Chapter 367 Peace in the world
Zhang Guifen said this because she was worried that Zhu would be unhappy about Zhu Shiquan's exile and would ask Zhao Xing to pardon Zhu Shiquan later.
"I understand what you said. Don't worry, I will be satisfied as long as he is spared. The emperor reminded your brother before, but he still did not repent. I will not care about him anymore in the future." Zhu said.
She was completely disappointed with Zhu Shiquan and didn't want to embarrass her son.
If Zhu Shiquan had not been sentenced to death, she would not have cared at all.
Zhang Guifen felt relieved when she saw that Zhu was so reasonable.
…………
"My Lord, the Emperor's decree has arrived!"
In Zhizheng Hall, Han Zhang was handling official business in the public residence when his entourage walked in hurriedly.
"Are you sure it belongs to the retired emperor and not your majesty?" Han Zhang frowned.
It's not that the retired emperor cannot issue imperial edicts, but after he abdicates, he should not issue imperial edicts directly to the Zhizhengtang.
Otherwise, if the orders from the retired emperor and Zhao Xing conflict, who should they listen to?
"I have confirmed it. The eunuch who came to report said that it was the order of the Supreme Emperor." said the attendant.
Han Zhang was silent for a while after hearing this and then said, "Notify the others to follow me to receive the decree."
"Yes!" The follower responded, saluted and left.
Han Zhang picked up his official hat, put it on, straightened his clothes, and walked out.
Soon, all the officials from the Zhizhengtang came to the courtyard outside.
After waiting for about a cup of tea, the eunuch who was to announce the decree arrived.
Seeing that everyone was present, he immediately unfolded the imperial edict and began to read it.
The content of the imperial edict was to pardon Zhu Shiquan from the death penalty and change it to exile, without pardon even if there was amnesty.
After handing the imperial edict to Han Zhang, the eunuch left.
"Minister Hu!" Han Zhang stopped Hu Zhongyan who was about to leave.
"I wonder what instructions the great lord has?" Hu Zhongyan said with a smile.
"I have something I want to talk to Minister Hu about. I wonder if he has time to come to my public room to have some tea." Han Zhang said.
"I am honored to be invited by you, sir." Hu Zhongyan said with a smile.
"please!"
Han Zhang led Hu Zhongyan to his public housing, asked Hu Zhongyan to sit down, and after his entourage served him tea, he let him leave.
"Minister Hu, some things are better left in moderation," Han Zhang said.
Hu Zhongyan put down his teacup and smiled, "Why don't I understand what you mean, sir?"
Han Zhang looked at Hu Zhongyan and said, "There are only two of us here, so I'll just say it straight. I don't care what Minister Hu thinks or does, but we are colleagues, so I still want to remind you that the emperor has great ambitions and will not give up just because of a little resistance. If you continue, it will only backfire and ruin your reputation!"
Zhao Xing was forced to ask the emperor to issue an imperial decree.
He was worried that Hu Zhongyan would continue to do something, and Zhao Xing would not be able to deal with it. He really didn't know whether Zhao Xing could still restrain himself.
"I have always admired the Grand Master, but he has been really disappointing lately."
Hu Zhongyan shook his head and said, "The emperor is young and has been on the throne for a short time. He needs the assistance and advice of us old ministers. But the great minister clearly knew that the emperor was wrong, and he never gave any advice to dissuade him."
"Your Majesty, what's wrong with investigating and punishing corrupt officials?" Han Zhang asked in return.
"There is nothing wrong with investigating and punishing corrupt officials, but the punishment is a bit excessive. The emperor has been on the throne for decades, and the only civil servant executed was the former Chief Censor Feng Deguang. Isn't it a sign of good government and harmony, and peace in the world?"
Hu Zhongyan said, "But after your majesty ascended the throne, he first executed several important officials in the court, and many officials in Jiangnan were exiled. Now the court and local officials are in panic. What good is this for the country?"
