Daming talker

Chapter 781: Palace Conspiracy
Faced with this "accident" that the emperor suddenly recovered, the ministers who had been guarding the East Court Room all night talked about it a lot. At least on the surface, everyone had to act joyful and excited.

Under this natural state, the ministers of the ministries and agencies in the Dongchaofang automatically gathered into groups according to their camps and stood and spoke with their party members.

Individual players without a camp or who are neutral should look for other individuals to gather together without explicitly mixing with the party camp.

The Lin Party still has the largest number of members. After all, the Lin Party has been in power for more than ten years. Although it lost the two positions of Prime Minister and Minister of War last year, its financial resources are still strong.

Shen Yikuan, Wang Xiangmeng, Hao Jie, Li Weizhen, Shen Yongmao and other senior officials of the ministry no longer hesitated at this moment and all surrounded Lin Tailai, Marquis Daifang and the Attending Academician of the Hanlin Academy.

Around the chief minister Shen Li were the third minister Li Chun, the left vice minister of the Ministry of Personnel Chen Younian, the vice minister of the Ministry of Rites Ye Xianggao, the minister of the Ministry of War Wei Yunzhen, the left deputy censor-in-chief Qian Yiben and other generals of the Qingliu forces.

At first glance there are quite a few members of the Qingliu Party, but upon closer inspection one can see that they are very empty and weak.

Sanfu Li Chun and Ye Xianggao from the Ministry of Rites who just returned from Nanjing are currently just decorations. Chen Younian from the Ministry of Personnel is unable to display his abilities under the pincer attack from his colleagues Shen Yikuan and Wang Xiangmeng. Wei Yunzhen from the Ministry of War is already in a precarious situation and on the verge of collapse. Qian Yiben from the Censorate has a good prestige.

The main reason was that Prime Minister Shen Li had been in office for only more than half a year and encountered a major crisis. He was unable to complete the high-level personnel layout due to the obstruction of the Lin Party.

Just as everyone was communicating with each other, a loud voice suddenly sounded in the Dongchao room.

"Master Shen! The imperial edict that has been used is still in your hands. Please send it out quickly. Otherwise, when will you send it out?"

After hearing these words, everyone fell silent. They looked in the direction of the voice and found that it was the eldest son of the former Prime Minister, Shen Yongmao!

Everyone already knew the content of the edict last night.

Once this edict is issued by the cabinet and announced to all the subjects in the world, the emperor can no longer deny it. This is called "the emperor never jokes."

Shen Yongmao's action of urging Prime Minister Shen to issue the imperial edict made everyone realize that the emperor might go back on his word?
After all, the edict was written yesterday when the emperor was in a dying state, so "the words are good" and it seems that he wants to "rectify his past mistakes."

If the emperor recovered, his mood would definitely be different. If he could live a good life, who would want to "repent and change"?

All eyes were fixed on Prime Minister Shen, making him feel pressured and hesitant as he held the imperial edict.

He knew very well that if he issued the edict and the emperor went back on his word, he would have to bear all the consequences.

Shen Yongmao raised his hand and pointed at Prime Minister Shen, saying loudly, "No way? No way? Lord Shen, you are not unwilling to send out the imperial edict in your hand, are you?

Don't you consider yourselves to be upright and honest people? Over the years, have you been submitting petitions to the Emperor, requesting him to abolish the mining and tax supervisors and to re-employ outspoken and honest ministers?

Apart from the national foundation, these are the biggest claims and demands of you, the Qingliu Party, in recent years!

Now the imperial edict that specifically abolishes mining taxes and pardons guilty officials is in your hands, and you are unwilling to issue it?
Do you still want the justice you claim to uphold and the high moral principles you uphold?"

Prime Minister Shen: “.”

Perhaps it is impossible to take back the edict once it is issued, but even if the emperor cannot take care of the edict, can't he take care of the prime minister?

The Ming Dynasty system is really rubbish! If it were the prime minister in the past, why would he not dare to do this or that?

