Chapter 296: Meeting (1)
The coachman’s eyes almost fell out of shock.
He has been driving a carriage for his master for twenty years. To put it bluntly and without exaggeration, he just goes about his business on weekdays. This is the first time that he has been so cowardly and meek today.
Why do you, the Prime Minister, endure such idleness? Is Princess Nanyang so powerful that even the Prime Minister wants to avoid her?
"Go quickly!" The voice coming from the carriage was a little unhappy.
The coachman quickly came to his senses, responded in a low voice, found another open space, and stopped the carriage. Then he opened the car door respectfully.
Prime Minister Wang, dressed in official uniform, got off the carriage with a normal expression. Zhang Shangshu, who was waiting aside, coughed and came over to exchange greetings.
Prime Minister Wang nodded slightly and walked side by side with Zhang Shangshu.
Zhang Shangshu took a look at the carriage not far away with the mark of Nanyang Prince's Palace. Anger surged in his heart and he lowered his voice and said: "This princess is so unruly in her behavior."
< br>Prime Minister Wang's voice was indifferent: "She is a little girl and doesn't follow the rules. What can we, the old ministers, do?"
Zhang Shangshu was speechless.
Who would have thought that Jiang Shaohua's biggest disadvantage would become Jiang Shaohua's advantage. It doesn't matter if you rely on your old age and betray your old age. It's more difficult to deal with people who rely on their own arrogance.
"Today's great court meeting, is it rare that a woman like her is allowed to enter the Jinluan Palace?" After a long while, Zhang Shangshu squeezed out another sentence.
Prime Minister Wang was not happy in his heart, but did not show it at all on his face. He said calmly: "His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has already agreed, and we, the ministers, have nothing to object to."
This is the moment. is the point.
After all, this is Jiang's world. The prince Jiang Song, who was about to sit on the dragon throne, took good care of his cousin Jiang Shaohua. As a minister, you can make trouble in secret, but can you confront the prince openly?
You can also see Jiang Shaohua's cunning. After entering the capital, Empress Dowager Zheng and the Prince were always put first, coaxing both the grandfather and grandson into confusion. Now with his back against these two big trees, Prime Minister Wang really had no choice but to do anything.
Write down this account first, and calculate it slowly in the future. Zhang Shangshu let out a sullen breath and followed Prime Minister Wang into the Golden Palace.
At this time, many ministers had come to the palace. The ministers took off their plain clothes and put on official uniforms. They looked solemn and waited quietly.
Princess Nanyang, standing with the vassal princes, is like a flower blooming in a dense forest, which is particularly eye-catching.
Prince Wu'an and his son, who had suffered a heavy loss, stared at Jiang Shaohua with heavy eyes, but did not say a word. A slick and sophisticated vassal king like King Dongping would never mess with such a prickly flower.
Jiang Shaohua just stood in the Jinluan Hall calmly and calmly, and his position was very close to the front. He declared his presence silently and domineeringly.
As soon as Prime Minister Wang and Zhang Shangshu entered the palace, the originally quiet civil and military officials immediately handed over their hands.
Prime Minister Wang looked gentle and greeted everyone. He even took the initiative to say hello to Jiang Shaohua: "The princess came early today."
Jiang Shaohua smiled slightly: "It's my first time in my life to attend the Great Court Meeting, and I feel very excited. I came early today. . Being young and shallow made Prime Minister Wang laugh. ”
Prime Minister Wang chuckled: "The princess is extremely intelligent, calm and decisive, and is not inferior to men. The words "young and shallow" have nothing to do with the princess. The princess is too self-effacing."
"Prime Minister Wang praised me so highly, so I accepted it shamelessly." Jiang Shaohua twitched the corner of his mouth.
Stab in the back, smile in front of others. This is the most basic skill and cultivation required to stay in court.
It was very ugly to tear one’s face apart before, but now that it’s mended, isn’t the shame coming back?
