Do You Know?: I, the Little Cabinet Elder, Regent of the World

My loyal ministers, capable ministers, virtuous ministers, and pillars of the state!

Jiang Mansion, Pavilion.

A stone table, clear tea, and fruits.

"what?"

"Depose the empress?"

Sheng Hualan shook the handkerchief in her hand, her expression one of disbelief after another.

Jiang Zhao took a sip of tea and nodded slightly.

"Oh my God!"

Sheng Hualan exclaimed in surprise, stunned for a few moments, unsure of what to say.

That's the Empress, the mother of the nation!

Who would have thought that she would be deposed less than a year after becoming empress?

"Throughout history, the deposition of empresses has been a common occurrence."

Jiang Zhao calmly said, "Didn't the late emperor also depose Empress Guo?"

Being related to one's maternal relatives brings wealth and honor easily, but it doesn't necessarily last.

As the saying goes, "A new emperor brings a new court," and most of the relatives of the empress dowager cannot last a single reign!

Sheng Hualan nodded slightly; she was just a little surprised.

After all, she was the Empress!

but

Sheng Hualan raised her eyebrows slightly.

It seems that my maternal grandmother and uncle are also going to Beijing.

These two are no pushovers!

"Ugh!"

Sheng Hualan sighed silently.

My family home is really a source of worry.

First, there was the trouble caused by Lady Kang, then there was the uproar caused by Minglan and the young master, and then there was Molan's affair.

This time, it was my maternal grandmother and uncle again.

This group of people really knows how to cause trouble!

Just like Lan, she has a gentle and obedient nature, making her easy to take care of.

April 13th, cloudy.

Wende Hall, where court sessions are held regularly.

Civil and military officials stood in orderly rows.

On the steps of the imperial palace, Zhao Ceying rested his hands on his knees and looked down straight ahead.

“All officials, both inside and outside the government, may speak to me immediately,” Zhao Ceying said calmly.

In just a moment, someone walked out from there.

"Your subject, Wu Zhongfu, Right Vice Censor-in-Chief, is impeaching one person." The speaker was dressed in a purple robe, with slightly graying temples, and was one of the core veterans of the Han faction.

Right Vice Censor-in-Chief!

Many people were secretly startled.

This is a second-rank censor, a figure who has truly reached the pinnacle of the censorate.

How could someone like this take the initiative to impeach someone?

The only people qualified to be impeached by him are the six ministers and a few Grand Secretaries of the Cabinet.

On the steps of the imperial palace, Zhao Ceying's spirits lifted, and he waved his sleeve, saying, "Speak freely!"

“I speak frankly and offer my advice; I hope Your Majesty will forgive my crime,” Wu Zhongfu said cautiously.

Impeaching the empress is essentially a subject impeaching the monarch, and the fear is that it will cause trouble for the subject.

If you need to layer armor, you still need to layer armor.

Zhao Ceying waved his sleeve and said, "I forgive you for your crime!"

All the civil and military officials watched intently.

What kind of impeachment could make a second-rank censor so cautious?

Wu Zhong bowed again and said, "The person I impeached is none other than the Empress!"

Halfway through his sentence, the civil and military officials were all in an uproar.

Impeach the Empress?

Wu Zhong glanced at her again and continued, "I impeach the Empress for three crimes:

Firstly, she interfered in court affairs. The Spring and Autumn Annals states: "Women's involvement in politics is the root of chaos." With the borders pacified, the empress intended to allow her relatives to enter the border regions, thus interfering in border military and political affairs. This matter was common knowledge and caused a great uproar.

Secondly, they lacked moral cultivation. The Empress, Lady Gao, and Lady Zou had expressed their hope for a defeat on the frontier, a sentiment that was widely circulated among the people.

Thirdly, jealousy leads to lapses in decorum. The *Zhou Li* (Rites of Zhou) states: "The empress and consorts should not be jealous, so as to maintain harmony and order." As the head of the six palaces, the empress should possess a tolerant and benevolent heart, ensuring harmony within the harem. However, it is now heard that the empress, due to personal grudges, has treated Consort Xiang harshly, even frequently reprimanding her; this is a transgression stemming from jealousy.

When the inner palace is in turmoil, the balance of Yin and Yang is disrupted, and calamities frequently occur. Recently, the Yellow River has experienced a severe flood, causing turmoil in the mountains and rivers, which is presumably due to the Empress's fault.

Empress Gao possesses none of the qualities befitting an empress. I risk my life to offer this advice, hoping Your Majesty will decide to depose her to prevent future disaster!

After speaking, Wu Zhong bowed deeply again.

"Hi~!"

The civil and military officials were secretly alarmed.

Deposed queen?

Many people subconsciously looked up and gazed at the vacant seats among the Grand Secretaries.

