Chapter 458 The Arrow is on the String
The Imperial Palace today.
The air was filled with smoke and the smell of gunpowder.
Prince Chen took his court officials to Xuanqing Hall, where court was held.
He pretended to watch the court officials present their memorials.
"I have a report to you: the Yellow River has burst its banks in many places in Yangwu, Heyin, Linghe, and other places, causing floods and destroying houses and fields."
"I have a report to make. Since the beginning of spring, drought has plagued the capital, leaving the people starving and destitute."
"I have a report to make. Xinzhou, Dengzhou, Jizhou, and other places have experienced several earthquakes over the past few months. Most houses have collapsed, mountains have collapsed, and the ground has sunk, causing heavy casualties..."
"This humble official has a report to make. There's been heavy snow in Shangzhou, and many people and livestock have frozen to death..."
"This humble official also has a memorial..."
“…”
Cui Yan said nothing and just watched them perform.
These old guys.
What they mean by "multiple breaches" is actually a collection of all the places where the Yellow River breached in the past six months and reported together.
As for earthquakes, of course they did happen, but they were exaggerated.
If what they said were true, Daliang would be in ruins.
A bunch of idiots who dare to report anything in order to force the emperor to show up.
These memorials will become evidence of their crimes in the future.
Cui Yan had Eunuch Yu collect all the memorials. "I have received your memorials and will present them to the Emperor. I will report to him and we will discuss the matter. If you have anything to report, please do so. If not, please withdraw."
They had just arrived, but the civil and military officials were unwilling to leave.
Whether forced or voluntary, everyone wants to take this opportunity to find out the truth.
Because there have been a lot of rumors circulating in the palace recently.
Some say that the emperor has been in a coma and has no idea what is happening outside, and the queen mother and Prime Minister Cui are in control of the government.
There are also claims that the Empress and the Queen Mother used the Emperor to control all officials, intending to murder the Emperor and support King Jing to ascend the throne.
So King Chen became anxious.
The royal heir was murdered and the emperor did not show up.
Concubine Chen plotted to murder Concubine Shen and set fire to the palace, and the emperor did not show up.
Even when memorials concerning people's livelihood were submitted, the emperor still did not show up.
Your Majesty, I'm afraid it's not true...
The sky in Daliang is about to change.
Civil and military officials looked at each other in confusion, feeling uneasy.
The Left Prime Minister came out first, kneeling before the empty throne. "Your Majesty, I, Yan Fu, have urgent military information to report. I request an audience with you."
Cui Yan: "I wonder if the Left Prime Minister has any urgent military information that I, the Right Prime Minister, cannot know?"
"Please forgive me, Right Prime Minister, but this matter must be reported to the Emperor in person." Prime Minister Yan raised his eyebrows and glanced at Cui Yan.
He changed his usual respectful attitude and didn't take him seriously at all.
In his eyes, Cui Yan was already dead.
Outside the palace, King Chen's troops were already waiting at the palace gate.
In the palace, except for the emperor's guards, most of the imperial guards have defected to Prince Chen.
I'm just wasting my time here to make the play more realistic.
Prince Chen seized the opportunity to stage a poignant scene, addressing the courtiers with a look of helplessness, "My father has been ill for a long time, and I am deeply worried. I kneel outside the chambers day and night, begging to see him, but he is not allowed in. As his children, it is only natural for us to visit him and serve him medicine, yet we are being stopped for no reason. Tell me, what is the logic behind this?"
Minister Yan echoed, "You all may not know, but my wife went to the Prajna Temple a few days ago to worship Buddha. She even saw His Royal Highness Prince Chen kneeling on the steps, kneeling with every step he took, praying for the Emperor. His filial piety truly moved Heaven. Yet, I never expected that he didn't even get to see the Emperor. I can't help but wonder if the Empress Dowager is trying so hard to stop them. Is there some hidden secret?"
King Jing dry heaved and almost vomited.
"Prime Minister Yan is probably old and hard of hearing, isn't it? Didn't the Emperor send a decree saying he's not feeling well and is recuperating, and doesn't want to see anyone? What does this have to do with the Empress Dowager?"
Yan Xiang's old face turned green in an instant, and he actually said that he was hard of hearing.
He just couldn't stand King Jing's arrogant attitude of looking down on everyone.
What's wrong with the prince? Prince Chen is humble and polite, and respects others.
