life at any time.
"That's right, I want you to raise Dongbo Hou Rong in Chaoge." Empress Dowager Jiang immediately changed her mind.
Chang Hao couldn't help but chuckle. It wasn't that he couldn't do it, but he was unwilling to make a losing deal by bringing along the other three lords and raising Jiang Hengchu, who was already in a cage.
"This is utterly absurd! How am I supposed to face the other three great lords if we let the Marquis of Dongbo live a life of luxury in Chaoge? It's not the scarcity that's the problem, but the inequality. Your Majesty, this precedent must not be set!" Chang Hao feigned anger, but in reality, he had already decided to let Empress Dowager Jiang take the blame for imprisoning the four great lords in Chaoge. The woman was being unreasonable, and he, being a filial son, was truly forced into this situation.
"Then let's bring the other three major vassal states along and let them come to Chaoge to live in luxury. Anyway, their sons and brothers are still in their fiefdoms, so there's no need to worry about who will defend against foreign enemies." Empress Dowager Jiang's mind worked quite quickly.
"Nonsense, Mother, please give up this idea." Chang Hao turned and left.
"Zishou, stop right there..." Empress Dowager Jiang was anxious and chased after him. "At least release Dongbo Hou first. Your uncle is already exhausted from all the suffering." Every day that is delayed, Dongbo Hou will suffer in prison for another day.
However, Empress Dowager Jiang only saw Emperor Xin's angry back, and no matter how she called out to him, she couldn't stop him.
"Mother, stop shouting. Third Brother is as hard as iron and doesn't recognize his own family at all. You're wasting your time." Ziqi was very annoyed.
He tried against his will to please Zi Shou, hoping to gain an opportunity to enter the court like Wang Shu Bigan. Unfortunately, no matter what he did, Zi Shou pretended to be stupid and only maintained a superficial relationship with him, without any real power.
"Mother, it's all your fault! Why did you have to give birth to this child? If it weren't for him, my elder brother would be the Crown Prince today, or even..." Your Majesty...
"Slap!" Empress Dowager Jiang slapped Ziyan across the face. "Shut up! Only I can say these things, you can't." Although Empress Dowager Jiang was a tyrant in the palace and took credit for things in front of Zishou, she was still clear-headed.
She had already fallen out of favor back then. If it weren't for the unexpected discovery that she was pregnant, she might have been deposed by Emperor Yi. It was because of her son that she has the status of Empress Dowager she has today.
"Mother, even you favor my third brother," Ziyan said disappointedly.
"Empress Dowager's favoritism is also towards you, but you must also recognize the situation. Once the matter is settled, you can live a rich and carefree life under Empress Dowager's protection. Don't worry, Empress Dowager will help you. You don't want to go to your fiefdom, and the King has already granted your unreasonable request."
She is Zi Shou's mother, and their bond is unbreakable. Zi Shou is truly filial to her. Zi Qi and Zi Yan are just Zi Shou's acquaintances and rivals. If it weren't for her, Zi Shou would have sent Zi Qi and Zi Yan to live in a small fiefdom long ago.
Just as Ziyan was about to say something, Ziqi gently shook his head behind him, signaling Ziyan to stop talking.
"Mother, stop playing the hunger strike trick," Ziqi was much better at putting on a show than Ziyan, and he also speculated that his younger brother would crave his mother's love after losing his father's love. "Why not prepare a good banquet and invite the King to the banquet? Mother, say some kind words at the family banquet, and perhaps the King will agree."
"You don't need to tell me," Empress Dowager Jiang knew perfectly well what her eldest son was thinking. "Cai'er, go and give the order."
"Yes, Your Majesty." Cai'er understood what the Empress Dowager meant.
"Mother, I have lingered in the palace for quite some time today, and it is time for me to leave." Ziqi had already decided to use Empress Dowager Jiang's hand to make his third brother follow in his father's footsteps, but he suddenly died.
Given his father's precedent, the court officials would not suspect anything amiss.
It is unknown what means Zi Shou used to ascend to the throne. In Zi Qi's opinion, his father's death is very suspicious and must have been caused by Zi Shou.
However... Ziqi was considering who to take action, and he always wanted to be on the safe side.
Second brother, don't blame your elder brother. After the third brother's death, if you are suspected, your elder brother will definitely save your life after taking over.
………………
Inside the Qiankun Palace, Wen Zhong worked late into the night, carefully examining the pile of bamboo slips. He was astonished by what he found. The combined expenses and rewards for suppressing the rebellion were staggering.
Wen Zhong couldn't help but suspect that the feudal lords who rebelled from time to time intended to drag down the Shang Dynasty and establish themselves as kings. The king's worries were not unfounded. Even Wen Zhong felt heavy-hearted and followed the king to Qiankun Palace after court.
"Your Majesty, if you wish to do it, then do it, but do not be rash. First, test the waters with Donglu. If it works, then slowly persuade the other lords." Wen Zhong was worried that the king was young and impetuous and did not understand the importance of taking things slowly.
"Grand Tutor, you are overthinking it. I know I cannot be hasty and will consider things carefully." Chang Hao was overjoyed. The Grand Tutor had finally realized that blindly bestowing favors was not a long-term solution.
"Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager has ordered you to attend a banquet at the Wanshou Palace," Quan Chang whispered to Chang Hao.
"But I and the Grand Tutor are still discussing important state affairs and have no time to attend the banquet. Please do not trouble the Empress Dowager." Chang Hao looked at Grand Tutor Wen with a troubled expression. He knew he absolutely could not attend the banquet. Zi Qi thought he had done it perfectly, but little did he know that everything was under Chang Hao's control.
“It’s alright. I can leave the palace first and send someone to invite me back to discuss this after Your Majesty returns from the banquet.” Wen Zhong was very understanding. In Wen Zhong’s opinion, Your Majesty was too busy with state affairs every day and should indeed relax.
"Grand Tutor is getting on in years, how can I let him travel so much? I feel bad about it," Chang Hao said with a dilemma. "But the Empress Dowager invited me, and out of filial piety, I cannot refuse."
Wen Zhong couldn't help but twitch his lips slightly. Was he 'too old'? He glanced at the young king and couldn't bear to think about the king's future passing.
Chang Hao glanced at Wen Zhong, then suddenly stood up with a smile, and pulled Wen Zhong toward Wanshou Palace. “Grand Tutor is like my elder. Come with me to the family banquet, and we can discuss state affairs afterward. Wouldn’t that be perfect?”
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