"Oh no, I'm late for my first court session. Don't follow me. I'm leaving first." The sky was gray and not yet fully bright in front of the Taiji Hall.
Li Hong watched the last courtier walk into the Taiji Hall. The skateboard under his feet was sliding very fast. The sound of the wheels seemed to be filled with anxiety and could be heard from a long distance away.
Behind Li Hong were Hua Meng and Xia Zhi. Xia Zhi was holding something in his hand. He ran breathlessly and called out in a low voice, "Your Highness, Your Highness, your jade belt."
He had already climbed the stairs on the skateboard, but only realized it after Xia Zhi whispered a reminder. He hurriedly jumped down the stairs on the skateboard. In the Taiji Hall behind him, the voices of the ministers paying their respects to His Majesty could be heard.
With the help of Xia Zhi, Li Hong's jade belt was modified in a hurry. It became the same as the belt in his previous life. The jade belt plates were buckled together at both ends and tied around the waist, which was convenient and simple.
"There are also the fish token and your jade pendant." The fish token was equivalent to an official's identity certificate, and eunuchs would come to check it during court meetings.
"Okay, okay, we've got all the stuff we need now. How about the crown on your head? Is it okay?" Li Hong asked as he climbed the stairs while carrying his skateboard.
Xia Zhi looked at the crown of the crowned prince, which was still a little crooked and swaying on Li Hong's head. He estimated that it would not take long before it would become loose and fall to one side.
"Your Highness, please wait a moment." Xia Zhi finally caught up with him on the last step and hurriedly helped to tidy up.
...
...
Yang Wu stood at the entrance of Taiji Hall, smiling and looking at the flustered prince with respect, while Li Zhi in Taiji Hall behind him had already begun listening to the reports of his ministers.
Li Hong, who had finally gotten everything ready, was about to step forward when Yang Wu stepped forward, ready to check the fish talisman himself.
Li Hong glared and said, "Yangwu, are you looking for death? Do you need to verify mine?"
"Your Highness, this is the rule of the court. I dare not violate it."
"Why the hell don't you check my father's?" Li Hong said as he pushed Yang Wu away and rushed inside. Hua Meng and Xia Zhi were watching all this, not knowing what to do.
Unknown to them, Wu Mei was standing quietly at the corner of the Taiji Hall, looking at the flustered people at the entrance of the Taiji Hall. She shook her head and said to herself, "I knew this kid didn't take the court session seriously. I reminded him for a long time yesterday, but he was still late."
"Empress, this is your first time attending court, so you must be a little nervous. Maybe it's because you're nervous..."
"No need to speak for him. As his mother, how could I not know what kind of person he is? Forget it. I won't worry about it. Fortunately, he didn't eat too much. Let his father discipline him. Let's go back." Wu Mei turned around and slowly returned to the harem, surrounded by the palace maids and eunuchs.
Li Zhi had a gloomy face and looked silently at Li Hong and Yang Wu who were arguing louder and louder at the door, while his palace maids and eunuchs were anxiously trying to stop them.
"Yangwu, let the Minister of Revenue come in." Li Zhi deliberately avoided looking at the ministers' faces which were almost green with anger.
Everyone knew that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince would definitely put on a show during the court session today, but no one expected it to happen at the gate of Taiji Hall, and after being late, he would quarrel with Yang Wu with a clear conscience.
"Just wait for me." Li Hongchong threatened Yang Wu who stepped aside.
This scene reminded Li Zhi, who was quietly watching everything at the door, of the first time Li Hong came to Taiji Hall to bring him ice. The scenes were so similar, with Yang Wu blocking the way and the prince threatening and intimidating him. Unknowingly, the little guy had grown up and started to attend court under his cultivation.
"Your son pays homage to His Majesty." Li Hong hurried in and saluted to the emperor who was wearing the imperial robes and crown.
The imperial robe is the second most important attire for the emperor after the imperial robe. The crown on the head is made of gold and has twelve pearl tassels. The black robe and purple skirt have twelve patterns. Eight of them are on the top: sun, moon, stars, dragon, mountain, Huachong (a five-colored insect, one theory is pheasant), fire, and Zongyi (tiger and monkey). The fourth pattern is on the skirt. The sleeves and collar are embroidered with ascending dragon patterns. The twelve patterns are on the left and right shoulders and under the back collar, respectively, implying: carrying the sun and moon on the shoulders and the seven stars on the back.
On the waist are a jade sword with a deer horn and a fire bead dart head. There are two white jade pendants and two large black jade pendants, with six colors: black, yellow, red, white, pale green. The whole costume is gorgeous, solemn, noble and dignified.
Li Zhi looked at him silently, wanting to see how far he could go in his mischief.
Li Hong looked at him without saying anything, and stood up on his own. He forced a smile at Li Zhi and hurriedly asked the eunuch in charge of ceremonies not far away: "Where should I be? Oh, no need, I know."
After Li Hong finished speaking, he turned his head and saw Dai Zhide with a gloomy face in the colorful crowd. Ignoring Li Zhi's gloomy expression, he quickly sat down on the cushion next to Dai Zhide with his tail between his legs.
The New Year's Day court meeting continued. After everyone had reported their affairs, Li Hong already felt that the part below his calves was not his own.
The Minister of Revenue had just taken office, so Li Zhi showed leniency and did not make things difficult for Li Hong in front of all the ministers.