Indeed, Grand Secretary Jiang did not even attend court.

However, given Jiang Ge Lao's reputation, no one would believe that he had absolutely no connection to the matter of deposing the empress!

After all, such a major event must have been authorized by the government.

As for the emperor, if we were to say who he trusts the most, it would undoubtedly be Grand Secretary Jiang.

The fact that he did not attend court does not mean that this matter is unrelated to Grand Secretary Jiang!

"No."

Among the imperial censors, a man emerged holding a tablet. He appeared to be about twenty-five or twenty-six years old, with red lips and white teeth, and a gentle, refined appearance.

The Book of Rites states: "The queen may not be deposed; even if she has made mistakes, she may still be reformed."

Qi Heng held his tablet and spoke solemnly: "The Empress has only been in charge of the inner palace for less than a year. Although she has made some minor mistakes, she has not reached the point of being deposed. If the Empress is deposed because of a single doubt, it would be to disregard the ancestral rites and disrupt the order of legitimate and illegitimate children."

"How can the Empress be deposed so easily? If this is done, the world will surely suspect that His Majesty has abandoned his beloved wife, that he can share hardship but not wealth."

This action risks violating the established rules and regulations! Your Majesty, I implore you to reconsider and not let a moment of anger ruin the established order for generations to come.

With that, Qi Heng bowed deeply.

On the steps of the imperial palace, Zhao Ceying glanced at it.

This is the Empress Dowager's person!

The selection of the top three scholars should have been as slow as a snail's pace.

But there are always exceptions.

Young Master Qi Heng was raised by his mother under the care of the Empress Dowager, and with the Empress Dowager as his backer, Qi Heng's promotion was quite remarkable.

In three years, he rose from the ninth rank to the seventh rank.

He was promoted four ranks in three years. In terms of promotion speed alone, he could even surpass Jiang Qing!

Of course, this is not surprising.

Having lived in the deep palace for so long, the Empress Dowager must still hope that there are one or two people in the court who will speak up for her.

But isn't this a bit too stubborn?

"The Empress has no demeanor befitting an empress, so why can't she be deposed?" Wu Zhong turned back and looked at the famous Young Master Qi.

"How can she be deposed?" Qi Heng argued, "The Empress has lost her virtue; she can simply reflect on herself."

"In the past, Your Majesty and the Empress went through thick and thin together, and she even gave birth to a prince for Your Majesty, thus serving you faithfully. Although she has made mistakes now, considering our past affection, how can I bear to depose her?"

"The Imperial Censor's statement is erroneous!"

Finally, a man carrying a tablet stepped forward and solemnly declared, "The Empress has committed three crimes, causing discord within the palace. She should be deposed."

"I second that opinion," a man said respectfully, holding a tablet.

"I second the proposal!"

"I second the proposal!"

One after another, more than a hundred people bowed down.

"Nonsense!" Qi Heng's face flushed red as he rebuked, "Are you all going to disregard etiquette and law? The Empress has been in charge of the inner palace for less than a year and has not made any major mistakes. How can she be deposed?"

As soon as he finished speaking, a man holding a tablet said, "I agree with the Imperial Censor's words; they should not be disregarded."

"It cannot be abolished."

"It cannot be abolished."

About a few dozen people unanimously agreed.

Etiquette, laws, and social norms naturally have a group of staunch supporters.

For a time, the imperial court was embroiled in endless debate.

Youshi.

The main hall of the Jiang residence.

Jiang Zhao took a sip of the chilled honey water and let out a long sigh.

As the chief examiner of the imperial examinations and the leader of one of the largest factions in the court, he naturally attracted many talented but poor students who hoped to become his protégés or former subordinates.

From sunrise to sunset, he spent almost all his time talking with the examinees.

Only now did we have time to rest.

Just then, He Sheng reported: "My lord, Imperial Censor Qi Heng requests an audience."

"Qi Heng?"

Jiang Zhao was surprised: "Why does he want to see me?"

As one of the main characters in the original storyline, Qi Heng naturally left a deep impression on Jiang Zhao.

However, the two only crossed paths a handful of times.

"Perhaps I should politely decline his offer?" He Sheng suggested.

He was merely a seventh-rank Imperial Censor.

Generally speaking, someone of this rank is not qualified to request an audience with their lord.

"That's all."

Jiang Zhao pondered for a moment and said, "Let him in."

Compared to Qi Heng's school days and dating days, Qi Heng's life after entering officialdom was far superior.

In particular, his ineffable integrity inspires admiration.

About ten breaths later, Qi Heng approached, bowed, and said, "Grand Secretary Jiang."

Jiang Zhao nodded and raised his hand.

The two took their seats one after the other, as host and guest.