spend time

Chapter 506 Tips
After spending half a day in the prison of the Ministry of Justice, Minister Wang did not return directly to the Wang Mansion after leaving the Ministry of Justice. Instead, he went to the Prime Minister's Mansion under the cover of night.

Prime Minister Wang had been busy all day and was quite tired. However, since Minister Wang was here, he had to meet him.

He had been the prime minister for more than 20 years, and the number of officials who came to him was so great that he himself could not even remember how many there were. This Wang Pei had come to him more than a decade ago. He arranged for Wang Pei to work in the Ministry of War, but on the surface they had no contact.

Later, Duke Anguo entered the court and joined the Ministry of War. He secretly instructed Wang Pei to join Duke Anguo. This move took several years and eventually became a sharp weapon to stab Duke Anguo.

"Please ask Minister Wang to come to the study."

As soon as Wang Shilang entered the study, he knelt down and cried: "My Lord Prime Minister, I have suffered such a great humiliation today. I beg you to support me and make the decision for me!"

Prime Minister Wang had a headache and frowned, saying, "It's nothing for a seven-foot-tall man of the third rank to encounter some setbacks. He is not as powerful as others but still refuses to bow his head. It's not surprising that the princess has lashed out at him. Now that you know how powerful the princess is, you should keep your head down and do your work for a while, and don't make trouble."

Minister Wang couldn't cry anymore, he wiped his face, full of resentment and unwillingness: "The Prime Minister is also afraid of that yellow-haired girl!"

Prime Minister Wang's face turned cold, his eyes flashing with coldness: "Yellow-haired girl? Even this Prime Minister admires the cunning and cunning of Princess Nanyang, and you dare to regard her as an ordinary girl who doesn't understand things. I think you are blinded by lard!"

"She has the support of the Grand Empress Dowager, the trust and respect of the Emperor, and the support of important officials such as Minister Dong and Minister Yang in the court. The Grand Empress Dowager's followers now regard her as their leader. More importantly, she speaks and acts with open strategies, and she is upright and legitimate. How can you, a Minister of War, have the courage to fight her?"

"The Emperor has fined you half a year's salary, but has not taken away your official position. This is already a great favor. If you continue to be dishonest and foolish, don't even think about being the Minister of War! You'd better quit your job and return to your hometown to retire!"

Minister Wang was scolded so badly that he dared not argue anymore. He only apologized. As for whether he was convinced or not, no one knew.

After Prime Minister Wang scolded Minister Wang, he slowed down his tone and comforted him: "Tomorrow you will go to court as usual and be more respectful and polite to Princess Nanyang. If she keeps staring at you, it means she is narrow-minded and lacks tolerance. In short, you must show the demeanor of an important official in the court."

Minister Wang responded in a low voice, feeling indignant, and couldn't help asking, "How long do you have to endure this?"

"Just wait until she returns to Nanyang County." Prime Minister Wang frowned and said, "If I can endure it, can't you?"

Minister Wang was able to make it to this day, and he was not completely without wisdom. He sighed and said, "What is the value of my little face? I will lose it. I am worried that if this continues, the prestige and power of the Prime Minister will be greatly weakened. Everyone in the court knows that I am the Prime Minister's loyal dog. Princess Nanyang is punishing me, which is to embarrass the Prime Minister!"

Prime Minister Wang snorted, "You don't have to instigate me. I know what's going on. Go back first!"

Only then did Minister Wang leave in disappointment.

Jiao sent Minister Wang away and returned to report. Prime Minister Wang nodded slightly and sighed in front of his confidant: "Jiang Shaohua is trying to scare the tiger and make this Prime Minister withdraw his hand."

Jiao's assistant whispered, "The Prime Minister is in charge of government affairs and has great power. The Ministry of War is the territory of Empress Dowager Zheng. Duke Anguo will return to the Ministry of War after a period of self-reflection. Minister Wang will stay in the Ministry of War to stab Duke Anguo and Empress Dowager Zheng, but it will be very difficult for him to completely control the Ministry of War."

Among the six ministries, the three ministers of the Ministry of Personnel, the Ministry of Punishment, and the Ministry of Works are all people of Prime Minister Wang. Minister Li of the Ministry of Rites and Minister Ji of the Ministry of Revenue are considered to be loyal to the emperor. Duke Anguo has been in charge of the Ministry of War for several years, and Prime Minister Wang has planted a few pawns, but it is basically impossible for him to completely control the Ministry of War.

No matter how gentle the Emperor Taihe was, he would not tolerate the prime minister monopolizing government affairs and controlling military power. The court needed checks and balances between civil and military officials, not a prime minister monopolizing power.

The means Jiang Shaohua used today was a warning to him as the prime minister on behalf of Emperor Taihe.

"Well, since I have the upper hand, I will hold back for now. I will not get involved in the Ministry of War's affairs for now. Wang Pei is a short-sighted person who acts impulsively and recklessly. I will not be able to use him for any major tasks. Have someone keep an eye on him and don't cause any more trouble for me."...

The next morning, Minister Wang attended the small court meeting on time.

Minister Wang put on a brave face and prepared to be laughed at and humiliated by the Princess of Nanyang. Unexpectedly, when the ministers met and exchanged greetings, no one mentioned what happened yesterday.

After Princess Nanyang arrived, she didn't even glance at him, as if nothing had happened: "Today's small court meeting will begin. Please ask the Prime Minister to preside over the court meeting."

Prime Minister Wang gladly accepted the order.

Government affairs were read out, people discussed and voted, and everything went on as usual.

Minister Wang didn't know whether to be happy for himself or sad for his insignificance. In short, his emotions were complicated and difficult to describe.

The court meeting ended before noon. The ministers were used to going directly to the various ministries and continuing their work. Privately, they couldn't help but speculate. Will the princess go to the Ministry of War today?

Of course I went.

"Reporting to the Minister, the princess has dismounted and entered the Ministry of War. The Prince of Gaoliang is accompanying her again today."

"Minister Wang and Minister Ding both came out to greet us. I watched from afar and the atmosphere was quite harmonious. Minister Wang was much more respectful to the princess and did not show any disrespect."

Minister Ji of the Ministry of Revenue stroked his sparse beard and nodded slightly: "You have already been fined half a year's salary. If you continue to be disrespectful, you will be dismissed from your post. Minister Wang is quite sensible. It seems that someone has given you a warning."

"Keep watching, and report immediately if there is any movement."

The Ministry of Revenue was not the only one keeping an eye on the Ministry of War. The six ministries were all on both sides of the Imperial Road, so they were close together. If there was any movement in the Ministry of War, the other five ministries would receive the news quickly.

After watching for half a day, I found that everything in the Ministry of War was normal. There was no good show like yesterday, which was disappointing.

Until the evening, there was new movement.

"What? The Ministry of Justice has found clues to the identities of the eight assassins?" In the Ministry of Rites, Minister Li asked his long-servant in the signing room: "Who are they from?"

The attendant replied in a low voice: "This is all I have heard. I don't know the details."

Minister Li glared at him impatiently: "Useless thing, keep on asking!"

The attendant responded and quickly went to find out the news. He soon found out the latest news.

Minister Dai of the Ministry of Justice led two assistant ministers into the palace to meet the emperor and report in person.

……