"Let's not talk about whether it is beneficial or not. Is it beneficial to the Song Dynasty if Minister Hu is in trouble?" Han Zhang asked back.
"According to what the Grand Chancellor said, your Majesty should not object to anything he does, no matter if it is right or wrong. Then what do the ministers need to do in this world?"
"You are making excuses!"
"It is the Grand Master who is making up stories!" Hu Zhongyan said calmly, "When the Grand Emperor was in power, the country was peaceful and the rivers were clear. Your Majesty only needs to follow the rules and the world will be peaceful when he ascends the throne.
Your Majesty is young, so it is normal for him to want to achieve something.
At this time, we, as ministers, need to advise Your Majesty.
"Have you forgotten Emperor Yang of Sui, Grand Master?"
…………
"What a great man who can keep the world at peace with Xiao Guicao casually, and even compares me with Emperor Yang of Sui."
After hearing what Liu Sanshi said, Zhao Xing sneered.
The emperor is kind and benevolent to others, although Zhao Xing disagrees with this approach.
But it is undeniable that by doing this, my father did gain the loyalty of some people.
These people are the palace maids and eunuchs.
In the original drama, when Prince Yan rebelled, a palace maid was willing to risk her life to deliver a blood edict for her father.
You know, at that time no one knew that Zhao Zongquan had already arrived outside the city of Bianjing.
In that case, even if he escaped from the palace through the dog hole.
A palace maid who has been in the palace for several years might not even know all the roads in Bianjing, let alone going to Yuzhou. The chance of her being able to leave the city is very slim.
Even so, the palace maid was still willing to deliver the letter.
Later, Empress Dowager Cao launched a military rebellion, and many palace maids and eunuchs were willing to help her.
It’s because of the emperor.
After Zhao Xing ascended the throne, he appointed Liu Sanshi as the constant attendant, responsible for managing all the eunuchs in the inner treasury and the harem.
At the same time, he also secretly asked Liu Sanshi to pay attention to any disturbance in the entire imperial city.
After leaving Zhu's palace, Zhao Xing ordered Liu Sanshi to be brought over to be questioned.
As a result, Liu Sanshi brought up the conversation between Han Zhang and Hu Zhongyan.
Zhao Xing glanced at Liu Sanshi who was kneeling on the ground and said calmly, "My merits are my merits and my faults are my faults. I asked you to block the news and not let my mother know, so why did my mother still know the news?"
"Your Majesty, it was the Queen Dowager who asked the palace maid beside her about the news of Minister Zhu. The maid behaved abnormally and was noticed by the Queen Dowager. She only told the news after being interrogated. I have done my job poorly, please punish me, Your Majesty!" said Liu Sanshi.
Zhao Xing's expression eased a little after hearing this. It seemed that Liu Sanshi could not be blamed entirely for this matter.
"Get up!" said Zhao Xing.
Liu Sanshi breathed a sigh of relief when he heard this, got up from the ground and stood with his body bent.
"I just said it, merits are merits, faults are faults, merits and faults cannot offset each other. You will go and receive twenty strokes of the cane later," said Zhao Xing.
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace!" Liu Sanshi bowed.
"How did you bribe Han Da Xianggong's entourage?" Zhao Xing asked with some confusion.
The conversation between Han Zhang and Hu Zhongyan that Liu Sanshi just narrated was passed on to him by Han Zhang's attendant.
A permanent attendant is like a personal secretary and knows many of the master's secrets.
Such people usually choose people they trust very much.
Liu Sanshi was actually able to bribe people. Zhao Xing was really curious about what method he used.
You know, Liu Sanshi is only responsible for intelligence work within the imperial city.
Han Zhang's long-time attendant only followed Han Zhang in the Zhizheng Hall and served him.
"Your Majesty, this is what happened..." Liu Sanshi briefly recounted the incident.
(End of this chapter)