bayedsolid Chapter 452 The mantis stalks the cicada
Chapter 452 The mantis stalks the cicada
Beijing.
The air was thick with fear, and everyone was on edge.
A large number of officials were imprisoned, and a large number of their homes were raided.
Thanks to their selfless dedication, the national treasury has become much fuller.
Especially the family of Vice Minister Jiang.
It was Prime Minister Cui who ordered the confiscation of the property; he was merely dismissed from his post and not punished.
It's probably because both the Dali Temple and the Ministry of Justice prisons are full.
Of course not this reason.
In reality, Cui Yan showed leniency.
He was thinking of his daughter and her two older brothers.
The Great Liang Dynasty has always valued filial piety, governing the country through literature and filial piety, and even incorporating it into the evaluation of officials.
When one serves as an official in the imperial court, every word and action is subject to its constraints.
The Jiang brothers, Ziyan and Ziyan, could not decide their own origins, nor could they truly sever ties with Jiang Yunze.
Even though Jiang Yunze never fulfilled his responsibilities as a father, the blood ties between them could not be severed.
The two brothers also had to support him.
Ironically, Jiang Yunze should have had his home confiscated and been exiled instead.
But the two children could not be the sons of a disgraced official, and their bright futures could not be ruined because of their father's fault.
Especially for Yan Ge'er, who is about to take the imperial examination, he must not be affected by the Jiang family's affairs.
As for Jiang Yunze, he will face his own karma.
Cui Yan had also calculated that Yan Xiang was a narrow-minded, intolerant, and ruthless man who would not easily let Jiang Yunze go.
Since the plot of Prince Chen's faction has failed, someone must be taken the blame.
This huge mess naturally fell on the shoulders of Jiang Yunze, the spy.
Evil people need to be tormented by other evil people.
Whether he lives or dies depends on fate.
News of the Jiang family's property being raided.
The report was sent to the palace the next day.
Miaomiao was lying on the rocking chair eating sunflower seeds when she heard Xier come to report, and she swallowed several sunflower seeds whole.
I almost choked.
She wanted Jiang Yunze to be transferred from the Ministry of Rites to the Ministry of Works to repair the canal, not wanting him to interfere with her second brother's imperial examinations, nor did she want him to play matchmaker for her brothers.
As a result, the father not only dismissed the man from his post, but also confiscated his property.
It far exceeded expectations.
For the first time, she had a clear understanding of the Grand Secretary's power; perhaps her father, the Grand Secretary, truly held absolute power in the court.
Jiang Yunze probably never dreamed that the person he would truly offend would be this little girl.
These days.
Although Miaomiao was in the palace, she kept a close eye on what was happening around her.
A great fire changed the situation in the imperial court and the inner palace.
The memorials from court officials impeaching the Empress's maternal grandmother were all suppressed by the father, and he almost implicated Prince Chen's mother.
The plan of Prince Chen's faction failed.
Her father even used the list she gave him to punish a group of people.
The homes of many corrupt officials were raided.
Very satisfying.
This can be considered a warning to others.
Prince Chen was unwilling to accept this, so he incited his younger siblings to go to the Emperor's palace every day to request an audience.
The emperor still did not appear.
They were almost completely cut off from the outside world.
However, many officials, princes, and grandsons of the emperor still sought an audience with him every day, but the Empress Dowager refused to see them.
Miao Miao had Qiu Qiu secretly go and take a look.
The Emperor is truly ill this time; he is sometimes delirious and sometimes lucid.
She suspected that the emperor had been given a drug, similar to modern sleeping pills, which in ancient times would probably have been something like calming pills or tranquilizing incense.
The person who administered the drug was none other than Consort Zhen.
But she was the only concubine the Empress Dowager agreed to stay and take care of the Emperor.
Miaomiao guessed that either the Empress Dowager turned a blind eye, or it was at her behest.
The emperor's bedchamber was filled with precious concubines, eunuchs, palace maids, and even imperial physicians.
Almost everyone shared the same sentiment about the Emperor's illness: he was recuperating and should not be disturbed; he refused to see anyone.
