Empress Dowager Lin became more and more angry as she listened.
If she hadn't heard them enumerate so carefully, she, who had been in the palace for over twenty years, would not have known that there were so many people in the Great Chu Imperial Family. And the fact that these people could describe it so clearly showed that they had done a lot of research during this period.
Everyone wants to claim the credit for following the emperor, right? Empress Dowager Lin thought coldly.
When a new emperor ascends the throne, he will naturally be very tolerant to those who recommend him.
It is possible that some people have already colluded with each other in private to push the person they chose up.
After all, having lived in the deep palace for so long, Emperor Ling and the recently deceased Emperor Daxing were both reluctant to attend to government affairs. Some matters even had to go through Empress Dowager Lin, so she knew a little about these official affairs. Thinking about it now, her heart was filled with hatred, bitterness, and fear.
A new emperor appoints new ministers, and before the dynasty is over, people's hearts have already changed.
The selection process naturally took more than a single day to finalize. Not to mention Empress Dowager Lin's approval, even the ministers themselves were divided. Therefore, they only narrowed down a few candidates that day, and further discussions were still needed.
He Qing still maintained the frequency of visiting Kunhua Palace to pay respects every day. If the Empress Dowager did not see him, he would leave immediately and never stay.
She appeared calm on the outside, but she was actually a little anxious in her heart, because according to rumors, the candidate for the new king seemed to be almost decided.
Fortunately, perhaps because she had come so often and left a deep impression, when Empress Dowager Lin heard the announcement from her subordinates, she did not immediately refuse. Instead, she asked the people around her, "Aunt Qiu, what day has Master Huiru been here?"
"It's the fifth day, Your Majesty." Aunt Qiu, the female official following behind her, bowed and replied.
Empress Dowager Lin thought for a moment and said, "It's rare that she's so willing. Please come in."
When He Qing met Empress Dowager Lin, he first shared a passage from the sutra. She had recently devoted all her energy to studying the Daoist texts, and combined with the seemingly plausible memories in her mind, she had occasionally come up with new theories, which she considered to be a small gain. Speaking of this to Empress Dowager Lin, her restless mood eased considerably.
Perhaps because it was easier to speak the truth when relaxed, Empress Dowager Lin sighed after listening to the Taoist scriptures. "Master, have you heard about the selection of a new ruler?"
As soon as she said this, she realized that something was wrong, so she stopped and looked up at He Qing's expression.
He Qing's expression remained unchanged, but she didn't shy away from the topic. She nodded slightly and said, "I've heard a little bit." Seeing Empress Dowager Lin's surprise, she explained, "There are all kinds of rumors in the palace. Although I wanted to ask, I'm still a mortal, so I can't help but be bothered by them."
Empress Dowager Lin had been carrying many things on her mind lately, desperate to talk about them. However, she couldn't bring herself to share them with anyone close to her, nor with the court officials or the royal family, so she could only ponder them on her own. Her spirits had been failing for the past few days. If it weren't for the unfinished funeral, which prevented her from falling ill, she might have already died.
Although He Qing is not very old, he is of the same generation as her. Now he is also very insightful and has become a monk, so he is the best person to talk to.
Empress Dowager Lin looked her over, waved her hand and ordered everyone around her to leave, then asked, "What rumors are there outside?"
He Qing said softly, "Everyone says that King He Yuan of Zhongshan is the most virtuous and worthy of the throne."
Hearing this name, Empress Dowager Lin was startled. While rumors of the new emperor's selection were rampant, the actual list of candidates had been kept secret. No one knew except her, a few important ministers, and the elder princes of the imperial clan. The Prince of Zhongshan was on the list, and it was indeed Empress Dowager Lin's choice, but... how had this news spread?
The developments described by He Qing moved the Empress Dowager, but did not allow her to make up her mind immediately.
Fortunately, He Qing himself had anticipated this and did not feel disappointed. After saying what he needed to say, he immediately stood up and took his leave, leaving time for the Empress Dowager to think about it herself.
Diverting conflicts is a very simple but proven method in politics, and the Empress Dowager naturally knew it.
However, she had just expressed her stance in front of all the ministers, even walking out of the morning court session. If she were to change her mind just like that, it would be embarrassing. Furthermore, since it was the ministers who first proposed the idea, then after it was accomplished, the credit would naturally go to everyone. How much benefit would it really bring to her?
What if the court officials thought that she changed her mind as a result of their coercion? Who knows, she won't use the same method again next time?
After thinking about it for several times, I still couldn't make a decision.
At this time, the Empress Dowager urgently needed someone to discuss with, preferably someone who could provide reliable advice for her reference.
This person must be absolutely loyal and reliable. Neither He Qing nor a court official would be a good choice. So, after a long period of hesitation, the Empress Dowager turned her attention to the people serving her.
These are the only people she can come into contact with in the palace. Others are not familiar with government affairs, but those in the Ministry of Internal Affairs accompany the emperor day and night, so they must learn these things.
However, the Empress Dowager was not very satisfied with either Huang Xiu, the governor or Huang Xiu, the official in charge of the Inner East Gate Division.
Although she had always lived in the deep palace and had limited experience, she also vaguely knew that her husband and son were not wise monarchs. Whether she was queen or queen mother, there were always court officials who found ways to pass memorials to her, asking her to advise the king.
For nearly twenty years, the government was actually controlled by the ministers, and the emperor did not participate much.
As such, it was naturally difficult for the eunuchs who followed them to gain much knowledge and progress. This was especially true for Huang Xiu, who had been highly regarded by Emperor Ling because of his deep understanding of Taoist scriptures and was able to help him manage many Taoists.
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