Everyone saw this and became alert again. Prime Minister Wang is over sixty years old and has been in court for decades. It is not unusual for him to have such a level of civility. This Nanyang Princess is only thirteen years old, but she has such scheming plans, which is really amazing. "His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has arrived!"
With a loud shout, all the ministers immediately stood up and raised their hands: "I respectfully welcome His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."
Jiang Shaohua's voice was also mixed in. The best thing was that more than a hundred men's voices could not overpower her clear and sweet voice. The first one reached the ears of His Highness the Crown Prince.
His Royal Highness, still wearing plain clothes and filial piety, had a smile in his eyes.
The accompanying young men behind His Highness the Crown Prince each raised their eyes to look at Princess Nanyang with mixed emotions.
Jiang Yi thought that this cousin showed her talents and the Queen Mother's party became more powerful.
Li Boyuan thought in his heart, who would dare to marry such a powerful girl as his wife in the future.
Wang Jin glanced quietly and then lowered his eyes.
Zheng Chen felt the most complicated, and even felt a little proud that was difficult to express. After thinking about it, Jiang Shaohua was as cold as iron to himself, and his pride turned into strong anger and unwillingness.
Jiang Shaohua didn’t look at anyone. She followed the ministers to greet the prince, then stood with her hands down and listened.
The dragon chair in the Jinluan Palace is still empty, and the prince is sitting on the wooden chair next to the dragon chair in the past.
As usual, Prime Minister Wang was the first to speak: "The country cannot live without a king for a day. The emperor's funeral has been completed, and I invite His Highness the Crown Prince to ascend the throne as the new emperor."
The important ministers of third rank and above came one after another. Open your mouth and respectfully invite His Royal Highness to ascend the throne.
According to convention, three invitations and three resignations are always required. Yesterday's visit to the imperial mausoleum was counted as one, and today's meeting at the imperial court was counted as the second.
The prince really refused and declared that he would concentrate on keeping filial piety for the emperor.
The entire morning of the court meeting was spent amidst the persuasion of the ministers and the rejection of the prince.
Jiang Shaohua, like other vassal princes, opened his mouth when it was time to persuade him, and the rest of the time he stood quietly without making any high-profile remarks.
After the early court dismissed, all the ministers went back to the Yamen to attend to their errands.
The prince left Prime Minister Wang, Duke An Guo and several vassal princes behind to discuss the war in Pingzhou. Jiang Shaohua stayed as a matter of course.
No one among the ministers said anything. His Highness the Crown Prince has already acquiesced, so why should they object?
"General Fan has already led his troops to Pingzhou." The prince was full of worries and frowned slightly: "The food and grass supplies have been sent for a few days. Nowadays, there are frequent riots in the north, and I am worried that there will be rioters robbing food."
< br>No wonder the prince is so worried. Most of the northern states and counties are affected by drought. The most serious one is Pingzhou, followed by Youzhou, Dingzhou and Bingzhou. At present, Pingzhou has fallen into the hands of Tan Sheng, the "King of Pingzhou", and Youzhou and Dingzhou are also ready to merge.
The people are starving to death and will do anything just for a bite to eat. The team delivering food and grass is surrounded by dangers.
An Guogong handed over his hand and began to play: "Your Highness, please be at ease. There are two thousand elite soldiers escorting the grain and grass. Three to five thousand rioters will never dare to snatch food. Even if they encounter hungry rioters, their eyes will turn red and they will grab it. Two thousand elite soldiers can handle the food."
Prime Minister Wang glanced at Duke An: "If Duke An is so sure, do you dare to issue a military order?"
An Guogong was not someone to be trifled with, so he retorted coldly: "Prime Minister Wang gave me a guarantee that day, so what was the result? The Yingwei camp was defeated, General Du died in battle, and the emperor was so angry that he went to heaven. Didn't Prime Minister Wang still stand well? Here?”