The confidant trembled: "Don't you want to imitate the late emperor and Jiang Maoyan, and be a pair of monarchs and ministers who start well and end well with me?"
Li Yan gasped, his body trembled, and he couldn't help but close his eyes.
A few moments later, he opened his eyes again, lowered his voice, and said every word: "Keep this matter in your stomach and don't mention it again in the future!"
The confidant responded tremblingly and stepped back respectfully.
Li Yan was left standing there in fear, and finally gave a wry smile: "Emperor Daxing can rest in peace until today!"
Chapter 231
Princess Changhua was finishing her grooming when she heard a sudden noise coming from outside.
After nearly a night, her head ached, and she couldn't help but raise her hand to rub her temples.
And her confidant maid over there had already walked out angrily: "I wonder if the eldest princess can't stand being disturbed? How come she still doesn't understand the rules..."
He was only halfway through his words when he was stopped by a scream.
A group of heavily armed sergeants held weapons and killed the guards guarding the palace gate in twos and twos, and then rushed forward with their bloody swords and halberds.
The palace maid looked timid, but she was still somewhat loyal and shouted: "Your Highness, run quickly——"
Princess Changhua also changed her color when she heard the sounds outside. She stood up suddenly and faced the cold and sharp eyes of the person who came up.
She was still able to keep her composure and scolded sternly: "Who are you, who dare to cause trouble in this inner palace?!"
The leading sergeant treated her politely, sheathed his sword, and then stretched out his arm in a gesture of invitation: "Your Royal Highness, Your Majesty is in court today, so please go to the front hall!"
Your Majesty...Zhou Ming?
Princess Changhua had several thoughts in her mind instantly, but her expression became increasingly cold: "Okay! I want to see what kind of tricks he is trying to play!"
Apparently something happened in the palace.
From the palace where she was, corpses could be seen everywhere, and she even saw...
"Bo Yanqing!"
Princess Changhua walked a few steps quickly and chased after her. When she saw that the always glorious prime minister was being controlled by a few warriors and his mouth was tightly gagged, she couldn't help but said with a smile: "Why don't you let him go quickly?" , don’t you know who he is?!”
Strict, who was ordered to preside over this matter, was not moved at all. He just waved his hand lazily: "Take it away!"
Princess Changhua stopped in front of Bai Yanqing: "Who dares?!"
Yan Yan then waved to the person next to him: "Take her away too!"
Before Princess Changhua could react, her arms were restrained, like an eagle carrying a chicken, and she and Bai Yanqing were led forward easily.
Princess Changhua's mouth was not blocked. She should have yelled and cursed, but she didn't.
Because she saw a lot of officials coming to attend the court meeting outside the front hall. The more they were brought forward, the more obvious the official robes of the officials became. She did not want to compromise her honor and was ashamed. At this time, Yu appeared like a street shrew.
Your strength should be reserved for when it matters most.
She thought so.
In the main hall, Li Yan did his duty and stood at the front. Behind him, the civil and military officials stood one after another. There was a clear order. There were so many people here, but no one was heard. The silence was almost terrifying.
But sitting at the top of the jade steps was her half-brother, the current emperor Zhou Ming.
Bai Yanqing was controlled by others, but Princess Changhua was let go.
She moved her hands and feet and adjusted her clothes at the same time, trying not to lose the dignity of the eldest princess. Then she said coldly: "What do you want from your majesty today? Are you going to disobey the late emperor and empress Xiaozhao's orders?" ?!”
Empress Xiaozhao was the posthumous title decided by the eldest princess Changhua for her mother after she assisted in the administration.
Ying Zheng ignored her, glanced down, and said calmly: "Where is the Minister of Rites?"
Then someone hurriedly came out of the queue and responded: "Report to your Majesty, I am waiting here."
Ying Zheng said: "Who is Empress Dowager Xia to me?"
When the Minister of Rites heard this, he knew where the emperor planned to attack. However, even if he knew, how could he change the matter?
At that moment, he was filled with bitterness and said, "The Queen Mother Xia is your Majesty's great-great-grandmother."
Ying Zheng asked again: "The Queen Mother Xia is not the queen of Emperor Mu Zong, so how can she get the title of Queen Mother?"