Shen Shoufu was very regretful. If he had known this, he would have given the imperial edict to Lin Tailai last night when he asked for it! Otherwise, why would he fall into this dilemma between morality and reality!

Shen Yongmao said indignantly: "You have always accused my father of being two-faced, but now that you have become the Prime Minister, you are nothing more than this!"

Only Shen Yongmao, the eldest son of the former Prime Minister, could vent his emotions by saying this, and he just stepped on someone's face.

Most of the Qingliu Party members were nervous and silent, but no one expressed their opinions.

They also don't know how to express themselves in order to resolve this sudden moral crisis.

Unless Prime Minister Shen is determined to issue the edict even at the cost of self-sacrifice, this would be like drinking poison to quench thirst.

If we lose the Prime Minister, then the opportunity to govern that we have waited so hard for will be lost. What will happen to the Qingliu forces in the future?
At this critical moment, the leader of the Qingliu faction, the Left Vice-Chief Censor Qian Yiben, stood up and said to Prime Minister Shen in a resounding voice:

"Issuing an imperial edict to promote good deeds is an act of assisting the emperor's wisdom, which will go down in history. Why should Mr. Shen hesitate?

Where morality lies, even if there are thousands of people, they will go! How can we abandon the way of a gentleman for a small gain? "

If Shen Yongmao's attitude was external pressure on Prime Minister Shen, then Qian Yiben's attitude was the huge pressure from the "Puritan Faction" within the Qingliu forces.

Many ministers seemed to be infected and shouted to Prime Minister Shen in unison: "Send! Send! Send!"

It's not a forged edict, the procedure is completely legal, so why shouldn't we be brave enough to issue it?
But Prime Minister Shen held the imperial edict tightly, without moving, and had no intention of sending it out.

Even those neutral people couldn't help but feel disappointed with the Prime Minister after seeing this scene.

After a while, three young eunuchs came to the East Court Room and said to Shen Li, "The Emperor has ordered to withdraw yesterday's edict! Prime Minister, give us the edict!"

After being stunned for a moment, Shen Shoufu stretched out his hand woodenly and handed the imperial edict in his hand to the eunuch who came to ask for the imperial edict. Qian Yiben, who could no longer bear it, rushed forward and blocked Shen Shoufu, saying emotionally: "Mr. Shen! Have you forgotten your original intention of instructing us twenty years ago?"

Prime Minister Shen silently walked around Qian Yiben and continued to walk towards the three young eunuchs who came to ask for the imperial edict.

Qian Yiben murmured to himself: "Shame, shame."

Then Lin Tailai stopped Prime Minister Shen again and sincerely advised: "Putting aside the conflicting political views, I would also like to ask Senior Shen to think twice before acting."

Shen Li didn't want to pay attention to Lin Tailai, and shouted softly: "Get out of the way!"

Lin Tailai's tall and mighty body blocked Prime Minister Shen's way, and the three eunuchs who came to retrieve the imperial edict did not dare to attack Lin Tailai.

In this way, the two sides were forcibly separated by Lin Tailai, and the situation came to a stalemate.

At this moment, a man suddenly rushed to the door of the East Palace, shouting, "Two thugs came from nowhere and broke into the East Palace with sticks. The prince was injured!"

The Dongchaofang was in an uproar when they heard the news! They were even more shocked than hearing that the emperor had recovered!
Unexpectedly, on this morning when we should have been waiting quietly for the emperor's death, strange news came out one after another in the palace!
Before people had fully digested the news of the emperor's resurrection, news of the prince being attacked quickly popped up!
What on earth was going on? The ministers were confused and at a loss for what to do.

"Conspiracy! There must be a palace conspiracy!" Lin Tailai was the first to wake up, roaring angrily in the Dongchao room.

When hearing the word "conspiracy", everyone thought of Concubine Zheng and the third prince.

