The prince is more stable

Chapter 300: Everyone Sees Their True Self
Today was a negotiation, and the negotiations had apparently reached an impasse.

Zhao Xiaoqian and Zhang Dun each had their own capital and neither could do anything to the other.

The only bargaining chip that can be brought out is the word "favor".

Don't underestimate these two words. Considering the importance of Zhao Xiaoqian and Zhang Dun, if they really use this favor one day, they will definitely gain huge benefits.

Now both sides are using their personal connections just for Su Shi.

However, the two still couldn't reach an agreement.

Zhang Dun was determined to punish Su Shi, while Zhao Xiaoqian was determined to protect Su Shi.

Things were at a stalemate, but Zhao Xiaoqian still wanted to try.

The ideal result would be to save Su Shi and not offend Zhang Dun, achieving the best of both worlds.

If possible, Zhao Xiaoqian is willing to pay some price for it, and everything can be negotiated.

We are all adults, and it is best not to quarrel with each other unless it is absolutely necessary. Children may quarrel with each other today, but they may be good friends again by holding hands tomorrow.

Once adults fall out, they basically become enemies, and it will be difficult to change this relationship in the future.

Who would want to make an enemy who becomes prime minister?

"Mr. Zhang, how about this? You can put forward any conditions you want. As long as it's something I can do, I will definitely get it done for you. Any conditions are acceptable." After pondering for a moment, Zhao Xiaoqian solemnly promised.

Zhang Dun sneered: "Would you be willing to die if I asked you to?"

Zhao Xiaoqian paused. "Can we be more rational? Don't mention those unreliable conditions. For example, what Prime Minister Zhang wants most is to purge the old party in the court. If you are willing to let Su Shi go, I can mobilize the Imperial City Bureau to collect a batch of evidence of the old party's crimes for you..."

Zhang Dun avoided answering, but stared at Zhao Xiaoqian deeply and asked, "Is it worth it for Su Shi alone for the Duke of the County to make such a sacrifice?"

"worth."

"Why?"

"For the education of future generations thousands of years from now!" Zhao Xiaoqian said righteously and sternly.

Zhang Dun stared in astonishment.

Zhao Xiaoqian smiled and said, "Don't you understand?"

If Su Shi had died early, whose books would the children of later generations have to memorize? Whose poems would they have to recite? There would be too little homework, and they wouldn't be able to take off after school.

"My Lord, we agreed not to provoke each other in the future. I didn't provoke you, so why are you interfering in my business?"

Zhao Xiaoqian smiled and said, "So, today I'm talking to you face to face. This isn't called interference, this is called 'pleading.' I'm pleading for Su Shi, and I'm begging you, Lord Zhang, to show some mercy."

Zhang Dun's face turned cold: "I believe the Lord of the County knows something about the grudge between this old man and Su Shi, right?"

"I know. Both publicly and privately, you have grudges against each other. It is only natural for Prime Minister Zhang to punish Su Shi."

"With the enemy in front of us, do you think I will let him go just because of a few words from you?"

Looking at Zhang Dun's suppressed anger, Zhao Xiaoqian sighed inwardly. He realized that today's negotiations might not produce any results.

Leaning back slightly, leaning against the back of his chair, Zhao Xiaoqian lowered his eyelids and whispered, "Mr. Zhang, I really don't want to go against you. You rule the country, shouldering the emperor's high hopes and the livelihoods of the people. From the perspective of the Song Dynasty, I shouldn't cause you any more trouble..."

Zhang Dun seemed to understand the meaning behind his words and sneered, "So? The Duke intends to become my enemy for Su Shi?"

Zhao Xiaoqian smiled and said, "Being friends is a two-way choice, and so is being enemies. I don't want to be your enemy, but I want to protect Su Shi. After I protect him, whether you and I will become enemies in the future is up to you, Mr. Zhang."

Zhang Dun finally lost his temper and slammed the table, shouting, "Zhao Zi'an, what on earth did Su Shi trick you into believing you'd take such a risk for him? Is it worth it for a mere downtrodden official with a bit of literary talent?"

"It's worth it." Zhao Xiaoqian's tone was light, but extremely firm.

Zhang Dun suddenly fell silent. After a long pause, he said calmly, "Then let's see who's really responsible! Su Shi, I must judge his guilt!"

"Su Shi, I must protect him!" Zhao Xiaoqian looked straight into his eyes.

"Goodbye, take care of yourself." Zhang Dun stood up and left.

His temper today was considered to be quite restrained. If it were Zhao Xiaoqian, Zhang Dun would have turned the table over long ago if it were someone else.

Zhao Xiaoqian turned around and called out to him, "Mr. Zhang, are you really not going to reconsider? I can help you find evidence against a group of Old Party officials. It won't do you any harm."

Zhang Dun ignored him, snorted angrily and slammed the door and left.

Zhao Xiaoqian closed his eyes regretfully, sitting alone in the elegant pavilion, muttering, "Don't ask, the old man must not have paid for this meal." ...

Zhao Xiaoqian wanted to use the evidence of crimes committed by the old party officials as bargaining chips, but Zhang Dun refused.

Then, Zhao Xiaoqian investigated the New Party.

The negotiations broke down, and the result was as Zhao Xiaoqian expected.