She is more suitable for that position than him.
If he were to become the emperor, he would be so arrogant that his tail would be raised to the sky, and he, the prime minister, would be squeezed out by him.
It’s chilling to think about it.
The ministers looked at each other in bewilderment.
I have long been accustomed to King Jing's style. Although I don't think much of King Jing, I am familiar with his enthusiasm for criticizing everything in the court, especially the left prime minister at this moment.
It really touched the heart of many people.
If you ask me if the Queen Mother has any secrets that she cannot reveal, I'm afraid she doesn't.
The Queen Mother never gets involved in matters, but when she does, it's always a big deal.
As for the matter of the crown prince, I think the empress dowager will also be in charge.
None of the descendants of the Daliang royal family are her bloodline. When she passes away in the future, there is no guarantee that the glory of the Mu family will not go with her. So she chose one of these princes to be her niece's husband. Her intention is self-evident.
The emperor has many sons, but she is the only niece who is the princess.
In the battle for the throne, it is understandable that the Queen Mother wants to support her nephew-in-law, King Jing.
It's not really a secret.
But the emperor didn't seem to think so. Ever since Prince Chen returned from suppressing the rebellion, he has looked at him differently and respected him very much.
Prince Chen instantly became the most popular prince.
But the emperor's heart is as cunning as a needle in the sea. Is he really not afraid of Prince Chen?
not necessarily.
The Holy Heart is unfathomable!
Until the very end, no one knew what the emperor was thinking and who his preferred prince was.
But the current situation seems to have no control over what the emperor thinks. It all depends on who is more powerful, Prince Chen or the Queen Mother.
The Queen Mother has troops, but they are far away in the northern border, and distant water cannot put out a nearby fire.
But the empress dowager's status is there, and there are also the imperial guards.
Prince Chen seemed to have been prepared for this. Judging from the private soldiers he transferred today, he was well-equipped.
It’s hard to say what will happen in this round.
Among the civil and military officials, especially those following Cui Yan's lead, there are many insightful and shrewd people.
For example, the Minister of Revenue, the Minister of War, and the Minister of Works.
Have a thorough understanding of the current situation.
Even at this point, Prime Minister Cui can still remain so calm and composed. He must have a plan in mind.
They believed in Prime Minister Cui's judgment.
Whoever Prime Minister Cui chooses as their leader, they will follow his lead.
But there are many officials who are quick to change sides and short-sighted.
For example, the Minister of Personnel and the Minister of Justice.
Frightened by the momentum of King Chen's army, they immediately switched sides.
They all knelt down behind the Left Prime Minister, asking the Emperor to come out: "Your Majesty, we are begging to see you..."
"Seeking an audience with the Emperor..."
The voices of the ministers echoed in the hall.
There was no response and silence fell for a moment.
Prince Chen felt relieved. Walking here, the last thing he wanted to see was his father appearing in front of him safe and sound.
If that were the case, the nature of everything he did would instantly change.
They will be regarded as traitors.
Even if you win, it will not be legitimate and will be criticized by writers.
If you want to be a wise ruler, you must not have such a stain.
What he had to do was to control the situation before his father woke up.
His father has been in a coma and doesn't have much time left. This was revealed to him by Concubine Zhengui and Eunuch Qian.
The Empress Dowager and Empress Cao would never have dreamed that the two people closest to their father were his spies.
Just as he was rejoicing, footsteps were heard outside the hall.
Eunuch Yu appeared at the doorway and said, "The Emperor has ordered that I am ill and that all court affairs will be temporarily handed over to Prime Minister Cui, who will lead the cabinet. Please return."
"You are Eunuch Qian's godson, right? In the past, it was not Eunuch Qian who delivered the oral instructions, so why is it you today?" Prince Chen raised his eyebrows and looked at him.
Eunuch Yu replied calmly, "Your Highness, my godfather is helping the Emperor take his medicine, so he sent us here to announce the Emperor's decree."
After hearing what he said, King Chen became even more unconvinced.
The more you try to cover up, the more obvious it becomes.
Things have gotten to this point. If my father is awake, there is no reason for him not to show up.
He took a step forward and knelt down again, bowing deeply to the throne. He raised his voice and said, "Father, I am truly worried about your health. I will only be relieved if I can see you once."
The arrow is on the string and has to be shot. I won't give up easily.
…
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