In Jingyang Palace, Queen Mother Zheng was leaning on a thick pillow, half sitting and half lying down.
Jiang Shaohua sat beside the bed and patiently and carefully served Empress Dowager Zheng to drink the medicine.
The grief of losing a son in old age is clearly revealed on the old and gloomy face of Empress Dowager Zheng. In just a few days, Queen Mother Zheng suddenly seemed to have aged more than ten years, with deep wrinkles appearing at the corners of her eyes and forehead.
However, time is a good medicine that can overcome all pain. Jiang Shaohua knew clearly that the weak and tired old woman in front of him would soon cheer up and continue to compete with Wang Cheng for power.
“To report to the Queen Mother,” Eunuch Zhao quietly came to report: “After General Wei entered the Jinluan Palace, he couldn’t kneel down and requested a favor from His Highness the Crown Prince.”
Empress Dowager Zheng took the last sip of the bitter soup, and boundless anger flashed in her eyes: "This Wei Changfeng, it is not an exaggeration to be cut into pieces with a thousand cuts."
Jiang Shaohua frowned and opened his mouth. The key point was asked: "General Wei admitted all his faults. Did he mention Prime Minister Wang?"
Eunuch Zhao shook his head: "No."
Jiang Shaohua's eyes flashed, and he turned to Empress Dowager Zheng and whispered: "I think, Prime Minister Wang has already sent someone privately to hint to General Wei, asking him to take over. All the blame is gone.”
In this case, Prime Minister Wang will naturally not be involved.
Empress Dowager Zheng obviously understood this, her eyes were clouded, and she snorted coldly: "He actually got his plan right. This is bullying the orphans and widowed mothers."
When Emperor Taikang died, the prince and Empress Dowager Zheng are indeed considered orphans and widowers.
Jiang Shaohua did not take the opportunity to instigate. Given Empress Dowager Zheng's fear of Prime Minister Wang, there was no need for her to say anything.
After a while, Eunuch Zhao came again to deliver a message: "The Queen Mother, Her Royal Highness has ordered General Wei to be imprisoned in the prison of the Ministry of Punishment."
General Wei cannot escape death, it just depends on how it happens. If he dies, will it harm his family and nine clans? Such a major matter requires formal interrogation by the Ministry of Punishment and a court meeting before a formal conviction can be made.
Queen Mother Zheng nodded slightly, with a cold look: "When the prince comes, the Ai family will ask him personally."
The prince is indeed too young. A sixteen-year-old boy, his qualifications are not very good, and he can barely be considered smart by studying. If you study slowly for ten or eight years, you may be able to master government affairs. The current prince Jiang Song obviously does not have the ability and vision to handle government affairs independently. He couldn't even suppress the courtiers.
Rationally, he knew that Prime Minister Wang should be reused. Emotionally, he relied more on Queen Mother Zheng.
A series of thoughts flashed through Jiang Shaohua's mind, and he casually echoed: "The prince's cousin is still young and is still a little unfamiliar with the affairs of the country. The queen should make more plans and considerations for my cousin."
This The words were very pleasant to the ear.
Empress Dowager Zheng's brows widened: "The Ai family thinks so too. The Ai family is the prince's direct grandmother, so naturally she is devoted to him. It's really hateful and annoying that Prime Minister Wang and the rest of them are talking about Si Chen behind his back. ”
Jiang Shaohua had a look of shared hatred: "My queen has been married into the royal family for decades, and she is the well-deserved mistress of the Jiang family. It is only natural to worry about and work hard for her children and grandchildren. I don't need to pay attention to these gossips."
The corners of Empress Dowager Zheng's mouth also turned up: "You girl, you are really good at talking, and everything you say goes into the hearts of the Ai family."
"The Ai family also knows your thoughts. You are a filial piety. Son, keep your grandfather wholeheartedly The family property left to you. Don’t worry, with the support of the Ai family, no one can do anything to you.”