The Minister of Rites said: "Because the Queen Mother Xia gave birth to a successor for Emperor Mu Zong, after Emperor Zhuang Zong ascended the throne, he followed the national law, promoted filial piety, and named his mother the Queen Mother."
Ying Zheng nodded slightly, with a smile on his face, but there was a hint of murderous aura in his eyes, and asked: "Since there is such a past example, why is my mother still just a concubine?!"
The Minister of Rites cannot be right.
After the late emperor's grand visit that day, he also proposed to appoint Concubine Quan as the empress dowager. However, this proposal was strongly opposed by Princess Changhua. Even Empress Xiaozhao herself was noncommittal.
At the end of the day, mother and daughter still don't think Concubine Quan is qualified to be on an equal footing with the Queen.
It's just that times have changed. Now that His Majesty is in power, he wants to make the matter clear and clear when he settles the accounts.
After all, the Minister of Rites is still somewhat smart. Seeing what happened today, he expected that the eldest princess Changhua would probably be unable to stand up. And the young emperor probably didn't want to see an old minister like him again, so he made a quick decision and took off the clothes immediately. Official hat, kowtow to apologize:
"I am old and fatuous, and cannot bear this important responsibility. I have made such a big mistake today. I dare not be shameless and hold a high position anymore. I only ask for a chance for your majesty and me to change my ways. After finishing the arrangements for the concubine, she can be crowned queen mother. After the official ceremony, he returned to his hometown!"
Ying Zheng's expression did not change and he said: "It's accurate!"
To the courtiers, it actually didn't matter whether Concubine Quan was a concubine or a queen dowager - the new emperor came out of her belly anyway, and no one could change that.
But for Princess Changhua, this is very important!
How is it possible that a humble woman from the Western Regions can receive the same honor as her mother?
She was about to voice her objection almost immediately, but she never thought about it but failed to seize the opportunity. At the same time that Ying Zheng uttered the word "Zhunzou", Lang Guan, who had been standing beside him for a long time, saluted and came forward and began to read out. will.
The long words of praise were ignored by Princess Changhua, and she seemed not to hear the sound of gold and stone filled with paper. She only heard the last sentence: "The concubine is named the Queen Mother, and her title is Cixian. Empress Dowager Cixian"...
How is this possible? !
Princess Changhua was shocked and angry, but the attendants outside the palace had already begun to sing loudly: "The Empress Dowager Cixian has arrived——"
Queen Mother Quan, wearing a full set of Queen Mother clothes, entered the palace steadily with the support of Shuanghong.
Ying Zheng walked down the jade steps and went to greet him personally. He should kneel down first and bow down. How dare he disobey the ministers behind him?
In the end, only Princess Changhua still stood frozen on the spot, clenching her silver teeth.
Shuanghong stood next to Queen Mother Quan, her eyes turned cold when she saw this, and she said sternly: "Since the eldest princess has met the Queen Mother, why doesn't she kneel down to say hello? Where is your filial piety, and where is your upbringing?!"
When would Princess Changhua look at such a maid and say, "How dare you talk to me like this?!"
Queen Mother Quan's expression was gentle, but there was a calm and unhurried power in her tone: "Shuanghong is explaining my feelings for me, and what he said is reasonable and well-founded. What crime is there? Changhua, do you think so?" Why don't you kneel down and worship me?"
Princess Changhua held back countless arrogant words in her heart. However, she also knew that she was not as powerful as others today, and she was in the wrong. When she saw everyone in the palace, they knelt down and worshiped her. After all, she could not be an exception.
After several embarrassments and various humiliations, she finally lowered her noble head and unwillingly knelt down to pay her respects to Queen Mother Quan.
Queen Mother Quan smiled slightly, her eyes were cold, but she did not look at her again. When she turned to the ministers, her expression became serious: "I came here today because I heard a folk rumor. , Prime Minister Jiang was imprisoned for questioning, which was an unjust case."
"When the late Emperor was here, he and Prime Minister Jiang got along well with each other. I am in the inner palace and I also know that the relationship between the monarch and his minister is extremely deep. It is not an exaggeration to say that they are in love with each other. Such deep affection and friendship between Prime Minister Jiang and How could you do anything disrespectful to the late emperor?"
