Chapter 77 The harem must not interfere in politics
The Empress Dowager, dressed in a magnificent phoenix robe, slowly entered the main hall, surrounded by eunuchs and palace maids.
The people in the hall respectfully bowed to the Empress Dowager.
Emperor Zhaode rose and stepped forward to greet her: "Why has Your Majesty come?"
"If I hadn't come to check soon, would this palace have been torn down?" The Empress Dowager strode into the hall, glaring at Prince Yan and Prince Ming. "Arresting people without any evidence and throwing them into the terrible Imperial Prison, do you really think the Zhenfu Division is a place where you can do whatever you want? Yan Yang, release them immediately!"
Yan Yang raised an eyebrow: "Your Majesty, the Xuanzheng Hall is where Father Emperor and ministers discuss matters. The women of the inner palace are not allowed to enter without permission. Even the Empress Dowager is not allowed to interfere in politics."
"Outrageous!" the Empress Dowager shouted angrily. "I have never intended to interfere in politics, but haven't you gone too far? You even casually imprisoned the son of a high-ranking official. The Zhenfu Division was set up for the convenience of investigation, not for you to vent your personal grievances!"
Yan Yang smiled and lowered his eyes: "Your Majesty has wronged your grandson. I have no personal grudge against that despicable and vile scoundrel Wen Heyun. He used foul language to insult the Princess Consort of Yan, and the Prince of Yan only punished him by slapping him, which was an extraordinary act of mercy. However, he forcibly abducted innocent girls and disregarded human life. In order to satisfy his perverted sadistic desires, he caused countless women to suffer.
He pointed to the victims still kneeling in the hall: "Your Majesty, these are witnesses and victims of Wen Heyun's brutality. The Zhenfu Division is acting in accordance with the law, and I hope Your Majesty will not interfere, otherwise—"
"Yan Yang, how dare you!" The Empress Dowager roared in fury. "Otherwise what? Do you dare to throw me into prison with you?"
"Your grandson would never dare to imprison the Empress Dowager, but since the Empress Dowager is so protective of the Wen family members who have committed crimes, your grandson cannot help but suspect that Prime Minister Wen has some secret deal with you." Yan Yang smiled. "It involves the foundation of the court. As long as your grandson has any suspicions, he will do his best to investigate. If there is any offense to Your Majesty, I hope Your Majesty will forgive me."
"You—" the Empress Dowager pointed at him, trembling, "You are truly lawless!"
She turned to Emperor Zhaode: "Your Majesty, your son is disobedient and disrespectful to his elders. Aren't you going to do anything about it?!"
Emperor Zhaode was about to speak.
The Empress Dowager had already seen the strange woman in the Prince Ming's arms.
The woman was covered in wounds and huddled in Ming Wang's arms, trembling. Her long black hair was draped over her shoulders, obscuring her face and making it impossible to see her features. All that could be seen was her excessively slender waist and bony wrists.
The Empress Dowager asked coldly, "Who is this woman? What are you doing holding her in your arms? This is utterly improper!"
Her fiery attitude today aroused Emperor Zhaode's suspicion. He explained, "Mother, the woman in Yan Yang's arms is a victim of Wen Heyun's abuse. Besides her, there are more than a dozen other victims. The evidence is conclusive and cannot be denied. I will have Yan Yang continue to investigate thoroughly. Mother, you don't need to interfere."
The Empress Dowager's face turned ashen: "If someone framed me—"
"Whether it's a frame-up or not, everyone present can see it clearly, and Father Emperor is naturally able to discern it." Yan Yang felt the woman in his arms trembling more violently, raised his hand to support her waist, and said neither humbly nor arrogantly, "These women were all found in Wen Heyun's courtyard. They have both large and small injuries, new and old, which cannot be faked in a day. Moreover, two female corpses were also pulled out of the dry well in the Wen family's backyard. Your Majesty, with this evidence before you, you don't need to defend Wen Heyun."
