spend time

In Jingyang Palace, Queen Mother Zheng was leaning on a thick pillow, half sitting and half lying down.

Jiang Shaohua sat beside the bed and patiently and carefully served Empress Dowager Zheng to drink the medicine.

The grief of losing a son in old age is clearly reflected in the old and gloomy face of Empress Dowager Zheng. In just a few days, Queen Mother Zheng suddenly seemed to have aged more than ten years, with deep wrinkles appearing at the corners of her eyes and forehead.

However, time is a good medicine that can overcome all pain. Jiang Shaohua knew clearly that the weak and tired old woman in front of him would soon cheer up and continue to compete with Wang Cheng for power.

"To report to the Queen Mother," Eunuch Zhao quietly came to report: "After General Wei entered the Jinluan Palace, he couldn't kneel down and requested a favor from His Highness the Crown Prince."

Empress Dowager Zheng took the last sip of the bitter soup, and boundless anger flashed in her eyes: "This Wei Changfeng, it is not an exaggeration to kill him with a thousand cuts."

Jiang Shaohua frowned and asked the key point: "General Wei admitted all his faults. Did he mention Prime Minister Wang?"

Eunuch Zhao shook his head: "No."

Jiang Shaohua's eyes flashed, and he turned to Empress Dowager Zheng and whispered: "I think Prime Minister Wang has already sent someone privately to hint to General Wei, asking him to bear all the blame."

In this way, Prime Minister Wang will naturally not be involved.

General Wei cannot escape death. It only depends on how he dies and whether it will harm his family and nine clans. Such a major matter requires formal interrogation by the Ministry of Punishment and a court meeting before a formal conviction can be made.

This is very pleasant to say.

After a while, Eunuch Zhao came again to deliver a message: "The Queen Mother, Her Royal Highness has ordered General Wei to be imprisoned in the prison of the Ministry of Punishment."

Empress Dowager Zheng obviously understood this, her eyes were clouded, and she snorted coldly: "He actually got his plan right. This is bullying the orphans and widowed mothers."

The prince is indeed too young. A sixteen-year-old boy, his qualifications are not very good, and he can barely be considered smart by studying. If you study slowly for ten or eight years, you may be able to master government affairs. The current prince Jiang Song obviously does not have the ability and vision to handle government affairs independently. He couldn't even suppress the courtiers.

After Emperor Taikang died, the prince and Queen Mother Zheng were indeed orphans and widowers.

The corners of Queen Mother Zheng's lips also turned up: "You girl, you are really good at talking, and every word you say goes into the hearts of the Ai family."

Jiang Shaohua's face showed the same hatred as the enemy: "My queen has been married into the royal family for decades, and she is the well-deserved mistress of the Jiang family. It is only natural to worry about and work hard for her children and grandchildren. I don't need to pay attention to these gossips."

Empress Dowager Zheng's brows widened: "The Ai family thinks so too. The Ai family is the prince's direct grandmother, so naturally she is devoted to him. It's really hateful and annoying that Prime Minister Wang and the rest of them are talking about Si Chen behind his back. "

Rationally, he knew that Prime Minister Wang should be reused. Emotionally, he relied more on Queen Mother Zheng.

Jiang Shaohua did not take the opportunity to instigate. Given Empress Dowager Zheng's fear of Prime Minister Wang, there was no need for her to say anything.

A series of thoughts flashed through Jiang Shaohua's mind, and he casually echoed: "The prince's cousin is still young and is still a little unfamiliar with the important affairs of the country. The queen should make more plans and considerations for my cousin."

Empress Dowager Zheng nodded slightly, with a cold look in her eyes: "When the prince comes, the Ai family will ask him personally."

"The Ai family also knows what you are thinking. You are a filial child who is dedicated to guarding the family fortune your grandfather left you. Don't worry, with the Ai family supporting you, no one can do anything to you."

Jiang Shaohua's eyes were so moved that he stretched out his hand to hold Queen Mother Zheng's hand tightly: "Thank you, great-aunt."

Half an hour later, the prince came with a serious look on his face. Jiang Shaohua stood up and left, but Empress Dowager Zheng said: "The Ai family wants to discuss with the prince how to deal with General Wei. You are not an outsider. You also have to go to court on weekdays. Stay and listen."

Empress Dowager Zheng used one method to win over others.

Jiang Shaohua's face showed emotion and gratitude, but he did not agree immediately. Instead, he looked at the prince, waiting for the prince's approval.

The prince was in a gloomy and angry mood, and nodded with a sullen face: "The imperial grandmother is right, it's okay for my young cousin Shaohua to stay and listen."

Jiang Shaohua responded meekly.

Next, Empress Dowager Zheng whispered to the prince how to deal with General Wei and how to use the situation to suppress Prime Minister Wang and his party. The prince listened intently and nodded from time to time.

Jiang Shaohua didn't make a sound, just listened quietly.

There are just a few ways to do this, including building up public opinion, secretly instructing the imperial censor to issue a memorial for impeachment, and then the prince personally comes forward to show mercy...

The three people present all knew in their hearts that Prime Minister Wang could not fail at this time, nor could he. For the prince to ascend the throne smoothly and to gradually become familiar with taking over the government, he cannot do without Prime Minister Wang. However, the prince could not allow Prime Minister Wang to bully him.

A minister should behave like a minister.

……

General Wei was imprisoned in the prison of the Ministry of Punishment, and Dai Shangshu of the Ministry of Punishment personally interrogated the case.

Dai Shangshu always followed Prime Minister Wang's lead. In the eyes of the ministers, Shangshu Dai would definitely find ways to cover up or reduce General Wei's guilt. Unexpectedly, the memorial that Dai Shangshu presented to the imperial court was very rigorous and sharp. The Ministry of Punishment listed ten major crimes for General Wei, which together were enough to destroy the nine tribes.

Jiang Shaohua was stunned and privately advised the prince: "Prime Minister Wang wants to put all the blame on General Wei. If a strong man cuts off his wrist, he can get out of this quagmire."

A cold look flashed in the prince's eyes: "Wei Changfeng does deserve to die. However, the crime does not fall on the nine clans. If Wei Changfeng's head is chopped off, the Wei clan will be exiled to the border."

General Wei did not rebel nor did he do anything heinous. His only fault was his incompetence. He lost his troops and generals, lost the battle and lost Pingzhou. It is indeed too much to destroy the Nine Clans. It's much more peaceful to deal with it this way.

This also sends a "this is it" signal to Prime Minister Wang.

At the moment, the imperial court is focusing on the war in Pingzhou and is also preparing for the new emperor's coronation ceremony. It’s hard to tolerate more chaos and turmoil.

The prince personally wrote his approval on the memorial sent by the Ministry of Punishment.

Dai Shangshu breathed a sigh of relief, and Prime Minister Wang also breathed a sigh of relief. An Guogong, who had always been worried, secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

The death of General Du led to the defeat of Pingzhou. Prime Minister Wang has been asking people to investigate the cause of General Du's death. Anguo Gong asked himself to act secretly. However, there are no real secrets in this world. Everything you do will leave hidden traces.

Once the truth is found out, the person who will be imprisoned in the prison of the Ministry of Justice and waiting to be beheaded will be Duke An Guo.

Fortunately, Prime Minister Wang's people found nothing. Fortunately, Prime Minister Wang was eager to clear his name and pushed General Wei to be the scapegoat. Fortunately!
Under the tacit understanding of everyone, the case of General Wei went very smoothly.

During this period, the ministers jointly signed the third round of memorials to invite His Highness to ascend the throne with great fanfare. His Royal Highness finally relaxed. All the ministers were overjoyed. (End of chapter)