In short, it's ambiguous.
By not showing up to anyone, they're making you guess.
The court officials panicked, as did the concubines, princes, and princesses.
The one who was most panicked was Prince Chen.
The fear is that the emperor might suddenly pass away without leaving any other will, and the throne would have to be passed on to the crown prince in order of succession.
He had been planning this for a long time; how could he possibly let such a thing happen?
Then something happened in the palace.
People die every day; a princess dies today, a prince dies tomorrow.
This caused widespread panic in the palace.
Especially those concubines who had children dared not take their children out.
It seemed like an accident, but who dares to say that an accident in the palace was truly an accident?
The Empress Dowager was getting on in years; she was shrewd, but her body couldn't support her excessive labor.
And because of the premature death of the imperial heir, he eventually fell ill from anger.
Although neither the emperor nor the grandson were her blood relatives, the child died young, leaving her without an heir.
In fact, he really likes these young imperial grandsons.
She would also have some sensible and well-behaved concubines bring their children to her for a checkup on a regular basis.
Among the imperial heirs who died young was one of her favorite children.
Early in the morning, he summoned the concubines of the harem.
Everyone was present except for the Empress, who was under house arrest.
Even Consort Chen, who had been reprimanded by the Empress Dowager and punished by copying Buddhist scriptures, came.
The Empress Dowager smashed the teacup in her hand to pieces: "Investigate! Investigate thoroughly for me. I want to see who is so bold as to harm the imperial heir."
He glanced at the concubines in the hall.
Those with seniority lack ability, while those with some ability are of low rank and cannot maintain control.
He gave Consort Chen a cold look.
Finally, the task fell to Princess Yuqing, who was standing to the side: "Qing'er, you are in charge of investigating this matter."
"Me?" Princess Yuqing looked surprised. "Grandmother, you mean you want me to investigate?"
She came to visit the Empress Dowager because she had heard that she was unwell.
I'll also try to find out some information.
As a result, this important matter fell to her.
Without a doubt, this was orchestrated by Prince Chen and his mother.
The Chen King and his mother have gone mad; in order to find out the truth about their father, they forced him to come forward and harmed their own siblings.
Such a small child poses no threat to him whatsoever.
You beast, you deserve to die!
The Empress Dowager held Princess Yuqing's hand, her eyes unreadable: "Qing'er, your father is too ill to get out of bed, and your mother is in such a state. You are the eldest princess of Daliang and the eldest sister of the children. You are the most suitable person to investigate this matter."
"Grandmother, I will investigate this matter. I will definitely find the murderer who harmed my brothers and sisters, and bring him to justice, torturing him to death and boiling him in oil." After Princess Yuqing finished speaking, she observed Consort Chen's expression.
She realized this woman was a master of pretense.
He remained expressionless from the moment he entered the house, appearing indifferent to worldly affairs.
But when she heard that the murderer would be torn to pieces and thrown into a vat of boiling oil, she couldn't hold back and her brows furrowed.
He cast a provocative glance at Princess Yuqing.
Princess Yuqing smiled at her, then turned to look at the Empress Dowager: "Grandmother, may Consort Chen assist me? I'm afraid I don't have much experience."
During the time that Consort Chen has been in charge of the harem, she must have planted many spies everywhere.
She was looking forward to taking this opportunity to remove all the eyeliner.
She wanted Consort Chen to witness everything she had planned being destroyed by her own hands, including herself.
"Her?" The Empress Dowager asked, puzzled. "Have you thought this through?"
"Yes, I want her to help me."
The Empress Dowager hesitated for a moment, but still agreed. She looked at Consort Chen and said, "The matter of the fire in your palace has not yet been investigated. You are still a criminal and should not be involved in this matter. However, Yuqing needs you, so you must obey her orders."
Consort Chen was also startled and wanted to refuse.
But seeing the Empress Dowager's sharp gaze, she reluctantly nodded in agreement.
It's laughable that a royal concubine has to take orders from a princess.
Moreover, that brat Yuqing definitely has ill intentions.
……