As he spoke, he chuckled slowly: "Back then, when my eldest brother was demoted to a prince for his homosexual affair and almost beaten to death by Father, the Empress Dowager wasn't worried at all, and didn't even utter a word in his defense. When the Imperial Concubine was banished to the Cold Palace, the Empress Dowager wasn't worried either. One was her own grandson, and the other was her daughter-in-law, yet they were not as well off as the son of a high-ranking official?"
"Yan Yang!" The Empress Dowager's face twitched, her anger boiling over. "How dare you!"
Emperor Zhaode angrily rebuked: "Yan Yang, you must not be disrespectful to the Empress Dowager."
Yan Yang readily lowered his head and said, "Your subject knows his mistake."
Emperor Zhaode said calmly, "Mother, you are getting old. You should stay in the palace and enjoy your life. There is no need for you to meddle in the affairs of the court."
The Empress Dowager's face darkened: "Your Majesty—"
"Guards!" Emperor Zhaode ordered, "Send the Empress Dowager back to rest."
"emperor!"
"Prime Minister Wen has failed in his duty to educate his son. Effective immediately, he is suspended from his post as Prime Minister." Emperor Zhaode's voice was cold and deep. "The affairs of the Six Ministries will be handed over to the Prince of Yan."
"Your Majesty!" The Empress Dowager exclaimed in shock and anger, utterly incredulous. "The Prince of Yan commands all the military forces in the land, his power already surpassing that of the Emperor. You are still appointing him as acting Prime Minister? Are you trying to hand over the entire empire to him?"
Prince Jin's expression also changed drastically: "Father, Fourth Brother is already busy enough managing military affairs. If he were to devote even more energy to the affairs of the Six Ministries, wouldn't that mean he'd be working non-stop between the court and the military? Even the strongest body couldn't withstand that—"
"You have to endure it, even if you can't." Emperor Zhaode's voice was cold and hard, brooking no argument. "Yan Cang, make proper arrangements for the military training. Focus your energy on court affairs these next few days."
Yan Cang nodded: "Your subject obeys the decree."
Prince Consort Wen's face turned pale. He lowered his eyes and looked at the palace brick floor, a dark cloud hanging over his eyes.
"The matter is settled then." Emperor Zhaode thought for a moment, as if he had made a major decision. "Later, I will summon Prince Chen and Shen Jingbai to the palace. I have important matters to discuss with them."
The Prime Minister and his wife were deathly pale, as if they had suddenly lost all their strength.
They had more than one son, Wen Heyun, but the one they cared about most was this eldest son. Unexpectedly, the emperor not only did not issue an edict to pardon him, but also dismissed him from his post as prime minister.
Should the position of Prime Minister be suspended?
How long is this "temporary" period? Is it possible that once it stops, it will never be able to resume?
The Emperor imprisoned Prince Chen and Shen Jingbai for four years, but now he wants to release them. Is he planning to entrust them with important responsibilities?
Prime Minister Wen hated Yan Cang and Yan Yang to the extreme, and hated Shen Jingbai even more for his ruthless methods. His second son had died at Shen Jingbai's hands.
He wished he could tear them to pieces.
"Disperse, all of you." Emperor Zhaode waved his hand. "Prime Minister, go back to your residence and reflect on your mistakes in seclusion. Without my decree, do not associate with princes and ministers in the court."
The color drained from Prime Minister Wen's face as he slowly bowed his head: "Your subject obeys the decree."
The Empress Dowager was shocked and enraged when she came in person. Instead of listening to her, the Emperor dismissed the Prime Minister from his post. She fainted from shock and anger.
The palace servants were startled: "Your Majesty the Empress Dowager! Your Majesty the Empress Dowager!"
"Empress Dowager!" Emperor Zhaode cried out urgently, then turned and ordered, "Guards! Take the Empress Dowager back to Shou'an Palace and summon the imperial physicians!"
"yes."
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