Chapter 564 Dong Lanxin's Old Things
As the death of the late emperor was rather sudden, although Qin Yuwei is now the empress dowager, the Anci Palace where she lived has not been sorted out yet, so she is still temporarily living in the original Changyu Palace.
Yan Ning walked in and saluted.
"Your son pays homage to... your mother."
Qin Yuwei nodded and asked Yan Ning to sit next to her.
She took the tea bowl handed to her by Biyu, skimmed off the scum with the porcelain lid gracefully, and savored it slowly.
Seeing that she didn't speak for a long time, Yan Ning hesitated and said:
"If you have nothing to do, mother, I will go to the study to study..."
"Dripping water can wear away a stone over time, so there is no need to rush." Qin Yuwei gently put down the tea bowl and looked at Yan Ning.
"My mother wants to ask you, do you still remember what your father's last will was before he died?"
Yan Ning looked away and nodded slightly.
"Father said that he wants me to personally appoint Zhu Zhongcheng as the chief minister of the cabinet."
Qin Yuwei's voice was gentle:
"So what did the court officials say today? Ning'er, do you have any concerns?"
Yan Ning dodged for a moment and whispered:
"I just feel that Zhu Zhongcheng already has enough power in his hands as he is in charge of the Censorate. If he becomes the chief minister of the cabinet, it will be difficult to suppress him in the future."
Qin Yuwei was slightly startled when she heard this, "But that's also what your father meant..."
"Is it the father's intention or the mother's intention?"
Yan Ning suddenly raised his head and smiled at her.
"I know that I am not as important as Sister Ajing in your heart, but I wonder who is more important to you, me or Minister Zhu?"
Qin Yuwei's eyes changed slightly, and Yan Ning opposite her had already jumped off the chair.
"I still have to go to the study. If you have nothing else to do, I will take my leave."
Qin Yuwei looked at Yan Ning's back as he walked away, her dark eyebrows gradually furrowed.
Biyu was beside her, hesitant to speak, and said softly:
"Your Majesty, why is His Majesty now..."
She was a little afraid to say it out loud.
When Dong Lanxin was alive, Yan Ning often came to Changyu Palace to play and was very close to Qin Yuwei.
However, in the past two years that Yan Ning has been with Qin Yuwei, his temperament has changed at some point. Although he still looks respectful, his eyes often make people feel a little chilling.
But those moments often just flashed by, and when looking closely, one could only see the child's face full of respect and filial piety. Biyu even wondered if she was seeing things.
Now that he has succeeded to the throne, he is even more open about it than before.
Biyu helped Qin Yuwei gently press the acupoint on the top of her head and said in confusion:
"Your Majesty, I don't understand. Since the late emperor intended to appoint Zhu Zhongcheng as the chief minister of the cabinet, why didn't he issue an order earlier, but asked Your Majesty to issue this order?"
Qin Yuwei smiled faintly.
Yan Xiuyun knew at the time that his body could not hold out for much longer, so he delayed announcing the candidate for Prime Minister.
He just wanted to leave this favor to the new emperor, but he didn't expect Yan Ning to hold back.
Although he is now ruling the country from behind the scenes, he is a new emperor who needs experience after all. If he interferes too much, not only will he be criticized, but he is also worried that it will affect Yan Ning's will.
Qin Yuwei narrowed her eyes slightly, and the tenderness that had just been revealed in her eyes gradually faded a little.
She picked up the tea bowl again and said in a deep voice:
“Biyu, go check the people around the prince to see if there is anything unusual.
By the way, please ask Zhao Mingde to come again. I have something to ask him."
Upon hearing this, Biyu said carefully:
"My lady, when I went to invite His Majesty just now, I happened to hear that His Majesty asked Manager Zhao to go to the late emperor's wake. I'm afraid he can't come."
"What?" Qin Yuwei suddenly raised her eyes. "Zhao Mingde served the late emperor for most of his life. He is an old man in the palace and the chief eunuch. How can he be dismissed so easily?"
Biyu hesitated for a moment, but continued in a low voice:
"I also heard that His Majesty asked the eunuch Ma Yan to take over the position of Chief Eunuch..."
"What nonsense!" Qin Yuwei put down the tea bowl heavily.
"How did Ma Yan react at that time?"
"He was overjoyed and accepted the decree and expressed his gratitude on the spot."
Qin Yuwei sneered.
"Ma Yan's abilities are not even half of his master's, how can he be the chief steward?
Oh, if I hadn’t seen that he is young and can get along well with Ning’er, why would I have let him study with me in the upper study room for the past two years.
Now that Ning'er trusts him, he becomes complacent and really thinks he is a big shot."
Qin Yuwei frowned and thought for a moment, then said decisively to Biyu:
"Let's start with this Ma Yan. You are responsible for investigating the affairs within the palace. As for those outside the palace...if it is inconvenient for you to come forward, you can go to Zhu Zhongcheng and ask her for help when necessary."
…
Three days later, Biyu brought back the news.
"Bracelet?" Qin Yuwei asked with a raised eyebrow.
Biyu nodded gently, "I heard that Ma Yan brought a bracelet in from outside the palace a few days ago. Someone saw it by accident and said that it vaguely resembled the old item of the person in Fengyi Palace."
Dong Lanxin’s old stuff?
Qin Yuwei frowned and said nothing.
Biyu said with some caution:
"My lady, if it is really that person's old thing... Aunt Dongzhu must be very familiar with it. Should we invite her to ask?"
That year, Dong Lanxin was poisoned to death at a palace banquet. After the three courts held a joint trial, her personal maid Dong Zhu was found to have indirectly caused the queen's death because of her selfishness. She was sent to the laundry department by Yan Xiuyun and became a low-ranking slave, working hard every day and suffering unbearable pain.
After Dong Lanxin's death, Qin Yuwei was the only one who understood Dong Zhu's loyalty and was deeply impressed by him.
So not long after Dong Zhu entered the laundry department, Qin Yuwei arranged for her to fake her death and leave the palace. From then on, she lived in hiding and stayed away from disputes.
Qin Yuwei thought about it and shook her head, "Forget it. She has already stayed away from all this trouble. Maybe she has settled down and is living a good life in her hometown. There is no need to involve her anymore."
She thought for a while and remembered that the list of burial items of Dong Lanxin was still in her palace, so she asked Biyu to get it.
There are six burial bracelets listed on the list, each of which is priceless.
Qin Yuwei's eyes were fixed on the name of the Dongzhu bracelet. Yan Ning had mentioned this bracelet to her last year, but because it had been buried with Dong Lanxin, she told Yan Ning the truth.
Could it be that... someone wants to make a fuss about this matter?
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