First, apart from Concubine Zheng and the third prince, no one would have a greater motivation to attack the crown prince. They are almost the only beneficiaries!
Second, there were only a few people in the palace who had the ability to do this, and the favored Concubine Zheng was one of them.

Third, Concubine Zheng and the third prince had a criminal record. Twelve years ago, they ordered dozens of eunuchs to beat up Lin Tailai in the palace.

Then Lin Tailai quickly guided everyone's thoughts, pointed at the imperial edict in Shen Shoufu's hand, and said loudly:

"The imperial edict cannot be handed over! Otherwise, if something unexpected happens, we will have no basis in our hands!"

It was like a word of wisdom awakening a dreamer. The confused ministers immediately woke up and understood!

No one can tell what the current situation in the palace is, but it is possible that something big like the sky falling and the earth collapsing may happen.

But no matter what, as long as Prime Minister Shen still has the edict in his hands, the court officials will have the "legal basis" to dominate future affairs and will always be able to stabilize the overall situation!

If they do not have legal principles in their hands, the court officials can only be controlled by the "conspiracy forces" in the palace in terms of justice, and will fall into a very passive situation.

For example, a certain imperial concubine and the third prince killed the crown prince and the seriously ill emperor in the palace, and then sent a "royal edict" to the outer court. Would the ministers listen to it or not?

Therefore, the imperial edict in Prime Minister Shen’s hand is definitely the current stabilizer and cornerstone of stability.

The three eunuchs approached Prime Minister Shen, and the leader reached out to take the imperial edict.

No matter what happened, their mission was to retrieve the imperial edict. If they failed to complete the mission, they might be beaten to death by the emperor when they returned.

Lin Tailai rushed forward and punched hard, knocking the eunuch who was reaching for the imperial edict away, and then shouted:
"Eunuchs are not allowed to touch the imperial edict! The current situation is unclear. Who knows if you are involved in the conspiracy and have been ordered to destroy the imperial edict?"

The Lin Party started to clamor together, "The Prime Minister actually wants to hand over the imperial edict to someone of unknown origin. This is also unbelievable!"

Qian Yiben, the leader of the Qingliu faction, sighed and suggested, "For the sake of the overall situation, only Dai Fanghou can protect the imperial edict now!"

Lin Tailai, who was highly regarded by the public, was no longer polite. He grabbed Prime Minister Shen's wrist and forcibly snatched the imperial edict.

Then Lin Tailai pushed Prime Minister Shen aside and said to everyone, "In an emergency, I will take the initiative and agree to your request. This imperial edict will be kept by me, Lin Tailai, for the time being!"

Everyone said: "That's exactly what it should be!"

Faced with the chaotic and volatile situation in the palace, the court officials were united for once, and even the Qingliu forces kept their mouths shut.

If the conspiracy forces in the palace sent people to snatch the imperial edict, Lin Tailai would be the most likely person to rush out with the edict.

In other words, Lin Tailai is the only military force among all the court officials in the palace now, and no one else, whether thugs or soldiers, can enter the palace.

If we really need to fight, we can only count on Lin Tailai to be the best.
Lin Tailai called out to everyone again, "It's useless to talk here. We should go to the palace to see His Majesty and defend His Royal Highness the Crown Prince!"

The prestige of the chief minister of the inner court, Shen Li, had been completely destroyed. The head of the six ministries of the outer court, the official Shen Yiguan, stepped forward to take responsibility and proposed:
"We can split our forces into two groups. Take Marquis Fang and go to the East Palace to meet and protect His Highness first, while we will go to the Qianqing Gate to ask for an audience with His Majesty!"

Lin Tailai nodded and said, "Okay! Let's go!"

No one thought anything was wrong, only Wang Xiangmeng looked at Lin Tailai suspiciously.

He recalled what Lin Tailai said after drinking too much at an internal family dinner during the Spring Festival: In addition to the conspiracy of using power to suppress others, I also know a thing or two about palace conspiracies.

(End of this chapter)