Pei Zhi, dressed in a magnificent yellow robe, sat high behind the dragon throne.
Looking at the scattered groups of officials below, Pei Zhi understood that these ministers were expressing their dissatisfaction in this way.
They refused to kneel before a woman, so they chose to boycott the court.
In the imperial court, apart from a few young officials...
Pei Zhi glanced around and saw that, apart from Xie Qi, there were no other people above the fourth rank.
Pei Zhi didn't say much. After the morning court session, he went to the Hall of Mental Cultivation as usual.
Pei Zhi arrived first, and Xie Qi followed closely behind.
“Princess, there is no need to worry about this. I will persuade Father to attend the morning court tomorrow.”
Xie Qi's father was Xie Ge Lao, the head of all officials.
As long as Xie Qi's father is willing to attend court and kneel at Pei Zhi's feet.
Most of the officials in the court who were still observing will eventually submit obediently.
Pei Zhi put down her pen: "No need."
Xie Qi advised, "But if this matter is not resolved, it will not be good for the princess in the long run."
Although His Majesty allowed Pei Zhi to rule from behind the curtain.
But the officials below were not satisfied, and the princess would not take any action unless she did something.
Once a princess is overthrown, it's difficult for her to climb back up.
"Since they want to see what I'm capable of, then I'm willing to show them."
Pei Zhi was unwilling to let Xie Qi ask Xie Ge Lao for help.
Grand Secretary Xie was also observing the situation. She asked Xie Qi to plead for leniency, which meant that she had already compromised.
Xie Qi pressed further, "Does the princess have any other ideas?"
Pei Zhi could not control whether these ministers attended court or not, but he could choose not to pay them their salaries.
"Since Grand Secretary Xie says he is unwell and unable to attend court, I will send an imperial physician to examine him."
Pei Zhi smiled and said, "I will have the imperial physicians keep a close eye on Grand Secretary Xie so that he can finish his medicine and recover as soon as possible. After all, I am still a little worried about the court without Grand Secretary Xie."
Xie Qi understood Pei Zhi's meaning, "What about the other officials, Princess?"
"I will have soldiers guard the residences of these officials who are unwell. Since they are unwell, they should take their medicine and rest. I suppose they can't eat much anyway?"
"Since you can't eat anything, you probably don't have the strength to leave the manor?"
Pei Zhi added, "If you're sick, you should stay home and rest properly, instead of wandering around."
Xie Qi couldn't help but facepalm after hearing Pei Zhi's words.
The princess's method was indeed simple and crude.
But it must be said that it is the most effective.
Pei Zhi had been on the battlefield before. She might not have much else, but she had quite a few officers and soldiers around her who were willing to serve her.
"If I accidentally die of illness, it will make room for my people. Good things come in pairs."
Seeing that the princess had a plan in mind, Xie Qi didn't say anything more.
"Is everything alright with His Majesty?"
"fine."
Xie Qi hesitated for a moment, then asked, "How did the princess manage to persuade His Majesty to allow her to rule from behind the curtain?"
Xie Qi thought that this day would be a long time coming.
Unexpectedly, the princess completed it effortlessly.
“My father is getting old, and I am his only daughter who can be relied upon. Naturally, he wants to entrust everything to me.”
Xie Qi realized that the princess was not going to tell him.
Xie Qi didn't intend to ask any further questions. "I'll go and attend to official business now."
"Call Yuan Chengyu over here."
After Xie Qi finished bowing, he said, "If Your Highness intends to have Yuan Chengyu supervise the ministers, why not entrust this matter to me?"
"I am, after all, a member of the Xie family, so the ministers will at least give me some face."
"Xie Qi, you should know that the Xie family is now headed by Grand Secretary Xie, who stands in opposition to me. Therefore, it is inappropriate for you to intervene."
Grand Secretary Xie did not appear in the court, regardless of whether he was testing Pei Zhi or for some other reason.
Once Pei Zhi truly takes power, Grand Secretary Xie will be of retirement age and can retire at home.
"I don't want to put you in a difficult position, so let Yuan Chengyu handle this matter."
Xie Qi bowed respectfully, understanding what the princess meant.
The princess didn't mean she didn't want to put him in a difficult position; in reality, she simply didn't trust him.
Yuan Chengyu was different; he did not have any acquaintances among the civil officials in his family.
Therefore, when Yuan Chengyu takes action, he will show no mercy and is not afraid of offending people.
Behind Yuan Chengyu stood Pei Zhi.
Pei Zhi was able to use Yuan Chengyu with confidence because Prince Cheng was just a person who had the title of prince but no real power.
Yuan Chengyu hesitated after hearing Pei Zhi's instructions.
"What if those officials refuse to comply, or if they are pushed too far and choose to die to prove their loyalty?"
Pei Zhi seemed to have heard a joke: "To prove one's innocence by dying?"
"Didn't they die from an illness?"
Pei Zhi sighed, "I knew they were ill, so I specially ordered people to keep an eye on them. But these officials were too ill to be saved, and I feel very sorry about it."
Pei Zhi has made her point so clearly; if Yuan Chengyu still doesn't understand, he's a fool.
"I'm just worried that the families of these officials might cause trouble."
Yuan Chengyu was just worried that if things got out of hand, it would be bad for Pei Zhi.
"make trouble?"
Pei Zhi stood up and stepped down from the dragon throne. "The pillar of the family has died. The women in the family must not have been able to bear such a blow, so it is understandable that they followed him, right?"
Yuan Chengyu seemed not to have expected Pei Zhi to answer in this way.
Yuan Chengyu was a military officer, unlike the civil officials who were more cunning and calculating.
Pei Zhi patted Yuan Chengyu on the shoulder, "Ayu, if you want to climb up, you always have to walk a bloody road."
"We've reached a critical moment; we can't afford to let our efforts go to waste because of a soft heart."
Yuan Chengyu immediately became resolute, "Your subordinate obeys."
After Yuan Chengyu left, Pei Zhi turned around and looked at the dragon throne in the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
They were all forcing her to submit, simply because they looked down on her as a woman.
They believed that she, a woman, couldn't cause much trouble.
She wanted to show these people who was truly capable.
"Your Highness, it's lunchtime. Shall we serve lunch now?"
"Come with me to see Father Emperor."
The eunuch who originally served Emperor Pei has now come to serve Pei Zhi.
"Yes, sir."
Since falling ill, Emperor Pei has remained secluded in his palace.
Normally, when someone requests an audience, Emperor Pei would refuse to see them.
Emperor Pei last appeared seven days ago.
Pei Zhi entered Emperor Pei's palace, and as soon as she entered, she heard a burst of laughter and cheerful chatter.
Pei Zhi stopped and let the eunuch go forward to handle the matter.
The eunuch immediately waved his hand and sent the four women out of the bedchamber.
When Emperor Pei saw that the person he had been enjoying himself with was being taken away, he immediately shouted angrily, "What are you doing?"
Pei Zhi bowed and said, "Father, please don't be offended. Your son is here to deliver the elixir on your behalf."
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