Jiang Shaohua’s eyes were so moved that he stretched out his hand to hold Empress Dowager Zheng’s hand tightly: “Thank you, uncle. Grandma.”
Half an hour later, the prince came with a serious look on his face. Jiang Shaohua stood up and left, but Empress Dowager Zheng said: "The Ai family wants to discuss with the prince how to deal with General Wei. You are not an outsider. You also have to go to court on weekdays. Stay and listen."
Empress Dowager Zheng used one method to win over others.
Jiang Shaohua's face showed emotion and gratitude, but he did not agree immediately. Instead, he looked at the prince, waiting for the prince's approval.
The prince was in a gloomy and angry mood, and nodded with a sullen face: "The imperial grandmother is right, it's okay for my cousin Shaohua to stay and listen."
Jiang Shaohua responded meekly.
Next, Empress Dowager Zheng whispered to the prince how to deal with General Wei and how to use the opportunity to suppress Prime Minister Wang and his party. The prince listened intently and nodded from time to time.
Jiang Shaohua didn't make a sound, just listened quietly.
The methods are nothing more than a few, creating public opinion, secretly instructing the imperial minister to file a memorial for impeachment, and then the prince personally comes forward to show mercy...
The three people present know in their hearts that Prime Minister Wang It cannot fail at this time, nor can it fail. For the prince to ascend the throne smoothly and to gradually become familiar with taking over the government, he cannot do without Prime Minister Wang. However, the prince could not allow Prime Minister Wang to bully him.
A minister should behave like a minister.
......
General Wei was imprisoned in the prison of the Ministry of Punishment, and Dai Shangshu of the Ministry of Punishment personally interrogated the case.
Dai Shangshu has always followed Prime Minister Wang’s lead. In the eyes of the ministers, Shangshu Dai would definitely find ways to cover up or reduce General Wei's guilt. Unexpectedly, the memorial that Dai Shangshu presented to the imperial court was very rigorous and sharp. The Ministry of Punishment listed General Wei's top ten crimes, which together were enough to wipe out nine tribes.
Jiang Shaohua was surprised and said to the prince privately: "Prime Minister Wang wants to put all the blame on General Wei. If a strong man cuts off his wrist, he can get out of this quagmire."
A cold look flashed in the prince's eyes: "Wei Changfeng does deserve to die. However, the crime does not fall on the nine clans. Cut off Wei Changfeng's head, and the Wei clan will be exiled to the border."
General Wei neither rebelled nor rebelled. He did something heinous, and the only fault was his incompetence. He lost his troops and generals, lost the battle, and lost Pingzhou. It is indeed too much to destroy the Nine Clans. It's much more peaceful to deal with it this way.
This is also a "that's it" signal to Prime Minister Wang.
Right now, the court is focusing on the war in Pingzhou and is also preparing for the new emperor's coronation ceremony. It’s hard to tolerate more chaos and turmoil.
The prince personally wrote his approval on the memorial sent by the Ministry of Punishment.
Dai Shangshu breathed a sigh of relief, and Prime Minister Wang also breathed a sigh of relief. An Guogong, who had always been worried, secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
The death of General Du led to the defeat of Pingzhou. Prime Minister Wang has been asking people to investigate the cause of General Du's death. Anguo Gong asked himself to act secretly. However, there are no real secrets in this world. Everything you do will leave hidden traces.
Once the truth is found out, the person who will be imprisoned in the prison of the Ministry of Punishment and waiting to be beheaded will be Duke An Guo.
Fortunately, Prime Minister Wang’s people found nothing. Fortunately, Prime Minister Wang was eager to clear his name and pushed General Wei to be the scapegoat. Fortunately!
Under the tacit understanding of everyone, the case of General Wei went very smoothly.
During this period, the ministers jointly signed the third round of memorials to invite His Royal Highness to ascend the throne. His Royal Highness finally relaxed. All the ministers were overjoyed. (End of this chapter)