"I am the Prime Minister of the current dynasty, but I failed to discipline my subordinates. I did not know that such evil could exist in the local area. I ask Your Majesty to appoint someone to investigate thoroughly. If it is indeed my doing, I am willing to accept any punishment..."
Song Shiwen stood up and expressed his grief, but Lu Taiyuan sneered and shook his head.
He is guilty, but his crime is not corruption, but lax discipline of his subordinates. He cleared himself of all charges with just one sentence.
To put it bluntly, these things were all done by them and have nothing to do with me. I was completely unaware of it.
That's acceptable.
The evidences of guilt that Tang Shun mentioned only pointed to Song Shiwen, but could not prove that it was Song Shiwen who did it.
Everyone knew that Song Shiwen had the final say in the selection of local officials in Jiangzhou, and the emperor knew it too. But was it the boss's fault if his subordinates got into trouble? Was it simply the boss's instructions?
If this is the case, the emperor is also responsible.
Lu Taiyuan did not say anything. It was impossible to bring down Song Shiwen without evidence. Even if there was evidence, it was not certain. The reason was very simple. Because Song Shiwen was His Majesty's man, it only depended on His Majesty's attitude. No one else mattered.
However, it is impossible to cover up this matter easily. Song Shiwen must pay the price. At least the Han family of Ji County and those people in Ning'an Prefecture must be abandoned.
Now it seems that Song Shiwen is ready to give up. He didn't even say anything to protect her. Just saying that he didn't know about it means it has nothing to do with him.
"As an official, I dare not say I am honest, but I am definitely not extravagant. Everyone here is my colleague, and many of you have been to my house before. I believe you all know clearly that it has been like this for so many years. If I have amassed wealth and corruption, where did the money go?"
Song Shiwen flicked his sleeves and shouted, "I act with integrity. Whatever I do is for Your Majesty. How can I tolerate your slander?"
These words are very powerful.
"It's difficult to depict the bones of a dragon or a tiger. We can only see the Prime Minister's face but not his heart. We can only see the Prime Minister in his present state, so how can we know what he is like in private?" Lu Taiyuan said sarcastically, "If the Prime Minister didn't have his back, how could they dare to act so recklessly?"
"alright."
At this time, Emperor Yuan Jing spoke up, "The court is where we discuss state affairs. How can we delay it over such trivial matters? This incident happened to Song Qing. You must thoroughly investigate it and give me and everyone an explanation."
"Your Majesty, I obey your command!"
Song Shiwen bowed and responded. It seemed like an ordinary sentence, but it actually had another meaning.
Only he himself knew that this was not the emperor's protection, but more like a warning.
The explanation you give me is that such things should not happen again, and the explanation you give to everyone is that you should shut others up.
How to block it?
Of course there is a price to pay. He should give up what he should give up, and not cause trouble for himself, let alone for me.
Lu Taiyuan wanted to say something but stopped himself, and the second prince wanted to say something but stopped himself, but they both held back.
This is the Prime Minister of the Great Zhou!
The emperor is his backer, and as long as the emperor doesn't agree, nothing can suppress him.
Tang Shun’s evidence just now mentioned that tens of thousands of acres of fertile land were occupied, and countless people suffered injustice because of this. The entire Ji County grain reserves were embezzled... But in the mouth of Emperor Yuan Jing, it was just a small matter. So what is a big deal?
Everyone felt strange, but they didn't dare to say anything.
"Today's court meeting has one matter to decide, and that is the selection of the Pacification Envoy. I intend to choose one from between the Crown Prince and Prince Qing. I wonder if you have any suggestions?"
Upon hearing this, everyone realized that the court meeting had truly begun.
Song Shiwen and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince exchanged a subtle glance. What he had originally intended to announce directly turned into an inquiry.
What is the reason?
Of course it was because of the previous charge of guilt.
At that time, Lu Taiyuan and Prince Qing did not refute because they were waiting for this moment.
I believe Your Majesty is also well aware of this.
Song Shiwen is the Prince's Grand Tutor. In a sense, he represents the Prince. Now that something has happened to him, the Prince will inevitably be affected.
Originally the opportunity belonged to the prince, but now everyone is on the same starting line. The emperor has to consider the balance, and whether you can get it depends on your own ability.
Song Shiwen knew the emperor's thoughts too well.
He was feeling even more depressed. If this caused His Royal Highness the Crown Prince to fail in becoming my pacification envoy, then it would be troublesome...
As soon as Emperor Yuan Jing finished speaking, a court official stood up and said, "Youzhou has suffered a disaster, and people's hearts are unsettled. To reassure the people, the Crown Prince should be appointed to the Pacification Office. The Crown Prince is the foundation of the country and the crown prince, and he is the most suitable candidate."
"I think what Lord Yan said is absolutely right. The Crown Prince's appointment as the Youzhou Pacification Commissioner is what the people want."
Then someone else stood up.
"I believe that His Royal Highness Prince Qing is the most suitable. His Royal Highness Prince Qing is humble, benevolent, calm and composed..."
"What are you talking about, Master Zhang? His Royal Highness Prince Qing is modest and righteous, but then His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is not modest and righteous?"
"You said that, I didn't say that."
"ordinary man!"
"You are a coward, and your whole family are cowards."
At first, what the court officials said was normal, but the situation quickly changed from normal communication to mutual criticism, and the court meeting turned into a vegetable market.
The two sides were arguing with each other, spitting at each other.
The big guys haven't left yet, so they let the subordinates quarrel for a while. This is what happens every time there is a court meeting, and everyone is used to it. When the quarrels get so heated, they even roll up their sleeves and fight.
The people on the Crown Prince's side spoke highly of the Crown Prince, and the people on Prince Qing's side would never give in.
There was a lot of noise.
The "important officials" at the forefront did not react at all.
Song Shiwen couldn't help but frown. It shouldn't have been like this originally, but the incident in Ji County led to such a situation. He clearly noticed that the prince sitting above also had a very ugly expression on his face.
This position originally belonged to him, but now he has to compete with others.
Mu Yunyin also noticed that more people were speaking up for Prince Qing.
Fighting for the throne is a bet, and you bet on whoever has a greater chance of winning. He is the crown prince and the undisputed heir to the throne, so normally everyone should bet on him, but now... so many people are betting on Prince Qing.
What does this mean?
Do you think I will be deposed?
Mu Yunyin was furious. He had to fight for the position of pacification envoy and not let Prince Qing become more arrogant.
"I believe that the Crown Prince should be the pacification envoy!"
At this time, Song Shiwen stood up from his seat and the surrounding noise stopped immediately. The Prime Minister had already spoken, so how could they have the chance to interrupt?
"The reason is simple, because the prince is the prince!"
Mu Yunyin finally smiled. He felt comfortable hearing these words. The prince was the prince and should have the rights of a prince instead of just sitting here like a mascot.
"Your Excellency the Prime Minister is absolutely right. The pacification envoy should have been the crown prince, but things are different now."
Then Lu Taiyuan stood up, took a few steps forward and faced Song Shiwen.
At this moment, the old-looking deputy assistant looked like a warrior.
"If the Prime Minister, who is the Prince's Grand Tutor, is not clean, how can the Crown Prince be the Pacification Envoy?"
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