Li Hong looked at the purple court robe on Dai Zhide and began to wonder whether he should make a set of such clothes for himself. It looked pretty good to wear.
Looking at the deep crimson and light crimson court robes of the fourth and fifth ranks, he thought they were good, too. It was a pity that his official rank was too high to allow him to wear them, otherwise, wearing the deep crimson court robes would have looked quite festive.
As for the green clothing of the sixth and seventh ranks, Li Hong had no interest in it at all. Sitting on the cushion, he looked like a big frog. Besides, no man liked the color green.
Dai Zhide looked at Li Hong who was in a state of detachment, coughed, and said, "Your Highness, His Majesty is asking you a question."
"Ah? What?" Li Hong was poked by Dai Zhide's elbow and came back to his senses from his dazed state, and asked blankly.
Li Zhi was already numb with anger at Li Hong today, and really didn't want to talk to him any more, so he said to Dai Zhide: "After the court session, you can discuss this matter with the Ministry of Revenue, and then you can find the Ministry of Works to take specific action."
Dai Zhide looked at Li Zhi and wanted to speak, but when he saw Li Zhi's face, which was even darker than his own, he immediately gave up the idea of ​​continuing to fight in the court. As for arguing with Li Hong, he had no intention of doing so now.
Only after a few days, when Li Hong is familiar with the Ministry of Revenue, can we see whether His Royal Highness the Crown Prince will show leniency.
Li Hong's first court session went smoothly, and after all the ministers left, he was the only one left behind.
Li Hong smiled and approached Li Zhi, saying carefully, "Father, how is it? I hope I didn't embarrass you today."
"It's not embarrassing, but did you sleep comfortably, little guy?" Li Zhi stood up with a smile, stroked Li Hong's head and asked.
"Oh, father, I stayed up late yesterday to finish a plan for you, so I got up late today. If you don't believe me, please take a look." Li Hong said as he took out a stack of papers, which were densely covered with neat handwriting.
"Yes, your handwriting has improved rapidly in the past few years. What is the plan? What is the plan?" Li Zhi took the thing from Li Hong's hand and handed it to Yang Wu.
Although the little guy was not very reliable in his daily actions, when it came to serious matters, he gave him a lot of good ideas. So Li Hong took it seriously and put it away, waiting to read it slowly in the evening.
Walking side by side with Li Hong towards Ganlu Palace, Li Zhi asked, "Tell me briefly what plan it is that made you stay up so late."
"Father, this is not a big plan. This is something I customized specifically for you."
"Like what?"
"For example, the collaboration between Zhongshu, Menxia and Shangshu, adding some accountability mechanisms to reduce the burden on father's political affairs, and so on." Li Hong was put on the shoulder by Li Zhi, and the two talked as they walked.
Li Zhi frowned and looked at him, and said, "Are you saying that my decision was wrong or that your grandfather's policy was wrong?"
"No, no, no, it's not that there are mistakes, it's just that I think it needs to be improved. Now I have heard some complaints about the three ministries hindering each other, such as: 'Every time when discussing politics, right and wrong come up, and the upper and lower levels can't make a decision.' And now the court has begun to see: there are those who have the duties of a prime minister but not the power of a prime minister, and those who have the power of a prime minister but not the responsibility of a prime minister."
Li Zhi nodded thoughtfully. Was the little fellow really thinking about the imperial court, or was he trying to use this opportunity to remove the officials that Xu Jingzong had recommended in the court over the years?
Over the years, Xu Jingzong recommended many people to the court. Naturally, some of them did not have high official ranks, but they were given the title of "Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi" by himself. In this way, they had the right to participate in politics and naturally had certain decision-making power over national policies.
"If this is the case, wouldn't the heads of the three provinces be exhausted to death? Moreover, they may not be able to know everything about the world. How can political decision-making be done without officials below their rank?" Li Zhi continued to ask.
"So I've thought of a plan for you. Those who are above the third rank and are not the heads of the three provinces, six ministries, nine temples and five academies, will be the 'Tongzhongshumenxia Pingzhangshi' for three years, and those who are below the third rank and above the fifth rank will be two years. Those below the fifth rank will be one year. Moreover, you, the emperor, can appoint these people, or they can be selected by the three provinces, six ministries, nine temples and five academies, or elected by local officials. This way, you can ensure your current political decisions, and keep the decision makers fresh, instead of just sitting in the position and doing nothing as mentioned above." Li Hong said proudly.
"You little monkey, how did you come up with this? In this way, although there will be no cliques in the court, you can still achieve your goal and gradually dissolve the forces that Xu Jingzong and others have cultivated with your help."
"Humph, this time Xu Jingzong used me, I should make him suffer. Moreover, if the censor finds out about this and investigates it, your aunt will also be implicated."
After hearing this, Li Zhi was so angry that he slapped Li Hong's little head. The prince's crown, which was originally not very stable on his head, was immediately knocked all over the place by the slap.
There was one more thing the little guy didn't say, which was that if Wu Shun was implicated, it would naturally affect the personal relationship between him and Wu Shun. In order to deal with Xu Jingzong, the little guy even used himself.
"I haven't settled the score with you for what happened that day, but you've set your sights on me first. Well, when we get to Ganlu Palace later, I definitely won't help you." Li Zhi said easily, looking at Wu Mei who was standing at the door with a smile on her face.
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