Now that it has been broken, there is no need to hide it anymore. Let’s just use our strength.

On that day, a team of imperial guards inexplicably appeared at Su Che's mansion. There were about twenty of them, standing outside the door of Su Che's mansion in an orderly manner to guard it.

Su Che was shocked when he heard the news and hurried out to inquire. He found out that this team of imperial guards were soldiers from the Prince of Chu's Palace, and they were ordered by the Crown Prince to protect Su Che's Palace.

Upon hearing this, Su Che burst into tears of gratitude.

The Su brothers had all heard about what happened at the court meeting. The Su family was now in turmoil, and it was hard to say when soldiers would arrest Su Shi and put him in jail.

When disaster struck, most of the old acquaintances from a few days ago disappeared, and dared not visit, avoiding the Su Mansion as much as possible. In such a difficult time, only Zhao Xiaoqian sent the imperial guards to protect the Su Mansion.

Such noble righteousness is rarely seen in the world.

Compared with Su Shi's emotion, Su Zhe was even more moved.

Zhao Xiaoqian seems to have a natural connection with the Su family. This is not the first time he has protected the Su family.

Last time, Su Che was also framed by Zhang Dun and was taken to the Ministry of Justice. Zhao Xiaoqian sent the Imperial City Division to break into the main hall of the Ministry of Justice to demand the person, forcing all the officials in the Ministry of Justice to not dare to move.

Zhao Xiaoqian saved the Su family time and time again, and his kindness to the Su family was like rebirth.

At the same time, evidence of illegal crimes committed by Chief Censor Huang Lu and three others was also being investigated intensively.

Since Zhang Dun refused Zhao Xiaoqian's request to provide evidence of the crimes of the old party officials, Zhao Xiaoqian targeted the new party officials.

Anyway, Zhao Xiaoqian's political stance is very vague. No matter who blocks my way, whether it is the new party or the old party, I will deal with it.

People who do not participate in party struggles can actually be above the two parties if they have power and strength.

Zhao Xiaoqian is now the third-ranking person in the Privy Council and holds the Imperial City Administration. He has never participated in the struggle between the new and old parties. His transcendent power and status mean that he can use his power to control most of the court officials.

Huangchengsi is a century-old brand. It has existed since the founding of the People's Republic of China. Later, Wudesi was renamed Huangchengsi. It was just a change of name, but its heritage has become more and more profound.

Supervising all officials in the capital is the most important function of the Imperial City Bureau. It is not difficult to collect evidence of crimes committed by certain court officials. Basically, there are spies planted by the Imperial City Bureau in the homes of every important court official. With one order from Zhao Xiaoqian, the evidence of crimes was quickly dug out.

The Chief Censor Huang Lu, the Assistant Censor Lai Zhishao, and the Secretary of the Central Secretariat Lin Xi.

These three people became the focus of the Imperial City Administration's attention. After all, the impeachment of Su Shi was initiated by these three people, so Zhao Xiaoqian naturally had to take action against these three people first.

Three people and three pieces of evidence were neatly placed on Zhao Xiaoqian's desk that evening.

However, these three people were still unaware of it. At the court meeting the next day, they still acted like loyal ministers and impeached Su Shi on several charges, requesting the Censorate, the Ministry of Justice and the Dali Temple to intervene and investigate Su Shi's illegal activities.

Su Shi's main crime was "slandering the emperor", because there was evidence that Su Shi spoke nonsense after drinking at various banquets, denouncing the government and scolding the officials for abandoning the old and restoring the new, saying that he was the greatest tyrant since the founding of the Song Dynasty.

Therefore, the charge of "slandering the emperor" was basically inevitable. What's more, those who gathered with Su Shi were basically officials of the old party who had been marginalized and suppressed. What good things could these people say about the current dynasty when they got together?
Don’t think that the charge of “slandering the emperor” is a trivial matter. In the Wudai Poetry Case, Su Shi was also charged with this crime and was almost beheaded. Now Su Shi has repeated the same crime and committed the same crime with a previous record. The nature of his crime is even more serious than that of the Wudai Poetry Case.

When public opinion becomes strong enough, small things can become big things.

At this court meeting, Zhang Dun finally stood up and expressed his position.

Since the public is so angry that it is difficult to appease them, Su Shi should indeed be investigated carefully. The emperor should make his own decision.

Originally, Zhang Dun stood behind calmly, allowing Huang Lu and others to do their thing. As the prime minister, it was of course impossible for him to charge into battle himself.

But after the negotiations with Zhao Xiaoqian broke down yesterday, Zhang Dun felt heavy in his heart, as if a huge rock was pressing on him.

It is undeniable that Zhao Xiaoqian put a lot of pressure on him, and if he insisted on convicting Su Shi, he had to make Su Shi an ironclad case before Zhao Xiaoqian took action.

I have to show up in person, otherwise no one else will be important enough.

Sure enough, Zhao Xu was hesitant at first and did not want to teach Su Shi from the bottom of his heart. After all, he really admired Su Shi's literary talent.

However, when Zhang Dun spoke out, Zhao Xu knew that he probably had no control over the matter.

On that day, the Imperial Court issued an edict, ordering the Censorate to investigate Su Shi's case of slandering the emperor, with the Ministry of Justice and the Dali Temple assisting.

(End of this chapter)