spend time

After recuperating for more than two months, Prime Minister Wang finally "recovered" and returned to the court.

"Your Majesty, I have seen you." Prime Minister Wang stood in front of the dragon bed with a guilty look on his face and bowed, "Your Majesty is ill and you still worry about my health. I am really ashamed."

Emperor Taihe was unable to get off the couch, so he was helped up to sit on the dragon couch. His voice was a little more powerful: "Prime Minister Wang, please stand up without formalities. Someone, please give him a seat."

Eunuch Ge and another eunuch brought a chair over, and Prime Minister Wang declined it for a while before sitting down.

The Emperor Taihe's illness had worn down his original sharpness, and he spoke more gently and smoothly: "There is no need to mention the past. Right now, the affairs of the court are complicated and the government affairs are piled up. I am also ill and cannot be of great use. I have to trouble the Prime Minister."

Prime Minister Wang wanted to express his loyalty as a subject. It was a cliché, hypocritical, and tedious, so I don't need to elaborate.

The king and his ministers pretended to be at peace, but soon they started discussing serious matters.

Prime Minister Wang looked at the memorial from Minister Zhou of the Ministry of Works and his expression became serious: "This matter must be discussed as soon as possible and a plan must be made."

Emperor Taihe nodded and said, "I have sent a message that the six ministers and assistant ministers will soon enter the Zhaohe Palace. I am unable to go to the main palace, so I will ask all the ministers to come to my bedroom."

Prime Minister Wang frowned and said disapprovingly, "Your Majesty is ill and should rest and recuperate, not worry about government affairs. Moreover, Your Majesty is weak now, and it is not appropriate for the ministers to see it in person, so as not to damage the majesty's prestige. Your Majesty trusts me, so please leave this matter to me. I will report to Your Majesty after the discussion has concluded."

When Emperor Taikang was seriously ill, he entrusted all government affairs to Prime Minister Wang. In this way, he did not have to worry about work, nor did he let the ministers see the emperor's sick appearance, thus maintaining the emperor's dignity.

But in this way, Prime Minister Wang once again monopolized power. It is easy to give power away, but it is very difficult to take it back.

Emperor Taihe was weighing the pros and cons in his mind, and for a moment he could not make up his mind. Jiang Shaohua's voice rang in his ears: "Prime Minister Wang is right. Your Majesty should not meet with the ministers now. It is better for Prime Minister Wang to preside over the court discussion. Your sister will be the eyes and ears of the emperor, and go to see and listen."

When Emperor Taihe heard this, his brows relaxed and he nodded in agreement.

Jiang Shaohua smiled slightly.

Prime Minister Wang glanced at Jiang Shaohua calmly and did not object.

Nanyang County was the richest and most prosperous among all the vassal states. Jiang Shaohua, the Princess of Nanyang, was the de facto head of the vassal kings. Two years ago, she broke the court convention and stood in the court as a woman. She participated in all the big and small court meetings.

Now that he was here, it was only natural for him to attend the court meeting. As the prime minister, he had no right to object.

The matter was thus settled.

Half an hour later, all the ministers entered the main hall of Showa Hall.

The dragon throne was empty, and Prime Minister Wang presided over the court meeting. Princess Nanyang stood beside Prime Minister Wang, also facing the ministers. It seemed that they were evenly matched.

Minister Zhang had a subtle look on his face and glanced at Prime Minister Wang subconsciously.

Duke Anguo is still reflecting on himself behind closed doors. Is Princess Nanyang going to replace Duke Anguo and become the leader of the Empress Dowager's party in the court?
Prime Minister Wang remained calm and said in a deep voice, "Today's court meeting is to discuss the repair of the river bank. If you have any ideas, please share them."

Minister Zhang calmed himself down and was the first to speak: "Cleaning the river and building the riverbank is a top priority. We must repair it."

The rest of the ministers also expressed their approval. Only Minister Ji of the Ministry of Revenue frowned deeply: "Last year, we built a 200-li river embankment, and conscripted tens of thousands of people on both sides of the Yan River to work, spending millions of money and grain. As a result, during the flood season, five sections of the river embankment were washed away by floods. Many fertile fields and villages were submerged, and nearly a thousand people were drowned."

"It's not that I don't agree with building river embankments, but the money and grain should be spent on the right things. The river embankments must be of practical use."

This directly pointed out that the Ministry of Works had done a perfunctory job in building the river embankment, and the quality was too poor. Minister Zhou of the Ministry of Works suddenly looked unhappy: "What do you mean by this, Minister Ji? Many people in our Ministry of Works were so busy with the river control and river embankment construction that they couldn't go home. The river embankment was washed away by the river, which was a natural disaster. Can you blame us for not trying our best?"

Minister Ji was a straightforward person with a hot temper. He immediately pouted back expressionlessly: "Whether we have done our best or not is best known to the Ministry of Works. If Minister Zhou has a clear conscience, why should you be so angry?"

Minister Zhou sneered: "The Ministry of Revenue is in charge of the national treasury, and Minister Ji keeps saying that the treasury is empty. Where does the annual tax go?"

Minister Ji said coldly: "You are so capable, the position of Minister of Revenue will be given to you."

It was common for the ministers to argue during the court meetings. Prime Minister Wang had no intention of stopping them. Just as the familiar scene of buck-passing and mutual accusations was about to unfold, an unexpected voice sounded in the hall.

"If talking can solve the problem, you can argue until dark. Now time is urgent, so there is no need to say useless nonsense."

The words were sharp and impolite.

It was Princess Nanyang Jiang Shaohua.

Minister Zhou choked, and Minister Ji looked unhappy. There was silence in the Showa Hall for a moment.

Jiang Shaohua looked at Prime Minister Wang: "Prime Minister Wang, this princess remembers that the court has its own rules. Everyone can speak, but no one is allowed to interrupt. Why has the court become so unruly now?"

It is because Duke Anguo always goes against the grain that the court meetings in recent years have become a large-scale quarrel scene among the ministers. You blame me and I won't let you.

The fact is that this fact, pointed out in public by Jiang Shaohua, means that the Prime Minister has failed in his duty.

Prime Minister Wang had no choice but to bow his hands and confess: "It is because of my incompetence."

Jiang Shaohua said calmly: "This princess doesn't know how to manage rivers. Today I am here on behalf of the emperor to listen and see. You continue."

All the ministers were embarrassed. However, when it comes to matters of face, it doesn't matter if everyone loses it together.

The court meeting continued.

This time, everyone spoke up one after another, and no one interrupted. In fact, without the Duke of Anguo, there would be no quarrel.

Jiang Shaohua listened patiently, occasionally glancing at Wang Sheren who was writing furiously: "Did Wang Sheren write it down? I will present it to the emperor later."

Wang Jin responded and continued writing.

Prime Minister Wang's mouth twitched slightly.

There was no such rule in the court before. Jiang Shaohua made suggestions to the emperor, and the Zhongshu Sheren took notes before presenting them to the emperor. As a result, everyone had to be extra careful when speaking and expressing their opinions, so as not to be careless and become a ready-made topic of gossip.

Jiang Shaohua's mind is more cunning than a sieve.

The court discussion, which usually lasted for a long time without any results, went very smoothly today. The plan for building the river embankment was completed in less than an hour.

Jiang Shaohua, who had been silent for a long time, spoke again: "There is still time, let's discuss the important political affairs that have been piled up!" (End of this chapter)