Speaking of this, she sighed: "Prime Minister Jiang has made great contributions to the Zhou Dynasty. How can such a person be punished casually? Because this matter is full of doubts, I re-interrogated the attendants who accused Prime Minister Jiang that day. We didn’t want to, but they gave completely opposite testimony from before——”
As soon as Queen Mother Quan finished speaking, several chamberlains were escorted into the palace.
The people in charge cried bitterly and regretted: "The Queen Mother, please forgive me! What happened that day was really because Queen Xiaozhao threatened our lives, so we had no choice but to do it. The Queen Mother knows this!"
This group of people know best how to maneuver according to the wind. That day, they could kneel down in front of Empress Xiaozhao and give false evidence for her because of their power. Why can't they kneel down in front of Empress Dowager Quan and drive for her today?
Compared with the previous time when Ying Zheng enthroned Concubine Quan as the Queen Mother, the confusion caused by the confessions of these chamberlains was much more serious.
There is an extra queen mother in the palace, which has minimal influence on the court, but Jiang Maoyan is different!
He has been the Prime Minister for decades and has many disciples and former officials all over the world. Once something happens to him, the implications will be huge!
With such twists and turns at the top, those in lower positions dare not say anything.
The high-ranking person looked at Li Yan's expression thoughtfully, and when he saw that he didn't make a sound, he knew that he also agreed with the emperor.
If someone goes to see the old god King Song again - there is no need to think too much. From the beginning, he wanted to keep Jiang Maoyan!
The emperor, the clan, and important officials have reached a consensus, and Jiang Maoyan's release has become a certainty.
Among the many ulterior motives, only King Song cast his gaze at Princess Changhua. Seeing that she was still in a state of confusion, he could not help but shake his head and sigh.
Such people should not enter the court and try to stir up trouble.
So far, she doesn't even know what happened or what will happen next.
Look, the knife was held to her neck, and she was still confused.
but……
The King of Song looked at the young emperor who was above him, and then at the dignified and solemn Queen Mother Quan, and he felt deeply in his heart: Your Majesty is really filial in serving the Queen Mother, and it is precisely for this reason that he used such cruel and heart-breaking methods. Come and deal with Changhua!
Otherwise, there are many ways to release Jiang Maoyan, and there is no need to select a few chamberlains to rebel in court.
Let him be.
The King of Song thought: It was Zhou's blessing to meet such a monarch who could turn the tide. As for Princess Changhua...
How could he have the time to worry about so much!
Princess Changhua was particularly ignorant, so someone came out to attack.
"The reason why Prime Minister Jiang was imprisoned and convicted that day was because the internal servants testified and accused him, and Empress Xiaozhao acted arbitrarily. Now we know that this matter is a complete fabrication. It was Empress Xiaozhao who intimidated the internal officials, framed the Prime Minister, and intended to bring trouble to the court and our country - —How could such a person get the title of Queen Mother, be buried next to the late emperor, and be given the honorific title of 'Xiao Zhao'?!"
Princess Changhua changed her face in shock, but the man had already seen it: "From what I see, she should be deposed from the title of Queen Xiaozhao, and should be given a bad posthumous title. She should stuff chaff into her mouth and cover her face with her hair. Alert the courtiers and harem!"
Princess Changhua's whole body was shaking uncontrollably, her face had completely lost all color, she opened and closed her lips several times, and finally uttered a voice: "You dare!"
She said sternly: "My mother is the late emperor's wife and the empress of the palace!"
The man saluted her in a polite manner and said, "What I'm talking about now is Empress Xiaozhao's plot to trap Prime Minister Jiang. What does it have to do with her identity?"
Princess Changhua was speechless for a moment. After a few moments, she pointed at the servants again, with a cold expression on her face: "Can the words of the slaves be believed? How could they ruin my mother's affairs because of their lies?! "
The man laughed when he heard this: "But your Royal Highness, Princess Xiaozhao, Empress Xiaozhao relied on the lies of these slaves to convict Prime Minister Jiang that day. Why, what they said was credible at that time, but now it is not credible?"
